Sumani Text 1

"Honors to your houses."

CHAPTER 1 - FIRSTCHAPTER 1 - SECONDSumani clapped twice.

Abruptly the festive mood of the room died, the clank of goblets and the scrape of plates falling silent as the bartender shuffled between benches to bow at Locklear's feet. Touching a gnarled fist to his forehead then to his heart, he spoke somberly.

SUMANI: Be welcome to the Blue Wheel Inn. May you find the drinks to your liking and the company of our patrons pleasurable. If there is anything our servants or I may do, you need only ask Sumani.

LOCKLEAR: Ah...honors to your house as well...Sumani... Am I correct in believing this a drinking establishment?

SUMANI: So it is. We serve many of your Midkemian drinks as well as a few from the Tsuranuanni Empire as well. Perhaps I might interest you in a cup of chocha?

Sumani responded promptly.

Shuffling closer, he pitched his voice so as not to disturb others that were drinking in the tavern.

SUMANI: Your will, lord?

SUMANI

LOCKLEAR: Why did you decide to come to Midkemia and open an inn, anyway? Surely you would get better business on Kelewan.

SUMANI: I was not always a tavern keeper. As a soldier serving House Shinzawai under Earl Kasumi, I was trapped here when the rift gate was collapsed at the end of the Rift War. It was our belief that we would never again see our families in Tsuranuanni or the green skies of Kelewan again.

LOCKLEAR: But Tsurani warriors traditionally kill themselves if they are in danger of falling captive to an enemy.

SUMANI: This is true, lord, but the Earl informed us that we were forbidden to dispatch ourselves until given leave to do so by a Great One --- I believe in Midkemia you would call such a one a magician. Until such a time, I content myself with running the Blue Wheel Inn.

RIFT GATES

LOCKLEAR: I've heard that the permanent rift-gate to Kelewan is located near here. I was hoping we could get a glimpse of it.

SUMANI: There would be little to see at the moment. An internal conflict has arisen in the Empire between House Acoma and House Anasati. The Assembly of Magicians have ordered a temporary interruption of transport between the Empire and the Kingdom of the Isles until such time the conflict is resolved. I have been assured the measure is temporary.

COMBAT

LOCKLEAR: You said you were a soldier with the Tsurani forces. Would you be interested in teaching us some of your combat techniques?

SUMANI: It would be my honor, lord, but I will require a small fee for my services. If my armor were to be damaged, I would be ill prepared otherwise to pay for it's repair.

SUMANI: Seventy Five sovereigns should cover any potential harm. Is this fee acceptable?

YES (enough)YES (not enough)NOLOCKLEAR: Sounds reasonable enough to me. Deal.

SUMANI: I shall meet you by the river in five minutes time. I should forewarn you, however, I sometimes seem quite different when I am armored for battle. I apologize in advance for any harm that I should do you.

Locklear gaped.

Striding down from the narrow doorway of the Blue Wheel Tavern was a figure that no longer bore any resemblance to a modest tavern keeper. Obviously having taken his time to refit himself, Sumani had donned a pitted suit of blue laminate armor, the greaves, breastplate and leggings all fashioned out of a light weight wood which creaked as he lumbered towards them.

"Tsurani armor?" Locklear asked.

Sumani adjusted his blue-plumed helm over his eyes. "I was a former Patrol Leader. The Earl Kasumi insisted that I should keep the armor given to me by House Shinzawai. Although I no longer serve in the garrison, my oath of loyalty is still to the Earl. Are you prepared for your lessons?"

"Yes, I think so."

A mischievous glint reflected in the Tsurani's eyes. "Then defend yourselves."

Locklear motioned for a halt to the lessons as he hauled himself for the third time out of the cold LaMutian river. "Okay, mercy, uncle, whatever it is you damnable Tsurani say when you want to surrender."

"Your will, lord," Sumani chuckled, already beginning to resume his modest role as a tavern keeper. "I shall meet you inside the Blue Wheel once you have dried yourselves off."

LOCKLEAR: I wish that I could, but it seems that we are low on funds.

SUMANI: That is regrettable. If you were willing to speak to Earl Kasumi up at the garrison, I am certain you could arrange for a wage to be paid you and then you could come back for my instruction. I think you would find it worth your while...

LOCKLEAR: You're asking a bit more than I had in mind. How much can it cost to repair armor?

SUMANI: My armor is Tsurani and more specifically, I would require someone of the House Shinzawai to repair it. It is the way of my world.

ARMOR REPAIR

LOCKLEAR: I don't know how much longer our armor is going to last. Any idea where we could get it repaired?

SUMANI: If your armor was the same as mine, I would suggest trying the garrison, but Kingdom armor is made in a different way. I would think perhaps the dwarves in the Mac Mordain Cadal would be of assistance. I understand from speaking to Dubal that the small ones are gifted when it comes to the manufacture of weapons and armor.

GREY WARRIORS (if Garrison)

LOCKLEAR: We were up at the Garrison earlier and they told us that a group of grey warriors stole a pair of rubies. Are the grey warriors some kind of special armed force on Kelewan?

SUMANI: Special, yes, but not in the way you imagine. The grey warriors are men without honor, men whose houses have been destroyed by an opponent house. Such men must live off the land until they die, though I have heard that Mara of the Acoma has accepted many such men into her estate. Others have learned they may be granted freedom if they can reach the Kingdom. Many die trying...

LOCKLEAR: Where would such men go once they got here?

SUMANI: Away from La Mut, wherever they might go. Though the members of the Garrison here are bound by Kingdom law, many of the soldiers still live by Tsurani custom, as I do. It is not easy to fight our feelings about the grey ones.

If indeed these grey warriors have stolen rubies, I suggest you seek out a man with a tainted honor...Keifer Alescook in the town of Loriel. He is a gem merchant there, out of his home.

THEFTS (if Garrison)

LOCKLEAR: I get the feeling this ruby theft isn't an isolated incident.

SUMANI: You listen between my words. This is the sixth such theft in the past year. Twice, gems have been stolen near the Assembly of Magicians from Great One Makala's entourage. That would be no simple feat to accomplish, even for a master thief. Whoever it is that is responsible, he must fear little if he doesn't fear the wrath of a Great One.

I would take care following this thief, friend. I sense he is very dangerous.

FIRST GOODBYESECOND GOODBYELOCKLEAR: Thank you for your services, Sumani. You have a wonderful establishment. It's very Tsurani.

SUMANI: Your patronage honors us.

LOCKLEAR: Goodbye. I promise if I'm ever in LaMut again, I'll be sure to drop in for a bit of something to eat.

LOCKLEAR: I'm afraid it's time we did something other than sit around soaking up the atmosphere. Things to do.

SUMANI: I am pleased you chose to visit the Blue Wheel Inn. It is my hope you will return again.

LOCKLEAR: I would say it is a definite possibility, assuming we're ever in La Mut again. Goodbye, Sumani.