Aithaloessa gets pointed to a rich woman's manor who is a collector of sorts. She has a lot of historical items in display cases in the entrance hall. A gem encrusted dagger once wielded by the high priest of Pharasma in Caliphas. The mummified hand of the thief who was caught trying to steal the Crown of the Ruby Prince in Osirion. The center piece of her little exhibition is a contract a now dead noble from Cheliax made with Asmodeus himself. Everything under glass and with parchments reproducing the history of said items.
"That's the weapon of Shirak, a gnoll cleric of Rovagug from the time of the Genie Wars you say? That's formidable. A worthy addition to my collection. What did you say is your price?"
Aith is relieved that a potential buyer turns up so quickly, though, then again, she should hardly be surprised by that in Katapesh. She finds some of the prizes in Sela’s collection a bit morbid, but to each their own, though she is very glad to hear that the infernal contract is no longer in effect. Then again, she probably doesn’t want to know how that worked out for the mortal party.
Fortunately, though - or in a rare showing of common sense, because - she’s no lawyer, she’s even less inclined to mess around with summoning things for reckless bargains. Flashy displays of basic elemental energies, and just flat-out weirdness, are more her thing.
When it comes to the point of the deal, she’s brought up a bit short, and she plays for time as unobtrusively as she can.
"Oh, um." Who the Hell knows? It's a stupidly big life-drain-y axe. What kind of barbarian would even fight with such a thing anyway? the wizardly sheriff thinks tartly, before eventually blurting out a number that she second-guesses as soon as she sees everyone else's expressions, and she immediately tries walking it back to something more reasonable.
"Well, as you say, it is a relic of the Genie Wars. But its story didn't end there..."
She sends what she hopes is not too obviously a frantically pleading look in Yasmeena's direction. If anyone can salvage the situation, stretch a point here, downplay there, maybe spin a reasonably accurate tale connecting the axe to the monsters guarding it, like the grotesque centipede, and so on and so forth, it would be the bard.
Yasmeena watches Aithaloessa spin the tale, pleased and impressed with her abilities, as she uses her bardic magic to determine the worth of the axe.
As Aithaloessa suggests selling it for 1000 gold, Yasmeena ...
Haleen's face is distorted in disbelief. Luckily Aithaloessa didn't show any interest in that contract thingy. Otherwise she might sell her soul for a meal with that kind of negotiation skill.
Yasmeena adds quickly in a charming but majestic voice, "One thousand gold-- paid once for each day of the month. For such a prize to shine every day as the highlight of your collection, surely a total price of 30,000 gold would be reasonable?"
"This is an extravagant piece and I'd really like to have it. But 30,000? I have a budget for my hobby, but I can't starve my family to death to add a shiny axe to my collection. 10,000."
"Oh, well, you must feed your family, at least some of the days of the month. If you pay one thousand gold for the axe two out of every three days, perhaps the hungry spirits it contains would also be satisfied? It would be a shame for it to lose its luster by being undervalued. Twenty thousand, then? See how it pulses with pride at its price!"
"Deal." The woman agrees and offers her hand to seal it.
"I'll get you the money." She leaves the hall and disappears into her private chambers. A few minutes later she reappears with 1500 platinum coins in a sack.
Aith decides that it’s probably best to keep her mouth shut after all, and, once the negotiations are over, restricts herself to quiet but earnest thanks.
If anything, she feels a bit sorry for unleashing Yasmeena on a poor unsuspecting collector, but then again, maybe Sela in turn can bask in turn in the reflected glory that is sure to come from acquiring a piece of history from not only the Genie Wars, but the exploits of the Knights of Kelmarane?
Something like that, anyway. They’ll have to offer her an option on any further suitable artifacts they find, so that she can make it a whole thematic thing.
* * *
Afterwards, with the knights lugging away an astonishing sack of cash, Aith turns to the others ruefully, a slight blush on her cheeks. “Right. I’m dreadfully sorry about that. I forget sometimes that necromancy, or getting in close to swing sharpened steel around, isn’t as hopeless as I am at it, even if most of us can't hope to get as good at it as Haleen.”
There’s a beat, before, admitting that maybe she’s not the best with money, she adds:
“I … I do have some ideas, but if there’s particular magic that anyone wants, I could see if I can find it to add to my repertoire.”
Yasmeena laughs, finding Aith's feeling flustered incredibly charming. "Some sort of magical means of carrying heavy treasure? Optimistically assuming this might be a regular occurrence for us?" she winks.
Tariq leaves the talking to the talkers, but closes his eyes a bit too focus on the coin bag.
Turn your old items into cash! No questions asked. is written on the sign of a shop in a narrow building squeezed between two full sized houses.
As the prospect of finding an interested buyer for every single item is not very appealing, the party takes a shot at this 'steal you blind' shop.
You're not sure about his family, but the guy behind the counter is not starving. The shop is cluttered with crates and barrels and piles. A pile of used chain shirts here, a barrel with all kinds of blades there. But only the cheap stuff. Other than the man's clothing. That is finest damast, golden rings, shoes made from soft goat leather (recognizable for those who have and eye for that). Clear complexion, neatly trimmed beard, manicured nails. This guy leads no scrap yard. The door in the back of the shop is also of high quality.
"Can I help you lighten your load? Show me what you got and I'll offer you a more than fair price!"
Yasmeena laughs, finding Aith's feeling flustered incredibly charming. "Some sort of magical means of carrying heavy treasure? Optimistically assuming this might be a regular occurrence for us?" she winks.
Yasmeena’s suggestion is enough to get Aith’s imagination going. “Oh, that could be interesting! Something like what we did with the tent, perhaps, or some sort of conjuration? Or there are possibilities in transmutation…”
As the group wanders over to another trader, the mage lets her eyes glance about the shop somewhat distractedly, preoccupied by questions of spellcraft more than material baubles. Not that she’s opposed to a fancy brooch or a ring or anything, but. Trying to fold too much space would get tricky at best, if not absolutely messy, she muses. Something to affect bulky objects, then? Also, we’ll have to see what planar links Kakishon has. There are ways to send things skipping along the edges of various planes, but if they can’t be reached… Well!
As all the stuff gets poured on the table for selling she notices another ring of that kind that her companions are wearing. "I'll take that." she states and puts it on her finger.
Yasmeena smiles broadly, her smoky eyes glinting with charm. "Don't you want to hear about how we came upon these treasures that we bring before you? I assure you, each one has a story, and the story increases its value tenfold!"
Yasmeena manages to befriend the nice purchasing agent. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't sell individually. I sell in bulk. And, you see that sign with the no questions asked? That's because my customers don't care."
Anyway, Yasmeena persuades him that even if the profit for him is lower per item if he pays them better, his overall profit increases significantly because of the large number of items he gets at once and so for that and her good looks she squeezes 2500 gold extra out of Ardashir. Again the party is payed cash in platinum. "It's a pleasure to do business with you."
With that huge pile of stuff off their back the interesting part starts - shopping. Where is the fun of lugging around piles of metal pieces when there are so much better things to burden yourself with. There are so many possibilities on these markets!
Shoes for example! "Yasmeena! You have to see this!" Haleen holds up a pair of boots that shimmer in vibrant shades of blazing red and burning orange when hit by the sunlight. She kicks off her worn out greyish brown leather boots and puts on this fancy footwear. "Those are fantastic, don't you think?" Trying a few steps and a turn she adds "Like made for dancing! How much are they?" she inquires from the merchant.
She is a little shocked on the mention of 1400 gold. "But they look amazing!" It's the look of guilty pleasure as her eyes beg Yasmeena to confirm, that this is a totally reasonable expense.
The salesman of course compliments her on how her beutiful legs bring the boots to bear. He explains the magical properties they have and suggests she should take a matching shirt, made of light, gossamer-thin fabric embroidered with arrangements of winged feet.
It is a nice shirt, but a bit flimsy for Haleen's taste. Maybe for a romantic night in candlelight, but out on the streets in broad daylight? To allay those doubts the man brings another item. Two sleeves. He tells Haleen to imagine a ball gown while putting them on - and like Cinderella, Haleen finds herself in a gorgeous ball gown.
Before she comes to her senses again, she got boots, a shirt and a queens wardrobe in sleeve form and spent 2600 gold already.
Yasmeena applauds her friend. "They look exquisite, Haleen! Your whirling and dancing on the battlefield and in the arena will honor Sarenrae and put our enemies to shame."
Tariq sees some interesting things in the shops, though he decides to keep his pocket money for another occasion. Most of what really attracts him is either too expensive or costs too much money.
Looking how Haleen speny over two kay in less than ten seconds makes him feel a bit of vertigo. "Damn, money goes away as fast as it comes, down here..."
Further strolling through the markets a shop named Steel and Magic catches Haleen's eye. Inside two dwarves are arguing over the correct way to put the finishing touches on a marvelous great sword. The argument is heated and those who speak dwarven might learn a few new offenses. From the look of it, those two are brothers.
While Haleen stares fascinated at the dwarves a "Hello, can I help you?" from below startles her. A halfling, curly black hair, dark pants, white shirt, brown vest, with bright blue eyes and a winning smile addresses her.
"Well,..." Haleen replies, her eyes moving back and forth between the halfling and the dwarves "I need my chainshirt improved magically."
After the procedure and amount of improvement is clarified, the chain shirt stays with the shop for four days.
Once the axe and various odds and ends have been disposed of, although Katapesh is full of even more shiny and pretty things than Aith would know what to do about, the sheriff of Kelmarane is unusually restrained in the improbable markets of the big city. Or simply single-minded, or perhaps focused, since she's formed several ideas after a look around Rayhan's library.
At the shop Haleen stops at for improvements to her armour, since they’re obviously smiths with a sense for the possibilities of arcane ironmongery, Aith sees about a small steel coffer which she can get the smiths to copy perfectly at a tiny scale , before moving on to the crafters’ bazaars – beads, what looks like a set of tiny, silver hanging chimes – and, above all, the dealers in arcane inks and spell components.
And then she escapes back to Rayhan’s estate, where she promptly piles up an alarming stack of books in their host’s library behind which she disappears for days except for when she’s dragged out for meals, fresh air, and any situations that no, seriously, need her input.
2nd – communal ant haul, detect thoughts, locate object, warding weapon
3rd – arcane sight, clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, displacement, fly, phase step, secret coffer, shrink item
4th – bloody arrows, energy hack, locate creature, minor creation, named bullet, summon monster IV
After they leave the Steel and Magic Haleen turns to Antarah. "My blade could use some improvement too. But it's a family heirloom. I don't want to hand that to some strangers. Would you do me the favor to look into that?"
With all selling out of the way and some buying done, another topic is still unresolved - the visit with the old guy.
His home is one of the many clay brick houses along the alleys stuffed with market stalls and merchants. It has three stories and is of impressive size. A young man wearing the traditional thobe and a kandora opens the door. He invites the group into the spacious place.
The floor is covered with carpets that have seen better days. The smell of cheap incense hangs in the air. As the door is closed the place gets dim as only what little light falls in through the cracks of the Only what litte of the sun reflected from the next building shines through the cracks of the window shutters lights the room.
Along the walls on pillows sit a dozen persons, mostly women, lightly dressed. Some from Osirion, others from far away places.
From the upper floor comes Yuseifah. "Aaah, you're here. Wonderful. My heroes. Can I offer you something? Tea, coffee? Please take a seat." He offers.
"You can't imagine how thankful I am that you freed me from that perilous situation I got myself in. Please take a seat."
The old guy looks a lot better now in clean clothes and no longer all skin and bones. But he is scarred for life.
As Yuseifah confirms with his greetings who the visitors are, the young man addresses them again. "As a representative of the guild Mr. Yuseifah belongs to, I like to express our appreciation - in coin - for your help in bringing him back to Katapesh."
He produces a pouch and offers it for someone of the group to take.
Stepping gracefully forward, Yasmeena moves to accept the pouch on behalf of the group.
"Sooo..., you're back in business I guess?" Haleen comments with a raised brow.
"Yes, yes, indeed. The months I was imprisoned by the gnolls were also really bad for business. But it was just yesterday, that The Wallflower arrived at the harbor and brought these wonderful exotic slaves to Katapesh. It is a small start, but it will get me back on my feet."
"I'm sorry, that I can't present you with such a generous gift as the guild has provided for my rescue by myself. There were taxes to pay and other expenses that ran up in these months. If I only could,..." An idea sparks in the old man. "I could gift each of you one of those wonderful slaves. If you like one of them?"
Tariq accepts quickly. "That shows the generosity of Amwyr Yuseifah is legendary."
He steps forward, having a look at the slaves, and asks the old man "Do any of them have any notions of cooking?"
An Osirian man looks Tariq up and down and then quickly lifts his hand. "I do."
"That is indeed a gift showing your appreciation like few others would." Haleen praises the offer. She walks closer and looks every one of the slaves in the face, estimating who might be the youngest woman of that lot. Once she comes to a conclusion she proclaims "I'd take her."
The visit to Yuseifah goes about as well as can be expected, with a slightly sullen elf wondering, I left an exquisitely well-appointed library for this?
Just how uncomfortable she is about the whole situation shows in just how carefully she’s polished up her boots and armour, a clear play for respectability and authority from someone who’s not really a true believer in law and order as such. It puts spell components in one’s pouch, though, and – more importantly – offers decent protection in a place like the rougher side of Alkenstar, but then again, in places like Katapesh, allows … this sort of thing.
Fortunately, Aith knows when she’s outgunned, at least when it’s by so much as it is right now. If she doesn’t blow herself up before she becomes an archmage, maybe then she can have a stern word with the Pactmasters or something.
“That’s very kind of you,” she chimes in after the others, doing her very best not to grit her teeth, and keeping her voice level.
She glances again at the slaves, checking if any of the others look obviously related to the two Tariq and Haleen have picked out, or like a particularly sharp knife in the drawer. She’s not really looking for an apprentice, and she’s aware enough of her limitations to know that there’s only so much a bookish, alchemical sort can do to help a more normal person on their way.
<"Anyone have a head for figures or chemistry?"> she asks in Elven, just on the off chance, before repeating herself in Common.
Even as she speaks, she tries to remember anything she can about procedures of manumission in Katapesh, though she's just tactful enough to acknowledge to herself that she probably shouldn't try right in front of Yuseifah.
They all stare blankly at the elf woman. And it doesn't get better when she asks in common.
After Haleen, Tariq and Aithaloessa decided whom they take as a gift Haleen makes up an excuse to leave. "We didn't want to let you wait for an answer, but we're short on time today as we need to find some books and magical ingredients for our host and don't know yet where to get all that. We were around the area and used the opportunity to say hello, but if you don't mind we'd decline your offer for tea and go back to our task at hand."
Yuseifah, ignorant as always nods in understanding. He produces three cloaks for the slaves to wear, thanks the group again and accompanies them to the door. "Be careful." he warns Tariq. "That one is a runner!"
They all stare blankly at the elf woman. And it doesn't get better when she asks in common.
“I see,” Aith says, somewhat stiltedly, into the silence following her question. And then she realizes that her jaw is still set from having to deal with Yuseifah – who she can’t believe, even if that is the feeling she’s getting, really thinks he’s being nice with giving people away like they’re so much stuff – and that’s probably not making her any less vaguely ominous.
She does her best to try to relax her posture a bit and gentle her tone, hoping she won’t have cause to regret her next words. “Well, if anyone would be interested in learning, let her speak.”
It looks like it’s going to be a matter of chance, in the end, which is probably for the best. She doesn’t really need an assistant, but if the poor girl that ends up being given the nod by the slave trader to join the two people picked out by Tariq and Haleen has nowhere else to go, well, there are worse things than another head for various calculations, especially one that’s almost bound to be more level than Aith’s whimsical. The sheriff still has vague ideas of outfitting Kelmarane with some siege engines for defense, eventually, and some more detailed ballistic study might help convince Almah and Garavel that it’s not just a question of Aith being unreasonably amused by the prospect of seeing how far she can get a catapult to hurl a rock.
Yuseifah, ignorant as always nods in understanding. He produces three cloaks for the slaves to wear, thanks the group again and accompanies them to the door. "Be careful." he warns Tariq. "That one is a runner!"
“You too,” she offers tersely at the door. “Take care, and try not to get into any more business that is liable to get you eaten up.”
It’s probably the most she can say to the fellow that has any chance of getting through. As soon as they’re out of ear-shot from Yuseifah’s abode, though, she turns to the enslaved folks he’s handed over.
“Don’t worry,” she says, hopelessly, knowing it’s a ridiculous opening even as she can’t stop herself, before getting to the point, her voice still serious after the whole disagreeable encounter. “We’re freeing you as soon as we can ensure that we do it in such a way that all Katapesh will recognize that it has been done. Nobody should have to suffer what you have, and we’ll do our best to send you safely on your way to wherever you want to go.”
“Or, if you have nowhere to go, yet, or just need some time to get your bearings, we’ll hold to what we said. But it’s entirely up to you.”
"Who died and made you king of anything?" Haleen protests, arms akimbo.
"Whatever..." She turns to the market stalls to find something to lift her mood. After shoes, shirt, and magic sleeves maybe some pants? Or jewellery?
Haleen’s brusqueness takes Aith out of her own studied seriousness (not to say dramatics), and the elf drops into something closer to her usual silliness.
“Nex, probably?” she quibbles, trying to make a feeble joke out of it. “Unless he’s holed up in another pocket plane somewhere, or Geb came closer to the mark than everyone thought in embracing undeath.”
Whatever the case may be, going from there to Aith pulling rank is a long shot that she’s not actually interested in making, her wild thoughts running ahead privately, as they do, because it’s just another puzzle.
Still, it’s a matter of one of the few principles that the mage tries to live by as a rule: she’s not opposed to keeping these folks around, but it’s just a mess to try to make sure that they’re not feeling pressured into it, out of … whatever’s up with Haleen. Some sort of weird squooshy big sister feeling that accumulates strays, Aith wonders, thinking of how the fighter adopted Tariq and Yasmeena, not that she would ever dare say so in so many words.
“This is frightfully awkward,” she says ruefully, rubbing the back of her neck nervously as she addresses the enslaved freedpersons, “but for what it’s worth, I’d like to think we’re interesting people, and we do try to do the right thing. You could do worse than talking to my colleagues if there’s any chance that we can help you find your way again. Miss Sword-dancer over there is exactly as scary as she looks, but she’s also saved our skins a few times, and her heart is in the right place.”
“But I can only imagine what you went through with that old reprobate, and before you even came to him,” she explains, nose wrinkling as she refers to Yuseifah, “I just don’t want anyone to think that they’re … obligated, in any way.”
It’s a difficult needle to thread, trying to reassure the former captives while also conveying that she didn’t mean to suggest that she’s in any position to boss Haleen around. There is also, to be sure, a question of what they can reasonably do for these people, but Aith doubts they’ll be clamouring for teleportation back home or anything.
The freed-persons are confused. The elf woman sounds promising in regards to their future, but for whatever reason that threw off one of the human women.
Leading to the elf making more carefully chosen words that still sound promising, but it is not exactly clear how binding whose words are. In the end all three answer almost synchronous to Aithaloessa "Yes ma'm."
Haleen looks cursory over what is offered. But the easiness everything had before visiting Yuseifah is gone. Flipping the table at Aithaloessa didn't help any. That whole situation makes her antsy.
That's when her eyes fall on some hot weather outfits like almost everyone is wearing around here, at least when outside. Unadorned, plain, but good quality made of linen. She buys one for everyone and moves back to the group. "Sorry, venting my frustration at you like this, wasn't helpful. Can we move this off the street and talk later?"
On the way back to Rayhan's home Haleen walks beside the girl she chose at Yuseifah. "Hi. I'm Haleen. What's your name?" She attempts to get to know the girl, where she's from, how she ended up with Yuseifah and such.
Back at the villa she puts the clothes on the table. "Feel free to take one." Haleen offers to all the Knights and also the freed-persons.
"I see you were successful with your shopping?!?" Rayhan comments with a raised brow seeing the additional people.
"Mmmh... Yeah, well, more or less" Tariq comments casually, a smile on his face.
He decides to keep the slave as it is for now, thinking being a property he would be safer in Katapesh than being a free man. Sad but true. When they get back to Kelmarane there will be time to free him and offer him a job.
Haleen looks cursory over what is offered. But the easiness everything had before visiting Yuseifah is gone. Flipping the table at Aithaloessa didn't help any. That whole situation makes her antsy.
That's when her eyes fall on some hot weather outfits like almost everyone is wearing around here, at least when outside. Unadorned, plain, but good quality made of linen. She buys one for everyone and moves back to the group. "Sorry, venting my frustration at you like this, wasn't helpful. Can we move this off the street and talk later?"
“Of course,” Aith says quickly, getting her frustration in check as well as she can. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be dictatorial or to undermine your way of handling things.”
She leaves the rest of it for later.
This sort of thing is exactly why she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Yuseifah again.
* * *
"I see you were successful with your shopping?!?" Rayhan comments with a raised brow seeing the additional people.
Once the group returns to Rayhan’s, the mage forces herself to linger for at least a few minutes before vanishing into the library again. This doesn’t provide the mental space she needs, though: their host’s discreet question and what everyone’s not saying is loud.
Fortunately, if there’s anything that can be said in Aith’s favour, it is that she is willing to go big from time to time, even if she takes a while to get there.
“It’s a delicate matter,” Aith says carefully, and it’s not hard to see that she’s not particularly happy about that. She’s unusually terse as she explains, “Collected a reward from a grateful … person we were in a position to help. Frankly, I think a few fireballs and a handful of lead would have been simpler, but I bow to the laws of the land.”
The weight of irony makes adding ‘for now’ redundant. Coming from a breakaway state caught between two warring regional powers whose petty wranglings have warped magic itself in the place she grew up, Aith has strong feelings about which laws are valid (mostly unwritten ones based on her sense of freedom and fair play) and isn’t shy about giving them a nudge (or a shove) in the direction she wants as far as her position allows. “The important thing is treating these people properly. They’ve been ill-used, and we need to figure out what we can do to best help them.”
She looks the new additions to the party over and recalls their names, fixing them in her mind, ending the introductions with the woman she ended up choosing from the line-up as she adds firmly, “I’m emancipating her as soon as possible, and we’ll take it from there.”
"Yes, we were gifted with these nice people, Meilin from Tian, Shabaka from Osirion and Fadimatou from the Mwangi Expanse. Here in Katapesh we are limited in our options to help them properly though."
"If you don't mind I would like to set up our tent in your garden to make the additional room needed. It's a magical tent that Aithaloessa chose to bring adequate comfort to our travels, so it's the easiest and most comfortable solution that I see without renting room elsewhere."
Hearing how the Knights of Kelmarane came into possession of three slaves, the tension leaves Rayhan with a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry that I can't offer enough room even for you. My home is your home. Please talk to Eramin, my house keeper. He is mute, but he'll show you a place where best to put the tent."
"About the scroll I made some progress. I found a sentence from the map verbatim in two historical books. I can't tell if there is a meaning yet. I took a pause from reading the relevant chapters just now. But it is thrilling to do hands on research instead of only hunting rumors."
"That's very generous of you. Thank you." Haleen replies to their host. After making sure the three newcomers are comfortable for now she inquires with Eramin where to put the tent. With that out of the way she approaches Aithaloessa. "Care to join me outside setting up the tent?" Of course it is only an excuse to have time to talk with her.
"What you said to our new family members when we left Yuseifah's house. It's a logical summary how our good intentions towards those three will probably play out. Concise, covering all the bases. You had the perfect plan already set up upon leaving the house - brilliant. Honestly, no irony here."
"But it also is a big promise that you made, in the name of all of us. It might be as easy as to put them on a trek with a hand full of silver to get them home. It might as well lead to a travel around the world to a home that no longer exists."
"But what really upset me was that you didn't take the time to even ask their names first. You knew they are slaves, and that was all you thought you needed to know."
"I believe that being a slave is a state of mind. Every one treats you like a slave. Introduces you as a slave. Calls you a slave. Until one day you believe it yourself. I never believed it. What hurt the most was when even the people who pitied 'those poor slave girls' acknowledged us being slaves."
"It's not your fault, it's just an old sore that hurts when touched."
"And which sentence is that?"