Commando Part 27

Going through the gates of Tsubib Pajibe the commando and his companions found the city resting inside a crater. Just past the gates as more of the road leading downward to the edges of this crater. Tsubib Pajibe's structures filled the entirety of the crater and even overflowed its rim. The city itself had a few levels on top of each other along the inner sides and rim. Inside its center stood towers, citadels and a single keep mixed with a tower. Much of Tsubib Pajibe's architecture was built out of stone slabs, stone cut into perfect rectangular shapes and plenty of mud brick structures. At the end of the crater stood a large palace.

Their focus returned to the road which was flanked by stone huts, wattle and daub styles, adobe style houses. Each structure was inhabited y a family of four or five. Most of these structures were spread out at the beginning of road. There were homes behind others among the typical artisan workshops, patters, sculptors, weavers, some smiths, and most showed they were forest loggers, and small farmers or herdsman. Just like the soldiers, militia, and guards every man wore a sarong but were shirtless or had a less decorative shirt on. As for the women they donned decorative short sleeved dresses with designs and beads. All of the children wore wrapped loincloths for the boys and hide skin dresses for the girls.

They had no time for sightseeing or interacting right now and pressed further into the city limits. Maphai took the lead of their group as they approached the the edges of the crater. Going further down to the Crater they came across buildings with two stories showing the wealth and craftsmanship. Each one had a small totem or decorated masks next to the door or on top of the doorway. As they proceeded deeper, they noticed more militia patrolling around and the buildings getting higher and wider. Among the populace were plenty of those belonging to other tribes and those who were considered foreigners. According to Maphai and Nanim those out of place figures were from the Kinowee, Odaw, Utsali tribes, and other city states such as Oramatra, Khasungai, and Oceanrest Var. The rest of these foreigners Maurice recognized as explorer from Eoth, Evusia, Lybesan, Malvieth. There was a band of explorers sitting at a table in the large patio attached to a local hostel. Maurice counted eleven heads around this table. Only five of them appeared to be dressed for exploration whereas the rest were a guide, three bodyguards and a pair of mercenaries. Maurice recognized one of the mercenaries as an ex- soldier of the Nevoran Federation and the other was an Evusian ex conscript.

Maurice's gaze was drawn by another explorer who sat on a crate. This particular explorer was a woman in a typical explorer's outfit who had set her gaze upon Maurice Viyamor and his companions. She tipped her hat and winked at them while shifting around on her seat. Maphai only shook her head and directed them to a stable where they could place the steeds. While they were settling the cat steeds in the stable a couple of figures approached from behind. One looked like a creepy fellow with a pencil mustache that appeared awful on a bumpy face under a battered stock man hat. His posture looked bad and seemed hunched compared to the other figure next to him. Next to the bumpy faced creepy figure stood an average height man with a handsome face, a stubble for a beard, four scars on the left cheek from the claws of some creature. Both of these figures wore identical suits.

Their suits appeared to be the same style and color as the one's worn by goons of the Caligari Syndicate. Each of them eyed the Sarcagosee soldiers and warriors. Maphai told them not to spill any blood in the streets of Tsubib Pajibe since it would cause panic among locals and anger the authorities. Her words were heeded by the commando and his companions as they somewhat ignored the two goons. Yet these two goons ignored her words and made a move. Believing they were being sneaky these two slowly slipped their hands into their coat pockets. Before either of the goons could draw a weapon all seven mercenaries and warriors drew their firearms.

Seeing the drawn weapons forced the pair to stop in their tracks. They took their hands out of their coats and turned around. Maphai muttered that those two were just a couple out of hundreds of Caligari's army of goons. Maurice's gaze followed these two who were lured over to the winking explorer. She lured the two creeps over to her and led them inside the inn. He presumed it was so she could spread her legs and please someone.

The commando returned to what they were doing. He unloaded his pack and weapons from Cogan's back as Ebony, Warriorblue, Grey Hunter, and Temeenu were also unloaded. Each Sarcagosee and mercenary placed luggage on their backs. Saddle and Harnesses were carefully taken off so they wouldn't anger the cat steeds. When the saddles and harnesses were set aside, they looked at Maphai who was the only one with clear knowledge of Tsubib Pajibe. Realizing she was being put on the spot Maphai said they well be meeting the Council of Tsubib Pajibe. According to Maphai this council had 43 members seated as the main governing power of the city-state. She led the group further down the street. They came upon a bridge linking the rim of the crater to a mid-upper level of the city.

Tsubib Pajibe's levels appeared more like towers and raised platforms linked together by bridges. Some bridges were along others were short depending on where pillars and platforms were located. They were built from stone and wood. Maphai took them through three platforms crossing several bridges. One of the platforms was where they witnessed a brawl. Two armed figures launched themselves onto a trio of other figures armed with goloks and metun daggers. The two assailants wielded barong and pinute blades wearing tattered clothes that appeared more like a bunch of shawls sewn together. Just from looking the clothes one could tell the shawls wrapped around the figures loosely enough to hide weapons.

Maurice glanced at the trio who were red sarongs with a black stripe and turquoise designs all over. Each one wore nothing over the upper body save for a sash. Forced to stay and watch the fighting the commando and his companions witnessed the small bloody squabble. Wielding their blades, the two tattered shawl men quickly attacked two of the sarongs wearing figures. One of the figures died instantly whereas the second sustained a wound as he parried the attack. Retaliating against the attack the second warrior killed the first attacker with several strikes while receiving a few more wounds in the process. Full of adrenaline the second attacker rushed the sarong warrior to the ground defeating him before rushing at the third. Both combatants engaged each other swinging blades, exchanging blows, parrying, dodging, striking at each other in search of weaknesses and holes and their opponent's defenses. For several minutes the pair fought on until one of them grew tired and drained from wounds and bled enough that forced him down. To everyone's surprise the sarong wearing fighter overpowered the attacker bringing him down to his knees. Moments after bringing his assailant down the sarong drove his blade down into the attacker.

Maphai informed her friends there were at least seven assassin guilds and gangs within Tsubib Pajibe and the city of Waikun. Most of the gangs remained unknown except for one called the Dragorse Snakes. Up to three guilds existed within the confines of both cities. They were known as the Doombows, Patient Jaguars, and the Venomcry of Dawn. Other guilds and gangs existed but were lesser known, shrinking, dying, or too small. According to rumors one of the assassin guilds served the city-state's council.

Once the violence was over and the last combatant left the area for the lower levels things seemed to calm down. Moments later Maphai herded the Sarcagosee along to the next section. Wasting no time, the small group made their way to the palace where the council governed the city. This palace stood about four stories high and as wide as a large hill. It had an adobe shape and style. Up close the palace's windows balconies, and a few spires. The doors to the palace were purple with a basket handle arch frame.

Ten guards stood at the gates with a ranking officer as captain. Maphai had them stop at the edge of the path leading up to the palace. She and Nanim went up to speak with the leading guard officer. The two mercenaries spoke with the officer negotiating their way inside. Several minutes passed before they made an agreement. Maphai returned with Nanim in tow behind her. The council of Tsubib Pajibe had given audience to them, but only the leaders could speak to the leaders. Maphai looked at Maurice who nodded agreeing with these terms.

As Maphai explained to Maurice the arrangements Nanim took the rest of their group back to the stables. His gaze was focused entirely on Maphai who told Maurice they had to dress according to the city customs. For a few seconds the commando was confused. He scratched his head until he realized they had to dress up in order to meet the Council. This 43-seat council would meet them in two hours. Maphai grabbed Maurice by the arm as she started for the door. She pulled him towards the palace doors. Both doors opened to them as a head servant approached the pair. He beckoned them to follow him inside. Maphai replied to this servant with a word Maurice assumed was a yes. The mercenary kept pulling him along as she followed the servant through the main entrance hall of the palace.

What they had walked into was a complex arrangement of support beams, pillars, rooms, raised catwalks leading to different locations in the palace. This was only center part which occupied a large portion of the palace's area. The servant led Maphai and Maurice to a side door. He took them through this side door, which brought them to another hallway. From there they were taken to a guest room that appeared to be a mixture of a dressing room and a cleansing room. Several tubs made from carved stone sat against one of the walls. Wasting no time both leaders undressed, got in the tub and cleaned themselves. A few hand maidens scrubbed their backs clean as they scrubbed everything else in the hot waters of the bathtubs.

Once they had cleaned up the two leaders got out, letting the maidens dry them off. When they were dry enough the handmaidens picked out traditional clothing for each one to wear according to gender. Within an hour of bathing and dressing the two were led straight to the room they would be meeting the council.

Maurice and Maphai entered a room that was in the shape of an auditorium or amphitheater with a roof over it. In place a usual section of seats to fill the space where forty-three raised chairs sitting upon a stone piece crafted to resembled a wide ramp. In these seats sat the members of the 43-seat council of Tsubib Pajibe.