"It's Like Everywhere Else..."

"It is much like everywhere else in this world Yaghibou: if you are rich and powerful it is nearly Paradise, if you are poor and **** it is halfway to Hell." You state with a shrug.

"What do you mean Ali?" Cori asks. She looks very concerned, which is, unsurprising, considering that she has just recently expressed to you that she is nearly destitute.

"The Shah, Yaghibou. He levies cruel and unjust taxes on all of his subjects, to the point where many of them, like myself, cannot live without stealing food just to survive. My money goes only for payment of the water-taxes to buy enough to drink that I do not die of thirst, and many others, they are not as fortunate. There is water enough to support millions of people in the rivers and streams of the Shah's lands, but it gets given to the horses and cattle of the richest landowners, while people here in Tel Adrel die for lack of a drink of water by the dozens each day and the hundreds in high-summer." You explain, quite certain that you knew nothing about these things less than an hour ago.

"What, but how can the city survive with so many casualties each summer?" Cori asks.

"Many slaves are brought in by the city's military each month from thier raids, and most people can afford to pay for water, even people like myself. However, water should be a citizens right, not something that must be paid for!" You explain, somewhat angrily.

"Yeah! I hope we can **** this evil Shah someday and free the city!" She says, more than a little bit too loudly.