City Of Towers
After my wizard father Gyzog was taken by the Shah's guard I wondered for a time what I might accomplish to rescue him. I felt sure that, because of his hidden amulet, he would survive the tumble down the crooked but endless Well of Forgetting. The reasons for his loss of royal favour were unclear. In truth the Wizard had served as the ruler's mouthpiece for a time, planting mistruths in auguries that favoured the Shah's purposes. But once he was taken I knew I had to act quickly. Even if he reached the bottom of the Well alive he could not last for long in its Stygian depths. I had heard from childhood tales how Co-nah, a Cimmerian barbarian, had survived when cast down into the pit. He had been discovered by his friends in the lower catacombs deep beneath the Temple District, having fought his way up through endless caverns. A path then existed- through the city's Thieves' Passages under the poor quarters, into the lower catacombs, and thence into the caverns that lie under the palace mount. But who might I find who would undertake such a dreadful journey, that even Con-ah did not complete unassisted?
My father at least was rich and had stored his wealth carefully. The Shah had not yet proscribed him or claimed his Tower. His treasure was a boon with which I could buy sell-swords. The City of Towers has many such folk, flotsam of the roads. They need not know the greatness of the risk they would undertake, only the truth that they would be handsomely rewarded.
I knew already of Naseer, a prince fallen on hard times, who frequented the small bazaar beyond the walls of my father's walled tower. The old Wizard had spoken to him once or twice, even considered employing him as an elegant guard, but wondered whether he might not carry off his goods. And Morous, a wandering sorcerer who had impressed my father and visited to peruse his books. Sorcerers, knowing the corruption that mastery of their Art entails, never trust their peers, and the two skirted each other with gimlet eyes. A third man too I quickly found, not knowing his name. A tall and mighty Northerner, known by Naseer. I saw that his sword would beat down lesser men with ease.
These three came eagerly to stay in my father's apartments, enjoying the luxuries after languishing in gutters and taverns. But there was another I sought, the Grey Ghost, said to be a ghoul, an assassin, a ghost. This gaunt man too I attracted to my mission, through devious means which I will impart one day as a different tale.
When they were all together in the Tower's dance chamber I explained the journey I wished them to undertake, speaking only truth to them concerning their purpose but saying little of the likely risks. I wondered whether , even as desperate men, they might balk at the quest. But was there already gold and jewels to show them, wine at hand and good music playing. And the story of Co-nah to appeal to the curious hearts that had already led them astray in life....
