Episode 2

I think Ez had mentioned that Thorn and Bryn (and a "crew") could go visit Manshesh, which I'm good for if we still have time before Shuvael:

Bryn does his best to dress the part of a religious knowledge seeker and visits the tzocharcomat, a place of teaching and exchange among the Dasnishiat priesthood of Goldna ad Dasnish.

Bryn is allowed into the back of a crowded room where the Dasnishi religious are all sitting, standing, listening, talking. There is a buzz in the air, a lot of oration followed by response commentary and even some arguments. In all of the conversation, with multiple people talking at once, and everyone speaking rather quickly, it is taxing on Bryn's ability to concentrate on translating the Heshbaan in his mind. He tries to get some sidebar conversations going to see what he can find.



Bryn does make some headway for a time, but it is difficult to steer conversations towards obscure religious texts. Definitely the thing on everyone's mind is the upcoming Shuvael, especially the public ceremonies that will be held on the first morning. There is an ongoing debate on which priests will have what role in the ceremony. Bryn does try to gain ground though, at least hoping to get a lead on where the Scripture of Seki might be located.

Eventually though, Bryn seems to hit a hard spot in an interchange. He feels like he may have not had some of his facts straight about the order and meanings of different upcoming Shuvael ceremonies. A priest opposite him starts challenging him and quizzing him on who he is and what he is doing here. It gradually goes downhill as other priests and acolytes begin to volley questions and start to put Bryn on the spot.

A few minutes later, he is asked to leave and told that only Heshbaan religious need to be present at this time so close to the Reverence Devotion. Though he tries to recover and talk out of it, the group of objectors seems to grow each time he argues. He decides to cut his losses and exit for now, to avoid tarnishing his reputation to too broad of a group.

A bit frustrated, Bryn moves out to head back to Imin Bash's.

On the way, he notices that he is being followed. A man in robes and a wool cap and head wrap, dressed not as a full Dasnishi but perhaps a devout follower, is stepping along behind Bryn, taking every same turn on the route and keeping a pace.

Nasi Talel, a high government official and also the owner of this land and the track, rides in fast with three more Gilded Armsmen guarding him. The Nasi speaks quickly with the officers in charge and quickly assesses the gathering, trying to get a handle on what happened.

Yashub is able to talk with the Armsmen that he knows and diffuse some of the tension and wariness against Sizhen.

In a few critical moments, the situation downgrades from highly tense to watchful.

After some back and forth, Nasi Talel asks, "Who was assigned to guard the Honorable Ennautum?"

It doesn't take long before Sergius seems to be in some rather serious review. He is told to march forward, back up the hill. His officer follows him, along with two other Gilded Armsmen riders.

Sergius glares at Ivor and Cedrio as he passes them. He speaks with venom in Yuoric Nasi Talel talks to Yashub directly, getting the Heshbaan tracker's account of what happened. It seems that Nasi Talel knows Yasheb well; he is in fact his employer. The Ruler also proclaims that he knows Cedrio Bronzehanded, famed Master Gladiator at the Circle of the Valiants.

There is a time for introduction and exchange among all present.

Bryn's plan works like a charm. Soon the follower becomes the followed. Bryn watches unseen as the man starts to realize that he has lost his target.

The man looks frustrated, showing it in his body language that he is angry with himself for failing. He has the look of the Doresh Mensha, one of the Heshbaan people from the countryside. One of the traits is that they have more layers of clothing than the Gelshemish city regulars, and they carry more bags.



Bryn follows the man as he shifts through to the lower end of the market, where the cheap carts are. He buys a small bag of grain and a couple of eggs, then makes his way across the north bridge. He goes into a small run-down two story mud-brick structure that is divided into small resident rooms.

Bryn is able to get a view in an open window to keep an eye on what the man is doing. He is cooking in a simple communal oven at the center of the building, then withdraws to one of the rooms to eat.

The man shakes his head and rubs his temples. He has a worried face, as if he is confused or ill. He lays down on the floor on a straw sack mattress.

Nasi Talel meets Sizhen and thanks him for intervening to help catch the assassin. Speaking in Kortellan, he asks Sizhen how long he has been in the city and who his sponsor is.

The Armsmen were completely impressed by how fast Sizhen ran to catch up with fleeing assassin.

The Nasi speaks privately with Yashub, telling him that he would like him to stay on task here at the track to see if there are any clues. Talel is going to shut down the event for now, but the chariot race will go on tomorrow. He will be taking measures to boost up security.

"We must find out who these Stabbers are, Yashub. Are they Hileli fanatics? Are they just Hechesi dissidents? Or are they something that we haven't thought of yet, some new enemy of the Sar? I note to you that the Honorable Eannautum was the only Magistrate here who had hired Korvaran guards. Perhaps something to wonder about, ranger? I wonder of it." Nasi Talel raises and eyebrow at Yasheb as he walks back to his horse, preparing to ride back up the hill.

Before he climbs into saddle, he pulls Yasheb close and speaks in a low voice that only Yasheb can hear.

Nodding one final time to confirm understanding, Nasi Talel gets back on the horse and rides back to the scene of the crime, his Armsmen guards riding alongside of him.

Bryn makes it back to Imin Bash's late in the day, reuniting with Kray and Thorn and comparing stories.

This group decides to walk to see if they can find the woodwork shop of Manshesh. It is not much trouble, and they do indeed find it, in the Plaza district. It is a building made with a mix of stone and wood. There is a store face to the front street and a courtyard out back with storage and work areas. There are benches, saws, hammers, awls, hooks, screws, lathes, and all sorts of tools necessary for wood working. Various pieces of furniture and boxes are sitting around, to different degrees of completion.

There are several people working. One guy in the store section, running the counter and floor. Another couple of guys are talking by a bench. A few customers are milling about, one talking to the salesman. Another four or five guys in the back working the equipment and supplies. The oldest of the workers in the back is a man likely in his fifties. The youngest is a laborer probably 20 years. A couple of the guys are pretty beefy burly.

Back at the Mountains of the Moon...

The Yuorics and their translator leave. Palla Ba and Lok stop by the shop in the evening, when Ra u nak and Trece are cleaning and closing down.