Oasis 9: Jewel in the Desert
Once upon a time. Every story begins that way, doesn't it?
Once upon a time, a young merchant sent a letter into the desert. The letter arrived, and she received a letter in turn. It read:
Dear Kisaiya,
It is good to hear from you. I look forward to meeting with you both, and to discussing your letter.
I'm afraid that business keeps me from Tashraan so soon, but my cousin Rifaah may travel there. You may see him among the markets. He is able to take you to me. If you miss him, however, just follow the sun.
Clan Ahl extends its warmest welcome,
Jack
Enclosed is a small sachet of spices, both warm and sharp, with a hint of musk.
And so, fortune favors the bold, and likewise finds you in the blooming markets of Tashraan. How one would find any single person here is a mystery, though one apparently, you are here to solve.
Although both port cities, the similarity ends there. Beautiful spires top golden-hued buildings. Flags of various colors fly from poles, and smaller palaces cluster around them. The city spirals outwards in a giant half-circle, looking as though it gets seeder and shoddier the further from the main palace (and its miniatures) one gets.
Then, there is the noise. The people are one thing in this, the largest trading city in the world, but the sheer noise and busyness could bake the most citified Alexandrian want to seek the solitude of fields and forests.
Welcome to the Jewel of the Desert.
Sasha can onl whistle while she's in the city. "This is worse than Alexandria." She says trying to stay out of everyone's way.....and failing miserably.....
"WORSE?!" Kisa says as she spins and flings her arms out to encompass the area. No doubt there's was probably one person who had to duck from such a gesture. She grins from ear to ear and then starts moving one way, stops, starts moving another, stops, back to the first, stop- "ACK!" And her collar is grabbed, clotheslining herself on her own neckline as Tami had grabbed it.
"Waaaaaat?" She says as she looks back to Tami and then Sasha, "SO MUCH TO BUY! So little time. The /spices/! DO YOU SMELL THEM!? I can smell them from he-e-e-ere! They're awesome." She flings her arm off toward one of the vendors, "LIKE THOSE OVER THERE! Totally smells like the ones that were sent, maybe, ish, close. But the silks! I SEE SILKS!"
Tami sighs.
"The finest in Tashraan!" a middle-aged oruch beams from a side stall. He holds up a golden scarf. Tassels tipped in bells drip from its edge.
"The finest! Except mine--" a gnome leaps to the top of her stand, and holds up another. She twirls for effect, and drapes it about her (slightly rotund) person. "--made from the finest silks you'll find. Practically as silken and legendary as a genie's beard!"
The SOUNDS! It's all around you. But Rifaah...?
(New BB message (3/114) posted to 'Plot Announcements' by NeverSleepsPool: Singular Part 6 (CLOSED))
GAME: Felicia has connected.
Sasha says, "and Rifah is not here." She then looks to Kisa......and shakes her head. "Is there a way we can tie her up and carry her around?""
"OH MY GODS AS SOFT AS A GENIE'S BEARD?!" Kisa starts beelining it over in the direction of the Gnome. Tami swipes and... misses.
"I wish." She mutters, "Lemme go see if I can ask around. Can you like..." And Tami sort of gestures with both her hands in Kisa direction. Sort of like she's painting the whole area with a huge sort of stroking motion. "Handle...? Yes?" She looks to Sasah pleadingly.
Sasha says, "I don't think there's a starmetal club hard enough to knock her out, Tami." She says softly. "Well....Let's ask around and see if we can find Rifaah." She says walking over towards the gnome vendor and asking....fairly bluntly."
GAME: Kisaiya rolls 10: (8)+10: 18
GAME: Kisaiya rolls Diplomacy: (12)+15: 27
GAME: Sasha rolls diplomacy: (8)+15: 23
GAME: Aznara has connected.
"Oh, /exactly/! Why don't you try it on?" the gnome says coquettishly. She proffers the scarf--a long, elegant thing of bright maroon with tassels and fringe--to Kisaiya.
A genie's beard? Now, that's quite the claim, Qamirah. You know that's all puff and legend," the oruch says with a wink.
"They seem like discerning ladies, /Haayi/," the gnome replies, and then turns her warm smile on Sasha and Kisaiya.
GAME: Celeste has connected.
Sasha says, "I didn't realize Genies had beards. Now hair, that's a different story." She then chuckles. "How about just seeing how soft it is?" She says before looking over her shoulder to the oruch, then walks over to him. "You wouldn't know anyone by the name of Rifaah, would you?""
"Oh my /GODS/ yes!" Kisa takes the scarf and feels it, rubbing it between her fingers before she presses it to the side of her face. "I dunno, Qamirah! Haayi might be on to something!" She looks over to the Oruch and raises her eyebrows as Tami meanders off into the shopping center.
"UGH! I swear i need to know how much I'll have left over though." Kisa moves to look at the other silks the Oruch is selling. "I'm doing a business deal with Rifaah of Clan Ahl, do you know him because I totally need to figure out how much I'll be left with before I buy silks." She picks up one from the Oruch's table and mimics it - feeling it then rubbing it to her cheek.
"I DUNNO QAMIRAH! I think Haayi's might be softer!"
"Discerning customers," Haayi says with satisfaction. He lets Kisaiya admire the scarf a while and is too cultured an oruch to cast a look at his competitor.
Well, maybe just a touch.
"Clan Ahl..." Qamirah refolds the maroon scarf over her small knees. "I do think I've heard of them. But why on earth would you ever--"
"--do business with an entrepreneurial, and up and coming spice merchant?" Haayi interrupts. If a second scarf, perhaps one slightly more expensive, appears alongside the golden one atop his counter, why. It's only coincidence.
GAME: NeverSleepsPool has reconnected.
GAME: NeverSleepsPool has partially disconnected.
GAME: NeverSleepsPool has reconnected.
"Because I don't just do silks! I do import /AND/ export." A nod of her head, because.... that makes sense? Wait. No? Maybe. It's Kisa, don't think too hard about it.
"Oooo." She picks up the one from Haayi, feels it between her fingers, then a rub along her cheek and she starts back over toward Qamirah with a look of expectancy. "I dunno though. Perhaps you have some for a more discerning customer?" Kisaya's eyebrows rise as she still holds Haayi's scarf and waits to see if the Gnome pulls out another one.
"But once I figure out where he is, we can work out the spices, and then I'll know how much I have left over to arrange for the first shipment to the clothing merchants I represent." She holds up the gold one, examining the play of the color with the natural light as Kisa's head turns a bit to the side.
GAME: Ga'Elian has connected.
GAME: NeverSleepsPool has partially disconnected.
Sasha chuckles a little bit. "I'll say we're a friend of a couple of the clan." She says as Kisa looks over the scarfs. "And I'm in the same boat as her. When I come back, you two will be my first stop, if I have any money left over."
"A friend, you said? It's a pleasure to meet you, then. We go back years, I'm sure," Haayi suggests. "A fine young man." Kisaiya's gestures do have his attention; he gives it to her and Sasha in full.
The gnome raises a brow at this, as she continues to fold the maroon scarf. She sets it aside next to her, and rests her palms on either side. Gives her feet a kick, as though to see where the story might go.
"Do you now?" she asks, with a lilt to her tone.
"Of course! Though...I haven't seen him come in, not today. But he's a bit opportunistic. Still finding his market."
GAME: Weather has connected.
GAME: Mikilos has disconnected. <Netfailure>
GAME: Kira has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Kisa stares at the gnome, stares. CLEARLY SHE'S WAITING FOR THE HAGGLE! How else can she play the merchants off of eachother to get a better deal if they don't play along with! WAGH! She lowers the gold scarf again, the one from the Oruch, as she looks toward the Gnome again. A beat, another, then back to Haayi>
"Oh! Wonderful. So he finally set up a stall here? GOOD!" She crosses her arms and looks back to the Gnome. Will she take the bait or is this deal going to have to go the Oruch's way. A raised eyebrow as she idly plays with the gold fabric.
JOBS: Job 42 has been approved by Whiteout.
Sasha is staying out of Kisa's game. nope nope NOPE
JOBS: Whiteout has sent mail regarding Job 43.
The oruch watches the fingers play across, and then lifts his eyes as he smiles. "If you manage to come back with a few gold, I'll offer you quite the deal. But...I suspect you may have some left over. I haven't seen him in town all week."
"But, from one merchant to another--and since you have such discerning tastes, you might try...Qamari's Fine Spices," Haayi suggests, after sending the gnome a teasing, if challenging look. It earns him a smile that suggests she knows he's full of it.
But, she turns the smile to a new, potential customer passing by.
Haayi turns back to the two of you. "I hear Qamari deals in interesting fare. You might drop by, and he may have a better lead than I do."
Sasha says, "Interesting fare, huh?" She says before looking to Tami, then shrugs. "might as well go check it out. If you can pry yourself from the silk, Kisa.""
Kisa looks between the two silk merchants again and frowns, but... Since the Gnome isn't playing, she moves back over to Haayi's stall and holds out the gold scarf for him with a smile. "How long before you could have say... 20 yards of varying colors ready to ship - just for the first batch. Need to see how well the market is going for silks, it'll be a bit niche till mid-spring I think." A nod of her head.
Tami finally comes back over as Sasha starts looking off in her direction. A look to one side, then the other and she tucks her hair into the hood of her cloak as she looks back off to the left. "Okay, so, haven't spoted him yet but - if I got this right - it looks like the market is all laid out according to the value of the goods. Do we know if Rifaah sells a certain quality of good? Might help narrow down where to go."
GAME: Ga'Elian has disconnected. <Quit>
"Rifaah? ...if he's tied to the Ahls, then it would be spices. But, they're opportunistic, a bit. I'd check with Qamari--he has a few things they'd be interested in, I would wager."
...but perhaps you might get them interested in a fine silk?" Haayi suggests. He names a price. Of course, there will be haggling; it's Veyshan.
GAME: Kisaiya rolls Diplomacy: (17)+15: 32
Sasha says, "You never know. there might be 'opportunities' with spices too.""
GAME: Aznara has disconnected. <Timeout>
Once upon a time. Once upon a time, two friends traveled the markets of the greatest city in the world. They navigated its streets, with the help of the illustrious Tami, and perhaps ended up with a few pocketfuls of goods, but not too many. Or potential contracts, but not too many. There are things to see, you see.
Qamari resides among a smaller, if illustrious set of stalls belonging to spice merchants. The air there is heavenly, layered, and to one with a sensitive nose--somewhat thick. A lean sildanyari, llyranesi by clan, leans against a stall, chatting with a young lucht. Beside him, a leaner, darker form that might look familiar--but only in the sweep of brow. The darkness of hair. The golden eyes. He spots you, and looks over sharply and smiles, before turning his attention back to the llyranesi.
Kisa has managed to buy a pound of coffee, a small pouch of spices which are guaranteed to bring love (She gave them to Sasha for Jack and said it was a traditional gift. SHH! DON'T TELL HER!) And of course a frivolous nicknack that looked like a necklace with a sword made of silver for Serra. She looks over the necklace again as she takes a scarf that she turns into a wrap for her head in case they need to go to the desert.
You can't do that Kisa! THAT'S STEALING!
No it's not. It was just /laying/ there.
And Tami paid for the scarf that Kisa picked up.
Partypooper. D: Kisa continues on though until they finally find this Spice Weasel (what else would you call an elf with sharp eyes that sells spices?) and she smiles. "HELLO! We're looking for Qamari, if you please."
"You have found him!" the llyranesi says as he turns around. "I'll be with you in a moment--but please, feel free to enjoy the shade, and a touch of coffee. Rifaah, my less successful friend--"
The long-limbed man nearby him raises a brow.
"--might serve you some coffee in the meantime."
At this, the lean man turns his smile to you both. "Ah! I would be happy to do that. Would you this way, please?" he asks. The words draw a faint raise of brow from the llyranesi, but the spice merchant turns back to the lucht he'd been speaking with earlier. Professionalism!
Annnnnnd Kisa goes through the market with the subtlety of a battering ram. Sasha is actually rubbing her forehead with how quickly Kisa the whirlwind goes through the marketplace.....then looks for Qamari. "Well...she is blunt."
Whirlwind is right! THIS IS HER ELEMENT! Just like Sasha's is... church-y-things with the... altar and stuff. And...
ANYWAY! Kisa smiles as she looks to the Spice Weasel then it's off to Rifaah, "AH! There you are, I was hoping that he might know where to find you. I'm working on drawing up those trade agreements to import your spices as we speak to Alexandria. The Upper Trades market is looking for more suppliers." A glance toward Qamari and then she turns to obviously angle herself more toward the man who she's working out the agreement with. Professionalism, see? She knows it too. THE PROFESSIONAL SNUB!
Kisa smiles to Rifaah.
GAME: Ga'Elian has connected.
Aaand...Rifaah gives a now-rapidly-blinking llyranesi a smile that saunters from one side of his face to the other, before drawing open the door to the llyranesi's own tent.
And holding it open for you three.
Check and mate.
"I knew you would find me," Rifaah responds with a grin both warm and sharp. "And perhaps he'll think me more interesting than yesterday's fish. Though you've ruined my cover, I fear," he adds. His eyes dance, as golden as the desert sun.
And you three step inside the tent and--blessedly--beneath the shade.
Inside the tent are layers of merchandise--contained in well-sealed and neatly-locked boxes, each with its own label. To the far right, a table with a magically-warmed carafe, filled with dark liquid.
GAME: Serraphine has reconnected.
Sasha says, "Apologizes. Kisa's....not exactly subtle, but we also didn't know you were under cover.""
"Pfft." Kisa says, looking to Sasha, "The guy was a jerk." She of course is already inside the tent as well and she looks about with a tilt of her head this way and that. "Besides, I'm so not apologizing. That expression was worth whatever it is - and I was serious about the trade agreement. I was trying to work something up with your brother."
GAME: Kisaiya has reconnected.
Kisaiya has reconnected.
"And here I was playing the poor apprentice," Jack's cousin says with a roguish grin. "Though the view doesn't hurt," he says, implying the llyranesi outside. "I'll turn this to advantage, still. Perhaps he'll be intrigued enough to finally accept a dinner invitation. Now..."
"Jack was interested in your letter. He regrets of course, he wasn't able to meet you but--"
Rifaah glances at the door of the tent. "--business, you know. Why don't you tell me a little about your travels, /at length/, while I serve you some coffee?" Make it long and boring, he implies. They, of course, have an audience.
Kisaiya offers the pound of coffee she just bought as she waits for Sasha. "Go on, oh one of the sly, please do tell the story of our travels."
Sasha says, "You mean other than you bulldozing through a marketplace?" She then shakes her head. "Let's see. On one mission we had to crawl down a volcano...." And she drones on and on and on....giving every little detail one can turn a brain OFF to....""
Once upon a time. Once upon a time, a group of friends met with a dragon, who introduced them to another friend. The other friend he suggested, might be in over his head. Or he might not be. The dragon didn't know either way, and appeared in pain.
Once upon a time.
And so, seeking further answers, the friends traveled to Veyshan and to its greatest city, and to its richest markets.
Rifaah, the cousin of this troublesome 'other friend' stands across from them. He smiles towards the door as he pours them coffee--coffee being a fine drink among spice merchants, the drink carrying that sacred scent that's guaranteed to cleanse the palate of other scents and spices, so that one could enjoy another, and another more cleanly. Elegance, and purpose.
He listens, and he listens well. And, as he serves you, he slips a small topaz into Sasha's hand.
"Such an interesting tale. I'll have to tell my cousin, once I get back to him," he says. "He'll be glad we ran into one another. But, if I may be so immodest--and I only do this to save you the heat--the offer wasn't entirely unexpected, only hoped for. I have here the paperwork--"
And another letter is pressed into Kisaiya's hand. Is nothing in Veyshan straightforward?
The llyranesi is probably cursing himself right now.
>The letter reads: Jack sends his warmest, and his wishes that Lady Sasha might enjoy the ring. He's following a business venture out to Jawahra Muntasaf, which couldn't be mentioned in the earlier letter. If you wait until nightfall, I can arrange travel; however, it's quite the undertaking, and he understands if you need to turn back.
Sasha takes a deep breath as she looks at the ring, then tilts her head. "I guess we'll talk to him then." She says as she puts the ring away.
GAME: Kisaiya rolls 10: (2)+10: 12
GAME: Kisaiya rolls 5: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+2+2: (3)+2+2: 7
GAME: Ga'Elian has disconnected. <Quit>
Kisa glances at the letter, then looks away from it before tucking it into a pouch as she waves her hand, "Oh heavens no. The papers are but a formality. I mean, really, we of Alexandria are a trusting sort when it comes to such things and people. Just show me where to sign and I'll tell you what boat to put it on." HAH! TAKE THAT! Now he'll be rolling in agony.
===============================| View Job 52 |=============================== Bucket: LEG Due On: Mon Jan 15 06:28:59 2018 Title: Kisaiya: Jack in the Hat Status: Yellow (New) Opened On: Mon Jan 08 06:28:59 2018 Assigned To: Nobody Opened By: Kisaiya ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1+] Kisaiya added on Mon Jan 08 06:28:59 2018: It's a play on cat in the hat, get it? Okay! So we have a note that says: >The letter reads: Jack sends his warmest, and his wishes that Lady Sasha might enjoy the ring. He's following a business venture out to Jawahra Muntasaf, which couldn't be mentioned in the earlier letter. If you wait until nightfall, I can arrange travel; however, it's quite the undertaking, and he understands if you need to turn back. So far we have: Kisa Sasha Tami Who else would we like to bring and what day should we be able to do this? That becomes the question! For me, I'm good during the day most days or Friday->Sunday I'm free in the evening with Mon-Thu being questionable availability. ================================| [Myjobs] |================================= You have mailed Kisaiya and Sasha about Job 52, with the comments: What's Ahead: From here, you will be traveling to Jawahra Muntasaf! Please use this queue to prep for the trip, and learn what you can about the area in the meantime. An initial k/local roll turned up: Jawahra Muntasaf is a small town (its name means 'middle jewel') near the heart of the Dune Sea. You vaguely recall something about a tower out that way, but nothing comes to mind right away. That may be important, or it could not be. We'll be reconvening at a time convenient to folks involved, whomever it ends up being. This Mon-Wed I may be under the weather, judging how infections usually run in me, so that works out great! XD JOBS: Beaglefinder has sent mail regarding Job 52.