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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1384483" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>The City of Obash and Disturbing Rumors<strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>On the morning of their fifth day after separating from the army, the party crested a rise and saw spreading out before them a massive cleared out piece of terrain. All the structures were contructed from adobe, and the city looked like it held roughly 8,000.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“The city of Obash.” Xanadu said needlessly. “I need to spend some time in town tonight looking things up, so you all might as well find a good inn to stay in.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“The strength of Kord requires good ale as well!” their half-orc cleric yelled from the rear.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Yes, Grumki. We all know what the strength of Kord requires.” Shaun said sarcastically. Grumki eyed him with a frown. “The strength of Kord does NOT require sarcasm, friend Shaun.” Shaun edged his horse away from Grumki’s cautiously. <em>Maybe, but I bet it does require smashing backs with a friendly blow of those who use sarcasm.</em></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Enough antics back there you too.” Xanadu scolded. “We’re still running from a gigantic army of evil, remember?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Thus chastised, the party trotted across the open scrublands surrounding the city of Obash, and reached its gates by midmorning. Immediately the party fractured; Grumki headed off for a bar, Xanadu ran away to the northern part of the city, and the paladins trapsed off looking for the Temple of Hironeous. Left with only Shaun, Elenya, Lucius, and Siabrey, Tess threw up her hands and said a few choice words about their inability to keep cover. Since it pretty much didn’t matter anymore, Tess volunteered to go find out any information about the Countess, the scary army that was after them, and general wierdness. Lucius and Siabrey agreeded, and went off to find the nearest inn, with the promise that they and Elenya and Lucius would NOT head up to the bedrooms the first change that they got. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>Yeah right.</em> thought Tess as she headed out into the streets to look for suitable people to pick for info. <em>Keeping those four off each other is worse than…well, worse than keeping this party from splitting up the instant we reach a town.</em> It was with a sour mood that she stomped up and down the streets before finding a small out of the way square with a pleasant tinkling fountain in the middle. The sight and sound of the water cooled her nerves some, and so when she headed over to a middle-aged man busy loading what looked to be sacks of grain onto a horse-drawn cart.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Excuse me fine sir.” She gave him a devestating smile and flipped her hair over her shoulder flirtatiously. The man turned and eyed the tall beauty standing before him, and his cheeks reddened slightly. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Yes, what can I do for you, young miss?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“I am a traveling bard from the west just freshly into town, and would like to inquire about any odd happenings lately that perchance I may wish to immortalize in a song?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Her gooey dripping words, along with the fluttering way she battered her eyelashes and pouted her lips did the trick. The man was only too happy to sit down with her and gossip away. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Unfortunately, Obash was a small town far out of the way of the conflict relating to the Countess. The only rumors that the man had heard was that a strange man in black with 50 riders had requested a large amount of water from a merchant here in Obash. He had placed his order by proxy, and would be arriving in two weeks to claim his order. The man had laughed as he explained that the man in black’s troops were not at all prepared for the desert. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“They’re not even buying scarves to wear over their armor.” He laughed, slapping his knee. “Those troops will be roasting within two days of entering the desert.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Outwardly Tess laughed along with him, but inside her mind was reeling. <em>Man in black, lots of troops….it has to be Rogar! I need to tell the others!</em></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>She couldn’t run off right away though, for her chatty friend had jumped right into the next rumor; and suddenly she was glad that she had stayed. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Apparently, some strange ‘desert folk’ wandered into the center of a town not too far from her.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>A strange desert creature…it might have been a siabrie!</em> “What did this creature look like?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“That’s the odd part. They said he was fairly human lookin, but with dark skin, long blonde hair, and these huge wings! He just stood in the center of town, looked around, and then left! Odd, huh?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Yes, how strange.” <em>Definitely a siabrie, although that one’s behavior sounds bizarre…didn’t Siabrey say they usually assume human form when entering a village?</em></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Oh, and that’s not all. Apparently, some crazy sorcerer has a band of people that are stopping travellers up between Hephasus and Kardatic, and searching for tapestries of all things! They don’t even take people’s gold, nosiree, just tapestries. If you’re heading up that way I’d recommend leaving any that you’ve got here.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Thanks, I’ll do well to remember that.” Tess gave a small bow and thanked the man, her mind eager to get back and tell her friends what she had learned.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Back at “The Golden Lantern” Inn, Lucius had taken a seat at the bar and was downing a few pints, while Siabrey was keeping her promise to remain dead sober whenever he touched alcohol and leaning against the bar, arms crossed, and listening to the local chatter. Quinn had been immediately approached by a gorgeous dark-haired women who smiled shyly and asked if he’d like to join her for lunch, an offer to which Quinn had graciously agreed.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>Men, all they need is a pretty face and a covey of thick hair and they’ll do anything.</em> Siabrey shook her hair and turned her attention to the other inhabitants of the inn. <em>Interesting, that group of men over there’s engaged in some kind of argument. I wonder what it’s about…might be worth knowing.</em> Siabrey thought as she looked around. “Stay here, Lucius.” She whispered to her love. He hiccuped and turned to grin at her, his eyes glassy. “Sure thing, Siabrey.” He slurred. She rolled her eyes, grabbed one of his empty glasses, and sauntered over to where the group of four men she had been eyeing were engaged in a roaring debate about….tapestries? <em>Time to try my hand at this espionage thing</em> she thought as she took a seat at a nearby table with her back to the group of men and pretended to sip from the empty cup. They were being so loud however that it would have been almost impossible to <em>not</em> listen even if she hadn’t been trying.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“I’m telling you, it just isn’t possible!” a stocky man dressed in faded desert motif. The man across from him who he was addressing was wrapped in a fine silken garment, and looked like he’d just come off the road. He banged his fist angrily on the table. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“I’m tell you it is! I saw it happen with my own eyes!”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>The first man snorted. “Wizards robbing caravans looking for tapestries, not taking any gold, and letting everyone go! It’s ludacris!”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>Tapestries?</em>Siabrey’s mind was very confused as she got up to head back over to Lucius. <em>Why on earth would wizards be stealing tapestries, and then not taking anything else? It just doesn’t make sense…</em> At that moment, a very distraught looking Tess barged through the doors of the inn, cast about till she saw Lucius and Siabrey and ran over to them.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Guys, you’ll never guess what the rumors on the streets are.” She hissed to them.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Let me guess, a bunch of wizards are stopping caravans and robbing them or any tapestries they might have.” Siabrey smiled faintly at Tess’ shock, for once, it felt good to outdue the information gatherer.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Well…yes, but that’s not all!” and Tess proceeded to inform her friends about the strange siabrie sighting and the man in black.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Man in black with about 50 troops requesting water to head into the desert…It has to be Rogar.” Siabrey’s protective mind flooded her system with adrenaline. “How did they get past the army?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Tess shrugged, a worried look on her face. “I don’t know. But we need to go tell the others. And don’t forget, we still have that old battle tapestry from Ananias’s cave, these tapestry-wizards may want to be something we need to watch out for.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Siabrey nodded, eager to be off and doing something. “Right, I’ll go find Xanadu.” She glanced at Lucius and sighed heavily. The boy was holding up three fingers in front of a bartender and staring at them as he remarked quite loudly. “It was my birthday…..I’m 7, no, 17 now. That’s one…two…three…dang I lost count.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“And I’d better bring Lucius, no telling what the boy drunk boy will do if we leave him here.” Siabrey grabbed him by the shoulder and proceeded to drag him out the door. The bartender gave a greatful sigh and turned to Tess. “That boy cannot hold his alcohol.” Tess smiled wainly. “His stamina lies in other areas, I assure you.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>As Siabrey dragged Lucius down the street, she digressed to her usual way of finding out what she needed to know; bluntness.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Excuse me, have you seen a half-elf, about this tall, with black hair streaked with gray, violent eyes, and wearing a traveler’s clothing and cloak?” After asking around, she found a man who had reported seeing a half-elf of that description heading into a weapon’s shop not too long ago. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>The sign above the door read “The Golden Dragon” as she pushed open the door and pulled Lucius inside by the hand after her. Inside, the shop was brightly lit, while its walls were lined with all the usual weapons one might see in a weapons show. A young human male, a few years older than her stood behind the counter, deftly polishing an already shining greatsword. He seemed slightly preoccupied when she entered, but smiled and put away the sword and cleaning rag as she walked up to the counter.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“What can I do for you miss? Interested in a new weapon?” he smiled broadly at her and as he did so she noticed with slight interest that his eyes were golden-colored.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“No thanks, I’m happy with my katana.” She patted the weapon on her waist as if to make a point. “I was wondering if you could help me with another matter though.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“I’ll sure try.” He smiled and leaned on the counter.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>She smiled back, leaned over the counter and asked bluntly. “Where’s Xanadu?” the man’s arms slipped from propping himself up, but he caught himself quickly.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Are you a friend of Xanadu’s?” he asked quietly. Siabrey nodded, then narrowed her eyes as she put two and two together. <em>Friend of Xanadu’s, the name of this shop, those golden eyes…</em> “You know Xanadu’s true identity, don’t you.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>The man sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Indeed I do. That silver dragon was a great help to my ancestors, many years ago.” He removed his hand from his face and smiled at the couple. “Please follow me, Xanadu’s in a backroom.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Siabrey nodded, and still pulling the slightly wobbly Lucius by the hand, followed the golden-eyed human through a doorway in the back. There, at a small rickity wooden table sat Xanadu, pouring over scripts written in a language that Siabrey couldn’t read, although she guessed it was probably Draconic.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Xanadu didn’t even bother looking up as they entered. “What are you doing here Siabrey….and why is Lucius drunk. Can’t you control him?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Rogar knows we’re here Xanadu.” Sibrey ignored his quips and got right to the point. “He’s heading this way now with a band of 50 men, with plans to head out into the desert.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Xanadu sighed, and lowered the scroll he was reading. “I’m not surprised. In fact, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wasn’t expecting this.” He seemed to notice for the first time the human standing behind Siabrey and Lucius and pointed him out. “I see you’ve already met my friend Hadnir. He was kind enough to let me go through these files.” </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Hadnir blushed slightly and nodded, and as he did so his eyes turned brassy for a brief moment. <em>Ah ha! I knew it!</em> Siabrey’s mind trumpeted. “You’re a dragon too?” Hadnir nodded. She smiled at him briefly. “You might want to change the name of your shop, it’s a little obvious if you know what to look for.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>She turned back and ran her eyes briefly over the mass of papers on the table. “What are you looking at, Xanny?” Although Hadnir raised his eyebrow as Siabrey’s nickname for the silver dragon, he said nothing. Xanadu sighed again and stared off into space. “Records, files about the younglings with no leaders left.” Hadnir walked over and placed a hand on Xanadu’s shoulder. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Xanadu here is the last Councilmen left.” He said proudly.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Younglings…Xanadu, are you a daddy?” Xanadu refused to answer, which pretty much confirmed it for Siabrey. He stared off into space for a few more minutes, then shook his head and looked at Siabrey as if noticing she was there for the first time.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“You should go back and check on the others…I’ll be back at the inn my midnight.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Siabrey nodded and squeezed Lucius’ hand. “We’ll be waiting. Be careful, Xanadu.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Don’t worry.” The man who was actually a juvinile golden dragon smiled down fondly at Xanadu. “I’ll protect ‘Xanny’.” </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Call me that one more time, and I’ll tan your golden hide.” Xanadu snarled at Hadnir. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Siabrey smiled and took her leave, dragging Lucius out of the shop back into the daylight. As they left the boy cocked his head and stared long and hard at the sign outside the door, before his face erupted into a huge grin. “The Golden Dragon! I get it now!”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Meanwhile, back at the inn, Tess had finished up Lucius’ half-empty pint and was busying swirling the dregs at the same rate that her mind was swirling. <em>Wizards, tapestries, crazy siabrie’s, Rogar….</em> Her head ached with the sheer magnitude of it all. Trying to focus on something more constructive, she asked the bartender where she might obtain scarves and cloaks to protect her friends from the desert heart. The bartender replied that there was a silk-dealer at the marketplace who specialized in such wares. Thanking him, Tess waved goodbye to her brother, who was still talking to the pretty dark-haired women. He barely acknowledged her. <em>Everyone’s getting some but me!</em> her mind protested as she headed out feeling slightly ignored. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>The marketplace was a swirl of colors, sounds and scents. For a few minutes, Tess stood on the edge of it all, drinking it in. The sweet nights of a pipe from across the square caused her fingers to itch with anticipation at adding her own music to the fray, but she restrained herself; she was here on business.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>She asked around briefly, and was directed to the silk dealer’s booth on the north end of the square. The dealer was a thin, wiry looking man who looked as if every ounce of gristle had been baked out of him by the desert. He was wrapped in a handsome purple and blue shash that complemented his blue eyes, and was busying marking his inventory on a long piece of parchment with a silk stylus. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Good day to you, sir,” Tess smiled seductively and leaned over the counter so that her stackedness (as Shaun would have put it) was fully in view. The man’s eyes bulged and he lowered the parchment with a smile.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Good day, marm. What can I do for you?”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Well, my friends and I are traveling out into the desert tomorrow, and we need to procure some scarves and clocks to keep the heat off.” Tess tossed her hair, and the sweet fragrance of roses fluttered over and caressed the silk-dealers nose. His eyes still firmly fixed on her bodice, he smiled and swept his hand over the piles of wares.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Anything you see here is for sale, and for such a deletcible morsel such as yourself, at a mere 4 gold apiece.”</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>Nice, very nice.</em> Tess thought. <em>Unfortunatly, not good enough.</em>. “Oh dear, I have to buy scarves for myself and 7 other friends, but I only have 20 gold. I guess I will have to be sunburned…” She smiled sweetly as she lied, and the man blinked, he bluff going unnoticed. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>“Well, we can’t have that, now can we.” He reached into the pile of silks and drew forth a bundle of less-well made, but still obviously pricey scarves. “Tell you what, this bunch of scarves is already only discount, but I can sell it to you for a further 2 gold off each piece, which equals 15 gold total. Well within your budget, my dear?” he reached out and stroked a finger down Tess’s forearm suggestively. </strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Tess resisted the urge to smack the guy, and instead forced herself to smile. “That would be wonderful, thank you so much, kind sir.” She dropped 15 gold into his outstretch palm and took off as quickly as she could.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong><em>That guy was so slimy, I feel like I have to go to the bathhouse now!</em> her mind complained.</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>She headed back, caring the scarves and shawls with her, and practically ran into Siabrey and Lucius outside of the door to their inn. Siabrey told Tess about her conversation with Xanadu and giggled to herself about something that sounded like ‘dragon babies.’ Lucius meanwhile was examining the scarves. He picked up a golden yellow one, held it out to the two women and smiling slightly lopsided, said with a grin. “Subtle, but pretty!”</strong></strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1384483, member: 15043"] [b]The City of Obash and Disturbing Rumors[b] On the morning of their fifth day after separating from the army, the party crested a rise and saw spreading out before them a massive cleared out piece of terrain. All the structures were contructed from adobe, and the city looked like it held roughly 8,000. “The city of Obash.” Xanadu said needlessly. “I need to spend some time in town tonight looking things up, so you all might as well find a good inn to stay in.” “The strength of Kord requires good ale as well!” their half-orc cleric yelled from the rear. “Yes, Grumki. We all know what the strength of Kord requires.” Shaun said sarcastically. Grumki eyed him with a frown. “The strength of Kord does NOT require sarcasm, friend Shaun.” Shaun edged his horse away from Grumki’s cautiously. [I]Maybe, but I bet it does require smashing backs with a friendly blow of those who use sarcasm.[/I] “Enough antics back there you too.” Xanadu scolded. “We’re still running from a gigantic army of evil, remember?” Thus chastised, the party trotted across the open scrublands surrounding the city of Obash, and reached its gates by midmorning. Immediately the party fractured; Grumki headed off for a bar, Xanadu ran away to the northern part of the city, and the paladins trapsed off looking for the Temple of Hironeous. Left with only Shaun, Elenya, Lucius, and Siabrey, Tess threw up her hands and said a few choice words about their inability to keep cover. Since it pretty much didn’t matter anymore, Tess volunteered to go find out any information about the Countess, the scary army that was after them, and general wierdness. Lucius and Siabrey agreeded, and went off to find the nearest inn, with the promise that they and Elenya and Lucius would NOT head up to the bedrooms the first change that they got. [I]Yeah right.[/I] thought Tess as she headed out into the streets to look for suitable people to pick for info. [I]Keeping those four off each other is worse than…well, worse than keeping this party from splitting up the instant we reach a town.[/I] It was with a sour mood that she stomped up and down the streets before finding a small out of the way square with a pleasant tinkling fountain in the middle. The sight and sound of the water cooled her nerves some, and so when she headed over to a middle-aged man busy loading what looked to be sacks of grain onto a horse-drawn cart. “Excuse me fine sir.” She gave him a devestating smile and flipped her hair over her shoulder flirtatiously. The man turned and eyed the tall beauty standing before him, and his cheeks reddened slightly. “Yes, what can I do for you, young miss?” “I am a traveling bard from the west just freshly into town, and would like to inquire about any odd happenings lately that perchance I may wish to immortalize in a song?” Her gooey dripping words, along with the fluttering way she battered her eyelashes and pouted her lips did the trick. The man was only too happy to sit down with her and gossip away. Unfortunately, Obash was a small town far out of the way of the conflict relating to the Countess. The only rumors that the man had heard was that a strange man in black with 50 riders had requested a large amount of water from a merchant here in Obash. He had placed his order by proxy, and would be arriving in two weeks to claim his order. The man had laughed as he explained that the man in black’s troops were not at all prepared for the desert. “They’re not even buying scarves to wear over their armor.” He laughed, slapping his knee. “Those troops will be roasting within two days of entering the desert.” Outwardly Tess laughed along with him, but inside her mind was reeling. [I]Man in black, lots of troops….it has to be Rogar! I need to tell the others![/I] She couldn’t run off right away though, for her chatty friend had jumped right into the next rumor; and suddenly she was glad that she had stayed. “Apparently, some strange ‘desert folk’ wandered into the center of a town not too far from her.” [I]A strange desert creature…it might have been a siabrie![/I] “What did this creature look like?” “That’s the odd part. They said he was fairly human lookin, but with dark skin, long blonde hair, and these huge wings! He just stood in the center of town, looked around, and then left! Odd, huh?” “Yes, how strange.” [I]Definitely a siabrie, although that one’s behavior sounds bizarre…didn’t Siabrey say they usually assume human form when entering a village?[/I] “Oh, and that’s not all. Apparently, some crazy sorcerer has a band of people that are stopping travellers up between Hephasus and Kardatic, and searching for tapestries of all things! They don’t even take people’s gold, nosiree, just tapestries. If you’re heading up that way I’d recommend leaving any that you’ve got here.” “Thanks, I’ll do well to remember that.” Tess gave a small bow and thanked the man, her mind eager to get back and tell her friends what she had learned. Back at “The Golden Lantern” Inn, Lucius had taken a seat at the bar and was downing a few pints, while Siabrey was keeping her promise to remain dead sober whenever he touched alcohol and leaning against the bar, arms crossed, and listening to the local chatter. Quinn had been immediately approached by a gorgeous dark-haired women who smiled shyly and asked if he’d like to join her for lunch, an offer to which Quinn had graciously agreed. [I]Men, all they need is a pretty face and a covey of thick hair and they’ll do anything.[/I] Siabrey shook her hair and turned her attention to the other inhabitants of the inn. [I]Interesting, that group of men over there’s engaged in some kind of argument. I wonder what it’s about…might be worth knowing.[/I] Siabrey thought as she looked around. “Stay here, Lucius.” She whispered to her love. He hiccuped and turned to grin at her, his eyes glassy. “Sure thing, Siabrey.” He slurred. She rolled her eyes, grabbed one of his empty glasses, and sauntered over to where the group of four men she had been eyeing were engaged in a roaring debate about….tapestries? [I]Time to try my hand at this espionage thing[/I] she thought as she took a seat at a nearby table with her back to the group of men and pretended to sip from the empty cup. They were being so loud however that it would have been almost impossible to [I]not[/I] listen even if she hadn’t been trying. “I’m telling you, it just isn’t possible!” a stocky man dressed in faded desert motif. The man across from him who he was addressing was wrapped in a fine silken garment, and looked like he’d just come off the road. He banged his fist angrily on the table. “I’m tell you it is! I saw it happen with my own eyes!” The first man snorted. “Wizards robbing caravans looking for tapestries, not taking any gold, and letting everyone go! It’s ludacris!” [I]Tapestries?[/I]Siabrey’s mind was very confused as she got up to head back over to Lucius. [I]Why on earth would wizards be stealing tapestries, and then not taking anything else? It just doesn’t make sense…[/I] At that moment, a very distraught looking Tess barged through the doors of the inn, cast about till she saw Lucius and Siabrey and ran over to them. “Guys, you’ll never guess what the rumors on the streets are.” She hissed to them. “Let me guess, a bunch of wizards are stopping caravans and robbing them or any tapestries they might have.” Siabrey smiled faintly at Tess’ shock, for once, it felt good to outdue the information gatherer. “Well…yes, but that’s not all!” and Tess proceeded to inform her friends about the strange siabrie sighting and the man in black. “Man in black with about 50 troops requesting water to head into the desert…It has to be Rogar.” Siabrey’s protective mind flooded her system with adrenaline. “How did they get past the army?” Tess shrugged, a worried look on her face. “I don’t know. But we need to go tell the others. And don’t forget, we still have that old battle tapestry from Ananias’s cave, these tapestry-wizards may want to be something we need to watch out for.” Siabrey nodded, eager to be off and doing something. “Right, I’ll go find Xanadu.” She glanced at Lucius and sighed heavily. The boy was holding up three fingers in front of a bartender and staring at them as he remarked quite loudly. “It was my birthday…..I’m 7, no, 17 now. That’s one…two…three…dang I lost count.” “And I’d better bring Lucius, no telling what the boy drunk boy will do if we leave him here.” Siabrey grabbed him by the shoulder and proceeded to drag him out the door. The bartender gave a greatful sigh and turned to Tess. “That boy cannot hold his alcohol.” Tess smiled wainly. “His stamina lies in other areas, I assure you.” As Siabrey dragged Lucius down the street, she digressed to her usual way of finding out what she needed to know; bluntness. “Excuse me, have you seen a half-elf, about this tall, with black hair streaked with gray, violent eyes, and wearing a traveler’s clothing and cloak?” After asking around, she found a man who had reported seeing a half-elf of that description heading into a weapon’s shop not too long ago. The sign above the door read “The Golden Dragon” as she pushed open the door and pulled Lucius inside by the hand after her. Inside, the shop was brightly lit, while its walls were lined with all the usual weapons one might see in a weapons show. A young human male, a few years older than her stood behind the counter, deftly polishing an already shining greatsword. He seemed slightly preoccupied when she entered, but smiled and put away the sword and cleaning rag as she walked up to the counter. “What can I do for you miss? Interested in a new weapon?” he smiled broadly at her and as he did so she noticed with slight interest that his eyes were golden-colored. “No thanks, I’m happy with my katana.” She patted the weapon on her waist as if to make a point. “I was wondering if you could help me with another matter though.” “I’ll sure try.” He smiled and leaned on the counter. She smiled back, leaned over the counter and asked bluntly. “Where’s Xanadu?” the man’s arms slipped from propping himself up, but he caught himself quickly. “Are you a friend of Xanadu’s?” he asked quietly. Siabrey nodded, then narrowed her eyes as she put two and two together. [I]Friend of Xanadu’s, the name of this shop, those golden eyes…[/I] “You know Xanadu’s true identity, don’t you.” The man sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Indeed I do. That silver dragon was a great help to my ancestors, many years ago.” He removed his hand from his face and smiled at the couple. “Please follow me, Xanadu’s in a backroom.” Siabrey nodded, and still pulling the slightly wobbly Lucius by the hand, followed the golden-eyed human through a doorway in the back. There, at a small rickity wooden table sat Xanadu, pouring over scripts written in a language that Siabrey couldn’t read, although she guessed it was probably Draconic. Xanadu didn’t even bother looking up as they entered. “What are you doing here Siabrey….and why is Lucius drunk. Can’t you control him?” “Rogar knows we’re here Xanadu.” Sibrey ignored his quips and got right to the point. “He’s heading this way now with a band of 50 men, with plans to head out into the desert.” Xanadu sighed, and lowered the scroll he was reading. “I’m not surprised. In fact, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wasn’t expecting this.” He seemed to notice for the first time the human standing behind Siabrey and Lucius and pointed him out. “I see you’ve already met my friend Hadnir. He was kind enough to let me go through these files.” Hadnir blushed slightly and nodded, and as he did so his eyes turned brassy for a brief moment. [I]Ah ha! I knew it![/I] Siabrey’s mind trumpeted. “You’re a dragon too?” Hadnir nodded. She smiled at him briefly. “You might want to change the name of your shop, it’s a little obvious if you know what to look for.” She turned back and ran her eyes briefly over the mass of papers on the table. “What are you looking at, Xanny?” Although Hadnir raised his eyebrow as Siabrey’s nickname for the silver dragon, he said nothing. Xanadu sighed again and stared off into space. “Records, files about the younglings with no leaders left.” Hadnir walked over and placed a hand on Xanadu’s shoulder. “Xanadu here is the last Councilmen left.” He said proudly. “Younglings…Xanadu, are you a daddy?” Xanadu refused to answer, which pretty much confirmed it for Siabrey. He stared off into space for a few more minutes, then shook his head and looked at Siabrey as if noticing she was there for the first time. “You should go back and check on the others…I’ll be back at the inn my midnight.” Siabrey nodded and squeezed Lucius’ hand. “We’ll be waiting. Be careful, Xanadu.” “Don’t worry.” The man who was actually a juvinile golden dragon smiled down fondly at Xanadu. “I’ll protect ‘Xanny’.” “Call me that one more time, and I’ll tan your golden hide.” Xanadu snarled at Hadnir. Siabrey smiled and took her leave, dragging Lucius out of the shop back into the daylight. As they left the boy cocked his head and stared long and hard at the sign outside the door, before his face erupted into a huge grin. “The Golden Dragon! I get it now!” Meanwhile, back at the inn, Tess had finished up Lucius’ half-empty pint and was busying swirling the dregs at the same rate that her mind was swirling. [I]Wizards, tapestries, crazy siabrie’s, Rogar….[/I] Her head ached with the sheer magnitude of it all. Trying to focus on something more constructive, she asked the bartender where she might obtain scarves and cloaks to protect her friends from the desert heart. The bartender replied that there was a silk-dealer at the marketplace who specialized in such wares. Thanking him, Tess waved goodbye to her brother, who was still talking to the pretty dark-haired women. He barely acknowledged her. [I]Everyone’s getting some but me![/I] her mind protested as she headed out feeling slightly ignored. The marketplace was a swirl of colors, sounds and scents. For a few minutes, Tess stood on the edge of it all, drinking it in. The sweet nights of a pipe from across the square caused her fingers to itch with anticipation at adding her own music to the fray, but she restrained herself; she was here on business. She asked around briefly, and was directed to the silk dealer’s booth on the north end of the square. The dealer was a thin, wiry looking man who looked as if every ounce of gristle had been baked out of him by the desert. He was wrapped in a handsome purple and blue shash that complemented his blue eyes, and was busying marking his inventory on a long piece of parchment with a silk stylus. “Good day to you, sir,” Tess smiled seductively and leaned over the counter so that her stackedness (as Shaun would have put it) was fully in view. The man’s eyes bulged and he lowered the parchment with a smile. “Good day, marm. What can I do for you?” “Well, my friends and I are traveling out into the desert tomorrow, and we need to procure some scarves and clocks to keep the heat off.” Tess tossed her hair, and the sweet fragrance of roses fluttered over and caressed the silk-dealers nose. His eyes still firmly fixed on her bodice, he smiled and swept his hand over the piles of wares. “Anything you see here is for sale, and for such a deletcible morsel such as yourself, at a mere 4 gold apiece.” [I]Nice, very nice.[/I] Tess thought. [I]Unfortunatly, not good enough.[/I]. “Oh dear, I have to buy scarves for myself and 7 other friends, but I only have 20 gold. I guess I will have to be sunburned…” She smiled sweetly as she lied, and the man blinked, he bluff going unnoticed. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we.” He reached into the pile of silks and drew forth a bundle of less-well made, but still obviously pricey scarves. “Tell you what, this bunch of scarves is already only discount, but I can sell it to you for a further 2 gold off each piece, which equals 15 gold total. Well within your budget, my dear?” he reached out and stroked a finger down Tess’s forearm suggestively. Tess resisted the urge to smack the guy, and instead forced herself to smile. “That would be wonderful, thank you so much, kind sir.” She dropped 15 gold into his outstretch palm and took off as quickly as she could. [I]That guy was so slimy, I feel like I have to go to the bathhouse now![/I] her mind complained. She headed back, caring the scarves and shawls with her, and practically ran into Siabrey and Lucius outside of the door to their inn. Siabrey told Tess about her conversation with Xanadu and giggled to herself about something that sounded like ‘dragon babies.’ Lucius meanwhile was examining the scarves. He picked up a golden yellow one, held it out to the two women and smiling slightly lopsided, said with a grin. “Subtle, but pretty!”[/b][/b] [/QUOTE]
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