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

[smallprince]

"So, this casino - I hope I remembered the name for an establishment like that correctly - is a place to make come together and help them empty their pockets and indirectly keep an eye on them. It's a clever move. You give the people something and you get more in return than some extra money. I assume they have a system of letting people win or lose. This is what I would think of, if I would own a place like this. They want people to come back, so they have to lose, right?"

The idea was something he knew from where he came from. At every tournament, there are countless people betting on the knights and it was nothing unusual that prior to the start of it knights agree on letting this or that knight win, when they have to fight against each other. Or how many times they are going to win in a row before losing.
Deep inside he knew that maybe more than once he had been a victim of this trap too, with bets and a different way of spending your free time. "Informations are the real value when it comes to politics ..."

Knowing how the casino could be run had triggered some memories of conversations he had either overheard or had held when he had been either on the Grand Market or around the Palace. A place he had sometimes visited mostly because of melancholic feelings. He couldn't keep all the informations to himself but part of him didn't wanted to overshare what he had to offer with as many Circle members as possible. So far he had heard a lot but had to look over what he had collected and discussing some of it with someone was a good start. Once he would have good overlook and useful informations (things he heard more than once) he could present them to the other Circle members.

He stopped talking, looking around to make sure no one was following them. It wouldn't have surprised him, since they had just left Syndicate territory. In these crowded narrow streets it would be easy to follow someone. But you could also lose track of said person easily. "What about if the go to the marked and see if we can obtain a card game and then make our way to the Sparkling Sapphire? I have a few thoughts I would like to share with you but it's better not to say them in the streets where you don't know who might hear you?"

Getting captured wasn't on his bucket-list for his stay in El Minah.

[foundafamily]

"The odds are pretty long, but sometimes customers win. There're people'll who come back even if they never win a thing, though."

Firo nodded at the suggestion and turned for the market. It wasn't all too far, and finding cards should've been easy. "Sure. But, hey, if it's not something you'd say out in the open, are you sure you wanna say it to a stranger?"

They weren't totally unknown to each other, but Firo reflected that he didn't really know much at all about who this guy was or where he came from.

[smallprince]

"I guess it's because there is the chance that they could win. Let's be honest: Who wouldn't want to walk home with a big sum of money in their pockets?"

Besides from power, money was something that you bring you far in life.

His companion had a point but Tyrion spoke out the one reason that was counting "You're a member of the Circle. Sure we are all still strangers to one another but I assume we all want to bring peace to El Minah?"

For now Tyrion much prefered to avoid taking a side since he wasn't a citizen of the city. He looked up to see the effect his words had on Firo.

Honestly, so far Tyrion wouldn't say that he knew any of the Circle member that good, that he would talk with them about anything too personal but talking with them about the situation in El Minah was a different topic. Yet, wasn't that also a good chance to get to know each other better? Nothing was telling him more about a person than their political opinion and how they would handle things.

[foundafamily]

Firo nodded. "It doesn't matter how small their chances are--people still want to try."

They had reached the market as they walked and talked, and Firo looked over the stalls until he could see one that had playing cards.

He shrugged at the question. "Honestly, I don't see how it's my business. I'll step in if things get crazy, of course, but otherwise I'd rather leave it to the people who actually care. We don't even live here."

[smallprince]

Firo had a point, a good one, if Tyrion was honest with himself. If he hadn't been born into the royal part of the Known World and instead into that of the common people, he would probably think the same. If he would have been luckily enough to survive anyway.

"I am the last man who throws themself with open arms into a fight" he replied laughing before he continued serious "Picking a side is the most wrong thing a Circle member could do. On that we seem to agree. Providing the sides help while they are solving their problems is the only way I could see we could help without taking a side."

[foundafamily]

"So... what, put the two sides together and make them work it out for themselves?"

Firo wasn't opposed to that idea, though of course someone with no diplomatic skills (like him) would be pretty useless in such a plan.

"Better than marching in with guns blazing." Firo was hotheaded, but he was no fan of needless violence, especially when it wasn't even for his cause.

[smallprince]

"Just like that. It's not easy since I assume the high ranked members of each group will suspect, that it is a trap set up from the other group."

It would be some hard work to find a place where the members could met and making sure that no information about the plan would leak. "You say it. Killing people is never an option and only leads to more trouble."

[foundafamily]

Pausing before his response, Firo swapped a few coins for a deck of cards.

Casual as can be, he asked, "Never?"

He wasn't a fan of killing, personally. He knew all too many people who thought otherwise, even some friends of his.

[smallprince]

"Alright. Seldom, killing someone is an option. Usually the consequences are enormous."
He could have told Firo about how it was necessary during a battle to kill your enemies in order to stay alive, that sometimes to kill someone was a prime example and a warning.

But killing was a topic that was definitely not a suitable for the streets. For a split second he eyes down at his hands, before he slightly shook his head to get rid of some thoughts that were about to crawl back into his consciousness.

"I assume you have never done that am I right?" he had avoided to use the k-word and went with a neutral word. "If you, you can congratulate yourself."

[foundafamily]

Firo hesitated, knowing his response would have to walk a delicate line: he had to avoid sounding weak while still not giving away too much.

He didn't want to spill his guts to this guy; however enjoyable the company, Firo still didn't know him too well. When it came to killing, he preferred to keep his cards close to his chest even with people he knew well.

So he shrugged one shoulder, noncommittal. "Like you said, it's not the one and only solution to things. But of course you can't shy away if it comes to it, like if your family's in danger."

[smallprince]

Tyrion nodded at Firo's answer. There had been a time in his life where he would have tried to kill everyone who wanted to harm his family. Sadly these times were gone and he was on the side that was ready to bring death to the great House of Lannister.

And yet Tyrion hoped that he would never have to see Jaime dying. Part of him had sworn that he would do everything to protect his brother. But was that possible? That was something he didn't wanted to think about, since it was certain that the longer the would think about it, the more it would hurt.

"It's good if you want to protect the ones you love at all costs, but be sure that they really deserve it." There was a sad undertone in his voice but it didn't matter. Thee topics combined were hitting a weak spot within him and why should he try to appear strong when he wasn't?

[foundafamily]

Firo raised a questioning eyebrow. The statement made Tyrion sound like someone who had been betrayed at one point or another.

He looked straight ahead and tried to sound casual. "Did you get burned?"

[smallprince]

More than one time. The often it happens to you, there more it hurts, even through you think that you've finally gotten used to it.

[That was nothing but the truth. Still, no matter how often his family had rejected him, especially his father, Tyrion had always tried to make them proud. He had risked his life and how did they thanked him? Not with the words he had wanted to her, he never got any reward for it.

At least not in the way he had hoped for. Sure the one or the other responsible position had made him proud and he had accepted them with being truly happy about them. But in general he had always gotten much less than he had expected.

There were still moments, when he thought that it would've been the best if he wouldn't have come up with the plan to save the capital when it came to the Battle of Black Water and let them all die, including his family.]

[foundafamily]

[Maybe he should leave it at that and stop asking questions. But Tyrion seemed willing enough to talk about it, so Firo forged ahead.]

Who was it?

[Now that they had their cards, he turned down the road to their lodgings. It would only take a few moments for them to reach it and enter.]

[smallprince]

"My father."

[There was not a single emotion in his voice. If they would have met at a different time, Tyrion would have said these two words with a half-filled cold voice. But now he felt nothing when he thought about his father. But Tyrion knew that this could chance. His emotional well-being was still unsteady.

He didn't have a problem with talking about the relationship he had with his father. It was a part of him and why he had become the man he was.]

"Who can blame him, with a son like me? He never really looked past my appearance. In the end he had probably realized how much he had underestimated me."

[foundafamily]

[Firo watches Tyrion carefully. Who can blame a father like that? Firo sure as hell can.

Despite growing up fatherless himself, Firo responds with absolute conviction:]

That's ridiculous. Somebody who'd double-cross his own son's not a father at all.

[smallprince]

[Now that was an answer Tyrion didn't expect. Perhaps only on his world people were giving a lot about how someone was. He had never wished to be born the way he was. It was never his fault and yet his father had acted if it had been his fault. ]

"You should have met my father and told him that."

[foundafamily]

[To Firo's thinking, family obligations are simple but significant. You take care of your family--especially parent to child. No excuses.

He smiled and slipped his hands into his pockets.]

If the geezer shows up here, point me to him and I will.

[smallprince]

[Firo's remark made Tyrion laugh heartily before he suddenly went quite again. An unpleasant thought crossed his mind.]

"If dead people can appear here, you could tell him. Do you think that this is possible?"

[Suddenly he went grave serious. It was a reasonable question. If there were other worlds and it was possible to visited them, it didn't sound unrealistic that dead people could appear in one or the other from. Tyrion had read the tales about the Army of Dead that the Nightking had summoned. Therefore the concept of the dead coming back to life was something he was familiar with.]

[foundafamily]

[Firo wasn't going to offer his condolences for obvious reasons--much like Szilard, it sounded like they were better off without this guy.]

Don't ask me. I've got no clue how her magic works. But how would she even get somebody who's already dead?

[smallprince]

[Tyrion shrugged his shoulder before he casually said] "With magic. I've read tales about people who were able to bring back the dead. Some priests from a far away place in my world are able to do that."

[It was a topic Tyrion didn't wanted to spent much time taking about but a small part of him just had to. It was the part of him, that had begun to expect the worst of every situation and could come up with the most horrible scenarios that could happen. He wasn't proud of that but he always tried to make himself belive that said part could be useful one day.]

[foundafamily]

Seriously? Sounds like a con job. Maybe Astoria could... but I don't think any random priest could do something like that.

[He had to accept that there was something magical about Astoria, with all they've been through. But he still had a hard believing about magic if he didn't see and experience it firsthand.]

[smallprince]

I think so too. You have to either be very powerful or must have made a deal with some dark forces.

[He had heard lots of stories about the Red Priests and still wasn't sure what to think of them. They were not ordinary priest like the Septons in Westeros. They had indeed magical powers and that was both fascinating but also terrifying.]

[foundafamily]

A deal? Now you're talking like it's something from a horror movie.

[Now that they were in the Sapphire, he turned into the common area and absently began shuffling the cards in his hands.]

[smallprince]

[Tyrion didn't knew what a 'movie' was but he assumed that it was something awful, since he knew the meaning of the word 'horror'. Therefore he slowly nodded his head.]

"I assume that this seldom happens."

[It was good that they were back in the Sapphire. They had found a neat spot to sit.]

"Shall I fetch us something to drink?"