AD 3 - Tuesday, December 18, 2001, 6:36 PM ------------------------------------------ Before the Great South Gates, Intersection of Roads -- Tenigul The great bastion of the Grand Mason's Wall known as the Great South Gate rises up out of the earth, monolithic in stature. The Grand Mason's Wall of Tenigul stretches in a huge arch around the southern half of the city from seashore in the east to cliff-face in the northwest, and beyond. Here the wall is breached by a mammoth barbican. The stonework is ages old, the portcullis forged by hellfire during Raughir's height of power. Reaching thirty feet above the already thirty foot Grand Mason's Wall, the Great South Gate can be espied from nearly anyplace in the South District. Two roads branch off here heading in northernly directions. The Imperial Highway, the wider of the two, heads Northwest along red cobbled stones. While Northeast heads the Palace Road, a white paved street that is flanked on its eastern side by a high inner wall of the city. Jutting out from the Grand Mason's Wall only a few yards to the east of the gate is this inner wall that follows the Palace Road north to its ending. Two stone towers flank the gatehouse that sits above the defenses, dozens of arrowslits look both out and into the city. Machines of war rest as shadows against the sky on the tower tops, maned by dozens of armed warriors. Once this gate held at bay the forces of good, and the enemies of Raughir. Today the banners of Saloh II snap in the wind and it is those very same forces of good and right that these gates protect. Two roads branch off here heading in northernly directions. The Imperial Highway, the wider of the two, heads Northwest along red cobbled stones. While Northeast heads the Palace Road, a white paved street that is flanked on its eastern side by a high inner wall of the city. Jutting out from the Grand Mason's Wall only a few yards to the east of the gate is this inner wall that follows the Palace Road north to its ending. During the day, this area before the gates, is filled with activity as merchants and travelers pass in and out of the Great South Gates. Heavily armed guards keep watch on the raised gates, checking traveling papers and merchant shipments (though most such wagons enter thru The Merchant's Gate). The Broadway spills out to the south from the gates. The red cobbled road is constantly under repair from the unending traffic that comes this way. Contents: Remial Obvious exits: Great South Gates , Imperial Highway , and Palace Road Early morn has come, and Tenigul begins to come to life with it. Several armed men stand along the street, wearing scabbards upon their sides and light padded armor over their bodies. Even though day has dawned, each keep look out in such an area so near to the Royal Estates. The traffic through the streets are yet to grow heavy, but merchants and others pass with some frequency, starting their daily work. Moving along the Palace Road, Kostu Tszyu passes by unaccosted, the guards' eyes moving toward him as they would any other. His wide-brimmed hat rests across his back, as the early morning heat has yet to scorch Tenigul's streets as it often does. Remial strides into view, having entered the city but several hours before. The silver bells that hang from his green-and-black cap jingle as he moves closer, regarding all he sees with a cool, bemused smile. Twirling his jester's stave like a baton, he regards the sights with fascination, his brown eyes bright. "Ah, me, 'tis a merry place, this. All the pretty flags and all the shiny helmets -- and these well-omened gates! Ah, my." Kostu's own gaze peers about the roadside, his eyes narrowed from an early call to wake. However, as the visage of Remial comes into view, the man's eyes open wide at a site not often seen in these parts. Some feet away, Kostu closes the distances, his legs pulling him in Remial direction. When within earshot, Kostu advises, "Uhhh... I'd be careful not to grab one of those bells in a few hours," pointing to the bells hanging off Remial's cap. "Scar your hand most likely," he explains, his head turning sidelong toward at the oddity before him. With a curt nod, Remial replies, "Quite right!" Tossing his head, so that the bells dangling from his cap tinkle, he performs a complete backflip. "But it's still a cheery day. My, what a big tattoo you have, Grandma." "Not so large," replies Kostu, his voice trailing off toward the end, and the word 'Grandma.' "It will not be so soon, I suspect, the day before hence ran hot and wet." He shrugs, "I do not expect much of difference today." Pausing, he shakes his head, "I must pry, I am afraid. Certainly Akar is not your home, nor have I heard of any such garments in all of Uruadum. I wonder if the question of where you hail from might be answered?" "Why, certainly! I am on the road this fine day to bring this basket of goodies to Grandma." Remial replies lightly, before gravely intoning, "In truth, I am a fool extraordinaire. A graduate of the college of fools, and a proven archfool. Valedictorian of the class of 59, actually. You shall find no fool more foolish than I -- not if you search forever and a day. And these garments? You have not heard of them ... because they must be seen ... to be believed." Kostu peers back with a simple look of confusion, "I see," he says finally, though it does not really appear he does. "I would say you will become a roasted fool unless your find a more suitable wardrobe." His voice does not hint at any jest, only the simple truth of what an Akarian day might present. "It is only spring now, my poppet," Remial declares dramatically. "It is the summer that I possess superior attire for, and the winter also. You would be amused to see my delightful snow-coat, yes. But believe me, nothing shall stop me from spreading foolishness. Tell me, do you have fools in these benighted but scenic lands, noble sir?" Confusion remains, and Kostu's words mimice the pursed face he presents. "Snow-coat," he repeats, looking toward the ground for a short moment before returning his gaze to Remial. "It seems we have at least one." After a short sigh, he runs a hand over his chin, "I do not know how much work you will find under noble appointment. Things are a bit more serious here than...wherever abouts you come from," he says, waving a hand to the side as he does so. "You do not understand the duties of a fool, then," Remial replies haughtily. "I am Remial the Truly Idiotic -- that's the highest title available to a journeyman fool, by the way -- and am completely bored with the overly cheerful conditions in more civilized lands. And besides -- what noble could claim any -real- status," he scoffs, "without a fool in his employ? Only an UTTER barbarian, tattoo-man." From confusion to shock, Kostu's eyes widen as far as they may, from which statement it cannot truely be told. "And soon to be the Truly Idiotically deceased if you address me as... 'tattoo-man' once more." He crosses his arms, the shock now falling to annoyance, or worst, "I think your adventure to this city might not treat you so well. I might advise you to climb aboard whatever ship you came on, and leave, before someone thinks your garments look pretty enough to steal off your back." "Tch." Remial replies blandly. "I am a fool, and as such am neither inclined nor intelligent enough to learn to grasp the finer points of polite behavior. I have not the wit to learn the proper forms of address. And no one intelligent enough to manage to take my clothing could possibly be stupid enough to want it. Gods, but not even a blind man has such outrageously worthless color coordination as I do, and no one in their right mind would want to dress like this. Or even be seen near these things." Looking Remial over, Kostu nods, "Quite right. Quite right." He actually laughs for a moment. "You will find that out soon enough," he says, looking up into the sky, and the sun the climbs into it. "I am not sure seeing a man sweat is quite enough to pay him, or allow him to serve as a... fool." He points toward the palace after, down the Palace Road, "Maybe you can find out there. One of the seneschals may speak to you." Remial peers. "How delightfully ambitious it would be of me, to seek such lofty appointment with no references, nothing but the strength of my character -- hahah, teehee -- to recommend me! How utterly ridiculous! How foolish. It's so _me_." He clasps his hands, smiling beatifically, and proceeds to somersault in a circle about Kostu. "Indeed," is all Kostu can manage, watching Remial jump about in glee, and then finally start somersaulting around him. "Careful," he warns, as someone steps aside quickly, avoiding a crash with Remial, carrying a pole stringed with poach down the road. Remial continues to somersault, showing a marked lack of caution ... somehow, though, he doesn't actually run into anyone. His seemingly random somersaults carry him out of harm's way with remarkable deftness. "Careful? Do I look intelligent enough to be careful? I ask you, would someone clever enough to be careful dress like this? Talk like this? Can I call you tattoo-face, or will you kill me if I do?" "I would be executed if I murdered you," states Kostu, "How about I simply break your fingers?" He nods, "That might not warrant a long while in irons." Seemingly, the man begins to think to himself, "That might not be the worst idea." He sighs, "Just a dream, I suppose." Then, he nods, beginning to walk down the road toward the Imperial Highway. "Fine, be like that." The somersaulting Remial pouts, and begins to backflip. Coming to a rest, he walks on his hands toward Kostu, wincing a bit. "Hot ... cobblestones. I'll need shoes for my hands. What should I call you, then?" Looking back, slightly, Kostu answers, "Kostu Tszyu. Captain of the Royal Patriarch." His gate slows slightly, "I must say, your agility is astounding... Men such as that, are very useful upon ships under the great Akarian Armada..." "I'm utterly inept at sailor stuff." Remial chatters. "You see, I am faaaaaar too stupid to learn all that complex jargon and swearing and the like. Sigh ... yes. It's horrible, being so limited. But I've never liked ships. Never found my sea arms ..." Kostu grins, "Too bad." He turns, once again, moving toward the Imperial Highway. The temperture across the city seems to get hotter, the sun beginning to beat down upon the heads of those walking those streets of the greatest city in all Uruadum. To defend, Kostu places his wide-brimmed hat over his head. It is at about this time that Remial hops back onto his feet and watches Kostu leave, his features calm, deep brown eyes almost calculating. Quietly, he turns, twirling his jester's baton, and himself strides away.