Beneath S02E03: The Goblin Market
The investigators researched the strange crack in the sky. Angus spoke to his patron, and entered a strange hall of statues where the spirit of the city spoke to him. One of the statues, a woman holding a scroll, told him of the Labyrinth that wound its way through the city at different times and places.
Meanwhile, Rufus prepared for a journey, gathering equipment, snacks and a heavy calibre weapon while telling his wife he was on a long stakeout. Alix prepared for time travel by arranging safety deposit boxes with lawyers and other contrivances inspired by her pop culture knowledge of time travel.
The group entered the strange crack and found themselves in a stone replica of the city, where the buildings were piled together, and where stone cars were parked on the street. As they travelled, they saw a sign: "Market — this way. Beware of the fragments."
As they pondered where to go, the rock cracked and shambling figures made of rubble lumbered towards the group. Alix ran, escaping by sheer luck, whereas Angus tore his undead flesh and required soul energy to heal. Rufus had trouble channeling his primal magic in the labyrinth. The group retreated and found themselves at the goblin market. An ogre on a bridge greeted them, explaining that fae ran the market, and it was governed under the jurisdiction of strange knights in blue armour. The ogre pointed out the features of the market: a mantis selling finger food (made from real fingers), the Metal God, the information broker Nimrose the Shardkeeper, and various sellers of dreams and memories.
After visiting Nimrose, the strange elf in patchwork clothing asked for a childhood memory or that of a first kiss in exchange for helpful information. Alix ended up bargaining her deadname in exchange for four pieces of information. They learned that:
Zala entered the market and met a man she knew. She greeted him like they were old friends, using the word for 'shield companion' or 'battle brother' in an old language. The man had tattoos similar to Angus. They met at the market, and left over the bridge.
Nimrose said the man looked young but was older than he appeared.
Based on people who overheard their conversation, Zala had met the man when she was sixteen, when he promised to be her special friend, and when she was 23, which was when he saved her from a car accident.
Alix also bargained that she would get a message when her deadname was sold, and to whom. Still, what could become of something like an old, abandoned identity?
Meanwhile , Rufus met with the Metal God, which turned out to be an incarnation of Alix's archnemesis, Eternivac. The Metal God read Rufus's phone and cross-referenced the data with its databanks.
Wary of Eternivac, Alix stayed away from him and with Angus. But now, Angus's hunger was deepening and he was distracted by a child walking close by with a delicious-smelling soul to reave...