Guide through the Undermarket [dated][open]

[Grayscale]

Timeline: 12.Nov evening (right after the rebel speech)
Outsourced from here

Jack sighs as Silvern Gleam mentioned a griffon massacre. It just remembers him at his lost caused by a griffon. "I see. Actually I don't need a map to orientade. I have my cutie mark for a reason" he chuckles and tilts his head to his cutie mark. "Well, at least above the ground it's no problem, but down here I need at least to walk the way once before I can remember it." Jack makes a little pause and then continues with a smile "I'm glad that I have a guide now. Do you just live here or do you have a shop down here?"

[Silvern Gleam]

Sil simply led him along the tunnel, not taking any turns for some time. She chuckled when Jack referenced his Cutie Mark, without telling her what it was. Apparently she really hadn't acted enough like a blind pony in his presence. A game of cutie mark guessing? Mh, possibly a compass rose?, she answered jokingly and winked at him. Colors where one thing she couldn't sense, and though there might be a way to determine a cutie mark from a pony's magical signature, Sil definitely wasn't able to do that. But she was actually relatively sure about her guess, navigation and similar talents often were depicted by compass roses. Her own wasn't that easy to interpret, she knew that, though she didn't have an image of it in her head. That was the curse of those who've been born blind and never experienced the world of the seeing: Said world was an unimaginable mystery, as was Sil's world to others.

Yes, I do have a shop in the tunnels, she answered when the question came up. They had just reached a smaller tunnel leaving to the left which Sil now was following. But as you already experienced at our first meeting, I'm very careful about what I tell others. Sorry, but for the time being I'd like to keep the details a secret. After a short thought back to herself joining the rebellion, she had to smile awkwardly. Though I must admit I wasn't very careful with what I've told that rebel leader. There it had been "either this rebellion works and everything's fine or I'm doomed anyway". I'll probably show you eventually, but not now, sorry. You wouldn't have much use for my wares anyway.
Just in time to change the topic they arrived at an exit. From down here, it wasn't hard to recognize, a simple ladder in a recess in the wall, ending below a metal cover. Usually such ladders lead you to the surface, though depending on how deep you've went you might have to climb several of them. Her tone now got much more serious as she continued with the explanation. I guess you already figured that, but it can't be stated clear enough: Be bucking careful when going outside! The whole Undermarket depends on you not being seen then. There's usually a small peephole in the cover, if not you have to lift it carefully and take a peek.
The mare stepped aside to allow the pegasus climbing up, while she already checked the area outside with a short flash of her amulet. The exit was one in Downtown, as most others it was located in the back alleys, where hardly anybody would have reason to go to, except for those with shady intentions, of whom there sadly were more than enough. Apart from a dark street, dumpsters and the usual filth there wouldn't be much to see at the moment.

(( Note: At the time I've written this post, I had no clue about your cm, it's a real guess. By the time you read this, I probably already know for sure, though. ))

[Grayscale]

Jack chuckles awkwardly "Oh, I'm sorry, but you walk besides me without scanning the ground with your hoofs or stumbling over things, so I totally forgot that you are blind. I already noticed it at our first meeting. It seemed that you noticed the threat even without your eyes. I guess it's some kind of visual spell you use, but I'm wondering what and how far you can see." He pauses and looks up to the exit as Slivern Gleam makes a step aside. "Are there any exits near the outskirts? Because the curfew already started and I would like to avoid to walk through Downtown right now." Jack makes another pause. "Actually, I would like to stay down here for the night. Discovering the Undermarket and maybe we can even talk to the rebel leaders." he says with a more excited voice and quickly adds "And don't worry you don't have to show me your shop if you don't trust me yet." He gets a bit closer to Silvern Gleam and says with a lowered voice "I wouldn't trust me either after the first meeting." He makes a step backwards and smiles friendly.

[Silvern Gleam]

Not scanning the ground with her hooves? Indeed, apparently she had already dropped this habit around him, something she only noticed when he mentioned it. But no sense in starting it now, she smilingly nodded at his guess. Since that is already obvious: Yes, I use magic to see. Though it's not really a spell. Regarding my range I'd rather not be exact, but you should warn me when you see something suspicious or possibly dangerous.

I have no real intention to go outside now either, Sil said, but still stood besides the ladder waiting for Jack to climb up. How do you want to enter the Undermarket if you don't know how to recognize an entrance? You should take a look, you'll be glad about it when you have to suddenly disappear in Downtown, and now we're here anyway.
After a short consideration she agreed to the tour he'd like to do. Sil had planned to simply circle the most important inner parts of the town and then return, but she already knew everything and had no preference on where to go.
Yes, I could show you some of the peripheral exits, but since we're currently in the city center, it would take some time to get there. Which direction would be most useful to you? Just "Outskirts" still can mean everything, and after one such tour I'd like to see if the recruiting is finished by then, so it would be useful if you had a clearer preference.

[Grayscale]

"I guess you're right" Jack says as he walks to the ladder and starts to climb it up. As he reaches the end of the leader he slowly pushes away the metal cover. The exit is hidden under a empty dumpster in a small alley and it's easy for Jack to push it away. He climbs out of the manhole and quietly runs to the corner of the alley. Maybe there are any buildings or street signs he can memorize and there are acutally some. A red house between two blue ones is a very easy sign to memorize. He runs back to the manhole, pulls the dumpster back over it and quietly closes the manhole with the manhole cover again. Jack slides down the ladder and now stands beside Silvern Gleam again. "Okay, I know where this entrance is now. From here my farm is straight south, but there aren't any tunnels which lead directly to it. So I'll just use the nearest entrance."

[Silvern Gleam]

To the south? That would be industrial district, maybe we're almost neighbors. This way. Depending on how far outside this farm was, that could be true. But Sil still didn't intend to give him the exact location.
It was a rather long trip, and so Sil walked relatively fast, without appearing rushed, which was already a bit of speed for the relatively tall mare.
A farm... I have a feeling farming isn't your original occupation. At least your special talent suggests that, she said, simply to have some conversation going, but then recognized the location they were just in and pointed a hoof at a small side tunnel they were passing by.
Oh, don't go down there. Not particularly dangerous, but it takes days until you get that smell out of your fur.

[Grayscale]

Jack is surprised by the walking speed of the mare, but can easily keep up with her.
"Well, I was raised at the farm, but made a lot of trips with my friends. I guess that was the time where I found out that I have a good sense of direction and that sense really helped me in the army as a squad leader. After my military career I took over the farm again and well here I am now. That was my life in a nutshell." he chuckles and nods as they walk past the tunnel "I'll memorize that."
After a pause he asks "Why did you come down here?"

[Silvern Gleam]

The almost constant smile on Sil's lips vanished at Jack's question and made place for a sad look, fitting to the voice in which she answered. The griffons did a good job in destroying everything I had on the surface., she said. My shop in Canterlot has been destroyed, my old friends I haven't heard of since then, and my parents were killed when the griffons took Manehatten. Down here I at least don't have to bother with them. A slight chuckle came back to her when she thought about the most recent event. Though I probably have given up on that peace by joining the rebellion. But it simply was time that those damn birds get bucked out of Equestria.

The way they took certainly wasn't the direct one. Regularly Sil gave out a warning about tunnels, be it because of unpleasant company, risk of collapsing, or especially bad smell again, and avoiding all those paths forced them to do many detours.
That's something you should get used to, you almost never can walk directly down here, she said when they once again had to go away from a tunnel leading directly south, with the explanation that it simply was a dead end.

[Grayscale]

Jack notices that Silvern Gleam lost her constant smile. "Oh I'm sorry, if I broached an uncomfortable subject" he says with a depressed voice. Sometimes he forgets that someponies had greater losses than he had. They force him to grow food, but they didn't burned his farm or killed his friends. Well, at least Jack hopes that his friends are still alive.
As they quickly walk through the tunnels he tries to find any strikingly signs, which would make the orientation way more easier, but most of the tunnels look the same. "Well, if a griffon would find a way down here, he would starve before he finds somepony." Jack says with a chuckle.

[Silvern Gleam]

It's fine, you couldn't know, Sil said, forcing up her soft smile again. Years of training as shopkeeper made that pretty easy. She joined Jack in his chuckle, she actually would like to watch a griffon getting lost in this maze. That's probably true, Sil joined Jack in his chuckle. Would be funny, but unfortunately not worth the risk. Otherwise I'd probably regularly lead griffons here.
Eventually Sil approached another ladder at the end of a tunnel. This is the southernmost exit I know of. From here it's not far until you're out of city grounds. From below it didn't look much different than the one in Downtown, only the look outside would be much different since they were now under the industrial district.

[Grayscale]

Jack walks to the ladder and starts to climb up slowly. "Maybe you could "see", if something is on the other side,please? It wouldn't be that good, if I run into some griffons up there." he says and climbs until he reaches the manhole cover and waits there for a signal from Silvern Gleam. "And?"

[Silvern Gleam]

One moment...
Horn glowing white she did as requested, and it was a unusual long look for her and she seemed to concentrate. When she stopped casting, she gave Jack a nod. You can take a look, but be careful, there was a patrol passing by. They're out of my range now, but that doesn't have to mean much. As long as you make no noise, it should be fine, it's hidden well enough, and I won't always be there to warn you anyway so you should get used to finding out for yourself.

[Grayscale]

Jack nods as Silvern Gleam gives the okay. He slowly pushes the manhole cover, but it was heavier than the last one. "Don't tell me somepony put a trash can on it." he mumbles and carefully pushes a bit harder, so he won't knock it over. It takes him a bit longer to push the manhole cover away, but at least he does it quietly. He climbs out of the manhole and quietly moves to the corner of the alley.
Just as he peeks around the corner he sees that the patrol is on its way back."Oh buck!" he thinks and quickly runs back to the manhole. Jack pulls the cover over it just in the right moment. He slides down the ladder and with a gasp he says "That was close, but I think they didn't notice me."

[Silvern Gleam]

Sil awaited with a grin. Again, get used to it. You'll never know what you'll find out there, she said. They haven't noticed you, we're safe. Now I'd say we go back, possibly we have luck and find somebody to talk to.
Her walked as quickly as before, she simply was somewhat excited and worried at the same time, now that the realization of what she was joining slowly sank in. A rebellion, a chance to pay the griffons back. She had to know if those behind it were any good, and she wanted to know as fast as possible.
I hope they have an idea of what they're doing. If this rebellion goes wrong, the Undermarket will certainly cease to exist, she stated the worries she had about it.

[Grayscale]

"If it was up to me, I would take you everywhere I go." he chuckled and realzied that Silvern Gleam could misinterpret the last sentence. "I mean a vision like you have can be very useful in an urban envoirnment and CQB" he quickly adds. Jack trots beside her and memorize the way again. "I think they know what they do. They didn't look like kids to me."
He's wondering what their first steps will be, because these steps decide if the rebellion is going to fail or not. "And if their plans sound like total crap, I would have a word with them. I mean look at me, I could almost be their dad." he says laughing.

[Silvern Gleam]

Sil chuckled at Jack's last comment, but the reason for that only being only a little phrase he had used without any thought about it. Look at you? That's a difficult task you give me. Care to give me a hint on where to get working eyes, she said jokingly, then slowly shook her head. I certainly don't have only advantages. I don't get more information, only a different set. For example I have a hard time guessing age, I mostly do it from size and sound of the voice.
Her grin didn't hold for very long for they had a more serious topic at hoof. I don't know how helpful I can be with developing plans, but there are surely ways how I can help executing them. And I might have one or the other idea.
The way to the hopefully temporary HQ of the rebellion was much shorter than the route they had taken previously, but they still had to take some detours, that simply was the nature of the Undermarket.

[Grayscale]

"I'm sorry." Jack says with a sigh as he realizes what he just said. "But still, a different kind of information can be very helpful during a fight and could be a decisive factor to win a battle. And this already makes you very valuable for the rebellion."
Silvern Gleam isn't only valuable for the rebellion, she also very valuable for Jack. He trained almost half of his life to get informations secretly and if it gets to the point where the rebellion would need his talent he will volunteer and then it would be great to have a partner with such a talent like her.
Gray trots beside her for a moment before he starts to chuckle "How old do you guess I am?"

[Silvern Gleam]

No need to apologize, it's just a saying and I'm usually the first one to joke about it, Sil said smilingly. She had laughed about it and Jack had apologized, where was the reason for that? Always the same with the seeing...
Sil mostly had to agree with Jack regarding the value of magic sight for the rebellion, combined with artifacts it was even better, but one thing she felt should be corrected. This ability certainly is useful, but not for fights, especially not in open areas. As for your age... Somewhere between thirty and sixty, but obviously you're not the youngest anymore if you could be their dad, so I'll just go for the higher half, 45 to 60.

[Grayscale]

"Your guess was close. Actually I'm 55. Or 56?" Jack scratches his head. "It's hard to track your age, if you don't really care about it. And yeah, in an open field your view is very limited compared to somepony with normal eyes, but in the sewers or in a small alley you have an advantage over other ponies, because you can look through walls and around corners, right? And that would make you a perfect scout." Jack slightly chuckles "And don't worry usually scouts don't fight much."
After a short while Jack can hear some voices in the distance again. "It seems that we're almost there. I hope they're done with the sign up. I have some questions, I want to ask our new 'leaders'."

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