Alleyverse Era Nine

[Koloss17 She/They]

Midas, New Hallandren, Crater

Once the rubble was cleared and all witnesses of the devastation were in custody, Midas ordered the party’s return to the garrison, making sure Starseeker followed. He held onto the radiant, ensuring that they could not summon their shards while they were escorted to the premises. 
 

As they walked, the crowds in the vibrant streets of New Hallandren parted. Everyone knew not to impede guardsman’s business. Midas didn’t make conversation with any of the prisoners. He was normally quite the talkative person, but ever since joining the garrison and rising through the ranks, he had learned to be more careful with what he said.

As he walked the sandy cobbles of New Hallandren, his biochromatic aura brought the normally vibrant streets into an almost sickening colorfulness. Though he had spent several years in these streets, it still felt wrong to see so much color. Where he was from, muted shades of gray further darkened by the ever falling ash were the only colors the streets saw. Yet his life was good and his pockets were deep, so he couldn’t complain all that much.

Just a few blocks more, Midas thought. He really hated burning this much chromium. Sure, he was given a supply of chromium from the garrison itself, but they only gave so much. When his supplies ran out, he had to pay out of pocket. And he had ran out of his monthly supply last week. Lord Ruler, did he hate dealing with radiants who don’t cooperate. Those idiots likely account for 70% of his chromium expenditures. At least at the garrison, a radiant being confrontational wouldn’t come out of his pockets.
 

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @Ink and Embers

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

6 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Midas, New Hallandren, Crater

Once the rubble was cleared and all witnesses of the devastation were in custody, Midas ordered the party’s return to the garrison, making sure Starseeker followed. He held onto the radiant, ensuring that they could not summon their shards while they were escorted to the premises. 
 

As they walked, the crowds in the vibrant streets of New Hallandren parted. Everyone knew not to impede guardsman’s business. Midas didn’t make conversation with any of the prisoners. He was normally quite the talkative person, but ever since joining the garrison and rising through the ranks, he had learned to be more careful with what he said.

As he walked the sandy cobbles of New Hallandren, his biochromatic aura brought the normally vibrant streets into an almost sickening colorfulness. Though he had spent several years in these streets, it still felt wrong to see so much color. Where he was from, muted shades of gray further darkened by the ever falling ash were the only colors the streets saw. Yet his life was good and his pockets were deep, so he couldn’t complain all that much.

Just a few blocks more, Midas thought. He really hated burning this much chromium. Sure, he was given a supply of chromium from the garrison itself, but they only gave so much. When his supplies ran out, he had to pay out of pocket. And he had ran out of his monthly supply last week. Lord Ruler, did he hate dealing with radiants who don’t cooperate. Those idiots likely account for 70% of his chromium expenditures. At least at the garrison, a radiant being confrontational wouldn’t come out of his pockets.
 

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @Ink and Embers

Starseeker, New Hallandren, Crater

Starseeker followed without complaint, though he glared at Midas the whole time.

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @Ink and Embers

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

On 1/27/2026 at 10:27 AM, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias' Domain

Perses stood there, slack-jawed as Ebon entered the portal after the stranger. He turned to Ebon. "Is this your doing?" he inquired, incredulous. Given the stranger's confusion over Ebon's presence, it seemed unlikely.

Regaining his composure slightly, Perses answered their question. "You're in just about the most dangerous place you could possibly be." He paused, still not fully over what had just happened. "What made you think it was a good idea to follow me of all people?" Ordinary denizens of Alleycity didn't often enter an alleyway, especially if they knew it led into the Alleys. This person certainly wasn't part of the Dark Alleys, not that he had seen them in a long time. Gathering his wits, Perses took a more ominous stance. "Now give me a good reason why I shouldn't put a bullet hole in your chest." The Alleyway closed behind them, blinking out of existence. "I'm not a patient man, so you'll have to answer quickly."

@Hoid Slayer

 

Lux, The Alleys, Belias' Domain

"I had to get out, and Fractal knew there was an Alleyway over here." Lux freezes, realizing what was just said. "I can be useful. I can navigate the Alleys... or at least the other version of the alleys... And I am a Lightweaver, and I don't believe you are a radiant at all."

[Koloss17 She/They]

2 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Lux, The Alleys, Belias' Domain

"I had to get out, and Fractal knew there was an Alleyway over here." Lux freezes, realizing what was just said. "I can be useful. I can navigate the Alleys... or at least the other version of the alleys... And I am a Lightweaver, and I don't believe you are a radiant at all."

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses laid a hand on his aluminum-clad pistol, brushing away his mistcoat to reveal the weapon. It was bulky, and much heavier than a pistol should be. It was made custom built for him by one of the best weaponsmiths in the city, with a steel and iron lock for a safety, with two barrels. The weapon held sixteen bullets, eight per chamber. Eight of those bullets were dense tungsten rounds, allowing him to steelpush the already heavy bullets to enable building-piercing rounds. The second chamber was filled with aluminum bullets, meant to resist investiture.

”You’ll have to give me a better reason than that.”

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

29 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses laid a hand on his aluminum-clad pistol, brushing away his mistcoat to reveal the weapon. It was bulky, and much heavier than a pistol should be. It was made custom built for him by one of the best weaponsmiths in the city, with a steel and iron lock for a safety, with two barrels. The weapon held sixteen bullets, eight per chamber. Eight of those bullets were dense tungsten rounds, allowing him to steelpush the already heavy bullets to enable building-piercing rounds. The second chamber was filled with aluminum bullets, meant to resist investiture.

”You’ll have to give me a better reason than that.”

Lux began to panic. He wasn’t quite sure what was wanted of him, but finally managed for a meager solution. “I know how to navigate the alleyways. I knew that there was an alleyway here, despite being to far away, and have survived in the alleyways for days and weeks before.” Even if I didn’t like it.

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

On 1/27/2026 at 1:27 PM, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias' Domain

Perses stood there, slack-jawed as Ebon entered the portal after the stranger. He turned to Ebon. "Is this your doing?" he inquired, incredulous. Given the stranger's confusion over Ebon's presence, it seemed unlikely.

Regaining his composure slightly, Perses answered their question. "You're in just about the most dangerous place you could possibly be." He paused, still not fully over what had just happened. "What made you think it was a good idea to follow me of all people?" Ordinary denizens of Alleycity didn't often enter an alleyway, especially if they knew it led into the Alleys. This person certainly wasn't part of the Dark Alleys, not that he had seen them in a long time. Gathering his wits, Perses took a more ominous stance. "Now give me a good reason why I shouldn't put a bullet hole in your chest." The Alleyway closed behind them, blinking out of existence. "I'm not a patient man, so you'll have to answer quickly."

@Hoid Slayer

 

Ebonaryle, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Instinctively, without thinking, without even choosing, Ebon stepped to put himself between Perses and the young radiant and began pacing. He was used to the Alley environment, having seen it much in the last year.

”It’s the Crimson Breath. They had a bomb. Some kind of anti-investiture, harnessed at unprecedented levels. I think…” he stopped and looked up, meeting Perses’ confused gaze for the first time. “I think they finally have what they’ve been searching for.”

9 hours ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Lux, The Alleys, Belias' Domain

"I had to get out, and Fractal knew there was an Alleyway over here." Lux freezes, realizing what was just said. "I can be useful. I can navigate the Alleys... or at least the other version of the alleys... And I am a Lightweaver, and I don't believe you are a radiant at all."

Fractal… Ebon welcomed and noted the new information about the boy. The better he could keep track of new figures, the better.

7 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses laid a hand on his aluminum-clad pistol, brushing away his mistcoat to reveal the weapon. It was bulky, and much heavier than a pistol should be. It was made custom built for him by one of the best weaponsmiths in the city, with a steel and iron lock for a safety, with two barrels. The weapon held sixteen bullets, eight per chamber. Eight of those bullets were dense tungsten rounds, allowing him to steelpush the already heavy bullets to enable building-piercing rounds. The second chamber was filled with aluminum bullets, meant to resist investiture.

”You’ll have to give me a better reason than that.”

Ebon eyed the weapon warily, feeling somewhat protective of the kid, but didn’t outright say anything yet, waiting for Perses’ reaction to his news and holding back his itch to move.

[Ink and Embers Any pronouns]

On 1/28/2026 at 4:54 PM, Koloss17 said:

Midas, New Hallandren, Crater

Once the rubble was cleared and all witnesses of the devastation were in custody, Midas ordered the party’s return to the garrison, making sure Starseeker followed. He held onto the radiant, ensuring that they could not summon their shards while they were escorted to the premises. 
 

As they walked, the crowds in the vibrant streets of New Hallandren parted. Everyone knew not to impede guardsman’s business. Midas didn’t make conversation with any of the prisoners. He was normally quite the talkative person, but ever since joining the garrison and rising through the ranks, he had learned to be more careful with what he said.

As he walked the sandy cobbles of New Hallandren, his biochromatic aura brought the normally vibrant streets into an almost sickening colorfulness. Though he had spent several years in these streets, it still felt wrong to see so much color. Where he was from, muted shades of gray further darkened by the ever falling ash were the only colors the streets saw. Yet his life was good and his pockets were deep, so he couldn’t complain all that much.

Just a few blocks more, Midas thought. He really hated burning this much chromium. Sure, he was given a supply of chromium from the garrison itself, but they only gave so much. When his supplies ran out, he had to pay out of pocket. And he had ran out of his monthly supply last week. Lord Ruler, did he hate dealing with radiants who don’t cooperate. Those idiots likely account for 70% of his chromium expenditures. At least at the garrison, a radiant being confrontational wouldn’t come out of his pockets.
 

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @Ink and Embers

 

17 hours ago, KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren said:

Starseeker, New Hallandren, Crater

Starseeker followed without complaint, though he glared at Midas the whole time.

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @Ink and Embers

Cayansa, New Hallandren, Streets

The group were moving through street after street of bright housing, each one painted in hues that felt painfully bright, like they weren't quite bothered to dim themselves down enough to be pleasing. Cayansa liked that. They were still being carried by the same silent guards, whose drab colours seemed all the more muted for the way everything seemed to bleed vibrantly around Midas.

Lightweaver? Reyx guessed, pulsing slightly like a heartbeat.

Unlikely. He seems like something else altogether. And what they did with the ropes earlier ... That wasn't a Lashing, and do you see a spren?

No, Reyx admitted begrudgingly. Cayansa gave them a half-smile of reassurance, then shouted to the guard ahead of them. "Hey! What did you do with the ropes-" Nope, bad idea, don't want to remind them I'm supposed to be tied up "-the colours earlier? And now? It's so... rainbow-y?"

You're really attracting their attention? What are you doing?

Asking questions. Aren't you curious too?

 @Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

[Koloss17 She/They]

5 hours ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Ebonaryle, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Instinctively, without thinking, without even choosing, Ebon stepped to put himself between Perses and the young radiant and began pacing. He was used to the Alley environment, having seen it much in the last year.

”It’s the Crimson Breath. They had a bomb. Some kind of anti-investiture, harnessed at unprecedented levels. I think…” he stopped and looked up, meeting Perses’ confused gaze for the first time. “I think they finally have what they’ve been searching for.”

Fractal… Ebon welcomed and noted the new information about the boy. The better he could keep track of new figures, the better.

Ebon eyed the weapon warily, feeling somewhat protective of the kid, but didn’t outright say anything yet, waiting for Perses’ reaction to his news and holding back his itch to move.

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses turned to face Ebon, something that wasn’t particularly necessary, but something people seemed to appreciate. “are you sure you want to talk about this now, in front of the radiant?” Perses gestured to the terrified radiant. “We can always talk about it after we kill him.”

The radiant’s heartbeat pounded in Perses’ ears, each breath a cacophony in this otherwise silent room. The smell of sweat invaded his nostrils.

”Okay, this guy’s getting on my nerves. I’m just going to shoot him.” Perses moved to get a line of sight on the radiant, leveling his gun at them, but not yet firing.

@CoderDrag0n8

30 minutes ago, Ink and Embers said:

 

Cayansa, New Hallandren, Streets

The group were moving through street after street of bright housing, each one painted in hues that felt painfully bright, like they weren't quite bothered to dim themselves down enough to be pleasing. Cayansa liked that. They were still being carried by the same silent guards, whose drab colours seemed all the more muted for the way everything seemed to bleed vibrantly around Midas.

Lightweaver? Reyx guessed, pulsing slightly like a heartbeat.

Unlikely. He seems like something else altogether. And what they did with the ropes earlier ... That wasn't a Lashing, and do you see a spren?

No, Reyx admitted begrudgingly. Cayansa gave them a half-smile of reassurance, then shouted to the guard ahead of them. "Hey! What did you do with the ropes-" Nope, bad idea, don't want to remind them I'm supposed to be tied up "-the colours earlier? And now? It's so... rainbow-y?"

You're really attracting their attention? What are you doing?

Asking questions. Aren't you curious too?

 @Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

Midas, New Hallandren, A few blocks from the garrison

Midas raised an eyebrow at the prisoner, a bemused expression on his face. “How long have you been here in Alleycity?” 
 

As he waited for an answer, Midas thought of the first time he came to this blessed city. Broken and battered, he had suddenly found himself transported to a land unlike anything he had ever seen, with alien peoples wandering the streets, their heads held high. At first, he had thought he had reached the afterlife, and had died in Hathsin. Yet instead, he had been given a new life, a new chance to redeem his past failures. A new home.

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

[Steel Speedster ♂]

On 1/27/2026 at 5:07 PM, Qianweilian said:

Aradan Liese, Smokestacks

Aradan thanked Thav and tucked the iron in the pocket of his coat. Looking around, he walked over and sat on one of the chairs, thinking. This is a nice place. If he’s willing to work with me long term, than this would be an excellent base of operations. Now to think about something else. If I am to effectively deal justice to criminals, I can’t just do it by myself—or even with a team of sorts. I can’t be there everytime someone is mugged, but maybe I can make them think I will be… Criminals often get their way through the fear of retribution, what if I did something similar? Aradan then realized he still had some pewter left unburned. I have more anyways. He then flared his pewter and stored the resulting recovery/healing effects into his goldminds.

@Steel Speedster

Thav, Smokestack, Hideout

Thav checked his watch. "We should go now," he said. "That meeting is starting soon and I want to make sure we get there on time." He opened a safe on the wall containing his supplies and extracted a pair of zinc bracelets and several metal vials containing bronze and steel. Slipping the bracelets onto his arms and downing one of the vials, he turned to Aradan. "Ready?"

@Qianweilian

On 1/27/2026 at 8:12 PM, Mistfallen Soldier said:

Saitaku, Mistkeep

Saitaku found himself nodding in agreement, “I’ll have to see this for myself” 

At the very least it can’t hurt

He took the paper, glancing at the directions, “I’ll be there” he said, “I don’t have other plans”

“Tonight then”

@Steel Speedster

Mask, Mistkeep

Without another word, Mask withdrew into the shadows and departed.

@Mistfallen Soldier

 

 

Fenna, Mistwarrens, Sewer

Fenna dropped lightly into the dark tunnel of the sewer system beneath the Mistwarrens. Wrinkling her nose, she proceeded down the tunnel for several minutes. As the tunnel made a turn, she stopped to reference the directions given to her by Mask, then located a groove in the wall and pulled. With a click, a section of the wall slid back and she pushed it to the side, revealing another tunnel--this one natural looking--branching off.

Fenna knew that there were supposed to be tunnels hidden underneath the tunnel, but she had never actually been in one. While she had previously been annoyed about Mask's cryptic remarks, assuming it to largely just be posturing, she was now beginning to think he actually had access to the infrastructure he hinted at. She proceeded into the cave complex, trying to keep her steps from echoing too much.

Soon, she began hearing quiet voices. She turned a corner and found herself in the entrance of a large cavern. It was wide and deep, but the ceiling wasn't much higher than the tunnels outside, making it feel a little claustrophobic despite that. There were a half dozen rows of chairs, all facing a raised platform at one end of the cavern where to figures stood conversing. There even seemed to be a stand for refreshments set up in the corner. Rust and ruin, this is elaborate! Fenna thought, feeling a slight chill. She had thought this would be a small meeting. Based on the preparations, however, it looked like Mask was expecting upwards of fifty potential recruits.

As Fenna stepped into the cavern, the figures on the platform turned towards her. "Who sent you?" demanded one, a stocky but muscular man with short black hair. Fenna held up the paper Mask had given her, showing a strange, jagged symbol. The man relaxed. "You're our security detail, then?" he said. "I expected a security detail to have, y'know, multiple people."

"I assure you, I will be sufficient." Fenna responded. "Where's Mask?" "Him?" the man said. "He ain't gonna be here. Cuv' and I are running this meeting." The other person, a tall well-groomed man nodded absently. He stood at a lectern in the middle of the stage, shuffling through some papers. A speech, perhaps? The two resumed their conversation, paying Fenna no further attention, so she moved away. There were a few other people in the cavern, but all low-level grunts by the looks of it, only there to arrange things for the meeting. With nothing better to do, Fenna took up a post near the entrance, leaning against the wall.

[Myst He/Him]

6 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:

Thav, Smokestack, Hideout

Thav checked his watch. "We should go now," he said. "That meeting is starting soon and I want to make sure we get there on time." He opened a safe on the wall containing his supplies and extracted a pair of zinc bracelets and several metal vials containing bronze and steel. Slipping the bracelets onto his arms and downing one of the vials, he turned to Aradan. "Ready?"

@Qianweilian

Mask, Mistkeep

Without another word, Mask withdrew into the shadows and departed.

@Mistfallen Soldier

 

 

Fenna, Mistwarrens, Sewer

Fenna dropped lightly into the dark tunnel of the sewer system beneath the Mistwarrens. Wrinkling her nose, she proceeded down the tunnel for several minutes. As the tunnel made a turn, she stopped to reference the directions given to her by Mask, then located a groove in the wall and pulled. With a click, a section of the wall slid back and she pushed it to the side, revealing another tunnel--this one natural looking--branching off.

Fenna knew that there were supposed to be tunnels hidden underneath the tunnel, but she had never actually been in one. While she had previously been annoyed about Mask's cryptic remarks, assuming it to largely just be posturing, she was now beginning to think he actually had access to the infrastructure he hinted at. She proceeded into the cave complex, trying to keep her steps from echoing too much.

Soon, she began hearing quiet voices. She turned a corner and found herself in the entrance of a large cavern. It was wide and deep, but the ceiling wasn't much higher than the tunnels outside, making it feel a little claustrophobic despite that. There were a half dozen rows of chairs, all facing a raised platform at one end of the cavern where to figures stood conversing. There even seemed to be a stand for refreshments set up in the corner. Rust and ruin, this is elaborate! Fenna thought, feeling a slight chill. She had thought this would be a small meeting. Based on the preparations, however, it looked like Mask was expecting upwards of fifty potential recruits.

As Fenna stepped into the cavern, the figures on the platform turned towards her. "Who sent you?" demanded one, a stocky but muscular man with short black hair. Fenna held up the paper Mask had given her, showing a strange, jagged symbol. The man relaxed. "You're our security detail, then?" he said. "I expected a security detail to have, y'know, multiple people."

"I assure you, I will be sufficient." Fenna responded. "Where's Mask?" "Him?" the man said. "He ain't gonna be here. Cuv' and I are running this meeting." The other person, a tall well-groomed man nodded absently. He stood at a lectern in the middle of the stage, shuffling through some papers. A speech, perhaps? The two resumed their conversation, paying Fenna no further attention, so she moved away. There were a few other people in the cavern, but all low-level grunts by the looks of it, only there to arrange things for the meeting. With nothing better to do, Fenna took up a post near the entrance, leaning against the wall.

Saitaku, Mistkeep

Saitaku looked again at the directions, he’d want to be there early, see if he could spot anyone.

He ran through the streets of Mistkeep, running towards the location, heedless of the people he was pushing through 

@Steel Speedster

Spoiler

Do you want to just skip to the meeting?

 

[Qianweilian He/him]

39 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:

Thav, Smokestack, Hideout

Thav checked his watch. "We should go now," he said. "That meeting is starting soon and I want to make sure we get there on time." He opened a safe on the wall containing his supplies and extracted a pair of zinc bracelets and several metal vials containing bronze and steel. Slipping the bracelets onto his arms and downing one of the vials, he turned to Aradan. "Ready?"

Aradan Liese, Smokestacks

“Great, let’s go,” Aradan replied. I don’t have much else to do. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a vial, drank it, and then drank another vial that Thav had given him. He then stood up, stretched, and walked towards the door, waiting there for Thav.

[Ink and Embers Any pronouns]

23 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses turned to face Ebon, something that wasn’t particularly necessary, but something people seemed to appreciate. “are you sure you want to talk about this now, in front of the radiant?” Perses gestured to the terrified radiant. “We can always talk about it after we kill him.”

The radiant’s heartbeat pounded in Perses’ ears, each breath a cacophony in this otherwise silent room. The smell of sweat invaded his nostrils.

”Okay, this guy’s getting on my nerves. I’m just going to shoot him.” Perses moved to get a line of sight on the radiant, leveling his gun at them, but not yet firing.

@CoderDrag0n8

Midas, New Hallandren, A few blocks from the garrison

Midas raised an eyebrow at the prisoner, a bemused expression on his face. “How long have you been here in Alleycity?” 
 

As he waited for an answer, Midas thought of the first time he came to this blessed city. Broken and battered, he had suddenly found himself transported to a land unlike anything he had ever seen, with alien peoples wandering the streets, their heads held high. At first, he had thought he had reached the afterlife, and had died in Hathsin. Yet instead, he had been given a new life, a new chance to redeem his past failures. A new home.

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

The head guard, Midas, raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "How long have you been here in Alleycity?" he asked, an edge to his voice that most commonly heralded a mocking kind of laughter. 

"Uh ..." Cayansa peered around them. There was one large timepiece on a turquoise building with people streaming in and out of it, but there were too many segments and too few hands to make sense. "A day and a bit? Definitely not two nights. Well, that depends on how time here works, which is strange, because time is supposed to be constant, right? That's what makes time time!"

They remembered the first timepiece fabrial they'd made, one of three, probably all sold to rich lighteyes by now. The spren had pulsed in the gemstone, spinning in time to some unheard song that perhaps humans had never been meant to understand. Then, of course, they'd been packaged up and sold like chulls to the slaughterhouse. 

Cayansa focused back on Midas and Kai. "How are you using the anti-Stormlight? No, it can't be anti-Stormlight, or there would've been-" Their eyes widened "- there would've been an explosion..."

Quote

Cayansa left Roshar before the time dilation occurred, so this was fun to write!

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

[Steel Speedster ♂]

 

17 hours ago, Qianweilian said:

Aradan Liese, Smokestacks

“Great, let’s go,” Aradan replied. I don’t have much else to do. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a vial, drank it, and then drank another vial that Thav had given him. He then stood up, stretched, and walked towards the door, waiting there for Thav.

Thav, Smokestack

After donning the hat and coat of the recruit he had knocked out, and pasting a fake mustache on his face, Thav led the way out of the hideout and down the streets of Smokestack towards the Mistwarrens. He felt in the pocket of the coat and found a piece of paper, which seemed to contain directions to the meeting place and bore an odd symbol. That was useful. Thav already had roughly figured out where they needed to go, but this would make it much easier to get there.

Near the edge of the Mistwarrens, Thav located a particular manhole, which he lifted off, opening an entrance into the sewer. Lovely.

"Well, in we go," he said, and descended the ladder into a smelly tunnel.

@Qianweilian

 

Fenna, The Underground, Meeting Cavern

Fenna looked up as people began to arrive. None of them would have stood out on the streets--they were mostly ordinary looking people, but given Mask's secretive approach, she expected that each of them had been carefully selected. That meant they must have been preparing this meeting for a long time.

The man on the platform--Cuvel, she had heard him called--was still there. Fenna suspected he was Mask's spokesperson. Apparently that man enjoyed delegating so much he couldn't even bothered to run his own recruitment meeting. Cuvel stood out the most from the other people in the room. He was dressed simply, but stylishly in a brown suit, and his hair was well-groomed. More like a teacher than a criminal.

The other one, Bairn, had disappeared. Fenna frowned, briefly wondering where he had gone, then went back to watching the new arrivals. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she needed to make sure this job went perfectly.

[Koloss17 She/They]

1 hour ago, Ink and Embers said:

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

The head guard, Midas, raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "How long have you been here in Alleycity?" he asked, an edge to his voice that most commonly heralded a mocking kind of laughter. 

"Uh ..." Cayansa peered around them. There was one large timepiece on a turquoise building with people streaming in and out of it, but there were too many segments and too few hands to make sense. "A day and a bit? Definitely not two nights. Well, that depends on how time here works, which is strange, because time is supposed to be constant, right? That's what makes time time!"

They remembered the first timepiece fabrial they'd made, one of three, probably all sold to rich lighteyes by now. The spren had pulsed in the gemstone, spinning in time to some unheard song that perhaps humans had never been meant to understand. Then, of course, they'd been packaged up and sold like chulls to the slaughterhouse. 

Cayansa focused back on Midas and Kai. "How are you using the anti-Stormlight? No, it can't be anti-Stormlight, or there would've been-" Their eyes widened "- there would've been an explosion..."

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

Midas had half the mind to let the prisoner free, as they didn't even know where they were, much less what the policies of the area were. However, that would be quite the violation of policy. While Midas believed them, he also had to keep in mind that they could easily be lying. In a place like Alleycity, trusting one's intuition often led to being punished for it. However, he could answer the stranger's question.

"The Alleyverse is an odd place, a place outside of time. There are those that came from planets far and wide, and those that came from other times." Once more, Midas reminisced on his past life. A world of ignorance, with no knowledge of electricity, or of other worlds. They didn't even know about all of the magic contained in their world. Such darkness, both physical and mental. "I come from a planet called Scadrial, and have been given the magic from a planet called Nalthis. I have been told that in the future, our planets would have interacted, but that would be many centuries after I would have died, had the Alleyverse not found me. Even you were likely born many years after my time." Midas put on a gentle smile. "And yet here we are, face to face."

[Qianweilian He/him]

3 hours ago, Steel Speedster said:

Thav, Smokestack

After donning the hat and coat of the recruit he had knocked out, and pasting a fake mustache on his face, Thav led the way out of the hideout and down the streets of Smokestack towards the Mistwarrens. He felt in the pocket of the coat and found a piece of paper, which seemed to contain directions to the meeting place and bore an odd symbol. That was useful. Thav already had roughly figured out where they needed to go, but this would make it much easier to get there.

Near the edge of the Mistwarrens, Thav located a particular manhole, which he lifted off, opening an entrance into the sewer. Lovely.

"Well, in we go," he said, and descended the ladder into a smelly tunnel.

Aradan Liese, Smokestacks

Following closely behind Thav, Aradan watched him lift up the manhole and climb into the sewer. Waiting for just a moment until Thav reached the bottom, Aradan burned pewter and jumped down. Smelling the stench, he covered his nose and waited for Thav’s direction.

@Steel Speedster

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

On 1/29/2026 at 4:29 AM, Hoid Slayer said:

Ebonaryle, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Instinctively, without thinking, without even choosing, Ebon stepped to put himself between Perses and the young radiant and began pacing. He was used to the Alley environment, having seen it much in the last year.

”It’s the Crimson Breath. They had a bomb. Some kind of anti-investiture, harnessed at unprecedented levels. I think…” he stopped and looked up, meeting Perses’ confused gaze for the first time. “I think they finally have what they’ve been searching for.”

Fractal… Ebon welcomed and noted the new information about the boy. The better he could keep track of new figures, the better.

Ebon eyed the weapon warily, feeling somewhat protective of the kid, but didn’t outright say anything yet, waiting for Perses’ reaction to his news and holding back his itch to move.

Lux, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Lux eyed the stranger wearily.

On 1/29/2026 at 10:22 AM, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses turned to face Ebon, something that wasn’t particularly necessary, but something people seemed to appreciate. “are you sure you want to talk about this now, in front of the radiant?” Perses gestured to the terrified radiant. “We can always talk about it after we kill him.”

The radiant’s heartbeat pounded in Perses’ ears, each breath a cacophony in this otherwise silent room. The smell of sweat invaded his nostrils.

”Okay, this guy’s getting on my nerves. I’m just going to shoot him.” Perses moved to get a line of sight on the radiant, leveling his gun at them, but not yet firing.

@CoderDrag0n8

Midas, New Hallandren, A few blocks from the garrison

Midas raised an eyebrow at the prisoner, a bemused expression on his face. “How long have you been here in Alleycity?” 
 

As he waited for an answer, Midas thought of the first time he came to this blessed city. Broken and battered, he had suddenly found himself transported to a land unlike anything he had ever seen, with alien peoples wandering the streets, their heads held high. At first, he had thought he had reached the afterlife, and had died in Hathsin. Yet instead, he had been given a new life, a new chance to redeem his past failures. A new home.

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

"W-Wait!" Lux shouted, quickly thinking. Lux tried to look into the cognitive realm, see what he could use.

Spoiler

Does Lux know Perses is blind? How apparent would it be?

Also, would soulcasting or looking into the cognitive realm work in the alleys?

 

[Koloss17 She/They]

1 hour ago, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Lux, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Lux eyed the stranger wearily.

"W-Wait!" Lux shouted, quickly thinking. Lux tried to look into the cognitive realm, see what he could use.

  Hide contents

Does Lux know Perses is blind? How apparent would it be?

Also, would soulcasting or looking into the cognitive realm work in the alleys?

 

Quote

Well, Perses has spikes in his eyes. He used to be fully blind, and he’s now actually less blind than he was before, but he tends to turn off his ability to see if it isn’t relevant. 
 

the sight he does have is inquisitor’s sight, meaning he can see metals (and maybe investiture?). He can also tap it further to see the finest metals and the metals inside people’s bodies. But for the most part, a high tapping of his steelsight would allow him to see facial features and outlines of people, just not minute things and definitely not color. He also can’t read, even though he could probably see the text if it was written with graphite.

as for your question regarding the Alleys, I believe it has a separate cognitive and spiritual realm, and the cognitive realm was said to be super F-ed up. I don’t think there have been any explorations of what the Alleys’ CR looks like, but I can probably look into it.

edit: here’s what Voidus said regarding it.

”we didn't canonize anything overt, just 'this is the thing your nightmares have nightmares about'”

so, go wild and have fun.

 

Edited January 31 by Koloss17

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

18 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:

Quote

Well, Perses has spikes in his eyes. He used to be fully blind, and he’s now actually less blind than he was before, but he tends to turn off his ability to see if it isn’t relevant. 
 

the sight he does have is inquisitor’s sight, meaning he can see metals (and maybe investiture?). He can also tap it further to see the finest metals and the metals inside people’s bodies. But for the most part, a high tapping of his steelsight would allow him to see facial features and outlines of people, just not minute things and definitely not color. He also can’t read, even though he could probably see the text if it was written with graphite.

as for your question regarding the Alleys, I believe it has a separate cognitive and spiritual realm, and the cognitive realm was said to be super F-ed up. I don’t think there have been any explorations of what the Alleys’ CR looks like, but I can probably look into it.

edit: here’s what Voidus said regarding it.

”we didn't canonize anything overt, just 'this is the thing your nightmares have nightmares about'”

so, go wild and have fun.

 

Lux, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Lux began to look into the CR, and visibly stumbled back.

He sits down, shocked. One hand on the floor, the other on his forhead, he leans down for a moment.

He looks up to Perses, pure unimaginable terror in his eyes. But Perses can tell it's not at him. It is pure cosmic horror. "H-Have y-you se-seen the c-cognitive r-realm he-here?" Lux stutters from pure terror.

[Ink and Embers Any pronouns]

10 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Midas had half the mind to let the prisoner free, as they didn't even know where they were, much less what the policies of the area were. However, that would be quite the violation of policy. While Midas believed them, he also had to keep in mind that they could easily be lying. In a place like Alleycity, trusting one's intuition often led to being punished for it. However, he could answer the stranger's question.

"The Alleyverse is an odd place, a place outside of time. There are those that came from planets far and wide, and those that came from other times." Once more, Midas reminisced on his past life. A world of ignorance, with no knowledge of electricity, or of other worlds. They didn't even know about all of the magic contained in their world. Such darkness, both physical and mental. "I come from a planet called Scadrial, and have been given the magic from a planet called Nalthis. I have been told that in the future, our planets would have interacted, but that would be many centuries after I would have died, had the Alleyverse not found me. Even you were likely born many years after my time." Midas put on a gentle smile. "And yet here we are, face to face."

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

Cayansa stared at Midas, at a loss for words. Time that turned minutes into centuries? Other planets? A place that wasn't either?

In the future, our planets would have interacted... There were people here who would have been born long after Cayansa had died of old age. There were other Rosharans here, too, maybe people who-

They must know! Reyx said, glimmering rapidly in excitement. Some of them, about happened back at home. If everything's already happened but none of it's happened yet, then you can learn it. Perhaps this is where lost moments go. 

That makes no sense whatsoever, Cayansa thought back. Time is meaningless then, under these rules.

No. Time was meaningful before your people invented timepieces, and it still be constant once you're dead. This place is outside of time, like Midas said. What don't you understand?

Cayansa gave up debating with Reyx. "Magic from Nalthis? How does that work? Is it the one that removes Stormlight, or the one that makes everything so colourful? Are they the same one?" They wished they could move to write this down without giving away the fact they were untied. Gesturing with their head to the guards, they added,  "What about these people? They seem to be less colourful than everyone else. Not the most striking conversationalists, either." Or the most observant.

@Koloss17 @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

 

[Born of Mist He/Him]

On 1/27/2026 at 7:06 PM, Born of Mist said:

Genali'poonulah'likum'kai, Mistwarrens, alleyways

Fire swoops up and lashes himself in her direction. The tempest of stormlight an eager thrill in his veins, urging him onwards.

He forced himself not to answer her question. How was it she was able to get so much out of him? No matter, as she would soon not be able to ask any questions. 

"Can you follow her?" He asked 2752 as he rounds the corner with a few quick lashings. 

"Maybe, what is it human mothers sometimes say to children? Oh I remember! What's the magic word?"

"Please?" He asked, more than a little frustrated, stormlight leaking from his mouth. 

"Yes, I can." She says "Thank you for being polite." She zipped over to where the spiked was trying to get over a wall. He lashed himself towards her ready to end this.

@Akimikoisthecutest

[Akimikoisthecutest]

On 1/27/2026 at 5:06 PM, Born of Mist said:

Genali'poonulah'likum'kai, Mistwarrens, alleyways

Fire swoops up and lashes himself in her direction. The tempest of stormlight an eager thrill in his veins, urging him onwards.

He forced himself not to answer her question. How was it she was able to get so much out of him? No matter, as she would soon not be able to ask any questions. 

"Can you follow her?" He asked 2752 as he rounds the corner with a few quick lashings. 

"Maybe, what is it human mothers sometimes say to children? Oh I remember! What's the magic word?"

"Please?" He asked, more than a little frustrated, stormlight leaking from his mouth. 

"Yes, I can." She says "Thank you for being polite." She zipped over to where the spiked was trying to get over a wall. He lashed himself towards her ready to end this.

Cecillia, Mistwarrens, Alleyways

Cricket doesn't hesitate. As the man, "Fire," closes in with the crackle of Stormlight, she reaches into her worn satchel and pulls out a heavy, glass bottle of ink. She flares her Allomantic Tin, the world around her sharpening into agonizing detail—she can pinpoint the exact sound of the air moving past his ears.

With a desperate cry, she hurls the glass vial directly at his face.

The bottle shatters against his jaw and eyes. 

Cricket doesn't wait to see the effect. She taps the last of her stored Fortune, not knowing what it will do, only that she needs out now.

Her body goes into chaotic motion. She scrambles backward, her feet tangling in the refuse on the ground.

[Koloss17 She/They]

On 1/31/2026 at 2:02 AM, Ink and Embers said:

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

Cayansa stared at Midas, at a loss for words. Time that turned minutes into centuries? Other planets? A place that wasn't either?

In the future, our planets would have interacted... There were people here who would have been born long after Cayansa had died of old age. There were other Rosharans here, too, maybe people who-

They must know! Reyx said, glimmering rapidly in excitement. Some of them, about happened back at home. If everything's already happened but none of it's happened yet, then you can learn it. Perhaps this is where lost moments go. 

That makes no sense whatsoever, Cayansa thought back. Time is meaningless then, under these rules.

No. Time was meaningful before your people invented timepieces, and it still be constant once you're dead. This place is outside of time, like Midas said. What don't you understand?

Cayansa gave up debating with Reyx. "Magic from Nalthis? How does that work? Is it the one that removes Stormlight, or the one that makes everything so colourful? Are they the same one?" They wished they could move to write this down without giving away the fact they were untied. Gesturing with their head to the guards, they added,  "What about these people? They seem to be less colourful than everyone else. Not the most striking conversationalists, either." Or the most observant.

@Koloss17 @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

 

Midas, New Hallandren, New Hallandren Garrison

Midas put on a soft yet patronizing smile. “Oh child, you have so much to learn about the Alleyverse.” He couldn’t answer all of their questions, but he chose to answer the one that would be most pertinent. He gestured to the lifeless guardsmen. “These are the recovered corpses of New Hallandren guardsmen that have died in the line of duty, given a false life from the magic of Nalthis” In truth, they deeply unnerved Midas, but he had grown used to them, as they truly were quite efficient. “Some day, I will become one of them, when I die. The skills learned as a guard are deeply valuable, and such things need to be preserved. Ah, we’re here.”

The party had arrived at the New Hallandren garrison, just in the nick of time. Midas’ chromium reserved had nearly run out. He stopped burning chromium, recalled his awakened rope, and gestured for the rest of the party to do the same. Turning to face the prisoners, he issued a new warning. “You are now on New Hallandren official property, and will be treated as such under the law. While you are physically free, you are still under custody until you are questioned and released.” Midas paused for dramatic effect. “If you are to attempt to flee, you will be deemed guilty by the district of New Hallandren of whatever crimes are determined to have occurred at the explosion site, and will be dealt with accordingly.”

“Now if you will, I will see the first group for questioning,” Midas said, gesturing to the two radiants and the returned. And with that, he entered the questioning chamber.

@KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

On 1/30/2026 at 7:50 PM, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Lux, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Lux began to look into the CR, and visibly stumbled back.

He sits down, shocked. One hand on the floor, the other on his forhead, he leans down for a moment.

He looks up to Perses, pure unimaginable terror in his eyes. But Perses can tell it's not at him. It is pure cosmic horror. "H-Have y-you se-seen the c-cognitive r-realm he-here?" Lux stutters from pure terror.

Quote

@Hoid Slayer I will wait for your response before continuing mine.

 

[KnightSkye Reforged They/Them]

On 1/28/2026 at 11:54 AM, Koloss17 said:

Midas, New Hallandren, Crater

Once the rubble was cleared and all witnesses of the devastation were in custody, Midas ordered the party’s return to the garrison, making sure Starseeker followed. He held onto the radiant, ensuring that they could not summon their shards while they were escorted to the premises. 
 

As they walked, the crowds in the vibrant streets of New Hallandren parted. Everyone knew not to impede guardsman’s business. Midas didn’t make conversation with any of the prisoners. He was normally quite the talkative person, but ever since joining the garrison and rising through the ranks, he had learned to be more careful with what he said.

As he walked the sandy cobbles of New Hallandren, his biochromatic aura brought the normally vibrant streets into an almost sickening colorfulness. Though he had spent several years in these streets, it still felt wrong to see so much color. Where he was from, muted shades of gray further darkened by the ever falling ash were the only colors the streets saw. Yet his life was good and his pockets were deep, so he couldn’t complain all that much.

Just a few blocks more, Midas thought. He really hated burning this much chromium. Sure, he was given a supply of chromium from the garrison itself, but they only gave so much. When his supplies ran out, he had to pay out of pocket. And he had ran out of his monthly supply last week. Lord Ruler, did he hate dealing with radiants who don’t cooperate. Those idiots likely account for 70% of his chromium expenditures. At least at the garrison, a radiant being confrontational wouldn’t come out of his pockets.
 

@KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @Ink and Embers

Kaiden, New Hallandren.

Kai followed Midas quietly, if a bit sullenly. The man just was trying to do his job. 

Typical Scadrian suspicion, ignoring the Oaths of Radiants as if they meant nothing. 

On 1/30/2026 at 12:53 PM, Ink and Embers said:

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

The head guard, Midas, raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "How long have you been here in Alleycity?" he asked, an edge to his voice that most commonly heralded a mocking kind of laughter. 

"Uh ..." Cayansa peered around them. There was one large timepiece on a turquoise building with people streaming in and out of it, but there were too many segments and too few hands to make sense. "A day and a bit? Definitely not two nights. Well, that depends on how time here works, which is strange, because time is supposed to be constant, right? That's what makes time time!"

They remembered the first timepiece fabrial they'd made, one of three, probably all sold to rich lighteyes by now. The spren had pulsed in the gemstone, spinning in time to some unheard song that perhaps humans had never been meant to understand. Then, of course, they'd been packaged up and sold like chulls to the slaughterhouse. 

Cayansa focused back on Midas and Kai. "How are you using the anti-Stormlight? No, it can't be anti-Stormlight, or there would've been-" Their eyes widened "- there would've been an explosion..."

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

Kai started at the words, "anti-stormlight." What in Damnation!? He'd need to ask her about this later. She must be from the future of Roshar. 

13 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Midas, New Hallandren, New Hallandren Garrison

Midas put on a soft yet patronizing smile. “Oh child, you have so much to learn about the Alleyverse.” He couldn’t answer all of their questions, but he chose to answer the one that would be most pertinent. He gestured to the lifeless guardsmen. “These are the recovered corpses of New Hallandren guardsmen that have died in the line of duty, given a false life from the magic of Nalthis” In truth, they deeply unnerved Midas, but he had grown used to them, as they truly were quite efficient. “Some day, I will become one of them, when I die. The skills learned as a guard are deeply valuable, and such things need to be preserved. Ah, we’re here.”

The party had arrived at the New Hallandren garrison, just in the nick of time. Midas’ chromium reserved had nearly run out. He stopped burning chromium, recalled his awakened rope, and gestured for the rest of the party to do the same. Turning to face the prisoners, he issued a new warning. “You are now on New Hallandren official property, and will be treated as such under the law. While you are physically free, you are still under custody until you are questioned and released.” Midas paused for dramatic effect. “If you are to attempt to flee, you will be deemed guilty by the district of New Hallandren of whatever crimes are determined to have occurred at the explosion site, and will be dealt with accordingly.”

“Now if you will, I will see the first group for questioning,” Midas said, gesturing to the two radiants and the returned. And with that, he entered the questioning chamber.

@KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

 

Kai followed. 

Quote

Sorry I took so long to post. I had a really bad week or two. 

 

Edited February 2 by KnightSkye Reforged

[Koloss17 She/They]

3 hours ago, KnightSkye Reforged said:

Kaiden, New Hallandren.

Kai followed Midas quietly, if a bit sullenly. The man just was trying to do his job. 

Typical Scadrian suspicion, ignoring the Oaths of Radiants as if they meant nothing. 

Kai started at the words, "anti-stormlight." What in Damnation!? He'd need to ask her about this later. She must be from the future of Roshar. 

Kai followed. 

 

Quote

You’re totally good! Life obviously comes first

 

[Steel Speedster ♂]

On 1/30/2026 at 4:00 PM, Qianweilian said:

Aradan Liese, Smokestacks

Following closely behind Thav, Aradan watched him lift up the manhole and climb into the sewer. Waiting for just a moment until Thav reached the bottom, Aradan burned pewter and jumped down. Smelling the stench, he covered his nose and waited for Thav’s direction.

@Steel Speedster

Thav, Underground, Sewers

Thav referenced the directions and then led the way down the sewer tunnel. Eventually, they reached an opening in the wall, leading into a natural cave. A surly looking guard leaned against the doorway, eyeing them suspiciously. As they drew nearer, his eyes flicked to the piece of paper in Thav's hand, and he nodded curtly, allowing them to pass without a word.

As they moved down the passage, voices echoed, growing steadily louder, until they reached a wide cavern filled with people. Another group of guards stood near the entrance. Thav held up the invitation in his hand, heart beginning to beat. This was the real test of his disguise. To his relief, they let him pass. "This is a friend," Thav said, gesturing to Aradan. He did his best to speak in a slightly deeper voice to match the person he was imitating. The guards nodded, allowing Aradan to enter as well.

Thav turned to examine the room. Tapping zinc, he quickly counted about forty attendees. There were also some grunts, who he presumed were already under the employ of this mysterious enclave. Thav burned bronze, but as he had expected, felt no Allomantic pulses. The cave was being smoked.

@Qianweilian

Fenna, Underground, Meeting Cavern

Fenna glanced up as two newcomers arrived. They were let through and allowed to mingle with the rest of the group. There was no clock, but she thought the meeting must be starting soon. She sat down against the wall and began storing weight to pass the time.

@Mistfallen Soldier

Quote

Feel free to have Saitaku arrive whenever you're ready.

 

Jerrin, Smokestack

With some relief, Jerrin crossed back into the Scadrian zone and let his speed lapse completely. He felt slightly guilty for leaving when everyone else at the crater had been taken by the police force, but there wasn't much he could do about it either. Kaiden would be fine. He was a Radiant, and he hadn't done anything wrong. The Nalthians had no reason to hold him for long. Jerrin didn't have that luxury. He operated outside the law, and he doubted the New Hallandren guard would have shown him much kindness if he had been captured. If Kaiden actually needed help, he would send a message via his spren, and Jerrin could figure something out from there. For now, he could just go home. His job was done.

Arriving at the safety of the hideout, Jerrin finally turned off his electrum. Inside, he found it empty. Didn't Thav have some 'job' tonight? he realized. The two of them were still working on the case, but they were each pursuing separate avenues to cover more ground. Thav had seemed pretty adamant that this particular mission was a one-person job.

Jerrin tried not to worry too much about the kid, but it was hard, considering what they had been through. Instead of going to sleep, he sat back down at his desk to continue searching the papers there.