<strong>Infinite Sky</strong><br/><br/>As you work your way up to the second floor, you find yourself in a long hallway lined with doors. This floor of the Harlot's Crotch is made up of several rooms that Ivory Hammer rents out to patrons who would like a little privacy. A night's stay costs a pretty penny, but in exchange the bar's employees provide their services for menial tasks (room service, laundry, minor errands, not prostitution), and clean up any messes left when the patron leaves, with no questions asked. As such, the rooms are often used for liaisons of a sexual nature, but not exclusively so.<br/><br/>Across the hall, you reach the stairs to the third floor, leading to another hallway. Across the hall are stairs leading further up, to the living quarters of Ivory Hammer and his family, and only one door lies in between both sets of stairs. Pushing it open, you find yourself in what amounts to a large suite that makes up the rest of the third floor of the tavern. This room is used for the same purposes as those on the floor below, but has enough space for a large group of people to conduct their business, or for a couple of people to "liaise" on a variety of flat surfaces with comfort to spare.<br/><br/>The suite is nicely furnished. The entrance leads to a sitting/dining room, with a large round table with wooden chairs set near the far right corner from the entrance, while the far left corner of the room is dominated by a sitting area made up of couches and plush armchairs around a square coffee table, all sitting over a fancy-looking rug with an intricate pattern. Against the wall between the two stands a polished wooden armoire, the top cabinet open and decorated with flower arrangements, decorative vases and other trinkets.<br/><br/>On the right hand wall, closest to the entrance, sits a large wooden chest, which was currently closed and locked with a large steel padlock. Ivory Hammer usually provides the suite's renter with key for it, so they can use it for safekeeping. Finally, to the left of the entrance, a large rectangular cabinet took up most of the wall, lined with three rows and files of long drawers, with flowers and other decorations similar to those found in the armoire sitting on it.<br/><br/>Between the cabinet and the sitting area was a door leading to the bedroom, which consisted of a large bed, a wardrobe and dresser sitting on opposite walls, and two nightstands on either side of the bed. A final door next to the dresser led to a pristine bathroom, which held a tub large enough for several people to comfortably bathe.<br/><br/>The suite was, it seemed empty. You were the first to arrive, apparently even before your gracious host.<br/><br/><strong>Beacon</strong><br/><br/>Making your way to the third floor suite, you find an azure-haired beauty wearing an exquisite floor-length cape of seemingly pure white silk, rimmed at the top by a golden, too golden, necklace that served as its clasp. Elaborate golden patterns decorate the cape like a tapestry, depicting a mandala of golden streaks of sunlight centered on the back.<br/><br/>Perhaps this was Perfected Orchid, your mysterious benefactor?<br/><br/><strong>Curious Eyes of Endless Insight</strong><br/><br/>As Ivory Hammer brought your ale, the two workers continued to discuss the Council murders, mentioning the names of the dead Councilors. Ephiselle the Midnight Queen and Pellicia the Dawn Sergeant were found together, their nude bodies stitched together in a suggestive macabre embrace, lying on a bed of their own blood and organs. Hayle, the Midday Husband, was dismembered and used to redecorate an ornate mural he had commissioned which had recently been finished at the Plaza of Rebirth, his head used as the crowning piece of the work of art.<br/><br/>Master Gen, Minister of Ways, was found to have died of exsanguination, the official books of the city's taxes and other tariffs that had been piled under his body were ruined by his blood. Finally, the pieces of Kratz, the Astrologer, were used to form an astrological chart on the stone floor of her home, the reading of which predicted death and misfortune for all of Nexus.<br/><br/>At this point, the two men notice Curious listening into their conversation. One of them stood up, striding angrily to the one-armed scavenger, and slammed his palm roughly against the bar next to the silver haired man's ale. "Oi, Lefty. Me an' my body are trying to have a friendly conversation here, and we don't appreciate you eavesdroppin'. You wanna take yer drink and find somewhere else to sit and mind yer own business, or do we have a problem?"<br/><br/><strong>Shines Brightly</strong><br/><br/>Once the two of you rose to the second floor and out of sight of the general clientele, Cynis Lalewira dropped her arrogant veneer and became wary, proceeding slowly in front of you to ensure no enemies burst out from within the rooms. When the two of you made it to the next set of stairs, she climbed the first and offered her hand to you, smiling as she guided you up the stairs dutifully. Lalewira entered the third floor suite first, noticing the two individuals already inside, one of whom was armed with Hook Daiklaves, but did not seem otherwise hostile When neither of the two immediately attacked, the Dynast turned to Shine and nodded, stepping to one side to allow her mistress into the room.<br/><br/><strong>Widow of the Morning Star</strong><br/><br/>The smaller young man and the large mercenary both stop cold, entranced by your inhuman beauty. The younger man blushes as you tell your story, his cheeks becoming deep red as he merely stutters unintelligibly. "Hah!" Mighty Tiger laughed, still holding the boy by his hair. "This little pipsqueak ruined you for other men? Don't make me laugh, beautiful. You just haven't had a real man. How 'bout after I deal with this kid you and I rent a room upstairs and I can show you what a real stud is like?"<br/><br/>Though the dark-skinned mercenary is somewhat disappointed as you ignore his proposal and leave, he isn't at all deterred from teaching the kid a lesson.<br/><br/>Once you reached the third floor suite and your dutiful vassal announces the entrance of the Widow of the Morning Star, you see four individuals are already waiting inside.<br/><br/><strong>Sapphire Dusk</strong><br/><br/>"Hrm, how is it you still think your wiles work on me, Dusk? Just 'cause ya snagged my wife once doesn't mean you can rope me in so easily." Ivory Hammer grunted back deadpanly, collecting the coins and serving her drink. Ivory's son and daughter who were both tending the bar noticed Dusk's kiss and each thought it was made solely for them, causing them to blush and smile bashfully at the chocolate-skinned beauty.<br/><br/>After witnessing the exotic individuals making their way upstairs, the lovely criminal's decision to retire herself from the game was probably for the best, as the other players became fairly discontent over losing to her continually. "Long as nobody I care about is up there... that woman likes to wreck the place every time she brings a group up there, and I don't care to know exactly what she gets up to in there as long as it doesn't end with my wife or children doing the walk of shame out of the room." The old man replied calmly after serving Dusk her drink, barely looking up from the glass he was cleaning. "Was bad enough when you did the walk with my wife." He added snidely, smirking at the pretty thief, as she kissed his cheek and his silvery beard tickled her chin.<br/><br/><strong>Fyr</strong><br/><br/>The arrogant, tanned man with red hair who bumped into you was all but surprised when you grabbed his arm with more force than would be expected from such a pretty girl, causing him to wince from the pain of your hold. Fear takes over his eyes as he gulps at your threat, clearly intimidated by the forceful hold and the harsh tone. This tall, slim man, it seemed, was not much of a fighter. "Y-yes ma'am." He mumbled nervously, nodding respectfully before fleeing.<br/><br/>Once you enter the third floor suite, you find there are already five people inside, all fairly distinct individuals. Shortly after you enter, a bipedal lizard with scales of black and purple, wearing only a loincloth and a tiny fortune in jewelry, comes into the room and greets the blue-haired woman amicably.