'If there's a thing worth doing, it's worth doing well' an ancient proverb proclaimed. There was no place where it applied better than in Essyrn. The ancient empire lost most of its land, but retained its keen and exacting eye. Few wondered why it still dictated the flow and direction of world economy - it accepted nothing but the absolute best, no Merchant Prince achieved or kept her position by offering goods of subpar quality. The competition was cut-throat, frequently literally, and manipulations on the market could easily be compared to the dangers of noble courts.
And he wouldn't have it any other way. Even before he took this name, Eltanin ash-Shiliyaq lived his life according to the principle of the ancient proverb. He always preferred to regret having done something than the alternative. The Mosaic Reverie was his great pride and joy, and while he couldn't deny that there was a sentimental edge to his feeling, most of it was well-founded. He didn't just own one gambling den among many, this palace of fortune was to become Essyrn's prime house of entertainment. He's already hired and fired most of the builder guilds, purchased decorations that were sure to amaze even the Merchant Princes and surveyed the entirety of the slave market to find just the best staff. Nothing but the complete perfection would satisfy his ambition.
It gave him no small amount of pride that the opening day was a subject hotly talked about even before he announced the date. He even took the liberty of sending personalised invitations to the Merchant Princes. While some would definitely consider this to be an act of an arrogant upstart who was forgetting his place, it was something he didn't expect to bring him too much trouble. The elites of Essyrn were very busy, and only few prized their pride over their reason to the point that they would rather waste resources on punishing him rather than acting against a rival. And Eltanin enjoyed making those invitations. There was quite a lot of fun to be found in arranging what he knew about the movers and shakers of the desert city to create the desired effect. It could be compared to a puzzle, if puzzle pieces constantly changed.
The positive reply he received was quite unexpected, but he could allow himself the luxury of surprise, as he was alone in his study whilst breaking the seal on the scroll. A Merchant Prince visiting as early as the opening day was sure to raise the prestige of Mosaic Reverie even higher. He instructed his staff to prepare a place of honour for this esteemed guests. It was definitely worth it to hire some mercenaries to waylay a caravan of wines and steal the cargo. All was fair in love, war, and Essyrni business.
He glanced out of the window, a smile gracing his lips at the sight of the crowds waiting for the great opening. This would be the night to remember. He put a great amount of thought into everything, including his manner of dress. While he had a preference, he was willing to sacrifice it for the sake of Mosaic Reverie's prosperity. His coat was long enough to trail on the floor - impractical, but acceptable, as there would not be a single speck of dirt to stain it. Cut out of midnight blue damask heavily embroidered in traditional Essyrn style, in intricate geometric patterns, it was perhaps too tame for his taste, but it would be bad form for a host to try to outshine his guests. Beneath it he wore a pair of long billowing pants, almost covering his boots entirely. His shirt was almost too simple, pure white fabric with no adornments. It was a good, stylish choice - while his wardrobe was full of more colourful choices, too rich an outfit would appear garish and gaudy. It was a good background for the rest of his ensemble - and the immaculate snow shade was just as clear indication of wealth - too easy to stain.
Of course, fabric and thread were just a part of the greater whole. He had the jewellery to match, each piece chosen with as much care and effort as everything else. His left wrist was encircled by a delicate golden bracelet, a weave of gems and metal - a rather modest decoration, catching one's gaze but not holding it. Much bolder was the brooch in front of his coat, a filigree of gold holding a bed of leaf-shaped boulder opals. Upon it lay a smattering of pearls of different shapes and sizes; at a first glance they seemed chaotic and crude, but held a more complex beauty.
A recent fashion fad in Essyrn saw the rise of ear cuffs. As it was a young industry, Eltanin did not have as much to choose from, but still managed to make a choice that satisfied him. His right earlobe was cradled by a lattice of gold, shaped like a small fairy with wide, glowing blue wings. The final pick was a ring resting on his finger, a masterwork mosaic that alone would be worth wearing, but it concealed a greater beauty. Beneath a glass shaped like a cut gem lay a tiny miniature city, its domes and palaces a perfect rendition of one of Essyrn's districts. While Eltanin was certainly the kind of a man who would like to have the whole world in his hand, this evening he would settle for less.
He sauntered down the stairs, his gaze aligned towards the front door. It was time for the grand opening. This shall be a night to remember.
