Timestamp: 85th Day of Summer of the year 513AV
Jabran slowly lifted the ends of the two cards that lay face down in front of him just as the others had done with their cards. The reason for being so secret about it, he gathered was because nobody wanted anyone else to see their cards. On one languished three feathers, not unlike the feathers of the Chaktawe, and on the other were seven skulls. He had quickly learned to look at the pictures when playing and not the numbers. Numbers were strange to him and he knew as many of them to look at as he did words on a page. "Seven lifeless skulls and three feathers to adorn them makes a good days work for Dira", he thought to himself. He had never been taught the science of mathematics but addition was not beyond him, he hoped. "Seven", he considered the number in his mind. "Seven plus one is eight plus one is nine plus one is ten. Ten. I have ten... " He thought for a moment. He had ten something, but what. Did it matter that they were not all feathers or not all skulls? Trying to recall previous rounds he supposed not. It would be best to suppose not.
The man across from him looked Human and spoke Common as a Human but claimed not to be Human. He said he was a Myrian, hailed from the jungle city of Taloba in wilds of Falyndar. "I am Ler of the Civilised Traders", he proclaimed haughtily. Jabran did not know these words and didn't dwell on them. A Symenestra beside him, however, did dwell on them and, whats more, questioned them. "A Myrian in silks", he scoffed. "Whoever heard of a Myrian who wears silks, without a weapon, without even a tiger by his side."
"I do not have a tiger because I never wanted a tiger. I don't believe in the ways of my people the way others do. Am I to be scorned and abused for refusing to be set in a mold, for refusing to adhere to your stereotypical, narrow-minded and offensive views of a people, of a culture, of a land you've never been able to comprehend while you sit here snuggly in your cave, safe from the real world. No, I am a trader and a successful businessman. I am proud to be one and have made more money than you can imagine from it." Ler took a moment to compose himself. The whole table had become quiet and the man who had questioned the Myrian eyed the table as if he was found guilty of something. "Now", Ler began again. "Are we here to squabble over irrelevancies and insult people or are we here to play cards."
The game was called Portraits and the aim was for the numbers on the cards to add up to twenty-one. There were two cards placed on the table by the Myrian in from of each person with the pictures facing the table and there was three things you could say. 'Hit', which seemed to mean I want another card; 'Check', I don't want another card; 'Fold', in which case you turned your cards over, people ooohed and awwwed at them and you were out. The whole game seemed slightly ridiculous to Jabran but he played along for a chime or two before stepping back and letting others try their hand.
As the game went along the Myrian gathered more and more money from the surrounding players. Copper mizas were heaped on top of each other and soon silver mizas started to flow. Each new player thought he could win the game as he sat down but left a loser. After a short time Ler got up and began to leave, collecting his winnings. However, as soon as he removed himself from his seat a Human came up to him and grabbed his arm. From within the sleeve of Ler's cloak the Human picked out two cards. One was the Goddess of Glaives, the other was the Basin of Leaves. Jabran stood for a moment, unsure of what was happening as the cards fell to the floor. The Myrian looked visibly scared as he stood there and tried to escape but the Human was bigger and stronger than him and refused to let go of Ler's arm.
It took Jabran a moment but he did realise the Myrian had been cheating. He had been holding cards within his sleeve in order to use them at opportune times. Jabran had to move fast. The copper and silver would have to be confiscated and dealt with. This was a very serious issue and beyond his position to deal with. The Myrian protested his innocence as Jabran took him off the Human and called over Sonara. "Oh, dear", she said, putting a hand on her face. "We must get Laudavyn. Wait here while I tell him." Jabran nodded, understanding enough of what Sonara said. Soon she arrived back with her uncle. Jabran had had a difficult time trying to keep the people away from the money and keep Ler firmly in his grasp. It had taken the whole of the staff to control the situation. Jabran was commanded to bring Ler to Laudavyn's offices and obediently did so, leaving the Symenestra to deal with the rest of this mess.
Jabran slowly lifted the ends of the two cards that lay face down in front of him just as the others had done with their cards. The reason for being so secret about it, he gathered was because nobody wanted anyone else to see their cards. On one languished three feathers, not unlike the feathers of the Chaktawe, and on the other were seven skulls. He had quickly learned to look at the pictures when playing and not the numbers. Numbers were strange to him and he knew as many of them to look at as he did words on a page. "Seven lifeless skulls and three feathers to adorn them makes a good days work for Dira", he thought to himself. He had never been taught the science of mathematics but addition was not beyond him, he hoped. "Seven", he considered the number in his mind. "Seven plus one is eight plus one is nine plus one is ten. Ten. I have ten... " He thought for a moment. He had ten something, but what. Did it matter that they were not all feathers or not all skulls? Trying to recall previous rounds he supposed not. It would be best to suppose not.
The man across from him looked Human and spoke Common as a Human but claimed not to be Human. He said he was a Myrian, hailed from the jungle city of Taloba in wilds of Falyndar. "I am Ler of the Civilised Traders", he proclaimed haughtily. Jabran did not know these words and didn't dwell on them. A Symenestra beside him, however, did dwell on them and, whats more, questioned them. "A Myrian in silks", he scoffed. "Whoever heard of a Myrian who wears silks, without a weapon, without even a tiger by his side."
"I do not have a tiger because I never wanted a tiger. I don't believe in the ways of my people the way others do. Am I to be scorned and abused for refusing to be set in a mold, for refusing to adhere to your stereotypical, narrow-minded and offensive views of a people, of a culture, of a land you've never been able to comprehend while you sit here snuggly in your cave, safe from the real world. No, I am a trader and a successful businessman. I am proud to be one and have made more money than you can imagine from it." Ler took a moment to compose himself. The whole table had become quiet and the man who had questioned the Myrian eyed the table as if he was found guilty of something. "Now", Ler began again. "Are we here to squabble over irrelevancies and insult people or are we here to play cards."
The game was called Portraits and the aim was for the numbers on the cards to add up to twenty-one. There were two cards placed on the table by the Myrian in from of each person with the pictures facing the table and there was three things you could say. 'Hit', which seemed to mean I want another card; 'Check', I don't want another card; 'Fold', in which case you turned your cards over, people ooohed and awwwed at them and you were out. The whole game seemed slightly ridiculous to Jabran but he played along for a chime or two before stepping back and letting others try their hand.
As the game went along the Myrian gathered more and more money from the surrounding players. Copper mizas were heaped on top of each other and soon silver mizas started to flow. Each new player thought he could win the game as he sat down but left a loser. After a short time Ler got up and began to leave, collecting his winnings. However, as soon as he removed himself from his seat a Human came up to him and grabbed his arm. From within the sleeve of Ler's cloak the Human picked out two cards. One was the Goddess of Glaives, the other was the Basin of Leaves. Jabran stood for a moment, unsure of what was happening as the cards fell to the floor. The Myrian looked visibly scared as he stood there and tried to escape but the Human was bigger and stronger than him and refused to let go of Ler's arm.
It took Jabran a moment but he did realise the Myrian had been cheating. He had been holding cards within his sleeve in order to use them at opportune times. Jabran had to move fast. The copper and silver would have to be confiscated and dealt with. This was a very serious issue and beyond his position to deal with. The Myrian protested his innocence as Jabran took him off the Human and called over Sonara. "Oh, dear", she said, putting a hand on her face. "We must get Laudavyn. Wait here while I tell him." Jabran nodded, understanding enough of what Sonara said. Soon she arrived back with her uncle. Jabran had had a difficult time trying to keep the people away from the money and keep Ler firmly in his grasp. It had taken the whole of the staff to control the situation. Jabran was commanded to bring Ler to Laudavyn's offices and obediently did so, leaving the Symenestra to deal with the rest of this mess.
