The Master Of Zooz

[phawk69]

T'skar tries to strike up a conversation with the vendors as she browses their wares.

 

Looking at the snake skins she shies back and asks what kind of snakes these skins are from, she also wonders at the size of them, and if they eat people.

 

Looking at the glassware she wonders at the quality and who could have done such beautiful work.

 

Looking at the fine clothing, she asks if this is the new fashion in Ippikander, and wonders about the weather this time of year.

 

Looking at the fruit and flowers from Zooz, she comments on the richness of the soil, and how proud they must be of all that they can grow there. She wonders aloud about mining in the area, and if the ground is as rich below as it is above.

 

When she is finished her little foray, she returns to their host’s in time for supper.

[Malchik]

The vendors answer politely although most of them seem keener to point out that they will be going back home eventually. Kolokon is too cold and too alien for most of them.

 

The snakes do not eat people. The skins are from the snake temple.

 

The glassware is mostly by the city governor, Ayala but some is by... they give you names but they mean nothing.

 

The girl from Ipanema - Ippikander - advises that the beaches are beautiful all year round. She adds that she only goes occasionally because she cannot really afford to keep up with the latest fashions. "And you'd never go otherwise, everyone just stares down their noses at you."

 

The man who is serving in the floral shop laughs at the idea of mines. "The ground is too soft and the rocks of the hillside of little mineral value. But," he laughs, "go and find Gribka. She helps look after the stuff that gets collected up after the floods. There's piles of old rubbish - buckets with holes in, bits of fence, broken crockery. I mean there are whole items too but they are either reclaimed or sold after a little while. And all this rubbish - she mines her way through it."

 

He then starts on about going back home himself.

[phawk69]

T'skar smiles at the man and asks "The way you describe Zooz, it sounds absolutely wonderful. What is the fastest way to get there? And this Gribka you mentioned, does she live in Zooz? Mining garbage sounds like such a strange occupation, I must see it for myself."

[Malchik]

He laughs. "She doesn't mine it. The old man who runs the business, and stay down wind of him, has been looking after his wares for years and it's been handed down through generations. He never throws anything away. So he has fifteen, twenty rooms stacked with useless junk. They are all underground, of course. And sealed to protect them from the periodical flooding. She keeps a sort of catalogue and if anyone wants something she'll find it by burrowing through the heaps of rubbish. It isn't mining as such but it certainly looks like it. She's only eleven by the way."

 

On the second part of the question he shakes his head. "There is no really fast way to get to Zooz. We all take the monthly escorted carriage into Jangli to pick up a boat to Antinapura. There you can take a boat upstream to Pellaret and Zooz. It takes five weeks!"

[phawk69]

T'skar buys a nice bouquet of flowers from the vendor and thanks him for his time. She then returns to their host's to share what she has learned with the others.

[karkarinus]

Meanwhile, Kalmer looks for someone in the residencial building to ask a few questions:

 

1) Why are all the buildings so flat-roofed? Is it anything to do with the weather?

 

2) Why do they not use the rooftoops for anything?

 

3) What significance does the shape of the Palace roof hold?

 

 

 

ooc> Is the Palace the same height (9 storeys) as the rest of the buildings? How far down are the rooftops from where Kalmer is?

 

 

 

ic> Just before departing, he descries T'Skar leaving one of the shops with a bunch of flowers, and smiles to himself. After asking the questions, he heads back downstairs to look for the others.

[Malchik]

In answer to his questions Kalmer learns that the rooftops may be used to view the town but the Triumvirate refuses any permanent fixtures to be installed. The flatness is not due to the weather, in fact it is a nuisance because of the need to clear snow without tipping it onto people in the street.

 

No one knows about the palace roof because all the buildings are very old and the palace is shrouded in secrecy. No one ever goes in or comes out except during the ceremony.

 

The roofs are all at the same height. It looks a bit like a plain with ravines.

[phawk69]

While meandering her way home, T’skar tries to conceal one of the flowers she has purchased, being careful to be out of sight and not too near their host’s house, incase she is detected.

[Malchik]

T'skar finds her spell impossible to cast. But no one else seems to notice and no one comes running.

[phawk69]

T’skar continues on to the house where they are staying, giving the flowers to the mistress of the home. She tries to find Kalmer before supper to talk over the evenings plans.