narayan
Explorer
Aust Thale
Jabbars Trade Shop is located near the Temple of Ishvar in the south-eastern section of Cabarda next to the Fools Gold Tavern. It is a two story stone structure with plenty of storage space. There are stalls for six horses, bunks for six men, a shop front, a small living area and two upstairs bedrooms. Living here for the last twenty-odd years has been quite an educational experience.
You were born a gray elf in the Elven Kingdom of Seilon in the north. The year of your coming of age ceremony was near upon you, with all the pressures of gray elf society soon to follow, so you had to make a choice. Stay or go. For you there was only one choice, abandoning your family and all your fathers grand plans. Brave as that was, had you come to Vulkh alone, green as you were, unfamiliar with outsiders, you might not have lasted this long.
Thankfully Jabbar was there to familiarize you with the laws of Vulkh, Akhenaten culture, and the smuggling trade. That was 22 years ago. Jabbar was still young then, freshly scarred from some terrible encounter in Masaeus that still gives him nightmares. Those early years were dangerous for you both, full of risk and intrigue. But thanks be to luck, you both survived and made enough profit for your efforts to purchase this shop, its merchandise and furnishings. The pair of you even managed to dig out a hidden storeroom under the floor, accessed by a secret door beneath the stairwell.
Jabbar ages much quicker than you, but in many ways he is still the same. He still refuses to have a family, attends services at the temple of Ishvar on a regular basis and occasionally meets other men at taverns to speak in low tones about all the injustice and tyranny the people of Vulkh endure, especially slavery.
In truth your smuggling days aren't what they used to be. The whole point of smuggling was avoiding taxes to earn greater profits. Now that you own a shop with a comfortable home to live in there is no longer a need to risk so much. Even so, Jabbar is still restless, still haunted by the evil that tried to kill him so many years ago. Someday he will work up the nerve to return to Masaeus and face that evil again. Knowing him as well as you do, you are certain of it.
He likely only waited this long ensuring you had everything you need before he goes, and also perhaps because he fears you might follow after him.
_____________________________________________
A fire crackles in the hearth before you in the cozy common room at the back of the shop. You closed up at sundown, as most shops do besides inns, brothels and taverns. It is rare to have an evening to yourself but he and the others left town some time ago. Jabbar wanted to take Avar the sundered dwarf with him on a trial run to meet a contact somewhere outside of town. You know the town guard shuts the gates of Cabarda at sundown, permitting no entry until dawn. If Jabbar and the others have not returned yet they shouldn't arrive until morning at the earliest.
Sundered dwarves are often spoke of like madmen and fearful cravens so you've kept your judgement carefully reserved. Jabbar has high hopes for him however. He said he seems like a natural and his mind is in the right place. He also said he knows many things worth knowing. Perhaps he is right, perhaps not... Jabbar has always proven himself a good judge of character, but you don't always agree with who should be brought into your inner circle.
The other men who work for you and Jabbar, who sleep in the bunks in the barn, are technically slaves bought in the market. (As most merchants are known to do) Even so, Jabbar actually pays them a wage to keep their mouths shut about all the black market goods you buy and sell, even if you don't deal in them nearly as much as you used too. Jabbar does more for them than pay wages however. He promises to grant each one their freedom after a years service is up.
True to his word, after their time is served, he uses his many contacts around the kingdom to arrange new lives for them. He enjoys freeing slaves quite a bit and would never sell his slaves to another buyer. In the meantime of course, anyone of them could report you to the sheriff or, the vulfear, for an even bigger reward.
Sometimes at night you hear doors around town being kicked in by the vulfear... or worse, the screams of the victims of the Vulkyrie. Those winged monsters enjoy creating new ways of killing for sport. Every once in a while a pair of them will carry someone up into the air, fifty feet up or more, before dropping them unto the street below. (If its someone small like a halfling, it only takes one.) The bloody mess afterwards is a telling reminder of their cruelty and serves as an example for others who might break the law.
As you reach for your wine bottle again you are sad to find it empty. There is only the Berelle of Tejj Jabbar keeps in the cupboard as an alternative. In truth you have yet to acquire the taste for such a sweet and strong liquor. A visit to the tavern next door might be in order for you.
[Aust: What do you do?]
Jabbars Trade Shop is located near the Temple of Ishvar in the south-eastern section of Cabarda next to the Fools Gold Tavern. It is a two story stone structure with plenty of storage space. There are stalls for six horses, bunks for six men, a shop front, a small living area and two upstairs bedrooms. Living here for the last twenty-odd years has been quite an educational experience.
You were born a gray elf in the Elven Kingdom of Seilon in the north. The year of your coming of age ceremony was near upon you, with all the pressures of gray elf society soon to follow, so you had to make a choice. Stay or go. For you there was only one choice, abandoning your family and all your fathers grand plans. Brave as that was, had you come to Vulkh alone, green as you were, unfamiliar with outsiders, you might not have lasted this long.
Thankfully Jabbar was there to familiarize you with the laws of Vulkh, Akhenaten culture, and the smuggling trade. That was 22 years ago. Jabbar was still young then, freshly scarred from some terrible encounter in Masaeus that still gives him nightmares. Those early years were dangerous for you both, full of risk and intrigue. But thanks be to luck, you both survived and made enough profit for your efforts to purchase this shop, its merchandise and furnishings. The pair of you even managed to dig out a hidden storeroom under the floor, accessed by a secret door beneath the stairwell.
Jabbar ages much quicker than you, but in many ways he is still the same. He still refuses to have a family, attends services at the temple of Ishvar on a regular basis and occasionally meets other men at taverns to speak in low tones about all the injustice and tyranny the people of Vulkh endure, especially slavery.
In truth your smuggling days aren't what they used to be. The whole point of smuggling was avoiding taxes to earn greater profits. Now that you own a shop with a comfortable home to live in there is no longer a need to risk so much. Even so, Jabbar is still restless, still haunted by the evil that tried to kill him so many years ago. Someday he will work up the nerve to return to Masaeus and face that evil again. Knowing him as well as you do, you are certain of it.
He likely only waited this long ensuring you had everything you need before he goes, and also perhaps because he fears you might follow after him.
_____________________________________________
A fire crackles in the hearth before you in the cozy common room at the back of the shop. You closed up at sundown, as most shops do besides inns, brothels and taverns. It is rare to have an evening to yourself but he and the others left town some time ago. Jabbar wanted to take Avar the sundered dwarf with him on a trial run to meet a contact somewhere outside of town. You know the town guard shuts the gates of Cabarda at sundown, permitting no entry until dawn. If Jabbar and the others have not returned yet they shouldn't arrive until morning at the earliest.
Sundered dwarves are often spoke of like madmen and fearful cravens so you've kept your judgement carefully reserved. Jabbar has high hopes for him however. He said he seems like a natural and his mind is in the right place. He also said he knows many things worth knowing. Perhaps he is right, perhaps not... Jabbar has always proven himself a good judge of character, but you don't always agree with who should be brought into your inner circle.
The other men who work for you and Jabbar, who sleep in the bunks in the barn, are technically slaves bought in the market. (As most merchants are known to do) Even so, Jabbar actually pays them a wage to keep their mouths shut about all the black market goods you buy and sell, even if you don't deal in them nearly as much as you used too. Jabbar does more for them than pay wages however. He promises to grant each one their freedom after a years service is up.
True to his word, after their time is served, he uses his many contacts around the kingdom to arrange new lives for them. He enjoys freeing slaves quite a bit and would never sell his slaves to another buyer. In the meantime of course, anyone of them could report you to the sheriff or, the vulfear, for an even bigger reward.
Sometimes at night you hear doors around town being kicked in by the vulfear... or worse, the screams of the victims of the Vulkyrie. Those winged monsters enjoy creating new ways of killing for sport. Every once in a while a pair of them will carry someone up into the air, fifty feet up or more, before dropping them unto the street below. (If its someone small like a halfling, it only takes one.) The bloody mess afterwards is a telling reminder of their cruelty and serves as an example for others who might break the law.
As you reach for your wine bottle again you are sad to find it empty. There is only the Berelle of Tejj Jabbar keeps in the cupboard as an alternative. In truth you have yet to acquire the taste for such a sweet and strong liquor. A visit to the tavern next door might be in order for you.
[Aust: What do you do?]
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