Amara watched the contraption carefully before sitting at the table. "That's not a Mostali thing is it? The last one we met was reasonably hard to kill." She looked at the food dubiously before trying it "It's not too bad." she was finally willing to admit to Kobal "Not rhino good obviously, but close enough." she only took one quick drink of the khumis before making a face "They don't know how to make khumiss properly." her nostrils flared in disgust "I'm not the worlds greatest fan of beer, but it has to be better than the khumiss."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:27, Sat 10 Feb 2018.

"Ah, that's right," Kobal said.  "I'd forgotten you told us before.  Corflu seems like a like a long time ago, with all we have done since.  Hopefully your friend can rejoin the clan in future."




Kobal looks where the man points.  A non-descript building.  Many of them look the same to him in this place.  He tries to imagine what it would be like living in the same place, same tent, for his whole life.



Kobal goes for the food first.  The meat and bread aren't bad, and the condiments are different from what he's used to, they don't detract from the basic taste of meat.

"Of course," he says, turning to Amara, burger in hand, "an animal that you've raided tastes best, but rhinos would be too expensive to sell here, being so rare.  You know, I think Hoskar mentioned this place to us when we were making our way to Pavis."

Amara is right that khumiss is usually better than beer, except perhaps here.  Though he's sure he can learn to like it if he drinks enough of it.  He holds on to his beer, in case she starts to make eyes at his mug.

Halfway through his burger, he calls to the man and asks how the Mostali contraption works.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:22, Sat 10 Feb 2018.

The supervisor shakes her head "I have no knowledge of what you speak of. When you deal with the scribe have him write down what you have on the subject and I will peruse it when I have the time. I shall then contact you....Know is there anything else?"

Hoskar nods in acceptance.

I will do as you say, Supervisor. My thanks for your time and generosity.

From me, that is all. I believe my friend has something he would seek to sell, something that may have interest for knowledge, but I am unclear whether that is business to trouble you with, or business we can transact with your scribe.

He turns to Henal to see if his comrade want to add anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

Stepping through the doorway Ohanzee looks about the place taking in groups, nomad and otherwise and then spots Kobal and Amara.

Making his way over he finds a seat on the now familiar benches that the town folk seem to like so much. "Missed much?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

Henal speaks softly to Hoskar. I found this scroll on snakeskin in the Yelmalion tower and the sages we traveled with wanted to buy it. Do you think you can help me get a good price?



Henal saysthere is one more thing, an item i got on our journey that the sages we traveled with said to bring.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

Hoskar smiles as recognition dawns on him.

Ah yes. of course he murmurs. The snakeskin.

Actually, Supervisor, we might need to trouble you over this - if I'm any judge it's quite a valuable piece to the right person: maybe a bit above your staff's range of payment authority.

I'm no expert on these, but it's clearly an old thing, old and maybe forgotten knowledge. I don't think the sun worshipers use snakeskin for their writings now, and the circumstances in which we found it suggest its information might not usually be available.
We thought you might want the first chance at it. Your apprentices certainly thought the temple would have an interest.

Amara looked at her khumiss and then at Ohanzee "This khumiss is about as sour as your attitude." she lifted some of the burger up "But the meat isn't bad. Pretty tasty for bison."

Kobal is told to wait five minutes as the grinder would be started then. Whilst they wait Ohanzee's order is taken and delivered and he's just getting stuck in when two men carry a side of Bison over to the large Mostali machine. A man, perhaps the owner, wearing a heavily engraved apron walks up and places both hands on the metal surface whilst whispering ancient words of power.

On the final syllable the machine cranks into life, with whatever is in side whirring and clanking noisily so that it momentarily drowns out the sounds of fighting from next door.

With a loud groan of exertion the two men begin to feed the carcass into the wide funnel/mouth at one end as the apron wearer moves several baskets to the other.

The meat is pulled into the machine, ground noisily inside and then spurted out at the other end in a torrent of finally minced Bison...

The snakeskin is unravelled gently on to a long wooden bench and is soon the centre of attention of all present in the hall. Quills are put down and ink spilt as scribes rush over to see what has been discovered. An elderly Sage, head held high with authority is summoned and he looks over the scroll, occasionally gazing over at Hoskar and Henal.

Broosta joins the two braves "Seems you've stirred up the temple...Any idea what it is?"

In reply to Broosta (msg # 224):

Hoskar risks a grin.

Valuable he chirrups. Easy to spot: you don't see a stir like this in here every day.

I imagine it's from the secrets of a long-dead sun priest he adds more soberly. Likely not something a Lightbringer would usually get sight of.

He leans in and adds more quietly the Supervisor didn't seem that interested in my current information, though I'll give it to the scribe as instructed: when this bit of business is settled, may I have a few moments of your time to hear me tell of something we saw out there that's worrying me for the safety of the city?

"That I can. Unless it is an immediate life or death situation you may come to the city administration buildings midday tomorrow. I have a meeting there before hand."

Ohanzee grins his familiar grin "Really? Sounds like it'll be too sweet for my taste then. I know you like things sweet though, otherwise you'd not have married me!" and chuckles as he bites down on his bison burger.

He almost  chokes though when the Mostali machine cranks up and shudders remembering the mess that was made of the women at the Trading Post.

"Did you find any where sacred to Waha in this place?" he asks.

Smiling thankfully, Hoskar murmurs not urgent that I know of, just possibly a future thing. My thanks, doing his best to keep this aside low-key and not interfere with Henal's snakeskin sale.

The supervisor returns, an odd look on her face "The scroll you possess is most interesting. Do you..eh...have a price in mind?"

Ohanzee catches the attention of one of the feeders of the machine on his way back and asks "What about the bones, what does it do with them?"

Listening to the response he then asks loudly to those near, the combination of kumiss, ale and beer making him feel quite merry though not legless drunk by now "Anyone got anything to play? Give me any instrument even anything that can make a sound and I'll play it for you! "

In reply to Supervisor Serat (msg # 229):

Hoskar's smile is positively beatific by now.

Well he remarks I am originally thinking we might get a couple of thousand for it, what with its age and rarity and the large market for this sort of thing. You, the folks round the back of this place, the sun folks themselves, their enemies, curiosity collectors, and so forth. We can always take it back south and sell to foreigners too - that's the joy of moving around, you know. Met a strange collector on our travels who'd likely be interested.

But then, you've gone and made it so obvious it's of vast interest to you - never seen such a stir - that maybe I underestimated...

...no. That's not fair, is it? Can't drive the price up on that. Better it goes to a Lightbringer.

His smile remains, but he's standing more upright now, alert.

Couple of thou was my estimate. Steep, I know, but it's a nice informative piece. And did you have an offer in mind?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Thu 15 Feb 2018.

""That err sounds acceptable...Cash or credit?"

Eyes twinkling at the ease of all this, Hoskar turns to Henal. It's your piece he observes. Best price I can get you. Your decision on payment terms. If you go for some of the price in credit or training or information, you might get a bit extra value - costs the temple less to pay in suchlike stuff.

They know it, of course, and they know we know it too.

"Grinds them into dust" answers the man "Magic eh?"



"Ah shut up nomad" replies one local from where he sits amongst a half dozen of his mates. Workers from the nearby warehouses perhaps.

"If you want to sing go next door and sing to the Bull men."

Henal smiles before speaking,"I think that it can be a mixture as surely these greybeards must know many spells, but half in cash as I need trade goods".

Amara watched the warehouse workers unsure as to whether or not she should take offence on Ohanzee's behalf, before shrugging "If I were them, I wouldn't want to hear your agonised caterwauling either." she grudgingly admitted.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:10, Thu 15 Feb 2018.

Ohanzee is approached by one of the servers, in his hand is a small stringed instrument "Boss says you can give this a go if youse want?"

After a bit of toing and froing Hoskar is able to get 1,500 silvers in credit and 1000 silvers in cash. The credit is for use just within the Knowledge temple and can be used for training or the purchase of spells known to Llankhor Mhy.

With a smile Ohanzee takes the instrument and sits cross legged on the floor, a more natural position for a nomad.

He places it on his lap and plucks the strings one at a time get the feel of them, tightening one and loosening another that seem wrong.

He smiles at Amara "It seems you are out of luck My Queen!"

He starts to play, impromptu tune that is there to provide mood and backing as he starts to sing the tale of the wedding of the Earth Queen and the River King.