The Desert wind doesn't blow it Howls:
Despite my detailed Descriptions this is a Semi-Lit RP I just wanna get all the Facts straight before we start.

Rules:

• All that are interested are welcome to Join, if nothing seems to be happening just jump right in.
• No god modeing
• No mary or Gary sues
• no list intros
• Please post at least twice a week to keep things rolling
• Leave a notification if you will be gone for a while, preferably give you charater reason to be gone as well.
• Romance is allowed within the confines of the Rules and Regulations
• OOC is allowed but only to discuss issues with the RP its self or notifying that you will be gone
• I like imagination! Be Creative! I want this to grow as much as possible.
• Adhere to the specifications, IE no blonds where blonds cannot be
• One to two paragraphs at the minimum please.
• One liners will not be tolerated

Basic Setting information:

A Plateau rises out of the land with patches of grass growing along small shallow Oasis dotting it. A massive gorge runs through it. There is a desert on one side and a large yellow and green marsh land on the other.
When it rains the Gorge floods from the desert side emptying into the Marsh lands. The Marshes are so incredibly vast that from the top of the Plateau one can only just barely see the end of the marshes.
The Marshland becomes plain and that becomes farm lands and hamlets and eventually a massive highly advanced city with minor aerial capabilities and a Aztec style.
There are also two tribes of people living in the gorge though they have never been past the marshlands. One group lives towards the Middle of the gorge and another group lives on the cliffs facing the desert. Those cities in the gorge and Cliff sides are set with their doors high in the cliff faces above the flood line. They then dig their homes deep into the Plateau so the Cliff is riddled with caves and corridors dug by those living there. Those lodgings in the cliffs are filled with small tunnels and openings that are used in part with Mirrors and oil to light the dark recesses.

The Peoples:

• Those in the city: Are Varied in physical appearance and have slightly pointed ears though they aren't elves (There are no elves). They are technologically advanced and view themselves as better than those in the gorge and regard them as savages and monkeys. In fact they doubt if those in the gorge are even the same species as them.
• Those living in the plains and outskirts of the Marshes: Those living on the outskirts of society regard those living in the gorge as demons. They are farmers and less advanced than those in the city but still benefit from some of the more basic technologies. Like electricity and plumbing. Though their houses are more medieval looking. Like those in the city physical appearances are just as varied but their skin is generally darker from working outdoors so much.
• Those living in the center of the Gorge: Because of the lack of sun they are paler skinned than those outside the gorge, though their hair is generally in the darker shades, however it is not unheard of for those with lighter hair to be born but they are rare and generally the hair is simply a bright shade of red. These people are fairly primitive in their life style. They grow crops up on the top of the plateau that they then trade with those on the cliff face for meat.
• Those living on the Cliffs:Due to constantly being exposed to the hot sun and those people have much darker skin, their lightest variation a Mocha color. Their hair starts out dark brown but lightens depending on their exposure to the sun, those that are outside more have hair with blond highlights, though not Blond hair completely. These peoples are shepherds, each day they trek up the rough meandering cliff side pathways(All of which must be maintained regularly) to take care of their sheep and Camel like animals that they use like cattle.

Note:
The peoples in the gorge know nothing of the people in the city on the otherside of the Marsh

NOTE: (I didn't think this was necessary)
There are no people living out IN the desert there are no non 'humans' in this. You can be a traveler from the city beyond the marsh but there are no non humans. Thank you.

Plot:There are rumors of a large treasure that lies some where in the heart of the desert. The easiest way to get there is through the Gorge. The rulers and adventurers living with in the city are eager to get their hands on it. All have agreed that the quickest way is through the gorge since landing gear won't work in the sand.
However there remains the issue of those 'savages' living in the plateau, they are on the ropes of trying to civilize them and just wipeing them out.

The Gorge:
The wind howled through the gorge as it always did, an eerie wolfish howl as it slipped through the crevasse and over the open doorways, only amplifying the horrible whistling. Of course to those living there it was the norm and they thought nothing of it.
Their only preoccupation today was the central market, held in the bottom of the gorge, where today the two tribes got together and traded their goods. Meat and Milk for Grains and and fruits, however today was the last day of Market before the rains started. Once the rains started the only trading that could be done would be on the slippery cliff side paths and Bridges. So everyone was anxious to get what they could while they can or to pack up the larger stands so they wouldn't be washed away. Camels pulled makeshift carts through the market filled with bleating sheep, women balanced baskets of fruit preserves on their heads and sometimes carried even more in their arms. Merchants shouted their prices and proclaimed the superiority of their wares. Children ran around some playing others running errands for their parents.

The City:
The city was a hub of activity just as it always was, men and women walking down the street past shops and theaters, some headed to work some out shopping. The quaint white stone buildings with their painted shingles. Squarish serpentine figures decorated the cobbled walk ways snaking towards the center of town.
The Town hall was a massive rectangular building with serpents engraved on the columns that supported the triangular roof top that at one time gleamed with copper inlays on the roof, but now it was nothing but a green accent. The windows were large and tinted a blueish color like many of the residential buildings.

Demari Ashin was a young man who'd grown up on the cliff faces, every morning he woke up to look out over the gleaming gold and red desert. His skin was a dark deep tan, his hair was curly and dark with faint gold highlights in it from the sun. His father was a camel breeder as he would be when he came of age.
He led a few of the better camels down the Market street in hopes of selling them for some fresher fruits, his thick leather boots making soft crunching noises on the rocks that littered the ground. He was dressed in tan pants and a white shirt with red designs curling around the collar and bottom hem.
Demari was know among his tribe as a well spoken and well behaved young man, not one to run off or disobey his parents.

Velvela Fleet arranged her fruits at the booth in the market place. This was the last of what she and her family had to sell. Her parents were home, preserving the last of their harvest to carry them through to the next year. She had a wide variety and a large supply- it was the last day of Market after all and that was always the best day for sales. People trying to guess how much they needed for the coming rainy season.

Velvela finished her arranging of the fruits in her open market. She stood beneath a thin gauzy awning of purple and red cloth. The cloth matched the kerchief of cloth she had wound around her long, curly hair. The ends were bleached to a shiny copper color, the roots were a much darker brownish bronze color. Her dark skin stretched over her features, her lean limbs strong from weeks of labor and travel from the orchard to the markets. Her wide smile greeted her customer as she helped them fill baskets with her fruit. She collected the money they gave her, tucking into the deep pockets of her apron, keeping a mental note of how much she made. The light, loose red cloth of her tunic hung on her frame nicely, pulled in at the waist by the off-white apron tied around her waist. Her brown skirt fell to the middle of her calves, a few shades lighter than her skin. From her ears dangled red beads that caught the light, matching the string around her neck.

She counted the money given to her by a woman for a basket full of fruit, "Ah...you more me a it more." The woman frowned, but handed over the coins, not bothering to haggle over the price. Velvela gave the woman her best smile, placing one more fruit in her basket with a wink. "Just for you."

With that customer out of the way, her stall fell into a slight lull. Velvela took the time to look out over the market for people she recognized. It was hard to see with all the hustle and bustle, so she amused herself by simply people watching.

Demari stood at one stall for a while arguing with the owner over the price of his Camels. The stood debating for sometime before the man at the booth, reluctantly folded his arms and finally settled on a price. Demari clapped his hand over the other man's and smiled "mmh! A Very good choice!" He said in his voice that was just starting to grow deeper with age.
He passed the reigns of the camel to the driver and walked off heading away from the stink of the livestock stalls and towards the sweet smell of the Vegetable goods.
He paused a few shops down from Velvela's stand looking over goods with a discriminating eye.

Velvela put on her best market smile, her dark-honey eyes catching the light as she leaned forward. "You already know my fruit is the best in the market. It is a limited supply you know." She grinned continuing, "Also the best priced and sweetest. Perfect for preserving or drying for the rainy season."

She pulled a knife from her pocket and picked up one of the bright red fruits, cutting into it with her knife. The moist, juices of the fruit ran down the knife as Velvela cut off a slice, offering it to Demari. "Fresh from the tree, picked it myself. Well, maybe not this exact fruit, but many of these." She laughed, getting ready to cut another slice from the ripe kallah fruit. The ruby red meat juicy was sweet and tangy at the same time. It came from the kallah cactus, a plant with tall branches, spiked with thorns that sprouted the tiniest green leaves after the rainy season. The fruit itself didn't really have anything more than a bit of a fuzz- not quite thorns, but it can get annoying for those who don't know how to handle it. Velvela handled it like a champ, easily peeling off the fuzz of baby thorns to cut a slice of juicy meat.

The baskets in front of her are full of the red kallah fruit, as well as various kinds of citrus, dates, fresh olives ready for pickling, some catri fruit- an orange fruit with a citrusy soft pulp, several more exotic fruits as well- some which are known to be difficult to grow in the region. She had a small basket of trinse fruit, usually found in moister regions and known for the soft skin and edible seeds, perfect for making wine and mead. She also had some grapes and exotic looking berries.

Demari smiled as he walked over "Ahh But I can't make it so easy for you to sell it to me" He joked holding his hand out "You may as well let me sample it if your cutting it up".
Demari leaned on the stand still smiling "I'm not looking for preserves though My mother has handled that, I'm looking for something that can be made into sweet wine and spirits, My father has a celebration in a few days"
Demari as always was not one to be over sold, he was prepared to pay more for her fruits, after all she was telling the truth he's were some of the best, but he wasn't going to let her know.

Velvela grinned, She placed the slice of juicy fruit in his hand, slicing off a bite for herself and popping it into her mouth. She looked thoughtfully at her goods, she already knew what she would sell him for making wines and meads- spirits, but she wanted to make a show of it. She swallowed her fruit, cutting off another slice and giving it to Demari. She took the last slice for herself, waiting before she popped it into her mouth.

"Well, we have some really ripe trinse. We're the only ones in the area who sell them. Hard to grow around here- you won't find another vendor with them. They make a very fine wine- if you mix with honey instead of sugar it is smooth and can be made dry or sweet according to your tastes. We also have some lovely soona berries- crush them for a nice mead- not many of those left, big seller this morning." She paused, taking the last slice of fruit and finally popping it into her mouth. She wiped her knife on a cloth she pulled from her apron before placing both back in her deep pockets. "You can also make a decent wine from the Kallah- a little sweet- but not bad if you water it down."

Velvela tilted her head to one side, her youth showing through as she did. She was in her late teens, on the cusp of being a woman- ready to marry and start a family. "The advantage of the trinse over the kallah is that the trinse will supply its own yeast for fermenting. It will also make a slight bubble in the spirit if you seal your containers well while fermenting it."

Demari scratched his chin, already there was a small beard forming, though they were not known for thick beards, many of the older men from his tribe sported thin but artistically trimmed and twisted facial hair.
He contemplated her offer as he chewed the small red fruit, he looked up with her "Bubbles you say?" He asked with a nod, "I Believe that that would suit the festivities we have planned, and what would one have to pay for so delightful a fruit?"

Velvela adjusted her kerchief, tucking a stray hair back under and out of her eyes. The ends of her long hair fell out of the loosely twisted cloth and down her back. It was tied into a loose tail, letting the curls of her hair brush loosely against her back. "Depends on how much you want. They are generally 5 coins to a measure. For a good batch of wine, I would say you need three measures." She nodded, looking to the other fruits, "The kallah are only 3 coins to a measure, you get less physical fruit, but more meat."

Velvela looked past Demari for a moment as another man tried to snatch a fruit. Her eyes burrowed into him, letting him know she was aware and watching. His hand darted back to his side- empty. She shifted her attention back to Demari, "What do you say? Its a fair deal and you're not going to find them elsewhere." She studied Demari with her dark amber brown eyes. "Your sell the camels right? Good stock, good stock. My father bought one from your father a couple years back to help haul the fruit from the orchard to the farm."

Demari just smirked "Flattery will get you no where with me miss, How about 4 pieces a measure?" He asked as he pulled out his purse making sure it didn't make to much noise when he did, best not to give her any hints of how much he carried. "Since you say you have this stock monopolized, I think its difficult to determine a truly fair price." He fished around producing the coins he'd offered "And three measures of Kallah at your asking price?"

Velvela shook her head, "No flattery, just trying to place a name with the face. I have my methods. Family and what not. Demari right? Of the Ashin family?" She chuckled, lofting a brow. "But I can't sell the trinse for less than five coins a measure. I've already discounted it for you as far as I can go. But say if you buy four measures, I'll give it to you for 18 instead of twenty. Or 14 for three measures. They normally for for 7 coins a measure. But this is the last day before the rainy season and I'd rather not carry them all home. You do fair business and I do fair by you." She cocked her thumb at the camel lingering behind her stall.

She smiled a bright smile. "I'm not cheating you but I am the only one who has 'em." She smirks, mulling over things. She leans closer to Demari, lowering her voice, "This morning I sold two measures of the rinse for twenty coins to a wealthy merchant from the gorge." She smirked at her craftiness as she remembered the deal.

"What do you say? Three measures or four?" she asked, already measuring out the Kallah fruit into a separate basket used for counting measures before she gave the fruit away. She picked up each fruit deftly, "You want 'em peeled of the thorn fur?" She asked, plucking her knife from her apron pocket again, still waiting on the answer for the trinse.

Farther down the street a teenager glided around the people and stalls, wondering why her foster family saw fit to drop her here 'Hopefully this market has the needed seeds for fathers garden...mothers really since father doesn't care about anything to do with how there food on the table...neither does mother....bah!' Cutting her rebellious thoughts off the teenager proceeds to slide around yet another citizen of the city and stumbles over the rope dragging behind the citizen as he hurries towards his exit.

Catching her balance against a nearby support beam of a stall the teenager scowls after the rude citizen. A passing merchant, seeing the incident and the scowl, laughs and asks, "What did you expect? The market is on its last day!" Turning her glare towards the merchant she starts to pout as he blissfully continues on his merry way. Turning back towards the direction she wishes to go she mutters under her breath to herself, "Of course it's the last market day! Of course my parents had to say 'Lusalma, you HAVE to get those seeds, otherwise how we will have our meals, or our fruit, or,' oh the horror, 'how will we have our soap?!' NoOoO, they had to send me NOW and not sooner in the week because the first had to use ALL the fruit and soap and meals and seeds...sigh."

Glancing up on the end of that weary, heartfelt sigh Lusalma heard the edge of a conversation on the making of wine. Curious, as ever, about a skill to add to her already extensive repertoire of food related tasks Lusalma paused to stop and listen, hoping that the seeds wouldn't sell out while she paused and vindictively wishing they would just so she could have a valid excuse for not getting her parents their oh so precious plants (not that she knew given the fact that she never enjoyed the benefits of her labor)

skeith walked into the city after walking through the desert for days. he was thirsty and hungry. he removed his face wrap and walled through the city looking for the local pub. he looked as people stared at his eyes. blood red colored the rest jet black. others staring at the sword he carried wrapped around his back. it was a broadsword that was passed from generation to generation in his family. he continued walking through the city with the hated stares, he could tell that some citizens already knew he wasn't human.

Demari nodded a bit "I suppose the offer is fair if you've sold them higher, give me four" He laguhed "And Don't peel the Kallah My mother uses the fur to scrub the dishes" He added as he reached into his Purse.

"I would buy the whole lot from you if I could, as you say Trinse is hard to come by, But I don't really feel like carrying them all back either" He laguhed "Seeing as I just sold the camel I came in on."

Demari started to count out the necessary amount for the fruit he planned on buying kicking at one of the children that now eyed his coins greedily.

Velvela laughed and nodded, "I know that feeling. Having more than you want to carry home." She slipped her knife back into her pocket, setting the measures of Kallah in the basket as is. "You have a basket to carry 'em in? Or a bag?"

She lofted a brow as she began measuring out the measures of trinse fruit. Soon, she had both fruits measured out and waiting for their final carrying apparatus. She had spare baskets, but they were only for those with none and they cost as well. As the children gathered around the stall, she pulled another kallah fruit from her stock, quickly retrieving her knife and peeling the fur from it before tossing it to the child. "Go on now. Don't beg off my customers." She smiled at the child as he ran off down the street with his prize.

Turning her attention back to Demari and her money, she did her math, pronouncing the final cost to make certain they were in agreement. "That'll be 18 for four measures and 9 for the kallah- altogether 27 silver. If you need a basket, then 28. Can't let those go for free, my mum will wallop me." She was good with her sums- her arithmetic in general. Odd for a girl, but she was proud of her skill. She could calculate large sums in her head without the counting beads or abacus. She could do other math as well, but she kept it to herself. No one would want a woman like that and she wanted to do her family proud.

A few more customers started to mill around the booth, eying her wares. One wandered off in the direction of the miller's stall. The other off in the other direction a few animals behind him, presumably for sale or for his meat.

"hey easy on the kids man." skeith walked up and handed the kids some money and said "use it wisely now." he looked back to the child kicker and said "they're poor, they need money and you're kicking them to the ground, whats wrong with you?"

"I'll just trust you aren't lieing to me" Demari said with a smile as he counted out the money and laid it in front of her.

He reached around untying what at first had appeared to be a sash but unfolded into a large sack, he held it open for the young woman and nodded "Just put them in here as you see fit" He said nodding. Watching the kids run off "Your on the other side of the cliff then are you not? Or you wouldn't be in such a hurry to trade things"

skeith sighed and said "hey tough guy. stop acting so high and mighty before i knock you off your high horse and knock your head off your shoulders."

OOC: Skeith I didn't wanna call you out in RP But we need to discuss somethings okay

Velvela nodded, putting the fruit carefully into the sash so as not to bruise it. "I do. It's the only place with enough land for the fruit to grow." She scooped up the coins, eyeballing them with a discerning eye as she slipped them deep into her apron pocket with the rest of her money. She had done well today- very well. She could afford to give Demari a bit of a break on the fruit.

Her dark honey eyes flicked to the man who gave the child some money after she had already given him fruit. She frowned at his words, but chose to ignore him. She turned her attention back to Demari, annoyance on her face melting away as she finished arranging the fruit in his carrying sash. She smiled at him, "You're all set then. Be careful out on the cliffs if you're walking that way." She grimaced slightly, "I know I will be. But, I think the rains will hold out for the day and probably the night as well." She closed her eyes and smelled the air. "You can smell it when it's coming." She smiled.

((OOC: I am out for the evening- going to dinner. You think we can set up an OOC thread for this game? Might keep us from having to OOC on here.))

Frowning in disappointment at the now ended conversation Lusalma looked away briefly, not wanting the stall keeper and camel owner to notice her eavesdropping. Glancing casually to the left Lusalma spies the an ebby of movement within the crowd as a form pushes it's way forcefully towards a row of buildings and as the crowd draws back.

Wondering about the new diversion Lusalma briefly considers the fact that if the stall owner still carries another supply of plants and seeds she would be able to finish her annoying task or if this new distraction will allow her more time away from the loving arms of her family while giving her time to complete said annoying task.

Velvela looked around her stall, waving people over who were lingering, "Fresh fruit- get it before the monsoons!" She beamed at those nearby lifting a fruit in each hand to show them off. "You won't find juicier or cheaper in the markets! Exotic fruit! Local fruit! Perfect for all your needs!"

Some people stopped and Velvela filled their orders quickly and efficiently. She took their money and filled their baskets with fruit. Her pockets jingled happily with coins. She too had some shopping to do before the market closed, so she was eager to be done with her selling for the day. Luckily, she was good at it and she really did have good product- that made the task easier.

She went over the list of items in her head that she had to buy- seeds for the next planting season, meal for breads, dried meats, some spices...she frowned for a moment thinking on her list. She was supposed to look to see if there was a hive queen available. Her father wanted to start a second bee colony for the orchard. She didn't think she would be able to find one though and they would have to wait until the colony they had decided to send another queen out.

Seeing the fact hat the seeds and fruits were going quickly Lusalma finally nodded her head quickly and walked quickly towards Velvela's fruit store wondering whether she had the seeds or would be able to tell her where to find the seeds.
Walking up to Velvela's stall Lusalma quietly asked, "Do you have seeds of of the soap nut tree or the Acacia seeds?"

Velvela smiled at Lusalma, holding up a finger for her to wait while she helped her last customer. velvela packs the kallah fruits into the older woman's basket along with some fresh dates. "That'll be 15 silver ma'am," she says. The woman hands her the coins and Velvela gives her the basket. "Enjoy." Her voice is bright, cheery- friendly and genuine.

She turns her full attention now to Lusalma- her stall otherwise free of customers. "So, soup nut or acacia seeds?" She mulls for a moment, "Are you making perfumes or soaps?" She smiles, waving the question away. "No matter. I haven't got any seeds left- I sold out of soap nut weeks ago. But that is not our main business- we only had a few this season. I know where you can get them though."

She steps out from behind her stall to the front, running her hands over her off-white apron. She brushes a stray hair over her shoulder, the coppery brown color catching the light as she moves out from beneath the awning. She points down the road, "If you go down the road a bit, past the spice trader and the glass blower, you'll find the a couple of stalls selling seeds. I suggest Burke's stall- he has better prices and sells fresher seeds so you know they'll germinate. His stall has a blue and gold awning. He's a big man with a pretty full beard actually- fully than you normally see. Maybe his hair migrated from the top of his head to his beard." She chuckled, smirking lightly. "Good man Burke. He'll give you a fair price. If he hasn't got any left, Gogol's seeds aren't bad, but buy some extra just to make sure you get enough to germinate."

She looks at Lusalma, "Anything else I can help you with? Fruit? Berries? Olives? Dates?" She grins, the salesgirl coming back out.