AZAG (LORDS OF MARS) GAME

Where does Noxmorte go to start his inquiries?

There are other taverns, similar to Blast Radius, where Noxmorte might hear rumors of a daring or foolhardy heist. One such is the Gripped Hands (the sign over the door shows two hands in a shake), where he was playing at dice the day before. Another is Sevens, which is known as a resort for those like Yirin. Perhaps Noxmorte does not indulge in braggadocio to impress carnal acquaintances; but such discretion is not universal.

Blood crows are unusual birds, about the size of an eagle, that frequent the mountainous southern jungles known as the Beryl Scale. Some people say the birds serve or once served the Star Kings as scouts, messengers, even assassins.

"Hello, good fellow," says a voice that Noxmorte knows. He looks to his right just after he entered the Hands, and sees Osslame hunched over a table with a cup of something that smells and steams like mulled wine. It's summer, so an odd choice of beverage, but Osslame is known to be odd.

"Not the Barbasdu vintage you promised," Osslame adds with a sip of his drink, "but good for now. When do you think you'll have that bottle for me?"

Osslame nods. "Talk of the town. Surprising that the spiders haven't already crawled the whole city to find the thief. I guess they're limited in what they can do? And maybe only the victim is looking. Wouldn't it be funny if one spider stole from another?"

"Yes. I heard of the prize, and of a red feather left in the vault. Sounds like some kind of a catch-if-you dare. I'd be cautious of venturing into an investigation. One of the guilds might be involved, and they're dangerous to cross."

Osslame laughs briefly but loudly and earnestly. "Well said. Ok, look, there's a guild that is literally named the Crows. Does that seem too on-the-nose for a crow feather to be left in the vault? I think so. But maybe there's someone who wants to cross them up. I'm not real plugged in to the guild culture, but a lot of folk cross paths at Pretty Birds."

Noxmorte has heard of Pretty Birds. It's like Sevens but fancy.

Osslame laughs. "You don't need to tip me, young fellow. But thank you."

Pretty Birds is in a part of Byzaron where buildings are tall — though not so tall as the spider-lords' wind towers — and the establishment is in the lower floor of a nine story gleaming black stone building that seems to weigh heavily on the pavement around it. There is a finely-filigreed golden cage above the four steps that lead down from the street to the gold-leafed door. In the cage are several colorful birds that screech as Noxmorte approaches.

The doorman is a thick fellow with the ears and snout of a wolf. He half-snarls at Noxmorte, "Guest list?"

"No."

Perhaps there is a back entrance? Noxmorte wonders. There must be a door for deliveries.

The back entrance is a loading dock in a fairly wide alley. There is a delivery wagon parked in front of it and the roll-up door of the dock is open. Noxmorte observes two burly men carrying a large barrel from the wagon into the recess of the dock.