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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7110332" data-attributes="member: 20323">[SECTION][align=left]http://i.imgur.com/cJK6AIy.png[/align]Arching his brow, Ajan bin Najon al-Yaqud glances toward the city gates, expecting men-at-arms from the city to approach. Instead he makes out a sextet of travelers in rough desert garb approaching with packs and animals, pursued by an irate lanky merchant complaining that if they've been lying about serving the Sheikh he'll report them to the guards. "Your men? An interesting choice," he chortles as the nomads of House Bakr with him chuckle at the spectacle. "Why my most trusted outrider, Burhan beni Bakr, brought the message to the Sheikh," he says with a puzzled expression at the question. "He delivered the message to a woman, one of the Sheikh's trusted confidantes, I was told. Burhan is out scouting for watering holes near the mountain, for sulfur has tainted two of our oases. It is a strange thing."[/SECTION]The six travelers and the lanky merchant draw near...[SECTION][align=left]http://i.imgur.com/Z0sgIuu.jpg[/align]A rough-faced man accustomed to doing dirty work in the shadow of dunes, Nimar al-Solak casts a skeptical eye over Ajan before giving what passes for a bow to Akilah. Ajan returns the skeptical stare. "So generous of you to bring breakfast, oh Vizier," he says slyly to Akilah, indicating the gift of sheep's milk and walnut-dates in her hands, "my men are quite parched." It's clear that three of the men are recovering from hang-overs, the aroma of palm wine so strong they seem to have brought a distillery with them. Gesturing to his left, the leader introduces his siblings, "My younger brother Derafsh, who you already know." Derafsh nods his head quietly, having fallen into a subservient role since the meeting at Rawun's Well. "And my younger sister Fereshte al-Baksheeshi." The tall woman to his right, Fereshte, merely watches you with haunting beady eyes from behind her veil.[/SECTION][SECTION][align=left]http://i.imgur.com/3QHiwCg.png[/align]"Now just one minute–" Upon beholding the Vizier Akilah's image, and that of the Sheikh's trusted servant Husam, the lanky merchant's voice catches in his lungs. Looking from Nimar, who gives the merchant a smug I told you so nod, the merchant clears his throat. "Blessed is this day, I greet the morning with your visage, Oh Vizier! For the Loregiver said that 'Truth knocks in the dawning of each new day...'" The merchant trails off, not remembering the rest of the verse."Imad al-Mashallah, purveyor of fine goods for the discerning caravaneer, at your service," he bows with a flourish, tugging at the reins of his ornery camel laden with all manner of trinkets. "I have supplied these..." Imad glances to Nimar and puzzles for the right adjective, "...distinguished servants of yours with sundry supplies totaling in value 675 dinari (gp). Does the generous and upright Vizier wish to close their account now, or perhaps I could interest you in my wares? At a discount for the noble house of Sheikh Ali, of course." He glances up from his exaggerated bow with a shrewd-eyed grin.[/SECTION][GM]Husam hadn't heard of any such requests being made [MENTION=20005]Matthan[/MENTION] – it would absolutely be something he'd have heard about if the Sheikh held an audience concerning sending out a war party or lending soldiers to House Bakr.[/GM]</blockquote>

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