(From JTPYO – King Of The Land Of The Dead [2] / the living dead)
The company of Naxosos, Naemas, Korsis, Zyanonchoulain (Two-Swords), and the sorcerer Joliel. is seen at the beginning of the episode "escape from Viragos" – the entire company walks to the point of escape as one, including the huge fighter, who doesn't try to hide and even walks down the street with his hand on his weapon. (This is how bad it is.)
The avenue is high-sided, unevenly-cobbled, and nasty; they're going to the ____ wine shop with its forum that extends onto the quay (this is the upper quay of Viragos that is way north up the beach from Morativela). It's an area of mostly poor people on the move who can't pay to travel the nicer roads going through town and/or disreputable businesses.
Naxosos is garbed as a servant with his cloak wrapped around him and his head hanging down – he has in fact been defeated by the Meriezirim Honey and now must flee (in slow, deliberate steps) for his life; the company has been at Galareh's house (Galareh is Two-Swords's girlfriend) and they are now trying to escape the city however they can; fortunately the fisher Paranis is going to rescue them on this friendly (Pavrani) shore, although the time isn't certain; they're hustling to get to the forum. It's early afternoon, with the sun blazing down and the light-colored paving stones hot enough to burn one's unshod feet.
Naemas is at Naxosos's left shoulder and Two-Swords is on the right, between Naxosos and the buildings; Naxosos slumps and drags his foot as though he is a crippled servant, and for further disguise he carries some burdens. Korsis, acting as Naxosos's double, walks a little ahead of the group, in case anyone has to show an ID. Like the others, he's a bit hungover and disillusioned, as their group has been defeated and now being driven out of Viragos by the Meriezirim Honey and her gang, and they are running (at a measured pace) for their lives.
The sorcerer Joliel hangs at the back of the sortie. In the previous chapter he has demonstrated himself to be a thoroughgoing cad and no one, including Naxosos, is happy with him.
A young woman (with some difficulty carrying a wriggly girl baby who has a little rag doll in her grasp) passes the company going in the opposite direction. The woman is frazzled and without funds, and she has to take the poor people's lane with all its stink and danger, and unaware that her child being fussy is attracting attention.
The sorcerer Joliel notices. As the mother and daughter pass, he turns with a slight grin on his disgustingly white face. As he glances back toward the two, the little girl begins to shriek.
(11 January 2026)
