In Vino Veritas [Evening 1]

[Laila Bridger]

Laila, in her role as bodyguard, was back in her armor and standing a bit to Hadrian's flank, looking about and not bothering to hide how out of her depth she was when it came to all things Harmonthepi.

[Emcas]

And here goes Emcas: http://pulse.fallenash.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=187 before returning some time later. He was not wearing any hidden armor this time around.

''I advise not to dress too well. While the food will be good it is not a place most people visits.''

[Kannon]

Given crowds around, getting somewhere less crowded would give them a reprieve.

[Hadrian Martikova]

''I advise not to dress too well. While the food will be good it is not a place most people visits.''

Hadrian had noted the advise and arrived in casual attire. Though it might be considered a tad drab when compared to Harmonthep standards. His intention, naturally, was to be instantly recognizable as Caladanian.

[Laila Bridger]

Nothing about Laila's attire betrayed any conscious cultural notes, but utilitarian clothes from Ecaz were still going to have their differences from those of Harmonthep- or Caladan.

Dressing well wasn't something she really needed to be warned against, after all.

[Emcas]

Emcas began to lead them through the maze that is the lower halls and corridors of Xenion until they seemed to have reached the the ground floor itself and then through a doorway that leads outside.

''It is only slightly further. We will take stairs carved out of the canyon's walls to reach our destination. I hope neither of you have vertigo.''

[Laila Bridger]

Laila remembered pits on Grumman, young lives ended abruptly when they fell into them unexpectedly.
The Thopter crash on Caladan.

Frankly, it was kind of a miracle she wasn't prey to vertigo... but there was no accounting for what traumas would take hold and which would get mixed into the general sublimated mess.

"Lead on."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"I must say this is becoming quite the tour of Xenion." Hadrian said looking around. Doing his utmost to remember every turn.

[Emcas]

''Knowledge of where you are is never wasted.'' and it was a way to get out of the pyramid via the entrances the servants mostly use.

As they descended deeper in the canyon they could see some large wooden poles protruding from the walls with huge basket-like contraptions underneath

It seemed they where heading towards a large one, with nets and rods reaching into the river's waters

''I do not know how much your planetologist friend told you about our home...but we do not have a great variety of things to eat. My people still manage to do much with what the nobility does not wish or think to eat. The fishes in this river cannot be preserved for long and has a slimy texture most avoid. Prepared fresh and cut in long thin salted strips with some swamp roots, however, they are quite an experience. if you do not mind the smell''

[Laila Bridger]

"The smell?"

Laila chuckled.

"Bet we've all smelled worse."

[Hadrian Martikova]

Hadrian chuckled at Laila's comment.

''I do not know how much your planetologist friend told you about our home...''

"Our conversations were lite as could be managed. The man is a great deal more learned than myself."

He grinned remembering how a conversation about fertilizer swiftly became a dissertation.

"Try as I might to listen and learn. The professor is a wise yet long winded type. His use of language verbose, and his mannerisms excessively academic. But lady Grey would likely have jumped at the opportunity to discuss the culinary traditions of the Zensunni. Assuming we don't happen upon her here tonight, I suspect she'll find her way below eventually."

[Laila Bridger]

"Now, now, be nice about Xard. I think he just forgets how little some of us have studied any of the knowledge he's dedicated his life to..."

[Emcas]

''I doubt she'll be guided here anytime soon unless she meets one of the regulars...it's a surprisingly exclusive place and our people guard it well.''

They descended a bit further until they came across a house-sized basked hanging from the walls with a sign calling it 'Al Kukh'

''There we are'' he entered and asked for three. The people there, all zensunni, looked at the caladanians wearily until they registered that Emcas had brought them there and then quickly proceeded to stop giving a shit.

[Laila Bridger]

Laila looked around, found the people here no more incomprehensible than the crowds in the Oon, and simply stayed on Hadrian's flank.

If anybody here wanted to do them an injury, they'd probably do it without much fuss, so she felt a bit relaxed. Nothing to be done but show some trust.

[Hadrian Martikova]

He chuckled, "Perhaps she will. Despite her station she came up in the world through service. And the journey she has described would suggest a greater fondness for this locale rather than all the courts on all the worlds."

Hadrian observed quietly and continued casually as he found his seat.

"It's one of the few things her and I have in common. We prefer working towards our vocation." He gave a brief, wistful sigh, as he perused the menu. Ultimately he would wait for Emcas' order before deciding on what to eat and drink. "How about you Emcas? You seem to me a remarkably skilled warrior."

[Emcas]

The menu was, at it would happen, a large piece of driftwood situated in the middle of the room with the catch of the day written with chalk on it.

Emacs simply ordered the house special and Bug Juice, whatever that was.

''I have trained for most of my life'' he simply stated

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Bug juice? Interesting... make it two orders then."

[Emcas]

''A drink made from the nectar and glands from some of the swamp residents'' he clarified ''Complex flavors that goes well with the fish''

[Laila Bridger]

"Sounds interesting. On Ecaz, we had some beekeepers, this sounds a bit more... involved."

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Sounds interesting to say the least. Fish is a staple on Caladan, but this will be a first for me. Typically on past trips I subsisted on whatever food was at the port."