A desert rider and a wealthy merchant appear to be having a conversation by the campsite in Anara Oasis.



"Can you believe what I just heard! A trustworthy client of mine told me this... Listen! A young Mulan woman, around her twenties, was brutally murdered a few cycles ago. They say she was lured off from the fields in Khalem, by some man who spoke with peculiar accent."

"Ah, yes... A sad case indeed. I heard she was pregnant, too, only a few months short of the day. A physician, who I have known of years, said that her throat was cut open, but that is not all... Hold your breath and try not to spill your drink, my friend, but you will get shocked: she had been also stabbed in the stomach."

"Good gods... That I did not know. What kind of a sick-minded person could do such a thing? So young, so innocent... and the child, too."

"Yes, it is most horrible, which is why I am keeping a keen eye on my daughters and my wife. I have ordered my best slave to get special training in guarding duties, too. I feel so sorry for the young lady's family... I do not know if I could live any longer, if something like that occured to my own family."

"You are right, I would feel like that as well if I had a family. I shall warn my every client to be aware while travelling, and avoid going out alone. A farmer in the fields, who had seen the woman leave with the monster of a man, said he was dressed in dark robes, but that seems terribly common style among the tourist class."

"Unfortunately so, hence I am not going to open the door for any unknown person, not even if they begged for a drop of water."



The men depart, the first one to speak going to tend his sand creeper, and the merchant returning to his tent.

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"Come under the flag of truce, and brook no treason... for mineself is Death, and care not whom knows mine touch."
- Frey Asaid'De Majere

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Get Ready for It
Forum lurker.

*A female of Djedet, one known locally as Clenalia Kusama hears of this ,narrowing her eyes with a growl*

"I'll need to keep my eye out next time I'm with my girls out there."

*Lev hears the rumors while smoking his favorite honey shisha, then says to himself...*

Hmm... Ya know, I smoke me shisha 'ere oft enough. Time ta 'ave me patrols o tha realm come through 'ere as well.

*He makes it a habit to walk all the towns of Khem dilligntly, and well hidden looking for anyone suspicious, following those whom he thinks are up to no good.*

A large Mulan with odd eyes and an even odder complexion can be seen keeping an extremely close eye on all comings and goings through Djedet, from various different positions around the township.

During some of the cold and dark desert nights in the Eastern Khem, eerie cries can be heard somewhere beyond Anara Oasis. It is an aching, sorrowful voice seeking for someone to aid with revenge. The cries are not loud and it takes a bit of concentration to find them among the other sounds of the night, but there they are, waiting for to be heard.


A few days after the first notices of these cries, two adventurers are having a chat by the campsite in Anara Oasis.


"I was supposed tah go fer an expedition -- I'm here already 'cause I'm waitin' fer the others tah come from Djedet -- but last night made me think somethin' else, y'know. As if some damned woman had come 'ere and began to weep outside me tent! I got pissed and began to shout at the girlie outside, tellin' her to go bein' a crybaby elsewhere, but she continued! All night long! In the mornin' some girlie blokes -- think they were Elves -- were runnin' around, sayin' that the place is cursed."

"That's not good, oh no, not a sonorous voice is it, no. Not a pleasure to listen to it, no, yet we must for every night it starts. Not every night but often enough to make us scream 'No! Stop!' but does it help, no."

"If it starts this night, again, I swear... I'm gunna strangle the wench! Can't have someone ruinin' me sleep now that I'm supposed to dig up ancient treasure hoards."

"Right you are, or are you, I know not, no. But something has to be done, or else it will be no good. If the place indeed is cursed, though hopefully not, run away we must. I too came for fortune and fame, not for some crying lady, no."

"The hair of me back got up and I felt like somethin' had tickled me cheek with cold steel. Ain't happy to travel far and beyond that, knowin' that the desert knows somethin' I don't! I'd much rather be assured that no creeps will stab me back while I sleep, or bug me with their bizarre whispers in any case."

"Truly so, no? I would agree on your wishes if I wasn't so scared of someone hearing me to swear such, oh no, it would be no good, no. I feel like drowning whenever I hear the voice, but I do not want to drown yet, no. It is so sad, a mourning --"

"Ah! Shut up, you ain't makin' sense!"


The pair continues their chat for a moment longer, though the end part hardly makes any sense. In the end the first one to speak gets up and leaves the other one to speak to himself.

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Three farmworkers, all women, appear to be having conversation somewhere between Djedet and Khalem, on the road which leads to the farmlands.



"I'm so scared of going to work! I feel like I do not know the soil any longer, nor the river which is the source of life here. The river which used to be my best friend, my helpful mother, my protective father."

"I'm scared, too. I can't trust the lands enough to turn my back for a moment, unless I have another pair of eyes there, such as you. First time ever something tells me that I may have to use my small khopesh for something else than cutting the thick reeds with it."

"Mm-hm, your thoughts are not far from mine, my dear friends. The worst is that it won't end to a mere feeling... The lords of the river, crocodiles, have begun attacking more often than before. I heard a herder almost died, at day time, due to a crocodile."

"Oh my... oh my! I am losing my breath, my knees are shaking! I can't go there anymore, not now that I have little-Ipi. My neighbours can't take care of him forever, he needs his own mother. What will happen if... if I am not there for him anymore?"

"This isn't good at all. I have worked as a farmer my entire life so far, and never have the crocodiles behaved like that, unless the worker was reckless."

"I took a large piece of the best meat I had, and half of my silver, to the crocodile shrine. I pray that the anger of the river lords won't last for long. You should offer a generous votive too, then you will be safe."



The two other woman nod in agreement to the third one, then they depart and continue their own businesses.

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A known Djedetian bureaucrat/officer speaks to a small crowd of people nearby the market of Djedet. The locals listen to the man mostly in silence, though there's few who seem to be dubious of every word, and few that disagree for the sake of it.


"I am proud of Djedet, proud of the people that have built Djedet to be what it is today. The effort put in is remarkable, but achievements, such as shops that attract people from all around the realms, are not the final goal. We shall aim for more, and we shall reach far. We are on the right track as we speak about development, and develop we must. Our beloved Djedet is the pearl of Khem, a place of peace that will blossom and thrive under the guidance of our wise elders.

I believe, or in the least hope that mentioning development aroused your interest, my good people. No, fear not; Djedet shall not become a town like Nes'ek. Djedet will always stay true to the local culture and traditions, however, also allowing people from far-away-lands to enjoy them. Thus, I urge you, my good people... Do not treat the outsiders in a hesitant manner, but welcome them. They are our opportunity to grow and deve-..."


A man, standing somewhere in the middle of the crowd, interrupts the officer by whistling loud and then speaking out.


"They arrive as friends but leave as traitors! The occasional few cause no trouble, but a mass of tourists will demand special rights for themselves. They won't abide to our laws and ways. The streets of Djedet won't be safe any longer... Once the swarm of locusts come, they will destroy everything until nothing is left!"

"Good sir, I understand your concerns, but worrying of such is unnecessary. The travellers, visitors, or 'tourists' as you call them, are not a 'swarm of locusts' but paying customers. With luck they do not bring only coin, but also inventions that are vital to Djedet.

Nevertheless, the most important reason for the development is the people of Djedet. We are taking great steps towards town-wide cultural education which will be free for those that can not pay for it. It is only a matter of time when the King of Knowledge graces us with a glance of acknowledgement.

Now then, my good people, step forward incase you wish to voice your other concerns..."


A part of the crowd leaves, some stay and go closer to the officer, some stay and only listen to what the others say.

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Two female commoners meet in a corner of Djedet. They both talk with hushed tones, though the speech is excited.



"Did you see her face?"

"Yes! Well, not entirely, but what I saw was enough to tell me that she looked awful."

"Indeed, she did. It makes me wonder what caused her to fall into such a miserable state."

"I wish I knew! If I was her, I would not dare to leave the house for days... I doubt her husband is happy either."

"She didn't even try to hide it. Must be that strange blood... After all, she is not from here, I hear."

"She isn't? Oh dear, that does explains a lot..."



The pair of ladies continue their coversation with even more quiet voices.

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