As the two men enter they are confronted by a young man who comes out, initially angry but stops short. With translation he asks, "What is this? I was told Aetherius was here. Are you his grandson? Memberships do not transfer. He had commitments to provide instruction and nobody has seen him in over a year."
Aetherius replies back through the translator. "Yes, I'm his grandson. My grandfather's health has been declining and he hasn't been able to provide instruction unfortunately. He still hopes to get better and come back, but he's sent me here instead since he can't. I'd like to join the guild and find fellow treasure hunters to mount my first expedition."
The young man considers "Well you need to meet the Emir, obviously. It might be easier to join someone else's expedition for your first time out than try and recruit others from the guild to join you, though of course we can point you in the direction of people you can hire to support your expedition if that is the route you wish to take." He escorts Aetherius to a room draped in silk with a gold plated chair where a young man likely in his early 20's sits eating, and introduces you, though obviously in the native language. The emir simply nods his ascent and asks whether the dues that you paid were for your grandfather or yourself.
Aetherius will have a courteous bow to the emir. "My dues."
While Aetherius is doing important work with the Seekers, Plasmatoris has decided to start studying the local architecture and artistic design. He is surprised by the inevitable lack of sculpture, but quite enthralled by what he considers some very unique architectural decisions. He will make sure grog is with him when he starts poking around (Intending to stay near the Mercere house) but rapidly stops paying attention to where the Grog is.
If he can study the architecture and art without leaving the Mercere house directly, that would be safer for him, of course.
The Emir nods "and is your grandfather not going to be rejoining the guild?"
"He will, if his health improves. Once his health improves, he would say, but it's difficult for me to tell if I'm as optimistic as he is. I pray."
"Then welcome, and may our partnership be as profitable to everyone as your grandfather's was."
"Thank you for your kind welcome."
Assuming the meeting with the emir is done, Aetherius will ask the young man to point him in the direction of people who may be hired, or may be looking for partners, as he suggested earlier.
"Those who may be hired are not in the guild itself, but I can make recommendations" as he lists off 4 individuals you "should talk to" who are not there, including their addresses. The people looking for partners all have expeditions planned and researched, though not fully financed, all of which would take the better part of a season to undertake.
Aetherius will thank him and proceed to visit the adresses of the contacts.
As you head outside you find the rest of the magi who have been waiting for nearly an hour as you took off with the only translator.
Yes, obviously we're going together.
OOC: I think this is where we introduce Bartomeus' companion.
When Aetherius finally returns, Plasmatoris has wandered his way down the block a bit, and is standing at the joint of two buildings. He's very, very focused on the line where it's obvious (to him) that there was a quality drop in the construction between one wall and the next.
Aetherius heads to visit one of the contacts, Khufu Al Alqazar, at the address given to him at the guild. @Bartomeus
A grizzled man, wrapped in desert robes, steps forward from the shadows near the doorway to the house at the address. He speaks in Arabic.
"What do you want?"
Aetherius looks at the man, sizing him for a moment, as he speaks, assisted with the translator. "Are you Khufu Al Alqazar? I'm here from the seekers."
"Did the Seekers tell you to come here to speak to the Qaid?" asks the grizzled older man.