<div class="floatleft">(http://img-cache.cdn.gaiaonline.com/358100a5db19f353ffe2eb79549891cd/http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh177/mikhala_c/Canal_city_by_Edictiv.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://s00.yaplakal.com/pics/pics_original/4/9/3/9495394.jpg)</div>City of Malandra resides along the yellow river in river providence at hundred kingdoms region. It's city of canals located in valley and city is build on between two large and long hills. Crossing long bridges chasm over canals underneath them and canal serves as main trade way and market place is literally located in floating platform of ships and boats than anywhere solid ground.<br/><br/>City is ancient shogunate era city which was after contagion re-inhabited by wealthy silver merchant prince who then spend fortunes to restore city to it's former glory for 'cultural heritage' reasons. Everyone suspected true reasons being more profitable kind, but in end merchant prince became governor and his immediate family members ran the government and same family runs things even after 80 years. Family reside in most luxurious villa in city and there is suspect that their village, with location and some years upon years of tales of mysterious events rumored happen in city hint that city is on itself a manse (or demesne which was build to manse) and villa is center point of it.<br/><br/>All various mysteries are related to waters which travel through the city; people seeing creatures in water which aren't fish and there are fishermen who are wealthy from pearls they have found and pearls powder having strong alchemical properties and what not. But some place all these events to temple of goddess of Waranha, goddess of canals who is revered yearly in city in form of festival. Said goddess governing all trade done by water, may trade be between fishing, selling food or prostitution (yes, there are pleasure yacts with beautiful women selling services performed in said boats). However most recent years there has been increase in criminal activity and also gruesome murders performed by some demented mind or cultists, neither which locals aren't sure but know they must not move in city at night when there is mist as all murders happened during the misty hours.<br/><br/>But as city of trade all activity is going on 24/7 and people both by land and water come trade here for various goods. As city of culture it has theater, library and of course restored shogunate era buildings and monuments so historians and architects visit the city for educational reasons. Also in all towns between Nexus, Greatforks or other towns along the river, Malandra has largest shipping docks and has decent priced repairs for both river and ocean vessels.<br/><br/>But today on Ascending Wood 11 on fifth year since disappearance of Scarlet Empress, city will soon get unusual gathering of sorts.....guided by luck, bad luck or perhaps by destiny?<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Unnur Greyhowes</div><div class="spoiler_body">Your trip from your homeland has been pleasant and without a fuss thanks Merchant Prince Danub (https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/typemoon/images/2/2b/ZeroRider.png/revision/latest?cb=20141215214502), a bear of a man as he towers eight feet tall and his physique more befits a warlord than merchant! However he has told his 'mercenary lord' years are behind him as he invested on businesses and quit on active field of battle and started earn coin less bloody way. He is loud, has enormous appetite and takes thrill in life and enjoying it fully! More so he kindly offered help Unnur to smuggle her out of the city without anyone seeing her do so. Also before his agent has paid decent price for artifacts she had found and also shown bit cultural interest in artifacts (and know bit about them but not as much as Unnur does).<br/><br/>He overall has been generous host and a gentleman entire time.....but times will change as they arrive to city of Malandra and as they sail on their large boat, while enjoying good feast of wild boar which one huntsmen in Danub's caravan had caught last night and prepared entire night for breakfast pulls curtains in ship's window and points to city of Malandra and says; "Look lady Unnur, city of culture; Malandra. A man like me rebuild city and restored it back almost original shape before contagion wiped the city clean." Albeit gentleman, Danub is still at heart a man and Unnur is rare kind beauty; intelligent, beautiful with northern looks which need no make up to look mesmerizing and most he knows who and what she is; anathema. Most people would fear and dread facing women like anathema but as eternal thrill seeker he wants conquer one, make one as his wife and use her powers for his benefit; benefit of empire and give birth healthy sons and daughters who could inherit drop of her powers and make founding legacy of powerful family lineage. But even if no night has not passed where he had not unvented his lust alone, he hopes tonight in city of Malandra he can claim prize which he has lusted since he saw her. By whatever means necessary to do so.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Morning Breeze&amp;Morning Light</div><div class="spoiler_body">The twins have been on the run, they eluded Lord Roagar (https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6111159/width/350/height/700/flags/LL) and his army which have been all this time been hot pursuit of the duo. They can elude a week or a month at most before he again finds their tracks and they are forced to leave. Now their road travels them to city of Malandra along with fisherman's boat driven by old man who in return of nice song had given girls ride to the city where he intents sell his wares; a muddy mudcrabs and eel like fish from muddier bottoms of the river which are delicacies served in local restaurants in the city. The old man (https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/f/f0/Fisherman.png/revision/latest?cb=20130714140302) widely smiles as he docks his ship at one stony platforms at canals at near city road gates and says to the girls; "Good luck on ye two, stay out of trouble albeit I think big city like this trouble finds ye! Just stay out the streets at dark and especially during the misty hours, past years rather gruesome murders have happened and caused bodies show up in canals after such nights. Also there is criminal gang or two in city but I don't know much about them, as I myself life outside Malandra."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Cerulean Breeze</div><div class="spoiler_body">Cerulean Breeze had made grand escape from Nexus after her stunt in trying kill her owner and exalting into anathema! However she managed defeat her master's (and master's associates) bodyguards and escape with the harem sisters who were overall destined to be sacrificed for someone for wealth! She is not sure of details but any girl which her master (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/bd/db/c3bddb9e8118ed6667e448abff906e51--prince-clothing-and-clothing.jpg) had send out, never returned nor was never retrieved. It was matter of time before Breeze would had send out as well! Even learn her virginity was saved for some 'sacrifice' and it does not take genius what for virgins are used for sacrifice! Something awful for sure!<br/><br/>None the less, trip from Nexus has been hectic. More so with girls who owned nothing expect fancy clothes (which covered almost nothing) and their lovely bodies and skills as harem girls. So only way of income was to entertain mercenaries who traveled in or out of Nexus in roads and sure silver started to be earned rapidly by the girls. Couple of them even managed 'marry' one mercenary captains who promised take good care of them. Rest girls found odd places here and there in another merchants harems or wives to fishermen or farmers. Eventually distil them across countryside overall. Soon it was just Cerulean Breeze and pair of girls; Eviona (https://gelbooru.com/index.php?page=post&amp;s=view&amp;id=3683224) and Falish (http://img1.reactor.cc/pics/post/full/Anime-%D0%AD%D1%82%D1%82%D0%B8-Anime-Original-Houtengeki-950703.jpeg) left from original harem as they arrive to Malandra. Eviona has been very shy and scared to pick a husband (nor had any skills to farming and having dislike to country life) and Falish with her feline ears is sort 'too exotic' for most men (not to mention since getting her freedom she had become spunky and aggressive). As they moved along the road towards the gates Falish spoke; "I heard in this city it's illegal do our trade on streets, needing do business on boats in canals!"</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Whisper’s on the Night Wind</div><div class="spoiler_body">Whispers deeds had already spread far and wide, albeit their manse is secure but it lacked luxuries or supplies house all the women or raise Strixes as mounts. However near by city of Malandra has things what they need, however Whispers dreads thought to travel alone (in case the Darain Valaro finds her and she is not sure can she resist his clutches second time either!), so she takes her most trusted aides as they go city to get supplies along with anything they thought to trade for in the canals or few licensed shops in streets. They come through the land road towards the city and see lots traffic in there.<br/><br/>Besides Darain there is dragonblood called Lazerus Peleps (https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/legendofheroes/images/4/4a/Victor_s_arseid_sen1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130814080249) who was field commander in the Raim where she led slave revolt and he had seen Whispers but unable engage her. He had shouted to find her and wreck her and make her suffer! However weeks since Lazerus has not been spotted and Raim had left in serious chaos, so he may be cleaning the mess and slave revolt still there and possibly perhaps executed (or called back to Realm) for his incompetence.</div></div>