Another Day in Clockwork City
"Divayth Fyr? Here in Clockwork City?"
That was not the news Luciana wanted when they woke her from overnight maintenance. He didn't exactly cause trouble, but there was always plenty of it when he turned up. Plus, he was the most un-cooperative person she'd met, which gave her extra headaches dealing with whatever happened.
She went to the main gate to intercept him. He wasn't alone, there was an Imperial man with him that she didn't know, obviously not a citizen. Fyr wasn't, either, but as a personal friend of Sotha SIl, he could go where he pleased, and that probably included places the citizens couldn't.
Naturally, Fyr wasn't going to tell her why he was here. He never did.Perhaps she'd do better with his companion. She introduced herself, so he'd know who was in charge, and warned him that non-citizens would not be allowed to stir up mischief.
"So how do I become a citizen?" he asked.
That was not the response she was expecting. And did it mean that he intended to stir up mischief? Well, if he did, that would just make it harder to become one. So she told him that he'd need a sponsor, someone who was already a citizen in good standing. Neither of those described Fyr.
He went over to the small group of people standing around outside the gates. Other tarnished, who were in the same position as he was, needing sponsors. Somehow, she expected to see him again.
Talking with Provost Varuni Arvel a couple of days later gave her a name for the iImperial. Clark had assisted Raynor, one of the Dark Elf siblings seeking citizenship, with collecting firepot spider oil, and Varuni had given the group the task of tracking down the rumours of disappearing applicants for citizenship. Luciana would admit she was more concerned as to why there was no record of the missing people, then for the missing themselves, but she had no leads to work from.
Varuni suspected destruction of the records, a more serious crime than the disappearances themselves. They both agreed on that.
"And here are a couple of the applicants, now," Varuni announced.
A pair of elves, one a tall Altmer named Neramo, and the other a Dunmer - the same Raynor that had brought her the oil - were asking for access to the Mechanical Fundament. It seemed that the Dunmer's sister Kyreth had been robbed and thrown down there, and Clark had gone after her.
Neramo had evidence of tampering with the records, presumably to cover the disappearances. It wasn't conclusive, so Kyreth had risked dealing with their suspect, Constable Baldan, directly. Clark had a memory stone recording of their meeting, but he had it with him when he went to rescue Kyreth. He was taking longer than they'd expected, so the two of them would like to go there and assist.
"We should all go," Luciana decided. "And since it's Baldan's job to deal with exodromals, he can come with us."
They met the Imperial and the Dunmer coming out of a door to the deeper levels. They had a Khajiit with them, who hadn't been mentioned as part of all this. Kyreth explained that he was another victim, tossed unconscious into the fundament after being robbed. "Even if you don't believe the two of us," she added, "Clark has a recording of my dealings with the Constable that can't be faked."
The Imperial handed over the stone, and everyone looked at Baldan. "I'll deal with him. The rest of you have business with Varuni, if I'm not mistaken," Luciana declared, and she summoned a couple of factotums to escort him back to the Basilica.
After Varuni told them they'd earned her sposorship, Luciana spoke to Clark. "Even if you are an associate of Divayth Fyr ... congratulations."
Clark asked her if she thought there was more to the disappearances than just Baldan's opportunism. Surprisingly insightful, she thought.
"You're right. Ex-constable Baldan isn't bright enough to pull it off on his own. He has to have had help, and I mean to root it out. Now go claim your citizenship; speak to the Clockwork Registrar."
"Where are all these people coming from?" Varuni asked Luciana. "How do they find a way in, when we can't find a way out?"
"I have no idea. I don't really know how I giot here myself. All I know is that it took a lot of magical disruption, and I nearly didn't survive the process, so I doubt any of them took that route. But what about you?"
"I was either born here, or arrived as an infant. I have no memory of anywhere but the Clockwork City. I know my parents were of House Telvanni, but I was never told how they got here, either. I presume Lord Seht has always steered people here when he has need of them."
"Or else Divayth Fyr has interfered. He brought that Clark here with him this time, and I suspect the rest of that group might have followed his trail. What do you think of Clark?"
"He's nothing like Fyr, if that's your concern," Varuni replied. "Quite helpful, and prepared to follow the rules. Although he is apparently working with Fyr, so there may be some conflicts of interest. The others seem to be motivated mostly by curiosity. We'll have to see how long that lasts."
"I just wish I knew why Divayth Fyr has turned up now. He doesn't actually cause trouble. It just always seems to happen around him, as if he has a nose for it, and seeks it out."
"Perhaps it has something to do with whatever has Lord Seht ordering the lights to be changed? Nobody seems to understand why that's happenning, but the work is progressing. It is taking up time that I'd rather spend on other duties."
"You seem excited," Luciana told Varuni. "Some new breakthrough in your experiments?"
"No, I just found out that Lord Seht is going to give a talk in the Loqutorium today. It seems that Divayth Fyr has persuaded him to do that. You may not like the man, but if he can do that, he's moved up a notch or two in my estimation.. And this means I might actually get to meet Sotha Sil! After only a century of waiting!"
"Well, I hope you're not disappointed. I'll be on guard outside the Basilica, just in case the Deadlands freeze over."
When Varuni (and Clark) emerged from the Basilica, she didn't look as happy. She explained that Sotha Sil had been an imposter, and Clark had revealed him by turning up the lights. He'd chased the doppleganger off into Seht's private chambers, but he'd got away. And now Chancellor Gascone had fled, too, presumably because he was some kind of accomplice. "We need to catch him!"
Luciana didn't have agents to spare for that, as she needed to keep control here in the Brass Fortress. Somehow, the people had already heard about the fake Seht, and the unrest would take all her resources.
Clark decided he'd go after Gascone himself. Luciana directed him to an artificer in Slag Town, who might be able to provide some help. "It's not much, but it's all I can do right now."
Clark was soon running back past them, chasing Snuffler, Dalomar's nix-hound fabricant, which was presumably following Gascone's scent. Luciana hoped it wouldn't lose the trail down in the Insalubrious Effluvium. There would be a lot of competing stenches down there.
She started her own work by calming Varuni. The Provost was probably going to have to take on the Chancellor's duties until Clark brought him back, and maybe after that, too.
Varuni showed her a feather, that Clark had picked up in the Chancellor's chambers.
"What's a feather doing here in Clockwork City? We don't have any birds."