The Voices.

They whispered to Sanath when he awoke, creeping into his skull with words of praise. They thanked him for finding the book, reading its contents, giving them names. They encouraged him to seek out more knowledge, learn the truth of the universe, find his real self. After inhaling a dose of Kalma to start the day, Sanath donned his usual clothes and armaments, before carefully placing the book he had found within his bag, and rushing out the door.

In his dealings as a messenger for a local Crime Lord, Sanath had learned a fair bit about some of the hidden cults and sects that lay in the grime and dirt of the underhive, though he had never thought to connect them to the voices he heard. Recalling an old ally from the past who might know of such things, he traversed the alleyways and corridors of the city, before arriving at an inconspicuous shop  wedged between two large tenement buildings. The grimey, glowing sign stated [i]Ilario's Specialty Goods[/i], which Sanath knew to mean items of questionable legality. He slowly entered the storefront, cautiously glancing around before approaching the shopkeeper at the counter. "uhm...yeah. Is Ilario here? Tell him Sanath Marko needs to speak with him. It's important business." Sanath said to the man, who gave him a curious look before walking up the stairwell to the above offices. Sanath heard a door creak open, and some muffled speaking before the shopkeep returned, gesturing with a thumb up the stairs saying "Boss's upstairs, ready to see ya..." Sanath spoke a quick thanks to the man before rushing up the steps. He entered the office and quietly shut the door behind him, the man in the elaborate chair behind a desk swiveling it around to face him.

"San, ol' friend! It's good to see ya!" laughed the sleazy man by the name of Ilario, his ring-encrusted fingers clutching a lho-stick and a bottle of questionable liquid. "How're ya doin'? Still workin' for ol' Rotgut Dorn?" Sanath nodded as he sat in the chair across the desk, placing his bag upon his lap. "So what did ya need?" Ilario asked, a wild grin with many missing teeth resting upon his face. "Well, I have this 'item' that I needed more information on. You might wanna close those curtains." Sanath said, reaching into his bag to pull out the book, as Ilario stood to cover the windows of the office. Sanath placed the book upon the desk, the embedded eight-point star facing upward. Ilario chuckled a bit before giving Sanath another grin, this one far more sinister. "Well, lookie here. I figured you'd learn about 'em eventually, just didn't know when. This here book, it's tellin' ya about the Gods. The real ones, not that bloody corpse they preach about at the shrines." Sanath nodded, saying "I've read it, and that's exactly what it said. The reason I came to you is that, well I'm pretty sure these gods are talking to me. I hear these voices that match up with their personalities, and they want me to learn more." Ilario's face quickly turned far more serious, reaching into his desk to pull something out as he spoke. "I'll tell ya what, San. I know a place with people who can talk with ya about this. Take these, they'll help you get in. I'll also be sendin' the word out to 'em." With that he handed Sanath a small card with a stone. As the stone passed over the card, Sanath noted the same 8-pointed star from before. "Head to a placed called 'The Gentlemen's Boutique of Intriguing Antiques' and ask for the VIP area. When they ask for identification, show 'em that star and tell 'em I sent ya. That'll get ya where ya need to go." Sanath stood from the chair and thanked Ilario with a firm handshake, leaving the room and setting out for the shop in question...

[@Jbcool]