As Argenti reaches the river bank, he may hear three of the fishermen speaking as they work.
"No good... We still haven't caught a thing," says an older fisherman as he pulls an empty net to shore with three others who are assisting him.
"It's been like this for weeks! What are we to do when the flooding comes and our rations are thin?" Asks one fisherman, annoyed.
"I heard other villages along the Black River haven't had much luck either," chimes in the third fisherman.
"This is precisely why a sparrow shouldn't sit in a falcon's nest," the annoyed fisherman says as he sets the net again.
"Do not speak ill of the Pharaoh, Heni!" The older fisherman says, aghast at the words of the annoyed fisherman, Heni.
Heni clicks his tongue and shakes his head, "what good does it to speak praises unto his Pharaoh? You know as well as I that the Lord of the River is punishing us for that child's insolence."
[Hmm. "Insolence" and Atem don't really go hand in hand, when the man is so dedicated to his duties... Perhaps these are his insecurities showing through. That's something to note for later.]
I shall imagine that the Pharaoh has... been negligent in his duties? This is the first I've heard of it. Other cities, villages, they've not been struck.
[A little prickle in verbal form to see what they do, though he won't do much to anger the fishermen, in case they have something to give to the redhead. Hopefully he won't call Shalem out on the lie.]
"Travelers, eh? So you wouldn't know... The Lord's been angry for about two months," Heni says to Argenti. "Long enough for his rage to impact our food stores. If we're not able to salt our fish before the flooding season..."
Then many will starve.
"Where you're from might be fine. Those of us by the Black River are not so lucky."
The Pharaoh, I presume. [He looks right at Argenti for this. He'll tell him later what exactly he means by that... he'll tell everyone, when they have reconvened. Then he turns back to the fishermen.]
The Pharaoh trespassed upon the gods-- he will have to make up for his mistakes, am I right?
[He swishes his tail on the ground. He doesn't want to have to fight Atem to make the man come to his senses, though.]
"That little sparrow? Ha! He'll have to do more than that to please the gods," Heni scoffs at the idea.
"Heni! Still your tongue before it ruins you," says the older fisherman.
"Then let a quarrelsome man such as myself be ruined! You know I speak the truth, Bakkhons. Do you not yearn for Pharaoh Akhnamkhanen's rule? The fish were plenty and our duty secure."
[ Argenti blinks when Shalem looks at him not quite understanding...but whatever explanation he might have, he will indeed await for it later, instead turning his attention back to these peeps.
Pharoahs and the like are beyond him, so while they are having the spat, he asks: ]
It's Bakkhons who speaks to Argenti instead, "I am no priest... But in times like these... the Pharaoh should travel the Black River for daily offerings and pray for forgiveness to the Gods in every temple in every village..."
"And fast! If we're all to starve, then so should he! The Gods will only understand our plight through him," adds Heni.
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"No good... We still haven't caught a thing," says an older fisherman as he pulls an empty net to shore with three others who are assisting him.
"It's been like this for weeks! What are we to do when the flooding comes and our rations are thin?" Asks one fisherman, annoyed.
"I heard other villages along the Black River haven't had much luck either," chimes in the third fisherman.
"This is precisely why a sparrow shouldn't sit in a falcon's nest," the annoyed fisherman says as he sets the net again.
"Do not speak ill of the Pharaoh, Heni!" The older fisherman says, aghast at the words of the annoyed fisherman, Heni.
Heni clicks his tongue and shakes his head, "what good does it to speak praises unto his Pharaoh? You know as well as I that the Lord of the River is punishing us for that child's insolence."
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Argenti ponders the conversation here and wonders if he could speak to the people as well...get more insight. ]
Greetings, fellow fishermen.
I am very sorry for the terrible times.
I am a guest from far away, and I just heard your conversation. How long has this Lord been angry, might I ask?
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I shall imagine that the Pharaoh has... been negligent in his duties? This is the first I've heard of it. Other cities, villages, they've not been struck.
[A little prickle in verbal form to see what they do, though he won't do much to anger the fishermen, in case they have something to give to the redhead. Hopefully he won't call Shalem out on the lie.]
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Then many will starve.
"Where you're from might be fine. Those of us by the Black River are not so lucky."
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Hmm, he has to wonder further about this predicament. Fortunately, Argenti himself is good at playing along. ]
I see, so essentially it is localized.
I do wonder what exactly it is that might cure his anger...?
[ So maybe they can find out about this "insolent behavior" in more behavior. ]
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The Pharaoh trespassed upon the gods-- he will have to make up for his mistakes, am I right?
[He swishes his tail on the ground. He doesn't want to have to fight Atem to make the man come to his senses, though.]
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"Heni! Still your tongue before it ruins you," says the older fisherman.
"Then let a quarrelsome man such as myself be ruined! You know I speak the truth, Bakkhons. Do you not yearn for Pharaoh Akhnamkhanen's rule? The fish were plenty and our duty secure."
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Pharoahs and the like are beyond him, so while they are having the spat, he asks: ]
...What would he have to do?
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"And fast! If we're all to starve, then so should he! The Gods will only understand our plight through him," adds Heni.