WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players welcome to el minha. It will happen at random- you could be asleep, or wandering the Temple, or a variety of other options. It will feel a little strange, like a sudden warmth spreading across your skin, and then your bracelet will light up and a semi-familiar voice will be heard. I hope you are able to help the people of El Minha! And oh- in case I didn't mention it already, water is very, very valuable here. And then you will blink, and it will be bright. Bright, and warm, as you are standing just inside the grand walls that protect the impressive city before you. At your hip there will be a small bag with a few bits of coin - nothing too crazy, and definitely not enough to last you the entire stay (which...you're not exactly sure how long it will be), but enough to get started. Your presence brings a couple of glances, a stare or two, but overall the city seems to continue on with its day. Welcome to the Red Desert, the city of El Minha. THE PALACE After a few hours of being within El Minha, the King has heard that a large amount of travelers are now wandering within the city limits. An audience is called in front of the Royal Palace, and King Kathashun steps out onto the dias. He is dressed rather plainly, for a monarch -- a purple robe, with some gold bangles and bracelets, but no ornate crown or anything like that. However, when he appears, the natives around you grow quiet, at the presence of their King. “I understand that there are a lot of new people, within our fair city. Welcome to El Minha, the Jewel of the Red Desert. Enjoy our culture, our people, our wares; we welcome you, and hope you enjoy your stay.” There is a pause, though, as King Kathashun seems to weigh out what he wants to say. “I normally do not spend my time greeting tourists to our city, as our Crown Guard typically handles educating our visitors on our ways,” he continues, folding his hands behind his back. “But the heart of our city has been heavy, in recent months, and I feel it is my duty as King to be clear, to be honest, and to speak the truth. Recently, we have been attempting to hunt down individuals who wish our city harm, who have harmed my family, and my people. The Syndicate has been active, as of late, and I warn all of you who are not familiar with El Minha to avoid certain areas of the city should you wish to keep your pocketbooks.” There’s a slight quirk of his lips, as he says that, before he tilts his head in a polite gesture of greeting toward the crowd. “Please, enjoy El Minha. And should any of you garner any information concerning the Syndicate, please do not hesitate to contact me.” For the duration of your time in El Minha, King Kathashun will be within his palace . . . or so the Crown Guard says, should you ask them for an audience. That being said, you might be lucky wandering the streets. The King of El Minha tends to mingle more with the common folk than the Crown Guard would lead you to believe . . . THE GRAND MARKET Welcome to the heart and soul of El Minha - a massive outdoor market in the center of the city. Covered by fabric stretched between the buildings, this market feels almost like a city, or living soul, in and of itself. It is constantly moving, constantly evolving. Anything you could imagine is for sale here - spices, jewelry, weapons - whatever you’re looking for, anything at all. While you won’t necessarily find specific items from your home, you can find any matter of similarly made or crafted ones. Think cheap knock-offs, or unnecessarily well-made versions, because they can vary widely. There can also be items of some level of magic, though nothing particularly strong or overly impressive. (feel free to ask the mods on the previous ooc post about if an item is too over-powered to be found in the market - and also know that there’s always the chance you could find it in the underground. It just depends on how determined you are to track it down.) Stalls can range from cobbled together boxes and goods to grand, incredible stands - it all depends on what you’re looking for, and how long you’re willing to look. There is no map here, so tread lightly! The merchants that work in the market are experienced, practiced sales people. They know how to sell to anyone, but especially tourists. Barter to your hearts content, but it will take a little more than a ‘please’ to get those prices down. They have expert eyes and will not take pick-pockets or thieves well. However, as experienced and watchful as the merchants may be, that won’t stop young kids on the streets targeting the tourists as well - so keep an eye out on your pockets! As long as you have coin, water, or something to trade you are welcome as long as you’d like to stay here in the El Minha Marketplace. However, if you loiter for too long, you might get a swift kick in the ass to either get moving or buy something - they’re not giving away anything for free, and that includes the shade. THE SPARKLING SAPPHIRE As the announcement from King Kathashun comes to an end, all members of the Circle will be communicated - in one way or another - the direction to the Sparkling Sapphire. Free housing, you’ve been told. All you have to do is go, give them your name, and let them know you are part of the group that King Kathashun has directed here. Here, as it turns out, isn’t too shabby of a place. A large building with plenty of rooms, it is clean and fairly busy, with a bustling tavern area and rooms upstairs. You can pick up your key from the older woman behind the front desk, and are directed to the staircase in the middle of the establishment. The rooms are clean, but plain, with one or two beds depending on your preference. Downstairs in the tavern you can find food served for both breakfast and dinner, which is included in the room. Otherwise, there is a small fee for food or drink, and the servers are talented and experienced and very, very friendly. It is in the tavern that you can find the hookah, and some strange liquor as well, but it’s up to you if you choose to drink it. The food is incredible, beyond incredible, and they can make almost anything that you’ll like, though it may come out a bit creative. The main room is comfortable - with a roaring fire but without the suffocating heat. There is a bard in the corner, who will sing or tell stories or simply play, depending on the feeling of the room. Have a drink! Or a meal! While most of the people here are indeed Circle members, there may be a couple of natives mixed in as well. Take a load off, relax, and enjoy the hospitality that only a King’s Coin can bring. THE FIGHT RING The ring itself is somewhat on the outskirts of town - a colosseum-esque collection of buildings that watch over a pit-like arena. The buildings protect the Fighting Ring from any outside eyes, or any unwanted attention, as this area is solely under the command of The Syndicate. Anyone is allowed inside, as long as you don’t cause any problems and don’t start any trouble. There are a number of what you can assume are Syndicate-employed figures that are constantly canvasing the area as well, so don’t expect to be able to sneak in unless invited or allowed. The Fight Ring is open for volunteers at any time, and once you’ve been checked for any fun business and told the rules (no magic, only weapons allowed are the ones provided, the fight will end once one side relents or is taken out of commission). If this still feels like your cup of tea, you are invited to take a spot in line. Perhaps, if you’ve shown yourself promising enough, The Champion may appear to protect their crown. Otherwise, you will find plenty of adversaries around. If you are looking for a less aggressive route, there are plenty of seats open to watch, as well as many other members of the city taking a break to watch the fights, and they certainly wouldn’t mind sharing some of their favorite stories of matches or victories. The Champion is the resounding favorite, but the stories shared will vary to the point that almost no useful information can be gleaned. Join in the festivities that surround the ring! Pick up some food, bet on some fighters, enjoy the competition, and maybe you’ll be lucky and catch a sight of The Champion, or any of the other legendary figures of the El Minha Fight Ring. THE GOLDEN PHOENIX The Golden Phoenix is the central location of the Syndicate . . . and locals will make absolutely no effort to hide that fact from the Circle members. However, people don't seem to be afraid to go, though you definitely need to have coin to get through the door. There are multiple tables where various dice and card games are being played, as well as old slot machines. There are multiple employees in dark uniforms wandering around, offering drinks to all those who are spending coin on the machines, free of charge. If you loiter too long without spending money, you will be asked why you're there -- not in a threatening way, of course. But the relationship between the Syndicate and the King isn't all that great, as of late . . . can't be too careful with spies. In the back of the Golden Phoenix, there's a tiny racing ring in the back where small lizards are being raced in a little track set on a table. You can place bets on any of the lizards and, who knows? You may win a prize, including a little lizard! How cute! (Be careful, though: they nip.) But out back, there's another lizard racing ring, though these ones are . . . well, they're certainly not tiny. In fact, people seem to be riding on them akin to horse racing . . . and jockeys are a dime a dozen, in El Minha. Fancy yourself the next Triple Crown winner? Step right up, step right up, and take a spin on the track outside! Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. There will be some NPCs interacting with characters as well, so keep an eye out for those as well! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the mod questions thread back in the OOC post from before! From this point forward, the Circle has become involved with the political stasis and climate of El Minha. What your character finds out, decides, and does from here on out will affect the future of this city- one way or another! But what you do is completely up to you. What you discover, explore, and uncover in this city will be yours to discover, explore, and uncover. Who knows what you might find? :)

Comments

[oculusriffs]

That's not —

[......]

I don't know how to answer that question. [he says it before he can think twice on it, before the defensive wall, much like the stone one he's suddenly pulling away from, is back up.]

It's fine, though. It doesn't really matter.

[rootandbranch]

Um, it obviously--

[wait. wait, maybe he should try to finesse this. instead, Dave gets to watch a dragon freeze up to try to think through how to respond in real time. eyes wide, Geir riffles through his knowledge of similar incidents. it's perhaps ironic that a good chunk of that knowledge base was painstakingly explained to him by Dirk.

people avoid issues they're afraid of. people get embarrassed of fear. people lie when they're defensive. sometimes it's scary to have your lies called out... Geir doesn't want to scare or hurt Dirk's walking panic attack, jeez. especially when suddenly talking about the thing was just an accident.

Dirk was terribly afraid that he'd hurt Dave somehow, and desperately wanted Dave to like him anyway. it seems safe to say that there is some kind of thing, even if Dave doesn't know how to address that. so: there's a thing. Dave is scared to talk about it. Dave is being defensive. he doesn't trust Geir. Geir following up by pursuing Dave's honesty outright will be threatening; Geir has the power of knowledge. power imbalances, he does understand, even if this is a strange application.

--shit. no one ever told him what to do about those reactions. he doesn't have a great success rate with just pointing out that they appear to exist?!]

...noooo. I think I get like, almost half the things happening here, but I don't know how to make it not awkward. I didn't mean to-- Sorry?! We could--

[WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS]

--talk about something else?!

[he can't even pretend that was nailing it, that was pretty terrible]

[oculusriffs]

[Dave turns slightly and stares up at Geir, his expression largely indiscernible. the first time he had made Geir short-circuit it had been pretty funny — now, it's just plain uncomfortable. this wasn't really a subject he was expecting to be thinking about at all here.]

[that, and he's probably not helping by being pretty much impossible to read. he's not actually mad at Geir, though.]

All right.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's eyes search Dave's face for a moment. he can't read his expression, and he doesn't know enough about him to guess what his lack of affect means. on the other hand, he usually takes people at face value if they tell him something's all right. he relaxes. at least it was an easy fix...?]

Okay.

...

What do you want to talk about? All I've seen lately is sand.

[oculusriffs]

[he doesn't say anything for what feels like a long, agonizing minute. he just stares out into the vast expanse of sand. it's nice sand, he supposes — he hasn't really experienced a lot of different sands to make a fair judgment on that. it's soft. it'll get in your shoes. it'll get in your everything. it's sandy.]

[........]

[Dave can think of something else to ask about. and it's what he thinks is a far better topic than his bro.]

Where are you staying, exactly?

[rootandbranch]

[Geir huffs, at the situation and the whole city of El Minha more than at Dave. his shoulders ripple in a huge shrug. most importantly, he accepts the chosen topic without demur.]

Right next to the wall is the only place with space for me. I don't really want to sleep in the middle of the market square...

[sounds like a great way to get surrounded if the residents of the city get antsy about a dragon in their midst, among other things.]

Humans don't build anything big enough.

[oculusriffs]

Probably not. Gonna guess most humans don't run into dragons very often, either.

Is the heat a problem for you?

[rootandbranch]

No! I love basking. I could lay in the sun for hours.

[he considers Dave, wide-eyed again.]

What about you? Do you need to keep the sun out, with those glasses?

[they are literally talking about the weather, but Geir is being sincere rather than ironic about it. in fairness, the weather here is pretty noticeable as a setting for the conversation.]

[oculusriffs]

[truly they are the masters of the most basic component used to build some small talk: the weather. +10 charisma points all around. they are unmatched. if there is something to be discussed about the temperature or the brightness of the sun or the lack of rain, then Dave and Geir are gonna find it. and they're gonna discuss it.]

[well, that, or one of them is gonna get bored.]

They help, but nah, not really. I'm pretty used to the sun and the heat.

[living in Houston, and then hanging out on a planet that was mostly lava, will do that to a guy.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's head tilts. he's not actually any good at small talk; the conversational gyrations necessary to keep things bland and impersonal are beyond his social skills. he always wants to ask what he's interested in.]

Where were you, that you got so used to it?

[oculusriffs]

Texas.

[He half wonders if lohac, or any of the other planets, is something anybody else explained. and then, helpfully, because Geir probably doesn't know what a Texas is:]

Lots of buildings. Lots of sunlight and heat. Lots of barbecue.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir nods solemnly.]

You must feel right at home here. Unless they don't have barbecue. I don't know what that is either.

[oculusriffs]

["thats just about the saddest thing i ever heard get said"]

What sort of stuff do you usually eat?

[rootandbranch]

I hunt, of course! And, um, Vern and other people have been making me cooked things since I started traveling with him and the coven. I guess it's the Circle now!

All these "spices" are okay, I guess.

[oculusriffs]

[that's fair. Dave never really particularly cared what sort of food he wound up with, in part because he didn't always have easy access to it? can't keep burritos in the freezer when the freezer is full of swords.]

[that's not to say he doesn't have preferences, though. and barbecue is pretty damn good.]

I can grab some barbecue if you're feeling adventurous. I haven't had a chance to try it out here yet.

[rootandbranch]

Is food an adventure? I like food pretty well. I haven't decided about adventures yet.

[there are so many things he hasn't decided yet! but he (mostly) likes thinking about them. and experimenting with them...]

I'd go on a food adventure.

[oculusriffs]

[then by Mimir's wisdom, they are going on a food adventure.]

[the stuff one can order up in El Minha isn't all that much like the stuff he remembers in Texas. at the same time, though, having barbecue with a dragon isn't part of your typical Texas experience, either — so, despite that awkward blunder they had earlier, Dave doesn't think this is all that bad of a way to spend a blistering hot afternoon.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's content to follow along with Dave and keep conversation to food and the sights of the city; barbecue is definitely well within his tastes. at least this brief hangout is saved from further excruciating social failure.

he makes a mental note to go see what's happened to the sword later.]