- Messages
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- Character Biography
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Lazarus had, much to his own surprise, become quite fond of Ragash. By his estimation, it was not the boldest of the Seven Great Cities of Amol-Kalit. If he were a betting man, which he was, he’d settle on it being somewhere in the middle. The Alabyad towers were eclipsed by Annuakat, the city's presence was a shadow of Kherkana, and it was hardly as mysterious as some of the other riverine cities. But for someone who often called Alliria or Elbion home, the Amol-Kalit city felt oddly like a second hearth.
The location was particularly convenient for his trade. Given an operating base along the northern coastal toe of the Seret Mountains, laid to claim by the Erca’Ryt Trading company many years ago, there was something alluring about the voyage. An easterly trip down the Cairou river, banked northwesterly along favorable winds to port in the Gulf of Liad, followed by a small home stay at port, followed by a turn around the Trident and a cut back into the Gulf of Annuak. Admittedly, the ship often struggled moving upstream along the Baal-Duru but the confluence was always met with a loud vessel-wide sigh. From then on, it was Ragash and the open seas.
It had become routine for him. He’d pick up heavy ores, acquired through the Seret range, and trade the lot for shiny bits of this and that in Ragash. Once the vessel was replete with exchangeable goods, he’d oftentimes make way for Cerak and after some lingering at various houses that appreciated his company, he’d make way back to Elbion or Allira via portal stone. And this voyage was no different.
“You mean to pick up more strays, Captain?” The mutton chopped barber surgeon looked towards the Captain as he was half away across the gangway that spanned hull to pier.
“Mmm.” Lazarus adjusted the black top hat and patted down his long black coat, nicked with bits of dried salt spray. “Odds and ends are among my expectations, Terzine...why? You expect lonely tidings along the Baal-Asha?”
“No, not quite. My herbs and mandrake keep me company just as well.”
“Not much for warmth, hmm?”
“Herbs burn just as well as timber.”
“Right.” He paused, unsure of where the conversation was going. After the pause moved far beyond his expectation, he lifted his arms. “Do you prefer serval or caracal?”
“I prefer to not linger.”
“A barber surgeon hits like a bilge rat when he hangs the jib...preference noted by chalk and hung in the rain to dry.” His azure gaze drifted towards the night sky and found not a single cloud to reinforce his threat. “Now…” He looked back towards Terzine before moving down the pier. “...mind the boat. I need to acquire a bit of parchment to pad the coffer.”
He always had difficulty securing payment in these parts, particularly when he was willing to offload prior to receipt. But such issues were half the reason for his particular appreciation for Ragash. It meant he had to go exploring, following the smell of incense and the sight of billowing harem cloth.
Kailyn