acatalepsy_logs | WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

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WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

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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? :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For all his suspicion about this place, Firo has to admit that the food is darn good. He takes his time as he surveys the room; not knowing how long it'll be before this all comes crashing down, he figures he'll take his time savoring it while it's here.

When Jing approaches, he'll give a smile of greeting.]

Yeah? What is it?

[Assume she greeted Firo by name /sobs]

I was thinking of visiting one of the areas of town near the Fight Ring. The places that the King mentioned were under the control of the Syndicate. Have you heard anything about them while you were here?

[Got it!]

[Coincidentally, those are essentially the only areas Firo's bothered to spend time in.]

Yeah, they're the guys who run that casino, aren't they? They're pretty good at what they do--seems like they've got the market cornered on it too.

[Given that the Martillo Family's territory is on the smaller side and hemmed in by other Families (or tiny and ready to be swallowed up by somebody else, if you listen to certain people), Firo can't keep the wistful envy out of his voice.

Then, remembering who he's talking to and the impression he has so far of her, he squints in confusion and even a little bit of apprehension.]

What do you want with those guys?

[~~She's got hidden depths? XD~~

She's just going to smile back at Firo serenely, apparently not noticing his confusion.]

I haven't had a chance to visit yet. So there aren't any other groups in the area as competition?

Not that I've seen. It's pretty clear who's in charge too, no subtlety there.

[Firo's Family doesn't break its back pretending to be unobstrusive, but there's at least lip service paid to the need to keep a cover in the metaphorical light of day.

Still, that doesn't mean these Syndicate people could be any less dangerous. He furrows his brow and tries again:]

Uh, no offense or anything, but are you sure you wanna get involved in something like that? You don't seem the type.

It seems far more dangerous not to be. [She replies, her tone simple and straightforward, but no more enlightening as to Firo's question.]

It's to the benefit of the Syndicate to keep some level of order within the territories they control, isn't it? I was just wondering if you'd accompany me on a visit, if you were planning to stop by today.

[He grimaces; she has a point there.]

Well, yeah, but there're always guys who just wanna throw their weight around...

[They may be his "colleagues," but there are plenty of gangsters back home that Firo regards as nothing more than lowlifes. The gang may be different here, but Firo figures that the people are probably the same.

All the more reason to tag along, since she sounds like she won't be dissuaded. Firo stifles a sigh and nods.]

I was headed that way anyway, so sure. You said the Fighting Ring, right?

[Well, you'll just have to take good care of her, Firo... ~~She's hardier than she looks.~~]

Yes, it sounds like a very interesting place. I'll try not to get in your way overmuch, Firo.

[Smiling slightly, he waves one hand dismissively.]

Don't worry about it.

[Honestly, he didn't have anything actually useful to do there anyway, so there's not much to get in the way of.

He takes a few steps for the door and will continue through it only if she moves to follow.]

What exactly was it you wanted to see there?

[Is she betting on something?]

The last time there was a fighting tournament at home I wasn't allowed to watch. [She's simplifying a little.] You seem to have a good opinion of the Syndicate, so I'm hoping it'll be something worth seeing.

[She's following right after you, lead the way, please!]

I wouldn't say good--but they know how to do their job.

[He'll lead them out into the street and towards the general direction of the ring, moving at a brisk but reasonable clip.]

Why couldn't you watch?

Ah, as a woman, I wasn't generally allowed outside of the Palace. The majority of people in attendance at that particular tournament were the young noblemen of the city I lived in.

[A soft, almost-laugh:] Even though the prize of that particular tournament was one of the most eligible young Princesses in the kingdom.

They what?

[Prize? He wrinkles his nose and shakes his head in disgust. Ennis was never raffled off like that, but Firo can't help but be reminded of Szilard's same inclination to treat her like an object or a tool to be thrown around or used however he saw fit.]

Wait a minute, you couldn't even leave the building?

[His brain'll catch up to "palace" and what that might mean about her... eventually.]

[Seems pretty par for the course. She laughs a little at Firo's expression.] In the end, she defeated the top nine contenders in battle herself and so she didn't get married at that time.

Only on special occasions, such as for the traditional Spring or Autumn hunts, if I was the person selected to accompany the Emperor.

[The story started out strange, but now his eyes just might bug out of his head.]

Seriously? She sounds like one tough lady.

[Even setting aside the surprise of winning the tournament, Firo has to appreciate anyone who can get through nine fights in a row--that's no easy feat.]

Why's that? It can't be because you liked staying there so much.

[And she said not allowed, not that she didn't choose to. He looks out at the street ahead of them as he thinks to their first meeting and how they'd both talked about coming from something like a prison. Perhaps hers was even more literal than he'd initially thought.]

[She's still smiling - the princess she was referring to was indeed remarkable, and well celebrated for it - but Firo's earnest question gives her a moment's pause to think on her answer.]

It's...likely quite different from where you're from. But mostly I stayed [there's the slightest emphasis, a wealth of meanings in her word choice] because my son was still there, and if I left he would have been alone.

[That only makes it sound more sketchy, and he shakes his head with a scoff.]

Yeah, where I'm from, that sounds like you were both kidnapped and he was a hostage. Why couldn't he leave too?

Even in your home and time, there must be situations that... ah... how should I phrase this? A gilded cage, perhaps? An offer you cannot refuse?

By birth, my son was a Prince, despite my own status. He had responsibilities to the Emperor and to the kingdom he was born to serve.

Things were better, when he was younger, but after... his choices were to stay, or be executed, and me with him.

[Executed? What the hell? Firo reels back and blinks a few times at her, hoping that she's making a very not-funny joke.]

Yeah, that's definitely kidnapping. I thought princes were all supposed to be living it up.

[Not living with the constant threat of their own and their mother's death. Again: what the hell?!]

Some of them do. [Her own son's half-brothers, for example.] It depends on how far you're willing to go to please those in power, and what your sense of responsibility in correspondence with your privilege happens to be.

[Man, she's sorry this got dark.] Power does strange things to people.

[He growls:]

It sure does... It makes sense now why Astoria's place was such an improvement.

[He reflects that he'd take Alcatraz any day over that hostage situation. ...Though then it occurs to him a moment later that a hostage situation is pretty much why he's there in the first place. Still, at least Ennis is with his Family and, hopefully, safe for now.]

Who's the bastard doing all this?

Here? [She's startled briefly by his question, though she pieces it together soon enough.]

Ah. Back home he was the Emperor, the ruler of the kingdom of Liang.

[The road turns, and the surrounding houses grow shabbier the farther they go. It won't be long until they're solidly in Syndicate territory.]

Emperor, huh? So not the kind of guy you can just take down a peg.

What's he want with the two of you in the first place?

[She'd mentioned somebody she knew (or somebody who knew somebody she knew? It was hard to keep track) having some sort of relation to the emperor, but surely such a tenuous connection doesn't lead to kidnapping and death threats.]

[She's keeping a careful eye out, but mostly trusting in Firo's experience for the moment, just as she's trusting him throughout this conversation.]

Ah, well, my son is also the son of the Emperor. One of his sons, anyway.

[Firo pauses mid-nod.]

Wait, what's that make you?

[Didn't she say that emperor guy had already married twice? Three sure seems like a lot, but Firo supposes that it's also possible--though he has to wonder what horrible fate the other two met, if this is the kind of guy who holds people captive.]

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A+ Godfather reference

I try, I try... :)

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