Open Chronicles Shopping in Ragash

[Kara Orin]

On the crowded streets of Ragash, a merchant hung a vibrant yellow and red rug up for those on the streets to see. It was time for another day at his stand selling his wares. The Alabyad Palace took its place in the eastern skyline. It dome provided some shade in the early day. The rug merchant called out to people in the streets to get their attention until,

<< This is pretty. >> Kara said in heavily accented Kaliti.

The man perked up and walked over to the girl with his hands on his plump belly.

<< Oh yes, very pretty, miss! >> the merchant said as he walked over, examining the girl.

With her accent and complexion, it was clear to the merchant that Kara was a foreigner from the east. Ragash was not far from Elbion via an overland journey – though, the desert required substantial preparation for such a trip. Many of these foreigners came as Elbion merchants to buy Ragash textiles and ivory.

The merchant could not see anything that gave him an idea of who this girl was affiliated with. She sported a grey cloak and rather simple clothing. Definitely not as gaudy as some of the Elbion merchants he had seen before.

<< You speak Kaliti? You’re doing well! >> the merchant added some flattery.

<< Thank you. I am learning. >> Kara replied.

Looking at the smallish rug Kara had been eying, the merchant continued to try to make a sell by saying, << You like this? You must be married? Your husband would love it back home. >>

Kara blinked – taking a second to process the words. Then, she gave a single, “Hah! No.”

<< I want to buy. I want to give a present. How much? >> Kara said as she pointed at the desired rug.

The two began to haggle to come to an agreement on the price. As they did so, a couple large men approached the rug merchant’s stall. One of them had a scar from check-to-check over their nose. The other was like a yeti with forearms the size of tree trunks.

<< Hey, old man! >> the smaller man called out, << It’s another month. Time to pay up! >>

Kara was witnessing a protection racket in broad daylight in a foreign place...

 

[Rashad]

"Rashad." His captain spoke to him sternly. The golden eyed warrior rose without hesitation as his name was called to him by his captain.

"You, Markesh and a few other foot soldiers are to investigate a criminal group taking hold in Ragash. Protection rackets, shakedowns, the works. I expect you to find those involved and apprehend them when you have outstanding evidence. Do not kill them. It is not up to you what happens to them."

Rashad nodded calmly. He went to his quarters and retrieved some light armor and his naginata. He then met up with the other soldiers involved and made their way. The trip was silent.

---

Upon arrival in Ragash, the soldiers split up. They decided it'd be best in order to track down whoever was involved in these illegal dealings. Rashad made his way through the bustling streets towards the marketplace. It was suffocating. The people, the shops. He found solace in the barracks. There was quiet when training and patrols were done. This was a bigger job than he was used to.

He continued onward until his eyes caught Kara Orin's conversation being overtook by some less than presentable fellows. He withdrew his weapon and marched forward, his eyes on the group as he pushed through the hordes of citizens.

 

[Kara Orin]

<< The boss’s increased this month’s fee too. >> the smaller thug declared.

A couple beads of sweat dripped down the side of the rug merchant’s face. A bit of words got shot back and forth between the two. Kara just blinked in silence as she attempted to keep up with the conversation. She also took a couple steps back – looking for a way out of the situation.

Had this been Elbion, Kara might have been proactive in resolving this situation. Yet the last thing she needed as a foreigner in this city was some legal trouble.

Pointing at Kara, the smaller thug said, << Who’s she? Wife? Daughter? >>

The muscleheaded thug stepped forward and seized one of Kara’s wrists – holding it up in the air. Kara’s eyes widened.

“The-what…” Kara exclaimed.

<< She’s just a customer! >> the rug merchant claimed.

Before the situation developed any further though, the rug merchant saw Rashad approaching with a drawn sword. The sudden change in the merchant’s demeanor made the thinner thug turn around and see the approaching soldier.

<< Who the hell are you?! >> he said as he drew a bludgeon.

His larger counterpart drew a dagger while still holding onto Kara.

 

[Rashad]

It seems conversation was a long shot, but it was in his duties to ensure that he followed procedure in this. There was less than any time to try and reconvene with his comrades to address the matter. That in mind, he had no issue dealing with criminals who hid behind nil guise in the light of day. Anyone this brash was anything but a threat to Rashad.

He approached at his steady pace, nonreactive to the mans demands of his identity and hanging his Naginata low to the ground as he did so. His golden eyes met Kara's as he finally stood within feet of them. He gave her a nod of reassurance in a light manner, his face holding stalwart and bearing no expression.

He finally glanced back to the wrongdoers and let his metallic glare stare deep into them.

"By decree of the God Emperor Gerra, and of Amol-Kalit's army you are hereby placed under arrest for extortion, public disturbances," His eyes panned back to Kara. "...as well as kidnapping a foreigner and brandishing your weapons to a servant of the military. Come quietly and perhaps your sentence will be lenient."

The grip on his pole arm was loose, not phased by their defensive stances as he awaited their response. He was however, alone.

 

[Kara Orin]

<< Damn, a guard? >> one thug exclaimed.

The smaller thug snapped his fingers. The large one pointed his dagger toward Kara. The girl frowned and clinched her teeth. She glared at the thug that spoke just as Rashad looked at her.

<< No, screw the Emperor! >> the thug responded to Rashad’s demand for surrender.

And now Rashad could add lese-majeste to their list of crimes.

Then, the smaller thug looked around as he moved toward his buddy. He pointed at an alleyway just next to the rug merchant’s stand. They began to shuffle in that direction while still facing Rashad. The one with the bludgeon still pointed it at the soldier.

<< Don’t follow, ya hear? >> the thing thug threatened.

They continued to inch away. The rug merchant just stood there – shaking from the adrenaline rushing through his blood. Meanwhile, Kara silently and discretely reached behind her back…

 

[Rashad]

Rashad was not amused. These types of criminals were a waste of the money put into their justice system. He thought they'd be better off as a gory reminder of what happens when you defy Gerra to all in Ragash. Yet his orders were clear and not something he was trying to make a habit of disobeying.

The women held in the arms of these criminals seemed well equipped based on her glance. Rashad wanted to ensure her safety from these evildoers but her movements showed she had a plan of her own, which would be enjoyable to watch. Though if she committed murder it may make things a bit more complicated. Not that he'd blame her.

"You are mistaken in believing you have the upper hand in this situation. You may have numbers, but one lion minds not to cower from three rats. Release her now or you will force my hand."

 

[Kara Orin]

The thugs continued to slowly make their way to their escape. The big thug kept a knife close to Kara. From the girl’s perspective, the hostage situation seemed to be working in the criminals’ favor with Rashad remaining unmoving.

<< Don’t care, stay there! >> the smaller thug told Rashad as he twitched his bludgeon.

The rug merchant continued to fidget. He glanced back and forth between Rashad and the thugs.

Kara’s eyes moved up toward the top of the buildings surrounding the stands. As her hand still remained behind her back, she eyed one part of the sandstone almost directly above the large thug.

Magic activated at that moment. Almost instantly, part of the sandstone ledge on the roof broke off. Kara became dead weight – making the large thug stop for a moment.

<< Huh, wha- >>

BAM!

A sandstone chunk smacked into the large thug.

<< OW! DAMN! >> he yelled as he released Kara to place both hands on top of his bald head.

Taking this opportunity, Kara pushed herself up and made a run for it.

<< Whatareyoudoing!? >> the smaller thug said in a panic.

Now, the dastardly duo had no hostage.

 

[Rashad]

"Crane of Gold."
​

It was hardly seconds after Kara had broken free. His warnings had been enough for the two criminals. He had to take them alive despite his own wishes as these men were far beyond guillotine worthy in his eyes. The tattoo of the golden crane floated off his skin and dissipated with a small burst. His skin turned into a sheen golden hue as he sprinted forward. He let the blade of his naginata point behind him as he rushed.

The smaller one was the first to react as the larger one reeled from his blow still. He swung his club in a frenzied panic. Rashad stopped, allowing the connection to be made. The club struck against Rashad's skull as a loud ringing sang out. The thug dropped his weapon and gripped his wrist, calling out in agony from the pain of strikin something as hard as titanium. Rashad pushed the wooden end of his polearm into the mans throat and then slapped it on the top of his head, knocking him unconscious.

The larger one came to and noticed what had happened, his eyes locked on the golden Rashad. He threw his dagger at Rashad and made a break for it. The dagger flimsily bounced off of Rashad's chest as he pursued the cowering man.

"You threaten the hardworking, kidnap our visitors, and abandon your comrades? You are truly pathetic." He aimed his naginata skyward and threw it deep into the calf of the man. His throes of pain caught the attention of many, eyes now on the golden man who slowly made his way to his sobbing target.

 

[Kara Orin]

The confrontation was quick. The rug merchant continued to panic. The large thug continued to hiss in pain within the alleyway.

With capture or death seemingly inevitable, the thug took out a medicinal-looking pill. He shoved it into his mouth and took a deep, hard swallow.

The pill’s effects took moments to take effect. Black-looking veins popped out of the thug’s skin. His already large muscles swelled. The thug’s eyes rolled back. He grasped the polearm and yanked it out of his leg. The wound was pinched shut by his bulging flesh.

Almost mindlessly, the thug then swung the polearm down on Rashad. A morning star would be more appropriate, though. Assuming Rashad’s spell worked like plate armor, blunt force could cause internal damage without breaking the skin. Though as the smaller thug demonstrated, there may be more to the spell than just hardening the skin.

Meanwhile, Kara began to slowly leave the scene.

 

[Rashad]

The hulking man earned not so much as a blink from the golden Rashad. More so, the soldier was just tired. Wanted this to be an easy day and yet everyone wanted to make it harder. His allies finally made their way back to the scene and stood wide eyed at the spectacle. Rashad pointed towards the fleeing Kara Orin.

"She saw everything. Her testimony is vital. Do not let her leave." Rashad spoke without looking away from the oncoming attack, that which struck his shoulder and and shattered his own weapon. Shame. Replacement may take a while. Rashad retaliated in a way that would bring down hopefully any man, with a knee to the groin. Especially while his body was essentially titanium. The guards took to following Kara slowly as she attempted to remove herself.

The man stood in agony for a few moments, but did not keel over. Whatever this drug was it was extremely powerful and needed investigating. He swung his fist into Rashad and miraculously knocked the soldier flat. To see his magic succumb to some drug was bothersome at the least. Yet, the man had finally earned Rashad's full attention. That, and his fury.

 

[Kara Orin]

Before Kara could leave the scene, other guards appeared. Rashad gave the order for them to prevent Kara from leaving. One of them stood by with a polearm in his hand. Kara did not do anything besides stand and watch.

Other guards extrapolated Rashad’s words to mean to secure the scene and prevent people from leaving. The rug merchant trembled even more as an armed guard approached.

Meanwhile, the drugged thug that had attacked Rashad began to drool as he grimaced his teeth in pain from the groin shot. His mind was gone as the drug continued to wreck his souped-up body. After a few moments, the thug finally lunged at Rashad in an attempt to pin him down and start a beatdown.

 

[Rashad]

It was a grave misconception that any drug could thwart strength innately gained and fought for. Rashad has been training to die his entire life and would not be overtaken by some steroid created to cheat him out of his hard work. This hulking man was a problem, but not a threat in his eyes. At least not to the soldier himself. To the mild mannered shopkeep? He indeed was one.

Rashad allowed himself to be pinned. The man grinned through his stupor as he perceived his own victory. Rashad's expression had not changed once since his arrival on scene. The man had both of Rashad's arms to the ground. It wasn't long before he realized he had nowhere to go from this situation. He had no plan of attack or escape. He was surrounded by guards in the midst of assaulting one. He was trapped.

The golden soldier placed his knees to the mans stomach and rolled backwards. In seconds the pin was flipped, and Rashad knelt atop him. One fist rose to the air, and brought down with might upon his forehead. The man fell unconscious immediately. Both now incapacitated and apprehended. Mission complete.

"For the ink sleeps in my skin, may it now rest. til' it hears my call once more."

Rashad's body returned to its dark hue as the gold melted away. A gold crane tattoo reappearing on his neck. The guards looking onward with quiet awe, and his captain arriving on scene not moments later. Rashad picked up his broken weapon as his captain looked around and took in what was happening.

He looked upon the veins in the knocked out thug, and looked up towards Rashad.

"What the hells happened here?"

 

[Kara Orin]

Once knocked out, the thug began to froth at the mouth and convulse in a seizure. His drugged body would soon kill itself.

The plump rug merchant took a couple steps toward Rashad.

<< My savior! Anything you want from my stands, I guarantee half off! >>

The merchant gestured to his wares.

The guards had two thugs (one about to die) and two witnesses. With no word of being free to leave, Kara remained still and silent.

 

[Rashad]

The guard captain called out for a medic, and one quickly arrived, not far from the scene to begin with. One of the guards watching over Kara took to helping him with the seizing man though his chance for survival seemed slim. The other effects from the drugs were unknown. They could possibly irreversible. Rashad couldn't be bothered to care about whether they got information from him. He deserved to die.

"That will not be necessary." Rashad spoke to the shopkeep with a small bow. "I was simply doing my job. And there is nothing here that piques my interest. Continue on." With his dead demeanor and flowing robe, Rashad turned away from the burdened man to lock eyes with Kara. He moseyed over to her and stood uncomfortably close.

"Have you seen symptoms like this before, foreigner?"

 

[Kara Orin]

Rashad’s answer seemed harsh to the rug merchant. His plucky plump demeanor deflated to a dejected look. It lasted for only a moment, though. He put on a smile once more and stood nearby Rashad. Even he could tell Rashad wished to do an interrogation, so he would not be forceful about getting the guards to leave. But, their presence was dissuading anyone from visiting his stand…

Rashad stood a little too close to Kara as he asked his question. She took one step back to glance at the drugged thug.

“No, I haven’t, sir,” she answered.