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Conversations In Nosgoth - Chapter Three

A woman disputing prices with a market trader, just after Umah has departed:

Woman:
You can't charge that much. It's robbery!

Trader:
You won't find anyone charging less.

Woman:
Collusion and robbery, you cheating bastards.

Trader:
Taxes are high and supplies are low, thanks to the Sarafan.

Woman:
You think I don't pay taxes? How am I to eat?

Trader:
Huh, it's not my worry, friend.

Woman:
To the black hell with you, and your miserable goods!

A fish seller in the same area, trying to drum up business:

Trader:
Fresh fish, all you could want.
Fresh from the river, trout from the sea, squid from the ocean.
Fresh fish, no magic-tainted local catch here.
Fresh fish, just in from the fleet.
Never had a customer sicken yet. My fish never look at you like they've seen the demons of hell before they died.
Fresh fish!

The Sarafan guards who will speak if Kain approaches them:

Sarafan Guard by the news stand:
Keep your distance. Know your place.

Second Sarafan Guard:
Mind where you go, citizen.

Two men talking in a back alley in the same area. One man stands at the top of a staircase:

First Man:
Hey, up there! Heard the news about Durden?

Second Man:
What's that?

First Man:
They found him last night, face down in a gutter.

Second Man:
Dead.

First Man:
Bled white, he was.

Second Man:
Another one. That's, what, the third?

First Man:
That we know of. You still so sure there's no vampires in this city?

Second Man:
Er, there's no saying what we can be sure of anymore.

First Man:
Except to keep our doors locked at night.

Second Man:
And stay behind them.

Two women at a door on the gatekeeper's bridge:

First Woman:
Come out this minute, Ivan. I know you're in there!

Second Woman:
That's right, tell him Annie.

First Woman:
You've no right to be whoring away our money.

Second Woman:
That's the truth.

First Woman:
I'll kill you if you don't come out this minute. Curse you!

Second Woman:
Curse them all.

A couple outside the Red Raven pub:

Woman:
You said this time you would come straight home.

Man:
Peace, woman. They won't buy from me if I won't drink with 'em.

Woman:
What's the use if you drink up the money you make selling to them?

Man:
It isn't my fault. It's the cursed Sarafan taxes.

Woman:
So, they've raised the tax on drink again, have they?

The tapster of the Red Raven pub talking to a man after she has spoken with Kain:

Man:
Damn them, damn them!

Tapster:
Hush! Not so loud.

Man:
My wife, my children - gone.
Damn the Sarafan, damn them!

Tapster:
That's enough. You'll bring 'em down on all of us.

Man:
How can they do this to us? It's not right!

A man and a woman conversing in the Red Raven pub:

Man:
I saw it with these very eyes.

Woman:
A Glyphwright?

Man:
One of those. He was doing something to a Glyph. Powering it. I was in the alley... resting.

Woman:
Hush! What did he do, the Glyphwright?

Man:
He turned the Glyph on and walked right through the wall into the building. Like he was a ghost. I tell you I saw it, just as I see you.
You stay away from them, that's all I'm saying.

Woman:
I know that already!

A market trader in the workers' area who tries to sell to Kain if he approaches:

Trader:
See anything you like, sir?
Cadmus the Merchant is selling out. Seems he had to leave the city in haste; he left all this behind. Lowest prices to be found.
What's your pleasure?

A woman pleading with a Sarafan guard in the workers' area:

Woman:
But I must get to the Keep!

Sarafan Guard:
Not this way. The subway is closed.

Woman:
I must bring this purse to the Chancellor or he will take my house!

Sarafan Guard:
It's no use crying to me about it.

Woman:
I beg you, let me through!

Sarafan Guard:
I'll run you through if you don't go your way! Now, move on!

Two men talking in the street:

First Man:
Where's Joseph got to?

Second Man:
You didn't hear? He signed on as a guard.

First Man:
With his rheumatism? Can he lift a sword?

Second Man:
They didn't try him. He signed on to guard a trade caravan. Gave him a week's wages in advance, they did.

First Man:
Against the bandit attacks? He won't see home again.

Second Man:
But his Marjorie will get passage to her sister's. It was all he could do for her, now that he lost his shop.

First Man:
Brave man.

Two workers conversing in the warehouse:

First Worker:
Uh, he says we must move all these crates to the other side.

Second Worker:
What? We just -

First Worker:
I know, I know. He says it's to make way for more to come.

Second Worker:
Greedy bastard. We're about full already.

First Worker:
Have you seen how his hand starts to twitch when he talks about money?

Second Worker:
Uh, and way his eyes gleam.
Hey, what do you say we, er -

First Worker:
But we've taken our usual share already.

Second Worker:
He's getting greedier, why shouldn't we? It's not like he pays us more than a pittance.

First Worker:
Huh, you're right. He'll never be the wiser.

Two Sarafan guards, one each side of a Ward Gate:

First Sarafan Guard:
What's the news? Is it -

Second Sarafan Guard:
It is. Your wish is granted Serge, vampires have attacked the Slum station. All the Wards in the area are down. You'll be facing the vampires at last.

First Sarafan Guard:
They're certain it's vampires?

Second Sarafan Guard:
Use your wits. Ward Gates only stop vampires. Why would a human shut them down?

First Sarafan Guard:
Well, they could be humans working for vampires.

Second Sarafan Guard:
You're right. There's a house on the next street I've had my eye on. A widow lives there.

First Sarafan Guard:
With three daughters. Yes, I know the place.

Second Sarafan Guard:
Those girls could be traitors. They could be working for vampires.

First Sarafan Guard:
Or selling goods on the black market.

Second Sarafan Guard:
We should go question them. It's our duty.

First Sarafan Guard:
And do some... searching?

Second Sarafan Guard:
Thorough searching. I'll pass the word to the next station.

A man and woman talking about art outside the theater:

Man:
Simply fantastic. Their use of imagery mixed with impressionistic neo-modernism was simply breathtaking.

Woman:
I like the colors.

Man:
Well yes, yes. But what was really stunning was the pathos of the protagonist. The way he couldn't decide whether to allow fate to sweep him forward, or if he should thwart destiny's cruel hand.

Woman:
Oh yes, that was interesting.

Man:
It reminds me of Sergio's use of deus ex machina in order to resolve dilemmas of the ego.

Woman:
I'm hungry.

Man:
Yes, yes.

A Sarafan Guard who warns Kain if he gets too close to a Glyph box:

Sarafan Guard:
Back away from the switch.

A vendor shouting the news shortly before Kain encounters Sebastian. He repeats all or part of it over and over:

Vendor:
Breaking news!
Dark stalkers prey on the innocent!
Four bodies found!
The streets no longer safe for women and children!
Lock your doors, bar your windows!

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