Episode 2

The guy looks terrified, but he takes a drink.

He explains where Manshesh's shop is. It is a woodworking yard in Canals District. He has some workers there with him during the days. The details are clear enough that you guys and Gibon should be able to find the location by the description.

He does not know where Manshesh lives.

Optional Action:

Urban Development #4: Accompany Oram to check health status of Koral

It is late in the day. Ivor has worked with Mamdouh all day, and all of the fighters are going back to their cells and barracks now.

In the equipment room, all of the fighters are in process of turning in their gear, downloading their armor. The slave masters are there directing things.

From across the room, Ivor hears some loud yells. A boisterous voice emerges and continues ranting. Eventually Ivor sees that it is a big Heshbaan yelling out and pointing to him. The man is rough looking, strong, scarred.

Ivor knows who it is. San-San.

Ivor had seen San-san fight off and on through the day, but his round helmet was on, completely covering his head and face. This now is the first time Ivor has seen him fully.

Ivor gets the translation from one of the performance managers, who relays the message to him.

"He says, "He hears you are a new trainer for his next victim. He says a better idea would be for you to fight him yourself instead of training the next man to die. He is trying to win the crowd, earn freedom from his sentence by replacing it with a full time job fighting here in the ring. He will never get that done fighting weak trash fighters. He says if you are no coward, fight him in the ring at the shuvael. He will strike you down, open your throat before his people and his god, and all will know that he is a champion. Prove yourself instead of hiding. Your death will be painful but glorious."

Kray notices Gibon's unease and motions for him to fill the remaining three cups. "Drinks all 'round. See. We're all friends here. And I like to keep my friends close." Kray drank deep, finishing the cup over several seconds, followed by another cloud from his spliff.

Up to this point, Kray's demeanor had been amiable. Friendly. He continued. "However, I must confess, I do not like keeping my enemies closer. It's an inconvenience, to say the least." Kray's demeanor turned cold, his eyes menacing as he drew a finger across the black obsidian knife on the table, his hand coming to a rest on the hilt, the potential clear. Three finger taps on the blade as Kray feigned deep thought, as if to measure and weigh his captive's future, and life span.

Kray was absolutely still now, as if poised to strike, hand still resting on the hilt of the Mozamyan knife.

"As such, I'm inclined to kill them." The friendly demeanor returned as he placed six gold coins in front of the man. "But we're friends, right? So don't worry about that. In fact, I'd like to set up a meeting with Manshesh. And you're going to do that for me. Half now, half later. Or you could simply do it as a favor. Seeing as we're friends now." Kray motioned for Gibon to cut the captive's hands free.

Kray is toying with this guy because... well, Kray has a sadistic side. If the man takes the money, Kray will cut his throat open and walk away from the table. Feed that bastard to some pigs or something.

Suddenly, the burly San-san is hit in the back of the head and pitches forward. His legs are swept out from under him. Now San-san is prone on his back. He tries to get up, but Hamamid the Bishtu, knocks him unconscious with another lighting fast crack to the temple with a hardwood club.

The fierce Bishtu glares out at the other gladiators and servant who are still moving around in the equipment room. He shouts out, in Heshbaan, but with a heavy accent.

Ivor's assigned servant whispers a translation, "Master Bishtu reminds all, slaves and dead criminals do not speak unless ordered to."

Thorn can't get much of a read on the trailer. The guys just seems blown away by the predicament he is in. When he is offered the coins and then Gibbon translates Kray's offer, the trailer seems torn in indecision for moment before scooping up the coins.

Gibon is just really nervous and intimidated himself as he conveys Kray's menacing threats. The Heshbaan laborer is sweating and stumbling over words. To Thorn it seems like just that: this simpleton is coming to realize that he has taken employment under a very scary guy. He seems to be struggling more with the language the more nervous he becomes. Gibon is just trying not to make a mistake and find himself on the end of a punishment.

She smiles as she drinks the wine. "I was expecting another one of my Korvaran guards of course, which is exactly what you look like, Aemlar," After a brief pause, she inserts "...Thorn."

She continues, "I know that all of you know so very much about the difference between each of your flags and separate yourselves into different armies and pick different kings for different ports, but the rest of us...", she smiles again, "we cannot tell you apart. You speak the same language. Why do not all Yuorics stand in line for one army, under one flag, under one king? None of us know that."

She lets Thorn answer if he will, but she does not really mind if he cannot answer or doesn't try. She quickly moves on to other things.She is Bandi. From Arokshas.
Do Jeresians and Korvarans ally, or are they at odds with one another?
The Korvarans have been here over a year now. Always so serious, regimented, forming lines to stand in among one another. They always want to talk about war and how to prepare for it. Are war and combat and standing in lines your favorite things in life in Jeres?

She zeroes in on the "seeking meaning" answer. Says that is clearly a dodge, but ok, she will play along. If that is the way you want to go, then you have to be prepared to follow through. No? Maybe later he can speak to her more directly. Why don't we start now?

What has Thorn's meaning been so far in his life? If a poet were to orate a song about you, what story would the song bring to the listeners?
What would be a good meaning going forward? Are you troubled about something? What did your father say about what a man's meaning in life should be?
(OOC: If Thorn says he didn't know father ... I'm just guessing here, maybe this doesn't go this route) That does not seem right, because you carry yourself as a man who had a very good father. She predicts he was wise and just.

Why do you pick to come to Gelshimesh for meaning? Are you religious?
What do you think of the Heshbaan god Goldna ad Dasnish? Do you know Marduk, the god whom the Hilleluat proclaim? They say he is the leader of all gods, that he fought the flood dragon Tiamat and won, and built the world from her bones. The Dasnishiat do not believe that! She laughs and drinks her wine.
Do your gods allow the sway of other gods, or are they jealous of your devotion to them alone?
Do you understand shuvael? It is coming in a few days. It is a time to make oneself right with Goldna ad Dasnish. Do you have obligations to reconcile with your gods?

She loves this city. Loves the Heshbaan people. She is afraid for the sons of Heshba, afraid that they will be drawn away to fight a war for Yuorics, who seem to want everyone involved in their wars.
She sees that the people of this city are becoming more warlike even among one another. It is a shame. Neighbors who have lived together for centuries, now ready to stab one another. Why is this do you think? Is this a blackness in the heart? Are the people of Gelshemish becoming more like Korvarans? More like Jeresians? Is this something that the Kings of the North can send with soldiers, carried in their flags? In their shields?

Meaning. She brings the conversation back, just saying that word and letting it hang.

Do you have a wife, Aemlar?...Thorn?

On the night before, after the Nasi Hall social , after the interrogation of the trailer...

Thorn and Kray check in on everyone. Bryn is the only one up. He has a lantern burning, hung on a high sconce. Spread out all over a table and on his bed are animal scrolls with writing on them. He also has a bound book opened on the table. They have seen Bryn reading through these before, but he looks like he is in a full study session at the moment. He looks focused and deep in thought.

When asked how it's going, he says fine. He doesn't seem to want to talk too much. He has a quill and a papyrus sheet and is etching notes in a thick, gummy burgundy-colored ink.

Leaving him to his study, they move on. Thorn notices that Bryn seemed a bit flushed and sweaty.