( NPC LOG ) WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

[kathashun]

𝚔𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚞𝚗
𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚔𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛
𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚝
𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚡
𝚠𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚕𝚍
𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚕 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚊.

[ kathashun, throughout the duration of your stay in el minha, can be found in a plethora of locations in the city. whether he approaches you is a luck of the odds, apparently . . . but if you approach him, he certainly won't turn you away.

additionally, it may also be hard to spot him, because while he is very easy to place near the palace, in his deep purple robes and constant crown guard presence, he is not so easy to place elsewhere . . . mostly because, for the sake of some amount of privacy, he ditches the royal colors and instead wanders around in a loose outfit with a white linen hooded cloak, much like the rest of his people, to blend in.

some opportunities to see him, though (and some information to gather, should you ask the guard), are as follows: ]

( A ) The Palace:

[ king kathashun does not allow people inside the royal palace. should you ask the crown guard why, they will explain (in terse terms, as the king has instructed the guard to answer questions reasonably) that the late king was murdered, and security is on high alert. no one is allowed inside the palace without express written permission from king kathashun himself, and if you don't have that? piss off.

however, king kathashun can be found on the grounds (with constant guard presence). conversations here will likely be short, as the guard is protective and unwilling to allow you too close to the king. after a few minutes or so, they will likely tell you to fuck off. but you're welcome to try! ]

( B ) The Fight Ring:

[ should you wander to the fight ring, you can find kathashun dressed in (still nice, but not super nice) linens with a cloak, watching the fighting and sparring below. he seems to be scanning the crowd with his eyes, and should you approach him, he will happily speak with you. but he may also approach you first, with a knowing smile, and a finger to his lips, should you recognize him. his hood is still up, but quietly: ]

Are you here to challenge the Champion?

[ judging from the look in his eyes, kathashun seems 100% prepared to encourage your entrance into the contest, but who knows? you might be misreading him. ]

(C) The Casino/Syndicate Territory:

[ the one place you will not find kathashun is the casino, due to the rampant syndicate presence here, and the current war between the two.

that being said, you may find a man wandering through the streets in syndicate territory asking people of their needs. he is dressed in dark clothing, atypical for the desert heat, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the sun. instead, he is asking the citizens questions.

do they have enough food? what do you want the crown to provide more of? are you safe here?

and should you approach this man, he appears to be in his late-forties, but he won't be interested in speaking with you. ]

Later, later, enough --

[ absent dismissals when you approach him, and he brushes past you, heading down a nearby alley.

do you want to follow him? ]

Comments

( b )

[protettore]

[Aside from his brows raising as he clearly recognizes just who has suddenly approached him, Gladio keeps his voice hushed, not wanting to attract attention toward himself and the king as he just gives what appears to be a lazy shrug. Even though there's a clear light of excitement in his amber eyes, and he's certainly prepared himself for a fight with his shirt removed, all black tattooing spread over his arms and back in full reveal along with the long scar that streaks across his chest.]

Haven't found anything better to do. [But instead of directing his attention to the ring, which he's been watching for a long while now, he takes a long look at Kathashun instead with what appears to be humor on his expression.]

There something about young kings that makes them want to play hooky so badly?

[kathashun]

Have you ever been inside a royal palace?

[ a bit dryly, as he folds his arms over his chest. ]

They are insufferably boring -- and I'm here to locate someone, and they won't come to the Palace, since the death of the previous King.

[ he pauses, though, at the question, and kathashun tilts his head slightly, at gladio. ]

Do you know many young kings?

[protettore]

[He actually has a bit of a laugh at that.] Good point.

[There's a reason Gladio never chose to stick around the Citadel unless absolutely necessary. The only benefit was its excellent training facilities, but when he'd been young, it had been a hell of a dreary place occupied by nothing but stuffy nobles and political talk practically reverberating off the walls. But it was necessary, and he understands that. It made sense to him why the prince refused to live there.]

Only one. Sorry excuse for one. But then, he was a sorry excuse of a prince, so no surprises there. [Probably a bit harsh of him to say, and yet, there's a smile on Gladio's face that doesn't fade.] He'll do great things.

[kathashun]

[ there's another faint smile, at the description of gladio's young king -- almost sheepish in demeanor, and he folds his arms over his chest, to look at the crowd. ]

I imagine I was a sorry excuse of a prince, too, but being the only son and child tends to leave little other option when it comes to royalty.

[ he doesn't sound too self-deprecating about it, though. and his tone shifts to something a little more dry, as he continues: ]

But I'm certain, with such support, your king will, indeed, do great things.

[protettore]

[Gladio actually laughs at that. He's already sort of starting to like this guy. Stuffy royalty are always the worst. The greatest leaders are the ones that can criticize themselves. Put things into clearly perspective. Know your flaws and all.]

It's rough. The high expectations. Having everyone watch your every move.

[There are things he's never told his own prince, but that he's always thought and he doesn't mind voicing here in privacy. That he understands everything he's gone through. As the prince's shield, he's had plenty of that anxiety and dread, that he won't be good enough, that he'll fail, that he has all these people expecting so much of him and he has to do his best. He has to be the best.

It's harder for a prince though.]

Even rougher when you find all that responsibility dumped into your lap without a warning. You prepare for it all your life but when it happens, sometimes, it just hits you too hard.

[He turns to Kathashun, now that he's aware he can comment that he knows who he is but not giving away that knowledge. To lose your father is one thing. To have to take his place in ruling an entire kingdom and be thrust into his place, the highest pedestal in your land? It's insane. It's hard. It hurts.]

The late king here. Your father. If you don't mind me asking, what was he like?

[kathashun]

[ there's a brief silence, at gladio's observations, and while kathashun doesn't agree or disagree, a weight seems to lift from his shoulders. a willingness to talk, maybe. he is young, to rule, and some things hold true over all young rulers. this shit is hard.

but when gladio asks about his father, his brow furrows slightly, and kathashun laughs slightly before folding his arms over his chest, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his loose robes. ]

He wasn't particularly kind, to anyone.

[ mildly enough, as kathashun ducks his head slightly, to look at the ground, with a slight frown. ]

King Kallathor would hang someone as soon as look at them, for theft, for lying . . . he believed in a heavy hand, when he ruled. No one was surprised when he died under -- less than perfect circumstances. It was a matter of time.