text: Failed Relations christianhinrichsen4@gmail.com Off the Coast of Zoredo The trireme of Saze Abdul lays afloat at the port city of Brazer. Saze and his crew begin to unload their exotic spices and supplies necessary for their next series of travels. A group of men and women in red ABA robes approach by a man in a dark red ABA robe. The guards are armed with large scimitars and pole-arms. “Captain Selim Abdul. I have a warrant for your arrest on smuggling and conspiring against Pasha Fakir.” directs the man in dark red robes. “Arrest by the Pasha, what in Hades are you talking about. I am a legitimate smuggler and citizen of brazen. Besides the Pasha is my grand-Uncle.” “I am sorry to inform you but the Magistrate has issued this warrant against you. Please come with us or we will have to make it hard.” As the red-robed guards step ahead with manacles in their hands. Saze looks over to his sister Serena. “Serena, contact Magistrate Zahim, maybe she can straighten this out.” Serena wearing a dark sea-foam ABA robe acknowledges her brother. After being taken into custody by the city watch. “I will notify her brother. Our Uncle has a lot to explain.” Two hours later. Serena is joined by an older Arabian woman who wears a white robe and looks to be both a priest and solicitor. The two stand in the lobby of the Administration building as several others sit and await their trial before the magistrate board.. A red-robed guard signals Serena and Magistrate Zahim to enter the courtroom. The courtroom appears more like a Pasha's sitting room but a limited number of harem wives present. A stone fountain with a mermaid squirts water from one side of the fountain to the other. Saze is brought before an older magistrate as Zahim steps forward and serves as counsel to Saze. The older man in dark ABA robes looks over at Saze while smoking in a Hashish bottle. “Captain Saze Abdul what brings you to my council room. What are you being charged with if I may ask? Magistrate Zahim always a pleasure to see you from the Abdul House.” “Magistrate Jamar, this seems to be a misunderstanding here. Captain Abdul has always been a legitimate smuggler here in Brazen. Why all of a sudden is he being charged with smuggling and conspiring against the Pasha?” “I would like to review the facts before you charge him with a high crime against our Pasha.” “What I am told Magistrate, the Captain here is carrying illegal arms to the Effereti army to the south of here. Which is a high crime, magistrate.” Saze about disputes the case but is silent by Zahim. “Captain, silence why we speak.” comments directly the older woman. “i understand Allie but right now the evidence has been found by the Pasha's guards and Vizier”. “Vizier Jericho is a fox in disguise. He is always trying to pin someone in the Abdul household. So this case is not correct.” “Allie, we know each other and I will allow you 72 hours to find the evidence to disclaim this warrant. However, the good Captain needs to stay here in prison until this gets straightened out.” The older magistrate turns to the guard. “ Next case Captain.” Standing in the hallway, Zahim and Serena discuss their next plan to prove Saze innocent. “Serena take your most trusted friends and start to look for anything aboard ship or along the docks pertaining to Saze and his crime. I will have to do some digging in the Pasha's palace and I am afraid I am not going to find what I find by Zeke.” “I will head back to the ship and get the people I trust to do some digging for facts to prove Saze is not against the Pasha.” On those words the two ladies exit the courthouse and begin their investigation to prove Saze innocent of his charges. Investigation A-foot. The crew began its help in clearing Saze and his charges. Serena, Bali, and Dorian approach the Salty Effereti a scum of the earth dive but the trio knew someone who was noted to help them out when needed. Seated in the back a heavy man with a belly as big as Santa Claus is enjoying his company of both men and women with his famous hearty laugh. “Aye saw the blue dragon's eyes and dare him to challenge me in a game of wit. The blue dragon took the offer and Aye of course won.” Rufus Khan spots Serena and the others “If you excuse me I have other matters at hand. SERENA ABDUL what has your ding a ling brother done this time Love.” Serena smiles at the hearty man and owner of the dive in the hole pub. Taking a seat across from him.” I need some information, Rufus. It seems my Uncle has a problem with Saze this time it is serious.” “Yes I heard, the good pasha believes that Saze was selling arms to the Effereti pasha in the City of Desert Fires. I figured you would be coming for information and of course since you are like a grand-daughter to me I have asked around.” “What is your price, Rogue Master?” Comments an irritable centaur know as Dorian. “ No price for my adopt grand-daughter horse-man and pleas I like to remain diplomatic here in my pub.” “Dorian step outside so I may talk with him. Rufus forgive him he is upset that his brother in arms is guilty of something he has nothing to do.” on those words Dorian gallops outside to look around at some hagglers in the market dock area. “Where was Aye lass or yes Aye remember.” “My sources tell me that the real traitor at hand is rumored to be feeding false information to the Pasha. Though Aye does not know who it is all. Aye, do know it is someone up there. Be careful Lass and I will have my Homonuculus spies search the city for any additional information. Aye, do hope that my adopted grandson is cleared of such matters.” “Igor, let the spies loose and tell them to report back as soon as possible.” “Aye master.” comments a small winged monkey statute as he leaves the bar-room. “Come have dinner with me Serena tell me of your travels.” Signals Rufus to a passing bar- wench for dinner of dates and lamb kabobs. Three hours later. Serena receives a message from Rufus through Igor who hands her a parchment of information. My desert butterfly it has come to my attention that people behind your brother's crimes are moving out tonight in the desert caravan with a giant slug rather than camels. Head south to borough 17 outside of the city and you will find the ones responsible. Be safe my desert butterfly Rufus. After reading the message, Serena wakes up Dorian and Bali and the three of them head for the designated target found by Rufus. Borough 17 As the early morning sunrises up Serena and her team advance quickly on the back of Dorian to apprehend the people responsible for her brother's crimes. Armed with their most used weapons the trio hides in the sand dunes outside of Borough 17. keeping warm with their desert camouflage armor of leather and hide. Sipping a canteen between the three of them they wait for the caravan using slugs as it mounts. Monitoring the surrounding desert-land, Bali holds his spyglass and signals his friends of the advancing caravan being pulled by two large sand slugs. “Here they come, gang. What do you guys want to do?” Serena signals Dorian to move closer to another sand dune. “ I know we need to use something more to slow them down. I have an idea,” comments Serena reaching down she pulls up a handful of sand and begins to mumbles ancient words. She blows the sand in the direction of the advancing caravan. The sand stirs as it gets closer and forms a sandstorm before the caravan. A Tie-fling scout yells loudly to the others in the caravan.. “SANDSTORM TAKE COVER!” Anger is spotted as a Tie-fling in the dark covers his face from the blowing sandstorm. Bali spots the Tie-fling known as Vizier Jericho. 'hello Vizier, doing some bad stuff against your Pasha. I think not.“ Bali turns to Serena and Dorian. “Your instincts were right Serena it's that wicked old Jerichowho caused trouble for our boss.” “Time to play watch and get that traitor.” Comments Dorian as he loads up his longbow with a larger arrow he has in his arrow basket. Serena acknowledges and lowers her veil and signals the others to do as well. Bali and Dorian adjust their goggles and veil. The party advances the caravan in the cover of the blowing sandstorm. Jericho yells at his men. “Cover them weapons, the Effereti Pasha wants them in good shape and not ruddy and sandy.” Jericho looks like a wicked version of the Arabian Swordsmen who attacked in the classic Raiders of the Lost Ark.” holding his large scimitar in case of trouble from anyone. Several reptile men start to build a barrier around the one caravan. A voice is heard from the blowing sandstorm. “VIZIER JERICHO...YOU HAVE VIOLATED AGAINST THE PASHA. SURRENDER OR DIE JERICHO.” Serena uses a special spell to amplify her voice. The purple reptile men look about scared at the voice within the sandstorm.”The S-sandstorm is ALIVE..PREPARE S-SELVES.” Jericho mumbles to himself “Fools Hold Your GROUND!” Jericho looks out to the surrounding sandstorm.”WHOEVER YOU ARE WE CAN MAKE A DEAL TO WORK THIS OUT!” “WAS THAT WHAT YOU DID TO SAZE ABDUL!” Jericho draws his sword and looks through the blinding sandstorm. “Saze? So You know him?” “PERHAPS! TRAITOR! Dorian charges Jericho knocking him down. Releasing his larger arrow on the reptile men still stunned from Serena's spell. The arrow flies and releases a large net on the reptile men. Jericho gets up but is pounced on by the small monkey man know as Bali who pulls out his two daggers. “I wouldn't do that Jericho. These blades have holy water on them. I hear it is kind of like acid on Tie-fling blood.” “Who in Hades are you?” Jericho attempts to push Bali off but is quickly subdued by another spell from Serena The spell grapples and pulls Jericho down by a group of desert thorn vines that rise out of the sand. “Hello Jericho!” The sand begins to settle down behind Serena as she holds a pair of manacles in her free hand. Dorian rides up dragging the reptile men behind him. Drawing his blade ready to strike down Jericho. “ Hold Dorian. We are not barbarians here in Zoredo.. he will be punished by the Pasha.” 'Bah.. you can try Woman...the pasha is involved as well.” “I find it hard to believe Jericho but we will find out soon enough. Dorian get the sand slugs and let's show the magistrate what we found out.” “ Aye Serena.” The party travels back to the city and is quickly surrounded by General Olaf of the Provost Marshals post. The caravan is taken before the magistrate. “ Magistrate...Serena has new evidence for your case against Saze Abdul.” comments the hawk-like man in leather armor holding a pole-arm as his weapon of choice. The magistrate looks out at Serena and her prisoners. “Desert lizards...Jericho what goes on here Vizier.” “These vermin attacked this caravan trying to deliver spices and good to the south of here magistrate. ARREST THEM!”. The magistrate escorted down by two more hawk-like guards approaches the merchant wagons. The sand slugs seem to be oblivious to what is going on with the humans. Escorted by Olaf, the Magistrate lifts the tarps off the merchant wagons. “What is this, General make an inventory of this stuff for evidence.” 'Yes, Magistrate. Guards get a quartermaster.” Comments Olaf as he begins to pull out black steel weapons from the lead wagon. “ My these are from the Dwarf guild from the east.” “You will not get away with this Woman. And why does it concern you to that pirate known as Saze?” angrily speaks Jericho. “Because Saze is my brother Vizier. Get him out of my sight before I change my mind on him. I know my friends would love to drip some blood from this traitor.” stirs Serena as vizier Jericho is quickly taken away bu another pair of General Olaf's men. “ Zoredo thanks, you Serena. I will make the proper inquiries to let Saze go” “Thank you magistrate but who knows how far up the ladder this conspiracy goes especially when the vizier claims that the Pasha is involved. Which I find hard to believe.” General Olaf steps forward and looks at the two noble merchants. “I can conduct a private inquiry if you wish magistrate.” The magistrate scratches his dark salt and pepper beard. “I will need to review the facts before I, make the decision of the Vizier General.“ “But one thing is for sure the quiet streets of the capital are holding a big secret that could damage us all.” says the Magistrate as he is escorted back to his barracks. “ Thanks again Serena Abdul, Saze will be free by dinner.” “Thank you, magistrate.” The End? .