<div style="text-align: center;">[1/1/1946]<br/>[Vaal Manor]</div><br/><br/>The Vaal Abrakanazzar II's council chamber was circled by the royal guard on its perimeter, each one observing the exchange between the 3 most powerful men in the sultanate. The guards were dressed in turbans that obscured their mouths, leaving only a small slit near the eyes. It was the Windy Season on the Bhuj'eruban archipelago and these gales are known to pick up large plumes of rock and dirt. This was the attire around this time of year, but usually the soldiers would be wearing a light, but durable steel mail, which allowed the skin to breathe in the warm climate, while still providing adequate protection. Vaal Abrakanazzar was politely listening to the Dei, the most powerful clergyminister in the land who is visiting Bhuj'ylon from his usual post at Bhuj'adonia. Across the table to the Dei, sat the Guildmaster, the merchant-king who oversees all trade in the Vaaldom. This man, Sandorz Zigurrato, was rather dismayed with the strict embargo of travel enacted upon the naval traders.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #FFFFBF">“My Honored Vaal, we MUST petition the Elder Council to close the city gates. Every day foreign beggars, sellswords and concubines pass unharmed through our city gates. These savages must not lay their heathen eyes on our idols of Vaal. The God-king Vaal himself would not allow such peasantry to look upon His face! We shame the gods by keeping our borders open.” </span></span>Dei Kazarr barked into the King's ear, flinging spittle everywhere. The Dei was pleading, or begging, with the king to force Bhuj'eruba into total defensive isolation.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #800000">“Please, for the sake of Vaal, calm down, your Dei. The city is safe for now and we've no enemies. Rather, I'd prefer the united islands of Bhuj'eruba go out into the world a bit more. We should consider allying mother Bhuj'eruba with other great nations, worthy of Vaal's respect and blessing. This strict royal monitoring of the merchant guilds, navy and the harbors  is causing distrust in the Bhuj. My people are important to my reign, I wish for them to trust their Vaal. Civil unrest grows in the kingdom daily and our once truly peaceful society feels as though there is a constant blanket of worry hanging over their heads.”</span></span>the king's soft-spoken, but stern voice did little to force the Dei into submission.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #FFFFBF">“Nay, Vaal. In fact, we should monitor OTHER nations as well. In addition, our citizens are not in unrest because of a feeling of restriction, rather they are in unrest because we mix our pure lineage with savages. Our needs are met, our people are fed, our religion true, NOW is the time to close shop, your Vaal. The Gods hath blessed our path for Ours is true and you wish to end this era of peace by your inaction? What more need do we have to trade with the barbarians outside our walls? The mountains surround us on all sides not surrounded by sea and we have stationed scouts every 10 miles outside the Gate of Hashemara for 500 terrestrial miles. Had I my way, I would close the Bhuj'karaam harbor as well, but only Sandorz here can propose that legislation.”</span></span>the irate Dei's voice also showed genuine concern for the state of the nation and the compassion for the people.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800000"><span style="font-style: italic">“You think to succeed for eternity until Vaal himself raises us up into Paradise by closing our door and hoping nobody ever comes to knock? What say you, Guildmaster?”</span></span>he addressed the query by shifting his gaze directly to the merchant-king, Sandorz Ziguratto, and Dei Kazarr Hasher knew to be quiet.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #80BFFF"> “I wish not for my involvement in state affairs outside of trade, my honorable Dei and Vaal. I am but a lowly emissary for the merchants of Bhuj'eruba. My Vaal, I must take my leave and sail back to Bhuj'karaam. Please, I must have an answer from you. Where are our merchant ships to sail today? It is the first of the month, we must cast off the trade vessels."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #800000"><span style="font-style: italic">"You shall proceed with the plan as follows: send 3 vessels out to sea....<br/><br/>1 merchant-ship will be sent to across the Arctic Ring, to the far West and then follow the continent Southwards until they find the port of <span style="text-decoration: underline">Greater Samora.</span><br/>The 2nd merchant-ship will also sail West and South, but will not cross the Arctic Ring. This vessel will sail towards the <span style="text-decoration: underline">Kingdom of Illayra and its colonies.</span><br/>The 3rd trade vessel will follow the continent directly Southwards, past the Orkavian Ocean, until you hit the <span style="text-decoration: underline">Grand Empire of Nihon."</span></span></span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #80BFFF">"Very well, your greatness." the merchant-king cracked a sly smile, took a bow and exit the council chamber. Sandorz began to head towards the docks, where he would cast off the 3 largest trade ships in Bhuj'eruba: the Philinta, Nenna and Hashemara."</span></span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">[Bhuj'ylon Town Square]</div><br/>Elsewhere in the city, right outside the Manor, the city stirred into life as it did every morning. Traders of fabrics, semiprecious stones and goat dairy peddled their wares in the city, each exchanging negotiated amounts of product. Economic/trading squabbles constituted the majority of the crime in Bhuj'eruba; due to the barter system, pricing is far more subjective and on occasion, some feel they've been ripped off if the worth of the product they receive does not satisfy thoroughly. However, such squabbles are likely to end in some simple physical altercation, so the city watch does its best to mediate and work out trade disagreements through the courts. The majority of cases are settled out of court.<br/><br/>A teenage boy in a simple, silk vest climbs atop a stone-and-silk pavilion, overlooking the bustling town square. A monkey with a small hat sat atop his shoulder, and peered into the bazaar ocean of shops that are propped up here daily. The teenage boy seemingly spots his target and dives downwards into the town square, jumping from building, to wooden crate, to building, and to wooden crate again, before finally setting foot on the ground. He followed his nose and was led to a rather overweight baker, removing a fresh pan of sourdough breads from a stone kiln, decorated with several fat emeralds. As the baker turned around to remove the second pan from the kiln, the teenage boy walked by casually and snagged a warm loaf of bread.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"What the....STOP THAT BOY! THIEF!"</span><br/><br/>The monkey atop the adolescent's screeched and howled into the boy's ear, that was his signal to take off. Clutching the oversized loaf of bread, he disappeared into a crowd, knocking over a herd of Hashemara priestesses along the way. They hardly react and simply got up and began walking away, but not before blessing the ground onto which they fell. By now, two of the city guard began chasing after the adolescent male, but within seconds, lost him in between the clogged masses of consumers.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"I'll remember that purple vest."</span>grinding his teeth, one of the turbaned guards wondered why this hoodlum felt it necessary to steal a loaf of bread, when the royal government provides each citizen with grain, water and shelter.