Unfortunately, I was tired for this game, and feeling a bit ill besides. But, the show must go on. I'd decided to do some foreshadowing, but the 'you have a dream' trick was wearing a bit thin. More importantly, they have their own symbology now, being tied directly to the amulet plot. Merdmira's dream, on the other hand, is a different thing, and ties to a bit of GM advice found elsewhere on my site. There's a literary rule, about killing off your favorite characters... It's imperative that they die.

The Sarista scene was to be something of a slice of life in a Kasmiran Bazaar... But, being Sarista, they have to have an edge, right?

I usually edit out anything that's way out of character, but I left the Poe reference in... Oblique symbolism? Draw your own conclusions.

(840) GM: When we last left our protagonists, they had just entered Kasmir (the city) and found an inn.
(840) GM: You had eaten well, and gone to sleep.
(847) Merduk: *zzzz*
(840) GM: Morning approaches, without a bothersome dream to disturb your rest.
** (861) Laj steels himself for another dream, but finds himself free of prophetic annoyances. **
(840) GM: Merduk, you hear a tapping at the door.
** (847) Merduk wakes. "Yeah?" **
(840) Merdmira: "'S me, brother. You dressed?"
(847) Merduk: "Mostly. Come on in."
** Merdmira opens the door with shielded eyes. **
(840) Merdmira: "Wanted to catch you early.
(847) Merduk: "No problem. What for?"
(861) Laj: (Nobody wants to see a naked Marukan, even another Marukan, eh?)
(840) Merdmira: "How far are we taking Naia?"
(847) Merduk: "No idea. Laj is the one who is mostly running this thing, I guess. We can ask him."
** (861) Laj wakes at the sound of his name. **
(840) Merdmira: "Ok, let's go talk to him, while she's still asleep."
** (861) Laj is psychic that way. :) **
(840) GM: There's a tapping sound at your door, Laj.
(847) Merduk: (As of someone softly rapping, rapping at your chamber door.)
** (861) Laj reaches for his crossbow. "What?" **
(840) GM: (Twas the wind, and nothing more.)
(861) Laj: (Hah!)
(840) Merdmira: "You dressed, Laj?"
** (861) Laj pulls on his headdress. "Now." He gets up and opens the door. **
** Merdmira looks at Laj, and takes the direct approach. **
(840) Merdmira: "How far are we taking Naia?"
** (861) Laj pauses. "Assume here. Best to ask her." He shrugs. **
(840) Merdmira: "I had a dream about her. There weren't no Ariane in it, but we were in Maruk, with her."
(840) Merdmira: "Maybe it's just my luck, being a Marukan and all. But ever since I learned the craft, I've learned there are certain dreams that I shouldn't ignore."
(840) Merdmira: "Are we taking her to Maruk?"
(847) Merduk: "Crap. Hope we don't get dragged back home."
(861) Laj: "Haven't been there. No ruins worth exploring."
(840) Merdmira: "There's plenty of ruins, but that's all they are. And ruined recent, too."
(840) Merdmira: "That's not all."
(840) Merdmira: "There was more to my dream."
** Merdmira looks a bit shaky. **
(847) Merduk: "Uh, oh. What is it?"
(847) Merduk: "Are you okay, sis?"
(840) Merdmira: "There was this fella, he was dressed all in black robes, and you couldn't see his face or anything."
** (861) Laj looks at the witch somewhat suspiciously. **
(861) Laj: "Anyone we know?"
(840) Merdmira: "He had a scratchy high voice, and a staff topped with a skull."
(840) Merdmira: "And well, he..."
** Merdmira takes a deep breath. **
(840) Merdmira: "He killed you both."
(847) Merduk: "Not good."
(861) Laj: "Oh." Laj does not sound impressed. "How?"
(840) Merdmira: "Some kind of magic. There was green mist coming from his staff."
(840) Merdmira: "He'd've killed you right off, but him and Naia were fighting, see. You almost got away."
(861) Laj: "Fighting?"
** (861) Laj laughs. "She isn't the warrior kind." **
(840) Merdmira: "Yeah, I don't remember that part too good."
(840) Merdmira: "But they were fighting."
** Merdmira looks despondent. **
(840) Merdmira: "I don't know if you should leave her here, or take her with us."
(847) Merduk: "Were they fighting magically maybe?"
(840) Merdmira: "Maybe. I was looking for you at the time, so I wasn't paying much attention. I don't even remember if she died."
(840) Merdmira: "But I expect so."
(840) Merdmira: "I don't know if we should avoid Maruk, or if it's like a shadow, it'll follow us wherever we go."
** Merdmira sits on the bed with her head down. **
** (847) Merduk puts his hand on her shoulder, trying to be comforting. He's not good at that. **
(861) Laj: "Find out who she really is first. 'Simple traveler.' Don't believe it for a moment."
** (861) Laj reflexively rubs his good luck charm. **
(840) Merdmira: "Might be just a dream."
** Merdmira rubs her nose. "Not gonna find out nuthin on an empty stomach. Let's eat." **
(847) Merduk: "Probably. I mean, it's not like those dreams we've all been sharing."
** (861) Laj gets up, belts on his scimitar, and escorts his friends down to the common room, locking his door behind them. "Interesting journey, anyway." **
** Naia is in the common room, eating a breakfast of avir eggs and provender bread. She smiles when she sees you come in. **
(840) Naia: "Won't you have some breakfast?"
** (847) Merduk comes in, and sits down for breakfast. **
** (861) Laj nods. "Eat civilized food while you can. Where are you headed next?" **
** Naia looks radiant in the morning sunlight. She's dressed in her blue spangalor dress again, with silver trim pieces, and a silver ring holding her hair behind her head. **
(840) Naia: "I don't know, exactly, it depends on what I find here. Care to try the bazaar with me later?"
** (847) Merduk shows no reaction to her radiance, but feels his usual mixture of attraction and resentment. **
** (861) Laj orders breakfast, heavy on the fresh meat side since he'll be living off of jerky and provender root for a while. **
(861) Laj: "Why leave Cymril? Strange, like a flower growing out of a rock."
** (847) Merduk orders a big breakfast. Marukans tend to eat big when they can, since they don't know when they will get another chance. A Marukan who becomes wealthy will probably become fat. :) **
(840) Naia: "Why thank you, Laj! I felt the urge to try to find some of these statues on my own, and I think I've tracked down a few rare pieces, but I want to be sure they are the genuine article."
(861) Laj: "Any rival collectors?"
(840) Naia: "With a merchant in the middle, you're never quite sure that you're getting the best deal."
(840) Naia: "Some, I think. They are valuable, if you know who to sell to. Mostly bored wealthy Cymrilians."
(840) Naia: "Why, thinking of starting your own collection, maybe?"
** Naia smiles at her own joke. **
(840) Naia: "Come on, you'll enjoy the bazaar. There should be some odd finds there."
(847) Merduk: "I'll go. I've never seen it before. Let's finish breakfast first."
(861) Laj: "No. Just not interested in finding unseen enemies."
** Naia looks thoughtful for a moment. **
(840) Naia: "I don't really think collecting statues is particularly dangerous, Laj. Unless you don't buy them..."
** Naia finishes her breakfast. **
** Merdmira eats well, keeping an eye on Naia. **
** (861) Laj finishes eating, pays, and makes ready to visit the bazaar. **
** Naia leads the way to a huge open area. Tents and market stalls seemingly spread to the horizon. Various bits of nearly everything can be found in the bazaar. **
(840) GM: The Kasmirans cast a wary eye at Laj as he passes them.
** (861) Laj keeps his hands visible at all times. No need to push his luck. **
** (847) Merduk looks around like a tourist. **
** (861) Laj coolly evaluates the antiquities...and their prices...like a professional. **
(840) GM: There are some decent pieces, things you could sell fairly easily in Cymril. The Kasmirans refuse to give you a price or even inspect the pieces closely.
** Merdmira scowls at the Kasmirans. **
(861) Laj: "No sales here. At least not from me."
** Naia eventually winds her way to a tent selling statuettes very similar to the ones she has already. **
(861) Laj: "Get the feeling you stepped in something? Kasmirins--warm hosts."
** Naia looks them over for a while, but declines to purchase any. **
(861) Laj: Ahem *Kasmirans*
** Merdmira continues to scowl at the Kasmirans. **
(840) GM: The merchant looks disappointed when Naia doesn't buy.
** Naia leaves the tent. **
(840) Naia: "Fakes. Not the real thing."
(840) GM: (Are either of you looking for anything in the bazaar? I doubt you could buy it from a Kasmiran, but there are all kinds of merchants here.)
(847) Merduk: (just browsing.)
(840) GM: As the day wears on, Naia doesn't seem to find anything she likes. She buys a couple of trinkets and pieces of silver jewelry, but that's it.
(861) Laj: (Laj is observing, but he's well aware of Kasmiran distaste for his race. He wouldn't buy from them unless his life depended on it. Still, he's always open to something interesting.)
(861) Laj: "Silver. Another collection?"
** Naia smiles shyly. "I think it suits me. My father used to buy me gold jewelry, but I really prefer silver." **
** (847) Merduk says, "It looks good on you," then turns away, unsure what to follow that with. **
** Naia looks at Merduk for a moment, puzzled. "Thank you, Merduk." **
(861) Laj: "Father know where you are? And in such bad company?"
(840) Naia: "Who says I'm in bad company?"
** (861) Laj laughs. "Joke." **
** (847) Merduk looks up, surprised. "What do you mean? You're hanging out with Marukans!" **
(840) Naia: "Who is better prepared to deal with bad luck?"
** Naia grins. **
(847) Merduk: "True. We are experienced"
** Naia laughs, like the tinkling of silver bell. **
** (861) Laj smirks under his veil. "Too good to be true," he thinks to himself. **
(840) Naia: "I'm not worried about traveling with you around."
(840) Naia: "But I'm afraid the statues I am after aren't here, at least not at what I'm willing to pay."
** (847) Merduk grits his teeth, resentfully. Women who are clearly out of his league are maddening. The fact that she is so patronizingly nice makes it more annoying. **
** Merdmira sniffs. Not as loud as usual, but noticeable. **
** Merdmira looks at Merduk, then off into the distance. **
(861) Laj: "I'll bite. Where?"
** (847) Merduk raises his eyebrow at his sister, as if to say, "What?" **
** (847) Merduk follows her gaze. **
(840) Naia: "I don't know for sure. Probably east. There are many more tombs out east, and probably more genuine statues."
** Merdmira appears to be looking low in the sky. There's a faint shadow of Drome still visible through the haze. **
(840) Naia: "At least, that's my hope. That reminds me, I should buy a map."
** (847) Merduk tries to see what she is looking at. **
** Merdmira is just staring roughly where Drome is just visible. **
** (847) Merduk looks at that spot. **
** Naia turns and walks towards a stall, leaving a scent of flowers in her wake. **
(840) GM: (You don't see anything strange, Merduk. Just the outline of the moon in the sky.)
** (861) Laj wonders why she always smells like flowers. Yitek women smell like dust. ALL Yitek smell like dust. **
** (847) Merduk smells Naia's scent. He feels the usual bitter longing that comes from being near a woman he can't have. **
** Naia returns with a rolled up map. **
** Naia looks over the map, looking every bit the Cymrilian tourist. **
(840) Naia: "Now, Akmir isn't too far east. Would you be willing to escort me there?"
(847) Merduk: (No. No. No. nononononono) "Yeah, sure!"
(840) GM: (HA!)
(861) Laj: "Headed that way, sort of." Laj gets a bad feeling as he recalls Merdmira's dream.
(840) Naia: "We might as well enjoy Kasmir while we're here. I have no idea what the Kasmirans think, but there's a group of Sarista performing over by that large red tent. Want to see the show?"
(840) Merdmira: "Don't stand too close, they'll rob you blind."
** (847) Merduk shrugs. "We're Marukan. They'll assume we don't have anything." **
(840) Merdmira: "I meant you, miss. That silver you wear makes you a target."
(840) Merdmira: "The rest of us, well, we're probably safe."
** Merdmira laughs a croaky laugh. **
(840) GM: The Sarista are performing, dancing and singing, and passing the hat around. They're nowhere near as talented as Aurelie, but the women dancing with their flashy flowing dresses certainly keeps your attention. Naia drops some silver coins in the hat.
(840) GM: Pretty soon, the audience around them are clapping and stomping and generally having a good time.
** (861) Laj puts his purse inside his robes. Anyone who wants it would have to be pretty desperate for coin. **
(840) GM: Some of them even start dancing, though the women ignore them.
(840) GM: Their movements are mesmerizing, and you can't help but feel captivated by the swirling colors. You also have an almost overwhelming urge to donate coin to them.
** Merdmira cracks a turtle shell, muttering. [1d20+5] -> [11,5] = (16) **
(840) GM: The captivation and the urge to donate disappear with the cracking of the shell.
(861) Laj: "Nice. Leaving." Laj grabs Naia.
** Merdmira mutters something inaudible. **
** Merdmira follows Laj and Naia. "Come on, brother." **
** Naia allows herself to be led by Laj. **
** (847) Merduk walks away. **
(840) GM: Even as you're leaving, you still see people dropping coins into the hat.
(840) Merdmira: "Old trick. Bunch of hustlers."
(847) Merduk: "Seems to be working, though."
(840) Merdmira: "Sure. If you're not looking for it, you'd be just like them."
(861) Laj: "Agreed. And the Kasmirans dislike Yitek and let these people in."
(840) Merdmira: "Need to remember that next time I sell some luck talismans."
(840) Merdmira: "You'll notice no Kasmirans were nearby. The day a Kasmiran donates something is the day the world ends."
(840) Merdmira: "Those guys know every scam. They probably collected quite a fee to allow the performers in the bazaar at all."
** Naia looks a little sad. **
(840) Naia: "It's a shame you can't just enjoy a show."
(840) Naia: "I suppose everyone has to make a living somehow."
(847) Merduk: "They could probably make good money without the magic. They were talented. Too bad they had to spoil it that way."
(840) Merdmira: "Let's get something to drink."
** Merdmira looks at Merduk. "Just water, I was thinking." **
** (847) Merduk nods. **
(861) Laj: "Water with a drop of aquavit."