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11:55, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District (Day 6)

Posted by Dungeon MasterFor group 0
Dungeon Master
GM, 43 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Thu 13 May 2021
at 01:53
  • msg #1

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

The Yeong Prosperity District is one of the great Centers of the Yellow City, with many of the most established Opium Cartels, Bazaars and a large range of businesses, set up in colossal buildings crammed next to one another besetting the large 60 feet wide thoroughfares that form the main transport axes of the Yellow City. There is no shortage of goods-hauling pack animals, palanquins containing very important persons carried by extremely muscular and powerful looking Lamarakhi subjugated into servitude by the most powerful in Yoon Suin, extremely skilled or just very desperate goons and thieves that take advantage of the bustle to make some quick but very big coin, and the vicious Adjudicators robed in their uniforms of Red and Yellow, who are perpetually after such thieves and are known for ruthlessly cutting off thieves' arms with their heavy ringed daos as punishment for their infractions.

It is in this very Center of the Yellow City you find yourself in, and also the center of great curiosity and attention as the passers-by stare at your foreign Chelonian likeness. Near a great crossroads you stand with the large thoroughfares cutting north-south and east-west. Towards the north you see two vast compounds facing one another both which you have spent much of your time during your stay in the Yellow City: The great compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, the largest Explorers' Guild in the city, into which numerous carriages and groups of adventurers haul their large backpacks and gained treasure into.

The second compound towards the east is very much obscured by the overgrowing vegetation that covers the entirety the compound's outer rim held in by a tall plastered wall and a large brass gate, both of which have menacing rusty spikes protruding upwards likely to deter trespassers. Nobody stands guard at those gates, but not a single one dares even touch it for there are rumors that it will curse those who are not meant to enter, and will automatically open to those permitted. You had the fortune of acquainting yourself with one of the wealthy patrons of this vast rumored to be haunted compound, and your ocassional visits there have led to much rumors that Turtle Ghosts own the place. This compound, unlike what the rumors suspect, is no haunted house, but the archive and study area of a secretive group Seekers of Secret Knowledge - The Molten Eye.

AS you look about, you seem to notice something odd with the compound of The Molten Eye... near one of the spiked tops of the plastered walls of the compound, you catch the sight of a strange black skinned ape-like creature jumping into the overgrown vegetation and disppearing into the shadow of trees within the compound.

Meanwhile, near the compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, you notice a procession of very muscular, heavily tattooed men of Lamarakh wearing nothing but loincloths, carrying an extremely over-decorated, ornate palanquin, surrounded by heavily armoured men wearing dao, with distinctive peacock feathered helmets. The procession marches steadily through the large gate of Explorers' Guild compound, and those about to enter fall back to give way, and even some bow down as the palanquin passes in an expression of subservience.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Wed 26 May 2021.
Dumon
player, 1 post
Thu 13 May 2021
at 05:15
  • msg #2

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


With a glance left and right before Dumon lifts the hood of his travelling cloak over his head shading his face from the sun and curiosity. He steps off towards the two compounds making sure not to get in the way of the multitude of carts, carriages and wagons or just the throng of people going about their business.

At the corner across where the "monkey" climbed the fence Dumon stops and looks to see if it has a "master" as nonchalantly as he can. He uses the procession entering the Explorers' Guild compound as a cover for his snooping. Dumon finds a disused doorway or somewhere else off the pavement and out of peoples way as he observes the fence for the animals return or the location of its owner.

At this point it is just Tortle curiosity, a trait that is particularity strong in Dumon given he had travelled a fair distance to currently be in this fine city.



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Dungeon Master
GM, 45 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Fri 14 May 2021
at 00:40
  • msg #3

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 2):

You manage to stand out of the way of the stream of passing peoples, and as the palanquin procession disappears into the grounds of the Prowling Cockatrice out of your sight. Observing the overgrown vegetation skirting the tall plastered walls of the compound opposite you try to keep a look out for any of the signs of that same monkey you caught the sight of previously, and suddenly there is a rustling of leaves and out comes a tiny white skinned monkey, which leaps out from the vegetation onto the top of the spiked plastered wall, and then leaps into the crowd, landing on a succession of carriages, peoples' heads, camel humps, in the direction of the main entrance of the Prowling Cockatrice.

It eventually reaches the lower roofed walls of the Prowling Cockatrice, climbs on top of it and disappears into the compound like the rest of the stream of returning adventurers and other visitors.
Dumon
player, 2 posts
Fri 14 May 2021
at 01:01
  • msg #4

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


As Dumon crosses the road he keeps and ear out for shouts of alarm or the like as he takes his time and watches the traffic so not to end up on his shell. He also enters the procession of people entering the compound.

He has been here many times before so relies on his feet to take him to the entrance as he looks for the "monkey" from across the road. He is sure it is probably making for a window or the like so that were he starts his search.

Dumon is not actually sure why this should concern him or what he is looking for, but it's fills in some moments before he will go off to find something to eat. Perhaps he will spot Ouli Koudi or he might even pay him a visit should he be present, but for now he continues his visual search.



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This message was last edited by the player at 01:28, Sat 15 May 2021.
Dungeon Master
GM, 47 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Sat 15 May 2021
at 00:52
  • msg #5

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

You follow the large streams of people entering the compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, and you are met with the usual sight of four main buildings inside the compound:

1. The widest triple floored building lying the closest to the entrance is the Hall of Commissions, its first floor naturally ventilated and open to the ground floor where you can see tall piloti painted in red propping up the rest of the building. It is into this building that most of the non adventurer folk appear to be streaming in and out of, no doubt to commission the explorers various tasks.

2. At the south western part of the walled compound surrounded by a pavilion of strange trees of blue leaves and white bark is the stone walled Hall of Archives, known the be one of the largest repositories of knowledge in the Yellow City itself. Most of the bookish, frail looking, eye-glass wearing folk seem to be headed there. It is in this crowd, you see the white monkey jump onto the heads of. It eventually climbs on top of one of the blue leafed trees and stands on one of its branches to rest.

3. At the northern end of the the compound is the the triple floored Hall of Administrators, connected by a sheltered walkway to the Hall of Commissions. This is where most of the senior staff of the Prowling Cockatrice work and manage guild.

4. Deepest inside the compound at the western end partly obscured by more blue leafed trees is a tall monument-like shrine that resembles a giant decorated quarterstaff with spiked ends, a religious structure erected in worship of Xun-Yin the Monkey God of Fortune a popular deity among merchants in Yoon Suin, who has a vast temple complex in the south-western edge of the Yeong Prosperity District. It is said that the monument's south-western spike is slightly longer than the rest which point at rest of the 7 cardinal directions, and effectively aligns itself with a similar monument in the main temple complex.

While you are pondering on looking for Ouli Koudi, you hear some passing explorers saying something quite relevant as the look towards the palanquin procession headed to the Northern Hall of Administrators:

"First Pang Zhen the Scrupulous, now Fan Lu of Golden Rooftop Den? Can Master Oudi really bring the Scouring Tide back alive?"

You recognize that the names Pang Zhen the Scrupulous and Fan Lu of Golden Rooftop Den are very well known names of two of the most powerful Opium Cartel leaders of the Yellow City. And the Scouring Tide being the adventurer group rumoured to be stranded in the Old City ruins west of the Yellow City.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:53, Sat 15 May 2021.
Dumon
player, 3 posts
Sat 15 May 2021
at 04:18
  • msg #6

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon continued towards the tree without looking at the monkey directly, once under it boughs he looked at the beast again looking for something out of the ordinary... "what was ordinary for a monkey" he thought to himself. Soon his eyes were drawn to the stream of adventures returning with bulging packs and sacks, it was a curious sight which sparked a memory "More would have left then now return." was a saying from his clans mother kin.

Assuming that the curious monkey was not wearing a harness or little clothes Dumon would again brave the crowds to peruse what contracts had become available. Then assuming nothing caught his eye, or even if it did he would seek out Master Oudi.



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Dungeon Master
GM, 52 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Sun 16 May 2021
at 01:18
  • msg #7

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 6):

You manage to observe that the monkey seems to be perhaps a bit too disciplined - as though it were trained to travel from location to location without being distracted by dark orange fruits hanging from the branches of the blue leafed trees. It hops amongs the branches towards the Hall Archives, and enters an open window.

While doing this, you hear word of a few commissions for an explorer that have become available:

1. Around 5 to 10 Tamasic Men have stolen a shipment of armour and hidden it in their hideout in the Eastern Old City. The merchant who was supposed to receive the Shipment is willing to pay 600 gold pieces for the shipment to return. He is willing to sponsor to the explorers willing to help him a Draft Horse and a Wagon for free to ship the armor shipments back. Of course the explorers will have to pay if the horse and wagon are lost.

2. An archivist group, The Blue Terrapin, is willing to pay 300 gold pieces for one of their archivists to be escorted to get rubbings of engravings in the ruins of an ancient shrine deep in the Western Old City.

3. A wealthy merchant is willing to pay 2000 gold pieces for explorers who manage to track down the whereabouts of the elusive Hermit of the Shattered Plinth, rumored to be living somewhere deep inside the Eastern Old City. Of course, they must obtain proof that they have tracked him by handing in a map along with any memento that might be associated with the hermit according to rumors.


Meanwhile, there is word that Cartel Master Fan Lu of the Golden Rooftop Den is currently having a meeting with Ouli Koudi in the Hall of Administrators.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Sun 16 May 2021.
Dumon
player, 4 posts
Sun 16 May 2021
at 02:53
  • msg #8

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon watches the monkey until it disappears into the window. He makes a note of the windows location in relation to the building as a whole. He does not think that the monkey would go straight to its masters office, but you never know.

The job the The Blue Terrapin is advertising sounds interesting, Dumon decides to think on it as he looks for Master Oudi in the Hall of Administrators. Approaching one of the administrators Dumon will give his name and ask to speck with Ouli Koudi when he is free.

He tries to orientate himself as to what window the monkey went through and where he is likely to be and on what floor. Failing that he looks for it perched on someone's shoulder as he waits.



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Dungeon Master
GM, 54 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Mon 17 May 2021
at 01:27
  • msg #9

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 8):

You notice the monkey entering the fourth window on the second floor from the northern end of the Hall of Archives. Unfortunately it is not possible to see clearly what is past the window due to its height.


You imagine it would be possible to track down that window in relation to the building if you were to head to the second floor.

As you try to arrange for an appointment with Master Koudi, the administrator tells you that he will most likely only be available at dusk as his schedule is packed with meetings with various people throughout the day.

Judging from the location of the sun, it is noon, and probably will be a while before dusk.
Dumon
player, 5 posts
Mon 17 May 2021
at 01:52
  • msg #10

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon gives a nod and thanks the staff member saying he will return then giving him his name as well. Still amused by the monkey Dumon makes his way to the Hall of Archives and attempts to gain access to the second floor.

As is his nature he takes things slow and observes as he moves through the complex, making mental note of the familiar and not so familiar faces of the staff and researchers. This place and the city as a whole is a far cry from the small village he was from. The river, there was always a river and though this one is not his own it is comforting to have one so close.

Should his way be barred he will go find the information on the escorting/guard job instead.


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Dungeon Master
GM, 59 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Tue 18 May 2021
at 02:05
  • msg #11

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 10):

As you are well recognized as a friend of Master Koudi, you are freely let through into the Hall of Archives.

The first floor are where all the indices are stored, alongside the many offices of archivists who work at cataloguing the various books and artefacts handed in by explorers returning with various articles, maps, logs, and even some minor historical artefacts to be kept until archaeologists or historians come to study them reportedly deep in the underground chambers of the Hall of Archives.

The upper floors hold less precious but still valuable repositories of information in the form of books containing the accumulated lore of the lands. Some of the money that the Explorers' Guild make is from selling memberships for access to these books within the upper floors of the Hall of Archives, which many historians and scholars frequent.

Access to all upper floors is through a large central spiral staircase of a wide diameter, lit by sunlight from a tall crystal glass ceiling at the centre of the building's roof, and climbing it brings you to the second floor entrance from which you can see rows upon rows of bookshelves, occasional benches and tables for people to peruse the books.

Following your mental mapping of where the monkey went, you head towards the eastern end of the second floor and see that the eastern edge is lined with numerous enclosed booths accessible by a wooden door, most likely individual study rooms, judging from a scholar heaving a large stack of books out of one of the booths towards the shelves where he places some books back.

The booth that likely coincides with the window into which the monkey entered is the fourth booth from the northern end of the second floor, which, like the rest of the adjacent booths, has its door closed shut.
Dumon
player, 6 posts
Tue 18 May 2021
at 03:24
  • msg #12

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Just before he tries the handle on the door Dumon takes the time to check the corridor and stacks are clear. He turns the handle abruptly and barges into the room, looking first surprised and then offering his apologies should the room be occupied.

"So sorry I was informed the room was free." He takes up the entire door frame as he speaks.


-
Dungeon Master
GM, 62 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Wed 19 May 2021
at 01:58
  • msg #13

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 12):

Inside the booth, you see a bald, lanky man wearing a plain beigge robe and eyeglasses. Numerous rolls of parchment lay on the table, and it appears the he is in the process of drawing a monkey, which is the very same monkey that you saw enter through the window.

The monkey sits on a table while eating a banana, probably plucked from a bunch that is placed near the robed man. There are a few books stacked up on an empty chair.

When you opened the door and spoke, you visibly see the man jolt in shock. He slowly turns about while speaking.

"Uh... I... I did not bring those bananas into this room. It was the monkey..."

Eventually as his eyes meet your Tortle likeness, he just stares speechless at you, clearly not expecting to have encountered a humanoid turtle.
Dumon
player, 7 posts
Wed 19 May 2021
at 02:19
  • msg #14

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon enters the room and closes the door behind him "How incredible for a monkey just to enter the archives and bring his own lunch no less. Does he have a name " Dumon eyes scan the table for anything out of the ordinary and then he spent sometime looking at the monkey close up and lastly his eyes turned to the man.

He waits for the man's answer as he uses his bulk to block the door.


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Dungeon Master
GM, 64 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Thu 20 May 2021
at 00:48
  • msg #15

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 14):

On the table, apart from the messily placed parchment, inkwell and quill, you notice a strange looking key made of some shiny, metal-like material covered with many intricate and tiny engravings. The Bits and Wards of its thick looking key look rather exotic and bear a series of triangular cuts, much unlike any other key you have seen at least in the inns you've stayed in Yoon Suin.

The monkey is now more identifiable to you and appears to be a white furred Macaque. It is busy eating the large, fat banana and pays you no heed.

Now that you can see the man, you clearly see his features - pale skinned, with grey short hair, slitted brown eyes protected by eyeglasses, and a large reddish nose. He seems to be breaking sweat as you see streaks of perspiration roll down from his temples.

"N.. name? Uh no... Uh... I mean... it just jumped in just now! I... uh... I don't own it or anything...! And I most definitely didn't bring food into the archives...! Yes, Indeed! This is but a pest which plagues the trees in the compound!"

As the man speaks he closes his eyes and folds his arms and nods multiple times, as though satisfied with his own answer.

The moment he does this, the Macaque finishes eating the banana and throws it peel at the man, landing on his head. He quickly removes the peel from his head and opens one eye and continues.

"...And... and who are you? C... Can't you see that this study room is being occupied, hmm...?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:48, Thu 20 May 2021.
Dumon
player, 8 posts
Thu 20 May 2021
at 02:22
  • msg #16

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon walks closer to the man and the table, he feints a pat of the monkey and grabs the key from the table with his other hand.

To the man's question Dumon answered "A guard, the key very good I will pass it on. No more food or monkeys in the archive. I will know, your name is on the sheet to "occupy" this room and we will speak no more of this yes ?".

He backs up to the door still facing the man, turns the door nob and then leaves. Dumon leaves the archive as fast as he can and tries to blend into the crowd leaving the complex and then into the masses of people on the road. He heads for a small tea house that over looks the river that he had found.

-
Dungeon Master
GM, 67 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Thu 20 May 2021
at 22:50
  • msg #17

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 16):

The man freezes at your reply as though imagining severe repercussions, and fortunately he is stunned enough to afford time for you to not only take the key but also leave the second floor before you begin to hear sounds of pursuit from probably the man.

And somehow by likely sheer chance, you manage to position yourself into a procession of tall, large wagons which fortunately block most visual access to your extremely striking likeness, and manage to evade further pursuit from the robed man.

Eventually you arrive at a teahouse named River Pheasant Teahouse, which is positioned next to one of the distributaries of the God River that leads out into the Gulf of Morrays towards the south. Though it is now sometime past noon, there is still quite a number of customers seated at the many sets of round tables and chairs placed outside the establishment, with numerous white uniformed teahouse waiters serving tea pastries and porcelain teapots filled with steam emanating tea.

There are perhaps 1 or 2 empty tables, while the rest are mostly partially occupied.
Dumon
player, 9 posts
Fri 21 May 2021
at 00:04
  • msg #18

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon keeps his hood up as he travels to the tea house, a couple of times he cuts back just to make sure he was not followed. Once he arrives he asks one of the waiters to be seated as close to the water as possible giving the man a slight bow in the process.

As he sits he closes his eyes and lets the breeze drift across his face and with it the smells of the water and the lotus flower scent from the plants just below where is is sitting. The sun also warms his face causing him to make a series of rapid quiet "chirps" of contentment, a noted vocalisation of his species.

The shuffling of one of the waiters approaching his table causes Dumon to focus again on the now as he orders some very strong Laung (clove) tea with some dried buds on the side. He also ordered some water chestnut cake and lotus seed buns. His main meal was always in the evening so this was really just a light snack and he came here for the river anyway not the food.

Dumon turned and watched the entrance to the house and then the customers as he removes the key from his pocket. Resting it on his lap under the low table he runs his fingers over its surface before looking down to have a closer look then he was able to get in the study room.



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This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Fri 21 May 2021.
Dungeon Master
GM, 73 posts
The Purple Man
In the Sky
Sat 22 May 2021
at 02:23
  • msg #19

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District

In reply to Dumon (msg # 18):

You order your food, which is the price of 20 coppers. After confirming your order, the waiters disappears into the teahouse for a few minutes before coming out with trays to serve others with. It looks like your food will take some time to prepare.

As you gaze at the teahouse, you see the usual sight of the midday teahouse humdrum - white steam emanating from the tops of the doors and windows and chimneys, the frequent entering and leaving of various waiters carrying food and drink, and the occasional leaving of the establishment by a group of customers - who appear to be quite well to do and neatly dressed. A large number of customers are human, with only one or two slightly rich looking slugmen escorted by Lamarakhi bodyguards occasionally sighted.

The key itself looks much like what you saw before, but now that it is not exposed to the light directly, you notice that the intricate patterns on the surface of the key are less visible. It feels quite hefty in your hand and on your lap as though it were made of lead or some dense material. The make and what exactly this key is escapes you, however as you have certainly seen nothing like it.

After a few moments of listening to the faint sounds of splashing water from the nearby God River, you hear a louder splash and some of the patrons pointing towards the river. It is also at this time a waitress comes with your food, places it on your table and looks towards where all the patrons are pointing at while wiping her sweaty brow with a towel hung around her neck.

"Hoo, what are they doing this far down the river...?" the waitress mutters as she continues gazing towards the river.
Dumon
player, 10 posts
Sat 22 May 2021
at 02:33
  • msg #20

0004 - Yellow City: Yeong Prosperity District


Dumon pockets the key again as the waitress brings his food, he gives her a smile and a "Thank you." as he taps his index and middle fingers on the edge of the table, a traditional show of gratitude to the bearer of the tea. Before arranging the plates to his liking on the table and adding all the cloves in the small bowl into the pot of tea. He could feel the vapours in his eyes, a stinging effect to anyone other then a Tortle.

As the waitress speaks Dumon cranes his neck to look at what she has seen and what has caused a stir among the other patrons of the teahouse.



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This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sat 22 May 2021.
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