[HQ Ignorance] Scene 122: The Tower of the General

[lev at mimesisrpg.com]

With Rikku and Azhur's leadership, the rump Fellowship, trapped in the
weird Puppeland took advice from Zifu to approach the iron Tower of the
General, which overlooks the town with its steam and smoke extruding from
its vents. Zifu tells the Fellowship to make their way down a strange
winding route of several backstreets which Kalen recites with excellence.
Warning is once again given to beware of the General's guards, at least on
this side of town. "Head towards the other side of town", says Zifu, "and
you'll have to deal with Spirits".

Into the darkness the old allies Rotterex-Guillaume and Kalen lead the
way, the Dwarf giving low monotone instructions whilst the ... sort-of
human wizard sniffs the air inquisitively and twitches his nose every
several seconds, muttering about the smell of worked pine. The wooden
buildings of Puppetland are tall and thin, each a few stories high. On
several occassions there is the sound of metal-shod boots and the hiss of
steam is heard at the General soldier-puppets patrol the streets, their
metallic manequin form obviously being a cause of some fear among the
wooden puppets.

These patrols become more regular as the party approaches the tower, but
still they remain hidden. But eventually there is nowhere else to hide.
>From the vantage point of an alleyway, the ten-story tower stands in the
middle of an open plaza where metal soldiers march to and fro, and in and
out of the large single double doors that lead to the entry to the Tower.
"There is no sewers in this place", comments Rotterex, as if reading
Azhur's mind (but that is, of course, impossible). "These metal puppets I
suspect do not require the ablutions of creatures of flesh."