All intial posts for the time being will visible all characters. This is so I can easily add or subtract characters should someone change location. Unless you are addressed in a sub-thread, assume you are not there.
The City of Adala
Shacks

This is under the assumption that Cas stayed with Celeste. It is now well after midnight

Shortly after the Raccoon and his trusty vulpine companion leave to do some more wheeling and dealing, Beka and Handle return to the shacks. Celeste and Cas are in the shack along with Jareek, who is snoring. Kent is asleep in the wagon.

Cas finishes her thoughts with Celeste as Beka and Handle approach within earshot, "...and so I tell you that if those two holligans don't shape up, I'm going to box them in the ears! To think that there irresponsibility almost got them and us killed."

Cas nods at the returning friends, "Welcome back. Welcome. So, perhaps one of you two might know a thing or two about bandaging some scrapes. Faliol and Riccoco have done a good job of stringing my nervous and I sort of dug myself a bit too hard."

"What happened? Are they alright? Where is everyone else? I think I found a buyer for your chess set if you would like to go see him tonight. I'm fine, Jonnitt is going to introduce us to a main buyer here in Adala, might be able to get us return cargo even. Peaches had too much to drink. Handle met up with us later. What did you guys do? Are they coming back soon? Let me see your scrapes."

"I'd tell you about Faliol and Riccoco but someone would have to kill me, though that rat, or was it a dog, would not get through Celeste and I," Cas says rolling her eyes. She shows you here wounds which aren't that bad.

"I haven't seen the rest and I certainly would like to sell that set of mine."

As Cas only answered half of Beka's inquiries, Celeste adds her comments, "Ricco and Faliol just left, we don't know how long they will be gone. They are fine...so far. It was just a little dust-up. We haven't seen Vagrant or Nuyok since we all split up."

"If they say they are alright then I say we finish what we must and get out of this city. If you can bring back a profit, isnt' that enough? We don't need to be making any enemies."

"I could have bandaged that for you Cas."

"Cas, I think you already did box their ears...." Celeste smiles as she says this. "But, I don't see that anything they did was irresponsible, the hole market is a dangerous place...."

"They're in a dangerous place? What whole market? Where did they go? Why aren't we saving them? Let's get going!"

OOC: Celeste is in the Big Mouth Barbarian League

"They did too do something irresponsible. Faliol had to go and give out a cry when they knew well that we would come. He should have kept his yap shut. But they are more in danger Beka if we go where they are than if we do nothing. So lets see about selling that chess set."

"We cannot go to where they are. Cas and I don't even know where they are specifically. It would only increase the risk. I think...they will be alright."

"...If you say so..., Well, we're supposed to meet Jonnit so get whatever you want to sell and he'll introduce us to this,...um,...Throne. Cas, do you still want me to sell the set or will you present it?"

"I agreed that you could sell it, though I would not mind being present when you do such."

Jonnit had specified three hours before the meeting. You have about an hour free. Do you want to do anything in particular with that time?

Let's get there early and get the lay of the land...
OOC: That way, we can hear the screams

OOC: After all, she did sign on as a guard for Beka's Caravan....besides, don't want to miss the action....

Aren't we supposed to meet in 3 hours? At 3AM?

Your frequent comings and goings long after dark have now been thoroughly noted by the guards at the gate, but they let you pass. BTW, those of you who went into the city the previous night but have not yet slept are feeling more than a little tired.(If you get into combat, you will likely suffer some penalties.)
The city is fairly quiet, especially in the areas you are going into. As you approach the quarter specified by Jonnit, you see that the architecture displays wealth and privilege. The street is light with lumina street lamps. The statue of Kinnut the Reveller (A jovial fat man surrounded by women whose wine jugs fountain into a pool) stands in a large courtyard that is well patrolled. The lights of the harbor are visible not far beyond. The buildings that front the court appear to be a mixture of high end businesses and large residences. Some of them are walled compounds.

Speaking of patrols, your party is noted and a couple of guards hail you. They break off from their companions and walk over. They are both lean and muscular. Though they wear the livery of the city guard, they look a little bit better equipped than most you have seen. One of them speaks.
"Hello? Have you lost your way?" Though technically polite, his tone implies that this is the answer he expects you to give. He seems to be looking very pointedly at the weapons most of you bear.

"No, we are not lost. We are meeting Jonnit, Lieutenant Jonnit here."

The guards manner softens a bit.

"Jonnit, eh? Well, we would like to help friends of Jonnit, wouldn't we Jornu?" He looks meaningfully at the other guard.

"Did Jonnit say anything about why he was meeting you here? We haven't seen him tonight."

[EDITED on Sat September 6, 2003 @12:36 AM (PDT)]

Noting the 'meaningful' exchange between the guards, Celeste's body tenses ever so slightly. She does not take her eyes from them.

He is going to introduce us mto Merchant Throne so we might be able to conduct some business.

Keeps the googly eyes away!

"Merchant Throne, eh? What would Merchant Throne be buying from you now? Oh, don't get all huffy! Merchant Throne has a reputation for... unusual business dealings. We just want to make sure the Archon's peace is kept."
He seems to be eying Celeste more than any other.

.oO(But maybe I should have...)

I start to get huffy and then stop and look curiously at Celeste.

Other than the fact that Celeste is also eyeing the guards, there is nothing unusual or provocative about her. Just good old Celeste. The guards have so far disregarded Handle and Cas.

Cas couldn't be delighted more that she is being completely disregarded. Not standing out is good.

I will do the best I can to continue to not be regarded. Not being regarded is good.

"Cloth. Silk to be exact."

The guard notices all the looks hurriedly exchanged and given. He makes no mention of them, though his interest is definitely piqued.
"Silks?" He asks, "What would Merchant Throne be buying Silks for? And at this hour? With a barbarian outlander in tow? And why is Jonnit so interested?"

Quick GM questions: Where are the remaining bolts of silk? Did you take the cart or the wagon? Are you carrying them? Do you have a representative bolt? If so, who is carrying it?

Remaining bolts back at Chez Us. No cart or wagon. I think Cas has the chess set. Sample swatches, no bolts.

"Jonnit said he might buy them, he told us to meet him at this hour. She is one of my guards."

"Guards, eh?" He walks forward, not threateningly so, but enough to make a firm presence.
"Barbarian woman. What is your name and tribe? Where do you come from? And why do you travel in a City?"

He speaks slowly and clearly, like one who is used to dealing with thickly-accented people. You can hear the capital "C" in "City."

Presence Roll and whatever plusses can be applied to it if any
3d6: 2, 4, 1 (STUN: 7, BODY: 2) Thu August 28, 2003 @11:38 PM (PDT)
Never batting an eye and speaking ever so crisply and clearly for the slow speaking,dull-witted guard, "My name is Celeste (You can clearly hear the Capital 'C'), I travel in your city (small c) of Adala to protect my Blood Sister, Mistress Beka Hamilton, from low-minded persons who may wish to do her harm. As to my tribe and where I come from, one would answer the other, but as I have no wish to un-necessarily frighten the citizens of Adala, I will decline to answer those questions directly Good Sir"(aaaah).
.oO(Overbearing, tin-plated dictator with delusions of 'godhood'!)

Celeste then flashes her prettiest smile at the lowly guard.



[EDITED on Fri August 29, 2003 @12:10 AM (PDT)]

The guard listens to Celeste's response. Whether he is intimidated, amused or something else entirely is difficult to tell. Nevertheless, his manner softens a bit and his speech becomes more normalized.
"Now, now, there's no need for... attitude. You're a guard, eh? Well so am I. You protect your mistress. I protect my city. I ask again in official capacity, for your name and tribe. Are you Hill Tribe, Sea Tribe or something else? You don't look Kabekki."

takes Celeste's answers in

"I'm glad to see we understand each other. My name I gave you, I am from the Shattered Isles. Late of the tribe of Kislan. Is that sufficient for your needs?".oO(But I'm not going to take my eyes off you or your friend over there)

"Kislan? Kislan?" He turns to his accomplice. "Jornu, you ever hear of Kislan?"
With a menacing look, his friend responds in flat stacatto tones, "Sea Tribe. No big navy. Not raiders. She's marked like Red Tide. If Throne is..."
The first guard hushes him.
"Wait. Let's hear her side. Celeste. You say you are late of the tribe of Kislan. Jornu says those are Red Tide markings. Red Tide has done a lot of damage to our shipping and merchant fleets. Can you explain yourself? This is important."
Now the guards are a bit more readable. They are torn between suspicion and some kind of... eagerness?

Cas looks a bit confused at the dialog in place, "If Celeste is not Kislan, than she has been decieving her friends." After getting a glance from a guard, Cas quickly returns to her place.

In a voice that is more gentle than some would expect from a barbarian, Celeste turn to Cas. "Cas, I have not kept from you what I once was. Kislan was my adopted tribe after I left Devil's Island. I have spoken of this before, though I do not often speak of those events because I fear the anger it brings will one day break free, more than it did at Fort Lizard. That is a thing which I must hold in check until I can return it to those who gave it being."

Celeste's eyes narrow at the mention of Red Tide. "So, you are not as ignorant as you pretend to be. Let me calm your fears by saying that 'if' I were Red Tide, neither of you would still be alive to hear this answer."

She watches for their reaction and makes no threatening gesture. Continuing on, "I say 'late of the tribe of Kislan' for the simple truth is that, because of Red Tide, I have no tribe now, except these my friends I travel with, my brothers and sisters." Celeste continues to watch the guards. "Red Tide murdered my Kislani husband and tried to kill me as well. That they did not succeed will be their downfall." The hatred in her voice is plain. There are also some undertones of grief and pain.

"So, to answer your question, 'No,' I am not Red Tide. I am not that which I once was, and I never will be that again." Her body is rigid with emotion, not unlike a tightly drawn bowstring.

"Please wait here."
The two guards withdraw and seem to be having an animated discussion. The one who spoke to you seems to be trying to convince the other of something. Finally Jornu throws up his hands as if to say "go ahead!"
The first guard returns.
"Sorry about that. We need to be sure."
He know addresses the group. "I have some more questions. Did Lt. Jonnit know that Celeste was not Red Tide? Did he seem overly interested in her meeting with Throne?"

You notice he does not say Merchant Throne.

"Please, if there is something I need to know tell me. I am a merchant, no more, no less and I am looking to get a good deal on my silk from Tallon. I am beginning to think that Lt. Jonnit had me pegged and I don't know if he thinks I am a simple woman or he is interested in a few of the people in my caravan. He did not seem interested in Celeste, I don't know if he knew she was with us, but he was interested in others. If I can be of help to you, I need to know what information you are looking for and stop beating around the stones. I will be happy to cooperate but I need more information to know if I can help you or not."
.oO(I did have a funny feeling about him...
Peaches is usually right...
Hmmm)

The guards are clearly very interested in your small party. The first guard looks over his shoulder and quickly scans the square.
"Listen, I think there are things you should know. I think we can help each other. But we need to get out of the public eye, quickly. If you're due to meet Jonnit here, he could show up any minute. Are you willing to take a chance?"

To help my business and my caravan group, yes. To help the good of the word and the way, yes. To help greed and personal ambition, no. If it is the first and not the latter, I, at least, will follow you.

The guard's eyes raise at the piety of your answer. "Word and Way, eh? I guess it might come to that. Are the rest of you in?" He seems to finally recognize the existence of Handle and Cas, but his look is intense and sincere.

"How can you ask if we are 'in', when we don't even know what that is supposed to mean. You sound as if you are plotting something less than...circumspect."

"I'm just asking you to come listen to us away from this public square. I'm not asking you to do anything. Yet"

"I go where she goes," flicking a glnace and nod of the head towards Beka, "Or at least am not far from it."

.oO(at least for now...)

AAUGH!

Celeste gives the guards the "old inscrutable squint-eyes"