Two robed figures walked into a narrow alleyway. They waited a moment to be sure they were not followed.

The first figure held up a gloved hand. "Long life and good health," his voice rasped, and he coughed, spraying sticky green phlegm.

"All flow from the great father," replied the second figure. His breath stunk of rot and decay, but his companion took no notice.

The first figure spoke. "More watchers have been placed throughout the city. It is becoming difficult to move without detection. Only the Lost Narrows now remains as a safe haven, but the minions of the Blood God have all but taken over there." More coughing followed, and then the speaker cleared his throat long and loud. He spat a great glob of mucus on the ground.

The second speaker answered. "Perhaps we can destroy the watcher, then? Attack them between the patrols of the sentries?"

"We've tried that," the first countered. "They are impervious to our powers, and within moments the sentries come."

"We must think of something! We cannot spread our influence in the Inevitable City if the Great Manipulator can see what we are doing!"

The other robed figure answered with a gasp, and pointed to the mouth of the alley.

A half dozen sentries were standing there, and one was holding a heavy chain. Suspended in the air above him, was a great floating eyeball mounted within a metal shell, to which the chain was affixed. The watcher bobbed back and forth in the air as it stared at the two conspirators.

The sentries drew their swords and moved in.