Post by Admin of Genesis on Jun 20, 2013 21:43:36 GMT -5
((This post is just a one-off to set up what is currently going on inside Ba Sing Se, as well as to introduce a possibly recurring NPC. If you like, hate, or are bored with the character, let me know! I need feedback. Also, apologies if this post is kinda "meh." I haven't done any writing in a while, and I scrapped the post I was working on last night to make this one. I had the inspiration to try a different tactic and was able to write this in less than an hour. But feedback on the post in general will also be greatly appreciated.))
Ba Sing Se brimmed with life. Even well after midnight, the city that was normally the embodiment of rules and order could not contain itself. The city was decorated from the palace to the poorest streets of the warrens. Candles and oil lamps in intricately blown structures of colored glass bathed the richer parts of the city in merry, welcoming light. Statues, flags, and paintings with beautiful representations of the four elements, individually and in concert, highlighted the artisans' sector of the city. The poorer and refugee sections of the city made do with much simpler affair, but still managed to draw people in with the homey feel of homemade crafts and gently glowing candles placed around fountains.
But the real life was marketplace, transformed from its orderly stalls into a full bazaar with its barely contained chaos teeming with people from all over the world. Delectable smells wafted on the early summer breezes as food vendors worked round the clock to keep up with all the merrymaking. Every day saw new workers finding time off from work, and the out-of-town revelers were making everything out of their de facto vacations even if it was business that had brought them so far from home. Lilting music and beautiful voices called out from every street corner. All the fear people had been holding in for years was being let out all at once.
The people finally had a reason to embrace life without worrying about what strange thing was to happen next. Their Avatar had made it to Ba Sing Se this morning and, after the Earth King put on a grand welcoming ceremony with all manners of self-important speeches, the Avatar had made efforts to avail himself of the people. He went in and among them, telling stories and showing off everything he had learned, putting peoples mind at ease. Never mind that he had long since exhausted himself and retired to messy political business until the tournament started properly, he was still there. It was such a relief, people couldn't help it.
Even the bars, from the high class in inns to the seediest dives, in town were infected with the merriment. From a particular grime encrusted bar, loud singing and shouting poured out into the night air. The normally grim bartender had a constant smile on his face at all the business he was getting that particular night, as customers ordered constant streams of food and drink, even paying fees to rent the gaming tables. A new game had been spreading throughout the Earth Kingdom, knocking marble balls into each other by hitting them with sticks, and it was keeping the crowd entertained long after they might otherwise have left.
Everyone was having a good time. Everyone, that is, except for one. He was here to work. The strange man with the stranger name sat alone in a corner of the bar, partially obscured by shadows. Despite his unusual appearance - an odd mix of Sandbender garb, leather armor, and a face almost completely hidden by goggles and a mask - he had the strange ability to remain largely unnoticed. That was the way he liked it; it helped in his work of acquiring particular difficult items of intrinsic and usually historic value. And Zivilyn Bane was the best at what he did.
He had been waiting for the perfect chance to slip away, and though he still had a few hours before he had to be on his way, fate was conspiring to let him out early. Someone had just hustled the wrong customer at the gaming tables, and violence was about to break out any second. Bane adjusted his mask to cover his face, dropping a few of the green coins onto the bar to pay for his drinks just as the first punches flew. It wasn't long before the rest of the patrons were caught up in the brawl as well. It was just that kind of place, and it was exactly why Bane had chosen it.
While the bartender and the some of the roving city guard rushed in to quell the fighting before it could spill into the streets, Bane used the chaos to slip out the back door. He moved quickly but unhurriedly through the city. It was a delicate balance to strike, but the benefits were more than worth it. He moved fast enough to discourage conversation or solicitation, and slow enough that he didn't draw any undue attention. Bane was also professional enough to take a roundabout route to his destination to discourage pursuers or interceptors.
Had it been his first time to the city, the walk would have proved instructive. He first moved his route into the more destitute parts of town, the squalor barely assuaged by the tawdry decorations they could barely afford. There was the occasional Airbender or Air Acolyte giving out food or home-spun blankets to the grateful residents, but they hardly gave Bane a second glance. Even as he passed through the tavern sections, the lines of drunk patrons lined up at tournament signup stations were too busy boasting about how they were going to sweep the tournament to stand up straight, let alone do much else. Though some people complained about how the Earth King let poverty fester, Bane had to give the man credit for his smarts. Setting up registration stations near groups of taverns, and requiring the registration fee up front? Genius.
From there the sights were pretty standard city or town fair until he started to get close to the wealthier districts. The city had actually specialized many of the buildings. Because of the massive influx of people, the normal city guard couldn't handle all the crime. The guard loved to have Airbenders, because while they weren't hard-line crime fighters, no Air Nomad would allow violent crimes to happen right in front of them just in the name of pacifism. So the government gave special tax breaks to inns that specialized in housing and providing vegetarian cuisine for travelling Airbenders. Typically they would have at least three floors, one for men, one for women, and one for couples. Airbenders didn't require many comforts, but the size of the rooms and the typical lack of ego in Airbenders meant a nice inn could house many in one room.
Even closer to the nobles' homes were inns and homes housed entirely by personal security for visiting dignitaries and traveling merchant caravans. It was another aspect the city's government endorsed because of the crowds. If important people could bring trusted and verified security, then the city guard could focus on the crowds. It was an eminently practical arrangement, but it also meant that Bane had to be more careful in his maneuverings. Not only did his path need to steer clear of this places, but his meeting place needed to be off the beaten path.
He had arranged to meet his buyer's proxy in an abandoned apothecary. As wealthy as the city and the Nation was, economic realities were still tough on most people. Including the former owner of the shop. According to the sign, he had apparently merged with another apothecary a few blocks away. The details were irrelevant to Bane beyond that it meant no one would care about traffic going in and out at odd hours.
Lifting the wood panel that acted as a window Bane quickly slipped inside. He checked all the corners, doorways, and dusty rooms for any sign of an ambush, then settled in to wait, making sure he had a good view of all the entrances. Time passed. First an hour, then another.
Finally, the door opened. Bane was on his feet, one hand on the hilt of his short sword and another drawing one of his throwing knives, before the three persons on the other side walked inside. The one in the middle, a small and portly man with black-rimmed spectacles, spoke up in a gruff voice.
"Do you have it?"
"Yeah." Bane replied, his voice flat. The other two figures spread out in a defensive fan as Bane reached into his belt. He withdrew a small, lumpy figure. Unwrapping the cloth revealed a thick platinum ring the size of his palm, but the guards didn't seem to relax. "It was hell to get. I hope the Vanguard is willing to pay my prices. I have to charge extra danger pay for this one."
"Yes, yes. We'll pay your fees." The portly man reached into his cloak and tossed a small leather purse to one of his men. He and Bane made the trade-off quickly. "I just hope your reputation for confidentiality is properly earned. Otherwise, my agents..." he nodded to the two men with him, "...will be sure to plug the information leak."
Bane was amused. Threats always came with the work, especially when the work was by necessity highly confidential. But they never knew exactly who they were threatening. Zivilyn Bane open reliance on more traditional weaponry wasn't just because he was skilled with them, it was also to hide that he was secretly a rather powerful Firebender. He even had a very rare technique up his sleeve, one that had made him able to survive more than a pissed off branch of the Black Jade Vanguard. But the point was purely academic. Zivilyn Bane was always professional.
"Don't worry. I'd rather continue our rather lucrative partnership."
Ba Sing Se brimmed with life. Even well after midnight, the city that was normally the embodiment of rules and order could not contain itself. The city was decorated from the palace to the poorest streets of the warrens. Candles and oil lamps in intricately blown structures of colored glass bathed the richer parts of the city in merry, welcoming light. Statues, flags, and paintings with beautiful representations of the four elements, individually and in concert, highlighted the artisans' sector of the city. The poorer and refugee sections of the city made do with much simpler affair, but still managed to draw people in with the homey feel of homemade crafts and gently glowing candles placed around fountains.
But the real life was marketplace, transformed from its orderly stalls into a full bazaar with its barely contained chaos teeming with people from all over the world. Delectable smells wafted on the early summer breezes as food vendors worked round the clock to keep up with all the merrymaking. Every day saw new workers finding time off from work, and the out-of-town revelers were making everything out of their de facto vacations even if it was business that had brought them so far from home. Lilting music and beautiful voices called out from every street corner. All the fear people had been holding in for years was being let out all at once.
The people finally had a reason to embrace life without worrying about what strange thing was to happen next. Their Avatar had made it to Ba Sing Se this morning and, after the Earth King put on a grand welcoming ceremony with all manners of self-important speeches, the Avatar had made efforts to avail himself of the people. He went in and among them, telling stories and showing off everything he had learned, putting peoples mind at ease. Never mind that he had long since exhausted himself and retired to messy political business until the tournament started properly, he was still there. It was such a relief, people couldn't help it.
Even the bars, from the high class in inns to the seediest dives, in town were infected with the merriment. From a particular grime encrusted bar, loud singing and shouting poured out into the night air. The normally grim bartender had a constant smile on his face at all the business he was getting that particular night, as customers ordered constant streams of food and drink, even paying fees to rent the gaming tables. A new game had been spreading throughout the Earth Kingdom, knocking marble balls into each other by hitting them with sticks, and it was keeping the crowd entertained long after they might otherwise have left.
Everyone was having a good time. Everyone, that is, except for one. He was here to work. The strange man with the stranger name sat alone in a corner of the bar, partially obscured by shadows. Despite his unusual appearance - an odd mix of Sandbender garb, leather armor, and a face almost completely hidden by goggles and a mask - he had the strange ability to remain largely unnoticed. That was the way he liked it; it helped in his work of acquiring particular difficult items of intrinsic and usually historic value. And Zivilyn Bane was the best at what he did.
He had been waiting for the perfect chance to slip away, and though he still had a few hours before he had to be on his way, fate was conspiring to let him out early. Someone had just hustled the wrong customer at the gaming tables, and violence was about to break out any second. Bane adjusted his mask to cover his face, dropping a few of the green coins onto the bar to pay for his drinks just as the first punches flew. It wasn't long before the rest of the patrons were caught up in the brawl as well. It was just that kind of place, and it was exactly why Bane had chosen it.
While the bartender and the some of the roving city guard rushed in to quell the fighting before it could spill into the streets, Bane used the chaos to slip out the back door. He moved quickly but unhurriedly through the city. It was a delicate balance to strike, but the benefits were more than worth it. He moved fast enough to discourage conversation or solicitation, and slow enough that he didn't draw any undue attention. Bane was also professional enough to take a roundabout route to his destination to discourage pursuers or interceptors.
Had it been his first time to the city, the walk would have proved instructive. He first moved his route into the more destitute parts of town, the squalor barely assuaged by the tawdry decorations they could barely afford. There was the occasional Airbender or Air Acolyte giving out food or home-spun blankets to the grateful residents, but they hardly gave Bane a second glance. Even as he passed through the tavern sections, the lines of drunk patrons lined up at tournament signup stations were too busy boasting about how they were going to sweep the tournament to stand up straight, let alone do much else. Though some people complained about how the Earth King let poverty fester, Bane had to give the man credit for his smarts. Setting up registration stations near groups of taverns, and requiring the registration fee up front? Genius.
From there the sights were pretty standard city or town fair until he started to get close to the wealthier districts. The city had actually specialized many of the buildings. Because of the massive influx of people, the normal city guard couldn't handle all the crime. The guard loved to have Airbenders, because while they weren't hard-line crime fighters, no Air Nomad would allow violent crimes to happen right in front of them just in the name of pacifism. So the government gave special tax breaks to inns that specialized in housing and providing vegetarian cuisine for travelling Airbenders. Typically they would have at least three floors, one for men, one for women, and one for couples. Airbenders didn't require many comforts, but the size of the rooms and the typical lack of ego in Airbenders meant a nice inn could house many in one room.
Even closer to the nobles' homes were inns and homes housed entirely by personal security for visiting dignitaries and traveling merchant caravans. It was another aspect the city's government endorsed because of the crowds. If important people could bring trusted and verified security, then the city guard could focus on the crowds. It was an eminently practical arrangement, but it also meant that Bane had to be more careful in his maneuverings. Not only did his path need to steer clear of this places, but his meeting place needed to be off the beaten path.
He had arranged to meet his buyer's proxy in an abandoned apothecary. As wealthy as the city and the Nation was, economic realities were still tough on most people. Including the former owner of the shop. According to the sign, he had apparently merged with another apothecary a few blocks away. The details were irrelevant to Bane beyond that it meant no one would care about traffic going in and out at odd hours.
Lifting the wood panel that acted as a window Bane quickly slipped inside. He checked all the corners, doorways, and dusty rooms for any sign of an ambush, then settled in to wait, making sure he had a good view of all the entrances. Time passed. First an hour, then another.
Finally, the door opened. Bane was on his feet, one hand on the hilt of his short sword and another drawing one of his throwing knives, before the three persons on the other side walked inside. The one in the middle, a small and portly man with black-rimmed spectacles, spoke up in a gruff voice.
"Do you have it?"
"Yeah." Bane replied, his voice flat. The other two figures spread out in a defensive fan as Bane reached into his belt. He withdrew a small, lumpy figure. Unwrapping the cloth revealed a thick platinum ring the size of his palm, but the guards didn't seem to relax. "It was hell to get. I hope the Vanguard is willing to pay my prices. I have to charge extra danger pay for this one."
"Yes, yes. We'll pay your fees." The portly man reached into his cloak and tossed a small leather purse to one of his men. He and Bane made the trade-off quickly. "I just hope your reputation for confidentiality is properly earned. Otherwise, my agents..." he nodded to the two men with him, "...will be sure to plug the information leak."
Bane was amused. Threats always came with the work, especially when the work was by necessity highly confidential. But they never knew exactly who they were threatening. Zivilyn Bane open reliance on more traditional weaponry wasn't just because he was skilled with them, it was also to hide that he was secretly a rather powerful Firebender. He even had a very rare technique up his sleeve, one that had made him able to survive more than a pissed off branch of the Black Jade Vanguard. But the point was purely academic. Zivilyn Bane was always professional.
"Don't worry. I'd rather continue our rather lucrative partnership."