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

[parttimes]

a;

[You know what sucks? Wearing a hoodie over a longsleeved uniform when it's this hot. Kou's already stripped down to just his shirt, hoodie tied around his waist, but it's still long-sleeves and still way too hot. He's going to die. Cause of death: the desert.

So Kou can honestly be found slumped against random buildings, or tucked into back alleys, or trying to snatch whatever shade he can manage as he runs fingers through his messy hair and tries to cool off.

It's... uh. It's not working as well as he'd like.

(Also, that makes him a prime target for pickpocketers; he might also end up running right by you--or into you--when he ends up having to chase down some kids that took his bag.)]

b;

[There's no map for the Grand Market, and Kou is so, so lost. He wanders down one path, peers around a building, and looks utterly bemused (behind that generally flat expression), as he realizes he's somehow never been here before either.

Uh...?

And, an unimpressed mutter as he runs his sleeve over his forehead tiredly:]

How big is this place?

c;

[So. The casino. From Kou's own experiences with shady underbellies of crime (admittedly probably more genial than most), he knows that a lot of information can be found in a place like this. So he can be found casing the place out as casually as a teenager from Japan can, and he might even snag your character out front if they're looking, murmuring a quiet:]

Do you want to look inside?

[Otherwise? He's walking right on in with his hands tucked far too casually into his pockets, scoping out the place with what has to be fake confidence, because he's way out of place here.

It's probably fine.

He wants to get to the bottom of this as much as possible.]

wildcard;

[and/or just pick something and i will roll with it, or hit me up at kalisona!]

C

[flyingsolos]

[ Well, she's with him, but this doesn't spare her the murmur of the Damned. And Rion looks at him as if she's really worried that he does have heat stroke. ]

Shouldn't we get cool disguises first?

[parttimes]

[...Rion.]

What, like a hat and glasses?

[Sorry, your disguises are not good.]

I don't really want to waste the money trying to blend in when it might not even help. [They've only got a little bit, and who knows how long they'll be here? It sounded like weeks when he asked before.]

[sunborne]

i;; the palace; part one (text and/or action option)

[ daylight had actually been in the process of having meddy patch his outfit up when he and his friend find themselves dragged from the temple and a world of heat and sand, sun and tension.

despite the abrupt arrival, it's a pretty neat place so far in day's opinion. galateions don't visit a lot of desert-dominated planets for a myriad of reasons - ranging from their systems finding the heat too taxing to no real benefits for their trips be it resource seeking or off duty shifts- so this? this is exciting for him.

when the address is over and daylight hurries out of the palace to take in the sights of the city, he checks his device and is quick to start typing out a message to everyone: ]

Hey guys!!!

Don't want to sound like a nag but can I get a roll call for everyone? I thought I saw everyone when we were talking to the king but just want to be sure!!

[ while he waits for response from anyone, day fans his neck in a vain attempt to cool down. it's... kinda uncomfortable to be running around in a helmet and leather jacket but he thinks he can tough it out. ]

ii;; outside the palace; part two

[ okay. no. nope. nah.

he cannot handle the heat if he's in his disguise. it's not painful just... super uncomfortable to be running around in his getup.

the ten feet tall bot soon ditches his clothes - stripping in public isn't public indecency if you're a robot, right? - and keeps it bundled up under one of his arms until he can find a better place to store them away. he doesn't think the small bag attached to his hip will be a good place to shove his helmet in.

honestly? he seems more worried for the little drone he holds in a cupped hand of his, trying to offer some semblance of shade for his companion as meddy lets out a piteous series of beeps and whines. between the stress of the sudden trip and the heat, meddy is clearly not having a good time. ]

... I think I have to find a place for Meddy to rest. [ daylight sounds and looks genuinely distressed for meddy's sake and he looks around, hoping someone from the temple is here. maybe they can help? ]

iii;; the grand market.

[ for his part, daylight tries to not squish everyone when he enters the market. his favourite part of any off duty trips was visiting the market area, his optic always on the lookout for new reading materials or art materials or the like. combined with the king warning about this syndicate bring trouble, it wouldn't hurt to start in the bustling grand market and see where to go from there.

he occasionally hits someone when his excitement gets the better of him and he's quick to say sorry, not wanting to cause trouble. ohhh. he's pretty sure that will leave a mark. sorry passerby!

on the bright side he's kind of pretty popular? his tall form offers plenty of shade for those willing to trail after him while he swans about the stalls and tries to listen in on conversations happening around him. just be careful when touching day, okay? he's made of living metal and that does mean he will capture heat. ]

Sooo- You doing okay down there? [ he's not even bothering to hide the teasing tones in his voice when he addresses his companion, no doubt needing to crane his head down so its easier for their necks. ] If you want I can carry you around. Gotta be better than walking.

iv;; the fight ring.

[ the moment he hears about the fight ring and learns the rules, daylight knows he's going to be all over that. he may not be the best fighter of fireteam trailblazer - that's nightbreak and he's always been more comfortable with his position as scout - but there's no way he's going to miss out on this. he's been meaning to shake the dust off his struts, so to speak, and what's a better place where it's encouraged to fight? and earn money along the way??

he may not know what the provided weapons will be but that's okay! he can improvise.

daylight turns to his companion, his optics bright with excitement while he gestures wildly and poor people have to duck to avoid getting smacked by a robot's gesticulating. ]

I'm gonna fight some dudes! [ he's quick to shove his bag into meddy's flippers, entrusting his money and other so far gathered items with his little buddy. ] Make sure to bet on me, Meddy!

[ meddy's reply is a sad and worried boop... because they are clearly not feeling it like their charge. ]

v;; wildcard!!!
[ want to do something else? use this prompt or hit me up via my hmd or my plurk, prognostic, if you want to plot specifics! ]

[tranquilforest]

[Ever since their hostess had first mentioned her plans for their future travel, Jing had spent a considerable time looking through what supplies were available to her from home and around the Temple as preparation for whatever came next. So when that almost familiar voice echoes through the watch, she's more or less ready, dressed in robes for traveling, packets of salt and cooling ginseng and her acupuncture needles already tucked away in the pockets deep within her sleeves. This would be an opportunity for experimenting, and she'd done what she could to prepare, Astoria's blithe words about a desert and people in need enough of a guide for her.

She'd do what she could.]

1. Outside the Palace
[As impressive and imposing as it was - far more advanced than the Imperial Palace complex back in Jinling, though perhaps not to the same scale - Jing feels no particular affinity to the royal trappings, though she still gets caught up in the crowd for the King's speech. Almost by habit, she keeps an ear on the King's words and her eyes on the natives gathered around, silent and respectful in the presence of the royal guards (the Crown Guard, wasn't it?), trying to gauge some of the local rhythms of courteous exchange, just as she was used to assist in receiving the concubines and consorts of foreign ambassadors into the inner Palace.

So when the speech is over, she seeks out one of the guards, looking for one who seemed marginally less imposing, the border between them and the crush of commoners around them less clearly delineated than it was for the other guards.]

Greetings. [She says, stopping just within reach, dipping a polite curtsy.] Do you mind if I ask a few questions about your King? I was wondering if he has any family who live with him within the Palace?


2. The Grand Market
[It had been literal decades since she last had to negotiate for anything at a market such as this, but she'd grown up shopping for necessities in spaces so similar to this one that it is almost uncanny. The wares are different, of course, as always happened between villages and cities (and worlds, apparently) when she was traveling, but the energy of it is the same, the dance between the merchants and the customers, jostling for better space, for the attention of passersby, volume and color and scent in a gloriously chaotic cacophony for all the senses. She tucks her hands more firmly in her sleeves - she'd immediately slipped the bag of coins (a parting gift from Astoria?) in to join her other belongings - and sets out to explore, her walk just purposeful enough to avoid immediate harassment from overzealous merchants or cutpurses, but still at a pace where she can take in the various wares. She has a list of things she's looking for, but it would be better to get an overview of the offerings first, and perhaps she'd run into some familiar faces from the Temple here as well.

Maybe you'd like to join her?]


3. El Minha streets - From the Sparkling Sapphire towards Syndicate territory
[It had only taken a day or so after arriving for her to discover (from quietly listening to the discussions of the tavern's workers and the few native guests) the locations of the places she'd been most interested in finding upon hearing Astoria's stated goal. The way they spoke of those districts, decrying the degradation of order and the influence of the criminal Syndicate, was also, sadly, quite familiar.

Jing is eager to do something, but she's not quite foolhardy enough to go alone - not anymore. So if you come down to breakfast one day and don't look to be in a hurry, she might just approach you with a question:]

Do you have plans already for the day? Could I ask you for a favor?


4. Also open to anything! Let me know if you'd like me to write a different prompt/starter.

OTA!

[mytearsaremine]

I. The Market

Between the combination of her age and her six supernatural watchdogs attached to her back and wary of letting her be touched, Jolie's purse is pretty safe. It helps, too, that she tucked it up inside her shirt, and tucked that up under her denim jacket tied around her waist. Not knowing how long she's going to be stuck here, she's not going to let any of those coins go to waste.

It isn't waste, though, when she immediately purchases the biggest, widest-brimmed hat she can find, a pretty patterned scarf to tie up her hair with, and one of the light silk ponchos, in a vivid pink and white, to keep off the sun. She is a white girl, and she's lived on the California coast long enough to know that she will burn.

After that, she wanders around the market, mostly listening, buying a drink here and there to keep hydrated and keeping her tentacles as close to her back under the poncho as possible. She listens to rumors and asks occasional questions, trying to find out what the locals think of their king, and what this "syndicate" did exactly to get them in so much trouble with said king. Nobody can make a decision until that's figured out, she's sure.


II. The Sparkling Sapphire

Free housing! Nice! Jolie may have been pleasantly surprised to find herself no longer terrified of the sun-- a big thing in a desert city like this-- but she still spends the middle of the day here, sitting in the tavern with a book or two she picked up at the market, and a notebook to jot down her findings. Or up in her room with a few clothes on as possible to try and keep cool. It's only during the morning, evening, and night that she's out and about in the city proper.


<>III. Fighting Ring

Because it's popular, Jolie peeks in here once or twice as well, even though she mostly makes faces at the fight itself. She doesn't even consider getting in line to try fighting, herself-- she's fourteen, and not stupid, and knows how to throw a single punch and maybe bite if she had to, which is definitely not enough-- but she does watch for a while. Maybe trying to learn a little something, maybe not.

When spotting one of the syndicate people, she asks a likely nearby person, "So wait, do they own this place, too?"

During a particularly nasty fight, she'll comment to the nearest Circle person, "Ugh, why do people watch this? Like, I can imagine what that felt like, and I can't stop imagining it. Ow."


IV. Golden Phoenix (environs, not inside)

Jolie isn't wasting her precious money on a door fee to a place that probably won't let fourteen years olds in, anyway, but she does spend a lot of time loitering around watching the place, and wandering the streets around it, chatting up the regular, non-casino-going people who live nearby.

"What kind of stuff do they do in there?" she asks. "Do they bother you, like does it keep you up at night living next to a place like that?" Or maybe, "There's no, like, protection money scam going on or anything, is there? I don't want my kneecaps broken."

[flyingsolos]

[ Wow, she's shooting him such a disgruntled stare. ]

Fine, fine, but if something happens and they nab us later because they remember what we looked like, I totally told you so.

2

[flyingsolos]

[ She sure would!

Rion is making do with what she can, sweater over her uniform ditched and left behind in her room and sleeves rolled up, but she's definitely going to need to find something a little more breathable while she's here. Not to mention the fact that she is a teenage girl, shopping is fundamental, and she'd like to see what's up for sale with reliable company.

... Not that she has actually met Jing, but she's a familiar enough face spotted around the Temple, so when she sees her, she's hurrying forward. ]

Um--! Excuse me!

[oculusriffs]

i. the grand market

[despite the fact that he was first given his name on an unseasonably warm April day in Texas, it is still way too hot out here to be wandering around in what's basically bright red long underwear and a cape. and Dave has quickly learned, since showing up here with a brand new power he actually likes using, that said power is something that should be rationed instead of spat around willy-nilly.]

[so, bartering for new clothes it is. something lightweight, maybe? but it probably should still be longer sleeved to block out the sun.]

[so he's standing at a random stall deep in the mess of the marketplace, a sizeable jug of water hefted on one shoulder. it's unclear at a first glance where the water came from. but the merchant seems to be buying what Dave's selling, and has, uh. well he has two different shirts on offer.]

[after a moment, Dave turns his head to look at whoever happens to be standing closest.]

Well, I can't pick. Honor's all yours.

ii. the sparkling sapphire

[whatever shirt he wound up with, he's wearing it now, and having himself a bit of a rest from the blaring heat outside. the jug of water's gone, in its place a completely random assortment of junk — if it crossed his mind that it might be useful for more than two seconds, he tried to get it — spread out on the table in front of him. there's also a still untouched cheeseburger on a plate somewhere in the pile.]

[okay, maybe his definition of useful is a bit different than most. and collecting useless crap is pretty standard for him. but there is a slushie maker. and one of those battery-powered fans that also spritzes water. and a bird skull. and also a tape recorder that seems to be recording something, for some reason? the bard is nearby, at least. maybe Dave is saving whatever story he's telling for later.]

[feel free to have a seat and dig through the pile, or offer something up to trade. he doesn't mind.]

iii. wildcard, just outside the city walls

[Dave isn't really keen on wandering too far away and getting lost in the desert like a Saturday morning cartoon, but there is something he wanted to check for himself. or rather, something he wanted to confirm, since he'd mentioned it earlier.]

[he's standing there, the only weapon from "home" in hand. it's a sword. it's sharp. it's Welsh. he's just going to go ahead and drive it right into the ground as far as it will go, like he's a reverse King Arthur returning Excalibur to its pedestal, or maybe the Hero of Time returning to his childhood.]

[and then, with the sword wedged in its new, sort of sandy prison, he just. reaches over and pushes it lightly. the sword can't handle the pressure of a polite shove and snaps in half like a twig. it basically looks like this.]

[so the thing definitely isn't enchanted like it supposedly was earlier. and maybe the rules that dictate what sort of weapons he can use don't apply here — and so maybe he smacked the sword against the city wall once or five times in an actual attempt to break it.]

[this whole thing is pretty stupid, but there's something oddly poignant about it, too. it's almost like he's saying a silent farewell to the sword and whatever history may have been attached to it. rest in pieces, Caledfwlch.]

iv. wildcard electric boogaloo

[hit up Dave with anything! he can be found wandering around anywhere, aside from the fight ring. that's not really his style anymore.]

iv; ish?

[jalin]

[ daylight seems excited enough about the prospect of fighting that there's a good chance he just doesn't. see the figure behind him - dressed in fairly casual clothes - loose linens, comfortable but functional. he looks just about like every other citizen of el minha does, leaning up against the doorframe. ]

You're...part of that new group of tourists that came in, aren't you?

[ the man is smiling, but it's friendly enough. a kind of easy curiosity at seeing something new more than any outright making fun. ]

i.

[jalin]

[ jalin immediately points to the first shirt when asked - the one with the face of the cat in glasses, before giving a quick, familiar wave to the merchant behind the counter. when he turns back to dave, it's with one brow raised. ]

Too many words on the other one. But you could also get both. [ a shrug. ] It's up to you.

[purrtagonist]

A. The Grand Market

[the pickpockets of the Grand Market have a liiiittle bit of competition today]

[Akira isn't nearly as experienced as the street kids of El Minha at this (all his pickpocketing experience comes from Palace infiltrations, not real world situations), but he knows enough to realize that the merchants are tooootally off limits. but that doesn't mean he can't try to target a non-merchant native, right?]

Ah-- excuse me.

[if you happen to be in the Grand Market today, you might catch Akira just as he bumps shoulders with a wandering buyer. he spins around quickly to face them when he does so, a swift and sincere-sounding apology tumbling from his lips. but if you watch him closely, when he turns away again, something shiny palmed in the center of his hand definitely catches the light before he slips it into his pocket]

[hm]

[. . . he may not necessarily be doing this just for profit, if the way he's carefully watching the scruffy kids as they scamper about the Grand Market underfoot is any indication]

B. The Golden Phoenix

[anyway, when Akira isn't being super sketch in the Grand Market, he can totally be found hanging around the casino. specifically, the tiny lizard races ring table. he's actually leaning his hip against the corner of said table, watching the competing lizards flick their tails and stare at their audience with beady, black eyes]

[he lets out a thoughtful hum]

[whether your'e here to bet on lizards or not, Akira is going to elbow you lightly in the arm, before he points to the tiniest, scrawniest looking lizard on the table. one with bright green scales and itty bitty claws that could probably do nothing worse than give you a paper cut]

I'm betting on that one.

[okay, Akira]

What about you?

C. Wildcard

[feel free to make a custom starter! Akira can be found pretty much anywhere, except the vicinity of the royal palace, for some strange reason]

[buff_for_a_nerd]

[1] The Sparkling Sapphire

[ The Sapphire is a lot nicer, and definitely more homey, than many bars and roadhouses that Sam's ended up in over the past several years. The atmosphere here is relaxed, welcoming, and there's no crowd of sketchy types in the corner playing pool to be wary of. The food here, too, is a step above the greasy bar food that he usually has to manage with, and that's a welcome change.

He wasn't intending to get drunk this evening, but he does have a taste of the liquor that's been offered. He thinks it's strong, but it's hard to tell when it makes his whole mouth numb and slightly tingly.

By the time someone slides onto the seat next to him he's a little drunk, and likely to have a more starkly honest conversation than he would if he were entirely sober. ]

[2] The Golden Phoenix

[ It doesn't take Sam long to get to the casino. He's not above taking on honest jobs for money, he used to insist on it, but when he's not sure how much time they have here and he wants to hit the ground running, it seems logical to take the faster route. Hustling pool has been the Winchester gambling of choice, but he hasn't seen any such tables here. What he does see is cards, and with cards is a game that's close enough to poker. Bingo.

Sam has a deceptively good poker face. His expression reads like an innocent kid, exactly the type that seasoned players would try to take advantage of, but he makes it a point to figure out how to play the people at the table as much as the game, and he's damn good at it. It's not a talent he's necessarily proud of, but it's practical in this case. He's not looking to win big and garner too much attention, not yet at least. Instead he's pacing himself out for modest gains, and using the time to scope out the crowd and the general feel of the place.

He can be found drifting between card tables, usually with a drink in hand that he's occasionally sipping from, or even drifting over to have a look at the lizard races, both the small scale ones and the larger ones. That's nothing he's done before, but he might give it a whirl, if just for the benefit of anyone who might be keeping tabs on him. ]

[3] The Streets/Market

[ After putting in some time at the casino, Sam has a little more coin to spend. Subsequently his first priority is to seek out some clothes that don't make him plainly stand out as an outsider at even the most casual glance. Also the clothes he's wearing aren't exactly designed for the heat, and he's looking to pick up some gear that would help keep him alive if he has to venture outside of the city itself for one reason or another.

If any fellow Circle members need help carrying purchases back to the tavern, or would like an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye out for pickpockets, or just wants some company while shopping Sam would be easy to approach. ]

[4] The Library

[ Another priority is to find information. He's sure that the Palace likely has a library of some kind that he could get lost in, but he's gotten the impression from the guards that that's a no go at the moment. Security is too tight. That doesn't mean that he's completely out of luck of course, just that tracking down the kind of place he's looking for.

What he eventually does find is a place called the House of Wisdom, which seems to be a hub for the local scholars. Sam obviously isn't the first tourist to show curiosity in the local culture, and he doesn't find himself unwelcome, but he's never alone with shelves of books and scrolls. It does seem to help when he volunteers to help with some of the menial tasks around the grounds though, and while much of this is unfamiliar he's a quick learner and reasonably adept at fixing things. He figures that making himself helpful is the key to being allowed to stay longer, and it might make him a few locally knowledgeable friends.

The magic is especially interesting. If anyone's either looking for him, or likewise looking for information, they might find him here among the shelves, carefully flipping through one dusty tome or another. ]

((I'll be adding a couple more things later on. hmu here or over on theoneroad if you wanna plot))

the grand market;

[sunborne]

[ it's- it's really not hard to spot a figure like daylight in the midst of the crowd. between the passerby giving the galateion a lot of space in order to avoid getting run over and the way the sun catches in the reds and golds of his plating, daylight sticks out like a sore thumb and seems fine with it.

when he spots jing through the crowd, he perks up considerably and hurries over to her side. ]

Hey! Hey! You're part of the group, right? [ she must be- daylight thinks he's seen her around the temple. never got around to properly meeting her though.

let's change that! ] I'm Daylight. Do you need any help?

A

[bulletbiter]

[ julius is bad at sneaking, so his intention was to make a beeline for akira. they've gotten to know each other a little, and he can't help but be concerned about young people (and this he says as a 21 year old himself)...

... hmm. ]

What happened?

[ are you really doing this akira. are you. ]

[purrtagonist]

[ah. now that's a blunt question. Akira may not be a great liar (there's a reason most of his Confidants figured out he was the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Heart back home), but he at least knows how to keep the guilt off of his expression]

[he straightens a little, takes note of how Julius's dress makes him stand out among the locals, and blinks at him placidly]

Hm? Oh, I accidentally bumped into someone. It's okay. I'm not hurt.

[look how innocent he is]

[bulletbiter]

[ he's still not so good at the whole 'infiltration' thing, but at least he manages to not overheat despite wearing long sleeves. sometimes, having a different biology does help. ]

What are you holding?

[ he saw that.... ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . .]

[wordlessly, Akira pulls a small, leather pouch from his pocket. it is absolutely not the shiny thing he pilfered earlier]

My. . . pouch of coins? That Astoria-san gave us before we got here?

[a beat]

Presuming you're with Astoria-san, just based on how you're dressed.

[bulletbiter]

[ he really doesn't want to call the kid out, but akira really is forcing his hand. ]

You're not supposed to steal. We have an image to upkeep.

[ sternly, but not angrily ]

cool with me!

[sunborne]

[ !!!

startled, both daylight and meddy whip their their heads towards the direction of the voice. meddy does not take well to the stranger and is quick to duck behind a frozen-in-the-headlights daylight. it takes him a second longer than he'd like to admit that it just registers to him that the question is aimed at him.

once he manages to recompose himself in front of the new individual, daylight laughs at his earlier reaction and is quick to shoot the new face a friendly grin while nodding his head enthusiastically. ]

Yep! I think some of them are around here too but it looks like we’re doing our own thing at the moment.

[ daylight holds out a hand for him to take if he's interested. ] I’m Daylight! You can call me Day if you want. You're from here, right? You're definitely better dressed than me for the weather, that's for sure.

[4]

[mytearsaremine]

Jolie isn't looking for him, specifically, but when she discovered the existence of a library, she immediately zoomed off there to investigate. It's always a relief to find a place where, even if she might not know how to find it, she's sure there will be a book for any question she might have. She half-expects to run into other people from the Circle here, so she's not really surprised to find Sam-- she's seen him at the Sapphire, so she's at least familiar with his face as One Of Them-- when she turns down one row.

"Cool stuff in here, right?" she says, by way of greeting, trying to be casual. Nobody has really given her a hard time about her tentacles, coiled currently on her back but for one that trails along the spines of the books like a child's finger. But there's always a first time. "Found anything useful yet?"

c:!

[jalin]

[ jalin waits, patiently enough, for daylight to work himself out of the shock and back into interaction, and once he hears the laugh, jalin pushes off the wall, straightening the fabric of his sleeves. ]

Well- you've probably already gotten the welcome from our new King. But- [ he gestures around them. ] Welcome to the best part of El Minha.

[ jalin will walk towards him after a moment and take his hand, shaking it easily. ] I'm Jalin, and yeah. Born and raised right here within the city walls. Did you stop by the market yet? For new clothes?

Tyrion Lannister ✧ ASOIAF

[smallprince]

[The Market Place]

Tyrion strolled over the market place, not knowing where he should look first. Here the exotic smells of spices was in the air, there was the finest jewelry he had seen in a while. A few steps further beautiful clothes got sold. It was tempting to buy something, especially something that wasn't of much use.

Then he discovered a stand that was selling bronze figures. They were shining in the daylight and caught his attention. One was close to represent a dragon and he immediately thought of Dany. Should he buy this figure for her? Would it be even possible to bring something from his adventures into his world?

"May I take a closer look at this one?" he asked, pointing at the figure.

"I guess she would like it" he murmured nearly inaudible. But someone next to him had heard his remark, someone Tyrion hadn't noticed.

[The Sparking Sapphier]


After he had spent a good part of the day, walking over market place, he entered the Sparkling Sapphire. He searches for a free table. The fresh air had made him hungry and it has been a long time since he could sit down in a public room and enjoy a meal together with a good wine.

While he waits for food and drink he looks around to see if there might be a familiar face around. It was not impossible and he wouldn't say no to someone to keep him company.

[In Front Of The Golden Phoenix]

There had been no place that was at least a bit like that in Westeros. From what he had found out from observing here it was possible to make some money.
Should he challenge his luck? It was a tempting idea but what if they would have games here, he had never heard of?

He decided that he should ask the next member of the Circle that would come out of the building.

[Wildcard]
Whatever idea you come up with. Feel free to add me for plotting on plurk preciousbrat

3.

[smallprince]

Even through the night had been short as always, Tyrion felt refreshed and started the morning with taking his time in getting ready. While he made his way downstairs to the hall where the breakfast got served, he saw that Jing was approaching him.

So far he had seen her a few times and exchanged a few words with her. Everything was still new, breaking the ice wasn't as easy as it had always been for him.

"Good Morning, Mylady. Until now I don't have any plans for this day. What is it, that I can do for you, Lady ... ?"

Tyrion hoped that through the way he had emphasised the last word, together with a questioning expression of his face, she would understand, that he wanted to know her name.

[reincarnivorous]

1. Near the Sparkling Sapphire

[A few days into their stay, dawn glazes the desert sand a rich burnished copper and the pale stone of the city walls are glow ochre and gold. As hot as the desert is in the day, the lack of moisture in the air means the lingering night still carries with it a hint of chill on the desert breeze. It's a good time for a stroll.

Kite's path leads her near enough to the Sparkling Sapphire that running into a more familiar face is only expected. She hasn't been staying there herself, but with everyone's scattered agendas, who would notice? She squints for a moment, looking you over, then waves when she catches your eye and jogs over.]

Have you had breakfast?

[She would look more unremarkable in her locally sourced clothing if they weren't lightly coated in dust from head to toe. Nothing to dramatic, but isn't it a little early for that? Maybe she found a sand dune to roll down, and then... rolled down it. Who knows? Astoria chose a lot of strange people.]

2. The Market

[There's a huddle of five or six kids having what seems like a ferocious debate, or maybe an argument, over the head of a fat, furry cylinder. Energy is high and voices are raised, so it takes the wheezy barking of cylinder for the group to notice your approach. There's a sudden scatter of young conspiracists until only the dog and Kite are left, both squatting over a dirt diagram with matching expressions of amusement.

"Who cares? It's just another tourist!" opines a high-pitched voice from around a makeshift alley corner, but it is quickly, loudly, shushed.]

3. Golden Phoenix

[I don't know what you want me to say here. Kite is very bad at slot machines, but if her expression is anything to go by, she's determined to prove it, through science and repeatable results. Someone please stop her.]

4. Misc~

[You might also run into her poking around the market, observing at the fight ring, or even beyond the wall. What a coincidence! Although there's every chance she just wanted to check up on you.]