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| 21:09 - 23:00 [111] | | 21:09 - 23:00 [111] |
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| ==Of Toil and Taxes==
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| *'''Civilian:''' ''She's done for. She should have paid them off the first time they threatened her.''
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| *'''Civilian:''' ''Do you blame her? I find myself only scraping by with this new "tax" on our stalls.''
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| *'''Civilian:''' ''Business is not easy...''
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| *'''Civilian:''' ''Broken, completely destroyed! Those guards, they know no mercy.''
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| *'''Civilian:''' ''This is nothing. Do you know what they are doing to the perfume merchant?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Do not touch those bottles! They're a special import! I just need more time, please... ''
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| *'''Soldier:''' ''You have wasted enough of ours. Now, stop begging. How about we take a walk instead? Somewhere far away...''
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''This is taking too long! I have somewhere to be, and this is hardly worth the coin they pay me.''
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| *'''Soldier:''' ''Cut off a finger. Maybe that will loosen her coin purse.''
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''No coin, no safety. You know this. Or, we can just take your perfume as payment.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''As-salamu 'alaikum.''
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''This is not your concern. Move along.''
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| <tabber>
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| |-|(Offer token to Bribe)=
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Maybe this can free your time.''
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''Hmm. Perhaps it can.''
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| The captain turned to his men and started to lead them away.
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''We have worked hard, men! Time for a rest.''
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| *'''Soldier:''' ''What? Wait we are still--''
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| *'''Perfume Stall Guard Captain:''' ''Do not question me. Let's go!''
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| |-|Never mind.=
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| </tabber>
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| []
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| *'''Basim:''' ''What did yo do to incur such aggression from the guards?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''I did nothing! I ... I'm only short of coin. Business is business, but I do not have the means to pay their tax.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Are your wares moving slow?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''No, but in recent times they have increased the coin requested. Therein lies the trouble.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Not just for you, but for others as well?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Mostly for people like us who are not from here, or not of the same faith. We find it's hard to feel safe in Karkh. I have a shipment that's late. I fear my goods and camels might have been seized by the guards. They should have arrived with some merchants bound for the Da'irat Al-mal. If I could ask a favor, my friend, please look for them.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Very well.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''They should be along the road that leads to the south gate of Baghdad.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Ah! I might catch them at the watering hole along the southern road.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Thank you, sayyidi (sir).''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The road beyond the south of Baghdad... I should see if I can find those stranded merchants.''
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| {{IUNote|Title=An Apologetic Draft|Text=I just need a few more days, please. I will get the coin and pay my debt. The perfume that I stock is important and cannot be touched... I implore you to understand. The recent spike in tax has-- (the rest of the letter is incomplete)}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The merchants should be down this road, perhaps near a ridge for shelter. That camp must be where the merchants are.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Halt! Who goes?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''As-salamu 'alaikum. I was sent by a friend of yours who was worried for your safety.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''As you can tell from the horse's head, she was right to be. We do not know what to make of this...''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Let me help. Perhaps I can find out what happened.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''We would be grateful.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The culprit must have left a clue.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Footprints ... and a blood trail. The horse's head was carried to the center of the camp.''
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| *'''Merchant 2:''' ''My horse, my sweet Legume! Malaka! Who would do such a terrible deed?''
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| *'''Merchant 3:''' ''Do not cast your eyes on me. I did no such evil!''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The head is cut clean. Must have been a sharp blade.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Was this your horse?''
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| *'''Merchant 2:''' ''He is claimed by Hades now! Not only do I have to worry about Baghdad's ridiculous thirst for coin, now I must be concerned about my livestock! Malaka! Rest in peace, Legume...''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''What happened here?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''It happened in the dark of night. I could not see well ... but... I saw someone. I think... I cannot be sure.''
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| {{IUNote|Title=Guard Instructions|Text=ATTN: Guards<br><br>Coin Collection from:<br><br>Anka's Perfumery<br>Wei's Exotic Mears<br>Bubble Pop Soap<br><br>NOTE: Must I do your jobs for you? Stop their supplies if you must, but do what you need to do to secure coin. Do not forget the extra taxes for the dhimmiyun - if they want to bask in the richness of Baghdad, they must pay the right price. Do whatever you must.<br><br>Al-Anqa}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''I think I know what happened.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''This is a work of intimidation. Someone is trying to prevent your arrival.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''La! (No!) Who ... who would do such a thing? I have no enemies, no bad blood...''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''There could be worse fates if you continue down the road. Let me escort your crew to the gates.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''You would do that for us? Shukran! (Thank you!) God bless you. Quickly, get us away from here!''
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| <tabber>
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| |-|Let's go.=
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Let us move. The city is not too far.''
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| |-|Not yet.=
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| </tabber>
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Come, we should leave this place. Quickly.''
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| *'''Merchant 2:''' ''Should have stayed home. Hmph.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Where is home?''
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| *'''Merchant 2:''' ''I come from a place called Greece, west from here across the water. With my horse Legume, we carried goods to and from Baghdad. Oh, the cities we visited! Al-Quds, Basra, and even Samarra!''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Your merchant friend tells me that these goods are bound for the Da'irat Al-mal.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Nai. (Yes.) The Great Auction is a big event, and that meant bigger demands.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''So you are attending, then?''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Attending? I only wish I had the coin to spend! No, we are just providing stock for the preparations.''
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| *'''Soldier:''' ''Found them! Argh!''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Who sent you?''
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| *'''Soldier:''' ''You cannot run or hide! To enter Baghdad you have to pay the price!''
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| {{IUNote|Title=Letter of Execution|Text=The merchants must be found. One knows where I am, and for my safety he must be silenced. Kill the rest too, they are of no consequence. From what I gathered they should be enroute to the west of Baghdad. Find them before they arrive and report back - a prize of coin awaits the ones who succeed and return.<br><br>Al-Anqa}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The guards report to someone called Al-Anqa. This confirms my suspicions.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''Good heavens, could they have been sent to kill us?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Likely.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''This is not surprising. We've been vocal against the Caliphate and unfair taxes. It can cost us our heads. But the silent sheep is an ally to corruption.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''They do not like this opposition.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''I would not be surprised if they made an example out of us to others who might try the same.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Baghdad. You are safer now.''
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| *'''Merchant:''' ''You are wonderful! Thank you!''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Here we are.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''A thousand thanks, ya sayyidi. Baghdad is not safe. Rumors swirl through the markets of merchants dragged from their stalls. Have you heard of such injustice? Who would do this? Rumors say they target the dhimmiyun (foreigners), traders who are not from here. The Abbasids want a stake in all businesses. As long as there is coin, lives are secondary.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The note dropped by the guards was from someone called Al-Anqa. This person is the one behind the attack.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Hmm. I overheard the guards refer to the Tax Collector as Al-Anqa ... which was odd because is the Anqa not female?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Tell me his name, and where I can find him.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Suhail lives in a mansion west of Karkh. Be careful, freiend. I doubt he works alone.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Thank you, friend. Waffaqaka Allah.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The Tax Collector is due a visit.''
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| *'''Al-Anqa:''' ''Where are they? They should be back with the coin! My head will roll if we do not deliver it. How hard is it to shake the coin from those fools, hm? Greece ... India ... China ... hmph. No partiality, not even to their own kind.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The taxes have been paid.''
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| ==The Toll of Greed==
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| *'''Basim:''' ''There might be more information I can find around here.''
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| {{IUNote|Title=My Second and Final Letter|Text=Al-Anqa,<br><br>Coin is becoming scarce. Have you increased the taxes like I asked? I hear that you might be experiencing a few ... obstacles. The shipment of perfume is also late.<br><br>I thought perhaps since you are a local you might fare better than I would, but I have been wrong before.<br><br>I do not usually send more than one letter about something I want done. I never send a third.<br><br>N}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The Tax Collector does not work alone. Someone not from Baghdad controls the strings. There is a scent on the letter... Perfume. Rose, with ... iron? Hmm.''
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| {{IUNote|Title=Orders to Increase Taxes|Text=Suhail,<br><br>Here are the proposed tax increases. Please act accordingly.<br><br>Grains: One twentieth<br>Foodstuffs: One tenth<br>Textiles: One tenth<br>Ceramics: One fifth<br><br>And according to the laws, the dhimmi shall pay extra, so charge each non-believer another tenth on top of the given tax.<br><br>N}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Orders to increase taxes. More coin tricking into their hands.''
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| {{IUNote|Title=Approved Blockade Funding|Text=The agreed upon amount was taken from the tax fund for Karkh and allocated to supplement the Harbor's Blockade as instructed.}}
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The blockade at the harbor is funded by the coin of the people.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''I am done here. Nothing else. Roshan and Rebekah will be waiting back at the Bureau.''
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| ==A Faceless Feather==
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''Our prodigal Hidden One returns.''
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| *'''Rebekah:''' ''Finally, you found the path back. What do you have for us?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''The one we are looking for is a dhimmiyun (foreigner), someone out of Baghdad.''
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| *'''Rebekah:''' ''You are certain?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''I found proof. They were working with the Tax Collector and the Harbormaster. One used the guards to harass and extort coin from the dhimmiyun (foreigners), the other seized goods at the docks.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''Extortion, I understand ... but seizing goods? More objects from these ancient beings they worship?''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''They are looking for a rare hairpin, imported from the East Road. It will be up for auction at the Da'irat Al-mal.''
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| *'''Rebekah:''' ''An official invitation into the auction. Now, we have a way in. Well done.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''Our target has to be someone connected to both Al-Anqa and Al-Kullulu. Someone working closely with the officials.''
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| *'''Rebekah:''' ''Informers heard whispers of the Caliph's Treasurer. In recent times they have been quite involved in the businesses of Karkh.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Someone like that will no doubt make an appearance at the Da'irat Al-mal.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''We should prepare, so I will scout ahead. Meet me near the souq when you're ready.''
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| *'''Rebekah:''' ''Not a lot is known about this person. Underestimating your opponent is a fool's folly.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Worried? I will tread carefully.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''The plan is simple. Enter the auction as a merchant, wishing to bid on exotic artifacts. We know they want the hairpin, and we know they will be at the auction. They already let it slip through their fingers once.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''When the hairpin appears, I will watch the crowd and make sure to obtain it. That will secure a meeting with this Treasurer.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''I am fully confident they will bid on it, whatever the cost.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Yes. I will gather as much information as I can about this Treasurer before the auction starts.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''For someone in their position, there will be no lack of whispers.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''The first feather without a head. It is your duty to find the right one. Do not let yourself get distracted. Focus on the mission at hand. It does no one good to linger on things that do not exist. This is real.''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''I understand.''
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| *'''Roshan:''' ''Silence is better for the wise, and how much more so for fools. Hazzan muwaffaqan. (Good luck).''
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| *'''Basim:''' ''Do you think we need luck?''
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| ==Gilded Butterflies== | | ==Gilded Butterflies== |