Thief In The Night (Jinchu)

[Jac26qq308]

In the far away land of Saudia Arabia, where the spice is always flowing and the sun is always scorching, the city of Riyadh was a lit in a warm glow of life. The city was lit up with lights as the sun slowly began to set over the sandy horizon. Merchant were pushing the last of their wares and men and women were moving through the street for a bit of naughty under the glow of the setting sun. Women danced in silk and men were slamming dice in the back alleyways as the underbelly of the city came to life.

But when the seedy world of the underworld came to play, it usually meant more than just gambling and sexy dancers. Whether they're shadows in the alleyway or scaling rooftops, Riyadh tended to attract thieves of all kinds. Some were petty thieves who took what they could get their greedy hands on. Others were street rats, stealing just to survive. And the rare few were criminals by choice, breaking into the homes and stalls of merchants in order to make a living.

Among those who were criminals by choice, there were those who took the title of 'thief' with pride. They were daring individuals who weren't just in it for a quick bag of coins or a handful of salt. Oh no, these few were professionals; they were here for much bigger prizes and were hungry for the thrill and profit of a large score.

But breaking into the palace of the Sultan? Perhaps that was a too big of a goal under the setting sun...or was it?

[Jinchu]

For young Ishaq the Swift this goal seemed more then real - and very tempting. In his age of 21 - more or less so, as he was raised on the streets and never kneew his birthday, of course - Ishaq was a skilfull and experienced theif, well-known in the underworld in Riyadh and far around it. He earned his title not only by removing the purses from the fat merchants' belts, but by stealing such famous treasures as the Ruby of Thousand Whispers and the sword Death of Fourty Bandits. Once he even stole the jewels from the very neck of the woman, who was told to be among the most beautiful young wives in Riyadh...



In short, his skills were remarkable and both his pride and his greed demanded a game of very high stakes. Anb for taht reasone Ishaq was sneaking near the Sultan's castle's wall at night...


He was a slim young man with flexible arms, legs, toes and fingers. Ishaq wore nothing but the pair of wide pants and a baggy vest, all - pretty warn out and attracting not attention, but the amount of pockets on the insides of these clothing was remarkable. His dark hair were tied in a bun now, though they would reach lower then his shoulders if he let them be free. Ishaq was a good-looking young man too, with elegant facial features and still no sign of a beard on his cheeks...

[Jac26qq308]

Getting into the Sultan's palace would be an amazing feat. One that would go down in history! His name would be spoken of in legend!

Of course, Ishaq would have to get in and out alive with something to show for it, of course...

And in order to do that, he'd first have to get in. Because trying to go in through the palace door or breaking a window-that would never work. He'd be hunted down by the guards like a wolves hunting hares. So he'd have to get inside another way.

Spoken only in whispers, there was talk of a secret passageway underneath the palace. Interconnecting mazes and tunnels. Intended to be an escape route for the royal family-that is, if these rumors were true. Ishaq would have to pursue them and the only way to find such information would be to go to the gambling house.

Or, perhaps he could take the direct approach. Well, for a thief, that would be scaling the rooftops and trying to go in from above. An amazing feat to be sure, but it would be the most dangerous. Scaling up in the shadows, that wasn't the problem. The problem would be if he were to fall or how he'd get in once up there.

His only other option would be to go slinking around and look for a Sorcerer. Many did not believe in the ancient traditions of witchcrafts or devils. No doubt that someone of this caliber who, if nothing else, believed in the old ways would hang around the temples at the edge of the city.

[Jinchu]

[ok, going the full choose-your-own-adventure manner? Love it! Very refreshing]


After some more walking around the high, well-built walls and trying to carwl up them a few times Ishaq decided not to tempt fate. He might get up there, but if anyone will notice his maneuvers, he'll get an arrow between shoulder blades and won't have a chance to prevent it. Plus getting out with the loot would be even more troublesome...


Not beliving in magic much, Ishaq decided to go to the gambling house. He had some debts there and some people whome one might meet in these parts had grudges with the young theif, but the task was worth some risks... Also, he secretly belived hell wiggle out of anything.


The young man came to the very inconspicious door in one of the darkest and more fishy parts of Riyadh, looked around checking that no one followed him, and knocked in a special secret manner...

[Jac26qq308]

Once he gave the knock, a pair of eyes peered through a secret slot. Once they got a good look at Ishaq, the slot was closed and the door opened. No use in scanning Ishaq, he was something of a regular. Regular, more like a legend. His reputation spoke for itself and it would get him to a lot of open doors.

Once inside, lively music was playing on the air as a woman dressed in fine silk danced atop a large table. Dice were being thrown and board game pieces were being played. Money was shifting and flying like hawks, swapping from hand to hand in the blink of an eye. It was the tip of the iceberg that was the underworld of Riyahd: The Spice Palace.

"Ishaq, my friend!" Staggering over to Ishaq and smelling heavily of wine was, at first, a man you didn't recognized. But when you looked past the fine silk and the shiny rings on their finger, you'd recognize him as Azim! The last time you saw him, he was pennyless on the streets and had nothing but tattered pants and a pair of dice, having lost it all to gambling.

It seems if there was a God, then he was smiling on Azim.

"It has been too long." He twirled dice in his hands as he approached. He was a slightly older man, maybe 25 at the least with a well trimmed goatee that replaced the scraggly beard. He was a bald man, the eye of Ra tattooed on said forehead, with a smoking pipe in his mouth. He was decorated in scars all over his face and up his arms-which, you had to admit, were rather well built.

"Why, I haven't seen you since Calcutta! How has life been?" Oh, right, the last time you saw him, you were both on the run back in India after stealing the illustrious gems off of a Prince's newly carved statue. You had made it out with quite the haul that night, but you were separated from Azim-and you were sure you heard the man scream to the high heaven that night. This is the first time you've must have seen him in half a year.

[Jinchu]

"Azim! So glad to see you again! And you seem to be much more fortunate then the last time we've met, God bless you!" Ishaq smiled widely, giving him a friendly embrace and even showing so much respect that he didn't use that movement to search the old pal's pockets. He was, indeed, glad to see the guy alive, and also felt kinda guilty. Everyone should mind ther own safety, but still it was not very nice from him.

[Jac26qq308]

Azim had a wide grin on his face and even hugged his friend back. One the embrace was ended, he gave a hearty laugh as he said, "yes, God has been very good to me! Alah has blessed me with fortune since I last saw you. And it looks like he has been keeping his eye on you as well! You look well, my friend! And I've heard across the dunes of your exploits!" Azim was never one to be religious, but it might have truly been a miracle if he was to survive that night.

That guilt would pang at you weakly, but Azim looked well enough. Maybe it was fear of retaliation instead of guilt? But Azim was always a jolly guy and it looks like that hasn't changed.

"I'd love to chew the fat, but the night is young. And if I know you half as well as I think I do, you're not here just to throw dice." He took out his pipe and blew a puff of smoke into the air. "So, what is it Ishaq the Swift is up to tonight?"

[Jinchu]

Ishaq thought it up a bit, but he decided he could trust anyone here, as the whole place was on the bad side of the law. And the old pal didn't seem to hold grudges against him...

"You're wize as always. No, I am not here merely for the dice. My eyes are on the..." the young theif lowered his voice even more, to barely understandable whisper "the Sultan's palace. So I'm looking for the guidence to it's secret underground passages - not for free, of course. Would you maybe happen to know someone blessed with such wisdom?"

[Jac26qq308]

Azim choked on the smoke of his pipe, coughing and sputtering as he took it out of his mouth. "When I-" He tried to talk, but he kept choking on his smoke. It went mostly unnoticed by the patrons of the gambling house, only making them look away when he put it out.

"I can see that you're looking to go down in history as a legend. Provided you make it out alive." He shoved his extinguished smoking pipe into his robe as he told Ishaq, "as your friend, I'm obligated to warn you that many a thief before you has tried and met a very gruesome death. Robbing the Sultan on the Silk Road or when he leaves the palace, that's one thing. But breaking into the palace, that's madness."

"But, if you insist, then I do know somebody who can help you." The jolly man took on a much more grim disposition. "I know the owner of the gamble house, they're in the back. They know...secrets." He made sure nobody was hanging over his shoulder, "secrets that you seek."

"But what do you have to offer, friend?" Azim told him, "it's nothing personal, but if I'm putting my neck out for you, you need to do something for me."

[Jinchu]

"I am aware about the previous attempts. But you're right, I am going to be a legend." Ishaq nodded with a slightly haughty smile. Not that the young man didn't realise the amount of danger he was facing - but he sincerely belived himself to be the special one, the true chosen one who can do the impossible.



"Well, I could promise you and the owners a share of what I'll garb in the palace, and you know that even the samll part would make you disgustingly rich... But with the probability of me dying there, I guess, it won't sound like a good deal to you." he shrugged hsi shoulders with a grin. "I have valuables hidden in the city, enough to buy oneself a nice house and some slaves for it. I can give them up, if the information's real and useful."