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

[rootandbranch]

[Geir wouldn't have picked her up so cavalierly if he didn't feel like they'd bonded already, but surely, if someone's flown on his back, they won't mind being picked up! and Rion presents herself with such relative fearlessness that he's not worried about her.

he places her on the ground carefully, peering at her from his still-loftier perch.]

Better?

[flyingsolos]

Much. Thanks, Geir.

[ She has to pause to hunch over, sucking in a breath, though. Ow. Ow. ]

Apparently, the whole flying thing... really puts my back muscles to work or something, because that part always aches like crazy now.

[rootandbranch]

[he tilts his head quizzically. flying shouldn't hurt, not if you're used to exercising those muscles-- wait, didn't she just say that she hadn't known she had wings...?]

Is this one of those weird magic things? From Astoria?

[flyingsolos]

Yeah. [ ironic, considering her weapon back home-- but still somewhat familiar, if nothing else. ]

I guess it's my ability now.

[rootandbranch]

Oh! Are you tired from using it?

[Geir perks up again. that's something he can help with, as long as his power from Astoria works more or less like what he's used to from Qri -- and if it does, he's certainly had a lot of practice using it already.]

I could do something about that...

[flyingsolos]

You... can?

[ She's not trying to doubt him, but Geir has surprised her at nearly every turn, so she's not sure she can even guess what he's talking about. ]

How?

[rootandbranch]

It's my power. From Qri-- well, Astoria now, I guess. Maybe she thought it was still a good one...? I can make things more lively.

[he grins at her.]

Can I try it on you? I don't know how it feels, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt.

[flyingsolos]

... Uh.

[ ... she is so unsure but it's Geir?? ]

O-okay, fire away.

[rootandbranch]

Got it...

[Geir closes his eyes and concentrates. the power is a little different than it was when he was with Qri's coven -- for one thing, it doesn't seem to constantly be in effect around him the same way -- but he's confident that he can still give someone an energy boost the same way. the trees and flowers he experimented with back around the Temple certainly seemed to react as he'd remembered.

Rion's not a plant, though, and she experiences Geir's gift of 'enlivening' a little differently. for a moment, she just feels warm, and then there's a rush of-- enthusiasm? strength? it sparks up her spine and fizzes in her fingertips. her muscles are still sore, but she feels invigorated and strong, changing the pain from a weary drag to the welcome, endorphin-flavored soreness an athlete feels post-workout.

unexpectedly, the feeling is strongly Geir-flavored, overlaid with his mood right now. he's pleased with himself and the concept of being able to help and friendly with a hint of hesitation in it; he's just a little anxious about impressing a new acquaintance in these still-strange circumstances.

there's something else there underneath, something implacable and tectonic and subterranean. but it's hard to touch, down there.

Geir is grinning at her. both his eager pride and his hint of apprehension (oh no! did it work?) are perhaps more clearly visible when Rion's just felt them hum along her own nerves.]

There! Better?

[flyingsolos]

[ It's... a bizarre thing to feel for herself, if just because Rion honestly wasn't sure what to expect, and then it all comes flooding into her with only a sense of warmth as a prelude.

It's simultaneously familiar and not-- because she's felt a welcome soreness after a SPiKA rehearsal, knowing she'd done her utmost and improved from it. She's even sure she's felt something like the underlying sensation, present in the Eclipse, a feeling that made her feel smaller than she was-- but the parts that are Geir? That's entirely new.

After a minute, Rion blinks at the dragon, before cracking a smile and nodding. ]

Much. It kind of feels like-- actually, I have no idea how to describe it, but that helped a lot!

[rootandbranch]

Great!

[he's still got it. Geir preens a little. he's glad that Astoria restored at least some version of his enlivening ability; he really likes being able to give people a pick-me-up...]

Where were you going, anyway? If you weren't just trying to get down. Can I walk you there?

[flyingsolos]

I was just heading back to the Sparkling Sapphire. And I'd love you as an escort. It'll make all the other ladies jealous.

[ Who wouldn't want a dragon escort? Only dumb people. ]

[rootandbranch]

Okay, I'll come! You'll need to take the main streets, though.

[Geir easily hops down from the roof to land next to her, surprisingly light. he's also unsurprisingly large -- he fills most of the street, and it's quickly clear that he literally wouldn't fit into any alleys or shortcuts.]

Have you explored the city much yet?

[flyingsolos]

Not everything! [ what a great day this is, ambling down the street with a dragon. ]

Mostly the marketplace, and I've looked in the casino once or twice, but that's not somewhere I want to go too far in by myself. What about you, Geir?

[rootandbranch]

I haven't really been in the city much. There isn't a lot of space for me, you know? And the last time we were in a city, they got mad at us. I've been doing a lot of flying outside the walls.

[he's content to amble, even with the commentary that perhaps he's had some bad experiences in cities before. he's not really worried that they'll hurt him here. he doesn't, at some level, believe they're capable of it.]

[flyingsolos]

...

[ well, screw the haters, she's just going to rest a hand on his side. ANYONE MESSES WITH THIS DRAGON, RION IS GOING TO BE PEEVED. ]

Anything interesting past the walls?

[rootandbranch]

[Geir doesn't flinch away from the hand; on the contrary, he carefully walks so that she can keep her hand on him as they move if she wants.]

Not as much as there should be. I need to look at it more... it's so empty! I couldn't even find any water holes close by. I've never been to a desert like this before. Are they all like this...?

[flyingsolos]

I think a desert's probably supposed to have at least one oasis, since any place in a desert would definitely need water.

... Actually, I wonder if that's why they treat it so preciously here.

[rootandbranch]

I want an oasis... it's so dry here. I like it, but I miss my pool!

[he hasn't found one yet, but that doesn't mean he's not still hopeful.]

[flyingsolos]

You had a pool back home? I didn't know dragons liked to swim!

[ maybe Geir is an anomaly, though. ]

[rootandbranch]

[that makes him laugh, nostalgic for a moment.]

I had a whole ocean when I was smaller. I love swimming. Even when you can't really do more than splash around, it just feels nice.

[conscientiously:]

But basking is nice, too.

[flyingsolos]

Then I hope wherever we end up next, you've got a huge body of water to splash in. I think you probably deserve it.

[rootandbranch]

Ehehehe... I don't know about deserving.

[he doesn't want to think about what he deserves, or whether that's a concept he believes in, period.]

Don't get me wrong. I like this too! It's kind of nice if we get to go lots of different places.

[he'd wanted to travel with Vern. just because this isn't traveling on Midgard doesn't mean it doesn't count, does it?]

What kind of place are you from, anyway?

[flyingsolos]

I'm from a city! It's in Japan, and there's a ton of activity going around all the time. It might be a little too crowded for you to move around comfortably, though.

[ except maybe the hot springs... ]

[rootandbranch]

It seems like everyone's from cities! What happened to a nice mountain, or a deep forest?! Don't you ever want to hear yourself think??

[he's playing devil's advocate here a bit -- he doesn't mind cities that much -- but really! are they so popular everyone's got to live there?]