spyscribe
First Post
Part the Very Sixteenth
In which: Dar Aego doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
(as recorded by Fajitas)
The trip to Dar Aego is an uneventful week on the road.
Thatch, Hue, and Reyu have agreed to go on retainer to the Universal Law Caucus of Dar Pykos. They will be paid 10 gold per week for their services to the Caucus. Cyrus, who already has allegiance to a Kettenite sect, is unable to accept the offer. However, he hates leaving a job half-done, and is just as willing as the others to aid in rescuing the unjustly enslaved individuals.
The group has been given instructions by the Caucus to track down five people and purchase their freedom. In addition to a list of their names, the party has been given 1,000 gold. Their five objectives were sold for a total of 750 gold, so the party has plenty of additional funds for unexpected expenses. Unfortunately, the Caucus has little information beyond their names. What happened to them after they were sold to Dar Aego is unknown.
“Um. Remind me again why we have to buy them out of slavery?” Thatch asks, as he rides on Bob alongside the others, who ride in the mule-drawn cart given to them by the Caucus. “If they were enslaved illegally, shouldn’t they just be free?”
“Yes,” Anvil responds, “but the wrongdoing in this matter is solely on the part of Count Missola. Those who purchased the slaves in Dar Aego had no idea they were buying illegal slaves. An offer of fair recompense for their expenses should help smooth the process.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that the Caucus should have to pay for it,” Thatch grumbles.
“They didn’t,” Anvil reminds him.
The money actually came from the Missola estate. The estate is now under the control of the Count’s son Ess, who, in addition to offering the funds to purchase the wrongly enslaved people, has volunteered to recompense them for the work they have done during their bondage.
Despite this generosity, Ess is a slimy, weasely, hedonistic young man. He had to be awakened at 3 in the afternoon when the party arrived to pick up the gold. He made their skin crawl, but he did give them the money. In addition, he provided them with the slaves’ last known location. They were sold to one of the major slave houses in Dar Aego: the House of al-Assal. Ess has sent a letter to the proprietor, Adar al-Assal, informing him of the situation and telling him to expect the party.
It is with some degree of anticipation that the party first sets eyes on the high walls of Dar Aego. They shine brilliant white in the morning sun. Indeed, as the party gets closer, they can see that the walls are made entirely from white marble!
“How… solid,” Reyu comments. “Shall we approach?”
They follow the main road towards the city gates.
“Um… I can’t help but notice,” Thatch says, “that we’re the only cart on this road.”
Indeed they are. As they approach the city, they note that the other vehicles heading toward the main gate are carriages. All are covered, the passengers out of sight. All are fairly ornate. Almost all are trimmed with gold, many are adorned with jewels, and one slow moving one even seems to have solid gold wheels. In comparison, the party looks quite underdressed.
Still they press on towards the gate. There is a brief wait, as the gate guards clear each carriage for entry. The next carriage driver over spares a moment to sniff down his nose at them.
Eventually, the party reaches the front of the line. Through the gate, they catch a glimpse of the city. The buildings are built of shining marble. Trees and fountains line the stone-paved street. At a glance, the architecture appears to put even the finest buildings in Dar Pykos to shame.
But before they can enter, they are stopped by a gate guard. He is dressed in a well-sculpted breastplate and short leather skirt. Both are trimmed in gold. The guard nearly double-takes when he sees them, and says, “What’s this? The back gate is for shipping. Turn that thing around!”
There are momentary puzzled looks, and Hue is the first to speak up. “Oh, we’re not shipping!” he says.
The guard looks skeptical. “Really? Then what is your business here?”
“We’re here to buy slaves!”
The guard looks even more skeptical. Fortunately, Anvil steps in before Hue tries again. “We are on a mission for Kettenek. Justice demands we enter this city.”
“Well you’ll do it by the back gate.” The guard pauses a moment. “Unless, of course, you have the proper documentation.”
“What documentation would that be?” Anvil asks.
“Oh, depends. A letter of introduction. Authorization papers. Something like that perhaps.”
“Oh! You mean like a bribe?” Hue says.
The guard looks slightly put out by Hue’s directness. “Let’s just say it’s always good to have the right people on your side in Dar Aego.”
“I have many of the right people on my side,” Anvil says, brandishing a roll of parchment given to him by Tenacious. It is a letter of introduction to the head of the Universal Law Caucus in Dar Aego. “This letter of introduction was given to me by the Temple of Justice in Dar Pykos. They are on my side.”
That seems to make up the guard’s mind. “Uh-huh,” he says. “Church business uses the back gate. Now move!” He turns his attention to the next cart.
There is a pause. “Um,” Thatch says, speaking for everyone.
So they turn the cart around and head for the back gate.
“Psst!” Hue loudly whispers to Anvil. “I think he was just looking for a bribe.”
“I know,” Anvil responds. “I did not wish to give him the satisfaction.”
The road leading around the city is dusty and ill-used and, as they reach the rear, they see that there is another road altogether, leading toward an entrance in back. A string of wagons and carts work their way towards it.
The party joins the line, and is soon admitted to Dar Aego. It is nothing like they expect.
The view from the back entrance is completely different from what they had seen at the front. From here, Dar Aego is a shanty-town, filled with ramshackle wooden buildings. It would be charitable to call the streets dirt, as they are actually mud. There is nothing green or growing here, and the air stinks of too many people crowded into too small a space.
“But… but…” Thatch says. “Where’s the marble? Where’re the fountains?”
“Probably behind that wall,” Cyrus says, nodding towards the second wall before them, seemingly a sister to the exterior wall. It is just as high as that one, but this wall is made of stone, not marble, and in ill repair. In fact, when they look behind them, they discover that from the inside, even the outer wall is made of rough stone. The marble is only an external façade.
Dar Aego is built like a donut. There are two great concentric walls. The inner wall surrounds the large center of the city-state, where the wealthy citizens live. Between the two walls is the small, cramped Outer City. This is where everyone else lives. The main gates of the city open in such a way as to hide the outer city from view.
“But why do the wealthy get the greater area? Surely there must be far fewer of them,” Reyu says, trying to work this out in her mind.
“Surely,” Cyrus agrees darkly.
Reyu’s opinion of humanity drops another notch.
The group makes their way through the Outer City. Their inquiries as to how to pass into the Inner City are eventually answered by an Alirrian priestess, caring for the sick here. By the smell and sound of things, she has her work cut out for her.
There is a small, well-guarded gate that leads from the Outer City to the Inner. Only those with work permits are permitted through. Anvil reluctantly slips one of the guards 10 gold, and they are admitted to the Inner City of Dar Aego.
The change is striking. The roads are wide and paved. Trees and parks dot the landscape. The buildings gleam, full of columns and arches and statues. Each is bigger and more ornate than the next. In fact, many of then look flat out ridiculous in their attempts to be grander and richer than the others. It is opulence run amok. And the people are worst of all.
They are mostly dressed in bright, toga-like robes. It is hotter in Dar Aego than Dar Pykos, thus the people wear lighter fabric, and generally more revealing cuts. There is no dominant color among the outfits. Indeed, in many cases, there is no color coordination at all. People wear multiple clashing colors at once, the better to be noticed. They also wear much jewelry. Earings, necklaces, and headdresses made of gold, silver, and gems. One woman actually seems to be wearing a piece that is somehow simultaneously an earring, necklace, and headdress. It is all Thatch can do not to stare openly.
The slaves of Dar Aego are fairly plentiful, and easy to pick out. They are the only people wearing white, and their outfits are generally skimpier than those of their masters. Many have iron collars about their necks. They do not make eye-contact with anyone, and the free Aegosians do not seem to notice them.
Apart from slaves, the party are virtually the only people walking on the street. Free Aegosians ride in open carriages for all to see, except those who are carried on divans, borne by slaves. One divan passes with a single person on it, carried by nearly 20 slaves.
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Thatch asks in a quiet voice.
“Depends on how many slaves carry your neighbor’s chair,” Cyrus says.
“We should perhaps not… tarry here,” Reyu says. “We seem to be attracting attention.” Indeed, many of the people passing by have been staring at them. Few of the stares are friendly. “Let us find this… House of al-Assal.”
The party waylays a slave and asks for directions to the House of al-Assal. The slave obliges, though he stammers as he speaks to them. He seems quite relieved to take his leave, and quickly walks away.
“Y’know,” Thatch says, “I don’t think I like this place.”
In which: Dar Aego doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
(as recorded by Fajitas)
The trip to Dar Aego is an uneventful week on the road.
Thatch, Hue, and Reyu have agreed to go on retainer to the Universal Law Caucus of Dar Pykos. They will be paid 10 gold per week for their services to the Caucus. Cyrus, who already has allegiance to a Kettenite sect, is unable to accept the offer. However, he hates leaving a job half-done, and is just as willing as the others to aid in rescuing the unjustly enslaved individuals.
The group has been given instructions by the Caucus to track down five people and purchase their freedom. In addition to a list of their names, the party has been given 1,000 gold. Their five objectives were sold for a total of 750 gold, so the party has plenty of additional funds for unexpected expenses. Unfortunately, the Caucus has little information beyond their names. What happened to them after they were sold to Dar Aego is unknown.
“Um. Remind me again why we have to buy them out of slavery?” Thatch asks, as he rides on Bob alongside the others, who ride in the mule-drawn cart given to them by the Caucus. “If they were enslaved illegally, shouldn’t they just be free?”
“Yes,” Anvil responds, “but the wrongdoing in this matter is solely on the part of Count Missola. Those who purchased the slaves in Dar Aego had no idea they were buying illegal slaves. An offer of fair recompense for their expenses should help smooth the process.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that the Caucus should have to pay for it,” Thatch grumbles.
“They didn’t,” Anvil reminds him.
The money actually came from the Missola estate. The estate is now under the control of the Count’s son Ess, who, in addition to offering the funds to purchase the wrongly enslaved people, has volunteered to recompense them for the work they have done during their bondage.
Despite this generosity, Ess is a slimy, weasely, hedonistic young man. He had to be awakened at 3 in the afternoon when the party arrived to pick up the gold. He made their skin crawl, but he did give them the money. In addition, he provided them with the slaves’ last known location. They were sold to one of the major slave houses in Dar Aego: the House of al-Assal. Ess has sent a letter to the proprietor, Adar al-Assal, informing him of the situation and telling him to expect the party.
It is with some degree of anticipation that the party first sets eyes on the high walls of Dar Aego. They shine brilliant white in the morning sun. Indeed, as the party gets closer, they can see that the walls are made entirely from white marble!
“How… solid,” Reyu comments. “Shall we approach?”
They follow the main road towards the city gates.
“Um… I can’t help but notice,” Thatch says, “that we’re the only cart on this road.”
Indeed they are. As they approach the city, they note that the other vehicles heading toward the main gate are carriages. All are covered, the passengers out of sight. All are fairly ornate. Almost all are trimmed with gold, many are adorned with jewels, and one slow moving one even seems to have solid gold wheels. In comparison, the party looks quite underdressed.
Still they press on towards the gate. There is a brief wait, as the gate guards clear each carriage for entry. The next carriage driver over spares a moment to sniff down his nose at them.
Eventually, the party reaches the front of the line. Through the gate, they catch a glimpse of the city. The buildings are built of shining marble. Trees and fountains line the stone-paved street. At a glance, the architecture appears to put even the finest buildings in Dar Pykos to shame.
But before they can enter, they are stopped by a gate guard. He is dressed in a well-sculpted breastplate and short leather skirt. Both are trimmed in gold. The guard nearly double-takes when he sees them, and says, “What’s this? The back gate is for shipping. Turn that thing around!”
There are momentary puzzled looks, and Hue is the first to speak up. “Oh, we’re not shipping!” he says.
The guard looks skeptical. “Really? Then what is your business here?”
“We’re here to buy slaves!”
The guard looks even more skeptical. Fortunately, Anvil steps in before Hue tries again. “We are on a mission for Kettenek. Justice demands we enter this city.”
“Well you’ll do it by the back gate.” The guard pauses a moment. “Unless, of course, you have the proper documentation.”
“What documentation would that be?” Anvil asks.
“Oh, depends. A letter of introduction. Authorization papers. Something like that perhaps.”
“Oh! You mean like a bribe?” Hue says.
The guard looks slightly put out by Hue’s directness. “Let’s just say it’s always good to have the right people on your side in Dar Aego.”
“I have many of the right people on my side,” Anvil says, brandishing a roll of parchment given to him by Tenacious. It is a letter of introduction to the head of the Universal Law Caucus in Dar Aego. “This letter of introduction was given to me by the Temple of Justice in Dar Pykos. They are on my side.”
That seems to make up the guard’s mind. “Uh-huh,” he says. “Church business uses the back gate. Now move!” He turns his attention to the next cart.
There is a pause. “Um,” Thatch says, speaking for everyone.
So they turn the cart around and head for the back gate.
“Psst!” Hue loudly whispers to Anvil. “I think he was just looking for a bribe.”
“I know,” Anvil responds. “I did not wish to give him the satisfaction.”
The road leading around the city is dusty and ill-used and, as they reach the rear, they see that there is another road altogether, leading toward an entrance in back. A string of wagons and carts work their way towards it.
The party joins the line, and is soon admitted to Dar Aego. It is nothing like they expect.
The view from the back entrance is completely different from what they had seen at the front. From here, Dar Aego is a shanty-town, filled with ramshackle wooden buildings. It would be charitable to call the streets dirt, as they are actually mud. There is nothing green or growing here, and the air stinks of too many people crowded into too small a space.
“But… but…” Thatch says. “Where’s the marble? Where’re the fountains?”
“Probably behind that wall,” Cyrus says, nodding towards the second wall before them, seemingly a sister to the exterior wall. It is just as high as that one, but this wall is made of stone, not marble, and in ill repair. In fact, when they look behind them, they discover that from the inside, even the outer wall is made of rough stone. The marble is only an external façade.
Dar Aego is built like a donut. There are two great concentric walls. The inner wall surrounds the large center of the city-state, where the wealthy citizens live. Between the two walls is the small, cramped Outer City. This is where everyone else lives. The main gates of the city open in such a way as to hide the outer city from view.
“But why do the wealthy get the greater area? Surely there must be far fewer of them,” Reyu says, trying to work this out in her mind.
“Surely,” Cyrus agrees darkly.
Reyu’s opinion of humanity drops another notch.
The group makes their way through the Outer City. Their inquiries as to how to pass into the Inner City are eventually answered by an Alirrian priestess, caring for the sick here. By the smell and sound of things, she has her work cut out for her.
There is a small, well-guarded gate that leads from the Outer City to the Inner. Only those with work permits are permitted through. Anvil reluctantly slips one of the guards 10 gold, and they are admitted to the Inner City of Dar Aego.
The change is striking. The roads are wide and paved. Trees and parks dot the landscape. The buildings gleam, full of columns and arches and statues. Each is bigger and more ornate than the next. In fact, many of then look flat out ridiculous in their attempts to be grander and richer than the others. It is opulence run amok. And the people are worst of all.
They are mostly dressed in bright, toga-like robes. It is hotter in Dar Aego than Dar Pykos, thus the people wear lighter fabric, and generally more revealing cuts. There is no dominant color among the outfits. Indeed, in many cases, there is no color coordination at all. People wear multiple clashing colors at once, the better to be noticed. They also wear much jewelry. Earings, necklaces, and headdresses made of gold, silver, and gems. One woman actually seems to be wearing a piece that is somehow simultaneously an earring, necklace, and headdress. It is all Thatch can do not to stare openly.
The slaves of Dar Aego are fairly plentiful, and easy to pick out. They are the only people wearing white, and their outfits are generally skimpier than those of their masters. Many have iron collars about their necks. They do not make eye-contact with anyone, and the free Aegosians do not seem to notice them.
Apart from slaves, the party are virtually the only people walking on the street. Free Aegosians ride in open carriages for all to see, except those who are carried on divans, borne by slaves. One divan passes with a single person on it, carried by nearly 20 slaves.
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Thatch asks in a quiet voice.
“Depends on how many slaves carry your neighbor’s chair,” Cyrus says.
“We should perhaps not… tarry here,” Reyu says. “We seem to be attracting attention.” Indeed, many of the people passing by have been staring at them. Few of the stares are friendly. “Let us find this… House of al-Assal.”
The party waylays a slave and asks for directions to the House of al-Assal. The slave obliges, though he stammers as he speaks to them. He seems quite relieved to take his leave, and quickly walks away.
“Y’know,” Thatch says, “I don’t think I like this place.”
