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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 9, 2006 10:44:08 GMT -7
"Thank you my friend, you have my gratitude." Waleed slipped the man another ten dinar, "If you know anything of Taddabur, or can tell me someone who does, I would appreciate it even more." Slack-jawed shock at the appearance of more shiny coins was replaced with a look somewhere between blank and panic. Then self-congratulatory joy with a snap of his calloused fingers. "Ministry of Secrets! That is no, I don't know of Taddabird- be it man, place, or item, but that is as good a place as any to start. I could even show you the way." |
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on Apr 9, 2006 21:40:55 GMT -7
"Lead on my friend," Waleed motioned with an open hand. Once underway Waleed asked curiously, "This ministry, how do they take to foreigners? Is it a repository of knowledge, or a place that ensures secrets stay secrets, if you know what I mean?" Waleed glanced over to his three girls and Mamoun and whispered, "Be wary."
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Post by Keesha on Apr 10, 2006 1:35:02 GMT -7
The old woman's gaze fell pleadingly on Keesha. "It would have been paid, whatever the price." Years of roaming the streets have served well and she throws one of her charms at her. "Ohh but of course!.. I.. would have never though..." then she drops a fake tear "please forgive me if I made you feel bad... it is just.. all this.. all at once.. it is a lot... too fast" then she looks at her "please tell me.. what happen since we were gone? what happened to father?.. and help me... i want him to see me pretty" the she pours some water on the basin |
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Post by Ya'qub on Apr 10, 2006 6:25:08 GMT -7
Attempting to slip through the crowd unnoticed, hoping Maher was still following, Ya'qub heads for the bazaar. There, he intends to trade some of his cargo, and to listen carefully for rumors, particularly any that might help Adila...
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Post by maher on Apr 10, 2006 7:31:31 GMT -7
Maher, Still following Ya'qub, Was wondering were he was going with all this sneaking.Maybe Ya'qub has changed his destination. Then the bazaar came into view in the far distance."AWww" Maher said with his breath and thought"I understand'.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 12, 2006 13:10:48 GMT -7
"Lead on my friend," Waleed motioned with an open hand. Once underway Waleed asked curiously, "This ministry, how do they take to foreigners? Is it a repository of knowledge, or a place that ensures secrets stay secrets, if you know what I mean?" Waleed glanced over to his three girls and Mamoun and whispered, "Be wary." "Foreigners especially!" the man called back as he led Waleed northward into the city. "Ministry's full of bureaucrats mostly. Tasked with licensing treasure hunters. I'd wager most people pay them no never-mind, but..." deftly the man dodged a fast moving line of porters, each carrying huge racks of bananas bound for the docks. "...but they say a man can copy maps of known ruins for a fee." |
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 12, 2006 13:40:10 GMT -7
The old woman's gaze fell pleadingly on Keesha. "It would have been paid, whatever the price." Years of roaming the streets have served well and she throws one of her charms at her. "Ohh but of course!.. I.. would have never though..." then she drops a fake tear "please forgive me if I made you feel bad... it is just.. all this.. all at once.. it is a lot... too fast" then she looks at her "please tell me.. what happen since we were gone? what happened to father?.. and help me... i want him to see me pretty" the she pours some water on the basin Noora hastened to grab an elegant cotton washcloth and a hairbrush from beside the mirror. Seeing a basket of scented flower petals, she grabbed a handful and dropped them into the basin. Then she sat Keesha down and began grooming her hair while the petals soaked in the water, the aroma faint but pleasant. "Your father did as any father would who has lost his first child. He grieved." The old woman paused. "So much so I think he blames himself for your mother's death." She sighed and resumed combing Keesha's long hair. "Foolishness... grief can be shared but not borne by another." Gently wiping Keesha's face with the scented water, Noora continued. "Master al-Reehan lost you and then his first wife in less than one season. It is no wonder he is but a shadow of the man he once was." A gentle knock at the door signaled the tea had arrived. |
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 12, 2006 13:58:22 GMT -7
Attempting to slip through the crowd unnoticed, hoping Maher was still following, Ya'qub heads for the bazaar. There, he intends to trade some of his cargo, and to listen carefully for rumors, particularly any that might help Adila... Maher, Ya'qub, and Saqir hastened away from the crowd and drew up short at a canal that stretched north out of sight through overhanging homes and shops. A cacophony of calls assailed them as men in small boats spotted the obvious foreigners. Each tried to out-bid the other in lower fees and promises of all manner of trade goods exotic that only they could take them to. Selecting one, mostly based on the sturdy appearance of the craft, the three stepped into the small boat. "Where shall we begin, my friends?" the smiling young man called out at he used his long bamboo pole to shove away from the street and into the canals of the floating bazaar. "Girls? Spirits? Nothing is beyond your grasp now! Only we must be back before dark." |
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on Apr 12, 2006 14:11:14 GMT -7
...but they say a man can copy maps of known ruins for a fee." "Ah, very good, exactly what I need." Waleed continued to follow the wily man to his destination, but kept a wary eye about for he was still a stranger in a strange land. |
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Post by maher on Apr 13, 2006 7:52:59 GMT -7
"Where shall we begin, my friends?" the smiling young man called out at he used his long bamboo pole to shove away from the street and into the canals of the floating bazaar. "Girls? Spirits? Nothing is beyond your grasp now! Only we must be back before dark." Maher stopped Saqir in time before he said "Girls".  He turned his attention to the young boy" Are there any spacial events today?" |
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Post by Ya'qub on Apr 13, 2006 10:05:45 GMT -7
"Only we must be back before dark." Ya'qub looked over at their ferryman. "Why before dark?" |
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Post by saqir on Apr 14, 2006 12:01:46 GMT -7
Saqir settled into the prow of the boat, facing back along the little craft to watch the boy at the tail paddling them into the chaos of a busy river. He scanned the boat quickly, looking for a spare paddle in case their ferryman jumped ship. He looked at Maher with some annoyance as he burst out grinning at the thought of girls. Some people had very few trails blazed in their minds.... As Ya'qub asked about the dark, Saqir settled his eyes on the ferryman, adding the weight of his gaze to the man's considerations of honesty.
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Post by maher on Apr 22, 2006 7:16:44 GMT -7
This young boy must be alittle slow Maher thought.
Maher just relaxed and waited for the young boys reply.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 24, 2006 14:08:00 GMT -7
"Semmukhan muthlelei," the young man replied as he diligently worked the small boat into the shade and excitement of the floating bazaar. He pulled a necklace from beneath his robes. Jagged teeth, the size of a man's thumb were threaded on either side of a small soapstone figurine in the shape of a long-nosed reptile. "Rarely do they hunt during the day…"
The smells and sounds of the bazaar were a direct assault on the senses. The impenetrable green river teemed with trade on its surface as buyers and traders haggled over goods exotic and mundane. Shops ranged from strings of boats tied together with small children darting from one to the other while parents worked, to full fledged store fronts with large outdoor displays on stone wharves.
With a start, the boy turned to Maher. "You'd asked me a question! Yes, there is a special event today…, um… my cousin's birthday! If you tip generous I can give him a proper gift."
OOC: Ya'qub- send me a roll against your merchant cliché to unload the dried fish and other miscellaneous cargo you’d picked up. Also give me an idea what if anything you'd like to try and pick up here to fill the Bright Dancer's holds. Maher, Ya'qub and Saqir, let me know if there's anything you’d like to pick up/look for at the bazaar.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 24, 2006 15:29:07 GMT -7
When it became clear the man meant to walk what surely was the length and breadth of the entire city of Dihliz, Waleed called a halt to the nonsense and sent Mamoun off to hire a litter. The young servant reappeared shortly, his smiling face protruding from a curtained litter being born by four bare-chested laborers. He stepped out with a bow and a triumphant "Tada!" As first Waleed, then Jaheira, followed by Wudei'a, and Najiba climbed into the litter he nodded and smiled to each, quite pleased with himself until he turned to follow them inside. The girls were hardly able to conceal their amusement at his dismay… no room remained inside. "Thank you, Mamoun!" the three called out coquettishly in near unison. Crestfallen, he joined their guide and the group continued northward through the city.
Most of the trip was through residential neighborhoods on a main thoroughfare, but they passed some small suqs and workshops at intersections, pausing occasionally to browse the wares. At one such market, partially concealed behind a faded sheet Mamoun noticed a small shrine tucked inside a small alcove; a white cobra idol with a smiling woman's face peered sightlessly out at him.
A little more than an hour later, the street opened onto a wide plaza which circled a tall mosque of elaborate beauty. From its center a tall fountain bubbled, pouring slowly down columns covered with black hornets and wasps. The plaza itself thronged with enthusiastic supplicants, attentive beggars and varied opportunists. At the far side of the plaza a less interesting structure, built with the functional simplicity preferred by bureaucrats.
"The ministry of secrets," their guide called out with a smile and a wave of his hand.
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