Anurith's Golden Ram -- Sam 21 MT (Invite only)

[Ashari]

This tavern, located in the very center of Abu`Sahir, is patronized by the upper layer of commoners, merchants, as well as the lesser nobility of the city. Adorned with gold paint and alight with a thousand candles, it is usually near full, with servants hurrying to keep up with the crowd's demands. A band of regular musicians plays instruments specific to Amun Rah's culture; to these swaying tunes, girls that are perfectly formed dance in costumes that don't have enough fabric in them to qualify for the state of 'dressed' in any proper circles of nobility. Honeyed spirits, dried spiced meats, and fruit are the common courses here, although a more substancial meal is available when requested.

The tender is Yabal, a large man who keeps his head shaved. A polite smile is ever present on his lips, at least until some patron wears his patience to thin, in which case he demonstrates admirable skill in Amun Rah's very own Flowing Sand style of martial arts. None of his servants are female, except for the ones who dance. When approached about payment for some time with one of the girls, Yabal will happily offer his sheep instead, for half price. After which most drop off, confused or disgusted.

It was into this environment that you stumbled. "Hello, can I get ye a mead?" Yabal asked, his demeanor open and friendly. The sparkled gold sequins of the dancing girls reflects the candle light and the little dots of light race around the walls of the room, almost hypnotically.

---

The young man waved at Yabal to say that he didn't want anything, but he didn't speak for his dark comrade. "Seat in the back or right up front?" No one had yet come into the establishment. All the tender needed was another mark or so, and they would pour in. "Or do you want to talk to Yabal? I doubt he'll tell you anything, but this was the place where they were supposed to be staying." The quick-footed young girl had already stopped here, and the owner told her that, indeed, he was renting to no people of such description, though he had been employing Rakhash until he didn't show up last night. Now she was off elsewhere, trying to find the young man and his companion.

[Jadmai]

OOC: I'm a terrible, terrible, player. Letting this post waste away... So, sorry, internet issues had me tied up, but I am good to post.

IC:

Jadmai reached into his purse, and fished out three coronets and a crown, as he walked with his escort, "A seat in the back, I suppose. I don't want every bigot's spit on me, but I should be easy enough to spot in any case. And yes, of course, I'll talk to Yabal...might need to get comfortable."

He approached the bar and nodded, "You are, Yabal? As in the Yabal? Well, that is just great. My name is Jadmai Av'Zathrak, and I'll be patron to your fine establishment for a night, perhaps two. I wonder if I could start a tab for food and drink with this," he said stacking the three coronets in front of the man, "and I shouldn't be needing much--I won't be much of a bother, and I am hoping in exchange that I would be not bothered, and if that can be done, than I would think we have a deal."

Jadmai smiled and extended his hand where he had the palmed crown, "And if that is all well and good, I was wondering if I could get whatever you are serving for breakfast. I'll be taking a seat with my fellow back there." He said cocking his head over his shoulder, then waited for Yabal's approval of the deal.[/i]

[Ashari]

OOC: And I'm a terrible, terrible mod for the same reasons. We need to get our acts together!

IC:

"Yes, I'm the Yabal," he responded cooly as he regarded the dark adhiel that stood before him. Unlike many tavern-owners who would've shunned the outsider on sight, this man was rather open minded. He was perhaps the furthest from a xenophobe as could be. This was especially true when one considered the fact that one of his closest friends happened to be a dark adhiel. However, not many knew of the strong connection between Yabal and Tedrin the mobster. It was best that way. It kept the guards of the Rafao off Yabal's heal as well as the underlings looking to make a name for themselves. It also kept Yabal quite safe, should he ever need any assistance. Theres had been a relationship full of give and take. It was difficult to tell who exactly owed who at this point.

The barkeep looked at the coins on the table and nodded. Three coronet would do, that much he forsaw. "I've got stew. Has a bit of this and a bit of that in it. And meads a plenty. Unless you've the spirit for something a bit stronger?" He reached out a strong hand and shook that of Jadmai. He was a well trained fighter - fluent in the ways of the Flowing Sands style of martial arts. Noting the cool pressure of the crown he pulled his hand away with it and palmed it in the process. "I'd think there's no problem in making sure you aren't bothered one bit, Jadmai Av`Zathrak." The tender said. "Food and drink for your little friend as well?"

[Jadmai]

Jadmai nodded with satisfaction as they reached an accord, however, Jadmai knew that with his next actions he could well find himself on his duff in the middle of the street, but he could not just let himself wait and see if Rahkash would respond to him.

"No, my friend is just leaving actually." He turned around to him, and made no attention to mask what his commands, nor was he making sure Yabel heard them. "He thinks we are waiting for him. Track the girl--she's just a girl for crying out loud...you would think you should at least be able to catch her on the return trip."

Jadmai then calmly turned his attention back to the barkeep, "Not even a barmaid, I mean, I know it's early and everything, but one would think you would have at least one servant. Short handed this morning?" He said glancing up at the man. Jadmai would be a little cautious, it was obvious the man knew how to handle himself, but then the dark adhiel was quite confident in his abilities.

"No, the stew and mead sound just fine. If it isn't too much trouble--I mean it just seems you are here by yourself. Someone not owning up to their responbilities? Gods teeth, I know that really gets me where I'm tender. How about you?"

[Ashari]

The young guardsman frowned as Jadmai gave him instructions to leave. He thought he had been hand picked to assist personally in this mission, and now he was being told to leave. Grumpily he stood up and brushed off his clothes which had not even a speck of dust on them. "Yes, sir." There wasn't a note of anger in it, but he wasn't impressed. With proper attention given he moved toward the door and then stepped outside where he sulked for a few moments. Then the young man moved across the street and sat on a bench, prepared to watch for a few burns to see if anything grabbed his mind.

"I never have barmaids, dark one. If the young men can't get you your ale, then I'm not sure how I can help you." He glanced over to the one vested server who was loitering nearby. "Go clean something - oh. And put in an order of stew." He said with whisper to him, and that was all it took before the young man departed to the kitchen.

"I've got plenty of help. Hishran is in the kitchen, and I've got that kid-" He couldn't recall his name. "Well, I've got him at any rate. I've just lost my dishwasher, but.. eh.. easily replaced. Everyone wants a job these days, it seems. And then I've got a dancer... But she's still getting warmed up." He gave the briefest look over to the young woman who was shifting her hips in preparation of the coming customers. "Why, you looking for a job, stranger?" He asked with a grin. "I've always got some sort of job available." Yabal poured the mead, and pushed it across the bar top to Jadmai.

[Jadmai]

"Excuse me a moment." He said quickly as he noticed how disgruntled the fellow was. Jadmai wasn't exactly the best at making friends, and a friend in the guard would always be helpful.

So he quickly followed the man outside and was glad to see him still on the bench.

"Listen," He paused letting him fill his name in, "I was wondering if you would come back inside. I'm not good at giving orders--you know, I am new at this. You are too valuble to be sending messages. I saw a worker in there, I am rather sure I can get him to run a message to another guard. Because that girl needs to be followed. I would like it if you would come back in with me, and see if you have on any ideas on what to do next."

He walked back towards the door and opened, but paused for a moment and looked back, "Plus, I think I am about to piss of Yabal...and I would like a strong back by my side."

Jadmai headed back inside and returned to his seat, and looked for Yabal, "Well," He said then took a drunk of his mead, "thanks for the complete list of staff, that's not really what I asked though..."

He shrugged and sipped his mead, and seemed to be done with the topic.

Then quite abruptly, he put down his drink and came out and asked: "So, Yabal, where is Rahkash now?"

[Ashari]

"Yes, of course. The tavern won't be going anywhere, take your time." Yabal said to the departing drinker.

"Amad," he responded quickly, but cooly to Jadmai's slight pause. The guardsman filled in the gap with his first name, and it was common that in Amun Rah men only took one name, unlike in many of the rest of Tazlure where family names had become quite common - passed from one generation to the next. "Why does the messenger need to be followed? She was chosen because of her feet, and the fact that they carry her quickly. If you wanted a guard to deliver the message, wouldn't it have been better to just send a guard?"

He was slightly confused, but he rose from the bench anyway and followed behind the dark adhiel, not chosing to take to the leader's side as he might've done had it been a more casual situation. "Piss off Yabal... great." His voice had lowered a bit, and he didn't sound particularly thrilled by the notion. "The thing of it is.. I'm not sure just the pair of us could hold him." Amad said as the neared the door. "He is a very... very good fighter. Some people think he killed the previous owner, Anurith." He dropped the comments once they came back inside, however.

"I answered your question, and then some." The baldheaded barkeep said with a gravelly voice tinted with a bit of anger. He didn't like smartasses, and he didn't like when men came in thinking they were better than him, or his establishment. When the dark adhiel mentioned Rakhash, his demeanor shifted from anger to complete and utter blankness. "The boy has moved on, I don't keep track of my ex-employees unless they've done something wrong. I don't keep track of much of anyone unless they've done something wrong."

A lizardlike man with thick, large glasses emerged from the door into the kitchen. The glass made for his eyes to be magnified, enlarging their bright green to almost frightening proportions. "Morning boys, stew?" He waited for Jadmai to motion that it was for him, and then placed the bowl down. The bowl was atop a plate, and the plate had a few pieces of bread on it as well.

When Hishran, the chef, left, Yabal looked between the two short fellows on the other side of his bar. "Why, exactly, are you looking for him? Sent by the Might Rafao, in all his glory and just the barest ability to survive? Amazing, that assassination attempt, wasn't in? Almost perfect. But then there were those who fought for him, you'd think they'd be regailed as heroes and yet, they may be called criminals... or strangers." He looked at Jadmai as he finished.

"What will you do when you find him? Him and the beautiful woman he travels with. She is a piece, isn't she? I offered her a job." The barkeep smirked and recalled how Rakhash had reacted at that job offer. "Sadly, she declined. She's much too good for this place, and he's much too good for you to catch. So, rather.. what will you do when you don't find him? What will you tell Ionis? And is it you who will be chased next?"

[Jadmai]

"Alright, alright..." Jadmai said putting his hands up to show he meant no harm. "I was just commenting on the fact that you gave a rather through answer."

Jadmai went back to his mead, and gave Yabal some time to cool down, although the dark adhiel had no idea if he would...especially to him.

"Now, wait, I have to beg to differ on one point: that assassination attempt was terrible. Almost perfect is strecthing the words to their breaking point. I mean...the guy came out unscathed. Posioning is that how it's done around here." Jadmai shook his head in disgust. "You see, that's an act done by one person--and order for the results of that so-called assassination attempt the assassin has to make quite sure that they have valid political party behind them to complete. Next thing ya know, you don't have the backing of the people or a party. Like I said to the Rafao himself, if I was going to kill him, I would find those close, to him, perhaps 12, arrange a public place, and coordinate attack on him with some short blades directly in public. This would send a message to the people, and to any other political group, that, that assassination was their coup de etat. Killing a leader is nothing. To take his kingdom is a dance akin to your lovely ladies employed here."

Jadmai had grown a bit heated as he discussed this topic once again, however, it mostly a show, to show his agitation, and to perhaps plant the smallest seed of doubt that Jadmai was not Ionis' little page.

"And one more thing, Yabal." He said boldly and taking deliberate steps toward his position at the bar, and grabbing him by the hand (though not roughly to envoke a fight, just enough to grab attention) "You have no right. NO RIGHT! To say I am some sort of lackey for Ionis. Have you not heard of the slaughter of over two thousand, TWO THOUSAND of my brethren were massacared by an army LEAD by your mighty Rafao not only were thousands of them unarmed, a great deal were woman and children. From then, I had two choices: march into the desert to my death, or become a 'guest' of the Rafao. Complete with a guard at my door."

Jadmai let go of Yabal's arm, and finally turned his eerie cloudy grey eyes up to Yabal, "I don't know what you are talking about about Rahkash being a hero or whatever. I believe you are referring to riot a few nights ago. I still have no idea what in the Moonlady happened there. I was peeling a damn apple, and in a flicker I had one of the Rafao men come up from behind me, and was about to give a second smile, until luckily I reacted fast enough to put this bracer, "Jadmai quickly lifted his bracer to show where it had to be cut, "in front of my throat."

"As for Rakash, and the women he travels with. Another one of your 'mighty Rafao's' brave men thought it would be fun to split her down the middle. It was me who neutrilized that situation, taking the man hostage until he soiled himself. And while I was doing so...Rakhash saved my life. I have lived 127 yahren, and I treasure each and every one damn one of them, and I didn't live that long by not watching my own ass, and paying off my debts."

"So, on the level, you are damn right, the Rafao sent out men to find him, and probably have him brought back her to be killed, as I am sure you know. But he made the mistake of making me one of the search party leaders. I gave it away to the bastard that I was one of the leaders hunting him, but knowing him, he has thought himself into a maze, and thinks the thinly veiled letter was a true attempt at deception."

Jadmai paused and breathed deeply, well out of air from his outburst, have real, have planned.

"One of the Rafao's men will find him, and he will be brought in dead or alive, but I can keep him a step ahead at least, and maybe he can get done what he finds so important. I don't DON'T LIKE HAVING DEBTS."

Jadmai downed the rest of his mead and wiped his lips, "So Yabal, where is Rahkash, and his little friend?"

[Ashari]

Yabal shook his head. "You misunderstand what they meant to accomplish. I will admit, I don't know who is behind it, who provoked his guardsman to employ the tactics he did, but I agree - someone did want to take his throne after all of this was completed. However, that wasn't the original intent, it was originally to attack the nine." The barkeep listened as Jadmai described a more proper form of assassination and nodded, keeping the smile that lingered under the surface from appearing. "It would seem you know a thing or two about tactics, stranger."

The baldheaded man just blinked as Jadmai grabbed hold of his arm. His body stiffened in preparation for an attack, but he didn't lash out at the dark adhiel - not yet anyway. Instead, he watched as his blood boiled in perhaps a more real way than it had about the assassination. When talking of his brethren and the women and children who were slaughtered, he was much more alive, and this sparked a deeper interest in Yabal.

"The riot the other night was to prevent another slaughtering of women and children," he replied cooly as he pulled his arm away and rested it on the bar again. The outline of Jadmai's fingers could be seen upon it, slowly fading from white to a dull red until fading back into his dark complexion. "Well, preventing the worst of it. Rakhash and Lianelle have gone to stop the rest." The barkeep shook his head. "Lianelle is a princess - a very important princess infact, for she is currently the only heir to the throne at the nine's high council's head seat, for it belongs to her father right now." He refilled Jadmai's glass. "Lianelle understands debt - and if you called out to them on that notion, then she is likely to respond. She is going back because of a debt to her people. From what I understand she was taken, specifically, kidnapped, to provoke a civil war among the nine. Her father doesn't know who took her exactly, but he was left clues, no doubt, clues that would lead him to other men in power in other villages. So, she and Rakhash are returning to-"

Slam! The door swung open on it's hinges and a breathless young boy came breathlessly to the counter. "Yab- mead."

"Of course."

"Mast..er...Jad...mai." She said between gasps. "I bring-" The messenger swallowed. "Word, from those you seek." She offered back the note which Jadmai had sent with her earlier in the barracks. "On the back." She let out a puff of hot exhale and sat on the barstool next to Jad before taking a deep pull off of the frothy mead that Yabal poured for her.

We are both fine. We will meet you, alone. Two buildings down from Yabal's there is an alley. Go to the end of it, take a left. There are crates. Get comfortable. We will meet you there.

Rak & Lia

Yabal looked on, but didn't try to read the note, nor did he ask what was contained within the missive. The young delivery girl sighed and relaxed, though her heart was still beating quickly. She had run from the edge of the city, nearly at the wall, all the way back into the center. The muscles of her toned legs burned, but she had done her job.

[Jadmai]

Jadmai gathered himself again, and gave a dismissive wave to Yabal to show that he obviously wasn't himself when he grabbed his arm--or at least that is what he was trying to convey.

Ruse or not, he got some useful information out of Yabal just for the asking, though he did need to press a bit.

"That riot...sloppy, or at least I will say so because I got pulled into it." Jadmai said with almost a smile and a slight shrug. "But I don't know enough of the factors."

He listened about Lianelle, he gathered so much from the way Rak hung around her.

The messenger returning was a welcomed sight for Jadmai. He followed her to her seat, took the note, but didn't give it much mind at first, instead he was more interested in his messenger.

"Obviously then you found him...where is he?" Jadmai looked down and saw the small note. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Or I guess where was he?"

Brash humans, not thinking things through, how can he come back here, I told them about the guards...how am I supposed to help him like this?

"He knew it was me, yes? I am the one searching for him--it wasn't supposed to be a riddle for the gods to figure out." Jadmai turned to Yabal, and shook his head, "Why would he come back to the city--is this what you meant by him chasing me?" He finished raising his eyebrows.

I can't bargin here.

"He comes to me. That is well and good."

Jadmai paused and thought about home for a moment, he hoped it was still how he left it, before the war in the desert--did it reach back home. He really wanted someone who might be able to communicate with his land.

"Yabal, you seem a smart man, maybe you're right. Rak could run from me, and I could be the one being chased. That's well and good, if that is the way he wants to treat me--I have a kingdom at my side...but hell maybe I should just go home."

Jadmai suddenly realized he had finally let down his mental guard. He looked around, then suddenly hardened his mind, collected himself and gathered himself.

"Yabal," He didn't really want to thank the man for anything, but then he took a bit of the stew and savored it, "Mmm, that stew is grrreat. Well, my debt and I need to get going. Your service is great, hope to use it tonight. Guests aren't extra, no?"

"Amad, I think we are done here for now. "

Jadmai grabbed the bowl and raised it to Yabal as a gesture goodbye.

"Amad," Jadmai said as he walked outside onto the streets. "they want me to meet them alone, what do you think of that?" Jadmai waited for response, and when Amad was done, he voiced his own opinion, "I would feel much better if you could find some archers to be my overwatch. I'll be honest with you Ahmad, I'm a bit scared of a trap. But I have promised Ionis, I'll keep my honor--somehow."

As he walked on he eat his stew from the bowl he took from The Golden Ram, and when he finished it, he placed the empty bowl on a vendors stand and kept walking.

"Come to the palace, I'll show you my quarters, I have some things I want to discuss."

Jadmai lead the way the best way he could, he probably didn't take the fastest way, but for someone who could hardly see, it was commendable.

As he passed through the palace, he would look for a servant to send drink to his room and hopefully call upon Parmina.

Once he got to his room he turned Amad, "Can I put you in charge of my life as I met these people. Something not obvious, or they will be scared away. You have my permission to use what means need. That authority came from Ionis, and I pass this part onto you. And I'll handle Rak and the princess."

"Did you want to stay for a drink? It is your day off and everything technically."