What else would you ask? Why I've fallen this far? What I plan to do next? Do you realize how condescending those questions sound? For those who roll in the dirt, the past moment hardly matters, and the next matters even less. What matters is the present—only the present. The past is a curse, the future a burden; all we can do is seize what little joy we can, here and now. Perhaps, when I have a moment to breathe, I'll think about the rest. Of course, this silver tongue of mine—these turns of phrase that pique your curiosity—also come from that old tale...

Yes. I am the daughter of Consort Gosama. The favor she earned by betraying Consort Megiana lasted only a few times. In our fallen kingdom there had been but one queen; she never learned the intrigues needed to hold a king's love. The new Sultan's harem, however, was lavish—stocked from courtesans to princesses. Still, my mother had a bit of luck: by the time she conceived me, the Sultan already had several offspring. So this child, me, was spared the potion and the knife. And since I was a girl, he hardly took notice. To him, daughters were gifts yet to be given... My mother despaired over my future. She was forever reciting the rules of a proper lady: a lady must do this, must not do that. Scrub your teeth thrice a day with bark to keep them white; fix the hair at your temples with warm water and resin, and turn your head slowly so the strand's shadow falls just right upon your cheek; reveal just enough skin—the waist first, then the neck, then the breast—but never the ankles. Never. Strange, isn't it? She's been dead for years, and I can still recite every word. I forced myself to remember, because it made her happy. My mother was rarely happy... Truly, had she fled with Megiana and lived, she would have been far happier than she ever was beside the Sultan. Even if that meant I would never have been born—I would still... ahem.

When the Supreme Sultan began slaughtering his father's women and their children, some old eunuchs smuggled me out. They hated my mother, for they remembered how good Queen Megiana had been. But they could not bear to watch me die. I had been raised in the fallen kingdom's rites—the last trace of a land they mourned. So they found a dead child beyond the walls, swapped her for me, and hid me in a rubbish cart out of the palace. They did it before my mother's eyes on purpose. They thought saving me while leaving her to die was a cruel sort of vengeance—but she wept thanks and praised them by the names of stars. In the end everyone was crying. It was the day I shed more tears than any moment in my life. I did have some property—a small residence, a few loyal relics of the former court who wished to care for me... but I refused to grow up alone in shadows. I abandoned it all to live among those who needed me. I imagined what it would be to be a prostitute's child... or a child born to no one. And so I made myself "Raed". I have been quite happy these years. Being a vagrant is freer than being a princess.

You know the rest—and I think you've heard enough street stories. That's all. I'm tired.

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Raed
• Slot #1 Has Tag (Token of Friendship) = 1

Action:

• Counter (7000794): Add 1

What else would you ask? Why I've fallen this far? What I plan to do next? Do you realize how condescending those questions sound? For those who roll in the dirt, the past moment hardly matters, and the next matters even less. What matters is the present—only the present. The past is a curse, the future a burden; all we can do is seize what little joy we can, here and now. Perhaps, when I have a moment to breathe, I'll think about the rest.

Here Raed wore a pitiable expression, tears glistening, lending extra weight to her words. Perhaps she had been trained once to gull men so. Yet behind the tears was a numb gaze that said: true or not, you will never reach her inner world.

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Raed
• Not Slot #1 Has Tag (Token of Friendship) = 1

Action:

• Counter (7000794): Add 1

You told Sirshana all of Raed's story. His mother was entangled in it; you felt he had the right to know. He remained silent for a long time, then bowed to you, deeply.

You said nothing more, and parted.

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Roaming Swordsman
• Counter (7000546) ≥ 1

Action:

• Counter (7000794): Add 1
• Enable Event: Deathmatch

A Roaming Swordsman happened to hear you mention Consort Gosama, and the mercenary showed startling interest...

After he tried to steal the token by night, you resigned yourself to telling him Raed's tale. Perhaps that was a mistake. He seemed to grasp much at once—and left your residence without a word.

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Roaming Swordsman
• Counter (7000546) < 1

Action:

• Counter (7000794): Add 1
• Enable Event: Deathmatch