A Brief Glimpse of Jantir
The gates were open now as a new cluster of travelers was allowed inside, by the ever-vigil guard, perched like birds of prey upon the wall, and peering below at the latest arrivals.
The companions entered Jantir and an almost immediate assault of the senses began. The air smelled of the sea, of frying oils, and of musky human scents, both pleasant and otherwise. The city was over-ripe with visitors, and the air suffered for it.
Their eyes took in the wide boulevard, wrought of ancient sea-stone, presenting itself to the companions, stretching east and south across the city toward the temple districts, the docks and the bay. Minarets and spires of granite and porphyry, onion domed halls and temples with shining, gilded crests dominated the city center. The ears of the companions were likewise bombarded (shockingly so after all those months in the wilderness) by a cacophony of sounds, too many all at once to identify any single source. Numerous stalls, filled with screaming hawkers lined the great street, with every imaginable item for sale. Though proper markets were deeper inside the city, enterprising (and licensed) merchants, second-rate craftsmen, and most likely charlatans galore, were taking advantage of the influx of travelers. Shamelessly, the hawkers goaded all passers-by, the adventurers-upon-return included, as the group began to slowly stroll east along the boulevard. some were home, some returned with past memories of the city, and some were in complete bewilderment (Voro?)
An uncountable swarm of people, paraded the streets, with a particular emphasis on the religiously-inclined. Priests of every known and unknown faith, cultists, pagans, prophets, monks, penitents, worshipers, wise-men, and fools, proliferated up and down the boulevard preaching their respective causes and debating dogma beneath the shining sun. Guards, mounted and on foot were everywhere, many wearing various stylized bird-headed helms, indicating rank and office. A recent tradition, these helms were the latest whim of Larnassa, the Split-Lipped self-styled “Queen” and the Jantir’s current Dynast, as Aerex soon learned inquiring of a random passer by, as to the nature of the weird helms of the guardsmen.
Further ahead the Temple district could be seen, it could after all not be mistaken for any other district, and it was in this direction, the companions noticed, where the most people seemed to be congregating, as dusk began to fall. The streets were nearly impassable this way, and even Adan and Tristan chose to wait before heading there upon their holy business.
The companions continued down the main boulevard taking in the sites, each silent, thinking their own thoughts, until finally Kyrian and Aerex suggested the group head to an inn, eat, rid the dust of the road from their throats with drink, and speak of plans.
For the next few moments, as Talia and Vorodon continued gawking at the sites, while Adan and Tristan began conversing quietly and Kasin Mirinar simply looked around nervously as if searching for or trying to remember something, Aerex and Kyrian were busy arguing as to which inn the companions should visit. Finally, because splitting up would be so easy to do later, the two agreed on humble Wagner’s establishment in Windside. Kasin Mirinar, overhearing the conversation agreed to play the bard, as Wagner’s was famous for allowing its patrons free ale and sausage for those inclined to perform for their suppers.
Windside, and therefore Wagner’s, was also strategically somewhat away from the hustle and bustle of the central districts, and furthermore, Aerex remembered that Wagner’s was a favorite haunt of someone he knew quite well. It was decided upon, and the group headed to Wagner’s. An hour later, Kyrian scolded the stable boy into treating Herald, as if he was the gods’ own mount, and the group entered the establishment.
It was almost as if Jantir came and went in a blur, Talia thought. It seemed impossible to get a sense of the metropolis upon first go around.
Jantir, and its many sights and wonders would have to wait. Wagner’s was busy, but not as packed as other places around town. For now, the surroundings were familiar. Smoke, loud music, and an absolutely amazing amount of smoked sausages, making their way around the taproom on silver platters, courtesy of a beleaguered staff, were the main sites in Wagner’s. Just now, a sorry excuse for a free-loafing bard was physically tossed from the impromptu stage for sounding like a cuckoo in heat.
A table was found, and for the first time in a long time, seven members of the adventurers-upon-return sat down to dine together, though each one, could be bothered with little other than their own thoughts.
<ooc> Kinda like a transition post. You can post, or wait. Either way, I'll post anew tomorrow</ooc>
