The bellhop bows slightly and departs. You get the feeling he's the quietly well trained sort who knows how repay guest's generosity by excellent service and discretely looking the other way when needed. Since you're a bunch of adventurers this may well come in handy, after all blood on the carpets can be such a nuisance to explain...
Shiko stretches out on the bed I'll take this one.
As is the custom around here, the baths are gender separated by time, there are hour long slots for men and then for women all day long.
Water clocks are popular in the city and provide a reasonably accurate way of measuring the passage of time.
"A suite all to myself, ^^."
Taking out some items, she salutes the others.
"See you in a bit, i'm going to enjoy a bath."
Down at the baths, she looks for the nearest person around what she estimates her age. "Hey there, mind if i join you? I've just arrived and heard there were good baths down here."
Sitting down and relaxing with a sigh of relief, she takes a look around.
Hmm, some posh decoration here, not bad, not bad.
Lilly will enjoy & socialize in the baths, catching up on traditions, customs, rumors & gossip....gossip means interesting tales in her book, she's not too interested in who's wearing which cologne.
As everyone splits to claim their respective beds, Hirati begins to follow Lilly to the ladies bedroom. Pratavh looks at her, "Where do you think you're going?"
She says over her shoulder as she flies behind Lilly, "To my bedroom! Lilly and I are going to be roomies aren't we Lilly!" She says this like there is no doubt about it.
Pratavh looks at Lilly, "She's been behaving herself so if I am alright with that if you are?"
Hirati flies backwards in front of Lilly giving her best innocent dragon look, "Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasssssse? I don't wanna be cooped up with those smelly men."
*Smirk*
"Okay."
Firstly Count Fothergill who originally booked the Seashell Suite went missing on a trip to the interior. A search party was sent out after him a few weeks ago but returned two days ago without finding anything. He is lost presumed dead.
The other bit of gossip you found interesting was the Thakur hasn't been seen outside of the palace for a week. This is surprising since he's usually a large part of the ceremonies leading up to the festival.
Having comfortably settled in, and feeling throughly cleansed after luxuriating in the baths, you find yourselves hungry and follow the delicious aroma's to the dining room for dinner. The dining room is a large oak paneled affair with boys fanning diners with Ostridge feathers on long poles. There are a dozen tables all of them full.
The food is rich and hotter than you are used to, with many small clay pots full of different dishes ranging from beautifully cooked tender meats in sumptuous spicy gravies to mystery (but yummy) vegetables flavored with half a dozen exotic spices you don't recognize. On the side there are great steaming piles of multicolored rice, and exotic unleavened breads stuffed with coconut and raisins. There are also curios rolled up rice pancake called Dosa with a small parcel of flavored stew in the middle and a strongly spiced sauce for dipping.
There are a good number of waiters on hand to tend for every need, your glasses are dutifully refreshed, with seemingly endless supply of steaming chai, or pure crystal water said to have been melted from a block of glacial ice from the distant mountains. Some people chose wine, and constant refills make it hard to keep track of consumption. Consequently the place buzzes with conversation and if you listen patiently there are a great many mundane and the occasional interesting gems of conversation you can attempt to listen into.
There is a general hubbub of excitement about the festival starting tomorrow. The parade of souls gets mentioned a lot.
The clergy are expecting huge crowds to watch the ghosts of their ancestors take their annual progressional walk from the cemeteries down to the bay where their souls will be ritually cleansed.
They found another body the other day in the Mayra-Rahm ward. Terrible thing, the poor man's insides where burnt with acid.
Something has the watch in a frenzy, they're jumping at shadows. Couldn't have come at a worse time, they'll be stretched as is with the festival
Hirati flies a loop in the air and swoops around Lilly's head once, "Yay!" As they enter the room you can hear her saying, "So, what do you want to talk about first? Boys are a great one, did you know Pratavh's..." The door closes before you can hear what she was going to say.
After bathing and eating Pratavh, having eaten far more than was good for him, "Tastes likesome of the foods I was raised on."
Shiko, while being a trained infiltrator and killer, doesn't notice too much.
When do we visit your shrine Mohktar? This place will make us grow fat and lazy.
Refreshed and relieved from the bath and friendly people to have chatted with, Lilly goes back to her room, where Hirati is apparently looking out of the window at the masses.
"Anything particularly interesting while i was gone?"
At the dinner her eyes were growing big at the wonderful banquet.
Women said to be good at multitasking, she eats well and listens to the news that is spreading.
Finished, she shares the rumors she heard in the baths.
"I've heard some other things while i was down bathing and....Pratavh, take that spacey look off your face,....As i was about to say,
the previous renter of the Seashell Suite was a Count Forthergill. He went missing exploring the interior. They sent a searchparty few weeks back but they found nothing.
Also; the Thakur hasn't been seen outside of the palace for a week. This is surprising since he's usually a large part of the ceremonies leading up to the festival."
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Refreshed from his bath and gear stowed away, Alwyn will spend time before going to the meal with his sketch book and a pencil. Should any inquire, the sketches help him commit things to memory for his performances later.
The meal is an interesting affair, while much of the food is similar to what he has eaten before , there are quite a few new dishes and if pressed to say which is his favorite, he'd be hard pressed. Probably the Dosa.
As the dinner winds down Chakari comes by your table and asks, "I do hope you enjoyed Dinner? Oh you did, excellent Chef will be delighted! Anyway Master Bivwani asked me to enquire if you needed any concierge services tonight? We'd be happy to hail you a carriage and arrange for a visit to the opera, or perhaps a play. I believe the Muskar's Shadow Dance is on at The Oval Theater. Or perhaps you'd like to pay your respects to the gods up at the High Holy District? Whatever you require we are at your service..."
Alwyn would know that Muskar's Shadow Dance is a somewhat famous play about the doomed romance of a couple brought together by fate and torn apart by war. It's written from the perspective of their shades awaiting judgement in the boneyard. It's traditionally played by a troupe of shadow dancers who combine illusion with energetic dance to quite literally spellbind the audience.
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Mokhtar takes in the opulence of the suite and rests his gear at his feet. Eyes closed, hands gently clasped at his front, head bowed, he listen and smells and gives thanks. Such extravagance is far beyond my necessity. A surprise at what is afforded in Jamleray considering the equivalent amount in Absalom did not come close to comparison.
In the distance of his consciousness he hears the banter between his group over placement, Shiko claiming his space, Hirati steeped in precocious amusement. Mohktar opens his eyes and looks to the balcony. He strides forward and promptly removes his bed roll and sets it down. "This will be suitable and will bring the morning's light to shine upon my upturned face." He says to himself with mild pleasure.
He returns inside to the others in the room and says, "Our travels are blessed with providence, my friends, for the Yolarati is is a joyful time. A Festival of Colors, am ambient tradition thankfully observed by the Isle." There is a rare exuberance in the monk's tone as he continues. "It will be a convergence of colors and music and smells and harmony he likes of which I've never seen. On the third and final day will be the Parade of Souls."
With that, Mohktar places his haversack in the corner of the room and moves back onto the balcony. "I wish to learn more for our surrounding area." He says evenly, already beginning the breathing techniques for watering his Dhyāna (meditation). The smells and noises of the city wash over him like like a pleasant ocean wave. "Later tonight, I will be visiting the Houses of Perfection to submit my offerings. I would be honored to carry prayers for you if you wish it."
Mohktar spends the afternoon in silent meditation, rising only at the appointed time for dinner.
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ स्टो री की डि वी ज न ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
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Mohktar rises from his meditations and joins the others at dinner. He eats modestly and focuses on one delicacy so as to learn the appreciation of singular focus.
At Shiko's observation and query on visiting the temple, the monk inclines his head in agreement. "Tonight. To observe the city as it dwells in stillness."
He then turns his ear to conversation amongst the guests. Most talk of the festival, the procession of souls of interest to the monk. But there are other topics of interest and concern. One man near him speaks of a murder of gruesome description. Worse, it seems it is not the first.
Lilly offers her own information from her time in the baths. The tale of the previous resident's disappearance casts a long shadow. Ill portents to dwell within the quarters of a spirit in peril...living or dead. A connection to this burned man? "There is also rumor of multiple deaths in the Mayra-Rahm ward. A man's insides were burnt with acid. Perhaps a connection?" Mohktar shares with the group.
Their aid Chakari arrives with news of evening offerings, the mention of the Holy District grabs Mohktar's attention. "I seek to submit offering within the Houses of Perfection. Is it far? And may I ask what sort of district is the Mayra-Rahm?"
Chakari nods and replies, "Sir the Mayra-Rahm district is the seat of government, very grand. Well worth a visit in the day, but you'll find the area quite deserted in the evening. As for the Houses of Perfection they stand open at all times, although all of the demonstrations are held in the morning. If you wish to travel there now just let me know, although there'd be more to see and do in the morning. If you decide to go tomorrow, you'd be well placed to see some of the initial Yolarati celebrations from there."
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"Good Chakari," Mohktar begs the man come closer so he can speak in hushed tones. "There is mention of disappearances in the Mayra-Rahm. I would not wish to disrupt the energies of our dwelling by not paying respects to such dire omens. Perhaps later you can tell me more of this darkness?" Mohktar's tone conveys his desire to help.
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Shiko reminds Mohktar We are here for temple, not looking into mysterious deaths. Shiko himself is responsible for several of those so...
Chakari looks troubled and replies, "Kind sir, I uhh... Sir this has been going on for some time. I have heard rumors. Shameful rumors, of bodies being found violated from within. Sir I sense you wish to help but I implore you, leave this to the watch. Begging your pardon sir, but nobody will talk to an outsider about this, the shame is ours to bear, the problem ours to fix. Have no fear Sir, the watch are efficient and the perpetrators will be caught and justice done."
"Violated from within you say, acid wasn't it? Wouldn't the watch look for people buying larger quantities of acid? Or at least someone who comes to buy it on a basis."
Chakai seems very uncomfortable about discussing this, "Uhm yess Miss I believe so and indeed it would be logical for the watch to do so."
Lilly keeps to a softer tone so not to focus attention on them, but she asks him outright nonetheless.
"Chakari, kind sir, there is a look on your face that says you have thoughts about this. Perhaps it's forbidden to speak of it, according to the pride of the city to solve its own problems. Yet wouldn't it be for our own safety to tell us a bit, so we know what to avoid?"
Red faced he stammers, "I uh, I'd advice you... Yes I'd advise you not to ask about the old cults, that would be most awkward for they are shameful."
There's a pregnant pause when he attempts to steer the conversation back onto safer ground, "So uh ma'am, would you like to see Muskar's Shadow Dance? We may be able to get you a box... Sir do you wish to visit the houses of perfection?"
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A pause and he says, "A path shown to the feet of a monk must be traveled," His words are for Chakari and Shiko's benefit. "...lest he find dishonor and shame from inaction."
"Chakari, if it pleases, I am interested in visiting the Houses this evening and tomorrow." Mohktar says, changing the course of the conversation. "I wish to meditate in the temple my grandfather bent knee. It is my honor to Irori and to him. Such a thing is best in the quiet before celebration."
Mohktar finishes his meal and sits in silence to see if others will join him at the temple.
At the mention of Irori, Chakari brightens up, "Why yes Sir, I shall let the concierge know, it would be our honor. Would a carriage in half an hour suffice?"
He then turns to Lilly waiting for her response about the play.
Lilly lets the thought wander a bit.
"Hmm, i haven't exactly seen a play like that before. Sure, why not.
How costly is it going to be?"
"Ma'am that depends on the seats. Prices range from 10s for the stalls to about 15g for a box, you're unlikely to get a cheap seat at short notice however." He considers for a moment and suggests, "You could probably share the same carriage, at least on the way out."
Doing as he normally does and taking some notes on the cult and murders, Pratavh primarily sits and listens since his compatriots have usually done well with asking questions in the past. When the topic changes tot the play he looks interested, "This production sounds most interesting, using magic for part of the performance should be quite interesting indeed. I would be willing to pay for part of the box seat, provided someone behaved herself enough to go." He directs a pointed glare at Hirati who is hiding behind Lilly and only realizes that he may provoke her after it is too late to stop.
Mohktar boes agreement to the arrangement of transportation. He will gather his haversack from his room and make ready to depart with the knowledge they will share a carriage.
Chakari bows to the group, "Very well, consider it done. Your carriage will be here in half an hour."
Half an hour later your horse driven carriage arrives. The driver seems keeps himself to himself mostly but he courteously opens and closes the doors for you and politely offers to help Lilly get into the cab (it's a good three foot off the ground). Your journey to The Oval Theater is uneventful but you get a good opportunity to see the city at night. During the evening, the streets are much quieter although there's still a steady stream of traffic, some on foot some mounted. Many restaurants and bars have magical illumination providing pockets of brightness that pepper the otherwise velvet black night.
The central parts of the city have oil based street lamps which provide a steady albeit weak illumination, which makes it easier and safer for revelers to get home. The Oval Theater itself is a grand if somewhat faded building with a marble facade and sculpted columns and gargoyle water spouts. The cab drops Lilly, Alwyn and Pratavh off and takes Mohktar and Shikyomaru off to the houses or perfection.
Outside the building you notice a poster advertising the play, with Banhi Sarr and Raj Gupta starring in the lead role. The three of you enter the building and are directed to the box office where an elderly man enquires informs you that yes there are only two boxes left and all other seat are taken. You hand over your gold and get lead by a young girl upto the box. She explains that complimentary drinks from the bar are available. While a wide selection of wines and spirits are available, she suggest that since you are new to town ,a refreshing lassi would be be good for the digestion.
The box itself is richly appointed and the chairs are comfortable, but the view of the stage is not as good as you might have imagined because it's from a funny angle. You are of course highly visible to everyone else in the lesser seats, but that's the whole point. The box exists so that you can be seen to be at the theater.
You don't have to wait long before the performance begins. The curtains go down, the magical lights are dimmed and the orchestra begins to play... Surprisingly the orchestra really is very good, so much so that Alwyn is tempted to come again. The mournful wind music matches the slow grace of the dancers. The two star crossed lovers are dressed from head to toe in black cloth with some kind of enchantment so that their movement leaves tenuous trails behind them. This greatly accentuates the beauty of their dance and slowly the story unfolds as other players dart in and out before calamity strikes and a war rips them apart and the curtain descends for the interval.
After dropping the others off at the theater your cab heads north east towards the road out of Niswan. Ahead you see a number of dim shadows resolving out of the gloom, and before long the cab stops and drops you off and promises to wait for you. Ahead are the three greatest of Jalmeray’s many monastic orders the houses of perfection. They are known throughout the Inner Sea region for their teaching of the spiritual and mental arts from the distant East. They are called the Monastery of Untwisting Iron, the Monastery of Unfolding Wind and the Monastery of Unblinking Flame.
All are welcome to attempt a series of seemingly impossible challenges in order to gain acceptance as a student of one of the Houses—race a djinni, wrestle a shaitan and outwit an efreeti. Those who fail the challenges might still be accepted for training by one of the lesser monastic orders. Once every ten years the Houses compete with each other in the Challenge of Sky and Heaven. The Monastery of Untwisting Iron has won the last two Challenges.
You stand on quad of hardpacked earth that sits in the middle of the houses, this is the famous demonstration ground you have heard so much about. The area is softly lit by torches dotted around in a geometric pattern. You notice that there is an old man with gauze over his eyes. He is perfectly still, sitting cross legged in the middle of the ground.
The box exists so that you can be seen to be at the theater.
Lilly had, for some reason, prepared for occasions.
She had taken along her instant-costume item. So before exiting the carriage, she had put on the sleeves and was now dressed in a summerly orange and red corset dress, with matching smooth gloves and a flower on the shoulder.
Noticing the two men, probably the talkative fairy dragon too, watching her, she shrugs.
"Oh...that's right >.>....you've never seen me in stylish clothes before. Well it's a play, so some proper attire over my armor seemed appropriate."
Pratavh wears nothing special for the show, he merely combs out his hair so he looks presentable. Seeing Lilly's dress, Pratavh can't help but stare, dumb struck at her appearance. Hirati isn't so reticent and starts saying in a singsong voice, "Pratavh and Lilly sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Pratavh with the baby carriage!"
Once the show begins, Pratavh and Hirati both are fascinated by the performance. Hirati behaves herself incredibly well as she watches the show.
Shiko looks at the old man, and knows that the gauze does not belie a weakness. Konbanwa kashikoi masutā in Shiko says in Tien, and if no response in that tongue. He says it again in Vudran Śubha sandhyā bud'dhimāna māsṭara
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Alwyn bows deeply to Lilly after her transformation. "Excuse me mi'lady, we entered this carriage with a somewhat tomboyish young lady. Might you be able to tell us where she has went?"
Meanwhile, kicking Pratavh in the ancle, while speaking softly "Close your mouth before you swallow a fly sir"
During the performance
He thoroughly enjoys the performance both the dancers and the music musing out loud " Pratavh how do they do that. That would be a very neat trick to learn and probably quite helpful." He also notices the many stares they get being they are in a box seat. "Sorry mi'lady we shall try to find more proper attire for the next time we escort you to the opera. A beauty such as yourself should not be seen with two dressed such as we." Alwyn did not pack anything formal for the trip.
does he spot anyone paying more attention than necessary to see who is in the box
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Mohktar dwells in a sea of calm, the sky above, the depths below, there is nothing but the still world. On the periphery he senses Shikyomaru Kuro's words. He knows not the language but he knows the man and his honor. A small amount of pleasure drifts along the surface of the waters.
He slowly lowers his pack to the dirt on the edge of the grounds. Then he begins untying the long leather laces of his soft boots, then removes his belt with its silvered buckle, hammered with the shape of a crouched tiger. These go into the haversack. Next, he removes the ring given him by Aurelius Si'holi, his master in Absalom. It too goes into the haversack.
Then he undoes the strap of his temple sword, the handle and scabbard worked with leather fashioned on this very Isle, laying it aside his pack.
I put aside the blade of my grandfathers, it is mine by blood, but it is not my blood, it is not my hand...
Mohktar begins the recitation of his mantra and the oaths he took when his Vows of Silence and Peace had been fulfilled. These words are his ceremony, his humble offering and binding to this place.
...I put aside the ring of my master, it is mine to be bound to my flesh, but it is not my body...
He says nothing. In his three years of silence, Mohktar had learned the value of his heart and what it kept. For out of the overflow of the heart comes words and actions.
...I put aside my shoes, given by my father. They carry me far and fast, but they are not my feet...
Next he unwraps his tunic, the multiple layers of fine cotton, baring his torso and it's myriad of scars. Lastly, he unwinds his turban, revealing his head, cleanly shaven save for the three foot braid of hair now uncoiled.
Mohktar steps forward to the edge of the grounds, two steps from his gear, and lowers smoothly to his knees. Then he presses himself face first, palms down, in supplication.
I am Mohktar sē Bāharaurori, imperfect vessel and servant of the Master of Masters. And I offer myself to the anvil to shake the dross from my soul.
In such a slow motion as to convey purpose, Mohktar slides back and raises to a kneeling position, hands at rest on his thighs. There he waits, eyes closed, until the old man chooses to be seen.
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ स्टो री की डि वी ज न ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
The old man nods at Shikyomaru, and in one gesture he conveys that he wishes you to meditate with him while Mohktar sheds the concerns of the material world. You and he ponder the ineffable while Mohktar prepares himself. After a while, the man speaks "Ba na ganin , duk da haka zan iya gani. Na ga cewa da ka koya da yawa , ka yi jihãdi ga kamala , amma kammala ne elusive..."
The man painfully gets up, a closer inspection reveals a body ravaged by time and arthritis, his eyes clouded with cataracts. Yet he is at peace with the world.
The man starts the very first kata the one they teach the newest of students. The one you have done ten thousand times before. The man moves slowly, oh so slowly, yet oh so gracefully. His frail body somehow transcends the normal limits of balance and gravity, his control absolute. He takes one perfect step, swivels, shadow blocks and slow-motion pirouettes into a tencan reversing his direction, controlling the flow of the shadow opponent, turning its power against itself. You are intimately familiar with the first kata, you have seen it done countless times, but never like this.
He turns to you and with a benevolent smile and a sweep of his arm, he invites you to practice with him.
During the interval you take the opportunity to mingle in the stalls bar, the bar is lit with dozens of candles yielding a soft light. The atmosphere smells of scented beeswax with notes of beer and wine. The room is hot and fairly crowded, yet not uncomfortable. The people are wearing a dizzying array of formal gowns and saris all from the purest white silk with subtle pastel designs decorating the saris.
They say Raj Gupta studied at the Kitharodian Academe and graduated with full honors, he met Banhi Sarr there who was in the year below him.
This show is the best production of Muskar's Shadow Dance in years, no wonder Banhi Sarr is the Thakur's favorite.
I have an uncle in the watch, he told me that all leave has been cancelled. This is normal for the Yolarati but there's more, he heard talk of the army being deployed.
A bell announces the end of the interval and you return to your seats.
Looking over at Alwyn briefly, "I'm not entirely sure yet, i'll explain once I figure it out."
Pratavh mingles with the people some during intermission making small talk and staying fairly close to Lilly and Alwyn in case someone gets her angry enough to attack them. He keeps a very close eye on Hirati as well.
"Pratavh and Lilly sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Pratavh with the baby carriage!"
"I'll be sure to sing that when you meet a male fairy dragon."
During the show however, Lilly doesn't speak, perhaps to the surprise of the others. She was enjoying the play, it was the first time seeing something like it.
"Wow, that was interesting and there's still the second half to come. See you two in a bit, im going for a drink."
Ordering a small glass of weak but tasty white wine, she strikes up some small talk with other patrons. Though she was quite aware that her summer colored dress was an obvious spot within a white dress crowd. Not that it mattered much to her.
She thanks the other patrons for the conversation and heads back to her seat.
After returning to their seats Pratavh tells Alwyn, "I figured out how they are doing this. They are combining the effects of different regular and shadow illusions to recreate the scenes of the Boneyard. If you really wanted to you could try to see through them. The shadow based illusions wouldn't completely disappear but would become less substantial. Having said that, why you would want to see through it I don't know, I would suggest you suspend your disbelief and enjoy the show." He quietes down as the show begins again.
Lilly kindly shows she's not interested in them, especially Farid then. She doesn't use force, she's here to see a play and will be polite as much as possible. As such it will only be small talk and refused offered drinks.
When the 2nd part of the play is announced, she returns to her seat, taking in the words Pratavh says.