Deserts of Kataar Tikobe

[vammy]

"What is your name? Mine is Valentine nice to meet you!"

I looked at this "Valentine" character. Odd looking person.

"My name is Israin Deltry Chervan IX, my good fellow."

"Ah what a great name! May I ask where do you plan to go?"

"I am headed to Charmsa."

"Hmm I thought so, now this may seem weird, but I cannot see as well as I used to can you describe yourself to me?"

This man could see? Fascinating. I do hope to meet more like him in the future.

"Well, I am just a tad bit taller than you are, although rather frail and lacking in most other physical traits just as strength and agility. I have a rather fair skin color, although it's accompanied by a dark complexion, and curly brown hair which I must say is rather well kept and compliments my blue eyes quite nicely indeed. As for clothing I sport a rather fine looking grey robe with a long, blue coat, and I always have my trusty brown leather satchel at my side."

"Yes, yes one last question I promise have you snuck anything with you to Kataar?" (Small weapons, some money, jewelry etc.)

"Well, I wouldn't use the term snuck for I flaunt these things quite openly. I have nothing like fancy jewelry and such, the most I have is a wire bracelet on my right arm. I do have a number of scholarly books I use for my research. I'm a man who dabbles in anatomy you see and such things are important. I also have a fair bit of money as well as a dagger. I shouldn't need to use it, in theory that is. Even still, it's relaxing to have some insurance in the event of the worst case scenario."

"Ah! Nice to meet you traveler if there's anything else you wish to tell me just say!"

I say nothing more than friendly tidings. If this is what I'll have for company in this place I'm in for a very long, and most likely exhausting stay.

////---////
During the rest of the trip the old man seemed to disappear once he was done speaking to you; the rest of the trip nothing of note happen you sailed into the continent flowing on a river until you made it to Charmsa: the unowned city.
A group of men on horses escort you and a few others into the safety of the limestone buildings and soon enough you find yourself standing in front of the rift, the center of Charmsa and home to many travelers. Near the rift a few helpful people have put up a map that lets you know that you are currently in the Rift District which is made of up of a settlement of a few thousand people, as well being home to Riders headquarters.

Welcome to Kataar, hope you enjoy your stay.

[Tikobe]

Ah. Creepy. Disappearing seeing men with bleeding eyes certainly does seem like something to come out of scary story. Oh well. Out of sight, out of mind.

I remember what I came here to this place to accomplish. Now how to go exactly about accomplishing it, I, now that I think of it, hadn't actually planned that far.

Oh well, it shouldn't be that hard to find a black market in a lawless place with shady organizations. I examine the map further, so I had a much more solid idea of Charmsa. Perhaps I can find a good place to start obtaining bodily organs I wouldn't have obtained through moral means, or a just a place to settle down and begin my research.

[vammy]

The map mostly details the location of shops and what parts of Charmsa organizations claim to own. You currently in Riders territory, although there doesn't seem to be any of them nearby.
While downstairs there appears to be a large marketplace the map also acknowledges a group in the eastern buildings who call themselves the "Hashmal"
Underneath the building they own they left a note.

"Will kill for artifacts, coin and beast vile!"

[Tikobe]

The Hashmal and the Riders huh? This really is a back doors place, nothing like what I had enjoyed before hand. Not as if I could do anything about it though.

"Will kill," huh? These Hashmal folk sound like thugs, and that is perfect enough for me. I decide to take a venture into the Hashmal's territory. Lets see what comes of this, shall we?

[vammy]

As you step into their territory you immediately notice a change, a thick fog of black smoke only blocked by the light of torches that cover by both walls on both sides of you. As you step closer and closer to their shop you feel as if the room around you is somehow getting hotter and the flames are growing brighter and more brilliant, it grows and grows until suddenly the room goes close and fog turns white and you hear the whisper of a lizard the words coming out of his mouth being "Hashmal"

The lizard stands up and points his tongue at you.

"Hashmal, in my ancestor's tongue it meant smoke, flame, combustion. Every great Hashish knows you meant appear without warning like smoke, grow slowly and quietly like flame left unchecked and by the time your victim begins to notice the flame it consumes him and brings him to his untimely death."

He takes a deep breath before staring at you once more

"So tell me outsider, who do you want dead?"

[Tikobe]

"Hmm... No one yet, although I may be in need of your direct assistance in the future. For now I want to present a business opportunity for you and me. That is assuming, of course, you have time to lend me your ear to this?" I smile. It's not that I don't realize how dangerous of a position I'm in. A hitman is an unsavory type who is not one to be angered.

[vammy]

You notice that are others watching you in the shadows.

The lizard grins at you before letting out a little chuckle.

"Clearly your in the wrong place if you aren't looking for an assassin, but I'll humor you, if you have coin the Hashmal is willing to work with you."

[Tikobe]

"Coin I have plenty of. However, I also wish to work for you, for a rather unusual means of compensation. You see, I'm from a land far away, which boasts it's own suit of fairly intellectual scholars. My particular field is that of anatomy. However, it's a field that has grown stagnant in recent years. It's scholars have grown afraid of things known as 'moral boundaries.' I, my friends, am not afraid. I wish to test things personally: What happens if this organ was burned, or ruptured, or all other kinds of things. There is no better place than this city for those experiments, and it is for that end that I wish to join you as an assassin. I will need only minimal amounts of coin for lodgings. All I truly desire is food and organs of those who've been killed. I also suppose that live human specimens who've been targeted by your group would be a bonus as well. For only this much I will work for you, and I'll even share my knowledge of the human body with you, something that should prove to be invaluable to your work. What say you to this?" I smile.

Well, not even in a the span of a day I had no idea how I was gonna accomplish my goals beyond that this city was the best place to do so but now here I am, offering to work as an assassin. I think I came a long ways. Now just to see what the Hashmal have to say to this proposition.

[vammy]

The eyes seem to be staring at you now, the heat and flames from before seem to growing on you once more mirroring the harsh glares coming from the red eyes of the Hashish in front of you.

"If I didn't know better I would take that as a insult, but luckily for you and the rest of your kin I am well aware that you do not know better then to just walk in here requesting to be an assassin. As if we were the Riders accepting any peasant that could ride a horse in the right direction, then again we all had to start somewhere. Outsider I will allow you to join us, but that does not make you Hashish it makes you a student and every single person here is your teacher. If you understand that then you should be able to succeed in our ranks."
The lizard then falls to the ground and closes his eyes

"Varos guide his blade to be swift and bless him with the strength of those before him. If he is true then he will recite this prayer."

"I, a young Hashish blessed by the flame of the Hashmal shall never burn out even under the pressure of the strongest wind."

[Tikobe]

Well, looks like I have to be trained. This isn't a problem, actually it's an advantage. I should be glad to be given this opportunity, however it also puts me on my toes. Quite a bit, to be honest.

Either way, it looks like in order to get in I need to repeat after him. I should be careful, it appears he doesn't approve of me. Or my "kin" apparently. I'll need to work quite flawlessly in order to get things done here. Thankfully, I'm a perfectionist to my very core, and it's not like I hadn't been a student to an entire group before. My fellow scholars taught me the fate of a man is to always learn. This Hashish character will be pleased with my work soon enough.

"I, a young Hashish blessed by the flame of the Hashmal shall never burn out even under the pressure of the strongest wind," I recite.

[vammy]

The darkness that once engulf the room disperses and the once red eyes flaring become clear to see faces, mostly scaly lizards mixed in with others.

"Good, you may call me Kali. For your first trial bring me back the vile of a beast. Don't fail me."

Now that you have a clearer view of the room you notice that the Hashmal have secluded themselves in a large room that looks more like a lobby, many tables and people seemingly just relaxing or playing card games, and further into the room you see many twisting tunnels that presumably lead into other rooms.

[Tikobe]

"Of course. I'll be back in due time," I smile.

So the vile of a beast? Vile means wicked, or evil. Perhaps there was a mistake, maybe he meant bile?

Of course not, why would Kali be looking for a beast's throw up? Oh well. All I need to do is find a beast, kill it, and bring it back. That should solve this matter.

[vammy]

(I just realized I meant bile but eh it's canon now)

Ah yes all you need to do is stab a beast with your puny dagger and pray to whatever gods you worship it doesn't eat you in the next few seconds, but a trial is a trial.

[Tikobe]

Indeed. Now how am I gonna pull it off?

The Hashmal did mention that the Riders were a helpful sort. Not to mention Kali didn't bring up any rules and limitations, just that I brought back this "vile." As far as skill goes I'm considerably lacking, and as such I must use my best weapon: My brain.

However, before I go off running to manipulate the Riders, I ought to go to the edge of the buildings and see for myself what manner of beasts live beyond here.

[vammy]

Outside the windows you see strange shadowy creatures walking on six legs, they claw at the walls and upon noticing you attempt to jump into air just barely missing you. Luckily none of them can fly or else they get inside.

Shall we go to the Riders?

[Tikobe]

Indeed. That may be the wisest course of action here. I'm not sure how the Hashmal would appreciate this course of action, but at this point the Riders are all tools, and it would be a shame not utilize a tool, wouldn't it?

At the very least, it's my justification to Kali. Before entering the Rider's headquarters I should check up on what, exactly, they do. Even good samaritans have limits to their generosity.

[vammy]

According to a few recruitment signs and the vast knowledge of random bums the Riders are a small police force in Charmsa hoping to bring order by uniting the city, hunting down beasts and patrolling eastern settlements.

They seem to have recruitment messages everywhere desperate guys aren't they.

[Tikobe]

Hmm... Very desperate. I don't like these guys. Back where I come from, police forces that followed the patterns that this one goes through always wound up not being even remotely like they said they were. I would need to be careful in dealing with these guys.

Before I go into the Rider's HQ I look around for any sign of the Hashish. I can't seriously believe that they would send me into a trial unchecked. If there was no sign of them, I would head into the Rider's HQ. I already have all of the tools I need to get Kali his beast vile.

[vammy]

Wherever there is smoke there is Hashish.

The Riders headquarters was a simple building, a stable to the right for the horses and to left a large group of people, mostly commoners waiting expectantly while a few who look the part are cooking some sort of soup.

"Get in line if your here to eat."

In another room you can hear two people dueling

[Tikobe]

That's concerning, but nothing I can do about it.

Time to act.

"Actually," I say, trying to play the role of the concerned and terrified victim, "I was hope to talk to someone, if it was possible. Preferably someone with a weapon or such."

[vammy]

"Ah you need the assistance of a rider? We're a bit on short notice right now but come on in."