Goings On in Cothon-Gadeed

 While the Long Wake has just begun, other things are also afoot in the Mother of Cities! (this post covers the results of downtime activities for the week ending 12/5)

Durham, noble fighting-man from a distant land, has sought out his erstwhile beggar-companion Mad Matho in an attempt to ingratiate himself with the underclass of the city. Over the course of various encounters in back alleys and on lonely quays under the passing stars, Durham ultimately gains an audience with one calling himself Isen-Boss in the style of some lord of the Northern Shores. The old pirate, his once pale skin tanned to leather by a life on the open deck under the great red sun, is feted like some kind of king of the beggars and pick-pockets, his court one of the alehouses that peddle prostitutes to the longshoreman who work in the harbor.

Whatever business they engage in concludes profitably for Durham, who returns with 225 gold weighing down his pockets, but also with expectation for further business with the old creep weighing on his shoulders ...

Persephone attempted her own negotiations with certain buyers throughout the city, but was unable to secure any particular deals.

Fellow fighting-man Sesel, meanwhile, is led from the city by Ix of the Free Klackons to their encampment outside the Gate of Hamdi. There, he is introduced to the camp's preeminent warrior-dore, Dojthrinta'aksum, i.e. "Doj". Slave-interpreters handle most of the conversation, though Doj is somewhat conversant in the Common tongue, and even able to recreate its sounds with his agile mandibles.

After explanation by Ix of her and Sesel's bouts of sparring over the last weeks, and how the human warrior did not disdain the Free Klackons as so many of the citizens of the dual-city do, Doj agrees to preliminary fighting-lessons for the young human warrior. He draws a circle in the sand for Sesel to take his stance, and then proceeds to cast javelins at the warrior, while Sesel deflects the missiles with his sword, or the thin shield provided by the clan, or with his naked forearms. At the end of the session, with Sesel sweating and weak-jointed, Doj chitters a Klackon laugh and assures the human warrior that he can return to learn more of the art of defending himself as if he had all four Klackon arms--For almost did it seem that you sprouted an extra two, Hoo-man!

Meanwhile, the tavern of Cothon-Under-Star is abuzz with talk about the mechanical kyni-bird Nassr, set loose during the researches of Razo. For at the outset of the last expedition to the Tel, Razo had hefted Nassr on his arm and given it the command to go forth, with the intent that it follow the outgoing adventurers. And forth it flew! The metal bird spread its gilded wings, rose into the air on its own strange powers, and did as requested, following the party to the limits of the Klackon Spire before returning, glinting in the air, over the walls of Cothon.

By continuing such practices, allowing Nassr to fly freely as it will in circles of reconnaissance, Razo is able to glean several of the strange creature's properties:

1. If given over to scouting in this manner, it would eliminate the possibility of surprise for a party traveling overland
2. Its eyes are able to be illuminated by another command, and thence shine like a torch. There may be some kind of limit on the time, but Razo is unable to ascertain such while in the city
3. When given free rein, the kyni attempts to lead Razo northeast, out through the Gate of Fisherman and north along the coast from there; it's unclear where exactly this would end ...

Avin however, is up to her own secret purposes in the city; her furtive comings and goings she does not explain to her companions; and Torkol makes himself useful to those running the tavern, earning their gratitude, and almost certainly making himself deserving of a favor or so ...