Charn and the Sith

SUMMARY: Yelrona and Aya discuss crime and food options in the Warehouse District, the graveknight lairing near Alexandria, the relationship between Charn and Sith, and the Charnith slave trade, as the Slavers Inquisition continues its explorations. 

Yelrona is giving directions to a well-dressed older man who REALLY looks like he doesn't belong in this neighborhood.

Aya emerges from the Adventurer's Guild, possibly putting into practice suggestions to review the board earlier in the day. Whether or not this made more desirable postings available remains unknwon at the moment.

The lost man starts heading north, and Rona shakes her head sadly. Spotting Aya, she grins ruefully. "I don't know if he's ever going to get where he's going." She thinks about that a second and adds "Well, I suppose he can't help but do that much. The question is if he's ever going to get where he wants to go."

Aya's eyes shift briefly to the departing man and back to Yelrona. "It may be more a question of whether he reaches his destination with all of his belongings and health intact. Hopefully, he avoids the alleyways until he reaches the upper city."

Yelrona nods. "There's that, too. This really isn't a safe neighborhood at all." She watches him walk off, somewhat reassured. "At least he's going the right direction now. If he doesn't get lost again he'll be sticking to fairly populated streets... he should be all right." A Llyrinesi couple, clearly tourists, are walking past from another direction, and scowl when they spot Aya, moving away quickly, muttering about how they "let just ANYONE here". Rona sighs. "Sorry about that. So! What news?"

If Aya overhears the Llyrinesi muttering, and it's likely she does (her ears are as adept as theirs), she makes no acknowledgement of it. Her attention remains on Yelrona as one shoulder shrugs. "The Guild board was barely more appealing than last evening. Aside from that, very little. What of you?"

Yelrona laughs. "Nothing of great consequence since last night. I can't tell whether that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"I would say that is good," Aya offers. "Great consequences tend to be unpleasant, more often than not. Calm is better than storm."

Yelrona nods. "True enough. Though I suspect the storm is coming. Then again, it always is, isn't it?" She gestures towards a corner food-cart, selling quick meals to warehouse laborers on short breaks. "I should eat something... can I offer you a mediocre sandwich?"

Aya replies with a similar gesture in acceptance. "If the Ox is the nearest alternative, mediocre would be lavish in comparison. There is always a storm coming of one kind or another, especially in this city."

Yelrona nods. "Sayish's cart is actually surprisingly good, for what it is. Which, as you say, is more than one can say for the Ox," she adds, smiling. "Some day I will understand why I frequent that place. And, yes. We're fortunate when there's only one at a time. Which reminds me, do you know about the graveknight?"

Aya arches a brow. "Graveknight? I'm not sure that I do, though I'm sure that there's rarely only one problem at a time. I can think of several at the moment, and you mention another." She looks to the cart and browses over its offerings while adding, "I only visit the Ox as a meeting place, as with last night. It offers reasonable anonymity."

"An undead warrior has a lair not far from here. We fought several of its minions recently, rescued a farmer's boy," Rona explains, "but their master will take a stronger force to dispatch."

Aya exhales a soft sigh. "I am not surprised. With Heth's arrival and expansion, the undying have become far more aggressive. They are more annoying than most, if just from their simple drives. No politics, no discourse, only destruction."

Yelrona nods. "Exactly. To be honest, I find that refreshing in some ways, but... still horrible. Especially when they are "recruiting" the local farmers."

"Yes, those that can create their own army at will are the most annoying of all," Aya agrees. She finally takes a moment to order a sandwich from the cart, willing to sample mediocre. While waiting for it to be prepared, she lifts a brow to Yelrona, "Were you requesting my assistance with this fallen knight?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Rona replies, amused. "Not yours specifically, but the more hands we can unite against a common threat, the more readily we can defeat it."

Aya pays for the food and accepts it. For now, though, it is simply held in favor of discussion. "A clear and common threat is the easiest to respond to, if not always the easiest to defeat. Lately, many threats are for less clear on their intent." A gesture of free hand to her. "Such as the ones hunting your friend, or the far too public marriage announcements."

Yelrona nods. "That's true." She considers for a moment, then continues "Do you know anything more about the people hunting my friend?"

Aya shakes her head. "I've heard of attacks upon the Sith, here, but that was after they occurred. There has always been animosity, in general, but I don't know why your friend is specifically hunted beyond what you mentioned."

"Animosity why?" Rona asks, curiously. "I will admit, I initially thought this was a political struggle between Charn and Alexandria, but you're not the first to suggest that there is a distinctly racial element involving the Sith. Why is that?"

"Perhaps I should say there is animosity FROM the Sith," Aya clarifies. "I'm know little of them, personally, but I believe it relates to the topic at hand. They are isolated, dwell in small villages, as I've heard. They are physically strong. Their first encounters with Charn were probably slaver raiding parties, as prime merchandise. I don't expect that made a good impression. I've also heard rumors that some were experimented upon by those seeking the power of the draconic ancestry."

Yelrona nods. "Yes, I've heard something about... exploding them?" She doesn't seem exactly sure about that. "Which might have something to do with that magical experimentation. And I suppose I see what you mean," she continues. "The Sith would make tempting targets for slavers. So are there a lot of Sith slaves in Charn, then?"

Aya rolls one shoulder and pauses to take a tentative bite from her food, chews, and swallows before answering. "There are many slaves in Charn, overall. It is the primary labor force, alongside mindless undead. One can, in fact, sell their soul, or at least their remains, into servitude. With Thul as the patron of commerce, many things are possible. Of course, one needs to be very, very careful in the details of what they sign."

Yelrona nods. Some of this she already knew, but it's always good to get the perspective of a native. "I have always assumed that the majority of the slaves in Charn were themselves Charneth... that is, originally. But as you say, there are raiding parties. I suppose what I'm asking is whether Charn raids the Sith for slaves more than it does others."

Yelrona nods. Some of this she already knew, but it's always good to get the perspective of a native. "I have always assumed that the majority of the slaves in Charn were themselves Charneth... that is, originally. But as you say, there are raiding parties. I suppose what I'm asking is whether Charn raids the Sith for slaves more than it does others."

"I couldn't say," Aya admits. "I saw few, myself, but why they were more rare, I don't know. They were advertised as exotic, though I never visited the markets to purchase any servants, myself. Most were, as you said, Charneth, as I understood."

Yelrona nods, thinking about it. "So, all right. Charn enslaves the Sith. No more so than anyone else, maybe, but still, substantially. So the Sith fight. Again, no more so than anyone else, maybe, but it's not like Charn enjoys peaceful relations more generally. And then there's the draconic magic thing, like you mentioned. Do you know any more about that?"

Aya shakes her head. "Only vague rumors, and old rumors at that. I have not been a member of Charneth life for many decades, and was not involved in magi circles."

Yelrona nods, withdraws a small notebook from a pocket, makes a few notes. "I'll find out what I can," she says. "It may be relevant."