Re: Chapter 2, Phase 1 Intermission - Going to Market!
Tallest tree on the island:
Tageru's appearance does tend to ward people away from him, both friendly folks and less savory sorts. Though Outcastes and Dynasts alike are allowed to walk the streets freely, few are as strongly aspected as he is.
Now and then merchants call out to him, offering fresh baked bread, mouthwatering cantaloupe slices, colorful bolts of cloth (that of course will 'never fade'), shells that whisper the sea's song, obsidian pendants blessed by Hamoji. One woman claims that her pearls can turn any body of liquid it touches into pure water. Still another talks of a branch cut from an eternal tree, crafted into a staff of living wood.
The Immaculate warrior notices other Dragon-blooded among the crowd as well. They stand out in their own way -- an exquisitely dressed Dynast, with slaves to carry her parasols and packages; a Navy officer who frowns deeply as he watches Tageru progress through the crowd; a humble figure with her head shaved wearing Immaculate robes of linen, surrounded by a group of young children. [Private to Cynis Tageru: Just some random things to potentially react to, so far. You can of course take some other direction completely. :)]
Shopping for shinies:
Down another market street, Zeru and Cinna enjoy their stroll... as much as they can, anyway, knowing they are being trailed. Fortunately, Antov and the others seem to have diverted the attention of one of the guards, drawing him into one of the many seaside taverns they will likely visit before the night.
Cinna, it seems, has a bit of a feminine side, and a fickle one at that. She is drawn to a shawl of fringed, deep red cloth with threads of gold embroidery in the weft so that it shimmers in the sun, admires a bracelet of lapis, turquoise and mother-of-pearl, and tries a sample from a bottle of fire blossom perfume. [Private to Peleps Zeru: The shawl would be Res 1, the bracelet 2, the perfume 3.] Marlena, though, would be more interested in a true gemstone, which ultimately brings Zeru to the storefront of Cordova and Daughters, Jeweler. There seem to be plenty of 'shinies' to browse through there.
A second coast guard shadows them perhaps a block away. This one isn't particularly bothering to keep himself hidden -- after all, he is an authority in this city! What he doesn't know is that yet another figure trails after him, as well... [Private to Xander Lucian: That's you! Hmm, maybe you could try to distract the guard elsewhere, so you can approach Zeru without him watching?]