<strong>Location: (file error)</strong><br/><strong>Local Time: 2148 hours</strong><br/><br/>For a few brief moments, the alleyway becomes something more than a trash-strewn narrow lane between buildings.  It serves as someone's point of arrival...a positive, rather than a negative, as a dimensional gate spills high-end energy out to briefly light the graffiti-strewn bricks with an eerie, eldritch glow.<br/><br/>The shimmering portal fades from view almost as soon as it forms, holding just long enough to admit a woman passage: her clothing is a simple light grey tunic with a green sash for a belt and black trousers tucked into knee high boots, loose silvery-gray hair restrained with a dark leather thong, an ornate staff in one hand and a hooded cloak hiding most of her from view.  Around her head, three strange objects orbit: they are made of some dark metal and appear to be shaped like gaming dice... a d8, a d12, and a d20.<br/><br/>After the portal closes, the young woman looks around, her pale skin almost glowing in the available light.  Tilting her face up, she focuses her lavender eyes on the floating d20.<br/><br/>"Report," she says in a clear, slightly frosty, commanding tone.<br/><br/>A firm, baritone male voice answers her from the twenty-sider.<br/><br/>"Class eight world.  Background mantic energies in fifty to seventy range.  Caution advised.  No travel advisory beacon detected."<br/><br/>"Of course not.  This is as far off the mainlines as we've come so far.  Any sign of the Old Man?"<br/><br/>"Negative."<br/><br/>Grabbing the object out of the air, he stuffs it back in his pocket.<br/><br/>"Good.  Go to standby."  Using her staff as a walking stick, the peculiar young woman goes in search of information.