PROLOGUE: A Song for Aram

Sani looks surprised at Zhara’s outburst. "Stealing? From Khadija?" she fakes indignation at the accusation but cannot hide her smile. "Relax captain. It’s just a little game. I don’t usually return when I actually steal". Sani looks at the statue for a moment The security needs to pay more attention

Your crew is only kept waiting for a mere moment until Batool returns escorting your patron. Both emerge from the curtained entrance, and all of the room's seated henchmen quickly stand to polite attention.

Al-Sayyida Khadija bint Jubal al-Wali, known more commonly as "Khadija Jubal" for short, is a striking woman. She is attractive by most standards, but it's difficult to know how much of her beauty is natural and how much is the result of targeted biosculpting. For that same reason, it is also a difficult to assess her age, and it's probably safe to say that she's older than she looks. Khadija is average height for a woman of Coriolis descent, with unblemished flawless skin, full lips, and a cascade of hair so black it seems to absorb the light in the room. Her piercing green eyes, complemented by long lashes, are the color of Algolan emeralds and just as sharp; the keen eyes of someone who doesn't miss much. She is dressed in a richly embroidered brown abaya with a red prayer shawl draped over her right shoulder, and a loose-fitting, tasseled khimār (scarf) hanging from the top of her head. Rarely one to skimp on accessories, Khadija is adorned in several bejeweled gold necklaces and bracelets, as well as earrings, a forehead piece, and a large nose ring connected to her left earlobe by a delicate chain. In the popular fashion of some nomad tribes, you see her hands and forearms are home to "living henna". The ever-changing pigmentation shifts its color and floral patterns in a way that seems to reflect Khadija's mood. Currently, the henna is gliding languidly across her skin like a sleepy parasite.

Your patron smiles broadly at all of you as though you are close friends whom she hasn't set eyes on in ages. She respectfully nods her head to each of you, though those of you from a privileged upbringing get a slightly deeper nod as she acknowledges your station. Batool stands slightly behind her and to the right.

"Peace be upon you, my friends! Welcome, welcome! Thank you for accepting my humble invitation on such a short notice. My chefs have prepared quite a lunch for us today! Please, make yourselves comfortable, I insist!" Khadija has a jovial and energetic tone to her voice. She is perhaps one of the most hospitable hosts any of you have ever met, even while threatening people with their death.

"We have much to discuss, all of us." She makes a swift motion with her hand, and two of her henchmen in the room (not Batool or the one next to the azuk) approach you and offer to remove your coats or carry-ons for you. They don't seem thrilled to be doing what amounts to valet work, but they're obedient nonetheless.

It's at this point that Khadija looks over to her desk - an inlaid paquetry table of wood and metal, equipped with view screens and a small shrine to The Lady of Tears. She sees the icon statuette and then shifts her gaze to Sani. Your patron grins. She doesn't seem surprised. She looks to Zahra. "All is well, Captain. Sani cannot help herself. The fault is in those who are to act as my eyes and ears." She is clearly directing the statement at Batool, who stands silently and grimaces at Sani.

Zahra flickers only the briefest of wry smiles at Sani before she turns to make the proper obeisance. "As you say, Al-Sayyida Jubal. You are most gracious."

In all kinds of ways, she thinks, with one last glance at her light-fingered colleague before she declines to divest herself of anything she's brought along. There's simply nothing to divest.

She waits patiently and politely to be instructed further.

Khadija leads you all through a curtained doorway and into an adjoining chamber. This room is as spacious as the previous one and furnished in a similar manner; full of plants, rugs, and sofas. Situated at the center of the room is a low circular table with places set for seven people. On the floor around the table are throw pillows for comfortable sitting.

Even before you entered the chamber, all of you could smell the aromas of the feast. There are serving platters and mezze-style small plates of a dozen different dishes: tabbouleh salad, savory flatbreads, and falafels accompanied by no less than five kinds of hummus. Halal lamb, kebabs, and bowls of shakshuka. Chicken and rice, grilled eggplant, stuffed dates, and vegetable stew. There are side dishes of goat cheese drizzled with olive oil, Zamusan olives, sogoi berries, yogurt made of dromedon milk, and rice-stuffed Kuan chard leaves. Drinks include tea, iced ayran, pomegranate juice, Dabari red wine, and tsipouro brandy from Dziban.

It's quite a spread, which comes as no surprise since a good Firstcome host is expected to indulge their guests if it's within their means. And from what you know about Khadija, the woman is not lacking in money.

"Please, have a seat and help yourselves." As is typical of business dealings with the Firstcome, food always comes first. It's not till the post-lunch coffee is served that one should broach the topic of business. Doing otherwise is considered uncouth.

As you take your seats, you note that there are no eating utensils; the Firstcome don't generally use them. Eating is done with the right hand, using one's fingers or a slice of pita bread to scoop up food. The left hand is never used for eating. Living among the Firstcome on Coriolis, most Zenithians have grown accustomed to their dining etiquette.

Farouk nods respectfully to Khadija when she greets everyone.

Before being seated, however, the Mystic approaches his host and offers her a gift. In keeping with custom, Farouk gives her a present for the invitation to share a meal in her home. It is a tear-shaped talisman of silver representing the Lady of Tears. The Lady's Icon pendant that once hung from the lapel of his kameez is now conspicuously absent.

"For having us as your guests for this lovely meal. Please accept this humble gift on behalf of us. May the Lady of Tears swiftly carry away your enemies to the justice that awaits them."

Once she takes the gift, he bows his head and then steps back.

Khadija takes Farouk's gift and studies it for a moment. She looks at him, smiles warmly, and nods her head to the Mystic.

"Your gift is thoughtful. You remembered that The Lady is my Icon. I am pleased." She pins the talisman to her abbaya and motions for Farouk to take a seat.

Khadija sits cross-legged at the table and begins helping herself to stuffed dates and lamb. From the other room, you see the curtain ripple and part as the azuk slowly prowls inside, no longer leashed. The creature, lithe and muscular, makes its way over to Khadija. It emits a strange sort of mewling sound, and then plants itself on the floor next to her, resting its massive head onto her lap. Your patron smiles down at the animal and feeds it several slices of lamb, her left hand absently stroking its neck.

Sani looks down at the floor as soon as Khadija enters the room, never looking directly at their patron. She replies to her greeting automatically "And may the Icons' blessing be on this house" after which she lets the bodyguards take her djellaba, revealing the armour underneath, and respectfully offers them her weapons as a a sign of trust and peace.

She stays silent most of the time as Khadija guides them to the other room, but does stands up for a moment, not quite refusing the offer to eat, which would be offensive, but also not immediately accepting it. Only when Khadija re-confirms her offer does Sani push a chair. "Al-Sayyida, I am most honoured by your graceful hospitality" she says as she sits and waits for her turn to take some of the food "I pledge you my services in gratitude for your hospitality".

She makes a quick sign to Batool and gives him a book with a beautifully hand-drawn prayers to the Merchant. Another book of prayers to your patron's collection, you'd all think. Unknown to all that within those very prayers are a coded messaged to be detected and decrypted by a highly secured data djinn. That gift is Sani's last report.

Thank you Al-Sayyida Jubal

Brahim has an appetite and he immediately sits and begins sampling almost everything. Although he avoids the alcohol he does drink more than his share of the pomegranate juice.

Tarek steps forward and smiles. Placing his hand on his chest (over his heart), Tarek bows respectfully to Khadija. You bring honor to your house and your ancestors with your hospitality. Thank you Eimti.

Tarek then moves over to the meal and prepares a light helping of several of the tastier foods. Topping it off with a glass of pomegranate juice. Once he's done, Tarek will take a seat and eat with the others.

As they proceed towards Khadija's office, Sa'id peeks with curiosity at the game of Tarneeb. but not for more than a couple of seconds. The thought of joining afterwards, later in the evening, crosses his mind, but he quickly dismisses it. He hates to lose, but the people sitting around the people don't look like the type of players that Sa'id would consider wise to beat.

"No problem Brahim. I might have a full set stored that should allow us to run a nice calibration test." He eyes the statuette that Sani had put on the table "If we find out there's something missing we can always ask Sani to retrieve the necessary items for us. It looks like there might be no way of stopping her, anyway" He adds sardonically.

When Khadija enters he welcomes her. "Al-Sayyida" He says, to their employer, extending a warm smile. "A blessing to be under your roof." And after her invitation to the table, he proceed to prepare a serving of tabbouleh salad, hummus, grilled eggplant and vegetable stew, carefully avoiding the dishes that seem to contain meat or poultry.

Khadija thanks everyone for any other gifts she receives, and you all commence eating.

During the feast, conversation generally remains fairly lighthearted. Your host discusses an array of topics: everything from new archaeological acquisitions and pirate rumors from the space port, to the upcoming kabbah concert performed by the renowned Gouri Brothers from Dartarlides. You converse about inter-system news, local elections, and new vendors that have set up shop in the Souk Alesh. Khadija pays everyone equal attention, whether you are human or humanite. The lunch feels very relaxed, and only the presence of armed men in the background is a constant reminder that Khadija is no simple host. She is a Syndicate charpur; a lieutenant who runs her own crew. What equates to middle management within the organized crime on Coriolis.

As eating wraps up, veiled servants enter the room and silently clear away the food and empty plates. Coffee and additional alcohol are served. With the slow conclusion of lunch, Khadija's relaxed manner also seems to shift to one of business. Her posture straightens. Batool comes by and begins handing a blank tabula to each of you.

"I suppose it is time that we talk about the other reason that I have invited you here." The henna on your host's arms, once moving listlessly, now freezes in various floral patterns. "But first I must ask... what do any of you know about Jina?"

Zahra's hands, wrapped around her cup of coffee for warmth, tighten slightly at the question. Her eyes tilt upward a bit as she considers what else she knows about Jina beyond the obvious.

Tarek sits back in his chair as he listens to Khadija. Why Jina...?

Farouk thinks for a moment but realizes that he doesn’t really know anything about the planet Jina, despite how close it is.

"All I know is what it looks like as we pass by."

"I know that "Jina" is a planet in the Kua System. It is the closest planet to Coriolis after Kua, of course. Is is approximately two hours away. May I please have more coffee, with milk please?"

Why the interest in an acid planet? Didn't the Trivium mines dry out a while back. There's not much there except for Aram's Ravine. I've heard rumors that there's nomads that can survive the acid deserts. Tarek says clearly intrigued by Khadija's question.

Sa'id shakes his head non-committally when Khadija asks them about the knowledge of Jina. He tilts his head with curiosity when Tarek seems to know something about it.

He then looks carefully at Khadija, waiting for her answer, while slowly pouring some more tea into his cup.