When you first met Raed, the first thing you noticed was her ruined teeth; children from the slums often have poor dentition. But the courteous bow as she left, the appraising glance when she entered your residence, the calm way she trod the velvet carpet—most slaves and commoners balk at stepping on such expense their first time. Who is she, really? Why hide her origins? And this deliberately savage, coarse demeanor—could it be a disguise as well?

A young lady of good birth who hides herself, alters her looks, and shuns the nobility—why? Prompted by a hint, you searched the files on noble inheritance disputes... and eventually turned your attention to the Sultan.

In a dust-caked tower of parchments, the conquests of the current Supreme Sultan's father were recorded in detail... You skimmed, wondering how it might connect to Raed, until a passage seized your attention. When the palace gate fell, the queen of the fallen kingdom fled through a hidden passage; but one noble lady-in-waiting betrayed her, revealing her escape route to the Sultan's army. Thus favored, the traitor became a consort in the new court—climbing to a golden bed over her mistress's corpse. More chilling still was her ultimate fate... When the present Sultan ascended the throne, he inherited all his father's women. Those too old to be of use were simply executed. "Afterwards, the Sultan struck off the heads of these women's children as well, tallying them by night. Some claim the count did not match the number of princes and princesses registered; though there is no evidence and the story is likely a rumor." You held the brittle, yellowed scrolls for a long time. Beyond a sigh, there was nothing you could do.

Conditions:

• Slot #2 = 1

You sounded out a few familiar street toughs about the vagrants and Raed; they had plenty of tales to tell. The vagrants did not act violently on their own; they "helped" wherever nedded in exchange for payment. Some hardly looked like vagrants at all—literate, well-mannered, able to play instruments, with soft, uncalloused skin. Raed gathered them from the streets and sent them across the city. Their earnings were pooled; when wronged, they retaliated together. Each life was as fragile as a thin hemp strand—but Raed twisted these strands into a rope strong enough to fight fate.

They also mentioned something odd: the vagrants knew a truly elegant lady, noble as a princess, who had on more than one occasion appeared from nowhere to rescue them when cornered by nobles.

Conditions:

• Slot #3 = 1

To inquire after a beauty, the best source is Nabhani. Of course he knew—a mysterious lady who had stood up for vagrants... He had even helped them thrash a bribery-demanding guard because of her! What? That woman might be Raed in disguise? Nabhani peered at Raed's face from the shadows...

"I see it! She smeared clay on the cheekbones to look sturdier, dirtier, and tousled her hair on purpose. And under the eyes... but the most crucial part—her teeth! She actually fitted herself with fake rotten teeth! How did she even do that? Gods—I spent days just tying to get her to smile once!"

Conditions:

• Slot #4 Has Card = Nabhani

Result:

• Clean Slot #1: 1

Action:

• Enable Event: Unpleasant spying

To inquire after a lower-born woman, the best place is the House of Delights. Madam Buthayna knew Raed well enough: the girl seemed to come from nowhere, and at first she had a noble air, with great beauty; Buthayna wanted her to work there. But the moment she asked, Raed flatly refused. After that, Raed made herself look ugly and drew close to the vagrants. "You know this: a beauty needs fine teeth to smile properly, to charm men for money properly... but she stuck things on her teeth—thin ceramic slivers begged from potters—so her mouth looked like a natural set of dog fangs! Hah, she's wasting her looks. If she'd listened to me, she'd be draped in gold by now, with money to burn!"

She cursed Raed viciously, while deftly sounding out whether [s4.name] might return to work... guaranteed profit!

Conditions:

• Slot #4 Has Tag (Prostitute) = 1

Result:

• Clean Slot #1: 1

Action:

• Enable Event: Unpleasant spying

To inquire after a lower-born woman, the best place is the House of Delights. Madam Buthayna knew Raed well enough: the girl seemed to come from nowhere, and at first she had a noble air, with great beauty; Buthayna wanted her to work there. But the moment she asked, Raed flatly refused. After that, Raed made herself look ugly and drew close to the vagrants. "You know this: a beauty needs fine teeth to smile properly, to charm men for money properly... but she stuck things on her teeth—thin ceramic slivers begged from potters—so her mouth looked like a natural set of dog fangs! Hah, she's wasting her looks. If she'd listened to me, she'd be draped in gold by now, with money to burn!"

She cursed Raed viciously, while, with a deft hand, lifting a sum of coin from your purse.

Conditions:

• Slot #4 Has Tag (Gold Coin) = 5

Result:

• Clean Slot #1: 1

Action:

• Enable Event: Unpleasant spying