Old City Newsletter 10-21-07

From FiranMUX

News

The summer passes and the hush felt over the Old City pervades the very heat, the oppression from the walls and the heat keep people at bay, keep the destitute docile and nervous. There's a sense of waiting, a sense of fear, a sense of hope.

It's been some months since the women gathered, and they do so now in the Opening Gambit, sitting around a table, looking to a tapestry that hangs over a door, hiding it away. There's a somber air within the near-silent gambling hall, drinks are untouched, words come slow.

"Susia's tryin' t'do some merchanting it seems. A while ago, she was lookin' fer silk, platinum, iron ores an' th'like... the rare commodities that the wallers snap up. Probably still is. Seems th'Barnacle ain' good 'nough by itself. Always inspires more business ideas." Yelda murmurs, half hearted, shrugging a little. "I think she'll do well. Hopefully she's got somethin' goin'."

Opalia nods a bit, turning her glass slowly. "I was walking around the other night and saw that littlest Firona, Kadia... some owl was following her and she was talking to it. Said it was one of Unot's owls. She's the odd one, isn't she? I know her sisters..." She pauses a little, before continuing on. "...her sisters are devout atheists. It's something of a nice change I think."

Yelda pipes up. "Oh! Samar was in the middle of a riot again! Poor haffie. That traitor Keemsi, who was almost hung to die of exposure on the arch of the Sacred Path, was hung and the mob started yelling for them to hang the haffie too. He ended up in jail, but was let out a week later. Do you think they actually did it for his safety? I can't believe that."

Sameera snorts and chuckles a bit. "Yeah, well, you hear about that little new Istems? Adele? Oh, she's gonna fit right in. Evidently, durin' her Ceremony of Making Wallers Happy and Saying Yer An Adult thing, she couldn' remember her prayers, swore up a storm, said she was gonna be some sort of special mercenary. Probably said she'd worship some rock she found on the street too. Well, pissed off that priest so good, he speeched an' everythin'. She's gonna be perfect fer them Istems. She moved inta th'Villa, which pissed Furen off, but well, they is workin' on buildin' onto it."

Yelda nods a little bit and tilts her head. "Speakin' of urchins, didn' Niobe an' Jariko take in another one? They jes got rid o' Adele, an' now they is takin' in another one? It's like some crafters shop of kids over there. Nelisha? She sounds like she's a friend of Kadia's, bein' all proper an' prim fer th'Ol'City. Might be good for them."

Opalia laughs and thinks. "Speaking of kids, Morian's looking for one. Pretty girl or pretty boy, about the age of seven. Brown-flecked blue eyes, rich auburn hair, tan skin. High cheekbones, healthy glowing skin, radiantly innocent smile but cold gaze. The little tramp's gotten himself or herself in a spot of trouble with Morian. He's got no interest in hunting down the kid and confronting, just wants to know if anyone's seen him or her about the Old City. I haven't, but th'kid sounds too cute to be drowned." She shakes her head. "And oh! Gilin's about ready to give birth! That'll give Niobe and Jariko another one too, I guess."

Sameera shakes her head and holds up a hand. "OH! An' that Adele? Well, she made th'mistake of going to visit Shade. Got dressed up in all pinks an' shite. Now that Shade had her son, Asalan's first boy, she needed t'do somethin' girly I guess. Vance Valerian. Wonder who he'll take after. Asalan, hopefully...."

Sameera trails off as Vellutra finally starts to speak. "It's too quiet around the Gambit now. Too quiet. No yellin'. No rompin'. No parties." The 'tender of the gambling hall speaks slowly, emotion barely contained. "It's been months, but it's still too quiet. Geloe's gone, hiding, wandering the Old City, usually followed by her hound pack. She walks around lost and angry, like she can't find her way out. I see her sometimes, sitting by the river at the makeshift part down there. She looks empty, hollow... like she died too. The guards is still huntin' her, arrestin' others t'get to her."

The others just watch Vellutra now as she continues on. "It's hard to believe he's gone. It's hard to believe Raef, who people loved or hated isn't going to bound up those stairs anymore, walk around with those two dogs of his. Somehow, they managed to get his body to the temple down here for the funeral. Even though we all saw it, it's hard to imagine. They really got him. So soon after his son was born too. That might be the saddest part of all.

"Raef was a good man, a hard man, pissed some people off, but he did good things for this place and the Old City. He cleaned up a lot of the ol' damage. He built the tenements there in charter square. He caused trouble an' tried to get people going. He tamed Geloe an' gave the Fironas a son. It's hard... so hard to imagine he won' be around anymore." Vellutra shuts her eyes and lifts her glass. "It's never easy loosing one of our own. It touches everyone an' changes some people completely. To Raef, Husband, Father, Gang Leader, Old City. May he live in our memories forever."

"To Raef." The four lift their glasses together and drink, needing to say nothing more as they mourn the loss of one of their own.

OOC

OOC:> TPs:

• Assassains Game -- I'm sure it's still going on! Ask Asalan. Or Shade who will tell you to ask Asalan.
• There's a couple others in the works, so keep your eyes open! If you see an NPC running around, you'll know something's up ;)

Thanks:

• Many thanks to all of you for your patience. Obviously, this was a tough one for me to write. Now that it's finished, I should be back to your normal newsishness.

• For news submittals, thanks go out to: Susia, Niobe, Jariko, Asalan, Shade, Adele, Kadia, Morian and Samar.