Blooming Opportunity
Sixth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC
Next upon your list of destinations is the Emirate of Mardja, in hopes of deepening your alliance or at the very least finding fresh sellswords for your banners. Althazi had not lightened your coffers near as much as you had feared. This time, however, you cannot justify four more days of sailing to arrive aboard the
Moonchaser. The Emir and his court have already borne witness to the ship last month. They will have a chance to admire her this month too, of course, but while Moonsong sets the course you and Lya travel ahead by sorcery.
Thus you find yourselves again within the Mardja of Amethyst and Pearl, the great reef alive with a riot of colors and sounds. Crystal bells ring and banners of sea silk flutter, adding to the music of the waters and the glittering scales of fish beyond count and kinds beyond knowing. Even the main arteries of the reef near the palace are so crowded Lya's hair almost gets tangled in the trident of a passing guard.
"Was it this, er... busy the last time you visited?" She asks, ducking aside from the path of an elder tojanida bearing the thrice curling horns of some long dead leviathan from which issues a strange melody, though not displeasing to the ear once it grows accustomed. The notes seem to harmonize with their own echoes spiraling downwards not into silence, you suspect, but yet more melodies beyond what even you can hear.
"It's a major trading port, but not this busy no," you reply, looking around for someone who does not seem so invested in the festivities that they cannot answer. You spot a merman merchant taking a long drink of kelp beer from a finely decorated flask, Kelasi from the nacre tail studs unless you are mistaken.
"Spare a pair of bewildered travelers some aid, goodman?" you ask with a smile. "What have we swam into?"
"'Tis the Feast of the Purple Flowering, the celebration of the first seeding of the reef and supposedly the first first growing of living coral. Mardjans claim they were the first to do it and everyone else stole the secret from them. Not sure if the boast is worth being known for being swindled quite that badly myself, but to each his own," the merman gives a deep rumbling laugh.
"How involved is the Emir in all this?" you ask, glancing towards the amethyst domed palace.
"Looking for an audience then?" his gaze sweeps over you head to toe, then moves on to Lya, eyes flashing faintly with sight beyond that of common day. "I see... or rather I don't see, which is rather more impressive on its own. I'm afraid you are going to have to wait just as I am. The Emir is more a gardener than a ruler for the next seven tides..."
A fortnight then, you translate to days under the sun, less than pleased, you had hoped to be well done with all your business under the Boundless Sea by then, then the rest of his words register. "Are you also looking for an audience?"
"Aye, an audience and a bit more if the waters prove sweet. Tacrit of Kelasi at your service," he places one hand on his heard and bows as is the most common greeting in the Far Emirates, as the maridar of Vialesk count such things. "I am and envoy of the Most Wise and Benevolent Emir Ramsin, seeking alliance with Mardja against the depredations of the foul wyrm, Galzerai."
Not just a merchant then, though his manner of dress less than his wide and easy smile and effortless dipping into the trade tongue marks him as such. You suspect he is a local enlisted by the Emir of Kelasi to represent his interests here. He does not seem to have had any luck with obtaining the aid he is seeking though, there has been not even a whisper of a rumor of an alliance between the two emirates. Perhaps you might provide that aid instead and gain another alliance thereby, though that is not a decision to be made lightly or in haste. If nothing else he offers the chance to learn more about Kelasi and its lord.
What do you do?
[] Continue speaking with Tacrit
-[] Write in
[] Seek out more sellswords
-[] Companies only
-[] Any warriors or mages who will swear on
[] Write in
OOC: Low roll on the random background dice so you guys can't talk to the Emir right now, but you did get and interesting encounter out of it. 
