Author: Is Friday
Title: The Protective Elder Brother
Date: 2011-09-24 05:52:02
Type: Logs
Synopsis: Bukalasoo al'Seik has always gone well out of his way in order to protect his younger sister, Nettle. He tries on a daily basis to bring her up right--an ever important task with the diminishing population of their people and the influences the Arabeti have over the young Seik's development.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass idles a moment beside the drab, ochre-skinned woman's jewelry.

The earthen, trinket-twined man steps up beside the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass silently.

You begin guarding the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Reaching down, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass absently fingers the carving upon a narrow bone bracelet.

Lifting her gaze, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass casts the drab, ochre-skinned woman a fleeting smile.

In her soft, lilting voice, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks the drab, ochre-skinned woman, in bendune:
     "Do you make them yourself?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man's pale eyes drift from the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass to the drab, ochre-skinned woman.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass flashes a brighter smile in response, straightening and turning toward the tavern entrance.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass enters a squat tavern.

You enter a squat tavern.
"The Anakore's Burrow" [E, D, Leave]
   The focal point of this low-ceilinged chamber is the small staircase
that leads through a hole in the floor to a warm room below.  Dim torches
are perched on the wall, composed of oddly-shaped chunks of slate and filled
with burning plant matter.  A constant stream of smoke puffs up from the
hole in the middle of the room, twisting its way out of the broad hole in
the ceiling.  Concentric circles of primal artwork draw away from the
blackened edges of the smokehole, covering much of the ceiling.  Crude
outlines of Tablelands creatures, some barely distinguishable, are slathered
about the ceiling in rough mineral sketches.  Vivid reds and blues mark the
sketches on the ceiling, the various creatures seeming to dance around the
smokehole.  
   The tavern's atmosphere is relaxed, with low tables haphazardly around
the descending staircase.  Pillows are heaped in the eastern edge of the
room, extending into a small sleeping area.  
A multi-ringed dartboard hangs on the wall.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The wiry, soot-haired female soldier is standing here.
The sinewy, black-haired soldier plays dice with some tribals here.
The plump, jovial innkeeper is standing here.
A svelte, yellow-eyed elven woman sits at a table, eyeing the room.
A towering, leathery-skinned elf squats beside a table, chatting with a patron.
An elderly, agafari-hued elf lounges at a table, spinning tales.
A guard with broad shoulders stands sentry here.
Eyes alight, a tawny, ash-braided woman hunches down at her table.
The waspish, gnarled woman sits brooding at a corner table.

The earthen, trinket-twined man trails behind the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, glancing around her.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sits at a circular table.

Leaning over her, you whisper to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass in bendune:
     "Done?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass folds her feet at the ankles, tucking them beneath her chair as she settles her armful of cages across the tabletop.

Starting, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass' thin body tenses.

Casting a frightened glance up over her shoulder, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at you.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "Buka! You didn't need to frighten me!"

The earthen, trinket-twined man cants your head down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with a knit in your brow.

Settling smugly back in her seat as the tension eases from her, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I'll get you for that."

Averting your eyes, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

Casting her dark-eyed gaze over the tavern, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I thought you'd be here already."

Quietly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "No."

The earthen, trinket-twined man sniffs sharply, looking at the dusty patrons of a nearby table thoughtfully.

At a circular table, you overhear the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass say in bendune:
     "People are idiots about these little animals our cousins sell."

At a circular table, you overhear the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass say in bendune, pushing out the chair opposite her with the tip of one booted foot:
     "Sit?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her pile of allanaki coins from her tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

The earthen, trinket-twined man watches the chair move speculatively before casting your attention in every possible location by the space opposite of the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass at a circular table.

Casting them across the top of the table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gives you 50 coins.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Spiced mead?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man draws the coins into a pile with one hand.

assess -v lass
She is slightly younger than you.
She appears young for her race.
She is shorter than you.
You are slightly heavier than her.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is in excellent condition.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass does not look tired.

Head dipping, you say, in bendune:
     "Spiced mead."

The earthen, trinket-twined man moves over to the plump, jovial innkeeper with a fistful of sid.

You give the plump, jovial innkeeper 23 obsidian coins for an anakore-etched wooden shotglass.

You give the plump, jovial innkeeper 23 obsidian coins for an anakore-etched wooden shotglass.

The earthen, trinket-twined man traverses back through the afternoon crowd toward the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with a hand cupping a glass each.

Placing it in front of the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, you put your anakore-etched wooden shotglass onto a circular table.

With the other, you put your anakore-etched wooden shotglass onto a circular table.

Spreading the small obsidian discs beside the shotglasses, you put your pile of coins onto a circular table.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Won't you sit?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass lifts her dark gaze to your face.

From tip to toe, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks at you.

Settling down, you sit at a circular table.

At your table, you say in bendune, folding your hands over a circular table:
     "Many sids made?"

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "About half a large."

The earthen, trinket-twined man's milked eyes travel downward as you nods, lips pursing.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Good."

l nettle's cloak
This billowing, ankle-length cloak has been skillfully tailored from a
heavily-dyed section of the coarse cloth.  The cloak is formed of layers,
the first cut to hang just below the waistline, the next to the top quarter
of the thigh, and the last to the back of the ankles.  A heavy hood has been
affixed to the cloak, allowing it to be drawn up over the head and secured
to provide some protection from the elements.  An carved agate clasp, carved
into the shape of a running raptor has been attached just below the neckline
to assist in keeping the cloak closed from harsh wind, while providing a
distinctive adornment.  The fabric is a dusty, sandy color, a mixture of
browns and greys that would provide some natural camouflage in the sands,
and has a chaotic pattern of dark-colored staining moving out across the
back, over the shoulders and hood, and down the arms, to provide a
distinctive flair.  

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "How long have you been here?"

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Today."

At your table, you say in bendune, lifting a finger to point at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "To protect."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sighs, settling back in her seat.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Good. I want to go home."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "I'm supposed to find some wooden things to take south though, before we go."

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "What sort?"

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Maybe some islit? I don't know exactly...I found one shop with a cradle for sale..I thought someone might want that, in the south, a fancy wooden cradle for their babe."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Maybe some isilt jewelry..."

Speculatively, you look at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.
This nut-brown youth stands no taller than many adolescents, although the
maturity of her curves indicate she's well done growing.  The rich darkness
of her arching brows casts a fierce femininity across her features, lending
her the animalistic quality of a small, wild creature and emphasizing the
dark clarity of her limpid gaze.  The quirk of her dusky lips and her fine
chin and jawline lead the eye to where her ears have been pierced and
stretched for the insertion of two coin-sized bone disks.  Her hair, dark as
polished thornwood, is all kinky coils and wind-tossed knots, tumbling the
hourglass slope of her back to taper along the curve of her bottom.  
     Caught in a turbulent wealth of coiling braids, her riotous mane has
been bound up and secured by a strand of beaded silk, laying free the naked
slope of her neck.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is in excellent condition.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is using:
           a thin, beaded silk headband
      a darkly-stained styrax spear
       a raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel
          a darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket
  a small, desert-camouflaged lizard
      a bone and leather braided license
           a tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth
         a darkly stained bone scimitar with a carved hilt
         a darkly-stained raptor bone knife
       a layered black cloak with an agate clasp
           a pair of darkly-stained raptor hide leggings
           a pair of darkly-stained, knee-high raptor-hide boots

She is carrying:
nothing obvious

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Cutlery is the same in wood or clay or stone, I think..if the material is special, it should be a special object."

At your table, you say in bendune, shrugging your shoulders:
     "Don't know those things."

At your table, you say in bendune, pensively:
     "Speak with 'beti, after arrive. Odd times."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Well, I can purchase them in the morning and we can leave..maybe..before noon."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "You mean sharing tents with our cousins?"

At your table, you say in bendune, milked eyes drifting up thoughtfully:
     "Very happy people. Not like Seik now."

At your table, you say in bendune, nodding decisively:
     "Yes. Sharing tents."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "No, but we'll rebuild. You were lost too long after the darkness. Things are more settled now."

At your table, you say in bendune, wincing:
     "Hard to adjust."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Our folk won't be with theirs forever. Their ways are too different."

The earthen, trinket-twined man rests a hand against the side of your head as you stares at a circular table.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Tch."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, cocking a coy smile:
     "I find I like the dancing at night..by firelight."

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Do not be fooled to take 'beti, sepa. Blood not strong."

The earthen, trinket-twined man's expression shifts dramatically to become resolute and expecting of the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, with a snort:
     "That's not always so. They have good hunters..."

At your table, you say in bendune, firmly:
     "Blood is weak."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, with a toss of her braid-heavy head:
     "Not always."

Coolly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks at you.

The earthen, trinket-twined man's gaze shifts away from the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass after a moment.

At your table, you say in bendune, plainly:
     "'beti child would not survive."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Their little ones do."

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Not in Seik tents, 'beti would not."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, slapping the table dismissively:
     "This is stupid. I don't want anyone in my furs."

At your table, you say in bendune, nodding gently:
     "Blood is too weak. Good."

Smiling warmly, you look at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Now, give me my drink."

The earthen, trinket-twined man points to where it rests in front of the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Drink."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her anakore-etched wooden shotglass from a circular table.

Watching you over the rim as she downs it, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass drinks spiced-mead from her anakore-etched wooden shotglass.

The earthen, trinket-twined man crosses your arms, leaning back and observing a passing group of nomads.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Meet Runners in Kurac Post."

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Drunk and spiced. Very loud necks."

The empty vessle sounding softly as it meets the table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her anakore-etched wooden shotglass onto a circular table.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, her dusky lips quirking with a smile:
     "Tell me the whole tale, not just one part."

The earthen, trinket-twined man clears your throat behind a fist as you casually lifts a leg to rest that ankle on the opposite knee.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass settles back more comfortably in her own chair, her gaze dark as she watches what expression there is pass across your face.

At your table, you say in bendune, upturning a palm toward the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "First call 'Sexy Seik'. Not name I know. But hoot more, call over... so then ask more."

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Too drunk and spiced to do much. Tried asking trade--got no place."

At your table, you say in bendune, appearing annoyed as your features clinch up:
     "One, with warclubs and many scars--begins fight. Mishear what was said. Other Runner think it funny to make warclub Runner think things that did not happen."

At your table, you say in bendune, shaking your head in disapproval:
     "Got away before fight. Not smart. Save Runner life."

At your table, you say in bendune, milked gaze rolling back to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "Kurac not take well to see Runner threaten Seik, think."

At your table, you say in bendune, patting your darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket with a fist lightly to indicate himself:
     "Safe."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass nods.

At your table, you say in bendune, pinching your index and thumb together as though holding a pipe or tube of spice:
     "Offer Thodeliv. Give thodeliv later. Make amends for Runner mistake. Runner Bright Eyes like Shriek al'Seik."

The earthen, trinket-twined man's lips part in a pleased smile.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "Shriek? Really?"

At your table, you say in bendune, after a pregnant pause:
     "Yes. Problem?"

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, snorting softly, her little nostrils flaring:
     "Well, it does sound a bit silly."

Eyes dancing with mischief, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks at you.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Maybe someday find out why."

The earthen, trinket-twined man scratches at the underside of your jaw with a fingernail.

l nettle's headband
A simple string of thin silk has been threaded with wooden and glass
beads of maroon, deep blue, brown, and dark orange.  Made to be worn around
the wearer's head, it provides a simple, but elegant enough, accent to the
forehead and face.  

Plucking a few crumbs off the table before her, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass feeds them idly to the smooth-bodied reptile sprawled across her shoulder.

At your table, you say in bendune, resting a hand onto a circular table:
     "Begin early?"

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "You didn't even try your drink...don't you like their mead?"

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "The shops won't be open before dawn."

The earthen, trinket-twined man's milked eyes fall onto the shotglass remaining in front of you.

Shrugging, you get your anakore-etched wooden shotglass from a circular table.
It is very light, and full.

With reckless abandon, you drink the spiced-mead.
You feel a slight buzz from the alcohol.
You are a little hungry.
You are a little thirsty.

Placing it back onto a circular table, you discard your anakore-etched wooden shotglass.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "You seem especially reserved, Buka."

The earthen, trinket-twined man folds both hands over a circular table, regarding the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass placidly in response.

At your table, you say in bendune:
     "Yes."

At your table, you say in bendune, distantly:
     "The new way found."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, her tone rife with mischief:
     "You know, there is this one Arabeti boy, the one with the black braid and vestric feathers..? He's quite a dancer."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, leaning into the table, her gaze bright upon you:
     "Do you know his name?"

At your table, you say in bendune, shrugging:
     "No."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass smiles.

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune:
     "He might make a good mate..rhythm like that shouldn't go to waste."

At your table, you say in bendune, commenting:
     "Weak blood."

At your table, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says in bendune, her smile breaking into a grin:
     "Hot blood."

Despairingly, you look at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.
At your table, you say in bendune, hands tightening as they rest folded over a circular table:
     "Poor choice."

At your table, you say in bendune, rising:
     "Come."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says, out of character:
     "i've got to step out for 15, i'm sorry"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stands up from a circular table.

Securing the knot of your tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth, you stand up from a circular table.



You contact the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with the Way.

You send a telepathic message to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "Finish business. I'm waiting for you at the Scaien Gates, along the North Road."

l me
This human would be regarded as moderate in stature, compact, and
cultured in life-or-death struggles: his body seems well brought-
upon both fighting and hunger. Long muddy-red and Drov hair hangs
down to his butt, adorned with small bone-carved skull charms and
trinkets that twist along the mane in a twine-secured clump. Dark
of complexion and light of eye, milk white irises appear lifeless
when beside tight earthen-dusk skin.
The earthen, trinket-twined man is in excellent condition.

                   numerous interlocked dark and light blue lines, inked at odd angles
      a darkly-stained styrax spear
       a raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel
          a darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket
           a tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth
         a darkly stained bone scimitar with a carved hilt
       a layered black cloak with an agate clasp
           a pair of darkly-stained raptor hide leggings
           a pair of darkly-stained, knee-high raptor-hide boots

You dissolve the psychic link.



You contact the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with the Way.

You send a telepathic message to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "If you don't make it to the Gates soon, we'll not have enough light."

A foreign presence contacts your mind.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sends you a telepathic message:
     "Bartering can't be rushed."

You send a telepathic message to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "Yes it can."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sends you a telepathic message:
     "Fine..I'm coming."

You sense a foreign presence withdraw from your mind.

You dissolve the psychic link.



A foreign presence contacts your mind.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sends you a telepathic message:
     "I need you."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sends you a telepathic message:
     "I found these branches. I can't lift them."

You contact the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with the Way.

You send a telepathic message to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass:
     "Where?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sends you a telepathic message:
     "In the herb sellers, in Freil's."

You sense a foreign presence withdraw from your mind.



Looking inside a small sandstone building, you see:
Inside a Neatly Kept, Sandstone Building [Leave]
   This small shop is neatly, immaculately kept.  A wooden rack hangs
beside the door, filled with assortments of tools, while beside it a set of
shelves holds lengths of cloth and small baskets of dyes and herbs.  A
counter lines the back of the room, the more valuable items hanging behind
it.  The inner walls of this building are adorned with carvings of rippling
lines, incised into the yellowish white sandstone of its composition.  
A couple of long agafari branches are here.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here, looking tired.
- she is carrying a sturdy, dark-wood cradle.
- she is carrying a large bag.
A weathered, dark-eyed man is here warily keeping watch.
A lanky, weatherworn man stands near the counter, carving a bit of bone.

You swing your legs to the side and dismount.

You pull on a brown inix's reins.
A brown inix curls up on the ground.

Moving over quickly, you look down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.
This nut-brown youth stands no taller than many adolescents, although the
maturity of her curves indicate she's well done growing.  The rich darkness
of her arching brows casts a fierce femininity across her features, lending
her the animalistic quality of a small, wild creature and emphasizing the
dark clarity of her limpid gaze.  The quirk of her dusky lips and her fine
chin and jawline lead the eye to where her ears have been pierced and
stretched for the insertion of two coin-sized bone disks.  Her hair, dark as
polished thornwood, is all kinky coils and wind-tossed knots, tumbling the
hourglass slope of her back to taper along the curve of her bottom.  
     Caught in a turbulent wealth of coiling braids, her riotous mane has
been bound up and secured by a strand of beaded silk, laying free the naked
slope of her neck.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is in excellent condition.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is using:
           a thin, beaded silk headband
      a darkly-stained styrax spear
       a raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel
          a darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket
  a small, desert-camouflaged lizard
      a bone and leather braided license
           a tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth
         a darkly stained bone scimitar with a carved hilt
         a darkly-stained raptor bone knife
       a layered black cloak with an agate clasp
           a pair of darkly-stained raptor hide leggings
           a pair of darkly-stained, knee-high raptor-hide boots

Scooping it up, you pick up a long agafari branch.
It is very light.

Her face oddly pallid, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass smiles as you enters.

Wordlessly, you pick up a long agafari branch.
It is very light.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass falls in behind you.

The earthen, trinket-twined man holds out a hand, reaching for the cradle.

Passing it over wordlessly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gives you her sturdy, dark-wood cradle.
Grasping at the cradle, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in sirihish:
     "Better this way."

l cradle
This cradle is cut from baobab wood and stands about three cords high. Its
sides can be raised and lowered for easy access. A matting of silk stuffed
with vestric feathers provides a comfortable rest for any child. The cradle
is well crafted and very sturdy.

The earthen, trinket-twined man lifts your sturdy, dark-wood cradle, resting it on a shoulder.

You step out to...

Moire's Vision [E, W]
   It is difficult to see the path underfoot from the sheer amount of
debris from a number of thatched huts that have been destroyed in this
Quarter.  Plantlife in the area has experienced a boon of growth, leaves and
roots spreading in every direction.  The few structures still standing show
a healthy amount of dirt and mud sloshed a cord high around the foundations.
A perpetual stench of decaying wood drifts on the air.  
A simple cylini hut sits along the path.
A small sandstone building sits off to one side of the path.
A brown inix is reclining here.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass emerges from a small sandstone building.

Glancing over, you ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in sirihish:
     "Look pale. Why?"

Tucking herself up close, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass beams a smile up at you.

The earthen, trinket-twined man gestures to a brown inix.

The earthen, trinket-twined man picks up the reins of a brown inix, passing them to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Gently, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in sirihish:
     "Ride."

You strap your sturdy, dark-wood cradle to a brown inix's back.

The earthen, trinket-twined man finishes securing the cradle to a brown inix after a few moments.

Uncertainly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Oh..."

The earthen, trinket-twined man pulls your curved agafari shield from a brown inix, strapping it about your left wrist.

Scrambling awkwardly up, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass jumps up onto a brown inix's back.
A brown inix rises from the ground, and clambers to his feet.

Brow quirking to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, you hold your curved agafari shield.

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Come. Where is inix?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "My mind is not so sharp..with the way. Between our tents, it's not such trouble but...I think I might get an ox."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "If I get an ox, would we have to stay another night?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Because, you know, I've never seen the Circle of Poets."

Shaking your head, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "No. Stable on way."

Sliding down from the side, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass swings her legs over and jumps off of a brown inix.
A brown inix curls up on the ground.

The earthen, trinket-twined man tugs along the reins of a brown inix, moving quickly.

The earthen, trinket-twined man pauses, turning around.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Are you sure? It's awfully late to travel.."

Squinting, you look down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.
This nut-brown youth stands no taller than many adolescents, although the
maturity of her curves indicate she's well done growing.  The rich darkness
of her arching brows casts a fierce femininity across her features, lending
her the animalistic quality of a small, wild creature and emphasizing the
dark clarity of her limpid gaze.  The quirk of her dusky lips and her fine
chin and jawline lead the eye to where her ears have been pierced and
stretched for the insertion of two coin-sized bone disks.  Her hair, dark as
polished thornwood, is all kinky coils and wind-tossed knots, tumbling the
hourglass slope of her back to taper along the curve of her bottom.  
     Caught in a turbulent wealth of coiling braids, her riotous mane has
been bound up and secured by a strand of beaded silk, laying free the naked
slope of her neck.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is in excellent condition.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is using:
           a thin, beaded silk headband
      a darkly-stained styrax spear
       a raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel
          a darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket
  a small, desert-camouflaged lizard
      a bone and leather braided license
           a tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth
         a darkly stained bone scimitar with a carved hilt
         a darkly-stained raptor bone knife
       a layered black cloak with an agate clasp
           a pair of darkly-stained raptor hide leggings
           a pair of darkly-stained, knee-high raptor-hide boots

She is carrying:
nothing obvious

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "And I really want a fine uhmm.alright."

Resolutely, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Sure."

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Want what?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Well, a nice fresh-tamed ox, with the wild still in her, you know. Not one of their dossil overbred beasts."

Quietly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Docile."

The earthen, trinket-twined man emits a quiet sigh, turning to peer easterly.

Turning back to her, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Fine."

Wriggling slightly with excitement, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass peers up at you bright-eyed.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Ohhh...will you help me pick one?"

Nodding, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass dances a few light-footed steps of excitement.

Watching her feet, you look down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass hooks one slight arm through your arm, tugging at you.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "Come on, come on then...let's get the best one before they sell her!"

The earthen, trinket-twined man remains in place, staring down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass for a while despite all the excitement.

A brown inix isn't yours to make stand.

You begin leading a brown inix.
A brown inix falls in behind you.
Puffing with frustration, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stills, stepping back and peering up at you.

The earthen, trinket-twined man loops the reins of a brown inix about your free hand, tugging it along as you is tugged along.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "What?"

You stop leading the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

You now follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

You release a brown inix's reins.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Go on."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks west.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk west.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks south.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk south.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Oops..your lizard."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks north.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk north.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks west.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk west.

You begin leading a brown inix.
A brown inix falls in behind you.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass scowls at a brown inix.

A brown inix rises from the ground, and clambers to his feet.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "See how they are?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks south.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk south.

Zaerach's Way [N, E, S]
   It is difficult to see the path underfoot from the sheer amount of
debris from a number of thatched huts that have been destroyed in this
Quarter.  Plantlife in the area has experienced a boon of growth, leaves and
roots spreading in every direction.  The few structures still standing show
a healthy amount of dirt and mud sloshed a cord high around the foundations.
A perpetual stench of decaying wood drifts on the air.  
   A small wooden hut is situated along the eastern side of the path, a
corner of its foundation sunken into the ground.  What was once a waist-high
agafari fence behind it has been reduced to a broken display of protection,
several agafari boards missing.  
A group of Kadian slaves are here moving debris and clutter from around the street and the small hut.
A small thatched hut sits amidst a group of buildings in this quarter.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here, looking tired.
- she is carrying a large bag.
A brown inix has arrived from the north.

Placing it atop a brown inix, you stop holding your curved agafari shield.

Agreeably, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "You ought to have one that can think for itself as well."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks south.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk south.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

A Grassy Field [W]
   A small field covered in light, black-colored gesra grass, this area
provides suitable support for animals to roam freely.  A few animals, such
as inix and sunlons, graze about the field, as it sprawls out over the
countryside.  
   Large buildings sprout up to the north, east and south of here.  A
large wooden structure lies to the west, the scent of animals wafting in.  
A beast pen has been constructed here near the structure to the west.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here, looking tired.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The lanky, gap-toothed man stands near the pens, looking over the mounts.
The leathery-skinned man walks around here, attending to the mounts.
A squat mul stands guard in front of the pen.
A brown inix has arrived from the west.

You say, in bendune:
     "Only one thinker allowed."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Well..."

The earthen, trinket-twined man thumps a fist against your darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket, indicating himself.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Right but...I mean, they should know what you want, right?"

Pensively, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

Lifting her body half across a heavy wooden fencework and pointing, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks, in bendune:
     "That's what I want! That one there, see?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man's lips purse as you glances to a brown inix for a moment, making a cursory inspection.

The earthen, trinket-twined man eventually turns to see what all the hubbub is about.

Turning her face, wide-eyed, toward you, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Have a look at her there, will you?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Isn't she fine and wooly?"

Blandly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Well, shouldn't you look her hooves over and things?"

Giving the reins another wrap before tugging him down, you pull on a brown inix's reins.
A brown inix curls up on the ground.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shoots the leathery-skinned man an apologetic glance.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks the leathery-skinned man, in sirihish:
     "My lrother hare is thi expert in anihal feesh. I vee you wave some oxen. I don't suppose you'b mind if we look them over?"

Smiling, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at the leathery-skinned man.

l leathery
You look up at the leathery-skinned man.
You see before you a tall thin man, nearing the late middle-aged years.
His skin is a deep rich tan, turned leathery from all of the harsh elements
on Zalanthas.  His face and hands are beginning to wrinkle with age, yet his
pale blue eyes seem to burn on with some inner desire.  His face is marked
with some very faint scars, one short one under his right eye, running down
and to the right of the eye.
The leathery-skinned man is in excellent condition.

The leathery-skinned man is using:
                   a blue and purple inked band
          a blue and white striped linen shirt
             a purple and blue circle
                  a six-pronged star
           a pair of blue and white linen pants
           a pair of soft blue suede boots

He is carrying:
nothing obvious

Grasping a handful of grass seed from the mound of dried feed to one side, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass steals the opportunity to spread the find liberally among the cages in her keeping.

You enter a beast pen.
Inside the Beast Pen [Leave, Save]
   You are standing inside a large fenced-in area.  A tarp covers the
area keeping out the harsh elements.  There are several large stalls, with
several people monitoring the various mounts.  In the north eastern corner
is a large pile of hay bales and various tools used for tending to the large
beasts of burden and sport beasts.  

leave (some time later)
You step out to...

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "What do you think of her?"

Nodding, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Fine."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her pile of allanaki coins from her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass pays the leathery-skinned man for a wooly brown plains-ox, and hops on its back.

Drably, you look up at a wooly brown plains-ox.
This massive creature's entire head is covered in fluffy wool, making its
features hard to discern.  Impossible to ignore, however, are the wickedly
sharp horns that jut from its skull, curling in deadly arcs.  Its body is
likewise covered in shaggy, wooly brown fur, its texture soft and kinky.  
A wooly brown plains-ox is in excellent condition.

A wooly brown plains-ox is using:
                   A black-inked wylrith branding

It is carrying:
nothing obvious

Afterward, you look up at a brown inix.
This huge, two-ton lizard is a variegated brown in color, its shell
striped with gleams of amber and gold.  In size, it is nearly thirteen cords
from snout to tail.  It eyes the ground, searching for forage with dull
green eyes.  
A brown inix is in excellent condition.
A brown inix is hitched to you.

He is carrying:
nothing obvious

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass swings her legs to the side and dismounts.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass begins leading a wooly brown plains-ox.

The earthen, trinket-twined man pats a brown inix reassuringly.

Leaning in close, you whisper to a brown inix in bendune:
     "Better."

You pull on a brown inix's reins.
A brown inix rises from the ground, and clambers to his feet.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass scratches a wooly brown plains-ox behind the ears, listening carefully against it.

The earthen, trinket-twined man tugs along a brown inix, looking expectantly for the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass to follow.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass pats a wooly brown plains-ox reassuringly.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass falls in behind you.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "What do you think I should name her? I like Petal."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Do you think it fits?"

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "No."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "How about Stomp..? Maybe I should get to know her a bit, first."

You unstrap your sturdy, dark-wood cradle from a brown inix's back.

As you rests your sturdy, dark-wood cradle onto a shoulder, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes. Know ox first."

You store a brown inix in the stables.
A purple-haired half-breed stablehand says, in northern-accented sirihish:
     "Here is your ticket. It'll be 20 coins to retrieve it when you return."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at a wooly brown plains-ox.

You put your blue and purple-braided leather ticket into your tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Leave in morning?"

Wrapping her thin dark arms around a wooly brown plains-ox neck, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass hugs it fiercly.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stores a wooly brown plains-ox in the stables.
A purple-haired half-breed stablehand says, in northern-accented sirihish:
     "Here is your ticket. It'll be 20 coins to retrieve it when you return."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her blue and purple-braided leather ticket into her tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Well...can we see the Circle of Poets?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Circle of Singers?"

With a shake of her head, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "It loses something in the translation."

Tiredly, you look down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Plucking it forcibly from its cozy slump across the curve of her shoulder, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stops using her small, desert-camouflaged lizard.

Shifting its warm body into her cupped palms, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass holds her small, desert-camouflaged lizard.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shifts her weight between her feet, studying her small, desert-camouflaged lizard.

The earthen, trinket-twined man observes the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass blankly for a while before smiling.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Come."



The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Do you know what I like about you?"

You say, in bendune:
     "No."

Shifting her smooth-bodied reptile into one hand and tucking the other around your arm, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Everything."

Observing the juggling as you passes, you look up at the willowy, raven-haired woman.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at the willowy, raven-haired woman.

After hearing that, you look down at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

You begin guarding the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Gesturing, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Closer."

weather
It is a warm day.
A warm breeze blows from the east.
Jihae, the red moon, is high in the sky.

With a quirking smile, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Well, they'll have to do better than that. I've seen fire jugglers before, in the Black, you know."

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Amateur."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass smiles at you.

A dung beetle races down the roadside, moving its ball along before it.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass snorks in excited surprise.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Did you see that? That beetle?"

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "No."

Glancing back over her slim shoulder, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "It had a ball..!"

The earthen, trinket-twined man pauses long enough to nod to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "What kind?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Oh, a dung beetle! Do you know that Arabet Dona?"

Nodding, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Yes."

Shyly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "I think she wants to bed me. Do you think she wants to bed everyone?"

Shaking your head, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "No."

The earthen, trinket-twined man taps your fist against your darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket with a smug smile.

You say, in bendune:
     "Not Shriek."

Just before the plaza, you ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Weak blood. Remember?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Well, I'm not sure how do do it like that, you know...with a sword and no sheath..though I'm sure we could figure it out...."

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "'beti bed most. Seik bed one."

Glancing up, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Just one?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man stares at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass for a long moment.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Most, only one. Sometimes two. Mates gift fetish."

Her dark features composing themselves with thought, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stares down at her feet.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass whispers to you, in bendune:
     "What kind?"

You whisper to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass in bendune:
     "Fetish creature."

Very quietly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says, in bendune:
     "Oh."

The earthen, trinket-twined man motions for the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass to draw closer with a wave of your hand.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shifts her slight weight and warmth nearer to you, lifting her face.

Hand resting on your darkly-stained, reinforced raptor hide jacket, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Source of strength when weak. Feeling of courage when afraid."

Peering down at her, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Fetish not shared with 'beti. Seik people have great power. Do not waste."

Tipping her head to one side, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Raptor?"

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Maybe. Someday, sepa."

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "When Seik mate is had."

Popping out her bottom lip stubbornly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "Well, there aren't very many!"

The night has begun.
The earthen, trinket-twined man tenses up.

The Road of Poets [N, E, W]
   Blue-tinged stones, each speckled with a variety of multi-hued flecks,
have been cut into even and symmetrical squares before being cobbled into
the path that forms this road.  Numerous buildings can be seen dotting the
landscape on either side of the road, workers and various artisans scurrying
to and fro between the structures.  To the south lies the old city wall, its
scars a reminder of the city's history.  
   An archway in the northern wall leads into a sandstone plaza on which
numerous tents, all ranging in hue and texture, have been erected.  
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here, looking tired.
- she is carrying a large bag.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shifts away, turning both dark hands around her small, desert-camouflaged lizard and crooning to it.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "We can't stand here all night."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at you.

With a fierce strength, you whisper to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass in bendune:
     "Yes. But... do not act so unready for trial."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I don't want to do my trial. Do you know Dona said she'd watch over me? But I said you were going to."

The earthen, trinket-twined man reaches out a hand to place onto her shoulder.

Glancing up from the warmth of the little reptile, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at you.

The earthen, trinket-twined man wraps your other hand about the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, pulling her in roughly to embrace you should there be no resistance.

Lifting her thin arms around your neck, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass hugs you fiercely.

Hand gripping the back of her head, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Always watch. Trial will be done. Seik woman soon, remember. 'beti life is never option."

The earthen, trinket-twined man smiles down to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass warmly.

Losing the warmth of you, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass falls back a notch, returning your smile.

The earthen, trinket-twined man releases the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Turning to the plaza, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Time to see place."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Well...I'm hungry."

A Large, Sandstone Plaza [N, S, W]
   Square shaped block of tannish colored sandstone, each three cords by
three cords in length, have been set into the ground to form a solid footing
to this plaza.  Tents of every imaginable color lay sprawled across the
plaza, jumbled together in a meshed spray of brightly splashed hues.
Various humans and humanoids, each and every one decorated in tribal
markings, mill about the plaza.  
   An archway in the southern wall leads into a blue-tinged stone road to
the south.  
A patchwork hide tent has been erected here.
The braided, sun-darkened man walks across the plaza.
A braided, vine-tattooed huntress carries a load of pelts on her shoulder.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has arrived from the south.

Tugging it out after digging, you get your strip of dried beetle meat from your raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.
It is very light.

Skipping forward a few steps, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I hope they have something I've never tried before."

Holding it out without looking, you give your strip of dried beetle meat to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "Buuuka!"

You ask, in bendune:
     "What?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man stops, turning to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

Shoving it back roughly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "I want something /new/!"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gives you her strip of dried beetle meat.

The earthen, trinket-twined man's brow knits, fumbling with your strip of dried beetle meat as it is roughly returned.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Like..I don't know what...can't we see?"

Shrugging, you put your strip of dried beetle meat into your raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

A Large, Sandstone Plaza [N, S, W]
   Square shaped block of tannish colored sandstone, each three cords by
three cords in length, have been set into the ground to form a solid footing
to this plaza.  Tents of every imaginable color lay sprawled across the
plaza, jumbled together in a meshed spray of brightly splashed hues.
Various humans and humanoids, each and every one decorated in tribal
markings, mill about the plaza.  
   An archway in the southern wall leads into a blue-tinged stone road to
the south.  
A patchwork hide tent has been erected here.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here, looking tired.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The braided, sun-darkened man walks across the plaza.
A braided, vine-tattooed huntress carries a load of pelts on her shoulder.

Nodding, you say, in bendune:
     "Yes."

You enter a patchwork hide tent.
Inside a Hide Tent [Leave]
   A variety of animal hides have been stretched over a lattice of small
pymlithe branches, forming the framework of this tent.  Skins of duskhorn,
gizhat, tregil, and even carru not only enclose this structure, but also
cover most of the floor in their softened furs.  They fall a cord short of a
stone-circled pit in the northeastern corner, where a large roasting spit
and several flat rock slabs have been positioned near the burning cooking
fire.  Just nearby, along the eastern side of the tent, are a set of low
sandstone blocks that serve as a counter.  Behind them several shelves rise
up from the floor, on which a plethora of bowls, jars, and plates full of
various foodstuffs can be seen.  
The green-eyed, vine-inked elf stands behind the low-stone counter here.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has entered a patchwork hide tent.

99/99h, 86/86s, 107/121e [unarmed|standing|walking|bendune|late at night]
[riding: none|]list
the green-eyed, vine-inked elf has the following goods to trade:
01) a bowl of dark-roasted kalans for 38 obsidian coins, many are available.
02) a bowl of mashed tuber paste for 23 obsidian coins, many are available.
03) a bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew for 23 obsidian coins, many are available.
04) a dried kalan fruit for 56 obsidian coins, many are available.
05) a grilled rack of ribs for 56 obsidian coins, many are available.
06) a kalan fruit for 18 obsidian coins, many are available.
07) a pungent roasted root for 18 obsidian coins, many are available.
08) a roasted kalan fruit for 90 obsidian coins, many are available.
09) a roasted sweet yellow root for 20 obsidian coins, many are available.
10) a slice of gritty brown bread for 2 obsidian coins, many are available.
11) a small cup of kalan jam for 54 obsidian coins, many are available.

Pointing to the various foodstuffs, leaning over a bit, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "New."

Her bright mood returning in a rush, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass tucks her small, desert-camouflaged lizard away in the smooth folds of her cloak.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stops using her small, desert-camouflaged lizard.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her small, desert-camouflaged lizard into her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass leans on the counter, squinting at the shelves beyond.

Hesitantly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "What do you think looks good?"

Shaking your head a bit, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Nothing."

Leaning over, you whisper to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass in bendune:
     "Necks."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks up at the green-eyed, vine-inked elf.

Firmly, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to the green-eyed, vine-inked elf, in sirihish:
     "I'bl try the stew."

The green-eyed, vine-inked elf trades a bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her pile of allanaki coins into her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

Grinding up a bowl of fresh paste, the green-eyed, vine-inked elf says, in northern-accented sirihish:
     "Anothir day begins anew.  Aksen, ak'sa."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in sirihish:
     "Let's take it outside to eat. Do you want one?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her pile of allanaki coins from her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

The green-eyed, vine-inked elf says, in northern-accented sirihish:
     "I am closed, come back at dawx."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in sirihish:
     "We'll nhare."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in sirihish:
     "It'll be fon."

The earthen, trinket-twined man shakes your head in stoic response.

You step out to...

A Large, Sandstone Plaza [N, S, W]
   Square shaped block of tannish colored sandstone, each three cords by
three cords in length, have been set into the ground to form a solid footing
to this plaza.  Tents of every imaginable color lay sprawled across the
plaza, jumbled together in a meshed spray of brightly splashed hues.
Various humans and humanoids, each and every one decorated in tribal
markings, mill about the plaza.  
   An archway in the southern wall leads into a blue-tinged stone road to
the south.  
A patchwork hide tent has been erected here.
The braided, sun-darkened man walks across the plaza.
A braided, vine-tattooed huntress carries a load of pelts on her shoulder.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass emerges from a patchwork hide tent.

A Large, Sandstone Plaza [N, E, W]
   Square shaped block of tannish colored sandstone, each three cords by
three cords in length, have been set into the ground to form a solid footing
to this plaza.  Tents of every imaginable color lay sprawled across the
plaza, jumbled together in a meshed spray of brightly splashed hues.
Various humans and humanoids, each and every one decorated in tribal
markings, mill about the plaza.  
A tent made of leather and sandcloth has been set up along the plaza.
A tall, tanned elven tribesman lounges around nearby.
A squinted, long-nosed tribal man walks through the plaza here.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has arrived from the east.

A Large, Sandstone Plaza [N, E, W]
   Square shaped block of tannish colored sandstone, each three cords by
three cords in length, have been set into the ground to form a solid footing
to this plaza.  Tents of every imaginable color lay sprawled across the
plaza, jumbled together in a meshed spray of brightly splashed hues.
Various humans and humanoids, each and every one decorated in tribal
markings, mill about the plaza.  
The lanky, green-haired elf skulks along, trying to blend in.
A thin, ashen-haired woman squats beneath a leather half-tent.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has arrived from the east.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "It's all sandstone..everywhere..."

You say, in bendune:
     "Yes."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I thought it would be flowers."

Dryly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Not wasteful enough for city people."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "Where will we sit? Wait..how about in the shade by that big statue, near the entrance?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man shrugs, turning about.



The earthen, trinket-twined man glances around, brow knitting.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shrugs.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I'm not hungry any more."

Finding a place near the archway, you sit down and rest your tired bones.

Wearily, you look up at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gives you her bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sits down.

Placing it some distance from himself, you drop your bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

Eyeing you, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "You aren't even going to try it?"

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Could be poisoned."

Crawling half across you, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass snatches up the stew, drawing it to her.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass picks up a bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Hmh."

Taking a huge slurp, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass eats a portion of her bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

The earthen, trinket-twined man shrugs once to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass takes a bite of her small portion of a bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

Her dusky mouth wet with carelessness, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "It's extremely delicious."

The earthen, trinket-twined man regards the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass with incredibly obvious worry.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I love duskhorn."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass eats her small portion of a bowl of spiced duskhorn and root stew.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her pile of allanaki coins into her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her darkly-stained water gourd from her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass pops the cork with the flats of her thumbs.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass drinks greyish water from her darkly-stained water gourd.

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Preparing for trial?"

Refastening it, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her darkly-stained water gourd into her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

Nervously, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Why? No."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass asks you, in bendune:
     "How?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "No."

Tapping a finger to your temple, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Prepare."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I don't want to think about it."

Quietly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Don't be foolish."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass looks at you.

Lowering her gaze to her bare hands, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I know."

The earthen, trinket-twined man nods once.

The earthen, trinket-twined man draws an arm around the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The enormous sun rises above the barren plains in the east.
The red orb of Jihae, the red moon, begins to vanish as it slowly sets.

Patting her on the back, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Time for ride."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass whispers to you, in bendune:
     "I have to be a Seik woman so soon, it makes me want to be so reckless and childish. I'm afraid."

You stop resting, and stand up.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stands up.

Glancing away, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I have another animal to get from the stables, nearer the gate."

Leaning over, you whisper to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass in bendune:
     "Remember this, then. Always here."

The earthen, trinket-twined man nods vaguely as you begins to walk.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass offers you a wan smile.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Inix is at Friel's."

Tossing her braid-coiled head, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "OX, is at Friel's."

You nod to her.

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Have one more?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Yes. Dona's lizard."

You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Why have Dona's lizard?"

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "She let me ride him."

Firmly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Do not take Dona's lizard."



You get your blue and purple-braided leather ticket from your tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.
It is very light.

You get your pile of allanaki coins from your raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.
There were 440 coins.
It is very light.

A purple-haired half-breed stablehand takes 20 coins and gets a brown inix from the stables.

You begin leading a brown inix.
A brown inix falls in behind you.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her blue and purple-braided leather ticket from her tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Say yes, sepa."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her pile of allanaki coins from her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

A purple-haired half-breed stablehand takes the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass's money and gets a wooly brown plains-ox from the stables.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Return lizard. Not take again."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass begins leading a wooly brown plains-ox.

The earthen, trinket-twined man climbs up a brown inix with a swing of each leg.

Glancing up as she twines the reins around her narrow hand, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I will."

You jump up onto a brown inix's back.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass jumps up onto a wooly brown plains-ox's back.

Nodding, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Good."

Propping it against a knee, you hold your curved agafari shield.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass straps her large bag to a wooly brown plains-ox's back.

You begin guarding the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass straps her thin, curving bone cage to a wooly brown plains-ox's back.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass straps her thin, curving bone cage to a wooly brown plains-ox's back.

You put your pile of allanaki coins into your raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

You strap your sturdy, dark-wood cradle to a brown inix's back.



The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass swings her legs over and jumps off of a wooly brown plains-ox.
A wooly brown plains-ox curls up on the ground.

The earthen, trinket-twined man waits near the edge of the stable with a patient expression.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her leather ticket from her tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

A half-elven stablehand takes the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass's money and gets an inix from the stables.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass begins leading an inix.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her pile of allanaki coins into her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass jumps up onto a wooly brown plains-ox's back.
A wooly brown plains-ox rises from the ground, and clambers to its feet.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass nods at you.



The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass tugs an inix's reins.

You raise the hood of your layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

Mimicking you, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass raises the hood of her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

West of the Scaien Gates [N, E, S, W]
   The still intact portions, few though they may be, of this wide stone
road lie half sunken into mud and are further covered by scrub debris that
appears to have been violently uprooted and tossed about.  What remains of
this pale backbone of a road lies across these lands in a long and twisting
fashion, following the southern border of the Grey Forest.
   The broken, muddy road winds east and west here, running through
thickets of agafari, their grey-green leaves dancing with each shift of the
wind.
   Immediately to the east looms the impressive Scaien gates.  Atop their
carved alabaster entry arch, a beacon blazes at its apex.  To the north, a
crude tower peeks over the mud spattered Scaien Wall, standing guard over
the gates from the inside.
A brown inix stands here, carrying the svelte, well-toned half-giant on his back.
The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp has arrived from the east, riding a wooly brown plains-ox.
An inix has arrived from the east.

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp's head swivels from side to side alertly as you rides along.

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp has arrived from the east, riding a wooly brown plains-ox.
An inix has arrived from the east.



Guiding an inix southerly along the road, you say, in bendune:
     "Tic tic."



North Road [N, E, W]
   The stark white of this wide stone road lies across these scrub
forests like the spine of some gargantuan carcass.  Blowing, gritty dusts
cover the road in some places, and pech grasses have, here and there, taken
root in and among the flagstones.  This pale backbone of a road lies across
these lands in a long and twisting fashion, following the southern border of
the Grey Forest.  
   Far to the north lies the dim and shadowy blotch on the horizon which
marks the Grey Forest, while to the south stretches the vast sweep of the
scrub plains.  A tangle of thorny bush to the south borders the road.  
The disembodied head of a gortok is here discarded by the road, plucked clean of eyes.
The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp has arrived from the east, riding a wooly brown plains-ox.
An inix has arrived from the east.

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp says to you, in bendune:
     "Ew."

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp rides by the disembodied head of a gortok after giving it a brief glance.

Commenting, you say, in bendune:
     "Tasted good."

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp says to you, in bendune:
     "Not after so long in the sun with the insects."

Replying casually, you say, in bendune:
     "Had fresh."

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp shuts up.

Gaze scanning the horizon, the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp sits clumsily astride a wooly brown plains-ox.

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp leads the trio of beasts through the stone span, crouching low over an inix.

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp looks up at you.
An inix is in excellent condition.
An inix does not look tired.

Her voice chirping and bright, the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp asks you, in bendune:
     "Do you think we'll see a carru?"

You say to the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp, in bendune:
     "No."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass lowers the hood of her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

A wooly brown plains-ox lets out a low, wavering moo.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "It's too beautiful a day to hide. Feel that breeze? That is a nice breeze."

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp slows an inix, bringing it alongside a wooly brown plains-ox.

Straightening atop a wooly brown plains-ox, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass shifts her shoulders and lifts her face into the wind.

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp leans over with a hand outstretched, pulling up the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass' hood.

You say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Hood up."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass raises the hood of her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp slaps lightly at your hand.

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp frowns at the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp asks you, in bendune:
     "Why?"

l w
West of here are Scrub Plains.
[Very far]
Nothing.
[Far]
Nothing.
[Near]
A camp of brightly-colored tents has been pitched just off the road.

You say to the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp, in bendune:
     "Young one is defenseless."

Matter-of-factly, you say to the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp, in bendune:
     "Easy rape. Easy steal."

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp says to you, in bendune:
     "I have a spear and knife just like you."

You say to the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp, in bendune:
     "Young face easy to see."

You say to the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp, in bendune:
     "Young face fools no one."

The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp turns her hood-shadowed face away from you.

The figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp stares at the short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp for a long moment before continuing on.

Scrub Plains [N, E, S, W]
   A vast and rolling plain unfolds in all directions, in an endless
reach of dry and dusty land.  The browning grasses here are less present
than in the more southernly plains, and the growths of thornbrush and
ocotillo are gradually replaced with short, tangled shrubs of a greyish
color, their thin leaves shaped like spearheads.  Squat agafari trees have
taken root, widely spaced or in sparse groves.  
   To the east, the white stones of the North Road gleam faintly.
A camp of brightly-colored tents has been pitched just off the road.
A feathery-leafed plant grows from the desert soil.
The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp has arrived from the east, riding a wooly brown plains-ox.
An inix has arrived from the east.

You enter a camp of brightly-colored tents, riding a brown inix.
Before an Encampment of Colorful Tents [N, Leave]
   A pair of thick bone poles flank a narrow passage between the myriad
tents, each mekillot bone rising four cords in height.  A mantis skull tops
one, while the angular skull of a gith adorns the top of the other.  A
simple mat of woven pech grass forms a small, overhead shelter for the
sentinels stationed here.  A dim babble of voices drifts from the cloister
of tents around a clearing to the north.  
The male wearing a thin, white-sandcloth facewrap is standing here.
The short figure in a layered black cloak with an agate clasp has entered a camp of brightly-colored tents, riding a wooly brown plains-ox
An inix has entered a camp of brightly-colored tents.

Laughter and the sounds of music float in from the north, drifting lightly on the unseen currents of the wind.

You lower the hood of your layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

Resting it on an inix, you stop holding your curved agafari shield.

You swing your legs to the side and dismount.

Taking her time to settle the folds upon her shoulders, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass lowers the hood of her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

The earthen, trinket-twined man leads an inix further into the camp full of noise and bustling bodies.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass swings her legs to the side and dismounts.

Sparse sands blow across your path.
A Sandy Clearing Among the Colorful Tents [E, S, W]
   Small campfires dot this central area of the encampment, circling
around a broad firepit.  Arabeti women sit on sandstone slabs, pouring wax
on fabric and tending to meats cooking on the fire, while dark-eyed toddlers
chase each other, their naked skin an assortment of brown and bronze hues.
A few drums rest near the firepit, their thin membrane covers secured to
bone bases with sinew and loreshi reeds.  
   On the far end of the area near a meeting tent, several men crouch,
passing a long-handled bone pipe between them.  The earthy, pungent aroma of
animal dung wafts from a bone-framed corral in the west.  
   Toward the east, a few couples wander to and from an enormous tent, some
carrying blankets and pillows in through the paint-adorned flap.  
An enormous tent of blue and orange batiked fabric looms over the clearing's north end.
A stone-lined firepit is set in the middle of the open ground.
The inky-haired, turquoise-eyed young girl sits playing the mandolin.
The lithe, emerald-eyed young woman sits near a small cask of water.
The sturdy, topaz-eyed man crouches near the fire, a sword across his lap.
The burly, greying man relaxes by the firepit.
The brown-skinned, olive-green eyed woman sits weaving near the campfire.
A brown inix has arrived from the south.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has arrived from the south.
An inix has arrived from the south.
A wooly brown plains-ox has arrived from the south.

Sparse sands blow across your path.
A Crudely Constructed, Bone-framed Corral [E]
   A large swath of dune within the encampment has been enclosed by a
crude fence which rises from the sands to four cords in height.  The fence
is constructed of mekillot bones, secured together by knotted lengths of
hemp rope.  
   Various types of animals, including inix, erdlu and escru are
cloistered together in groups, separated into smaller paddocks within the
corral.  The stench of beasts and their dung lingers strongly here, despite
the gusting of desert winds.  
The rangy, dark-braided man tosses dried grasses to the mounts.
The graceful, amber-eyed young woman is here, training a young erdlu.
A brown inix has arrived from the east.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass has arrived from the east.
An inix has arrived from the east.
A wooly brown plains-ox has arrived from the east.



You ask the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Where want?"

The earthen, trinket-twined man holds up your sturdy, dark-wood cradle.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her small stone token into her tightly-woven sash of dark sandcloth.

You stop leading the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

You now follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her small stone token into her raptor-leather, darkly-stained satchel.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks east.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk east.

Sparse sands blow across your path.
A Sandy Clearing Among the Colorful Tents [E, S, W]
   Small campfires dot this central area of the encampment, circling
around a broad firepit.  Arabeti women sit on sandstone slabs, pouring wax
on fabric and tending to meats cooking on the fire, while dark-eyed toddlers
chase each other, their naked skin an assortment of brown and bronze hues.
A few drums rest near the firepit, their thin membrane covers secured to
bone bases with sinew and loreshi reeds.  
   On the far end of the area near a meeting tent, several men crouch,
passing a long-handled bone pipe between them.  The earthy, pungent aroma of
animal dung wafts from a bone-framed corral in the west.  
   Toward the east, a few couples wander to and from an enormous tent, some
carrying blankets and pillows in through the paint-adorned flap.  
An enormous tent of blue and orange batiked fabric looms over the clearing's north end.
A stone-lined firepit is set in the middle of the open ground.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The inky-haired, turquoise-eyed young girl sits playing the mandolin.
The lithe, emerald-eyed young woman sits near a small cask of water.
The sturdy, topaz-eyed man crouches near the fire, a sword across his lap.
The burly, greying man relaxes by the firepit.
The brown-skinned, olive-green eyed woman sits weaving near the campfire.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass enters an enormous tent of blue and orange batiked fabric.
You enter an enormous tent of blue and orange batiked fabric.
Communal Area [N, Leave]
   Several of the Arabeti gather in clusters within this spacious tent,
tending to chores or relaxing together.  Baskets and nets hanging from bone
supports scatter around the floor, some containing large eggs and skeins of
wool.  The walls, fashioned from waxed cotton and reinforced with strips of
dyed leather, exhibit typical Arabeti scenes in muted desert hues.  
   The back wall opens out into another room, with bedrolls, piles of furs,
and blue-batiked pillows evident through the opening.  Sandstone blocks
stack up to the high ceilings in each room, beside smoke-holes for campfires
that flicker and smolder on the ground throughout the tent.  
A pile of softly-tanned sleeping furs lies along the back of the tent.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The wiry, sharp-eyed woman stands here, eyes narrowed in observation.

Drawing it back, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass opens the flap.

The wiry, sharp-eyed woman steps aside, allowing the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass to pass.
Ducking, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass walks north.
You follow the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, and walk north.

Communal Sleeping Area [S, Quit, Save]
   Bedrolls and pillows of linen and silk are strewn on the ground in
this wide back room of the tent, placed in groups of two to six around a
central campfire surrounded by scorched blocks of colorful sandstone.  
   A multi-tiered bone rack crouches beside each grouping, each containing
various weapons, tools, and assorted batiked clothing draped over the top
tiers.  Tribal men and women come and go quietly through the sleeping room,
maneuvering around couples in various states of undress on and underneath
their hide blankets.  
   Bright stylized stars of mica-augmented grey pigment climb up the tent
walls in odd clusters, with a bold pearly-white moon and desert-red sun
surrounding a runic depiction of Suk-Krath's blazing flames on the edges of
the central smoke hole.  
A winerack, made of carved bone, sits here.
A lizard-embossed incense burner, made of fired red clay, sits here.
Some heavy baobab shelves are full of food and seasonings.
A tregil-carved wooden chest is here stuffed with tools.
A rectangular sandy-red carpet is here packed with wood and casks.
A vivid blue rug, crested in black with fighting hawks, lies spread out here.
A long yellowed-bone bin is here overflowing with animal parts and stones.
Sitting low on the floor, on a base of snarling tembo, is a deep maroon table.
A gwoshi-carved wooden chest is here brimming with plants and herbs.
A couple of serieses of hanging cloth pockets are here.
An old, stained barrel is here holding bag, games, and instruments.
A tun of water sits near the smoke hole, sweating next to a scorched block.
A pile of softly-tanned sleeping furs is here against the back wall of the tent.
A tan-colored tent lies here, bound into a portable bundle.
A clay teapot sits here, floral patterns adorning its sides.
The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass is standing here.
- she is carrying a large bag.
The hairy, tattoo-faced young man sits beside some tattooed animal hides.
The wiry, limpid-eyed man slouches nearby, deceptively relaxed.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass puts her large bag onto a low, tembo-carved baobab table.

Glancing around the crowded chamber, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I'm not sure."

Setting it down gently, you put your sturdy, dark-wood cradle onto a low, tembo-carved baobab table.

You put your long agafari branch onto a low, tembo-carved baobab table.

You put your long agafari branch onto a low, tembo-carved baobab table.

With a sigh, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass sits on a pile of softly-tanned sleeping furs.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass gets her small, desert-camouflaged lizard from her layered black cloak with an agate clasp.

Unlacing them, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass stops using her pair of darkly-stained, knee-high raptor-hide boots.

Curtly, you say to the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass, in bendune:
     "Stay in tents this time. Ask to go place."

The earthen, trinket-twined man moves toward the flap, reaching out with a hand.

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass exclaims to you, in bendune:
     "I did!"

Pulling one fur across her close-clad legs, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "Dona took me north."

The nut-brown, tumble-maned lass curls up there in the pile, tossing her boots aside and pillowing her head on her arm.

Settling onto her left side, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass rests on a pile of softly-tanned sleeping furs.

The earthen, trinket-twined man turns, squinting over at the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass.

The earthen, trinket-twined man's jaw clenches.

Sleepily, her eyelids heavy, the nut-brown, tumble-maned lass says to you, in bendune:
     "I wouldn't leave the tents by myself..."

The earthen, trinket-twined man opens the flap a bit rougher than is necessary.

s (muttering)
Communal Area [N, Leave]
   Several of the Arabeti gather in clusters within this spacious tent,
tending to chores or relaxing together.  Baskets and nets hanging from bone
supports scatter around the floor, some containing large eggs and skeins of
wool.  The walls, fashioned from waxed cotton and reinforced with strips of
dyed leather, exhibit typical Arabeti scenes in muted desert hues.  
   The back wall opens out into another room, with bedrolls, piles of furs,
and blue-batiked pillows evident through the opening.  Sandstone blocks
stack up to the high ceilings in each room, beside smoke-holes for campfires
that flicker and smolder on the ground throughout the tent.  
A pile of softly-tanned sleeping furs lies along the back of the tent.
The wiry, sharp-eyed woman stands here, eyes narrowed in observation.

You close the flap.