Theshen is about to retort to Rawiya's points, but then sees her eyes widen in surprise.
He turns around, only to see fine yellow sand.
"By the Gods! The substance truly is difficult to pin down! I agree that we should rest, but perhaps further away from this place."
"For my part, I was asked to help and was curious. I still am, but those little creatures tempered that."
Theshen turns to Shu-Kri.
"My manners are atrocious and I ask your pardon. I appreciate your assistance, Shu-Kri."
He turns to the others:
"And yours! And I will do my best to make sure all of us return unharmed from this journey, naft or no naft."
Asmani mutters to herself, still clearly annoyed about having been kept in the dark, but decides not to make a further issue about it.
As Rawiya reaches the tents, she looks around and asks, "How shall we set the watchers tonight?
"I'm willing to take the final watch, before sunrise. But I don't think we're safe enough here to all be unconscious at the same time."
"I will take the graveyard span. It is the least I can do."
After deciding the watch rota, the group passes a surprisingly relaxed evening, almost as if the disappearance of the mysterious substance naft had removed a heavy but indistinct weight of of everyone's minds. The following day is as pleasant as day traveling in the desert could be, with mild enough temperatures and a quick stop at an oasis during the scorching hours.
The sun has already set when they finally reach their destination, Eto. A constant stream of travelers seem to pour in and out of its walls, all being dutifully interrogated by the guards. Seeing no other choice, the group enters the queue.
Rawiya shields her face with her scarf, and tries to look insignificant next to Theshen and Shu-Kri.
Sorkesh just takes in the the sites and sounds while waiting in the queue.
"I hope the guards here aren't stodgy. Been a nice day so far." he says to nobody in particular.
Before sleep Theshen lightly taps Sorkesh on the back, to let healing energies flow into him.
Theshen breaths in the city air, the thousand scents in his nose.
"Lady Nenet, will you be speaking for us up ahead?"
Before Nenet can reply, a dark-skinned gnome bearing the pharaoh's insignia approaches the group with two larger men lagging behind him. They are all dressed in a simple manner, though the gnome's clean clothes and red jewels indicate he is more than a simple guard.
He bows before speaking with a friendly but commanding voice wholly unexpected for someone of his size: "Sarenrae guide you, effendis. I am Mahu, customs agent in the service of his Holiness, the Ruby Prince. You look weary, no doubt from daring adventures in the shifting sands of our deserts, so I will try to keep things short. Do you have any relics found in Osiriani lands, magical or otherwise?" One of the the agent's hands is kept behind his back whilst the other plays around with his voluminous grey moustache.
Nenet gives him a sheet of papyrus, which the gnome begins examining immediately. "Master Mahu, I am here in the service of the Sapphire Sage. This list contains all the artifacts of Osirian origin that I carry for that matter, plus one personal item."
Theshen remains quiet during the exchange.
After a few minutes of silent reading and then examining camels, the agent seems satisfied with Nenet's list. He turns to her silent companions, smiling: "And you, my friends? What brings you to Eto? Some of you don't seem like you are from these parts, what incredible sights you must have seen!" Says the gnome when he sees Sorkesh, though the question is directed at the whole group. Nenet begins to rehearse a reply but is cut abruptly by the gnome.
The only way around this gnome is straight through the middle
"I have no relics, magic or otherwise. I am traveling for safety with Lady Nenet to carry out a directive of my mistress to purchase some goods we cannot acquire in Sothis."
Perhaps it's a bad idea for it to look like the Sapphire Sage sent a small army.
I must speak then? If this is the greatest trial I receive from the gods this day, I will be content!
"Many greetings, Mahu. I am Unas-Ankh of Sothis. And I carry no relics."
Asmani is a sulky presence at the back of their group; when questioned she simply gives a sharp shake of her head and does not make eye contact with Mahu.
"No. No relics."
"I'm Sorkesh, from Solku in Katapesh.
"Just travelling away from home to see the sights.
"I don't have any relics either."
"I am a scholar from the Mwangi Expanse. No relics here."
The gnome's face lightens up at the mention of Katapesh. "Oh, really? You must have so many tales to tell! Tell me, have you ever seen any marids in your travels?"
Once Rawiya hands the artefact the group had found on the scorpion's nest, the customs agent twirls his moustache for a second, puts on a monocle on his right eye and makes several interjections. "This is indeed curious…but I am not sure whether it is of Ancient Osirian origins or not. Certainly it's not registered within our records, so if it is Osirian I would have to levy a fee…" he mutters, unsure of how to handle the situation.
Theshen feels fairly sure that whatever the wand is and to whatever plane it belongs, it does not belong to the current plane.
"Excuse me, Mahu. But I am quite certain that this wand is not from our plane. Which would mean that it is no relic of Osirion, Ancient or modern."
Mahu squints at Theshen, looks back at the wand, to Rawiya and to Theshen again. He shrugs: "You're right about that. Even if you found it in Osirion, my lens here," he speaks whilst pointing the monocle, "says that it's from the shadow plane. As ancient and astounding as our history is, I don't believe we've ever dealt with the shadow plane." The customs agent gives the wand back to Rawiya and then circles around the group, adjusting his monocle every now and then until he seems suddenly satisfied and hands a piece of signed paper to whoever takes it first.
"You're clear. Now, most revered effendis, is there anything I can help you with before I send you across the gates to lovely Eto?"
Rawiya thinks.
"Master Mahu, two questions.
"First, are there any merchants of Eto who specialize in silks, and where might I find them?
"Second, do you know of any traders who arrived in the past two or three days with extremely high quality silks? And how might I discover where their stalls are?"
"I've not seen any marids myself", Sorkesh says apologetically Mahu.
"I've heard they're almost a common sight in the city of Katapesh."
"I have no more questions. My thanks for your service."
Asmani remains studiously silent in the background, staring off into the middle distance.
Mahu is not able to hide his disappointment at Sorkesh's reply, but he does not have much time to dwell on it as Rawiya puts her questions forward.
The gnome at first gives a naughty smile at Rawiya's mention of silk sellers, but seems flustered at her second question. "Oh! Real silks! I…I believe you could find a great many silk sellers at the bazaar, though none have reached the city in the past week – or at least not on my watch. I recall a certain Yehud, an old man whose stall is right next to the caravanserai…he sells silks and knows everything that happens in the bazaar. He should be able to help you more than I can. Is there anything else you need, madam?"
"Thank you, Master Mahu."
Rawiya repeats under her breath "Yehud, Yehud"
Now I have a reason to be wandering the bazaar, asking questions.
Mahu bows and says "My pleasure, madam. If you need any help, I am the Ruby Prince's servant just as much as I am yours."
As the adventurers cross the heavily guarded gates, the dimensions of the immense rock walls that ring Eto become clear. The city sits inside an elevated crater with sheer, weathered sides broken only in two places, the only entrances to the city. Beyond the gates, the main thoroughfares fan out around the various districts of the city before dwindling into the dozens of pathways that flow through the bazaar like the delta of the great River Sphinx.
Nenet guides the group through the buzzing night of Eto, pointing out a few of the important sights. "We entered through the Sunrise Gate, but there's another, the Sunset Gate. Close to that gate there's the House of the White Uraeus, a place of healing where you will meet the Torch tomorrow. Over there, to the north: those two tall buildings are the library and the government house. And there, to the south, it's the bazaar Mahu mentioned. And here," she says in an ironic note, in front of a rather run-down three-storied building, "is our beloved inn, the Incontinent Behir. The owner is a friend of the Sage's and is trustworthy, even if not exactly clean. In my opinion." The apprentice sighs and gets off her camel. She hands the group a small map of Eto and enters the inn where she begins to announce their arrival and take care of the final lodging details.
Sorkesh is more than slightly shocked when he hears the name: that is the same inn his dear uncle Ptennisnet was supposed to stay at once he arrived.
Sorkesh will try to settle into the inn and see if Ptennisnet is staying there now.
Theshen will swing by the inn to make sure that his room is in order, change, and then go to visit the Library.
He will mention to the others before he leaves:
"I would know more, if I can find it, of the sights we have seen in the desert."
Asmani heaves a sigh of relief as they finally pull up to their destination, and slides down off her mount with stiff legs. She helps see to their animals, then inquires within about a hot bath, amused, even as she does so, about her new desire for a relaxing soak.
Not something she'd have indulged in before this arduous trip.
She waves to the others as they depart, and after a good thirty minutes of rest dresses in clean robes, attaches her gear discretely to her person, then heads out into Eto alone to drift with the crowds, listen to the people, tune into the local gossip, and she what she can learn of the affairs and rumors that swirl around the bazaar and other locales.
Rawiya heads for the bazaar, looking for coffee, silks, and any news of Bishara-connected traders.
At the stall of the first female coffee vendor, she stops for a cup of coffee and a chat.
"As-salaam ‘alaykum, my lady" she greets the stall holder politely.
She squats beside the fire to await her coffee.
"Who would you suggest I visit to buy coffee beans as fine as yours?"
After waiting for the reply, "And who would have the finest silks?"
After the exchange of pleasantries while she sips her coffee, as she is leaving
"One final question. Do the Bashira traders have an office here in Eto? Or do they just have stalls here in the market? And which traders do the most business with them?"
Theshen arrives at the library and is let in by grumpy scholars who lead him to one of the scholars who worked there. She's a middle-aged woman dressed in a white tunic and whose sole ornament is a small necklace of an Ibis. She's also clearly unhappy at seeing Theshen. "Effendi, how may I help you? Your thirst for knowledge must be indeed urgent to come to us at this hour."
The necklace identifies the librarian as a follower of Thoth, the old god of knowledge and writing.
Sorkesh scans the inn's entrance and sees no sign of Ptennisnet or his animals. Once inside, he tries asking the owner, whose face lightens up at the mention of the half-orc's uncle: "Oh, yes, I did see him! Such a delightful character, it was indeed a pleasure having him here. So you are his nephew? He did leave a message to you. He says that your adventure has started and that he is extremely happy for you. However, he had to leave on short notice; something regarding a much needed holiday in a camp recommended by a friend. He wishes you all the luck and wants to hear all about it once he's back to Katapesh. He also said to stick to your new friends because they're the best type of trouble. Whatever that last bit means," the owner says with a shrug.
The coffee seller, a young woman of Rawiya's age, answers the first question straightaway. "There are of course no beans better than mine, effendi. I would gladly part with some of them for a fair price…say, 1GP for a kilogram?"
"For silks, Yehud by the caravanserai has the best prices, but if it is quality you seek, go to Ahmes. The touch of his fabrics is lighter and sweeter than the flutter of a butterfly's wings."
"Bashira? Of course, they supply the very beans you have drank, my lady. I believe old Yehud and Ahmes both trade with them too, Ahmes more than Yehud. If you are interested in dealing with the Bashira, Mereret, who lives close to the government house, is the person to contact! She's strict, but reliable."
Asmani feels at ease walking around the bazaar and overhearing conversations and rumours of every kind. Everyone seems to be talking about a gang of petty thieves called the Hundredfingers seems to be spooked, as they haven't been seen in the bazaar for the past few days. She lingers a bit longer to see if she can gather more information.
Madame Zelekhati recently began hiring more workers at the Dancing Dunes, though she sends away most who don’t have at least some elven blood. Also, most merchants recommend avoiding Beggar’s Alley, which is home to a gang of pickpockets known as the Hundred fingers.
The Osirionologist Ionacu Lozar is in a terrible rush to get his expedition underway, but he is exceedingly stingy and has no patience for haggling. As a result, the few merchants who are willing to do business with him are taking their time delivering supplies to his caravan’s marshaling area.
Mistress Zelekhati of the Dancing Dunes is a
collector of magical dusts and always accepts them as payment for her house’s services or her artwork. Some say that’s the secret of her magni cent tranquility garden. It may even have given the sand life as one customer claims he saw the patterns shift of their own accord.
An upcoming holy day of Sarenrae has people remembering how a cleric of the goddess tried to purge the land of evil over a hundred years ago; however, the ruins of the old city beyond the cli walls still hide shrines to the old faiths, especially the serpent cult of Apep. The serpent god’s slithering children are blessed with the ability to go unnoticed by eyes accustomed to the Dawn ower’s light.
Disappointed that he missed his Uncle, will do a bit of a walkabout Eto.
He'll try to learn what he can about the place in the time he has:
About 15,000 people in 60 hectares (0.6 square km), including city walls.
So, doing some [u]very[/u] rough maths, I think 1.6 x 0.4 km might be a bit closer to Eto's dimensions.
Not that it REALLY matters, of course. I'm just being a bit fussy.
Got my bachelor's in Greek and Roman studies, that's all.
Theshen will bow his head to the librarian.
"Mistress librarian, my thirst is indeed great, for I have seen strange things in the desert. A black oil that vanished suddenly. Are there any records of such a thing in your establishment? I am new to the city of Eto and would salve my ignorance."
Asmani drifts with the crowd, not resisting, allowing the natural tides of humanity to draw her here and there, stopping in eddies, then moving on once more across the bazaar, into small shops, pausing under awnings to purchase skewers of honeyed chicken, to sip at tart cups of spicy mint tea.
All the while she listens, takes in the people around her, their mood, the ambient energy. It's not work, for her - rather it's a means of relaxing, just how some people might sink into a hot tub to soak. She laughs at the performance of street artists, sways to the music of musicians, and always keeps a close eye both on her purse and the street waifs who eye her speculatively back.
Eventually she gathers news, tidbits of information like a magpie might accumulate glittering trinkets, and once satisfied, she makes her way back to the inn, more at peace than at any time since she first answered the sage's summons.
"Oh, yes, a kilo of your beans would be wonderful."
Rawiya fishes under her belt to find a small pouch, and hands over a gold piece.
"And thank you for the information about the silks, it sounds like Ahmed is exactly who I need to speak with."
Or stay far, far away from as the case may be.
Rawiya wanders back to the inn, content with her scouting, and glad to be sleeping in a dry and safe enviornment, if only for one night.
Sorkesh's captivating naïveté allows him to easily mingle with the locals and he learns quite a bit of the current talk of the town concerning an up-and-coming entertainment house and a scholar's plights.
Whilst Rawiya and Asmani gather the information they desired, Theshen struggles with the librarian, whose mood does not seem to improve with the healer's pleasantries. She walks him to a few tomes on arcane and geological curiosities and then leaves the room with a formal bow. Shortly after, one of her subordinates comes to help Theshen in his task. Though desperately willing to succeed in his task, the boy is far too new in his role to provide significant assistance.
The search is as difficult as Theshen feared. He goes from tome to tome, looking for mentions of anything like naft, but no one seems to have even dreamt of the substance. He does find the name of a Sothan scholar whose research is focussed on astronomy, minerals and, more relevantly, unusual and arcane fluids. His name is Imran Qureshi.
In the little time left, Theshen finds one of Qureshi's treatises on interactions of fluids with the sun. It was written 40 years ago and most of it is far too obscure to follow, but the a passage alludes to rumours about a semi-sentient black liquid found in the desert, possibly related to pitch and petroleum.
Theshen pores over the books. And realises that he does not know enough about the intricacies of arcane matters to truly fathom what is in front of him. It is frustrating.
He does his best, but his lack of such knowledge is a lock against further learning.
One to correct in future!
He thanks the boy for his aid, and even the librarian, should she still be about and willing to speak with him.
He leaves shortly before the library's designated closing hour. He will not waste their time when he cannot make use of their books - at least unaided.
Disappointed, but with an idea brewing, Theshen returns to the inn.
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Before he leaves, Theshen spies one more interesting tome.
Why not? I have a little time before the library is closed for the night.
He reads.
And puts it back on the shelf before leaving.
Shu Kri almost startles Theshen. "I am rather cross with you, my new friend. Visiting a library without me?" She sticks her teeth but grins.
Theshen turns suddenly, startled then smiling.
"Ah! Shu-kri! In hindsight, speaking with you first would have surely been more fruitful. While I am familiar with the ways of the gods, I know a lot less about the magics of the world. I believe I will require your aid to understand the tomes I found here."
RAwiya offers coffee to anyone interested.
"I have some new beans from one of the local vendors. Anyone want to try it?"
She busies herself roasting the beans and grinding them fine enough for steeping.
Theshen smiles at Rawiya's offer.
"As rich as that smells, I fear I must decline. I find drinking coffee at night keeps me awake. But I would love to try some tomorrow morning, should any remain."
Shu-kri interrupts Theshen just as he was putting down the tome. It is a stroke of luck that she manages to catch the name of a Sothan scholar called Imran Qureshi whose research is focussed on astronomy, minerals and, more relevantly, unusual and arcane fluids. Before she can even tell this to Theshen, the librarians force them out, stating in clear terms their hospitality had reached an end.
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It is about 08:00 when Nenet, clad all in blue and golden silks, enters the small room where the group was finishing breakfast and outlines their task for the day. "You are to go to the House of the White Uraeus, a place of healing located in the aristocratic part of the city. Look for his brute guards and show this as a proof of who you are," she says and hands the group a sapphire-blue signet ring. "I have no idea how the negotiation will pan out, but the instructions remain the same: no more than 10.000GP, plus whatever errands he might entrust you with."
She pauses for a second, looks at a very thin and pale Badhru. "I have communicated with the Sage. He feels he is partly responsible for Master Badhru's state, so he has asked you to take our half-orc friend to the House and tell the healers to spare no effort in improving his condition."
Finally, she directs her gaze at Sorkesh, looking suddenly very annoyed. "The Sapphire Sage, in his inscrutable and boundless wisdom, has said he sees your arrival as a good omen, master Sorkesh. He would be humbled if you would accept to replace our dear Badhru, under the same terms of compensation. Your companions can brief you in your task."
"I wish you the best of luck in dealing with that despicable man, my dear friends. I have other business to attend to at the Sage's behest for most of today, so we shall meet again here, at nighttime." Before leaving, she bids them farewell again, sparing a short hug to Rawiya.
"Thank you, Lady", Sorkesh says with a bow, "I'll do the best I can."