(40) DM: Marwan is seated at the table, listening to the music, and does not seem to notice you. It seems as if everyone is staring at you as you enter, Bismilla in tow.
(40) DM: On closer inspection, the woman appears to be a half-elf.
** (41) J'hzuu smiles toothily at everyone in the room, giving a little wave to a couple as well. **
** (35) Git gives the staring a few friendly nods and waves as he makes his way to Marwan's seat. Leaning near him, the half-elf greets. "Good evening kind host." **
(40) DM: Muttering ensues in the crowd....
** (40) Marwan gazes around the room, silencing his fellows with a fierce look. **
** (34) Lellick is a bit nervous at all the staring, but does his best to keep it back by taking extra time looking around the room. **
** (41) J'hzuu looks around, trying to work out if it was him or Git who caused the reaction. **
** (40) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows gestures to the rest of you, and points to his right. **
** (39) Maximus cuts an imperialistic figure as he walks to Marwan and greets him politily and respectfully as one of his station demands. **
(40) Bismilla: A place of honor.... (gasps)
** (41) J'hzuu glances around, then starts moving hesitantly to where Marwan gestured. **
** (35) Git gives a bow and moves as instructed **
** (39) Maximus seats himself in the indicated seating area. ****
(34) Lellick walks along behind the others as he moves to a seat, trying not to look at anyone now. **
(46) DM: After a moment, the music ceases.
(35) Git: :ignoring the murmurs as he takes his seat: "This is a lovely affair. I hope you haven't gone to all this trouble on our accounts."
** (46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows turns to you, and in a loud voice as if to proclaim to one and all, offers to share bread and salt with you. **
** (41) J'hzuu looks up, quickly, but says nothing. **
(35) Git: :bowing his head: "We would be honored."
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: From my heart to yours, may you be welcome in this, our fortress and our home. (offers a bowl of salt and a slice of bread, bowing)
(46) DM: What tension there had been when you entered quickly dissipates.
** (39) Maximus accepts the offer. **
(41) J'hzuu: "J'hzuu thanks you".
** (46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows claps his hands, as servers enter the hall, each bearing a tray filled with loaves of bread and bowls of olives. **
** (45) Agatha graciously accepts the bread and salt, bowing as she does so. **
** (35) Git accepts bread and salt with a glad grin **
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: Welcome to Jabar el-Sara'hin. I trust your journey was not long or arduous?
** (34) Lellick also accepts, giving the Caliph a small smile. **
(46) DM: The music continues, although more subdued than before.
(35) Git: "Pft... it seems our journeys are ever arduous. Why should this one be different?"
** (46) Safid plays skillfully on the qanun, winking slyly at Git. **
(39) Maximus: "Depending on which Journy you speek of, no not too long in my opinion."
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: Well then...perhaps Fate will grant you some time by which to rest yourselves before your next journey.
(39) Maximus: (speak*)
(41) J'hzuu: "Life is a journey, and it is never arduous. Though J'hzuu does not often fight lions, on his journey."
(45) Agatha: "Hmph. Perhaps."
** (35) Git returns the woman a glib wink, though keeps his attention on Marwan **
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: Not so very long ago, when the word of the Loregiver had been spread among the tribes and nations of the civilized world, some chose to obey the outward forms of piety and yet their hearts rotted within them.
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: The worst of these false children of Zayal was named Ayesha al-Aziz, a beauty with eyes that held a dark spark, like the light in an eagle's eye when it surveys its prey. So great was her talent at deception that soon she ruled from just behind the Palace of the Enlightened Throne in the City of Delights, and she plotted to replace the Grand Caliph.
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: But one man, an old mystic who came down from the Ghost Mountains to advise the Grand Caliph, saw through her outward seeming and shuddered at her black and baleful soul. Try as he might, none would believe ill of her, and all his counsel against her came to naught.
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: (serves Git and the rest of you bread, olives and spiced olive oil as he tells his tale)
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: So the old man sought the sand of truth and found it in a place where all might see it but few looked. He took the sand back to Golden Huzuz, and there he went to the diwan. Before all the assembled people, he sprinkled the dust upon foul Ayesha, and her fair form vanished, and the Grand Caliph returned to his senses and banished her. She was never heard from again.
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: The mystic was a hero, but he let the city people toast him in his absence, for he returned to the mountains. When he died, the birds lamented and tore their feathers from their breasts in grief.
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: It is written that the sand of truth is found in dreamer's eyes, for are not dreams visions of truth? Others have said that truth is found in the dust of time, for all things meet death, the destroyer of delights; only dust remains and this dust is truth as well. And yet others say that the sand is none of these things.
** (39) Maximus will dip bread in the spiced olive oil, once he sees Marwen dine. **
** (41) J'hzuu follows suit. **
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: Now then, (as he finishes serving you) I should mention that I have lost two food tasters in the past six months. (eyeing each of you in turn as he says this)
(35) Git: "True moral to that tale. A lovely form and a sweet tongue makes not a worthy individual."
** (41) J'hzuu looks up at Marwan's words, an olive froze in place just over his tongue. He brings it down, glaces at it, and glances around nerviously. **
** (45) Agatha looks at Marwan and then at her bread. She drops it. **
(35) Git: "Well, I hope you don't lose too many more on our account."
(39) Maximus: "Too many seem to advance their lot in life with a dab of this or that in the evening drink I take it?"
(34) Lellick: At hearing that, blinks at the olive oil in front of him.
** (46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows smiles grimly, and begins to eat, as talk resumes amongst the assassins, some of whom are observing you whilst others discuss events amongst themselves. Ajaiyah is nowhere to be found. **
** (41) J'hzuu looks at Marwan, then taps his fingers twice on the table, and speaks under his breath. A faint white mist spreads from his fingers to the bowl, and settles around it for a minute (Detect Poison) **
** (45) Agatha glances around and rejoins the feasting. **
(46) DM: The meal begins slowly, at first: candied persimoons, tangerines, tiny golden bananas, and hearts of date palm.
whispering to J'hzuu, none that you can see
(46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows: So, have we not had the pleasure of introductions?
** (39) Maximus will dip bread into the spiced olive oil and precede to eat it. **
(41) J'hzuu: ((I misread my sheet. Don't have detect poison, it was magic... Sorry, I'll pretend that didn't happen, and I'll lose a spell slot or something. Sorry.))
(41) J'hzuu: ((Or whatever. I know I can't take back actions, ... damn...))
(35) Git: "Hardl, and I do believe knowing ones partners is an essentially. "Stands to bow and speak to the assemblage. "I am Aragit Fellthorn, a humble merchant and member of these August Wanderes. It is a pleasure."
(46) DM: To Marwan's left is a tall, muscular ebon skinned humanoid, clearly female, with eyes like the blazing sun and hair the color and hue of burnt coals. A gleaming scimitar can be seen, buried in a scabbard strapped to her side. She picks daintily at a tangerine, peeling it and laying the pith to one side of a plate, as she listens to you.
** (46) Marwan, the Caliph of Shadows nods. **
(39) Maximus: " I am Maximus Dardenus Parmenion Knight of Odion, patron of the Imperial line of the Empire of Mel'cendia.
** (41) J'hzuu follows Git's lead. He rises, and makes a half-bow. "J'hzuu, traveller and searcher of all things magickal and sweet, greets you." **
(46) DM: ((np. don't worry about it for now))
** (34) Lellick briefly looks up at hearing the introductions, and speaks in a slightly louder tone than he usually would, staring down at his food as he does. "Ah.. I'm Lellick Litefinger, servant of Tevesh. It's.. nice to be here." **
(46) DM: The ebon skinned woman to Marwan's left speaks.
** (41) J'hzuu glances at Lellick, and can't help but snicker. **
(46) Halfana: Halfana al-Yamini, and I serve the Grandfather of the Everlasting to the end of my days. (with an air of quiet menace in her voice)
** (34) Lellick glances at J'hzuu with a faint, somewhat embarrassed smile. **
(35) Git: :nods to Halfana: "And I am sure you serve him well."
** (46) Farouk stands up, a tall and devastatingly handsome young man with hair the color of burnt sienna and a scraggly beard. "Farouk Abd al-Bazan, of the Sword Dancers. May you have no Fate but the Fate you have won." **
** (39) Maximus looks respectfully at Halfana, "One must complete their duty till the end of their days, it is the honor we give to each of ourselves." **