S04E01

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## A New Beginning

Two months passed after the survivors from House Glenbain came to Volantis. They had been given a new House and title (House Gaz, held by Lord Hamza) and perhaps the chance to rebuild and one day take revenge.

They were summoned to the home of their liege, Zholos na Zholos Rha, at her regal estate on Falcon Hill within the Black Wall marking the Old City of Volantis. As a successful merchant and member of the Elephant political party, Zholos na Zholos was surrounded by luxury and opulence.

Zholos na Zholos noted that her great-grandfather had been a simple fisherman, proving that people of quality can rise in Volantis. She offered Lord Hamza one her personal servants, a one-armed Dothraki named Arrokko. Arrokko was a skilled warrior who could protect Hamza better than his current team of courtiers.

She also bade Hamza go to the Firstgate Market that day at noon, to buy a slave by the name Melora. Melora had important information that should be given to none other than Zholos na Zholos herself.

## The Black Wall

The group found themselves at a hurdle when they reached the Firstgate in the Black Wall of Volantis. Bloody Flux, had been spotted at the Volantene Beaches, therefore all citizens of Old Blood were being quarantined within the Black Walls. Lord Hamza, with his title, and Fiyona, with her Valyrian features, wouldn't be permitted to leave. But the group successfully disguised themselves and slipped through the gate as commoners.

## The Firstgate Market

When they reached the Firstgate Slave Market, they found Melora's name clearly written in the day's docket. They made sure to mingle with the other merchants, discouraging them from bidding on Melora. Arrokko spotted Faeya Uros, widely known as The Queen of Blood. Uros was an extremely successful slave trader, specializing in gladiators. And she was equally famous as a financial backer of the Tiger political party. Lord Hamza took it upon himself to convince Faeya Uros that Melora had a horrible genital infection and would be of no use as a bedslave.

When the auction took place, Lord Hamza purchased Melora for a cheap 3 platinum coins.

## Slave Riot

But just as Melora was being handed over to Hamza, a slave revolt erupted in the market. Chaos ensued as slaves leapt into the crowd, grabbing whatever weapons they could grab. Slave and slave driver alike attacked wildly at people in the crowd. Fiyona took Melora's arm and snuck her away, with Ser Clyde and Whistler following closely after.

But Hamza and Arrokko found themselves caught up in the fighting. Rook, who had been watching from a nearby rooftop, reached at a hidden crossbow and shot dead a slave driver who was attacking Arrokko. Arrokko was freed up to turn and face a slave who was slashing at Hamza with a sword.  The Dothraki reached up with his arakh and brought it down on the slave's abdomen. The slave was cut in half from his left collarbone down to just below his right ribs. Bloody offal oozed out as the body dropped in two pieces. That was enough for the crowd to give Hamza and Arrokko enough space to leave.

Getting Melora alone, the interrogated her for the information that Zholos na Zholos suspected would be so precious. Melora told the group that she had been the personal bedslave to the Archon of Tyrosh. And she had learned that Tyrosh would soon invade the Disputed Lands. This wasn't valuable news in and of itself, the Free Cities invaded the Disputed Lands constantly. But Melora said that this time Tyrosh would be assisted by a huge army from Lys. The Tyroshi and Lyseni had reached this historical alliance because of the brokerage of a new player in local politics - a Dornishman named Symon Santigar.

Hamza became enraged by the name. This was clearly his brother Symon who had stolen his title and dishonoured him by cheating in a duel.

## Bringing the Slave

The next day, the quarantine had passed and the group returned to the house of Zholos na Zholos Rha. There waiting for them was Faeya Uros, who claimed that Hamza had cheated her when he told her that the slave Melora was diseased. She challenged him to a duel for his honour and he accepted. Her champion Ooto of Yi Ti would face Whistler Seagrave in single combat. Hamza cleverly chose Braavosi blades as the duel's weapon.

Ooto and Whistler squared off. Whistler, the smaller and quicker man, struck first. He put the thin tip of his blade right through Ooto's meaty forearm, casuing him to drop his weapon.  Ooto gave a great scream and hammered Whistler with his opposite fist. Whistler was struck hard, lurching around and trying to keep consciousness. The Yitish gladiator saw how much he had wounded Whistler and stepped forward, ready to finish his opponent off. But Whistler managed to attack first, thrusting his Braavosi blade up through Ooto's armpit, piercing out of his shoulder and into Ooto's face, killing him instantly. The huge fighter died in a lump.

Faeya Uros took the defeat calmly saying only, "The gods smile on you today. Your honour is restored." And then she left.

When Lord Hamza told Zholos na Zholos Melora's information she was deeply concerned. "Invading the Disputed Lands is nothing unto itself," she said. "But this is just the sort of thing the Tigers could use to stir up a war. A war will interrupt trade and we cannot let that happen."

Hamza asked for leave to go to Lys and take vengeance on his brother Symon Santigar, but she ordered him to stay in Volantis until the political situation normalized again.

## Experience

3 XP, 2 Glory (+1 INF, +1 POW)

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