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<Narrator> ::The south end of the docks is a jumble of noise, colors, smells, and people. Lots and lots of people, more than one would think could possibly live together without killing one another. Then again, as a fight erupts in a dark tavern and a man stumbles out to fall in the street, perhaps they DO kill each other here, too.:: <Narrator> ::Even though this is the heart of dockside Marsember, if feels like a completely different city, if not a different *world.* The buildings look different, everything is closer together-- even the stench of the sewers is different here. Most of the faces are Kara-Turian, with a few Cormyreans sticking out literally head and shoulders above most of the crowd.:: <Narrator> ::Jade has been given a name-- Ai Lo, a prostitute the Cormyreans call Temptress-- who is supposed to have her ear open for all the local rumors. Ai Lo works in a middle-class brothel on Pearl Street called The Blushing Maiden.:: * Jade makes her way towards the Blushing Maiden, taking a circuitous route which increases the travel time significantly, but allows her to thoroughly lose herself in the crowds and back alleys that only the true residents know. Additionally Jade makes a point of changing her clothes a couple of times to further confuse anyone who might be shadowing her. * Jade finally arrives at the Blushing Maiden dressed as an old woman, leaning heavily on a gnarled cane and carrying a basket of oranges. <Guard> ::One of the guards at the door looks her up and down, frowning:: What do you want here, old mother? The Mama won't hire you, your face would scare away business! ::The other door guard laughs:: * Jade whacks the laughing guard in the shin with her cane. "Show some respect to your elders whelp. I'm sellin' oranges, somethin' neither of you will ever be rich enough to afford." <Guard> ::The laughing guard yelps and grabs his shin, hopping comically and scowling at her. The other door guard frowns a little:: You want to sell to the customers, you'll have to talk to the Mama. ::he shrugs:: You want to sell to the Maiden, you'll still have to talk to Mama. ::he nods, and opens the door for her:: Go in, old mother. First door on the left off the hall. Mind your blushes, now. * Jade sniffs indignantly and walks through the open door, following the guard's directions. * The Mama sits in her office, going over what looks like account ledgers. She's a sharp-looking, tiny woman with iron-grey hair and bright black eyes. She wears makeup to good effect-- not too much, but enough to make her quite attractive-- and has an air of knowing about her. She looks up as Jade approaches. "Yes?" * Jade bows as best as her supposed arthritis permits and smiles at the Mama. "Just an old woman come to sell some oranges. I heard a rumor that some of your girls and customers had a liking for them." <Mama> Oranges, so early in the year? Ai Lo will be pleased, if they are good ones. She adores oranges. ::shrewdly, eyeing the size of the basket:: How much for the lot of them, Auntie? * Jade answers without hesitation, "15 silvers for these 25." <Mama> 15? Waaai! Too much. So early in the season they will be dry and sour. I would give you 5 silvers for the lot. * Jade grins, a sparkle in her eyes, "I get these from a spell garden so that they grow sweet all year, 13 silver." <Mama> A spell garden? You give my precious daughters enchanted fruit? 8 silvers, and I will curse you to your grandchildren's grandchildren if they turn my daughters into blindworms! <Jade> Turn your daughters into blindworms, ha! After they've eaten the meat they'll rub their skin with the peels and be even more alluring to your customers. I won't accept less than 10 silver for the lot. <Mama> Done! ::cackles a little at the price, and opens a small lacquered box with a key brought from somewhere in her robe, carefully counting out ten silvers from her hoard:: The rooms are upstairs. Two in front of each door, and three for the door at the end-- that is Ai Lo, my precious little darling. The rest for the golden bowl in the foyer, if you please, Auntie. * Jade takes the silver and once again gives her arthritic bow, "Certainly, my lady." * Jade hobbles out of the office and heads upstairs, depositing two oranges in front of each door and stopping outside the last door, her senses scanning the area to make certain she is currently unobserved and that Ai Lo is alone. <Narrator> ::Jade is certainly "unobserved," in that, from the assorted sighs and squeals, everyone else in the other rooms are deeply... occupied. Ai Lo's room is quiet, and Jade can only sense one presence within.:: * Jade raps on the door with her cane, making certain the remaining oranges are clearly visible in the basket. <Ai Lo> The voice that answers from the other side is low and sweet and very musical, like a throbbing oboe:: Enter. * Jade opens the door and hobbles inside, closing the door behind her. "Your Mama sent me with some oranges dearie." <Ai Lo> ::To say the woman occupying the room is of singular appearance would say far too little. To call her fat would do her a grave injustice. Ai Lo is huge, easily taking up a couch that might otherwise sleep three or four of her smaller "sisters." Her embroidered green-and-gold robe accentuates rather than hides her womanly charms, and she has a *great* deal of charm.:: <Ai Lo> ::Her skin is like cream on milk-- very pale, but with a tinge of gold, and glowing like the full moon. Her face and features are broad, but with none of the coarseness one often sees in overweight women. She has a small nose, exquisitely-turned lips, and wide, doe-like dark eyes with long lashes. Her hair is black and shining as jet, and falls in shining waterfalls to the immaculate floor beneath her couch.:: <Ai Lo> ::To Jade's ki senses, Ai Lo exudes female energy the way a sumo projects the strength of thunder and mountain. She is breathtaking, and it is little surprise that she is the Mama's favorite employee. At Jade's entrance, she looks up politely from the book she is reading. At her words, Ai Lo transforms magically from bored courtesan to delighted young girl:: For me? Oh, honored Auntie, thank you! * Jade hands her basket over to Ai Lo, then stretches her arthritic back, hitting her thigh with her thumb between her first two fingers, "Ah, to be so young again." * Ai Lo's eyes widen a little as she accepts the basket with every show of delight. "Please, Auntie, you are so kind to bring me this basket. Why don't you sit awhile, and rest your old limbs? I will rub your back for you, if you wish." She rises from her couch, moving with exceptional grace for a woman her size. Her perfume drifts towards Jade, a scent of exotic spices, jasmine, and camellias, calling to mind distant realms and pleasures. As she moves towards Jade and gracefully indicates a stool, she lets one hand fall to her thigh, returning the Guild recognition sign:: * Jade takes the stool with a sigh and a smile, "You're too kind, dearie." * Ai Lo moves behind Jade, gently placing her hands on her and starting to massage her back with a delicate but skilled touch. Her position, not-so-incidentally, puts her mouth near Jade's ear, and she asks quietly, "What is it the shadows desire of me?" <Jade> ::also speaking in a whisper that doesn't carry past Ai Lo's ears:: What news do you have? * Ai Lo frowns a little at Jade's back, her supple fingers tracing over her shoulders and carefully downward. Her tone is amused as she speaks in Jade's ear. "You are not as old as you seem, Auntie. You may tell Firehand that his lone doves have not been seen here, although a greater number of the men who have been known to trade in such things have been seen in the taverns and brothels of late." <Ai Lo> ::with a faint laugh in her voice:: Rong Wei the tobacconist and Wen Shuo the matchmaker have told me that some of these men seem to have given up their lives of crime to become carpet traders. Although perhaps they steal those as well. <Ai Lo> There are more people carrying blades in our streets... something is happening, but I do not know what it is. And I hear a new name whispered from the black places, from dying lips... Wuxing. Five Elements. I do not know what it means. * Ai Lo's hands slow a little on Jade's back as she thinks. "Perhaps... Wen Shuo, who told me of the rugs, or Yin Ko, the old grandmother who sits by the well and tells fortunes... they could, perhaps, help you more. I dare not ask questions too deeply." * Jade nods, "Anything else?" <Ai Lo> ::smiling a little:: Tell Firehand, I like it when people bring me oranges. Do you need another way out, Auntie, or does the Mama know that you are here? * Jade smiles and stands, "The Mama knows I'm here, but knowing another way in would be good all the same." Jade hobbles over to the basket, pulls out the three oranges that Mama bought for Ai Lo, then produces a fourth from her sleeve, "I'd eat that one first." * Ai Lo laughs delightedly and claps her hands, accepting the hidden orange and noting the careful slit in its skin. "For this, you will have a gift from me as well! There is a hidden exit inside the linen closet, at the other end of the hall from my room. Close yourself inside, and look for the moon on the floor to show you the way out." * Jade nods, "Where will I come out?" <Ai Lo> Downstairs, in the back of the cloak room. <Jade> So I still have to get inside the building unseen? <Ai Lo> ::nods:: Mama is very careful of us girls. But the back door only has one guard, and the entrance is not visible from the street. If you tell him that you are a guest of the yellow robe, he will let you in without questions. * Jade nods again, "Very well. I'll be back sometime soon. Unless it's Firehand speak to no one else even if they know the signs." <Ai Lo> ::puts a hand on Jade's arm:: Tell me-- is there danger? <Jade> Shadow war. * Ai Lo's lower lip trembles a little, and she nods slowly, her beautiful eyes bleak. "It does not belong here. We should not be involved... but somehow, I fear that we are. I should send my boy from here, but I cannot; I love him so. Anything I can do to help, it is yours. But please... tell me when it is safe again." * Jade nods, "I will, and so you fully know the danger, I will tell you this: one shadow lives here, otherwise the war would not come here." * Ai Lo shakes her head. "Not someone who lives here, but perhaps someone who has come here. You should look to the newcomers." * Jade nods, "Anything you can find out would be of assistance. But keep safe, we can't afford any losses." * Ai Lo laughs throatily. "Have no fear of that. I am not a brave woman, except where my little Li Li is concerned. For him, I can be a tigress." * Jade nods, gathering up her cane and basket and hobbling out of Ai Lo's room and out of the brothel, stopping to empty the last of the oranges in her basket into the golden bowl in the foyer. |
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