The Eye of Anubis: Book Six

[Kaitou Kage]

"I'll go ahead and get my business with the priest taken care of early, then," Kuzan said to Lia, "That way you can talk to him as time allows."

[yalenusveler]

"I'd actually like to tag along on the visit to the temple of Osiris. Getting to view it as a living faith would be lovely, and I must admit, the young woman having nightmares intrigues me. It may just be a consequence of some poor travel experience..but then again, when has anything been so simple for us?"
Andre said, his mind still wondering about those figurines on a tangent involving some strange desert beings or some forgotten cult, formulating a conspiracy of such proportions as to make Devereux impressed.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"I'd actually like to tag along on the visit to the temple of Osiris. Getting to view it as a living faith would be lovely, and I must admit, the young woman having nightmares intrigues me. It may just be a consequence of some poor travel experience..but then again, when has anything been so simple for us?"

"Never!" Charles replies from behind a rack of weapons. "H'mmm...now I'm answering rhetorical questions too...it must be catching. Myself, I think I'd like to get out a bit, see the sights--a little scenic tour of the town and environs. Anyone care to join me?"

[steveflam]

"I'd join you Effendi Charles if you accompany me to the blacksmith's." Ishaq smiles at Charles.

[lostboy]

Myself, I think I'd like to get out a bit, see the sights--a little scenic tour of the town and environs. Anyone care to join me?"

"You may count me in Affendi." Khalil chimes in. "Considering our fortune so far I will be much happier having seen the nature of this place before the inevitable trouble sneaks up on us." He adds with a grin that isnt totally convincing, and all things considered justifiably so.

"I'd join you Effendi Charles if you accompany me to the blacksmith's."

"And that is someonelse Id like to see once all is settled and the animals are secured" he finishes with a nod to Ishaq.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Very good," Charles says. "We'll pay another visit to your establishment soon, M'sieur Stahlrheim, and thank you for your kind welcome and your helpful information. In the meantime, we'd better make camp and leave the smith to his business!"

[DocBeard]

"I will remember you to her." Tomas says, honestly touched by the old man's gift, slipping it on his finger so as not to appear reluctant about accepting it, and then bowing low to the dwarf. "And barring my horrible death at the hands of the forces of evil, or her sending you a letter instead of me, I promise to return her reply to you myself."

[The Whistler]

"And that is someonelse Id like to see once all is settled and the animals are secured" he finishes with a nod to Ishaq."

"It is a plan, then! I am of the same mind, if you all are not opposed to the extra company--a little of work, a little of sightseeing, and it is a day. Now! As Charles has said: to camp."

[NeoTiamat]

Kermanshah, The Kermanevar, Sebua
June 22nd, 761, 7:02 PM; Day 97 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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I will remember you to her." Tomas says, honestly touched by the old man's gift, slipping it on his finger so as not to appear reluctant about accepting it, and then bowing low to the dwarf. "And barring my horrible death at the hands of the forces of evil, or her sending you a letter instead of me, I promise to return her reply to you myself."

"Aye lad, belike that will do well enough to see us through." The dwarf nodded somberly. "Now, off with the lot of you if you ain't here to buy anything. I'm not going any place, and neither are you."

Mrs. Roshna's, Kermanshah, The Kermanevar, Sebua
June 23rd, 761, 9:38 AM; Day 98 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Tomas wasn't quite certain how he ended up accompanying Lia's to the tailor's but there was something universal in it. After all, what student hasn't been dragged along shopping by a woman of his age?

Nevertheless, Mrs. Roshna's didn't look to be quite the kind of mad shopping experience that Tomas or Lia would have imagined. As a matter of fact, it was very... still. The semi-permanent tent was constructed out of lengths of leather and rope, using part of the old base of the fort as a wall. Out in front, an awning kept the direct sunlight off the entrance to the tent-house.

Seated upon a narrow wicker chair was a woman of perhaps thirty years of age, perhaps younger even. She was a Pharazian, Tomas and Lia could tell that much, and wore a flimsy veil before her face. She was weaving with a small handloom, and generally gave no notice of the two foreigners approaching.

Just in front of the home was a young boy, perhaps six or seven years of age. He was sitting cross-legged on a mat and seemed to be staring off into the distance.

The Temple of Osiris, The Kermanevar, Sebua
June 23rd, 761, 9:38 AM; Day 98 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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The Temple of Osiris was not really the kind of building that Andre and Kuzan were expecting from their first encounter of the living Akiri religion. The temple was a large, squat block of sandstone, nestled in an indentation in the canyon wall. It commanded a splendid view of the entire valley, but it didn't preside over the Kermanevar magesterially. If anything, it looked somewhat like a toad by the riverside. The front of the temple had been plastered at some point in the none-too-recent past, but it was a patchwork job, and the amateurish frescoes of the temple's facade failed to invoke awe.

Compared to the massive, brilliant constructions of white marble that were the vogue in Pharazia, it was really quite jarring. Even the Chapel of the Morninglord in Ravnika had its own cozy charm.

Javed of Osiris was a gaunt, tall man who looked just a little like his patron as he sat upon one of the benches of the church. He turned towards the two visitors when Kuzan and Andre entered.

Kermanshah, The Kermanevar, Sebua
June 23rd, 761, 9:38 AM; Day 98 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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To be honest, there wasn't too much of Kermanshah to explore. It was a small, compact little trading outpost notably primarily for being the only place to trade for a good hundred miles in every direction. Most of the dwellings were crude affairs, something halfway between tents and lean-tos, obviously set up by the residents themselves.

Despite the relatively cool morning, it was also rather quiet. Apparently the Kermanshah, located as it was in the shadows of the massive canyon, was quite cool by desert standards. The lack of the oppressive heat that was otherwise omnipresent in Sebua was quite a relief. The Expedition was actually enjoying the peace and calm of the village when they spooted someone approaching them.

She was perhaps twenty years of age, and any thoughts that she was a native Pharazian or Akiri were instantly dispelled by her flaming red hair. Her face was pale, if slightly waxy as if from too much makeup, and her large, liquid eyes were soft blue. She was clad in a simple, grey dress of a sort fashionable in Mordentshire, and seemed to be advancing upon the four men of the Expedition in a very determined manner.

"Excuse me?" The young woman asked, though there was a slight tremor, or subtone in her voice.

"Are you travelers from the core? You must be, you aren't all locals." She gazed at Charles and Otto as she said this, though she didn't spare Ishaq or Khalil her examination. "Pray, excuse me. I am Mary Collins, of Mordentshire."

[Kaitou Kage]

Kuzan gave Andre a look that said "I'll only be a minute" and then approached Javed.

"Good morning," he said, "I am Kuzan of Varuna." The Rajian bowed slightly and then lowered his voice just a touch. "Could I have a brief word with you?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Thank you for accompanying me, Tomas," Lia says to the other student as they walk through the tent village. "I promise not to be too long about this. It is not as if I wish to buy a whole wardrobe for the new social season in Dementlieu, after all. Hm." Lia inclines her head pensively. "Not that I've ever paid much attention to the social seasons of Dementlieu. Heard a lot of nattering about it from my roommates at finishing school, you know, but I never really felt like joining in. But here we are."

Pharazian: "How d'you do?" Lia says in a startlingly loud voice as she approaches the tailor lady's tent, and claps her hands together. In a rather more reasonable volume, she continues: Pharazian: "The fact that we are not from around here is glaringly obvious, so let's skip past that. I was told that you are the person to go to if I want to buy fresh clothing. I am looking for something that allows me more freedom of movement and is better suited for the desert. Incidentally, what's your little boy looking at so intently?"

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Good morning, m'selle," Charles says, smiling and extending his hand. [Assuming she gives hers] He kisses her hand in the best Dementlieuse style, combining the salute with a bow, and says, "Charles Martel, your servant. These gentlemen are Herr Otto Schultheiss of Lamordia, Effendi Ishaq Rafiq, known as Serpentbane, and Effendi Khalil al-Atim. You are correct; we come from the Core. Can we be of service to you?"

[steveflam]

Ishaq nods politely to the red headed woman. He wasn't used to seeing people from the Core, so he might have stared at Mary more than was appropriate. He wasn't trying to be rude, just curious is all. He was wondering what a young woman was doing, alone here in Sebua, for instance. Curiosity got the better of him and he asked Mary before he changed his mind "Pardon me, Effendi Mary, but I can't help but wonder what a young woman such as yourself, is doing here in Sebua. I would imagine that traveling by yourself here from your home of Mordent was a very dangerous voyage. Pardon my bluntness" Ishaq blushes.

[lostboy]

Khalil folds his arms and stands behind Charles, leaving the diplomacy to those best equipped for it. As he does he examines the woman carefully, strange that one such as her finds her way this deep into the wastes seemingly alone....

Still she didnt seem likely to kill them all on sight, which was a step up from normal for this expedition.

[yalenusveler]

Andre offered a polite nod, offering the priest a greeting in Akiri Blessings onto you, oh follower of Set's foe, the father of Horus and Lord of the realm of the Dead. He had examined the frescoes a bit, and although they were amateur..out here he figured they had to make do with what was available.