Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Verasaille on 31-07-2017, 21:57:00</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>31-07-2017, 21:57:00</strong>
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				(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e0/d8/09/e0d8099306a40e6665b3de37ccf0a0f9.jpg)<br><br><strong>Crescent City, Kingdom of Tiwaz</strong><br><br>The city of Crescents, it was called, mainly because it composed of a half circle of terraces that led to the open plains and the river Thangris valley. The upper terraces were dug out of the cliffs and hillsides overlooking the Sowilo Sea. The nobles and upper class lived there. WIth walled complexes and guarded gates. Servants of the nobles were often housed there in the complex in separate buildings. The estates were well tended by gardeners, and guards patrolled the streets. <br><br>Cobblestone streets were the norm on this side of town. Winding in a switchback pattern around estates and past the opulent Palace of the Duke of Thornwall. Carriages would rattle along the streets at almost all hours. The tree lined streets had magical lamps that came on at sunset and went out with the rise of the sun in the morning.<br><br>The Duke, Harval Winchester, was an elderly gent with a few heirs who could hardly wait for him to pass on. His wife the, Lady Janine, seemed almost as eager, as she was far younger and had her eyes on younger replacements. He had two sons, Harval, Jr., and Jasok, who was the youngest. His two daughters, Melora and Sybil, were old enough to be wed soon and talk was that the Earl of Templeton had put forth his son Nathir for eldest, Melora, while Sybil had decided to go into the Sisters of Mercy Monastery and study as a Priestess. They did not expect any problem with the older son inheriting the title of Duke. <br><br>The city itself was a huge bustling merchant trade center. The docks on the ocean side of the city were busy night and day. Huge cranes sat on the docks to load and unload cargo in the many merchant ships coming and going from all along the southern coast. Huge warehouses were always being filled and emptied, making the merchants rich, and in turn, the Duke.<br>Nobles had various functions, most of them founding their respective trade houses on specific goods, like the grain and agricultural goods, owned by House Farstead, being shipped down the Thangris River to the port and from there to other ports. <br><br>Mines in the distant but visible mountains to the north sent barges of ore, mostly iron, tin and copper. House Brighton controlled the mining industry. Sometimes a barge brought in rare metals in smaller containers mixed in with the common ore. It was a happy day for most when a barge made it downriver with gold or silver. Mithril was so rare it made the gossip in Court nearly explode in excitement. That was of course if the merchant selling it cared to inform the Tax Collector.<br><br>A great many smaller Houses tried to combine many of the exotic trades, like gems, artifacts, and textiles from other parts of the continent. It was a risky venture to send either ships to the other countries past the borders and somewhere on the charts, or to send caravans to the interior, where sometimes bandits and other enemies of the Kingdom awaited a chance to strike.<br><br>Next to the nobles on a lower tier of the terrace were the merchant houses. Most of them built of stone and mortar, with elegant wood trim and fenced yards not quite as fancy as the nobles. Here the streets were still cobblestone, but not as well kept as the upper streets. Smaller lot sizes and sometimes crowded together to make it hard to tell where one property left off and another began. Here there were smaller businesses like the Dew Drop Inn could set up to cater to the wealthy, merchants and nobles alike would use it as a meeting place.<br><br>There were barber shops, clothing shops with tailors, a small market square for local produce and trade goods, and quite a few homes scattered about. It was dubbed the Gerswin Square, and was a place where the more genteel of the merchants could congregate and shop.<br><br>The lower levels of the city were bordering the docks. Here the not so wealthy set up crowded housing that often shared walls and yards. Noisy and crowded most of the time, it was more squalid the closer it got to the docks.<br><br>There was a very large and bustling area named the Market Square right next to the docks. Here the goods arriving from ships and barges could be bought and sold. Many taverns, inns and craftsmens shops were set up, including the Blacksmiths and the leather tanners and crafters. Business was good here, if a bit hectic.<br><br>In all of this was an overtone of corruption. Nothing unusual, just that bribery, clandestine meetings and&nbsp; even the occasional assassination between warring Houses was common. There was an established City Guard, headed by a Captain, who answered to the Duke. There was a Justicar who held court to judge the criminals and sentence them. There was no such thing as a jury or peers. Though it was sometimes easy for the Justicar to be bribed, he was also subject to public opinion and was mostly a fair and open minded man, appointed by the Duke.<br><br>In the Harbor District, Admiral Sutherland kept his fleet of Royal Navy ships ready to repel foreign invaders and pirates. His flagship, the Pomeroy, was a three masted warship with 110 cannon. He also had everything from 80 gun frigates to 40 gun sloops that would patrol the various sea lanes within twenty miles of the port.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 01:23:37</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/32/62/e6/3262e6539ba306aaa178b6396abadd3d--auburn-hair-colors-hair-colours.jpg)</div> The late afternoons in the Dew Drop Inn were often busy. So much so that Hani Silverthorn would have to work hard to serve all the merchants and nobles who frequented the tavern section to discuss 'business' with their friends and sometimes enemies. She worked beside four other waitstaff who bustled between bar, kitchen and dining room with remarkable efficiency.<br><br>Tips were good, and the patrons often let slip important facts and secrets they were not careful enough to hide. Hani had excellent hearing, and she was always surreptitious enough to be pouring water, clearing tables nearby or just plain checking on the customers as they chatted. They accepted her fast friendly service and ignored her for the most part. The things she heard would often get passed to others who were keenly aware of her ability to find out things none of them could catch themselves. It made her a very effective agent, dealing in secrets and information. She also had occasion to visit the manor homes when the wealthy were away on business or pleasure. Then she would collect some of their well hidden treasures. Often she replaced the gems she stole with glass replicas. <br><br>Her fence would gladly take the real gems and give her a good amount of gold for them. She had a running account at the Pawn shop, where she would bring in the gems and exchange them for gold. Sometimes, as it happened this last evening, she found something so mind boggling, that she knew it was not an ordinary treasure. The fool noble who had it locked in his safe was not a mage. If he had been smart, he would have sold the extremely rare basilisk heart to the Elves himself. The blood red crystal was a conduit for mana. It would give a mage almost unlimited power, with the side effect of nearly driving the wielder insane. <br><br>(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/38/c2/c338c2aec35589e9105c787dc9b2c32a.jpg)<br><br>Hani had the gem in her upstairs apartment now, locked in her own foolproof safe. She had sent word to her fence that she had an extraordinary find to sell and wanted a meeting with the Elven contact.<br><span style="font-family: comic sans ms;" class="bbc_font"><strong>I have found a rare crystal. It is so rare I know that a Mage would pay a huge amount of gold to possess it. I offer it to you first. I am sure you know how much a Basilisk heart is worth? I need to meet with you soon to discuss price.</strong></span><br><br>Whether the agent would agree to meet with her, she did not know. She watched the door for a messenger. He knew where to find her and to be discrete. Meanwhile, the patrons of the Inn demanded all her attention. When the evening finally grew quieter, she took a break and sat in a corner with her back to the wall. This corner was right next to the kitchen and was where all the staff went to relax. Her father Sirus Silverthorn, peered out of the kitchen and spied her sitting down. He smiled at his beautiful daughter and then ducked back into the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with a plate of food. She had not had time to eat before the dinner rush, and he had felt bad about it. <br><br>"So, you were out late last night. Is there someone you are seeing? A father wants to know." He was not angry, merely curious. He had been worried that she worked so hard and would never find a mate. Poor man was wanting grandchildren. Hani's mother had died several years ago, and they missed her dearly. He did the best he could for Hani, paying her a good salary and making sure she had a nice place to live. A large and imposing man, Sirus had retired from adventuring many years ago to settle down with his wife Madelyne. They had Hani only a year into their retirement and raised her to be a free spirited woman with boundless energy and some talents that most parents would never dream of imparting to their children. Like picking locks, using a grappling hook to climb to high places...those she had learned from her mother. From her father, a talent for using a bow and a sword as well as a dagger to defend herself.<br><br>Hani smiled at her father, enjoying the excellent stew he made and the fresh bread. "Father, you spoil me! You know I would never see anyone without you knowing about it. There is no one in my life right now. I am content to flirt and get large tips for being friendly. I am not one to sleep around like Mandy and Jill. They take too many chances doing that. I am holding out for someone special." She could not tell her father of the very few men in her life who had taken her virginity years ago, but never stayed around to offer more. She was not against an occasional dalliance. But she had not had a steady lover in over a year now, and she was not worried about it. The handsome Knight Captain of the Guard had been openly flirting with her since the first time he had come into the Inn. But he was cagey and coy, using her talents to gain information without revealing the sources. He had challenged her in a way she had not known before. It was outrageous fun to see how much she could flirt with him and tease without actually pursuing anything more. Like a cat and mouse, they exchanged innuendos, always teasing and never serious. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City - The Dew Drop Inn - IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 02:13:33</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/8niWq5o.jpg)</div>Prior to achieving his current title, the Dew Drop Inn would have been just a bit outside of Doryn Aelland's customary price-range but even so he'd paid a few visits to the well-placed establishment whenever he had a little extra silver floating around it his pockets. After earning his fortune and becoming a Noble, though, Sir Doryn Aelland the Knight-Captain of the Guard probably spent more time in the common room of the inne than his own offices. That wasn't to say that he was here all the time, of course, but rather to note that he didn't particularly enjoy spending much time locked away in his offices in the upper terraces.<br><br>Indeed, a goodly portion of the Northlanders time was spent outside of the city entire, on his Estate where he tended to any number of tasks ranging from raising his hounds to inspecting the extensive viticulture that was the source of a goodly portion of his personal wealth, or simply whiling away his time engaged in any number of more personal endeavors. (Which, for Doryn, was often but not always code for engaging in one of the newly minted Nobles many many affairs that were such a talk amongst the cities nobility.) Even when he <em>was</em> in the city, Doryn tended to have a much more hands-on relationship with the Guard, often accompanying them on important operations or otherwise 'getting his hands dirty'. He'd overseen a number of raids on various criminal hideouts and smugglers dens, apprehended no few wanted criminals personally, and otherwise made for himself a name as a steadfast champion of justice and the rule of law.<br><br>It was in the Dew Drop Inn, of course, that Doryn tended to earn his <em>other</em> reputation. The Knight-Captain of the Guard was a realist, who understood that his quest was a never-ending one and his <em>actual</em> duties were much more aligned toward "protecting the interests of the Nobility" as opposed to "defend the citizenry of the city." Which is to say, Sir Aelland was willing to operate behind the scenes when it was beneficial to him and he hadn't shied away from making shady agreements and backroom deals. Not so much that anything would be proven, of course, but enough to supplement his own small stipend that he recieves from the city and ensure that his own comfortable lifestyle is not put in danger via him getting into too much trouble with the wrong individual.<br><br>There were many reasons that the Dew Drop Inn was where Doryn went for such deals,--<br>--but <em>she</em> was central to most of those reasons, even though most who visited this place probably viewed has a simple bar maid.<br><br>They had a bit of a flirtation going on, of course, a subtle little back-and-forth that he found more than a bit enticing. There were so many reasons not to pursue the match, of course, ranging from her low birth to the fact that they were informal buisness partners. So, Doryn largely <em>hadn't</em> pursued it, even though he couldn't quite help keep himself from playing the game with her. Assuming it was a game, in any event, and not perhaps that she was the one whom he'd one day shock the city by actually marrying. There were bookies taking bets on who Sir Aelland would eventually wed, and he would be surprised if Hani wasn't <em>somewhere</em> on the board, though he didn't know what the odds were for any of the women that he openly favored.<br><br>...honestly, even he wouldn't be able to speak truthfully to whatever odds they'd have give her, for on this matter he simply <em>wasn't sure</em> and that was an unusual experience for the Northlander.<br><br><div align="center">~</div><br>There was no especial plan on his mind when Doryn walked into the Dew Drop on that evening, of course, no meeting with anyone nor any search for some wanted criminal.<br><br>As always when he visited, well,-- just about anywhere,-- Doryn was not alone. He <em>always</em> came with one of his "Honor Guard," and tonight was no exception. No, on this night, Sir Aelland had Meerika with him. She was one of the few women in the Guard, though anyone that thought of giving her trouble because of that soon found out that just because she was a member of the 'fairer sex' didn't mean that she'd hesitate for even a second before breaking their arm but she was usually well-behaved enough when she visited the Dew Drop. She'd sit down at the table with him, usually even have a drink or two, and refrain from hurting anyone too bad if they got drunk enough to mistake her for a barmaid.<br><br>...though how anyone could mistake a 5'7" woman, dressed in loose flowing light armor and a breastplate stamped with the crest of the Guard, a sword at her waist and a dagger stuck in one of her tall leather boots for one of the Dew Drop's rather delectable barmaids was a mystery that Doryn had never quite managed to solve. He imagined it involved imbibing quite a bit of alcohol. Thankfully, most of the staff knew Meerika by now, and they usually took some steps to keep anyone especially... handsy... away from the quick-tempered redhead.<br><br>(Really, even Doryn didn't know what Meerika looked like under all of her armor, and he'd given up any real attempt to find out. Misteps with Hani notwithstanding, he <em>tried</em> not a mix business and pleasure, and every single member of his Honor Guard knew more of their Captain's dirty little secrets than even Hani did...)<br><br>"Mercedes, dear, fetch myself and my companion a table in the private section upstairs and then tell Hani that I'm here?" he says, lightly, following the barmaid as she lead the way to the second floor. He didn't actually have any buisness here tonight, of course, but he wasn't rude enough to enter Hani's house without letting his buisness partner know that he was here. After all, just because he'd not <em>planned</em> on doing any buisness didn't mean that business wouldn't end up being done. "Thank you, my dear, you are an angel as always."<br><br>The compliment, of course, was eased as it reaches the girl by a handful of silver.<br><br>"I'm really not, sirrah, but it's nice that you think so," Mercedes said, giving him a wink and then hurrying off. No doubt to find Hani.<br><br>Doryn just chuckled, putting his feet up on the table and leaning back in his chair, glancing around the inne's private balcony and getting a feel for whom all was here tonight.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 06:55:07</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/25/48/27/25482718e4d3e4ff323d2d930caf1db9--character-creation-character-art.jpg)</div>"I trust you were satisfied, Lady Alista?"<br><br>The noblewoman was in the middle of securing the clasps of her dress when she heard Ethirdir ask his question, looking up to address him. The Elf was naked and stretched out partially across the length of his enormous and luxurious bed, though his modesty was covered by the sheets beneath which he had shared space with her not too long ago. If anything, the sly smile that he offered her was more alluring at that moment than his naked flesh, and she blushed noticeably as memories of their experience crossed her mind.<br><br>"I was, Lord Talion," she said with a sincere smile on her lips as she did her best to straighten her tangled brown hair. "I was...most satisfied. Honestly, I can't remember experiencing such a night in forever. You know how to treat a lady well, I must say."<br><br>"It wouldn't be right to do anything otherwise," Ethirdir said as he gently tapped a couple of his fingers on his hips, a set of thin yet expensive-looking rings still adorning his digits. "I can see you are in a hurry, so I won't keep you for much longer. My servant will see you out. Please give my regards to your husband, and let him know that I shall have his shipment of spice ready for him by week's end."<br><br>"He will be most pleased to hear that," Lady Alista said as she secured bunches of her hair with garish hair clips, using a nearby mirror to make herself look as presentable as possible. "I shall relay the information to him when I get home."<br><br>"Thank you," the Elf said. "And please feel free to stop by the next time your husband sends you out to do business. I shall make it worth your while."<br><br>The Lady's response was only another blush and a smile as she finished getting dressed and fixing her appearance. With one final formal bow she departed from the chamber, blowing Ethirdir a kiss before softly closing the door behind her, her satisfaction evident in her eyes and in her reluctance to leave.<br><br>Alone in his chamber, Ethirdir rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling that was adorned with a small chandelier composed of tiny glass pieces hand-made by Elvish glass-smiths. His own satisfied smile slowly melted away as he sighed. Another week, another flirtation cumulating into an evening with a beautiful lady. Last week had been the Lady DeVint, another noblewoman who at least didn't come with the baggage of being married. Before that, he had bedded a blacksmith who had worked on some metalwork for his business. And several others rounded out a list of ladies who had been all too eager to climb, nay, <em>jump</em> into his bed. In all honesty, it was getting a little tiresome.<br><br>He could remember a time when, back when he was still a successful but modest merchant without a Nobility title, he had to work to get ladies interested in him. Not that he wasn't handsome, of course - a look at his angular face, his pale green eyes his long red hair, and his angular facial features were very desirable, and that wasn't getting into his muscular frame built up by years of hands-on work as a merchant. But social status was a far more important variable than looks, and back then he had to learn how to properly flirt just to get someone's attention, building a well-deserved reputation as someone to keep an eye on when ladies were nearby. Nowadays, it felt too easy. He longed for something of a challenge, someone who would catch his eye but force him to work to get more than a wink and a smile. Seduction seemed to be a lost art in this city, and he lamented that decline, albeit more out of boredom than despair.<br><br>Ethirdir stared at the ceiling for a few moments longer before he turned away and looked to his bedside, his eyes falling upon a piece of parchment containing a message he had read several times since receiving it.&nbsp; He had read it so many times now that he could recite it from memory:<br><br><em>I have found a rare crystal. It is so rare I know that a Mage would pay a huge amount of gold to possess it. I offer it to you first. I am sure you know how much a Basilisk heart is worth? I need to meet with you soon to discuss price.</em><br><br>The message had been delivered to him by Theolin, one of the Elves he had put in charge of running important portions of his underground fencing network. Ethirdir had started fencing stolen goods as a means of supporting his merchant business, knowing full well that honest trade in a city as hostile as Crescent City would get him nowhere, but the side-business had proven too lucrative to give up once he had obtained his lesser Nobility title, and he had only expanded it over the past couple of years. Theolin ran much of the operation with several other coworkers and was considered one of Ethirdir's more trusted underlings, but whenever something came along that even he was unsure of, he gave it to his boss to decide.<br><br>Receiving word of one of his usual thief customers offering a Basilisk heart for sale definitely fit into that category.<br><br>Ethirdir was only mildly knowledgeable with the thief who had made the offer, only caring about the fact that she was good at her job and most likely wasn't lying about possessing such a rare gem. Basilisk hearts were indeed damned rare things, and anyone found to be in possession of one illegally was courting a lot of trouble. But to sell something like that in his fencing network to a Mage willing to keep the transaction under the table...the amount of gold just might be worth the risk.<br><br>He had spent most of the day since receiving that message debating whether or not to at least go to the thief's known favorite haunt and discuss a price with her, and looking at the curling edges of the parchment - caused by holding it so many times between his thin fingers - for the hundredth time finally convinced him to just go for it. After all, things had gotten fairly stale recently, so why not take a big gamble and see if it paid off? With a resolved look on his face he tossed the sheets off his naked frame and climbed out of bed, looking for something to wear for a night out on the town...but not too gaudy. He might be a Noble, but he refused to dress like a colorblind pantomime...<br><br><hr><br>Evening had covered the City in its twilight hues when Ethirdir arrived at the Dew Drop Inn, dressed in an expensive yet modest blue suit adorned with silver markings. A casual glance might make some people mistake the garment for a military uniform, but closer inspection would reveal it to be more ceremonial and Elvish in design than anything military-related. More attention had been paid to making his face look handsome and his hair clean as it draped across and behind his shoulders. Already he had gotten a few looks from some ladies - of all social classes - on his way to the inn, but he had ignored them with his focus on business this night. He didn't have an escort, because he never wanted one - he knew how to take care of himself, and besides, his logic suggested having an escort would make him look like even more of a worthwhile target to potential muggers.<br><br>Stepping inside the inn, he looked around for any signs of his contact, only realizing that he didn't know what she looked like. For all he knew, she wasn't here tonight, and he would never even notice. Still, their previous correspondence had made it clear that this was where she frequented, and if he ever wished to speak with her, this would be where he would find her. His fencing network had contacted her before, but this would be the first time he would meet with her personally.<br><br>Taking a seat in an empty booth, Ethirdir could now only sit back and wait and see if she would notice him and approach him. The signal of one of his Elvish employees being part of his fencing network was a silver brooch of a wild lily flower pinned on his chest, and Ethirdir indeed remembered to wear one. A maid stopped by to ask for his order, and he requested a bottle of their most expensive wine. If he was going to wait, he might as well drink the best that this place had to offer...
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 07:28:09</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/8niWq5o.jpg)</div>A large part of the reason that Doryn enjoys spending so much of his free time at the Dew Drop, of course, is the simple fact that you never know exactly who is going to be coming through the door. The modestly well-off Inn, tucked away in one of the most well-travelled sections of the Merchant's Tier just a short walk down from one of the grand staircases that provides access to the Noble's Terrace, the Dew Drop attracted folk from many different walks of life...<br><br>...he wasn't, however, expecting to see Lord Ethirdir Talion walk into his favorite little watering hole, however.<br><br>Two young, attractive somewhat-recently-minted Nobles who both had reputations as scandalously profligate with the wives and daughters of the upper classes... and, well, just about anyone else who was attractive enough to capture the wandering eye of either man. They weren't friends, and they didn't really <em>know</em> each other, but Doryn certainly knew <em>of</em> Ethirdir and respected the Merchant-Lord's wealth and especailly his taste in women. The latter demonstrated most especially by those occasions when they'd find themselves at the same social event, chasing after the same woman,-- competing for her affections. Really, it's the kind of thing that could create enemies of men in different circumstances, but Doryn didn't take his conquests particularly seriously and enjoyed the challenge. The impression that he'd gotten, on the handful of occasions when they'd found themselves in such competition, was that the Elf Lord rather enjoyed the added challenge.<br><br>"Meerika," he said softly, getting the attention of his fair-haired companion. "Head down to the booth where Lord Tallion has sat himself and offer to let him join me at my table. I'll even buy the wine."<br><br>It didn't really occur to him, not in the moment that he made the offer, that offering the invitation would result in the Elf meeting Hani...<br><br>...if it had, maybe he wouldn't have extended the offer, for as much as he tried to keep her at arm's length... <em>well</em>.. Maybe he wouldn't have extended the offer.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 08:31:25</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/32/62/e6/3262e6539ba306aaa178b6396abadd3d--auburn-hair-colors-hair-colours.jpg)</div>Normally, when Hani took a break, she was able to relax and take a load off her feet. Tonight, however, things took a curious turn. Her father went back into the kitchen to facilitate clean up for the evening, and Hani sipped a glass of wine. She smiled when Merci let her know that Doryn had come in. She was not expecting the Knight Captain, but she was always glad to see him. Grinning with anticipation, she slipped into the kitchen to use the back stairs to go to her room. <br><br>There she changed into her white silk blouse and tightly laced black velvet corset. A full skirt with a delightful black and silver pattern went on next, then she slipped on her high heeled black boots. This was a carefully put together outfit, designed to wow Sir Doryn, and anyone else who saw her. This time of the night, it was the entertainment that kept the customers coming in, and Hani was feeling frisky enough to dance. Forgetting her aching feet for the time being, she fixed her hair to let the long red waves cascade down her back. A repair to her make up and refreshing of her lipstick, and she grinned at herself in the mirror. Not forgetting the spritz of rose water and rinsing her mouth out with a mint infused water to make her breath sweet, she bounced out of her room and down the steps to the upper balcony.<br><br>There was a moment when she paused to gaze over the customers below, so she would not seem too eager. To her surprise, she saw Meerika talking to an Elf. Not just any Elf, but the stunningly handsome Lord Talion! When had he decided to grace the Dew Drop Inn? Hani was stunned for a moment and forgot that she had been heading for Sir Aelland's table. It was when she noticed the pin on Lord Talion's jacket that she nearly lost it. He is the one who would be looking at the basilisk heart? This was most interesting...and a bit concerning. She could not openly talk to the Elf with Sir Aelland around. He might know of her illicit activities, but he never mentioned them, preferring to ignore it as inconsequential.<br><br>Biting her lips in consternation, Hani turned to glance at Sir Doryn, and smiled. She would get through this...she had to remain calm and just be herself. Strolling over to his table, she smirked. "Can't stay away from me, hmmm? You know the whole town is gossiping about all your conquests. It is fun to spread the gossip. Tell me, who are you after tonight? Some scoundrel who is trying to incite the Merchant's Guild to boycott the Elven Market?"&nbsp; Sashaying around the table to come around behind him and whisper into his ear. "Or maybe you are looking to entice Mercedes into your bed?" Her hands rested on his shoulders as she gently began massaging those tense muscles. She knew he would tease her in return. It was the subtle game they played.<br><br>Her mind shifted to trying to figure a way to talk to the Elf without Doryn knowing about it. "Are you here for business or pleasure tonight, my handsome Knight? Would you like me to arrange a private room for you?" At least that way she could slip out and speak to the Elf. She would have to offer the same to the Elf of course. Or at least let him know it was she who needed to meet with him privately.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>01-08-2017, 23:35:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/25/48/27/25482718e4d3e4ff323d2d930caf1db9--character-creation-character-art.jpg)</div>Ethirdir didn't have long to wait before he was approached by a young woman, though it was the last person he expected. Just as the serving girl brought a tall and lanky bottle of a deep red wine and placed it on the table with an empty wine glass, who should appear by his table but Meerika, a soldier whom he knew more by association with someone else that the Elf knew only slightly better?<br><br>The woman made no motion to sit down with him, suggesting she had a specific reason to stop by that wouldn't take long. Ethirdir smiled warmly at her just the same, pleased by the company. It didn't even cross his mind whether she might be his contact - from what little he did know of her, she didn't fit the type to him.<br><br>"Meerika," he said, speaking to her as if he had known her all his life - it was a good way of lowering the defenses of a new acquaintance, in his experience. "It is a pleasure to see you. I trust you are well? But pray tell, where is your beloved Knight-Captain of the Guard? Usually when I see you, he is right by your side."<br><br>"That is why I stopped by here, my Lord," Meerika said simply. "Knight-Captain Doryn is sitting at a booth right over there..." She pointed out where her superior was seated. "...and he wishes to request you sit with him. He has also offered to pay for your wine should you accept."<br><br>Straight and to the point, she was. Ethirdir admired that kind of dedication to one's job. He admitted that upon first laying eyes on Meerika, he had considered flirting with her, but the look in her eyes suggested she would sooner pull a knife on him than tolerate his flirtations, at least on duty. No, she didn't seem interested in playing the game of seduction, and that was fine - Ethirdir found it more enjoyable when ladies appreciated the flirts, as it made the end result more satisfying for both parties.<br><br>Of course, Meerika might not play the game, but her superior certainly did. The Knight-Captain was just as famous as the Elf in his flirtatious conquests throughout the city. Ethirdir had never met the man directly, but had crossed paths with him several times during social functions, as well as challenged one another for the affections of a lady a few times. He had never bothered to keep a running tally of wins and losses between them, but Ethirdir considered it fairly even. Amazingly, their competition had never blossomed into a heated rivalry, with Ethirdir watching Doryn's successes with amusement and getting the feeling the Knight-Captain felt the same way about the Elf's victories. At the very least Ethirdir had no hard feelings, enough to ask Doryn through his merchant business once or twice to recommend guards to project valuable shipments. There was no bad blood between them, and to receive an invitation from his romantic rival was intriguing.<br><br>"Does he now?" Ethirdir asked with a bemused smirk. "Then I cannot refuse such a generous offer." With a smile and a nod given towards Meerika as thanks, Ethirdir stood up from his table and grabbed the wine bottle and glass before making the short trip towards the booth she had pointed out.<br><br>He expected to find Doryn alone, but instead he found the Knight-Captain in the presence of one of the most beautiful young ladies he had ever seen, and considering he had slept with half of the so-called "Jewels of Crescent City," that was saying a lot. Her clothing didn't look expensive enough to mark her as part of the Nobility, but it did well to show off her well-defined figure. That wasn't even taking into account that beaming smile on her face and the way her hair seemed to flow like liquid fire. Ethirdir would've completely forgotten about Doryn altogether had he not noted the woman acting very familiar with the Knight-Captain, her hands massaging Doryn's shoulders. Did she mean something to Doryn, and vice-versa?<br><br>It didn't matter - he had already latched onto her.<br><br>"I expected to find you here all alone, my dear Knight-Captain," Ethirdir said with a grin to get the man's attention, "but Meerika didn't tell me you were in the company of such a beautiful young lady." His green eyes turned towards the woman, a friendly smile flashed her way. "It is an honor to meet you, my dear. I am Ethirdir Talion, Merchant Lord. It would honor me if I could know your name as well." He spoke with a very noticeable Elvish accent, which in Ethirdir's experience made him more enticing to noblewomen who considered it more regal than typical Nobility tones. Whether she went for it remained to be seen, but he could adapt as necessary.<br><br>"Perhaps you would like to join us?" he asked her as he sat down at the table next to the Knight-Captain. "Doryn here has graciously offered to buy this very expensive wine for me, and having you share a drink of it with us would make for some wonderful company, I'm sure."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>02-08-2017, 05:04:27</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/32/62/e6/3262e6539ba306aaa178b6396abadd3d--auburn-hair-colors-hair-colours.jpg)</div> The handsome Elf was walking towards them before Hani had a chance to get too involved with massaging Doryn's shoulders. She remained cool, and smiled warmly as Ethirdir spoke. "Well met, Lord Talion. My father owns this fine Inn, so I kind of work here. I would be delighted to join you! The Knight Captain is a good friend. He leaves generous tips and I give him some attention. Not too much, of course, my father has sharp eyes!" she giggled softly. <br><br>Mercedes came by a short time later with a glass for Hani. "Your father says you are off duty now, Hani, so enjoy! If you need more wine, let me know!" She smiled at Doryn, knowing he was picking up the tab. She did not neglect to give Ethirdir a subtle wink. All the waitstaff at the Inn were friendly and outgoing. Hani acted as a kind of staff manager, so she only grinned at Mercedes. She knew darn good and well, her father had seen her up in the balcony with not one but two handsome gentlemen. It was his way of letting her know he was fine with it, but was there if things got out of hand. No one wanted to mess with a man who would give a grizzly bear a challenge.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>02-08-2017, 05:09:51</strong>
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				Even after Meerika left his field of vision, his retainer heading off to follow his instructions, Doryn was still vaguely proud of himself. He'd not really had any especial goals in mind-tonight, when he came to visit this his favorite inn for a bit of freetime, yet somehow he'd ended up in the Dew Drop on the same night as his sometimes romantic-rival. Truthfully, what good fortune! Eyes twinkling, a smile etched rather prominently on his face as he leaned back a bit in his chair, the Knight-Captain only found his train of thought slipping when he spotted <em>her</em> coming up the stairs...<br><br>...it was a sight that nearly took his breath away, distracted as he'd been, having practically forgotten that she would almost certainly come out to greet him after she learned that he'd come. Really, he'd have expected her to have already said hello by now, supposing that she must have taken the time to head up to her rooms and change into something a bit more fetching. While he'd loudly protest that such efforts weren't necessary, that Hani <em>always</em> looks amazing, one glance was all that it took for him to admit to himself that the wait had been more than worth it. She was, by a significant margin, one of the most fetching women that he'd ever met and even more enticing in so many other ways. It was everything from the way her long wavy brown hair fell down around her, so perfectly framing her soft face, to the gentle-flattery that was the way her tightly-laced corset showed off her bust in combination with the little white blouse that she'd slipped into. Even the way she moved was mildly intoxicating.<br><br>She had that calm, in-control air to her as she came over to his table, an attitude that had never failed to drive him mad, a subtle smirk on her face as she looked at him...<br>...everything about her approach saw him leaning forward a bit in his chair, feet on the ground, giving the beautiful young woman his full and undivided attention.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><em>"Can't stay away from me, hmmm? You know the whole town is gossiping about all your conquests. It is fun to spread the gossip. Tell me, who are you after tonight? Some scoundrel who is trying to incite the Merchant's Guild to boycott the Elven Market?"</em> The teasing little minx moving around the table until she was behind him, leaning down to whisper her final words in his ear. <em>"Or maybe you are looking to entice Mercedes into your bed?"</em></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>The thought of him being here to try to bed Mercedes,-- as if that would take more than a word,-- was vaguely amusing to him. Even so, his first response was a vague sigh of satisfaction as he felt the girl's smooth hands find his shoulders and give him a bit of a massage.<br><br><em>Oh, that was good...</em><br><br>"The Dew Drop only has one barmaid that I'd consider taking into my bed, and sadly, that barmaid is you," he says, chuckling softly. "Though if you keep rubbing my shoulders like that I might just be forced to reconsider, my dear,--"<br><br>It was about this time, of course, that he remembered his invitation to the Elf.<br><br>An action that, rather suddenly, he wished he'd not made.<br><br><em>Especially</em> if Hani was going to be rubbing his shoulders when the Elf got here.<br><br>"--but no, I'm not here for any especial purpose. I had a long and tedious evening with Lady Elena Rockwell, my errant little virgin, and I found myself in need of a drink. Most likely many many drinks," he says, a bit of a frown coming to his face for reasons that had nothing to do with his evening with the woman who was very much at the favored in terms of him eventually marrying. Not that he loved Elena, despite the many many times that he'd told her so before she'd finally given herself to him, no, most suspected that he'd marry the former-Maiden because of the circumstances under which her engagement had come to an end and the widely known fact that he'd taken her maidenhead. "Though, I did run into... I'm not sure if I'd say a friend.. ah, I do believe that's the distinguished gentleman right now."<br><br>It wasn't, in any fashion, a surprise for the Knight-Captain to find Meerika and Lord Ethirdir Talion heading up the stairs toward his little table. In other circumstances, indeed, Doryn probably would have gotten up but despite the appearance of the Elf... Hani continued to rub at his shoulders.. which, at the very least was a good sign? Of what, exactly, Doryn wasn't sure.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I expected to find you here all alone, my dear Knight-Captain," the Elf said with a grin that more than captured Doryn's attention, "but Meerika didn't tell me you were in the company of such a beautiful young lady." The elves green eyes turned towards the woman, flashing a smile in her direction. "It is an honor to meet you, my dear. I am Ethirdir Talion, Merchant Lord. It would honor me if I could know your name as well." Ethirdir spoke with a very noticeable Elvish accent, which part of him hoped Hani wouldn't especially react to. Really, Doryn had seen entirely too many young noblewoman all but swoon at just a few words from even the most boorish elf... and this Elf was anything but a bore.<br><br>"Perhaps you would like to join us?" the Elf asked her as he sat down at the table next to the Knight-Captain; which was somewhat rude. It should be him to offer the invitation, if one was offered, and the Elf had no especial way to know that he'd not <em>already</em> extended such an invitation. Not that the Knight-Captain took especial offense. "Doryn here has graciously offered to buy this very expensive wine for me, and having you share a drink of it with us would make for some wonderful company, I'm sure."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>There was, of course, no mistaking the appreciation in the Elf-Lord's eyes as he took notice of the woman rubbing his shoulders. Really, in a way, this was almost a good thing? He enjoyed the flirting with Hani, but it was only a matter of time before it got out of control, and if she got involved with Lord Talion... well, no,.. try as he might to rationalize it: that wasn't a prospect that Doryn would ever relish. He doubted he was being especially good at hiding his slight bit of inner turmoil, either, given that that Meerika gave him a little smirk before moving herself back into her position. If she knew him well enough to recognize his feelings now, why hadn't she said something when he'd sent her with the invitation?<br><br>...oh, yes, of course..<br><br>Meerika enjoys torturing him.<br><br>"Oh yes, please, allow me,-- Lord Talion, allow me to introduce my good friend, Hani Silverthorn, the daughter of the owner of this little establishment and one of the most beautiful young ladies in the city," Doryn says, his words a bit wry but trying his best not to appear too put out at his own mistake. "I never doubted for even a moment that Hani wouldn't know who <em>you</em> are, but just in the name of formality and good manners, this is my sometimes rival in matters of the heart,-- Lord Ethirdir Talion,-- whom I couldn't help but notice finally developed a modicum of good taste and choose to spend an evening at the Dew Drop."<br><br>"Given that I'd been hoping to get to know him a bit better... well, really, why not invite him to share a bit of wine at my table..."<br><br>Which, naturally, is when Mercedes comes back-- she'd apparently taken notice of the fact that he'd invited the Elf, who already had some wine, and only brought a pair of glasses for him.. and for Hani.<br><br>The expression on <em>her</em> face made it rather obvious that she'd also spotted the error that he'd made.<br><br>"...I really need to be more careful about inviting notorious womanizers to my table just before I'm expecting the company of a beautiful young woman, don't I?" he says, glancing up at Hani, a bit of a smirk before he turns his attention back over toward Ethirdir and gestures for him to take a seat. "That said, please, join us. As for you, Miss Silverthorn, you are <em>always</em> welcome at my table."<br><br>He grabs his glass, and some of the Elf's wine, pouring some for the three of them before taking his own glass.<br><br>With a wry smile, and a slight nod of acknowledgement to the elf, he simply says, "To new friends."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>03-08-2017, 06:11:56</strong>
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				The knowing smirk on Hani's face included both the Elf and the Captain. "Known womanizer? My goodness, Doryn, you sure know how to introduce a friend! Now why didn't someone warn me like that when I met you?" She glanced at Meerika, who was stifling a giggle.<br><br>The wine was poured and Hani sat between the two men. "I am sure that the two of you enjoy comparing notes about all your conquests. Isn't that what men do? Of course it matters not to me, as I enjoy teasing Doryn. I know he is not serious. I am far from ready to settle down. I have too much to do first. As a matter of fact, I do have some business to attend, but I will indulge the two of you for a time. It seems I have an object that I need to sell. It's odd, in that it is not something most people would be interested in. But the right person would pay a lot of gold for it." She sipped her wine and gave a subtle glance to Ethirdir. <br><br>Continuing her train of thought with a sigh, "I cannot simply carry it around with me, as there might be someone looking for it. And I cannot bring it to the pawn shop, as they have no clue what it might be worth. I have sent out feelers to various ones, hoping to find a buyer. I expect to receive an answer in the next few days." She frowned then. "I do hope I will not have to deal with an underling who will try to rob me...do you think I should have a bodyguard, Doryn?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>04-08-2017, 05:25:47</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir was admittedly caught a little off guard when Doryn introduced him to the charming young lady as a "rival in matters of the heart," which was admittedly accurate but not something he would've readily admitted aloud. Apparently Doryn was comfortable enough with this woman - Hani Silverthorn, she had been introduced as - to reveal something like that, which was...intriguing, to say the least. As he made himself comfortable in the chair, he couldn't help but keep an eye on Hani while also focusing on his good-natured "rival," already finding this evening more interesting than he had anticipated.<br><br>The womanizer line from Doryn was met with a bemused quip from Hani, as well as a stifled yet very noticeable chuckle from Meerika, which Ethirdir had never recalled seeing before in that stoic woman. It was enough to make the Elf wonder how he had never come to the Dew Drop Inn before, since he was already seeing things he had never expected to see. Hani was, of course, part of that, and he couldn't help but smile at her when her glances met his every now and then.<br><br>Deciding to be a good sport, he picked up his own wine glass and raised it to meet Doryn's. "To new friends...and more," he said before taking a large swig of his drink, enjoying the sweet taste of the wine as it washed down his gullet.<br><br>Before Ethirdir could counter with a quip of his own towards Doryn, Hani spoke up first. Her ribbing of the two boys' seduction game was amusing enough, but what really drew his attention was her mention of having business this evening. At first he thought he was mishearing things, but the more she talked the more he realized that she was referring to the Basilisk heart. His suspicions were confirmed when she glanced subtly in his direction: Hani was his contact, the thief he was supposed to meet tonight. How unexpected.<br><br>Did Doryn know that Hani more than the daughter of this establishment's owner, that she was a thief...? What was he thinking? Of course he would know that. Doryn wasn't stupid, Ethirdir knew that all too well. However, it didn't appear Doryn knew that Ethirdir was the potential buyer. If that was the case, Ethirdir preferred keeping it that way, at least for now. But how to get Hani away from Doryn so the two of them could speak without arousing Doryn's suspicions?<br><br>Then he smiled - the answer was right in front of him. "You say you have an object that you're looking to sell?" he asked Hani as if he were completely unaware of such a fact moments earlier. "Well, you're in luck, my dear Hani, because what my good friend Doyrn didn't tell you is that I'm actually a merchant. I make my living selling goods and services around Crescent City, and I have enough experience to confidently say that I have a good eye for quality. Now, perhaps if you would offer me the chance to see this item you are looking to sell, I can give you a good estimation for its true worth. I'm sure Doryn here can vouch for me when I promise you that I will be very fair with my assessment, and you can use it to make sure no one will insult you with a low price."<br><br>Ethirdir took another sip of his wine before adding, "Just tell me when and where you'd like to meet, my dear." He made a very subtle wink towards Hani as he took another sip from the glass, letting her know he knew who she was now.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>04-08-2017, 13:14:58</strong>
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				"I thought I was being rather kind," Doryn said, having a bit of a sip of the wine. A bit of an expert vinter himself, the Northman tended to be a bit picky about his wines, which was one of the reasons that he enjoyed patronizing the Dew Drop,-- it boasted a fine selection of rare and expenive imports and the lion's share of the inn's local vintages came from Doryn's own vineyards. It was, in it's own way, just yet another manner in which him and Hani were involved in a professional capacity. "I'm more of a defiler of the innocent myself..."<br><br>"...or so I hear," he says, eyes twinkling a bit.<br><br>It wasn't that unusual for the newest titled Noble of Crescent City, the young and handsome Knight-Captain of the Guard, to say things that few would expect him to say and in many ways Doryn prided himself on being remarkably straight-forward and even what others might call brash. He was rough, prideful, shocking,-- scandalous!-- and despite it all he'd proven time and again that he could play the game. Heaven knows that the City had more than enough smooth-talking cunning manipulators. More than a few of them now languished in the dungeons, having thought that they'd gotten the better of the new Captain of the Guard right up until the moment when his men burst through the doors into some sensitive location and Lord Aelland himself came strolling in afterwards as casually as could be, some men now garbed in chains that had once been thought unimpeachable bastions of Crescent Cities criminal underground.<br><br><em>"I am sure that the two of you enjoy comparing notes about all your conquests. Isn't that what men do?"</em> Hani asked, her voice with that delightful lilt. <em>"Of course it matters not to me, as I enjoy teasing Doryn. I know he is not serious. I am far from ready to settle down. I have too much to do first."</em><br><br>"You say that as if I'm ready to settle down," Doryn said, laughing. "I dare say that I have even less desire to do so than anyone at this table, I just have less choice in the matter. But, you were saying?"<br><br>Which, as it turned out, is when Hani went into her little long-winded spiel about having some business to attend to. He assumed, at first, that she was having to excuse herself shortly but it quickly became apparent that she was rather talking about one of the items that she'd stolen during one of her robberies. Which, well, surprised him,-- he hadn't yet heard any angry complaints from any of the Nobles at having some notable valuable pilfered from their home, in point of fact it'd been long enough since he'd heard anything that he was wondering if Hani had stopped her little 'hobby' now, perhaps because she was making enough money off her dealings with him that she didn't need to...<br><br>...not that he was surprised about <em>that</em>. He was fairly sure that Hani's hobby had very little to do with money.<br><br>No, what surprised him was the fact that she was talking about this in front of him, and in point of fact that she-- a suspicion confirmed when Ethirdir all but jumped on the offer without much prompting, which admittedly could be innocent but was rather all too convenient for his tastes,-- so his rival didn't just steal away women from Haniel but was also something of a fence? Interesting.<br><br>"Well, if we're talking about business-- rather uncouth, I would note, considering that we're sharing drinks after a toast to friendship,--" Doryn said, a bit of a sparkle in his eyes. "I'd note that I've been engaged in a long-standing hunt for a band of thieves that have been breaking into some of the estates of nobility. Quite the impressive partnership, or so I hear, pulling off heists that would beggar the imagination. I dare say that I get an earful from the poor soul in question after every hit."<br><br>He has a sip of his wine, and one might even think he was done.<br><br>Except, well,-- no,-<br><br>"Though, myself, from what I've seen of the crimes in question? I never really bought the theory that it was an entire crew of thieves. Just one good cat burglar, really, and probably someone slight and dexterous whom nobody would ever suspect of being involved in anything like that. Though that's just my thought, of course, either way they're still very much at large and in any event I haven't heard anything from them lately."<br><br>He glances over at Hani...<br><br>"...not so much as a peep," he notes, idly. "Anyway, you were saying something about a Bodyguard? I can loan you Friedrich, of course,-- or Vaughn if you prefer someone a bit more canny,-"<br><br>He has a bit more wine.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>04-08-2017, 22:43:03</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The fact that Doryn enjoyed the teasing as much as she did only made her chuckle. They had been dancing around this subject for months now. At first Hani had merely been her sweet friendly self, offering the handsome Captain her services only as a waitress. Her father seemed to like the Captain, which made it easier for Hani to slip occasionally into a mild flirting tone. She knew from experience that men like Doryn would tip generously when complimented on their skills and looks. Her father was well aware that she did this, and only admonished her when drunken men wanted more. After all, he did not want his precious daughter hurt.<br><br>As time went on, however, Hani and Doryn developed a business arrangement of sorts. He asked her questions of the gangs and crime bosses in the City, and she cooperated when she thought it was safe to do so. In point of fact, she had helped him to locate and bust a human slavery ring that she, as well as many of the merchants and business people in the city, wanted out of there! It was only the major players who got too devious and deadly with their dealings that Hani would find out things for Doryn and pass them on. She had to be careful, as if it was found out her role in his cleaning up of the city, her life would be forfeit. The fact he paid her for this information only made it sweeter. Her flirting became like a game, he was not willing to mix business with pleasure. Perhaps because it would leave him vulnerable? Whatever the case, he would never do more than casually offer her compliments and innuendo. He was cool and coy, letting her flirt and returning the playful banter without following up on it. <br><br>Of course this only made it a challenge for Hani, to see how far she could flirt before he gave in and at least gave her a kiss. Something she often dreamt about. She enjoyed the chase, and felt at times he was thinking of doing just that, only to back off and make excuses. He used Meerika or one of his other bodyguards to provide him with an excuse to leave. Business calls, he was needed elsewhere, etc. It was to the point now that Hani would tempt him even further by offering the massage as she did tonight, fully confident he would not do anything but sit back and enjoy it like some tomcat who loved affection. She fantasized about managing to get him alone sometime and....well...perhaps she would not go that far. But it was fun to dream about!<br><br>Tonight however, he wanted to relax and enjoy his wine and his new friend. Now where had he and Ethirdir been hanging out that they shared the chase of women? Oh, that high society that Hani was not privileged to enjoy. Not that she wanted to. She found the nobility in most cases were so haughty and stuck on themselves that she would not be caught dead at one of their parties! Talk about boring! That included most of the Elves. However, some of them were not so bad. In fact she admired the Elves for their honesty and integrity in general. What she had not expected, was how charming they could be. <br><br>This Elf, Ethirdir, was not only a handsome specimen, but he looked at her with a certain keenness of expression that indicated he was interested in more than her value as a tavern wench. This intrigued her! Not only did he smile at her, he encouraged a further indulgence by offering to help her sell her goods. This was good! It gave Hani hope that she could get rid of the cursed gem before the previous owner could find out it was missing. <br><br>It was only because she knew of the gem from a mutual friend who was not going to be involved anymore than she could help. Britta was a servant of the Lord Berenholt, and his cruelty and criminal doings made him a target for Doryn some day. But for now, the dangerous bloodstone was out of his study safe and replaced with another red crystal. At casual glance, it would appear to be what it looked like. Until the Baron wanted to use it, then it would be very obviously a fake. It was a dangerous item to have, and in the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of grief. This was why Hani removed it from the Lord's possession.&nbsp; He was powerful enough without it. Though he was not a Mage, he knew how to use the gem to influence the minds of his enemies. A real Mage could have leveled the city with the focus power of the illicit gem. <br><br>Doryn made some remark about a gang of thieves, stealing from the wealthy. Now Hani knew there were several such thieves working the city. Mostly petty thieves who stole simple things like jewelry and gold, or precious antiques and paintings. She used to be one of them! The fact that she had stopped going out to steal due to her father reminding her that if she was caught it would harm not only her, but his business and welfare. But that would not stop her if she thought there was something that needed removing from someone evil, like Lord Berenhold. She had taken a huge chance to do so, and it was only because of her skill that she got away with it. It was Doryn's casual remark about a single thief hit a little too close to home! <br><br>Hani smirked at Doryn, "I would tell you that the gang of thieves is real, but you will have a hard time catching all of them. Where one is put in the dungeons, another moves up to take his or her place. But they are crafty and subtle, only the poorly skilled and unlucky get caught." It was her way of letting him know that she was not about to admit to being a thief, not in front of witnesses anyway. That he would suspect her in any case would be a stretch, as the information she passed him had to be picked up somewhere. Not all of it would be bandied about in the open in the tavern. If he wanted the information she provided, he would have to allow her to gather it as she could. If that involved sneaking around in dark places unseen, well, there was hardly any other way she could get some of that without higher risk to herself. She was not a harlot, and that vocation was one of the most dangerous. Not all men were kind and generous, some were outright cruel. <br><br>"As for a bodyguard, I hardly think I will need one to meet with Ethirdir. It is strictly business, of course. I will not bore you with it further, Doryn." She chuckled, then sipped her wine. Changing the subject, she added, "Is this one of your wines, Doryn? I do think the reds you produce are very tasty. Though I prefer the lighter white wines or even the blush, as they are a bit sweeter. I know my father is very happy to serve any of yours. They always get plenty of compliments."<br><br>Hani was not going to neglect Ethirdir, and turned to him with a coy smile. "So you are a merchant? Do you deal in antiques and fine art? Perhaps an occasional precious gem? How intriguing! Yes I would love to meet with you and show you what I have. It will have to be tomorrow. Where can we meet in private? I do not want to show this to just anyone. I trust you as Doryn vouches for you. I have never known an Elf to be dishonest. With the exception of some Half Elves who are not as honorable. Would lunchtime serve? I can meet you here and we can travel by horse to a private location. That will give me time to get it out of hiding." She was certain that this would be a business deal. She knew that Elves were smart enough to know what the gem would be worth. <br><br>Whether Ethirdir was a Mage or not, she could not tell. Though it was probable he knew several. Elves were particularly astute at the craft of Magic. Those who indulged in it were some of the best in the world. What she truly hoped was that he could arrange for the sale of the gem to a responsible buyer. Someone who would put the cursed thing in a safe place, far from the evil ones who would use it to cause chaos. To her, this meeting would assure her that he would give it the careful handling it needed. If he was not aware of how rare and dangerous such a gem was, then she would have to explain it to him. Thus why she wanted a private meeting. It never occurred to her that Doryn might become jealous, though it did make her smirk that he might realize that Ethirdir could steal her away from him, due to their ongoing competition.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>07-08-2017, 05:26:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Perhaps Ethirdir should've realized that Doryn would catch on to his and Hani's attempt at secrecy, and he should've dialed back his eagerness to respond to her hints that she was his contact. Doryn's shifting of the conversation into a topic of thieves breaking into Noble estates and his suspicion of the perpetrators being only a single dedicated and experienced thief signaled that he knew more than he was initially letting on. The Elf knew that his rival was clever, but didn't anticipate him catching on this quickly. Of course, he likely knew a lot more than Ethirdir had initially anticipated, which was likely given that Doryn and Hani had known each other far longer than Ethirdir knew Hani. It was the Elf playing catch up at the moment, and he risked stepping into something he might regret.<br><br>But then again, if Doryn truly did suspect that Ethirdir and Hani were up to fencing something incredibly valuable, he had every right to arrest the both of them for suspicion of theft and attempted selling of stolen goods. But the Captain was only making small talk - witty, even playful small talk - and didn't seem interested in hauling the merchant and the tavern girl to jail. Whatever relationship Doryn and Hani had, it was complicated to allow an overlooking of something potentially illegal, and all Ethirdir could think was...<br><br>"Oh, to be part of <em>this </em>group...wouldn't that be an interesting experience..."<br><br>Perhaps he had been neglectful of his romantic rival for so long. The two of them knew each other enough to have a feel of their behaviors and tastes in women, but the pair had never sat down together and actually "cracked one another's knuckles" - an Elvish colloquialism his father had taught him meaning "getting to know one another." Sitting here, the three of them sharing a bottle of expensive red wine, Ethirdir's attention was focused mostly on the lovely Hani, but he couldn't deny he was also intrigued by the Captain. If Doryn was open to overlooking this sort of transaction, what else might the Captain be willing to do? It was an intriguing partnership, and he had a feeling Doryn might be open to discussing potential arrangements...<br><br>..though not tonight, since the two of them seemed focused more on the gorgeous woman sitting between them at the moment...<br><br>When Hani turned her attention to him, he smiled warmly as he listened to her questions and suggestions, acting polite without acting haughty. If there was one thing the Elves excelled at, it was giving off an air of superiority. Ethirdir found that was usually not very effective for business - or romantic pursuits - and tended to avoid that persona when he could unless he was in the company of Elves who seemed capable of communicating only in condescension. Hani, on the other hand, got his open, more flirtatious personality tonight.<br><br>"Indeed, I am a merchant, and I deal in...many things. Perhaps that is too vague an answer, but I often find it limiting to say I deal in this or in that. Though if I could be said to deal in something more specific, it's in things that are extremely valuable to the right buyer. Stuff that is very difficult to obtain and is worth the hassle of obtaining for a client. Antiques, fine art, gemstones, exotic foods...all of them have been sold through at my booths, as well as...many more items I can't begin to name."<br><br>He kept his gaze fixed on Hani for the most part, trying not to notice how Doryn was reacting to his romantic rival arranging a private meeting with a girl very important to him. Doryn may have had more history with Hani than Ethirdir...but history had to start somewhere, and Elves had long lives compared to humans...<br><br>"Tomorrow works well for me, as does a lunch arrangement. As for where we can meet..." His grin widened a little as he continued, "I actually have a store not too far from here. We can discuss matters in one of the backrooms, where client confidentiality is strictly enforced. Whatever you talk about or show me there, I will be the only to see it." There was a <em>very</em> subtle double-entendre in that last sentence, but he didn't emphasize it, making it clear business was the primary reason for this meeting. Of course, the way he smiled at her, let his green eyes gaze into hers, leaned lightly on his arm as they talked, didn't hide the fact that meeting with a beautiful woman such as Hani was duly noted.<br><br>"If those arrangements work for you, my dear," he added, "then I shall meet you here tomorrow when the sun is at its peak, and accompany you to my store." His gaze then shifted to Doryn, his tone shifting away from the more flirtatious aspects but still showing no less interest in the Captain. "And to you, my good sir," he said, raising his glass again before taking a small sip of wine, "tonight has been very...enlightening in many ways. You are correct in that it took me too long to darken the door of this fine establishment...a mistake I will not make again. Perhaps you can I also get better...acquainted, talk about things other than our romantic conquests?" It was his first attempt at feeling out Doryn's interest in the Elf, if there was any, and whether it was worth pursuing any potential partnerships with this man for more lucrative but less legal endeavors. And if Hani could be roped into it as well, all the better...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>08-08-2017, 03:55:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There remained no doubt that he shouldn't have done it, but slowly, Doryn's initial over-reaction was beginning to fade away to something a bit more-- comfortably uncomfortable,-- it helped that he was able to put everyone on their toes a bit by subtly letting them know that he'd spotted their disassembling attempt at making contact with each other. More importantly, Doryn knew Hani, and the more he reflected on the matter the more he realized that he didn't have much to worry about from this development. Hani was a terrible flirt who probably earned more in tips than the rest of the women in the Dew Drop combined, but more than that she enjoyed the game nearly as much as he did, and he didn't think that she'd give into Ethirdir all that easily.<br><br>Of course, Doryn <em>didn't</em> know the Elf that well, only really what he'd been able to gauge from the High Society parties that they'd both attended and in what he'd learned in the course of their rivalry when they'd fought over one women or another. Doryn knew enough to guess that Lord Talion would likely be drawn to Hani, but how that might play out past that was unclear to him. Would he be as drawn to the Innkeeper's Daughter-turned-Cat Burglar as Doryn was or would the Elf lose interest in favor of less complicated game? How would <em>Hani</em> react to him, similarly, was a question to which he didn't have a simple answer and the one that burned a fire within him with a desire to know.<br><br>He'd seen her flirt with other men, she worked in her Father's Bar, but for some reason the thought of her in the arms of his rival was getting under his skin more than he'd ever had admitted.<br><br>Doryn had known that he was captivated by her and by the little game that the two of them played, of course, but he'd never have guessed that it would have gone to this extreme.<br><br>"You're probably right, in any event, about the gang of thieves,-- still, it's a nice thought, catching at least one of their number,-- even if they'd soon be replaced it'd still be something to present to the Nobility. Maybe we can talk about what you know, of these thieves, at some later point, my dear," he said, softly enough, sure that she'd read-through the lines. After all, if she was intending to keep operating, it would be in both of their best interest if they could draw some attention away from the things that she did. "I'm glad that your Father appreciates my wines, in any event, and that they are so popular. It's good for the reputation of my vineyards, really, so I've no issue giving you some of my stock at a bit of a discount. As for THIS wine? No, I believe this is a rarer import, though I'm not quite sure from where."<br><br>The Knight-Captain settled down, enjoying some of the wine and trying to place the vintage as he watched Hani and Ethirdir settle their business and make their arrangements. Part of him almost wishes that Hani had accepted one of his Bodyguards, for reasons that had very little to do with security, but it was much preferred that she didn't. Every member of his Honor Guard had been involved in some criminal activity for their Captain, of course, and he trusted them all with knowledge of such things. They were all, to a person, utterly loyal to him. If Hani needed them, and asked, he'd loan them to her at a moment's notice and not worry for a moment about any trouble coming for it. Even so, it was better if their business interests didn't get <em>that</em> intermingled, for both of their sakes.<br><br>He'd still be more comfortable with the meeting that the Elf was arranging if they had a Chaperone, though.<br><br>Really, all of this petty jealousy was foolishness, especially if he didn't intend to actually let anything happen with Hani.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"And to you, my good sir," the Elf said said, raising his glass again before taking a small sip of wine, "tonight has been very...enlightening in many ways. You are correct in that it took me too long to darken the door of this fine establishment...a mistake I will not make again. Perhaps you can I also get better...acquainted, talk about things other than our romantic conquests?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>This was, of course, the reason that Doryn invited the Elf over,-- or at least part of the reason,-- but it had somehow lost some little bit of it's charm. Still, in the end, Doryn wasn't the type to give up an interesting game just because it'd become more challenging and in other circumstances he'd probably even enjoy this particular competition. If, indeed, it was a competition at all. He'd never exactly assured himself that Hani was interested in anything more than flirting,-- that she just wanted to get a rise out of him, something she'd almost accomplished on multiple occasions, and could probably be said to <em>have done</em> tonight,-- the young Innkeeper's Daughter certainly didn't seem to be setting her eyes on him as a marriage prospect.<br><br>Which was, honestly, refreshing enough on its own.<br><br>"Well, I'm glad that we'll be seeing more of you here at the Dew Drop,-- another battlefield in our little war will always be fun,--" he says, licking his lips ever so slightly, the face of the comment referring to chasing after other women that come here while the subtext refers as well to his obvious interest in Hani. A quick sip of his wine, still savoring the flavor and trying to place it, had Doryn just looking back across the table toward the Elf with some intensity. Really, he <em>had</em> to get to know Ethirdir at this point...<br><br>...he'd intended to, earlier, when he'd invited the Elf and it was even more necessary at this point.<br><br>"But, yes, there are so many other topics to discuss other than women, though I'll admit that at the moment the only other one that comes to me is Wine," he says, chuckling a bit. "Please, Lord Talion, assuage my curiosity if you would be so bold? The bottle is rather nondescript, and I don't recognize it in any case, but you must have known what vintage you ordered when you ordered it. It's not local, and not from my own vineyards, and try as I might... I can't seem to place it.."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>08-08-2017, 07:58:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her business taken care of and a vague plan to go and retrieve the gem from her hiding place already in her mind, Hani listened to Doryn pointedly express interest in discussing the thieves in Crescent City&nbsp; further, at a later date. A twitch appeared at the edge of her mouth as she gazed at him coyly. "Thieves come and go, sometimes you don't even know they have been there. Or if they know you well enough, they avoid detection. One thing you will never do, Doryn, is stop it entirely in Crescent City. It is as much a part of this city as the docks and the ships in the harbor, and just as likely to come and go at all hours of the day and night. The ones you will catch will not know anything important, neither will they be able to steal something that is secure. The nobility in this town have about as much security guarding their treasures as fleas on a fish. They are as much to blame for things going missing as the thief who manages to steal from them. If they hid their most precious items where no one would see them is one thing. But to flaunt their riches in front of a poor thief who doesn't have enough to eat himself, much less feed his family is quite another." She was not smiling now.<br><br>There was a reason Hani had quit stealing from the nobles when she had. She knew that if there was something worth stealing in this town and it came up missing, Doryn might suspect her. Though he would have no proof, as she was very careful not to leave anything behind to lead to her. The gem she had stolen was a menace. She had stolen it for a very good reason. Odds were that the Baron would not even notice it was a fake for some time. He might even doubt its veracity and think that the one who sold it to him was at fault. <br><br>There was something else here that bothered Doryn, and it took her a few moments to discern it. When it dawned on her that he might be a wee bit jealous of her spending time with the Elf, she almost smirked at him. She hid her amusement in a sip of wine. This was interesting. If her words had any effect on him, it might indicate to him that she was displeased with his suspicion. Even if she was dealing with stolen goods, she fed him more than enough information for him to look the other way when her need for coin overbalanced her discretion. <br><br>Still, she did not want to antagonize him, merely remind him that she was free to see whom she wished, as he was. He had no right to stop her from seeing Ethirdir. He did not say it of course, and she did not think he even knew what it was that bothered him at the moment. Thinking that she needed to give him something to think about besides the thieves in the city, she casually turned to Ethirdir and smiled. "I did not know you had a store near here. That is very convenient! I will have to have a look around and see what it is you sell in there. I may have other treasures to let you appraise at a later date. I need to cleanout the attic here anyway. The Inn has a few apartments to let, as you might have guessed. We stopped the nightly room service some time ago, when father learned he could make a steadier income renting out the suites by the month instead. Unfortunately, sometimes renters leave with short notice, or they get themselves killed. That leaves us with items to get rid of or hold for relatives. Often father and I just keep them and sell or use them at a later date. You would be surprised what odd things are left behind."<br><br>It was interesting to her that Doryn seemed to welcome Ethirdir to the Dew Drop Inn, and yet his expression sometimes indicated he was not exactly happy at how things were going. He tried very hard to hide it of course. It would not do to let a rival know he had become rattled about the perceived competition.&nbsp; To Hani, this was entertaining her to no end. Ethirdir was a total gentleman and Doryn was his usual brash self. The differences between them were obvious, but yet she detected a note of challenge that both accepted. That she was at the center of this was only more amusing.&nbsp; She almost choked when they both agreed there were other things to discuss besides women.<br><br>The subject of the wine was interesting. Hani picked up the bottle and examined the label. "You want to know where this comes from? I do believe it is from a winery on the Eastern Border. Gresham Orchards, they claim it is a wine that rivals the Elvish Krinberry. Now that is a laugh. I am sure Ethirdir can tell you that it is a far cry from the famous Elven wine. It's not bad, I agree. Father gave them a chance and bought a barrel to see if it was worth the high price they charge. It went over well, so he bought some of their bottled stuff. I guess it is one of his best sellers, to those who do not mind the price."<br><br>Hani relaxed and let the two men continue to try and impress her. At one point she caught Meerika's eye and shared a casual smirk. The other woman was also well aware of what was going on, though she did not say anything at all. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>10-08-2017, 04:24:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Hani's interest in his store made Ethirdir grin, though he tempered that smile with the knowledge that she was thief, after all, and her interest might be born from more than curiosity. Perhaps unlikely, since stealing from a fence was a good way of getting blacklisted, but he reminded himself to make sure all loose valuables were accounted for before and after her visit. He had yet to properly get to know Hani, this being his first time meeting her and all, and for all of her good work he didn't yet know if she had any inclinations he would need to keep an eye out for.<br><br>And he certainly hoped to correct that, because the more he gazed upon her, the more he felt compelled to tempt her, regardless of her relationship status with rival Doryn. From the snippets of conversation between the bar wench and the Captain he heard, the two of them were close but weren't official in any capacity, likely getting by on half-serious flirtations and ideas that neither took the first step to implement. It was like a cat-and-mouse game in which both participants were the cat and the mouse simultaneously. All of this was speculation, of course, but Ethirdir could see the look in Doryn's eyes as Hani willingly gave some of her attention to the handsome Elf merchant sending subtle flirtations her way. Ethirdir oddly felt sympathetic to the Captain's plight, but not enough to back away - the Elf preferred being a cat himself, which meant Hani was going to play the role of his mouse - whether that mouse willingly leapt into the cat's awaiting jaws or chose to play with the cat before being caught would be up to her.<br><br>"If you have something interesting of note, then by all means, bring it to one of my shops and let either me or my associates take a look at it for you. We always give fair offers for goods in trade, especially anything that is rare and valuable. Of course, if you wish for me to make the appraisals personally, you need only ask and I will come to assist you." A smile formed on his lips, and he easily could've made his flirtation a little more blatant, but left it there for the time being. Being too direct too soon was rarely a good idea in his experience, at least with most women. Ethirdir didn't suspect Hani to be one of the exceptions.<br><br>"Your taste buds serve you well," the Elf replied in response to Hani's answer regarding the wine. "It is indeed a wine made from Gresham Orchards on the Eastern Border. They've only been in business for...fifteen years now, and this is one of their older vintages...eight...no, nine years. So far they coast on reputation, as I agree, their bouquet is nowhere near as marvelous as Elvish Krinberry wine. They only made a handful of barrels every year, which artificially makes them scarce, hence their high prices. Sooner or later, they will need to improve their process, or they won't be able to justify the high price for much longer. Still, they do in a pinch, far better than ordinary wine, I can tell you." He then addressed Doryn mostly, his eyes filled with dream-like wonder as he spoke. Oh, but Krinberry wine...one sip of that and all other wines will taste as ash upon your tongue for weeks, sometimes months. To drink that divine nectar is to taste the drink of the gods, only to realize all other drink is that of the underworld. A double-edged sword, but one worthy of receiving the scar from. To obtain it is exceedingly difficult and expensive, but should I happen to obtain a bottle, you are welcome to share it with me and take the journey to the Heavens and Hells together."<br><br>Ethirdir took another sip of the Gresham Orchards wine before his Elvish ears were piqued by a new sound rising above the cacophony of the dining hall. He turned and looked to see that a group of musicians with musical instruments were starting a song, and people were beginning to shuffle their way from their booths onto the large space designated as a dance floor. An idea formed in the Elf's mind, and he turned back to Hani, quickly noting her state of dress. Yes, it seemed very comfortable to move around in...one could almost say she had intentionally dressed like that so she could do so. If so, then perhaps it was time he tried to impress her with something outside of his Elvish accent and his subtle flirtations.<br><br>"It appears we have been graced with some music this evening," he said to his two companions before focusing on Hani. "I wasn't expecting to do so when coming here, but I am well-practiced in several dances that suit this kind of music well." He held out a hand towards her. "Perhaps you are interested in joining me on the dance floor for a number? I don't know if I'm as good a dancer as you look to be, but I'd love the opportunity to find out."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>10-08-2017, 10:34:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNZXDUZu2To<br><br>Hani was delighted to see that someone wanted to dance with her! She got up with a grin. "I would love to!" She went with Ethirdir to the dance floor and lined up with some other couples as they danced a lively circle dance. Most of the patrons of the tavern knew Hani and were glad to see her come out to the dance floor. <br><br>The music was lively and fast, and Hani knew the steps well. She was surprised the Elf wanted to join in, she had never seen a noble in such high spirits. He got plenty of looks from other women as well. The dancers had to pass among many other partners as they did the folk dancing. It did not take long to see that Ethirdir was a great dancer. <br><br>Mercedes came back to the table where Doryn was seated with Meerika and smiled. "More wine? Or would you prefer something else?" She smirked as she saw the way he looked down at the dancers. "Did you want to dance? I am sure there are plenty of other women down there who would love a partner. I know Meerika won't... and I am working."&nbsp; Her coy smile was certainly not lost on Meerika who merely sipped her ale and tried to hide a grin.<br><br>Mercedes tilted her head as Doryn seemed to be at a loss for words. "You did invite him here, didn't you? I mean, he is your friend. I am glad you did. He is very handsome and a great dancer. I think Hani is really enjoying herself..." she trailed off as Doryn turned to glare at her. "Alright, back to work I go. Let me know if you want anything else..." She hurried away.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>12-08-2017, 01:34:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It took a deliberate effort on Doryn's part not to say the words 'overpriced swill,' when Hani finally identified it for him, simply nodding and finding that explained the matter. He'd of course sampled the goods when they'd first made it to the city via one of the trade routes, making it a matter to keep abreast of all his competitors, and Gresham Orchards certainly considered themselves such even if the Knight-Captain didn't share their heightened opinion of their own product. Still, he'd obviously been a bit too hasty before, '<em>Gresham Red</em>' wasn't nearly as bad as he'd suspected and the mental divide between what he would have expected and what his palate was telling him were no doubt why he'd failed to make the identification himself.<br><br>"Hmmm, still inferior to my own vintages, but... novel enough to please some," Doryn finally said, before shrugging a bit. He'd not <em>meant</em> to give Ethindir any offense, and hopefully the Elf could understand the professional puckishness of someone in the business of making wine. Especially since, as an Elf, more or less all human vintages paled in comparison to all but the basest of elven wines. He'd always vaguely wondered just how they pulled that off, if it was some trick of magic or a rare ingredient, but so far he'd not gotten anywhere in his attempts to learn more about the process.<br><br>The Knight-Captain gave the two a bit of room, in any event, allowing them to finish their business dealings. Which, of course, included rather a large amount of flirting,-- but, it's not like his business dealings with Hani didn't involve just as much teasing and posturing,-- honestly, rather more,-- but then,... oh <em>then</em> the elven Bastard decided to take things too far. The offer to dance was, at least in Doryn's eyes, a step rather too far and a clear sign that the whoreson was <em>interested</em> in <strong>his</strong> girl.<br><br>Nor did Hani even look back at him before gleefully accepting,--<br>--not that she would be required to do so, but still.<br><br>It was his own fault, he knew that, but it was a hard habit for him to break. It wasn't even his fault, not really, Northerners took their dancing <em>very</em> seriously and to dance with a woman was an act of no little intimacy that could easily get one involved in a duel if you chose to impose such on the wrong woman. It was dancing with the daughter of his Yarl, in point of fact, that had started Doryn's self-exile from his home and his not-wholly-voluntary exploration of the southern lands. The only thing more serious than dancing, to a Northerner, was the actual act of intimacy,--<br><br>--and, well, dancing was considered a clear and obvious sign that one intended such with one's partner.<br><br>The Southener's traditions, of course, were different and Doryn understood that. He even took a bit of joy out of it being acceptable to, in his eyes, publically announce his seduction of more or less anyone. He could even cut in, taking a woman from her partner, something that would almost <em>always</em> result in a fight in the North! It was a different way of looking at the world, if not quite so removed from his own as he'd first believed when he saw how flagrant the Southerners could be on the dance floor,-- for Doryn had since learned that even though it wasn't quite so <em>formal</em> and <em>assumed</em> as in the north, that still didn't mean that dancer partners didn't very frequently end up engaged in other acts... later,-- but he'd never fully shaken the mores of his people entirely.<br><br>It was why he'd never been able to take Hani onto the dance floor,--<br><br>--it was why seeing her so gleeful as Lord Talion took her down to dance caused his blood to boil.<br><br>Indeed, so fixated was Doryn on what was going on that he didn't even notice the death-grip with which he held his wine glass. He barely noticed the harsh crystalline snap of the wineglasses stem cracking, dropping the broken glass to shatter on the floor even as he brought his fingers to his lips to kiss away at the blood. Mercedes must have been nearby, an amused grin on her face as she came by to clean up, but Doryn only barely acknowledged her words.<br><br><em>"Shall I get you another glass? Or would you prefer something else?"</em> she teased. <em>"You did invite him here, didn't you? I mean, he is your friend. I am glad you did. He is very handsome and a great dancer. I think Hani is really enjoying herself..."</em><br><br>She was about to say something else,-- probably to dismiss herself and head back to work-- when Doryn turned on her.<br><br>"Come, Mercy, we're going dancing," he said, taking her hand even as he rose from his chair.<br><br>She simply protested, "Lord Aelland! I'm working!"<br><br>"I don't care," Doryn said, simply enough, feeling as the protest quickly died away from the girl and she just relented herself to what was happening. "That's a girl. Come on. <em>Dance with me</em>."<br><br>If he heard Meerika's dry chuckle, Doryn paid it no heed.<br><br>If the Elf wanted to play dirty, then he would play dirty as well, and may the better man win.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>14-08-2017, 06:07:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir was very pleased with Hani's reaction to his request to dance, the smile on her lips and the sparkle in her eye making her face light up even more than he could've imagined. As the two of them made their way to the dance floor, the Elf glanced back at his rival, who seemed to be holding back a very intense grinding of his teeth at seeing his beloved Hani so eager to dance with the Captain's romantic rival. The Elf didn't gloat - that would've been rude - but inside he was grinning immensely at the success of his request.<br><br>Hani proved to be a most excellent dancer, and the Elf had to actually work to make himself look as good as she seemed to be doing naturally. Regardless, she seemed pleased with his performance as a dancer, and she made no complaints at the two of them twirled around on the dance floor with an effortlessness that seemed to captivate the crowd. All the while he laughed and grinned widely as they danced - he learned a long time ago that time being too serious to enjoy things was time being wasted - and the pair's enthusiasm seemed infectious. Among the people who watched the pair, some ladies kept their eye on the Elf in particular, wondering if he might give them the opportunity to dance with them as well. Sadly for them, he only had eyes on Hani tonight, and he was intent on impressing her and only her.<br><br>Midway through their dancing, Ethirdir glanced in Doryn's direction to see how he was handling the Elf's bold move upon Hani, and to his amazement saw the Captain heading towards the dance floor with another one of the bar maids, a look of frustration and determination in his eyes. Was the man jealous...silly question, of course he was jealous, and probably heading to the dance floor with a partner to prove he didn't have two left feet. The Captain's determined expression made Ethirdir smile as he turned to Hani. "My dear, it looks like Doryn is eager to join the dancing. Let's no disappoint him, shall we?" He could've easily made this an overt competition, but why be so blatant when he could just have fun?<br><br>Just as Doryn made his way onto the floor with his partner, the song transitioned into a fairly fast four-step with pairs situating themselves into opposing lines. Ethirdir recognized this dance: partners were given freedom to improvise their dance for about sixteen measures or so, and then were expected to exchange partners with the pair in the opposite line. And who should be opposite him and Hani but Doryn and his partner? Like it was meant to be. Well, fun or no fun, Ethirdir wasn't going to be shown up by the Captain without a fight.<br><br>The song hit its first stride, and Ethirdir immediately took the lead, holding Hani in a fairly tight embrace in one arm while his other hand grabbed hers outstretched and led her in a series of fast steps while spinning around together. Their experience with dancing allowed for some fancy footwork between them, and near the end he topped off his bit of the song with her by spinning her around a couple of times. The music became a transition for a few measures, announcing the partner change, and reluctantly he let Hani trot her way to Doryn while the Captain's partner stepped into his embrace. Despite letting Hani go for the time being, Ethirdir didn't act rude towards his new partner, offering her a warm smile.<br><br>"Good evening," he said as he starting leading her around when the next music hit its next stride. "And what's your name, my dear?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>14-08-2017, 08:46:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The music was fast and delightful. Hani loved to dance, and she was having a blast. Ethirdir was an excellent dancer and she could tell he liked to dance as well. It always seemed to her that Doryn was reluctant to dance with her. He never asked and she just assumed he either did not like to dance, or did not know how. In either case, she did not fail to see Doryn dragging Mercy down the stairs to dance. <br><br>Hani never missed a step as she spun around and avoided bumping into anyone else. She did glance at the bartender to see if he was aware that Mercy was dancing with Doryn. Ordinarily, the bartender did not mind as long as customers did not complain at not being served. Mercy was good at keeping up on the drinks, and there were other servers on the floor. Likely she would not be scolded too bad. The Inn liked to keep its customers happy, especially one as influencial as Doryn. So far, he had not noticed.<br><br>When the song got to a point of changing partners, she smirked at Ethirdir as he passed her off to Doryn. They were so smug at this point that she was not sure if she should be flattered or annoyed. She smiled at Doryn and gave him a little curtsey as part of the dance. "I see you have decided to grace us with your fancy footwork, Captain. All this time, I thought you did not know how to dance." Her cheeky comment directed at him to tease.<br><br>The fast pace of the music did not allow for much chit chat. They whirled around and made several passes around the floor. Doryn was strong and it took all of Hani's agility to keep up with him. But she loved every minute of it. Doryn could dance, just as well as the Elf, and it surprised Hani. Why then had he hesitated to ever ask her before? He knew she liked him. Was it Mercedes then that had his heart? Perhaps Hani had misinterpreted his cool stand off manner. He needed Hani for his information network. Maybe he really did not mix business with pleasure. Mercy was just a barmaid who liked to flirt and carry on. Did Doryn see something in her he liked better than Hani? She was not angry at this, it just made sense. <br><br>But why then was he suddenly eager to dance? And why was he acting like it bothered him that the Elf had asked her to dance? This was fun and she was determined to show Doryn he had lost out on her because he had hesitated to ever do anything but mildly flirt back. <br><br>----<br><br>The barmaid was not sure about all of this...first the handsome Captain had treated her as he always had. Mildly flirting and even dragging her onto his lap to snuggle with her and whisper in her ear. She knew this was a good way to get a few extra coins in her pocket. But more than that, she genuinely liked Doryn. He was strong and handsome and he was far from shy. He was also a marvelous tipper and did not skimp on his praise.&nbsp; Of course Mercy knew he liked Hani more than he let on. She had seen the look on his face when she came in to the room with that drop dead sexy outfit and long red curls.<br><br>Mercy had no illusions that Doryn liked her as anything other than a tavern wench with a pretty smile. She worked hard for her tips and she was proud of her fast and efficient service. What she was not prepared for was Doryn to grab her and drag her to the dance floor! Not that she did not know how to dance, more like she was supposed to be working! Her protests met with a flippant, "I don't care!" That almost made her snap back at him. But he was not going to listen, he had his hackles up and ready to do battle. Or so it seemed to Mercy.<br><br>She had no choice but to go along with him and hope the bartender, her boss, did not notice her dancing. She did her best to stay away from the bar area of the dance floor, but it was not easy when Doryn whirled her around like a madman, trying to impress Hani. At one point when he was holding her close in a tight circle and swinging her to the point her feet were off the floor, she cursed at him softly. "Captain, please..." but he ignored her, his eyes constantly glancing at Hani and the Elf.<br><br>It was with some relief that the dance went into a partner change. Mercy sighed as she realized it would be rude to run away from the Elf. Besides, he was kind of sweet and he smiled at her and asked her name. "My name is Mercedes, M'Lord. I am honored to dance with you. Even though I am supposed to be working. If we do not stray too close to the bar, the boss won't notice. At least I hope he won't. I am sure he won't get too angry. He does want customers like you to come in here and have a good time."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>14-08-2017, 23:10:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was quite an experience, dancing with someone who was rather angry at him, and honestly not the first time that Doryn enjoyed that particular pleasure. When he'd taken the Jarl's daughter on the dance floor, the blonde haired shield-maiden had been positively wroth with him and it'd been quite the struggle just to <em>get her to dance with him</em>. Mercedes wasn't quite that unwilling, but even so, the experience was similar enough as to draw a bit of fire in the Knight-Captain's eyes as he spotted something altogether unexpected in the young barmaid: a challenge. He'd never shied away from such things, and really, it only played into his hand tonight as he...<br><br>...well, to be totally honest, Doryn hadn't really decided just what he was doing yet. Was he in competition with the Elf? Was he seeking Hani for himself? Would he, now, end up taking Mercedes into his bed. The last, especially, was at least vaguely tempting. She'd never been more captivating to him than tonight, when she was for once not responding to his advances, and in so many ways it'd almost be ideal. He could get over whatever this thing was with Hani and engage in some distractions with someone else. Maybe get this whole "Barmaid" thing out of his system. Except... it felt almost like surrendering to his opponent..<br><br>"You're going to get me in trouble," Mercy all but hissed at him. "You can't let the Bartender see."<br><br>"Worry less about that and more about keeping up with me," he said, idly. All but grabbing her, pulling her into his dance,-- his style was different from most everyone else in the room, most of whom had never seen him dance before (excepting some of the nobles that had seen him at parties, and even those that had... well, this was a whole different thing. It was aggressive, forceful, as much showmanship as anything else. He was lucky that Mercedes was as light on her feet as she was, because he wasn't actually dancing a dance that she <em>knew</em>, though it matched the beat of the music well enough. "..hmmph. Not bad."<br><br>"It would help if you danced something I knew!"<br><br>Doryn just snorted, amused,--<br><br>--it wasn't easy, of course, but he didn't <em>want</em> easy. He finally relented, after a bit, dancing one of the local dances with a grace and a skill had more than a few eyes on him. Not that Ethirdir was doing considerably poorly, of course, but that also was something that Doryn was quite familiar with. He'd seen the elf on the dance floor before, and would even begrudgingly admit that the Lord had some skill, for all that Doryn had never really put his all into most of his ballroom dances. Southerners were too tame for most of his dancing, honestly, at least the Nobility.<br><br>When the song shifted, to one of those perverse dances that the Southern's had which actually involved-- <em>swapping partners,</em>-- Doryn was momentarily too put-off to even notice what good fortune that was. Not that he wasn't having fun with Mercy, of course, she really was much more interesting than he'd ever given her credit for and he'd have to pay her more attention. Even so, both of them knew, it wasn't for her that he was out on the dance floor... at least, not right at this moment.. maybe that would change?<br><br>If only she'd get over her pesky fear of losing her job. He'd reassure her, honestly,-- if they fired her, he'd pay her double to serve him at his estate,-- but it was too cute watching her in near panic.<br><br>Really, he wasn't even entirely sure why she'd be so upset, he'd distracted Mercy on past occasions for far longer than this and for less reason.<br><br>Eventually, though, they changed off partners and Doryn found that,-- rather than whatever else he expected to find,-- he was slightly upset with Hani. Not to the point that he was angry at her, or even mad, but just enough to add a bit of fire to everything. It was the kind of thing that, when she actually had to the gall to say, <em>"I see you have decided to grace us with your fancy footwork, Captain. All this time, I thought you did not know how to dance."</em><br><br>She was such a cheeky little thing; it was part of what he liked about her.<br><br>Even so, this particular comment earned a shake of his head,--<br><br>"Dear girl, sweet sweet Hani, I have to admit,-- I'd thought that you'd have done a <em>little</em> bit of research on Northmen, when I came into your life,-- but apparently I just don't interest you in that way?" he says, eyes looking down at hers, even as he begins the steps of the dance and matching them perfectly. "In the North, dancing is like sex. I do not mean that in the way you Southern's say much the same thing; it is meant in a very very direct fashion. Honestly, I find dances such as this more than a little vulgar, though not without a certain joy all their own. It's strange... I never imagined myself as someone who liked to share.."<br><br>That's all the words she gets, as the dance itself comes underway and Doryn leaves her with little room for playful banter, dancing with the same aggression and intensity that he'd shown with Mercy. Honestly, likely considerably more, if only because of the passions that have been roused up in him. It wasn't even about the Elf, really,-- this wasn't his fault,-- but the faint dismissal that he was getting from Hani was all but an insult. Yes, there had always been distance between them, but he'd still thought there was something else as well and he didn't like being so easily dismissed.<br><br>...if she'd just been toying with him all this time, playing the game that women in her profession play, Doryn wasn't sure that he'd be able to forgive her..<br><br>As the dance came to another transition, and the time approached for them to once more trade-off partners, Doryn just glanced into Hani's eyes and wondered if she knew him at all.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>15-08-2017, 11:15:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The music had them all over the dance floor, so much for keeping out of sight of the bartender!! Mercy had enough agility to keep up with Doryn, but it was not easy! The crazy Northman never even considered she made her living on her feet, ALL DAY!! When he finally let her go to change partners she breathed a sigh of relief. She would let him have an earful later, when she was not quite so busy! The Elf though, was a perfect gentleman, taking her hand and leading her into a familiar dance, and not throwing her around the dance floor like a doll! She actually enjoyed this very much. The bartender did catch her eye, but he merely shrugged. Evidently it was not that big of a deal. They had enough help tonight. Now she felt a little better and smiled at the Elf. He was rather handsome! And he knew how to dance!<br><br>----<br><br>Hani faced Doryn in the dance circle and her own eyebrows raised a fraction at his comment. "Research? You expect me to do research on the habits of crazy barbarians who dance for sex?" Of course she had totally misinterpreted his comment. But before she could utter any further comments, he whirled her off into a dizzying swirl of fast footwork and grabby hands around her waist. It was a good thing she was fast on her feet, or she would be under his in a minute! Not that he would let go of her, his grip as tight as a cork in a wine bottle that had dried to hardness. <br><br>By the time they had a reprieve in the music and it slowed to a more sedate pace, Hani had just about had enough of his attitude. She stepped away from him and panted for a few moments to catch her breath, before she calmly began. "Captain Aelland, if you had been paying attention even remotely to my efforts in the last few months, you would know that I do have an interest in you, beyond our little business arrangements. But since you chose to be about as warm as a fat trout in the Icythorn Creek flowing out of the mountains, it has been a little difficult for me to even understand what it is you want from me." She had stopped dancing and they had suddenly found themselves alone on the dance floor as the music died down. <br><br>Hani did not even notice the lack of music. Her eyes bored into Doryn's with the passion of an enraged Firedrake. No one would have approached her now with any confidence. Her red hair caught the reflection of the candles and almost seemed on fire. Her blue eyes blazed with the fury only a red headed woman was capable of. Hands on hips, she stood toe to toe with him and even though she was not shouting, everyone in the room was listening. "And now you tell me some nonsense about only wanting to dance with someone you can have sex with? Is that why you pulled Mercy off her feet to toss her around the dance floor like a puppet? Am I not good enough for you? Is that it? Mercy is my friend, and if you prefer her to me, then so be it! You have only wasted my time the last few months." She spun around then and was about to storm off the dance floor when she caught Mercy staring at her. Not waiting for anyone to stop her or make sense, she headed for the kitchen. Unless someone stopped her, she was done for the night.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>15-08-2017, 18:44:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No, you... Din trofaste kvinne! I was only dancing with her because of you!" Doryn cried out, just standing there motionless in the moment where they'd been 'dancing' a few moments ago. The enormity of everything that he'd done and which had happened finally beginning to hit him, knowing that this-- THIS was why he'd always kept Hani at a distance,- his passions for her had always run too strong. Now, though, it was too late. She was beyond angry at him, and he was jealous near to the point of violence.<br><br>...certainly to the point of making a fool of himself..<br><br>Poor Mercedes, caught off-her-guard and as insulted as she'd ever been by Doryn's words, can only stand next to Ethirdir and fume. "Does that mean I can <em>go back to work</em>, then?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>16-08-2017, 05:17:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir widened his smile a little when Mercedes offered her name. He also made sure to listen to her concerns regarding her boss seeing her dancing while on the clock, and as he slipped his arms around her and assumed their dancing position, he offered her a reassurance. "Don't worry, whether your boss sees you dancing or not, I can help smooth things over with him." <em>Money tends to do that,</em> was the unspoken assumption. There was little time after that before the pair started dancing, the Elf's thoughts clearly on Hani but his outward focus remaining on his partner - just because he was thinking of someone else didn't mean he had to be rude to his current partner. She would get his best dancing as well, by the gods...<br><br>As it turned out, her boss did eventually see Mercedes dancing that night, but he didn't see at all offended by it, which helped Mercedes relax and start to enjoy herself in the Elf's company. Ethirdir admitted that Mercedes was a fairly lovely woman, and had he not encountered Hani he might've considered going after her instead. The only thing that would've kept him from pursuing her was his desire to go after someone more challenging, and Mercedes seemed like someone who could be swayed very easily, to be honest. Easy did not mean stupid, of course, but too many evenings ending with easy seductions had worn on him, and Hani seemed like the best candidate to spice things up. Though his eyes were locked with Mercedes' and his smile was sincerely for her, his mind couldn't help but plan out ideas for wooing Hani away from the Captain...<br><br>...then something completely unexpected happened. Before the couples could swap for the next segment of the dance, a ruckus arose on the dance floor as a couple started getting into an argument. The band playing the music fell silent and other dancers ceased their steps as most eyes centered on the couple, which Ethirdir realized was Hani and Doryn. Hani was accusing Doryn of missing clear signals and suggesting some strange link between dancing and sex that he apparently was trying to communicate, and Doryn was struggling to deny her accusations. Ethirdir slowed down his dance with Mercedes so they could watch the drama unfold, and it seemed to end with Hani ready to walk away from Doryn in a huff, appearing bitter and vindictive. Ethirdir had been around women long enough to know when they were serious in their anger, and Hani's eyes made it clear she was furious with the Captain.<br><br>A thought entered the Elf's mind: this was his chance. Hani was threatening to sever her relationship with Doryn over a clear misunderstanding, and Doryn was too stunned to respond properly. All Ethirdir had to do was let this drama play out and Hani would be his for the taking. She would be easy to tempt to his bed, she...would...be easy...easy...ea...sy...<em>no</em>! This was not how he wanted things to go at all! Hani had represented a challenge, someone worthy of a proper courtship while knowing someone else with a well established history already held affection for her. To swoop in after such a dramatic display would be robbing him of that challenge...not to mention feel like a blow upon his honor. As romantic rivals, he and Doryn had never been underhanded in their romantic pursuits. Women deserved only the best romance, and cheap tactics robbed seduction of much of its charm. Seducing Hani after she had broken up with Doryn would've been easy, yes, but it would've been a backhanded blow upon his rival, one the Captain didn't deserve.<br><br>If Hani was to be wooed to his bed, it would be done properly, on equal footing. The fact that these two were either directly or indirectly involved in his business interests and would function better when their relationship was strong was also there, but practically secondary to him. He could not allow Hani and Doryn to end their relationship like this, not this easily. He would have to intervene if it was to be salvaged...<br><br>Mercedes, apparently irate at the commotion, asked if she could go back to work. Ethirdir offered her one final smile and nodded, "Yes, Mercedes, you are welcome to return to work. It seems the dancing has ended tonight." As the barmaid breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to her job, the Elf turned to the fuming couple, threatening to crack apart if something wasn't done and done soon. With dozens of eyes watching, he crossed the dance floor and reached the pair just as Hani turned to head back to the kitchen. A slender hand reached out and grabbed Hani by the shoulder, prompting her to turn around so she could face the El - the other hand promptly rested on Doryn's shoulders.<br><br>"My friends, it seems something has happened between you two...and it needs to be sorted out. If you'll please..."<br><br>With his intimidating Elfish height hovering over them, Ethirdir used his hands to lead Doryn and Hani off the dance floor, moving them to a part of the tavern that didn't have that many people surrounding them. Those who had watched the fight were still watching the trio, but no one dared get closer, giving the three at least some measure of privacy to talk. Ethirdir, however, took the lead, using his merchant experience to conjure up all his bargaining skills as he lectured the two before him.<br><br>"Now, from what I heard, there has been some misunderstanding regarding your relationship and where it stands. I may be an outsider, but allow me to speak my thoughts so that you can hopefully salvage something precious. His eyes turned toward the Captain. "Doryn, my illustrious rival, I know we joke about the number of ladies we have tempted between us, but allow me to be truthful in that of all the ladies I have seen you with, none had captured your gaze more than the lovely young woman who stands with us now. To learn that you have not pursued her as thoroughly as I would've expected tells me that you are concerned over how she might view you, and you worry you might damage a precious friendship by seeking more. Even from the little I have seen tonight, she has shown she seeks more with you, and to deny her that opportunity does her efforts a disservice. It is an honor to be wanted by someone as beautiful as Hani, my good man, so trying to keep her at arm's length for her sake is not becoming of you."<br><br>The Elf then turned his attention to Hani. "And Hani, my incredible dancing partner for this evening, I understand your frustrations. To put so much effort into signaling your interest, only to be rebuffed time and time again, it is indeed aggravating. But do not be so hard on the poor Captain. In my experience with him, he knows how to speak well, and to see his tongue fail him on this occasion can only mean one thing: he fears losing you and finds the situation so unsettling he cannot properly form coherent thoughts. Rest assured that he did not dance with Mercedes because he holds more interest in her, but because he saw us dancing and was jealous of my boldness towards you. If he genuinely did not like you, then I would understand your reaction, but I am familiar enough with the good Captain that I can see he is ashamed of his jealousy threatening the relationship you have no doubt build up for many moons."<br><br>Ethirdir stepped back so that he could look at both of them at the same time. "Perhaps it is not my place, but I cannot stand by idly and allow something so wonderful between you to break because of a misunderstanding. Hani, your expertise has been a great asset to my business time and time again, and Doryn, your recommendations for guards to protect my business has proven invaluable. Since I am indebted to you in some way, please permit me to beg you to calm down and let your history together speak louder than one bad moment. I have seen a most wonderful friendship between you two tonight, and it would be a shame to see it destroyed that same night for no adequate reason."<br><br>With that Ethirdir fell silent, hoping his words were good enough to reach them. Perhaps later that night he would kick himself for making his pursuit of Hani more difficult, but for now he felt compelled to mend something he recognized as important between two people he considered invaluable in more ways than one.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>16-08-2017, 07:11:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was no doubt that Hani was upset. Not just angry, because Doryn had danced with Mercedes and never asked her to dance, but frustration for her own silly pride getting in the way. She had no business telling Doryn who he could dance with. They were friends...weren't they? Her face was red with embarassment. For the whole tavern to see her meltdown was humiliating. She let Ethirdir lead them into an alcove where they could talk. She kept her head turned away from Doryn, not wanting to even meet his eyes. Tears stood in hers now, as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked away as Ethirdir spoke. <br><br>Was there some truth in what he said? Undoubtably, and she was fighting back the urge to scream at Doryn. He was such a brash, uncouth ruffian! Did he not know how to woo a woman without all that jumping around and tossing her from one end of the dance floor to another? The idea he was afraid to give in to her for fear of losing her was ludicrous. He made so many excuses all the time. And yet it was easy for him to take some barmaid to his bed without a second thought. All she could think of was she was not attractive to him at all and he was just being kind to keep his distance. She had a hard time believing what the Elf said.<br><br>She finally glanced at Doryn to see if he had anything to say. She was biting her tongue as it was, and if she did say anything, it might not be nice. But her mind was busy trying to sort it out. He looked like he was confused and uncertain. For a moment she almost felt sorry for him. Biting her lip, she finally blurted out. "Is this true, Captain Aelland? Were you jealous of my dancing with Ethirdir? And for Heaven's sake, would you please explain to me what you mean about the dancing? You had so many opportunities to ask me to dance in the last few months...you always leave when the music starts! Everytime I try to get closer to you, its like you are too busy to even listen to me. Honestly, Doryn, what am I supposed to think? You only want to be friends? You only want to bed the girls who ask for coin in return? I cannot even begin to understand you. I have tried my damnest! But I won't push it anymore. You can dance with whoever you want. I do not own you. On the same footing, you cannot tell me who I can dance with, and getting jealous and acting like a bull in a glass maker's shop is certainly not going to work! Your North country women might like to be tossed around, I DO NOT!"<br><br>She stopped then to let him speak. Her eyes glistened with the tears she was fighting to hold back. She had said her piece, now it was up to him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>17-08-2017, 19:35:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Even before Ethirdir had said anything, Doryn had realized just how much of a mistake he'd made, not merely in inviting the elf to his table... not merely in getting jealous, insanely so, and tormenting poor Mercy by dragging her along just to try to make another woman jealous... but, no, in having ignored what had been developing between him and Hani for so long. When she looked at him, looking for the first time in all the time Doryn had known her like she wasn't on sure footing, part of it broke his fault because he knew it was his fault. He'd kept her at a distance, and that was bad enough, but then he'd acted like the fool when she'd finally looked like she might make a connection with someone else.<br><br>At the very least, when she started talking,-- yelling, really,-- she hit her stride and didn't stop-- nor let him get a word in edgewise --until she'd covered all the territory that she'd intended to. She had the fire of a Northern Woman, it was one of the many qualities that attracted him to her, especially wedded to her more Southern traits of subtlety and delicacy. Some of her words stung, but he knew she was upset and that much of that was his fault, so he didn't interrupt...<br><br>...not until she was done.<br><br>"I was jealous, yes," he says, looking back into Hani's eyes without flinching. "I have no real defense in this. I was foolish, pigheaded, and frankly, rather insulting. I have a strict rule, that I do not get involved with my buisness partners adn,-- well,-- I have obviously broken it. <em>This</em>, in point of fact, is an example of why I have that rule. I also understand that I was not as clear on that matter with you, and I apologize, I thought.. Well, it mas not my intention that you thought me uninterested. I have never been that..."<br><br>He sighs, running a hand through his hair and pacing a bit through the back room that Ethirdir had brought them to.<br><br>Here, at least, they had some privacy and while Doryn hadn't exactly been shy about airing everything in front of the entire Dewdrop: he was still glad for some privacy now.<br><br>"..I should have been more upfront with you, but I enjoyed our interactions too much, I wanted some excuse to break my rule. On this night, though, my only excuse... my only <em>defense</em>... is that it's considerably easier for me to ignore my feelings for you when you're not flirting with another man not 5-feet from me," he says, glancing over at Lord Talion, giving the Elf a bit of a nod. In truth, Ethirdir surprised him with his actions on this night, he'd have expected most Southerners to jump in and take advantage of his misstep. There was a certain canniness to the action, of course, but it was still one that prolonged the game rather than seeking to short-cut straight to the end. It was an action that Sir Aelland could respect. "Not that you were in the wrong in any regard. You are free to engage with whomever you want, to... dance.. with whomever you want but I must confess that when you accepted his invitation.."<br><br>It's enough to make the normally rather forceful and even gallant Knight-Captain of the City Guard look slightly bashful.<br><br>"...the act of dancing is a different thing in the North, than here in the South. It is very intimate, a thing that <em>Lovers</em> do, a thing that men kill one another over. I was, in point of fact, exiled from my homelands for dancing with the daughter of my J-- my Lord. The best way to explain it is that Dance is considered.. a prelude... every bit as much as slowly removing a woman's clothes or kissing every bit of her." Poor Doryn actually looks <em>embarrassed</em> at this point, both at explaining these facts about his culture and at his own behavior,-- the thoughts that Hani must've realized were running through his head,- and for the first time in this conversation the Knight-Captain cannot quite look at her anymore. "I'm mostly rather level-headed about these matters, I know it is not the same in the South and I have adjusted. More or less. I still find some of your dances rather perverse and the entire custom of 'cutting in' is something that would get one or the other partner killed or maimed in the North. Even so... I shouldn't have acted like I did."<br><br>He sighs, looking back up at Hani.<br><br>"I just don't have it in me to be level-headed where you are concerned, despite what a mess I have made of things."<br><br>He honestly thinks that,-- he should just go,-- he's made enough of a mess of things for tonight.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 06:14:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After pleading his case to the both of them, Ethirdir could only stand back and see how the two of them reacted to his words and, more importantly towards each other. Hani was the first to respond, and she stated clearly what Doryn might've found confusing earlier, telling the Captain exactly what she thought of him and how confused and hurt she was by his behavior. There were genuine emotion in her eyes, which struggled to contain tears, and Ethirdir would've reached out to embrace her during a more appropriate moment.<br><br>Then came Doryn's turn to respond, and he did his best to explain his reasoning and his beliefs that had come into conflict with Hani's expectations. Confirmations of jealousy, explanations of the "sex and dancing" connection that had sounded baffling earlier, and a several other words that did their best to let Hani see Doryn's side of the argument. The only thing missing was a direct apology, and Ethirdir certainly noticed the lack of that necessary component. In his limited dealings with the Captain, apologies coming from the man had been rare, so it wasn't out of character. But didn't he know a man was supposed to apologize to a lady, regardless of whether he was at fault or not...?<br><br>But Ethirdir couldn't force Doryn to apologize - it would sound forced and insincere to Hani, who likely wanted something authentic. All Ethirdir could do was hope the Captain would swallow his pride and give the girl what she wanted. That, and...<br><br>"It is clear to me that a lot of misunderstanding has crept between you two," the Elf finally said, "and there is still much that needs to be cleared up. But I cannot speak for either of you any further than I already have - I can only hope you both see it fit to talk things out." A pause, and then he continued, "However, I can speak for myself. Perhaps I can...apologize for my own role in the proceedings tonight. I did not wish an urge to go dancing Hani to devolve into an argument between you two, and I am sorry that it has happened like this. Perhaps as a way of apologizing fully...allow me to invite you both to dinner. Doryn, you have hosted me numerous times in the past at one of your lavish affairs, but I have never returned the favor. I think it is time I rectified that, but with something more personal with just the three of us. And Hani, you and I still have an appointment to...appraise your item, but it would be an honor to host you in my home as well. I do not hold gatherings at my home lightly, so my decision to host the both of you should tell you how much I believe in the two of you to recover from this misunderstanding."<br><br>Ethirdir knew that the two of them would need to work out their argument partially in private, but he hoped that the offer of a dinner hosted at his home would encourage them further.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 11:44:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With her arms still crossed over her chest, Hani looked every inch the offended maiden. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Angrilly she wiped them away and listened to Doryn try to explain. Then she waited for the apology. Surely he intended on telling her how sorry he was for his behavior? And he owed Mercy an apology as well. Hani tilted her head and stared at Doryn as he suddenly looked embarassed! She had to fight the twitch on her lips as he described the dancing in the North as some kind of foreplay. She blinked as he called the Southern dances perverse. Still she waited as he stood there looking like he now wanted the floor to open up and swallow him. <br><br>She was about to say something, when Ethirdir stepped forward and started apologising for asking her to dance in the first place. Before she dealt with Doryn, she needed to reassure the Elf. "It is not your fault whatsoever! All you could see was the same I was experiencing! How were you to know Doryn would suddenly decide to be jealous? It was a game we played. He flirts a little, I flirt a little. No one is taking it seriously!" Hani moved to the Elf and took his slender hands in hers. "You are a marvelous dancer and I was enjoying the whole thing...until Doryn decided to drag Mercy into the show. Honestly, you did nothing wrong! As far as our business dealings, we will do that, have no doubt I will be here tomorrow so you can escort me to your place of business. I am sure that Doryn is not going to send one of his minions to spy on me." She glared at Doryn pointedly.<br><br>At the entrance to the private room, another serving girl poked her head in. "Are you done with the table upstairs so we can clear it? I can bring your wine down here if you prefer?" It became clear that Mercy was not about to show her face to them again tonight, and Hani did not blame her.<br><br>"Bring it down here and we will keep this private. I have a few things to work out with the Captain. I am not sure there is much wine left in the bottle anyway." Hani told the girl. Then she turned back to Doryn.<br><br>"I think Ethirdir's invitation is a marvelous idea! I like the thought of all of us having some fun together. There is no need for jealousy amongst friends, don't you agree?" She was still holding the Elf's hands. If this was going to get Doryn angry or jealous, she was just waiting for it, so she could tell him in no uncertain terms, she did not 'belong' to anyone but herself. If he did not apologise really soon, she would not be doing much flirting anymore. It irked her that he did not see how this culture clash was affecting them all. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 17:52:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It wasn't easy for Doryn to admit to a mistake,-- not <em>honestly</em>, at any point,-- the odds were that if Sir Aelland was playing at the humble and unassuming role then he was gaming you and setting you up for a fall. Genuine actual contrition, though, just didn't come to the Northman all that easily and he quite honestly didn't even <em>realize</em> that he'd left something out of his statement until the Elf actually apologized for his role in everything that had happened. It earned a bit of a quirked brow from Doryn, who naturally assumed that Lord Talion was up to something. Only when Hani assured the Elf that he was not at fault, that he hadn't done anything wrong,-- a summary that he had to agree with as certainly all of the mistakes tonight had come on his end, starting with actually <em>inviting the Elf to his table when he was expecting Hani</em>,-- did Doryn finally make the connection and realize just what game Eithirdir was playing at...<br><br>...it actually earned a bit of a snort from the Northman, even as he ran through everything in his head, at least until he actually <em>thought about</em> the things that he'd realized. Not only had he acted the fool and insulted Hani and Mercy both, but if he was honest with himself, his mistakes ran back even further than that. Everything about how he'd interacted with the beautiful Innkeeper's daughter had been in error, and while the correct choice of action would have been to simply- as was his own rule,-- keep everything professional: it was far too late for that now.<br><br>"I am a fool," he said, frowning, looking genuinely contrite as he looked over at Hani. He could see in her eyes just what the Elf had been getting at, that he really needed to apologize, and worse he was fairly sure that Hani was both of the exact same opinion and rather miffed that he hadn't already. Much of the damage was already done, of course, but Doryn did what he could: which in this case consisted of falling down to his knees and looking up at the innkeeper's daughter with beseeching eyes. "Please, I beg your forgiveness, not merely for tonight,-- where I acted like a blind dumb cad,-- but for how I've been treating you all these months."<br><br>He wouldn't have cared who walked in on him at the moment...<br><br>...which was good, because it was at that precise moment that the door opened again and in walked Hani's Father.<br><br>"Please, Hani, I cannot demand your forgiveness,-- only ask for it,- and you, Sir!" Doryn said, glancing over at Hani's father. "I owe you my apology. I have dishonored your daughter! Your establishment! Even our buisness relationship! It was not my intention, but it was the overall results of my action and I--"<br><br>"--get off the floor, you damned chill-hearted bastard," Hani's father said, so strongly-- and gruffly,-- that Doryn did just that. Though the Northman's actual demeanor changed but a little, even though part of him realized that he'd probably overdid it a little. Still, that was who he was, and it wouldn't be the first time that his antics had gotten him in trouble. "Now, my dove, what exactly does Sir Aelland mean when he says that he <em>dishonored</em> you? Should I be getting my Ax? I rather hope not. I'd rather not find a new provider for our wine."<br><br>His attention falling, lightly, on the elf in whose hand his daughter's is resting.<br><br>It's rather obvious that the old gruff man looks, more than anything else, rather dubious at this entire situation.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>20-08-2017, 20:37:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It seemed that between Ethirdir's comments and Hani's, Sir Doryn finally took the hint! When he fell to his knees and looked up at her with what she saw as genuine contrition. Begging her forgiveness, and admitting to all his foolishness prior to tonight. Now Hani was about to say something, like how they were both guilty of misunderstandings, as Ethirdir pointed out. But she was not to be given the chance, as her father, Sirus Silverthorn, walked in the door. <br><br>Now on the surface, it looked odd. Hani holding the Elf's hands and Doryn on his knees begging. Hani blushed scarlet as she turned to face her father. Now, she could have explained, that they were just settling a minor argument and all was well. But then Doryn had to continue! Even addressing Sirus and apologizing to him of dishonor! Hani gasped as his words flew. Doryn made it sound ten times worse than it had been. <br><br>"--get off the floor, you damned chill-hearted bastard," Hani's father said, so strongly-- and gruffly,-- that Doryn did just that. Though the Northman's actual demeanor changed but a little, even though part of him realized that he'd probably overdid it a little. Still, that was who he was, and it wouldn't be the first time that his antics had gotten him in trouble. "Now, my dove, what exactly does Sir Aelland mean when he says that he dishonored you? Should I be getting my Ax? I rather hope not. I'd rather not find a new provider for our wine."<br><br>"Father, it is not like that!! I am still your chaste daughter! Doryn and I had a slight cultural clash is all. A misunderstanding that led to him getting inappropriate with me and also with Mercy. He has apologized and I accept that heartfelt plea." She turned to Doryn, a warning in her eyes. "Sir Doryn, you are forgiven. We will finish our wine and go our separate ways for this evening." She smiled at him then, a look of compassion in her eyes now. Whether he meant it or not, she would find out later.<br><br>Hani cleared her throat and let go of Ethirdir's hands, to face her father once more. "Father, this fine Elf noble, Ethirdir, has graciously invited Doryn and myself to dine at his home. He has also stepped in to bring peace between us. He is a gentleman and also a very good dancer!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>23-08-2017, 07:09:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It would've been a lie to suggest that Ethirdir's apologies were entirely without an underlying purpose - appearing contrite and offering a small assignment of blame upon himself would play well - but it also would've been a greater lie to suggest his apologies were insincere. The Elf did feel some small amount of remorse for instigating the argument between these two, and did feel some responsibility for doing what he could to repair their relationship, despite how detrimental that would be to his chances with Hani. So his relief was genuine when Hani didn't blame him at all for what had happened, and even seemed to agree with his words. He hadn't expected her to take his hand like she did, but he welcomed the gesture, finding her grip gentle and warm. Doubtless she did this to make clear to the Captain that she would not tolerate his lack of an apology, and for a moment Ethirdir wondered if his efforts had all been for naught.<br><br>But hark, the Northerner gained an epiphany and realized what he needed to do, falling to his knees and begging Hani for forgiveness. Doryn's efforts were also genuine, if a little over the top, but no one could doubt his sincerity as he begged for Hani to forgive his jealousy and his treatment of her. Ethirdir smiled, and he was about to chime in...<br><br>...when someone else stepped in to interrupt the moment, immediately creating an awkward presentation of Hani holding the Elf's hands while Doryn begged for forgiveness of transgressing against Hani's honor. Upon realizing that the newcomer was Hani's father, the Elf immediately grew nervous, worried at what interpretation the man might make of the situation. Ethirdir was prepared to defend his reputation against any unwarranted suspicions, but thankfully Hani stepped in and explained everything, including how Ethirdir had stepped in to make peace between the barmaid and the Captain. The Elf couldn't help but smile at her compliments about his dancing - at least he had made an adequate impression upon her as he had hoped.<br><br>"It was my honor to assist as I could, my good sir," he said, addressing Hani's father politely. "I have indeed invited both your daughter and her friend the Captain to dinner at my home, as they are both fascinating individuals that I would love to get to know, and..."<br><br>His eye caught some movement by the door, and to his surprise he saw a familiar face: handsome but scruffy, with hair grown almost with the purpose of being wild and several facial markings that Ethirdir couldn't remember whether they were traditional or accidental. "Theolin...what are you doing here?" he asked as his trusted subordinate stepped into the room, joining the group already there.<br><br>"Getting a drink, sir," Theolin answered. "Was having a nice sip of mead on the upper floor when I happened to glance down at the dance floor and saw you dancing. Watched long enough to witness the whole mess play out, and figured I'd stop by to make sure you were all right and all."<br><br>Despite being an Elf, Theolin held no trappings of the nobility in his demeanor or behaviors, instead acting more like the fence he was. He was in stark contrast to the more aristocratic Ethirdir, though Ethirdir considered him incredibly cunning when it was necessary in their line of business. He was a man whom the noble Elf would trust with his life.<br><br>"I'm all right, Theolin," Ethirdir assured the Elf. "There was a bit of...discussion, but everything seems to have turned out for the best, so you need not worry."<br><br>"Good, then," Theolin replied before pausing and then shifting a little as he stood. "There was...another question, I had sir. When you were dancing earlier, noticed you dance with...a young lady, one of the serving girls. Caught my eye, she did. Looked mighty lovely dancing with you, wouldn't mind giving it a try myself. Was wondering if you perhaps knew her name."<br><br>"Oh, her?" Ethirdir said. "Her name is Mercedes. If you want to find her...well, you could ask the owner of the establishment here." The Elf then pointed a finger at Hani's father.<br><br>Without skipping a beat, Theolin turned to face the towering man, but hesitated upon seeing the man, wondering if he might overstep his boundaries by asking him anything. "Um...good evening, sir. Your serving girl...Mercedes...was wondering if I might get a chance to talk to her? Ask her if she'd like a drink...off the clock, of course..."<br><br>While Theolin nervously talked to Hani's father, Ethirdir turned to face Doryn and Hani. "Well, it seems things have started to settle between you two, of which I am glad. And I was not making an idle promise of dinner. Would both of you be free, say, in three days time, around five of evensong? I can always reschedule if this time and day doesn't work for either of you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>23-08-2017, 23:41:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was a moment, after Hani's explanation of what was going to happen, where Doryn and the Elder Silverthorn stared off at each other.<br><br>The truth was, Doryn liked to think that him and the old retired adventurer got along, they had shared the odd tale of their wanderings at the bar back in the day and laughed at one another's more hilarious exploits. It'd been a warm camaraderie that had lasted right up until Hani had stepped into the room and Doryn had seen her for the first time. That'd been the beginning of the end of the warm friendship that might otherwise had developed between the two 'retired adventurers', for Sirus knew exactly the sort of man that Doryn was and he didn't like that such a fellow was interested in his daughter. No amount of assurances had eased the strain that it'd placed on their relationship, nor would such even be possible, for at the end of the day...<br><br>...Hani was Sy's daughter and he was rather protective of her. Just as, he was sure, Doryn will one day be protective of his own children.<br><br>Especially if they grow up to be women as captivating and intoxicatingly beautiful as Hani.<br><br>"Hmmph, what'd you do now then?" Sirus finally asked, glancing down at Doryn like... well, like a very very disapproving father.<br><br>Doryn stood, with some care, slightly uncomfortable on his knees at this point. "..I got jealous when your daughter danced with someone else..."<br><br>It was embarrassing when that answer made Sirus laugh, uproariously, shaking his head and rolling his eyes a bit before Hani's fathers eyes fell on the Elf that had been holding his daughter's hand when he walked in. Doryn, also, watched this exchange even as he was grateful that the older man's attention was off of him for the moment. Ethirdir, though, got a bit of surcease that he'd not gotten,--<br><br>--in the form of another Elf, sticking his head in the door and inquiring after Mercedes,--<br><br>Doryn almost felt sorry for the other Elf, or at least he would if he had much in the way of sympathy left for Elves, when that poor bastard felt the attention of Sirus Silverthorn on him. Hani might be his daughter but the old bear of an Innkeeper was protective of all the young women that he worked with and <em>especially</em> so poor Mercy. Or, at least, that's how it always felt to the Captain.<br><br><em>"Um...good evening, sir. Your serving girl...Mercedes...was wondering if I might get a chance to talk to her? Ask her if she'd like a drink...off the clock, of course..."</em><br><br>Sirus snorted a bit, looking down at the fellow, and Doryn wasn't sure how he'd react at first. "She's working, and busy, but she's a chatty girl. Behave yourself and don't harass her, or I'll throw you out of here myself, from what I heard she's been harassed more than enough tonight..."<br><br>It made him flinch, just a bit, when he heard it.<br><br>He really did need to apologize to Mercy, as well, for all that the two of them flirted and teased one another,-- in the most harmless ways, with it obvious to both that neither were all that interested in taking things any further than the occasional bout of her sitting on his lap or a somewhat flirty kiss, both for largely the same reason... that being his infatuation with Hani-- she'd almost certainly forgive him, of course, though she would probably make him grovel to some degree or another. Especially is she heard of his apology to Hani.<br><br>Even as the other Elf nervously assured the Innkeeper that he'd behave himself and not do anything inappropriate,-- which in other circumstances would have had Doryn smiling a bit,-- Ethirdir was turning toward the two of them and once again mentioning the dinner party to which he'd invited the two of them. It was a friendly invitation, and Doryn honestly found himself rather appeased by it, despite the fact that he wanted to hate the pouncy pointy-ear'd git who had danced with... well, Hani wasn't his girl, was she? None the less, he smiled and nodded.<br><br>"I didn't get the chance to say, but yes, I'd love to take dinner at your estate," Doryn finally said, smiling a bit. "Though, I'm afraid you'll have to add another day to that count, or remove one. If such is acceptable, though, I look forward to the evening. Hopefully with rather less drama than on this night. I hope you, as well, can forgive me for my actions earlier. I let my passions get the better of me."<br><br>"As you damnable Northerners are prone to," Sirus said, moving over toward his daughter and putting an arm around her, having finally finished with the other Elf. "You're a grown woman, so I won't tell you that you can or can't attend this party, but I expect you both to treat my little girl as if I was standing over your shoulder the entire time. If I hear that anything untoward happens to her..."<br><br>The last bit of that statement is allowed to peter off, rather ominously.<br><br>Doryn, swallowing a bit, simply nods.<br><br>"Of course, Sir," Doryn says, nodding. "I will treat Hani with only the utmost respect, of that, you have my word."<br><br>It was a very different wording that he usually used in these circumstances,-- normally, when so accused, he'd toss something out like: 'I have no intentions, dishonorable or otherwise, toward your daughter,' or, 'You need not worry about your Daughter where I am concerned, my good man.' Some other statement that, rather firmly, makes it known that <em>he isn't interested in Hani</em>. Except...<br><br>...well, this time, he doesn't say it.<br><br>Even he isn't <em>entirely</em> sure why.<br><br>...there's no doubt in his mind, though, that Sirus took notice of the lack of that postscript. He doesn't say anything, though, merely raising his brow a bit and watching Doryn dubiously.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>24-08-2017, 02:49:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Just when Hani thought everything was under control, Doryn had to speak up, admitting to his jealousy! That was all Hani did not need! The only way she had gotten around her father most of the time, was to insist that none of the men who flirted with her took it seriously! She did it because it got her better tips! As did all the girls, it was a common and accepted part of the Southern culture. To hear her father laughing at Doryn was a bit of relief, at least he did not think it was that bad. Though he was sometimes a little over protective of all the staff, he seemed to take a rather different view when it came to Sir Aelland. Nobles were encouraged to come in the Dew Drop, and their gold flowed freely into the till. It was only good business to remain cordial to the Captain of the Guard. But he remained her father and would not tolerate any monkey business, as he clearly stated.<br><br>Hani remained quiet and on edge as they spoke looking from one to the other as if expecting them to explode at any moment. Then her father was distracted by the Elf, who was gracious enough to continue to smooth things over. Hani grew increasingly grateful to Ethirdir, admiring his finesse and manners, so much in contrast to Doryn's rough at times ways of dealing with trouble. The fact he had assistants who often interceded on his behalf only pointed to a well organised business. The assistant was very handsome in his own way. A bit scruffy by Elven standards, which surprised her. But his eagerness to meet Mercy made Hani grin. The pert dark haired beauty would be suitably impressed. She seemed to like the type. <br><br>It was Doryns final words to Sy that made Hani quirk a brow, it did not seem like the normal Doryn...what was he thinking? Before Sy could come up with a retort, Hani decided she had enough for one evening. Hugging her father and giving him a kiss on his bearded cheek, she smiled. "You are always number one Papa! I think I will turn in for the night. I have early shift in the morning and you know how that crowd is!"<br><br>She then turned to Ethirdir and smiled. "I would be delighted to attend, Lord Talion. I have never visited an Elven estate, I quite look forward to it. I shall wear my Sunday best and I am sure Sir Aelland will have a carriage to bring us there, as it would be difficult to ride a horse in a dress. The day is open as far as I can see, whenever you and Doryn decide is best. Now I must go, I beg your leave. Tomorrow is a busy day, I will see you at noon?" She gave Doryn a meaningful glance to make sure he understood his duty to bring her to the Elven estate in style! <br><br>Hani gave one last cheeky smile at Doryn, before she left. The men seemed intent on finishing the wine, which was fine with her. Let them discuss the wine or whatever, she was out of there! The night had been strange to say the least. Hani made her way to the upper floor of the Inn where she had her private room. It was not much, just a single large room with a huge closet and a dresser and bed. There was a chest at the end of the bed that contained her treasures. It was locked, not with a key, but with a magical lock. Not only words but certain levers and pressure points to push, and a deadly bit of poisoned needle inserted into the final opening, that even she had to be careful to avoid. Hani got ready for bed, crawling into the soft sheets to snuggle under the covers. Reaching one hand to snuff the candle out, she relaxed.<br><br>She would need to open the chest tomorrow, before noon. She would be ready for the handsome Elf, Ethirdir to appraise her latest acquisition. She had to get rid of it soon. Hani knew he was the only one who could even begin to know what a dangerous thing the Bloodstone was.<br><br>That idiot Lord Berenholt had found it in some corner of his estate. Not knowing what it was even until his servant speculated on the possibility of it being the famed Bloodstone. Not many people knew where Bloodstones came from. It’s proper term would have been a basilisk heart. That is what the Elves called them, as that is where they were found, in the belly of a basilisk, next to its heart. The basilisk formed the red crystal from its own body secretions, in answer to the ingestion of a grain of Nullstone. It was an attempt to rid its body of the irritation, much like an oyster manufactures a pearl.<br><br>Nullstone on its own was a highly prized commodity, found only in the deepest parts of the earth, mainly in Dwarven mines. The Dwarves hated magic, they considered it dishonest and deceitful to use magic, when a hammer or axe or even a sword would give opponents an even chance. They knew that Nullstones were a potent anti magic force. They absorbed magic, taking it away from a caster like a leech from a body, sucking the life out of them as sure as if they were being drained of blood.<br><br>Hani considered the consequences of her stealing the Bloodstone from the Baron. He might not even notice it was gone. Hani had substituted a ruby in its place, the same size and color. In her eyes the ruby was prettier. Maybe he would like it and never say a word. That is until he tried to use the stone to enhance his very limited magic ability. It might even work for a time. Though not like the Bloodstone…<br><br>Hani shuddered. Well she knew of the effects of the Bloodstone on a mage. She had watched one of her friends succumb to the madness. The Bloodstone was cursed from the beginning, with the tiny grain of Nullstone at its core. The resulting clash between the basilisk’s natural magical ability and the Nullstone drove a mage crazy. It was like being in a room with a discordant set of bells ringing, off key and causing the teeth to clench. It was subtle, however. The ability to focus magic spells and increase the power of the spells was so great it fooled them into thinking all was well. Slowly corrupting the mind and eroding the health of the caster until they were almost berserk with uncontrolled use of their most destructive spells. Thankfully her friend had rid herself of the Basilisk Heart before it caused irreparable damage.<br><br>As she drifted off to sleep, Hani thought about the slight misunderstanding she had with Doryn. He was so hard to understand at times. He seemed to have no problem bedding women all over the city, yet when he flirted with her, it was all innuendo and play. She had no idea he was taking her flirting seriously at all. He never gave her a clue, just tease and flirt. Even when she brought it up at the table in front of the Elf, claiming she and Doryn were friends, and no more. He was quick to state he was not looking to settle down. <br><br>She was comfortable dancing with Ethirdir. He was an excellent dancer and a gentleman! Not like he was flirting with her...well...maybe he was a little. But she did not think he was doing anything wrong by asking her to dance. After all, Doryn would never stay to dance with her. He gave every indication that he preferred the high class ladies in the Upper Terraces for anything like that. <br><br>The fact he suddenly decided to get jealous of his friend...boggled Hani’s mind. She punched her pillow and turned over, trying to get comfortable.<em> Dammit, Doryn...make up your mind!</em><br><br>The thoughts whirled through her head as she tried to get some rest. Doryn was handsome and strong. He had a marvelous way of saying what was on his mind and not caring who heard him. It tickled her to see him put people in their places with a few well chosen words. He was smart and canny, but most thought him an uncivilized barbarian. <br><br>What bothered her tonight was her own reaction to his sudden jealousy. Why did she care? He never even gave her a kiss! Not like Mercy, who was often coaxed into his lap. How could he be so casual with Mercy and openly lusty? He seemed to put Hani in a different light. What did he mean when he said the only barmaid he wanted in his bed was Hani? He was only joking...wasn’t he? Every time that Hani got near him enough to touch him or coax him into doing something, he shied away. <br><br>Someday...yes someday...she would catch him alone somewhere. When he had no clue what was happening, and she could trap him into a position where he had no escape. Then he would have to…<br><br>Her mind drifted off into the fantasy….Doryn in a room, on a bed, tied to the posts, spread eagled and vulnerable as Hani teased and tempted him until he begged for it. Hani snorted, like he would ever let himself be put in that position…<br><br>Maybe...Doryn in a room at the Inn. A private room where he could relax and enjoy a glass of fine brandy and a comfortable chair. Hani bringing him a tray of finger foods, which she would feed him one bite at a time. Her sexiest outfit, the white blouse which had a way of drifting off her shoulders, the tight corset, accenting her tiny waist and full hips. The skirt full and ruffled, with nothing under it but her soft warm flesh.<br><br>Hani grinned in her sleep, this was a delicious thought. Doryn gazing at her with that sultry stare. No jokes now...this was Hani’s dream, she would do what she wanted to do. He had no choice in the matter. <br><br>Casually she set the tray down and smiled at him. “Are you hungry? I have a few treats here. Imported cheese from the Eastern mountains. Fruit from our own vast hills, berries and apples. Smoked meats from the Gruseman Butcher. I don’t know how he does it, but these are heavenly. The crackers are from the Holloway Bakery, the best in town. Also tiny cakes with flavored frosting...candy that is so delicious you cannot stop eating it.”<br><br>While he noticed the tray and eyed it curiously, she smirked as she moved to straddle his lap. He made room for her in the chair, his eyes devouring her in that maddening way. “Hani, you know your father could come in at any moment...is this wise?” Though he did not hesitate to put his glass of brandy down and wrap his arms around her. He was trying to put her off again! But he was not getting away this time. She had him right where she wanted him.<br><br>It took him a moment to realize her center was warming his crotch very well. His body reacted accordingly until he was squirming with the pleasant but increasingly uncomfortable sensations. “You know I don’t mix business...with...pleasure…” he trailed off as Hani lifted a brow and silenced him with a grape into his mouth. <br><br>“Hush!” she admonished him. “We are having a private meeting, and no one else is allowed in to disturb us. Father is busy in the kitchen, he is making his famous trailbread. His biggest seller. He makes it in huge batches, and it takes him all night to finish.”<br><br>One of her hands was gently kneading his shoulder as the other reached for more treats to feed him. “I have you right where I want you now. We have some things to discuss. Or rather, I am going to give you some very important information. When you are sufficiently relaxed.” <br><br>His mouth full of food, Doryn could not say much, but he was enjoying the pressure of Hani’s body straddling his. He was still cool and slightly amused by her words. “You have me, what is it you wanted to discuss?” He accepted a bite of spicy sausage that left his mouth tingling with heat. Before he could protest, she offered a berry that had a tart sweetness to it that perfectly set off the spice of the sausage.<br><br>“First of all, you have been very cool to me all this time. The flirting and teasing is fun, I will admit. But your behavior the other night suggests that you have feelings that go beyond a mere casual fling. I know I am not familiar with all of the Northern customs. I have no one to ask but you. So...tell me. Why do you act differently with Mercy than me?” She did not give him much leeway to answer. <br><br>He hemmed and hawed a bit, not like Doryn at all. Hani leaned forward, her hands cupping his face. “You give Mercy sweet kisses, where are mine? Don’t I deserve kisses for all I do for you?” She rested her forehead on his, their noses touching as she nuzzled gently, teasing him with her mouth so close to his. She thought she saw something in his eyes, was that fear? Or excitement? The bulge beneath her crotch expanded and Doryn shifted as the pressure built. His hands gently roamed over her back and sides, feeling the warmth of her body under the corset. “You are different…” he whispered. He wanted to kiss her, she could tell, but not badly enough, in her mind.<br><br>Where was the brave and bold barbarian who stood up to a gang of slavetraders and singlehandedly took down four of them? Trembling in his chair under her weight as if she was something to fear?<br><br>“Whatever you are, Doryn...I do not see you hurting me...I do not think you would deliberately do so. I am sturdier than I look.” She whispered back softly. Was he afraid of her father coming in on them? Was there something he was not telling her? The questions irritated Hani so much she continued to tease him. <br><br>Now she gave him sweet gentle kisses on his brow and cheeks. Her breath fanned his face as she murmured softly. “I am not asking for much. I am not naive enough to think you want to marry the Innkeepers daughter, not when you have noble ladies vying for your attentions. All I want is a kiss. Can you do that?”<br><br>His breathing had quickened even as she tormented him. His hands moved to her hips and the bunched skirt which seemed inclined to ride up a little. “Hani, you are tempting me beyond reason. I should not be here with you now. This is far too easy to lead to trouble…” He trailed off as his hands found a way to get under her skirt. Soft warm skin was what he found. He almost whimpered as Hani shifted and her hips moved against him. <br><br>This was so much fun, Hani could only grin and continue to kiss his face. Now she was getting closer to his mouth and he was having a hard time controlling his urges. This was Trouble, and he knew it. But she was pinning him down. As her lips neared his he started kissing her face in return. His lips warm and gentle as he let his fingers wander below. <br><br>The moment she finally let him capture her cherry red lips, it was like a chime in her head. His lips were so sweet and delicious..she thought she heard him moan as he tightened his hold on her and deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding over her mouth, seeking inside. Hani licked, then sucked on his lower lip, playfully nipping. It was like a thunderbolt, he reacted with a growl and a firmer hold on her ass. Hani felt him surge below and her reactions matched his. Her fingers now curling into his hair as she let his tongue inside. His hungry kisses now were no longer gentle, but full of passion and need. <br><br>It was at that moment that Mercy knocked on her door. “Hani! Time to get up! The breakfast crowd is starting to come in!” Hani jumped up, gasping at the intensity of the dream! It had seemed so real!<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>25-08-2017, 06:47:03</strong>
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				It was clear that Sirus was not in the mood to let completely unknown harass the girls who worked for him, but Theolin also noticed that the man’s words didn’t at all prohibit the Elf from talking to Mercedes. All Theolin had to do was not harm the woman, and it would be entirely up to him to how to talk to the woman. This suited the Elf just fine, though he made it clear he didn’t have any malicious intentions.<br><br>“Yeh sir, won’t do anything to harm her, I swear. She’ll be treated right, I bet a purchase of your best wine on it.” He glanced at his boss, who was still talking with Hani and Doryn, and realized now might not be the best time to approach Mercedes. “Will come back tomorrow, after things settle down. No need to tell her about me if you don’t want.”<br><br>While Theolin was offering reassurances to the frustrated tavern owner, Ethirdir was finishing up his discussion with the two he had invited to his home for dinner. Both seemed very smitten with the idea, though Doryn requested moving the date by a date in either direction, which was fine for the Elf. “Very well, how about we move the date a day ahead? That should give us plenty of time to look forward to the event.” He punctuated that statement with a sly smile, as if to suggest he was not the kind of party host to do anything half-heartedly. He planned on making things memorable, no matter how small the affair was.<br><br>Hani left shortly thereafter, though not before he confirmed with her that their meeting would indeed still be tomorrow at noon. After she departed, Ethirdir felt it proper for him to depart as well. He offered best wishes to Sirus, complimenting him for such an incredible place of business, and then faced Doryn, placing an encouraging hand upon the Captain’s shoulder.<br><br>“Hani is a lovely young lady, my dear Doryn. She deserves only the best, which I intend to give to her. I expect you to do the same.” The statement made it clear Ethirdir’s intentions regarding Hani, though it also implied a mutual respect for the Captain so long as they both gave Hani what both of them likely felt she deserved.<br><br>With Theolin in tow, Ethirdir departed from the room and made his exit from the inn, making the long walk with his associate back to his home estate in anticipation for the following day.<br><br><hr><br>Ethirdir awoke early the next morning, eager to get the day started by prepping for his meeting with Hani later in the afternoon. His eagerness was partially fueled by the numerous dreams he had experienced last night, many of which had directly involved Hani. Elves were known to be fairly vivid dreamers, and some of those dreams were enough to bring a small amount of shame to a race that seemed incapable of feeling any. However, nothing that Ethirdir could recall from his dreams involving himself and Hani made him feel ashamed – if he played his cards correctly, some of those dreams might eventually become reality.<br><br>Despite his immense wealth that he had accumulated over the years, Ethirdir never once considered hiring staff to help him dress – he considered such a thing an unnecessary luxury. Instead he enjoyed choosing his own clothing, and he did so this morning with a careful eye. Eventually, he settled on a slender red suit adorned with light splashes of complementing color across the shoulders and the hems while not blending too easily with his crimson hair. A pair of black boots and a weapon attached to his black belt that looked more ceremonial than functional (though it was heavily the latter) helped complete the ensemble, and as he looked himself over in the mirror he felt satisfied that he would look good for his meeting with Hani.<br><br>A quick but full breakfast was eaten afterward, and after some morning business that needed to be taken care of he departed his estate to make the walk to the store where he and Hani had agreed to meet. Upon arriving, he found Theolin was already there, dealing with a pair of customers, a male and a female. Upon closer inspection, Ethirdir realized that the male was a full-blooded Elf, a Peridan, and the woman looked like she was a half-Elf. It had been a while since he had seen a half-Elf, but she looked beautiful enough that he could see why the male Elf seemed utterly smitten with her.<br><br>The pair were wrapping up their business with Theolin as Ethirdir strolled to the front counter, and as they turned to leave he politely stopped them. “Good morning, I’m the owner of this establishment. I trust you were treated well by my associate?”<br><br>The male smiled warmly and nodded. “We were, thank you.” A long arm reached out and embraced the woman beside him. “We’re on our honeymoon, traveling the world together, and we stopped by looking for something to remember this city by. Your associate gave us some good options to choose from that we will decide on.”<br><br>“I see,” Ethirdir said with a pleased grin. “Well, congratulations to the both of you, I wish you both the best.”<br><br>The couple thanked Ethirdir and walked out of the store, hand in hand. The merchant smiled, finding the couple almost adorable – he knew that half-Elves didn’t live as long as full-blooded Elves, but he suspected those two would make the most of their time together.<br><br>With that aside finished, Ethirdir turned to face Theolin, who stepped out from behind the counter so he could approach his boss with an almost sheepish look on his face. “Hey, um…was wondering, sir…do you mind if I take off a little early from work today? Wanted to stop by that inn and see if that lady is available…can stay if you need me, though…”<br><br>Ethirdir grinned and laughed before nodding. “Oh, go on, you. Have a little fun. I can take things from here. Just treat Mercedes right, you hear? She’s a sweet young woman, and I’ll join her father in chasing you down if you harm her in any way.”<br><br>“Yeh sir, understand,” Theolin acknowledged before allowing a smile to creep up and hurry out of the story, allowing Ethirdir to notice the Elf was dressed in a surprisingly clean set of clothes for the first time in a while.<br><br>This was how, around the time Hani might be leaving for her meeting with Ethirdir, a resolute-looking Elf stepped into the inn, finding the place a little less packed than during its breakfast rush that morning. He spotted Mercedes almost immediately, but keeping Sirus’ words in his mind he didn’t approach her for fear of bugging her during work. Instead he took a seat at one of the booths so that he could talk to her when she would come to take his order. As he waited, his head came up with dozens of possible words to say to her, and yet when she walked up to him finally, all he could say was something simple and basic:<br><br>“Hi…nice to meet you…”
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>26-08-2017, 05:00:25</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Early morning was always such a pain, it certainly did not help to be woke up in the middle of a hot dream! Hani climbed out of bed with a sleepy yawn. “Alright! I will be there as soon as I can get dressed and comb my rat’s nest of curly hair.”<br><br>The usual outfit in the morning was a plain blouse and a dark blue skirt, with a white apron. Hani was mostly in the kitchen, helping the cook. Mercy and Sallice were behind a long counter stacked with dishes of food. They collected coins as each customer went by them, according to what they had on their plates. There were stacks of pancakes and rashers of bacon and sliced ham. The morning crowd was in a hurry, no time for fancy orders. All they wanted was something nourishing and some strong kava to get them going for the day. Easiest way to do that efficiently was a buffet.<br><br>The morning cook, Henry,&nbsp; fried eggs, taking orders for over easy or scrambled. He cooked pancakes between the eggs and had them flipping faster than a juggler at a carnival. Hani fried the bacon and toasted bread. There was fresh bread baking for the lunch crowd, and Henry would yell at his harried apprentice, Karl, to watch the bread so it did not brown too much. The poor boy ran all over the kitchen as he was also the dishwasher. He had spent the last two hours chopping vegetables for Si’s famous stew. It was simmering in the far corner of the huge stove, where Henry could keep an eye on it and stir occasionally. <br><br>By the time Hani made it down stairs the sleepy diners were already dishing themselves up eggs, bacon and pancakes. It was up to Mercy and Sallice to make sure they paid before finding a table to sit and eat. Karl would be sent out to clear tables when he had time. He worked hard for his gold piece a day, and Si was also training him to be a cook.<br><br>Hani stepped right in and had toast and jam ready for the diners to grab on their way down the line and she cheerfully made the kava and filled the huge carafes so they could pour their cups full as often as they needed. <br><br>All in all it was a chaotic three hours before they saw any relief. Hani told Mercy and Sallice to take a break, as she cleaned tables and made sure all was ready for the lunch crowd. They had two more servers who came in and worked the lunch, afterwards, when things calmed down, Si came in and sent Henry home so he could start all over in the morning. Dinners were Si’s specialty. He loved to cook, and he took great pride in it.<br><br>The clock on the big tower in Merchant Square tolled eleven before Hani had time to go upstairs to change and get the gem from her hiding place. She combed out her unruly mop of curls and put on a dark blue dress she knew would look nice but not too flashy. It was cut to fit her perfectly, and she could wear her black boots. <br><br>(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1a/b0/fc/1ab0fcae61eb2fcc3c0c4bd1002cfd63--victorian-dresses-victorian-era.jpg)<br><br>The gem she had in a small box, which she intended on showing it to Ethirdir. It would keep the gem safe and it was fun to watch someone try to figure out the complex puzzle to open it. Once she had it out of her large treasure chest, she wrapped it in a length of silk and put it in a basket. On top of that, she arranged some trinkets she had saved from the guests that left them behind in the Inn. Some of them were quite interesting. There was a slim stilletto with an ebony handle, and an obsidian blade. It was a ceremonial dagger of some sort, it had strange symbols on the handle she had no idea what they meant. Perhaps the Elf could read them?<br><br>There were a few rings and an amulet she was positive had been enchanted. She had no clue what kind of enchantment it was. All of these items fit in her basket, wrapped individually in squares of cloth.<br><br>(http://www.puzzleboxworld.com/images/limited.jpg)<br><br>(https://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&amp;size=l&amp;tid=107954794)<br><br>As Hani made her way downstairs, she saw the handsome Elf from the night before, come in and sit in Mercedes section. He looked like he had cleaned up to impress her. Hani smiled at Mercy and bid her a good afternoon. The day was pleasant as she made her way down the street to the shop. Ethirdir had told her where to find it, and she had no trouble as she walked casually on the boardwalk. Traffic was light today, and she was not afraid of being accosted. She had a feeling that Doryn would send patrollers to the area to keep an eye on her. She spotted two walking towards her and smiled at them, "Good afternoon, Guardsmen. I trust all is well with you today?"<br><br>They both gave her a courteous bow and offered to escort her to the shop. While Hani knew very well she had been set up, she did not mind. The shope was not far and she thanked them for their kindness and went in. The shop was marvelous and she looked around with curiosity. Setting her basket on the counter, and ringing the little bell to let Ethirdir know she was there. <br><br>----<br><br>The lunch crowd was usually more relaxed, mostly shoppers who stopped to eat before heading home. Some couples and sometimes a family who had spent the day touring the Market District. She smiled as Hani walked by her on her way out. "You have fun now, I am still waiting for an apology from Doryn. He better be damn sorry, or I will 'accidently' spill something very cold on his lap!"<br><br>When she noticed Theolin sitting in a booth, she smiled. She had seen him before, but never got a chance to serve him. Taking a menu and a glass of iced water to his table, she smiled. "Hello, I am Mercedes and I am your waitress today. Would you like a cold ale or glass of mead or beer to start? We also have some of the finest wines in the Kingdom by the glass or bottle. Are you alone today?" She set the menu down for him and the glass of water, and prepared her notepad for the order.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>28-08-2017, 04:29:33</strong>
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				Ethirdir was reading some documents in the back of the shop, making sure his inventory for the location was properly itemized and that Theolin was keeping track of the merchandise properly, when he heard the familiar sound of the bell announcing that a customer was demanding some attention. His mental clock confirmed that it was about the right time for the meeting, and he set the papers before getting up and walking through the curtain that led to the front of the shop. He expected to see Hani waiting for him at the front, and he was not disappointed when his eyes spotted her almost immediately.<br><br>Her dress was gorgeous, certainly more expensive than a typical barmaid could ever afford, which hinted at her hidden lifestyle that he knew about. The garment wasn't as revealing as her outfit from last night, but it did fit her figure perfectly, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath without actually revealing anything. Hani looked beautiful no matter what she wore, and it pleased Ethirdir so to have her come to his shop like this, even if it was for a business transaction.<br><br>"Hani, so wonderful to see you again," he said, walking up to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I trust you found the store all right? You look so elegant and beautiful in that dress, my dear, if you will allow me the compliment." He grinned slightly at the compliment, unable to help himself when it came to letting ladies know that he thought they were gorgeous in as charismatic a manner as he could.<br><br>"Ah, but you are not here for that, are you? No, you are here to discuss the item you wished to show me. Theolin told me all about your item, which is why he requested that I look at it myself. We can discuss matters in the back, where no one will disturb us." The Elf talked about the item without directly mentioning it, knowing that someone might walk in and accidentally listen.<br><br>He placed a hand gently upon the small of her back as he stood beside her. "This way, my dear. Follow me."<br><br>With Ethirdir leading the way, the pair headed to the back of the shop through the dividing curtain, where the Elf ran into a subordinate who was busy cleaning some of the inventory. Ethirdir instructed the subordinate to watch the shop before continuing to lead Hani through a small series of corridors that eventually ended in a room with a large, simple wooden table in the center and a few chairs surrounding it. There was nothing else notable about the room other than a small hole in the ceiling that allowed a small amount of sunlight to filter into the chamber.<br><br>He closed the door behind them, sliding a bolt across the door to lock it, and then turned to face Hani with a more serious look on his face. "So...now is the moment of truth...please, show me this stone you have, Hani. This...Basilisk Heart." He expected it was inside that box she carried with her, and quietly waited for the reveal that would show him something incredible and powerful...and dangerous...<br><br><hr><br>Mercedes approached Theolin normally, introducing herself to him and asking him for his order. Nothing unexpected. So why did he feel so nervous asking her out? Was it because he knew she had been rejected last night, and he was worried she might spurn his attention? He wasn't normally this anxious, but seeing her again this close made him realize how captivating she was, even in such a simple and modest barmaid outfit. He couldn't let his nerves overcome him, however.<br><br>Swallowing his nervousness, he answered her questions. "Hi, Mercedes. I'm Theolin. To start with, I think I'd like...a glass of mead, if you please. And yes, I am alone today...but perhaps that could be changed. Would you...allow me the honor of taking you out for a meal, whenever you are available? My treat..."<br><br>That last bit sounded silly - of <em>course</em> it would be his treat - but now he could only hope she would take him up on his offer...
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>28-08-2017, 11:47:50</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/32/62/e6/3262e6539ba306aaa178b6396abadd3d--auburn-hair-colors-hair-colours.jpg)</div><br>The items in the shop held Hani's gaze until Ethirdir appeared. His compliment brought a smile to her red lips. "Thank you Lord Talion. I do hope you have a room where we can be undisturbed?" His hand on her shoulder was a friendly gesture, she wondered if he was this way to all of his customers? <br><br>She let him show her to the back rooms, following him down the corridor until they were inside a small cozy room with a skylight. Her glance upwards took in the natural light. It was far better than lamplight to show off her treasures. Setting the basket down on the table, she sat in one of the chairs. Noting he locked the door, she smiled. He was taking no chances. She brought out the dagger first and showed it to him. "I brought a few other things. They were found in another place, but I thought I would take the opportunity to show them to you as well." Unrolling the dagger from the felt surrounding it, she let the sunlight fall on it. <br><br>(https://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&amp;size=l&amp;tid=107954794)<br><br>As Ethirdir examined the marvelous carvings on the dagger, Hani studied his features. He really was quite handsome, his reddish blonde hair falling straight past his shoulders. It was almost tempting to touch that silky mass, it looked as fine as baby hair. His eyes were mesmerizing, so full of life and charm. Well she could see how he would give Doryn competition. Now that she was alone with him, and no Doryn and his jealousy to hold her back, she warmed to his manner. "I do get around, Lord Talion. More than a simple burglar, I also explore ruins outside of the City from time to time. I found this dagger and the amulet that I wear. They appear to have enchantments to them. The Amulet I know, as it allows me to see in the darkness and hear with the accuracy of a cat. The dagger has eluded the few other experts in town. I have yet to take it to the Arch Magister. He might know, but he is incredibly busy. He also might ask rather delicate questions I prefer not to answer..." She grinned, lifting the amulet from her neck to show it to him.<br><br>(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/8b/75/39/8b7539b31d492a20c25ea80b3924f247--cat-necklace-pendant-necklace.jpg)<br><br>She was very curious, and she felt compelled to ask him, "So tell me, Lord Talion, how did you get into the business of antiquities and second hand merchandise? I would think an Elven Lord would not bother with such trifles." Leaning over to show him the amulet as it was still around her neck. It brought them incredibly close, so close she could feel his sweet breath wash over her hand as he studied the carved figure of the cat.&nbsp; The scent of roses would meet his nostrils as he leaned towards her. His hand grasping hers as he gazed intently at it. Though his eyes seemed to drift to hers more than not.&nbsp; Part of her wondered if he would give Doryn a run for her attentions. <br><br>That thought made her pause. Was Doryn serious? He had never given any indication he was anything more than a friend. Why he was acting this way puzzled her. By all the gossip, he was going to marry some nobles daughter. It is what nobles did, keep the wealth in the Upper Terrace where they thought it belonged. He spent a lot of time up there with this Lady Elena. Rumors had them together alone more times than was proper. Hani sighed at the thought. He was far above her, so it really did not matter. It was far better to find someone who loved her for what she was, not because of her money or social status.<br><br>Besides, Ethirdir was a fascinating temptation all on his own. Even as he gave her his opinion of the dagger and the amulet, he was polite and patient. She knew he was wanting to see the gem. With a smirk, she finally dug into her basket to bring out the puzzle box. Few could solve it, and she knew that outside of smashing it, no one could get to the contents without spending a considerable amount of time figuring out the way to open it. <br><br>"Here is the place I keep it. The locking mechanism has been unarmed, so it is not trapped. I did not want you to get hurt. I do, however, want to see you try to open this. I warn you it took me three days! I know the secret, however and I will open it for you eventually." There was a devilish grin on her face.<br><br>(http://www.puzzleboxworld.com/images/limited.jpg)<br><br>Hani sat back and watched Ethirdir struggle with the puzzle box. She loved tormenting people with intellectual puzzles like this! One thing she knew for certain, Doryn would probably take his ax to it! He had no patience, at least none that she ever saw. This was a test of sorts for Ethirdir, to see how he handled this delicate but intriguing puzzle. He handled it well, touching it in various places and exerting pressure until he felt the wood yield a bit. He turned the box carefully to look at all sides. The design was intricate and beautiful, and also mind boggling and confusing in it's images. Just when she thought he was going to give up, he found the sequence, keyed in the design, needed to unlock the box. His eyes lit up with pleasure and he carefully slid the final section aside to open the top. <br><br>"That was amazing! I had a feeling you would know this kind of box, it is Elven made after all. I have a friend, who is Half Elven, who gifted it to me on my last nameday. He learned the art from his father. Now you may see the gem, it is in the lower drawer, wrapped in silk." Hani smiled, applauding his effort.<br><br>When Ethirdir carefully lifted the gem from the box, he might feel the slightest of tingle in his fingers. If he had any magic power at all, and most Elves had some, he would feel the power emanating from the stone.<br><br>(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c3/38/c2/c338c2aec35589e9105c787dc9b2c32a.jpg)<br><br>----<br><br>The young Elf ordered mead and Mercy smiled. "Mead? Not one of the fine wines we have in the bar? Of course you should have what you like." She paused then as she realized what else he wanted to order. Blinking in confusion, she stammered. "What? But I hardly know you! Excuse me, sir. I do hope you are not thinking this is one of <strong>those</strong> places! We serve food and spirits, not women of the night. I will be right back." Her manner considerably cooler than when she started to take his order. She walked away, a little irritated at the thoughts that filled her mind. Who did he think he was to wander in here and ask her out? They had never met before today! Did he really think she would just go out with him like that?<br><br>She went to the bartender and ordered the mead. Her cross expression caused Tom the bartender to give her a quizzical look. "Is that Elf bothering you, Mercy? I can kick him out real fast..."<br><br>Mercy shook her head. "No it's fine, I told him to back off. If he doesn't then you can kick him out. The nerve of some people! Of course he is an Elf, still I thought they had better sense than that!" She took the glass of mead back to Theolin and set it on the table. <br><br>"Two silvers, please. Unless you wanted to order a meal? We have a special today on elk roast with vegetables and a baked potato, fresh bread every day. It's ready, all the cook has to do is slice it off the roast and dish up the rest. Lunch is usually pretty quick around here." She was polite but cool. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>29-08-2017, 23:00:24</strong>
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				Tucked away nice and comfortable in the office of his small townhouse in the city, where he tended to most of the day to day business of his position, Doryn had found that he had little patience for any of the things that he should be doing right at this moment. He had quite a number of things that he <em>should</em> be doing, too, ranging from adding some of his own notes to his files to going over reports from the bookkeepers. He even had a missive to the Duke that he had to finish composing that he was putting off in favor of pondering how exactly to apologize to Mercy.<br><br>That hadn't been his initial distraction of note, of course.<br><br>No, when he'd first sat down to do work after breaking his fast, Sir Aelland had been unable to think of anything except the meeting that between Ethirdir and Hani that they had brazenly arranged right in front of him. He'd tried to convince himself that it was just a buisness meeting, that Hani wasn't the type of girl to give her heart away in two meetings with some suave and mysterious Elf, but he'd seen the way that they'd danced together and he <em>knew</em> that the Elf had designs on her just as he was fairly sure that his favorite little barmaid was interested in him in turn.<br><br>It'd been a topic of conversation that had gotten him nowhere except a quarter of the way through a bottle from his private stock. He'd sent some Guards out to make sure that Hani would have an escort to her meeting, a subtle maneuver to remind her of him before she found herself alone with her new suitor, and then tried to focus on the other important matter. Really, he'd treated poor Mercedes quite horribly last night and even if he didn't like the girl,-- and he did,- he'd owe her some form of apology. He and Hani were... very good friends, at the least.. and a few words had settled there. With Mercy, though, he'd need to go a little bit further and he'd been pondering how exactly to arrange for... nearly an hour now..<br><br><em>He imagined that Hani and Ethirdir were having their meeting right now...</em><br><br>He'd thought of inviting Mercy to one of his events at his Estate, perhaps with the offer of a dress along with such, but he'd quickly decided that such would seem too romantic for his intentions and might even be rejected given the way that he'd treated the poor girl the night before. Many of his other ideas, ranging from inviting Mercy out to go riding to buying her some jewelry, were similarly dismissed. It was one of those things that had Doryn gradually realizing that he simply wasn't entirely sure how to apologize to a woman that he wasn't interested in romantically. Oh, to be sure, he'd talk to Mercy as well,-- he knew Hani would never let him get away with anything else and his honor demanded it as well,-- but he knew he needed <em>more</em>.<br><br>Plus, he also realized that the last thing he needed was to confuse poor Hani as well. It'd surprised him, shocked him really, that she'd not even realized the depth of his feelings for her. He had truthfully rather thought that they had a closer relationship than that but apparently she was almost entirely blind to his feelings on the matter. It had explained a few things, at least, he'd thought it strange that his little innkeeper's daughter would behave such <em>right in front of him</em>. If she'd not known how he felt, though, she wouldn't know just how much she was hurting him. She'd not realized that she had any <em>reason</em> to take her assignations with other men to more private endeavors if she hadn't realized how he felt.<br><br>"I've really screwed this up, haven't I, Friedrich?" he asked, idly.<br><br>The imposing bulk of full plate that hovered a few feet behind him, in a corner of the room, only shrugged lightly--<br>--a very audible expression that sounded vaguely metallic given all the armor the bear of a man was wearing.<br><br>"I don't suppose <em>you</em> have any idea what I should do with Mercy?" he asked.<br><br>There was no responce, right away, but eventually the low deep voice of his most loyal man echoed back, "Have one of your men men escort her to and from the Inne. Until she asks you to stop."<br><br>"Hmmmm, that is a good idea," he notes, idly. "A gesture but not too intimate of one. I'll do exactly that. Anything else?"<br><br>"You'll have to talk to her, as well, Sir."<br><br>That made Doryn roll his eyes a bit. "Of course I'm going to talk to her."<br><br>"Begging Sir's pardon," the massive statue of a man said, once again going silent.<br><br>He wrote up the order itself, sending it on with instructions to have Vaughn take care of the matter for him, though knowing that fellow he'd probably in turn find another Guard to pull the duty. Well, unless Vaughn had a thing for Mercy himself which Doryn wasn't entirely sure of. That ruffian flirted with wild abandon but even Doryn had a hard time getting a read on how he <em>felt</em>; unlike some people that he was rather more intimately familiar with and to much less impressive degree.<br><br><strong>Lady Elena Rockwell</strong>.<br><br>She'd just been an idle conquest at first, his first after he rose to the ranks of the Nobility, the youngest daughter of a prominent (but not <em>too</em> prominent) Noble House that he'd met at some Soiree. The rumor had been that she was a untouched, an innocent, and oh she'd detested him at first. It'd been so passionate, even, the distaste that she had for him when they'd first met and for months afterwards. He was just a Northern savage given a battlefield promotion, a toy of the Duke, a <em>servant</em> to the <em>true Nobility</em>. Not even a little worthy of her attention.<br><br>It'd been early in his new career, before he'd begun to make a name for himself, and unfortunately she was one of the ways in which he'd made his name. If he hadn't been <em>so very good at his job</em>, the scandal that had come from taking her into his bed might have ruined him, and in its own way it might still. Her name was, even now, still at the place of honor in ever odds-board of which woman he'd end up having as his wife and he couldn't truthfully deny the odds-makers their favorite in this case. He'd thought her an ingenue, a novice and an innocent, but she'd been none of those things.<br><br>Honestly, at this point, he wasn't even sure she'd actually been a Virgin...<br><br>..some tiny part of him wandered if the whole 'I hate you so much' business had been a charade.<br><br>When he'd first learned that <em>she</em> had been the source of the rumor that he'd taken the Lady Rockwell's maidenhood, it'd been that kind of world-shaking moment like he so often put those who he brought to justice though when his entire world had shattered and he'd looked at everything in an entirely different manner. He'd have almost respected the woman, honestly,-- she was cunning, she'd set her eyes on what she wanted and taken steps to make it (or in this case, him,) hers, and woven quite the intricate web,-- she had ensured that it <strong>made sense</strong> to marry her.<br><br>She hadn't been able to force the endeavor, though, and despite the fact that he respected the Cunning Manipulator far more than he had the Shy Haughty Ingenue, he'd never felt like he could give her what she wanted and for the first time in what felt like forever he finally understood exactly <em>why</em>. He had somehow fallen in love with the Innkeeper's Daughter. She was the one that he wanted, even if it seemed insane,-- not just because of her position but because of <em>everything</em>.<br><br>She was a criminal!<br><br>He was the Captain of the Guard!<br><br>He was fairly sure that she wouldn't even accept a proposal if he gave one, and he wasn't in a social position where he could make that kind of offer without knowing for sure what the answer would be. If he proposed to Hani and she turned him down, the social capital that he'd lose would be... incalculable.. never mind the insult that he'd be giving to every Noble House that had implied after his marriage prospects. No, if he did something like that and she said no then he would <em>have</em> to marry Elena. If, in fact, even the Lady Rockwell would accept his proposal after being so insulted.<br><br>It was an impossible position that he found himself in.<br><br>"My Lord," Fredriech said. "It is almost time."<br><br>Doryn glanced at the window, looking over at the city as it spread out below him, nodding a bit.<br><br>"Indeed it is. I suppose we'd best be on our way then," the Knight-Captain said, slowing raising to his feet. "...meh.. I didn't get hardly anything accomplished today."<br><br>"Women will do that to you, every time, my Lord."<br><br>"Hah!" Doryn said, glancing back at the ever-impenetrable plate of full armor that arrayed itself behind him. "Thank you for that, Fredriech."<br><br>"Of course, my Lord."<br><br>With that, they left Doryn's office,-- and soon, the townhouse itself,- heading to the meeting that Doryn knew he couldn't be late for.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>31-08-2017, 17:55:54</strong>
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				Ethirdir watched quietly as Hani sat down on one of the chairs and sorted through the items she had brought with her - apparently the Basilisk Heart wasn't all that she wished to show the Elf. He wondered if it was more of her prizes from her various heists, and suspected she was taking advantage of this meeting with him to get an honest opinion from the head of her favorite fencing operation. But Ethirdir honestly didn't mind, as it allowed him more time with Hani, and he actually enjoyed his job - attaching worth to something was something that never got old for him.<br><br>The first item she showed him was a dagger with some exquisite markings along its blade, and as he picked it up and examined it she explained where she had gotten it, along with an amulet that she wore. She mentioned that both were likely enchanted, and as he examined the blade he agreed with her. Though not all Elves were magically inclined, and he was hardly mage material, he had studied a little bit about the magic process in an effort to gain some insight into magical artifacts - mostly so he could sell them later - and as a result had developed a small sensitivity to magic-imbued items. The blade definitely had an enchantment of some sort, though he didn't have the experience to tell her what it was exactly, only guess.<br><br>"The dagger is certainly enchanted," he eventually told her as he handed it back to her, "and I can feel a light pulse in that enchantment, which tells me its magic is unlocked by performing a specific action. What that action is, I don't know. However, I may have some connections that can take a look at your dagger, tell you exactly what it can do...and all without drawing the attention of the Arch Magister, either."<br><br>He smiled a little when she asked why he had gotten into the business he was in, as to her it seemed almost unworthy of his talents. "Oh, the answer is simple, my dear: I had no other choice. My family was ruined by the city's merchant guilds when I was younger, and I chose to get back at them by playing them at their own game. But, as I came to learn, they hold so much sway over the merchant profession that trying to play by their rules makes it nigh impossible to gain a foothold legally. So I started this little additional business, which had become very profitable for me. I suppose now that I'm established I can focus on more...legal avenues, but I find this far more enjoyable than whatever the guilds consider proper. They made me who I am today, and now they have to live with me."<br><br>He let Hani digest the answer as he examined her necklace, holding her hand steady in his long fingers as he noted the aura of the enchantment. "This enchantment is more passive, which makes sense as it gives you passive abilities." It didn't go unnoticed that he let his touch linger on her hand, and his eyes drifted to look at her fairly frequently while being this close. He definitely felt a stirring in his chest that he had not felt for a long while, a stirring that made Hani already feel more special than many of the easy girls he had brought to his bed recently. How Doryn had been so careless with her affections was a mystery - the Elf did not intend to make the same mistake.<br><br>After giving the dagger and amulet, Hani had one more surprise for him: a puzzle box that she said contained the item he was interested in. Noticing the grin on her face, he realized she was testing him and grinned in return, not one to back down from a challenge. He sat down at the table and started working on the box's intricate mechanisms, trying to get a handle on how the sliding pieces needed to move. It was a fairly tricky puzzle, to be sure, but the box was Elvish in design and thus had a logic to it that was ingrained in his people. It did take a lot of thought and some trial and error, but eventually he heard a soft click as he slid a particular piece in place s, announcing he had solved the puzzle. Hani, to his great pleasure, was most impressed with his victory.<br><br>Opening the box, Ethirdir pulled out the silken wrappings that covered the gem, then gently removed them to expose the dark crimson facade of the Basilisk Heart. Even before he had removed the wrappings he could feel the magic emanate from the gemstone, strong enough to magnify even his meager sensitivity and send the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He didn't need to inspect it too closely to know it was the real deal - just holding it in his hand confirmed its authenticity.<br><br>"Magnificent..." he uttered, fishing inside one of his coat pockets and pulling out a jeweler's lens, using it to peer at the stone's blood red surface as it glistened within the brightness of the skylight. "I've held some fairly good Basilisk Hearts before...but I can tell this is a flawless specimen. No imperfections, no impurities, no scratches...all to better help channel the innate magical energy. This Heart would sell for a lot of coin just as a gemstone...and as a mage's conduit, it's almost priceless."<br><br>He put away his jeweler's lens and carefully placed the stone on the table. Even when he let go of it, his hand could still feel the magical residue on his skin. Holding the Basilisk Heart in his hand was thrilling, but also frightening. Whoever possessed this stone and knew how to use it would be capable of wielding a terrifying power. He couldn't simply sell it to the highest bidder; he needed to sell it to someone he knew he could trust to use it responsibly...and pay well for it, of course. And he happened to know of just the person...<br><br>He looked you at Hani, who no doubt was getting a kick out of his fascination with the stone. "This stone is, for lack of a better word, perfect, which makes it worth a lot of money, my dear Hani...but also necessitates a special buyer. As it stands, I cannot offer to buy this from you unless I have a buyer ready and willing...but fortunately, I know of someone who just might be willing to purchase this very stone. This will work a little differently from your precious arrangements with me: you will need to wait until I have sold this stone, and then I will give you your share after the sale. You will either have to leave this stone in my possession until then, or you can keep it and attend the sale with me." He smiled warmly at her. "You've been a reliable source of merchandise for us, and I'd like to think you'd trust me enough to manage this, but I will not begrudge you if you wish to keep your eye on something this valuable until you have your share of the profits in your hand. I will leave that choice up to you, my dear."<br><br><hr><br>As soon as he heard Mercedes' tone of voice, Theolin immediately realized he had messed up. Her words confirmed that shortly thereafter, and the icy glare she gave him made the pit of his stomach twist. She was still going to serve him - she was a professional, after all - but the warmth in her voice and demeanor was replaced by a contempt for him thinking her an easy pickup. Which, honestly, wasn't true - Theolin hadn't even considered that far ahead. He had just wanted to get to know her first, sit down with her and have a nice chat, but instead she had somehow interpreted his offer as a proposition for something more.<br><br>When Mercedes left to fetch his mead, he cursed himself, asking how he could've worded his request to imply something like that. He hasn't done it deliberately, but it didn't matter - the damage was done, and now he was on his back foot. If he wanted to salvage this, he had to fix his unintentional mistake. It would not be easy, but Theolin worked for Ethirdir Talion, an Elf who often dealt with some of the most ruthless and dangerous people in the entire city. He had faced down common thugs and pompous aristocrats with equal fervor. He wasn't going to back down this early in his attempt.<br><br>Quietly he waited for Mercedes to return, and when she did she handed him his mess and asked for payment, as well as whether he wanted anything else. Her voice was still cool, indicating she was still annoyed with him. Feeling bad for making her angry, he considered maybe just paying for his drink and leaving, but then realized that would be just as bad. He pulled out the silver coins she asked for and placed them on the table, then took a deep breath.<br><br>"The elk roast sounds lovely, think I'll have that for lunch, thank you...oh, and one more thing. Sorry...sorry if I offended you just now. Didn't mean to imply you were easy or anything. You looked like a fascinating person to get to know, and thought I'd ask for that opportunity over dinner or something. But came across poorly just now, and feel bad for any insult you felt."<br><br>First had to come the apology before anything else could happen. Now it was up to her if she accepted it. He considered giving her another silver in addition to his apology, but held off, not wanting to look like he was buying her acceptance. His hand was holding the mead tankard, though he waited for her response before drinking anything. If she rejected his apology, he might have to take an enormous swig to drown his botched attempt at asking her out.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>31-08-2017, 21:51:11</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The tall Mage tower in the corner of the Duke’s Keep was given to Arch Magister Quillian for his private use. The Duke seemed more than willing to allow the tall slender human all the room he needed. Whether it was to keep the Duke’s children from being exposed to the magic the man possessed, or something personal, the Mage was unsure. <br><br>(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1e/f4/60/1ef4601ebeb79f052eed92c65ad7998d--character-concept-character-art.jpg)<br><br>For his part, Quillian was quite content to have the privacy. He still had a lot of work to do and his research into the mysteries of the bloodstone took up much of his time. He still had to deal with the rather mundane task the High King had assigned him, keeping an eye on the Southern&nbsp; nobles to make sure they were not planning an insurrection.<br><br>The nobles themselves were fairly predictable. They normally focused on gaining favor with the Duke, and through him the King. The lavish parties were only a cover for the clandestine meetings between those of the mind that the High King had taken over too much. Each one of them had sworn an oath to the Kingdom and were supposed to be loyal. Outwardly, they were!<br><br>There was a question in Quillian’s mind on the Baron Berenholdt. One that he had decided might be best pursued by his agent Hani Silverthorn. Oddly enough, he had met Hani quite by accident, when she literally ran into him at the herbalist shop. He had apologised profusely, being the gentleman he was. Even though she had been the one to plow into him! She had been running, he could tell, and her face was hidden by a cowl. Ducking into the shop as she avoided detection of one of the many guards who patrolled at night. <br><br>At first, he had assumed she was a thief, as she gave him a guilty grin. His assurance that he had no intentions of turning her in, even after she found nothing in his pocket, floored her. But his twinkling eyes led her to relax. It turned out he needed someone with her skills, and after a lengthy discussion in the privacy of his tower, she had become his agent. He paid her well, encouraging her to use her skills to benefit the Kingdom, rather than risk it all for trinkets. He made her swear an oath to serve the Kingdom and to keep their relationship very much a secret.<br><br>The hour of his appointment with the Knight Captain of the Guard was fast approaching. Quillian made sure he had plenty of food and a bottle of the wine that the winesellers told him was the best. It amused him that it was from the Captain’s vineyard. <br><br>The meeting would be an open one, that is the Duke was well aware of it. Though it was between the Knight Captain and Quillian alone, with only a mute servant to tend them. Quillian was in his study when his raven familiar flew to the open window and called for his attention. As he peered out the window, he noted the approach of the Captain, and instructed his servant to show the barbarian in and bring him to the study. <br><br>The humble servant, Jordan, nodded and went back to the door, to await the knock. He was a nondescript middle aged man, with scars on his face and a slight limp. He had served Quillian for many years. His lack of voice had been caused by a rogue Mage. An experiment gone awry, and leaving the poor man as a beggar in the streets of the huge city of Gutenburg. Quillian had taken him in out of pity, after he had disciplined the rogue mage and sent him into the prison for mages. He could communicate quite well, with gestures and sometimes a written note, when necessary. He wore a green collar around his neck, which to those who knew it’s significence, indicated his lack of voice. In any case, Jordan was a simple man who took diligent care of the Arch Mage.<br><br>----<br><br>Hettie the maid hesitated when entering Lady Elena’s room. It was late and the noble woman had been irritated of late, her sometimes trysts with the Knight Captain had left her with the impression he was going to marry her, someday. But he was slow in actually asking for her hand. <br><br>Elena had been up very late, chatting with her friends, who lived close by. All the noble families were close together enough that a short walk could take them to neighboring homes, often guarded by personal servants. Still, it was almost noon and the others in the household had been up and tending business for hours!<br><br>The soft knock on her door made Elena turn over in a huff and demand, “What is it!?” She had no clue of the time.<br><br>“Your Ladyship might be getting hungry, it is almost the noon hour. Shall I help you get dressed?” Hettie returned apologetically.<br><br>“Yes, of course...I suppose I should be up.” Elena threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. Her voluptuous naked form lit by the sunlight now streaming through the windows. Hettie helped her get her daytime outfit on, the chemise, bloomers and a simple silk gown with lacing and soft boots for her feet. It took Hettie a half our to get the lacing tight enough for Elena’s satisfaction.<br><br>By the time they had made it downstairs, Elena had determined she would investigate the rumors of Sir Aelland’s activitis in the Dew Drop Inn. Somehow, his antics had spurred a ripple of jealousy in the noblewoman, and she was determined to bring him to heel. Of course it would not be easy. She could not be seen as pursuing him. Instead she appealed to her father. “Papa, I am unsure of Sir Aelland. Do you think he is a suitable husband for me? I have heard rumors, that greatly disturb me. It would not do at all for him to be involved in some scandal with a peasant!”<br><br>(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c1/1b/7a/c11b7a335691882c65cf25ee45d28b7d.jpg)<br><br>----<br><br>The diligent assessment of her items impressed Hani. The fact that Ethirdir held her hand perhaps a little longer than was necessary to examine the amulet did not bother her. In fact she found him very charming indeed!<br><br>“You are very adept at this, I can tell. I have been dealing with your shop for some time. I do trust you, Lord Talion. It amuses me that a noble like yourself indulges in the clandestine work of trading under the very noses of the Merchant’s Guild. Yes, I would appreciate a Mage’s view of these items. But I do know they are not cursed.”<br><br>His assessment of the gem was spot on, and she could tell he was affected by it. Hani nodded as he told her he would have to find a buyer before he could offer her some gold for it. “There is some concern, Lord Talion, that this gem might be attracting some kind of attention. Possibly evil intentions from outside the borders. It might be a good idea to move it as far from the City as possible. Perhaps an Elven Mage would take it and secure it somewhere it cannot be accessed by those who would do the city harm?”<br><br>Hani knew the Elves had vast amounts of gold to spend, at least it seemed so. They never shirked on decadence in their parties and lavish homes on the Upper Terrace. She was quite curious on who might be interested in the gem. <br><br>“I do appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. I trust you to find a buyer. I do hope you have a secure place to keep it? I am fine with you storing it until you find a buyer. Quite frankly, I was not comfortable keeping it in my room.” She smiled at him.<br><br>Her mind turned to the Knight Captain, “I know that Doryn is jealous, though I am not sure why. Have you known him long at all? It is actually quite puzzling to me. I consider myself an independent woman, and I am not seeking to settle down, as I pointed out to him. He seems to agree with me, after all, he is not shy about flirting and taking women to his bed, apparently all over the City. So why then is he suddenly jealous?” She was genuinely in a quandry on this. <br><br>“I am not the kind of woman to be jealous, I never say anything to him about his numerous affairs, outside of a teasing comment now and then when he is bragging. Does he really think that I would take him seriously, knowing his footloose ways? He is rumored to be engaged, anyway. Why would I even be concerned? I like to flirt as well! I am not going to sit at home and mope if I am single.” She sighed. “But then again, father wants me to find a good man and settle down. He wants grandkids…” She blushed slightly then. “Sorry to be ranting to you about my personal problems. I am sure you would rather not hear them!”<br><br>The touch of his hand was friendly, yet she seemed to pick up on something more. His eyes studied her with admiration and interest. Was he considering her as more than a business contact? The very idea was intriguing. Hani had never been with an Elf noble before. He certainly appealed to her on a physical level, and his manners were impeccable. Somehow she felt the mutual attraction and wondered where it would lead?<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>02-09-2017, 19:21:07</strong>
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				It was hardly the first time that the Knight-Captain of the City Guard had paid a visit to the Duke's Keep, but even so, as he approached it this time he found himself feeling rather different about this visit in particular. Even as the men at the front gate ushered him by and he made his way past the barbican into the keep's central courtyard, the Northerner had to rather purposefully alter his course from the main keep off toward the small tower tucked away in the corner and he felt a chill run up his spine as he did so.<br><br>He'd never before been called before the Arch-Mage, but Quillion had requested this meeting and he'd been left with little option but to answer. Part of him knew that it was almost certainly related to some matter of court or some task that the Arch-Mage had for the Guard, but even so, Doryn couldn't quite shake the feeling that he was stepping into a situation out of his depth. It was part of the reason he'd made sure to bring Fredriech with him to the meeting, even though he knew that the hulking armored form of his most intimidating companion was unlikely to be particularly intimidating to the magus. In fact, he rather imagined the Fredriech wouldn't even be allowed into the meeting proper...<br><br>...but, even so, Doryn felt safer having him along.<br><br>There was no one to meet them at the door when they finally arrived at the base of the Tower, though he very much doubted that the Magus didn't know that he was on his way. It was a lack that saw Sir Aelland on-center for a few minutes before he finally decided to knock on the door... at which point, almost immediately, it was answered by a scarred man whose lips turned upward just a tick when he saw the way that Doryn started before gesturing for them to come with. Taking a deep breath, Doryn proceeded after, letting Fredriech take up the rear and closing the door behind them.<br><br>"Do you know what this is about?" Doryn asked, somewhat impatiently.<br><br>The fellow, whose name Sir Aelland didn't know, simply shook his head,-- gestured at his throat, shaking his head sadly,- in a manner that Doryn quickly took to mean 'I cannot speak.'<br><br>"...Oh.." Doryn said, clearly put quite a bit out of sorts. <em>Did the Arch-Mage take this man's speech?!</em> "Let us continue on then. The sooner this is done..."<br><br>They continued up several flights of stairs until, finally, they reached a sitting room of some sort which is when their guide made it quite clear that Fredriech wasn't to go any further... and that Doryn was to proceed up the final flight of stairs by himself.. the speechless fellow looking rather amused at how unnerved the Northern seemed to be by all of this. Of course he was unnerved! There was nothing about this that wasn't frightening and in truth Doryn would very much rather be.. anywhere else than right here at this moment. He sighed, softly,--<br><br>"--alright, Fredriech, make yourself comfortable. I'm not sure how long I'll be."<br><br>The tall armored man simply nodded, moving to take up a place in a corner of the room, the same location that Doryn would undoutedly see him in when he made his way back down. If he made his way back down from the Arch-Mages' quarters whole and sound of mind, at least, a fact that Doryn didn't see as in any way assured. The mute simply smiled softly, gesturing for Doryn to go, and finally the Northerner just gave him a glare and made his way up the stairs.<br><br>This last staircase was relatively small compared to the ones before, merely circling around what must have been the very top of the tower before opening up in Arch-Mage Quillion's personal quarters.<br><br>"I am here, as summoned," Doryn said, his voice quieter than it might normally be, glancing around to take in his new environs before he finally spotted the Arch-Mage himself. He looked... rather more distinguished a gentleman than the Knight-Captain would have guessed. Indeed, if Doryn didn't know better, he'd swear this was someone's kindly old grandfather.. or the firm patriarch of a prominent family, perhaps.. rather than a master of forbidden arcane secrets. "..a pleasure to meet you, Arch-Mage..."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>05-09-2017, 19:40:30</strong>
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				Reading people was a skill that all merchants had to learn to some extent if they were to get ahead in the business at all, and Ethirdir could tell that his knowledge and professionalism was at the very least sincerely impressing Hani. In his experience, a lot of his competitors liked to brag about their accomplishments and business acumen without actually backing up their boasts, and more often than not such false bravado caught up with them and led to a tarnished reputation and loss of business. Ethirdir had learned early on to back up his boasts with genuine results, all while letting them speak for themselves to give off an air of humility. If he was going to win Hani's attention, let alone her affections, it would be genuinely earned.<br><br>When their discussions turned towards a potential buyer of the Basilisk Heart, Hani voiced her concern about the power of such a gemstone and how it could draw unwanted trouble to the city, asking if selling it to someone who could take the item far away was an option. Understanding her worry for such a dangerous artifact, Ethirdir assured her, "The buyer I have in mind does tend to travel a lot, I believe he owns several properties far away from the city. I will bring up the possibility of him taking the Heart with him the next time he travels, perhaps even encourage it. Doing so would help him hide the Heart more effectively from the authorities, so he might be persuaded fairly easily."<br><br>Despite her obvious trust in his organization, he fully expected her to keep the gem herself until the sale was ready, but he was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to let him keep the stone. Apparently her trust in him was higher than he had anticipated...that, or she wanted to keep the gemstone as far away from her as possible. Regardless, she was putting a lot of faith in him by giving him the stone and expecting him to uphold his part of the bargain. Contracts were practically nonexistent between fences and thieves because finding a judge willing to uphold such illegal documentation was impossible. The only thing that would keep a man like Ethirdir from betraying Hani was his desire to keep a fruitful business partnership going strong, and Hani's results more than encouraged him to keep his word.<br><br>"I certainly do have a safe place to put it," he said, taking the gemstone and putting it back inside the puzzle box that it had come in, along with the undone wrappings. "I have a private safe that I use to house some of the more precious items in my possession. Only a handful of people know its location, and only I know how to open it. No one else will be able to reclaim this gem, I assure you. I would like to borrow your puzzle box to carry it there, if I may. It would make me more comfortable hiding it in something like this box than, say, a bag. I can return the box to you once the Heart is safe, of course." It would naturally be a perfect excuse to see Hani again.<br><br>As the matter regarding the Basilisk Heart was being settled, Hani turned the conversation towards a more personal matter: her relationship with the good Captain Doryn. She liked the man, clearly, and was fine with his flirting and womanizing since she herself partook in similar activities as well, but his recent burst of jealousy confused her. Especially considering she had heard he was apparently engaged. Hani wasn't ready to settle down just yet, but she was also pressured by her father to seek a good man, and Doryn's behavior had confused her feelings greatly. When she realized she was ranting, she apologized for venting about her personal problems.<br><br>"No need to apologize, my dear," he assured her with a warm smile, taking her hand in his and giving it a soft squeeze to reinforce that. "I can understand your frustration. The Captain and I have known each other for several years now - mostly indirectly, but we knew one another by reputation. I'm sure you know that I have flirted and dallied just as much as he had, and we both maintained a friendly rivalry between us in that regard. But I will also admit to being surprised by his bout of jealousy yesterday, as I have never witnessed him acting like that before."<br><br>He gazed gently into Hani's eyes before he continued. "The only explanation I can offer, after some thought, is that the reason he became jealous is because he saw a real chance at losing something precious to him. I'm sure he is well aware of your flirting, and felt confident that it wouldn't amount to any significant change in your relationship. But then I came along, and Doryn saw me as having a very real chance at taking you away from him. I don't know him personally enough to know how he feels about his fiancée, if he really is engaged, but it is clear that he thinks highly of you, my dear Hani, and he grew jealous when he believed I might take you away from him."<br><br>A soft smile formed on his lips as he lifted her hand close to his lips, his long fingers tenderly caressing the back of her hand as he held it. "And maybe he has a right to be concerned, because I do admit to being very intrigued by you, Hani. You have an air of excitement and an energy I have not seen in ages, and you have a beauty that caught my eye from the moment I first saw you. I cannot deny that I am drawn to you, and would not be opposed to learning more about you if you would give me the opportunity."<br><br>He capped off his words by leaning forward and softly kissing the tips of her knuckles. The last words he spoke made clear his interest in her, though they were open to interpretation on how much Hani would allow him to get close to her. Whether it was becoming close friend or something far more intimate, Ethirdir was clearly open to more than a business relationship with her.<br><br><hr><br>Alyssa Celador approached the double doors in the lavishly decorated hallway slowly, trying to appear as calm as possible despite knowing what lay on the other side of those doors. Dressed in the maid uniform of the manor, she had summoned from her work moments earlier by another maid who had been similar called earlier that morning. The look on the poor girl's face suggested that what she had gone through had been unpleasant, and Alyssa was expecting something similar for her turn.<br><br>Standing beside the double doors was a man dressed in another uniform, this one of a personal butler. Alyssa tried not to since upon laying her eyes upon the face of the man, Gregor Fallion. The man was repulsive in looks and had a personality to match, his beady eyes often seen leering at the maids when he wasn't off serving the lord of the house. Many of the manor staff often wondered why a man this wretched was employed at such a prestigious position...and then they remember who they worked for...<br><br>"The Master will see you now, girl," Gregor uttered as he opened the door, sneering as he openly leered at Alyssa's body through the form-fitting uniform she wore.<br><br>"Thank you, sir," Alyssa replied as she hurried past the man, hiding the acid in her voice until a brief hiss on the last word that Gregor likely didn't catch. The door was closed once she was past it, the door sealing her inside the chamber within.<br><br>The chamber was the private study of the manor's lord, decorated with all the trappings of a typical room of that sort: dozens of ceiling-high shelves lined with expensive tomes, trinkets on display in glass curio cabinets, and a thick wooden desk cluttered with hundreds of parchments.<br><br><div class="floatleft">(https://img.fireden.net/tg/image/1482/27/1482273790981.jpg)</div>Standing in front of that desk stood the master of the manor himself: Baron Ludwig von Berenholdt. Dressed in a dark grey suit that seemed to swallow any light that flowed into the room from the main window, Ludwig towered over the poor girl even with the distance between them. His face seemed fixed in s perpetual scowl, not helped by the enormous scar that cut through his left cheek (no one knew how he had received that scar, but some of the more superstitious maid staff believed he received from trying to cheat the Father of the Underworld himself). In his right hand he wielded a cane, though oddly enough he never seemed to walk with any sort of limp, leading many to be believe he had the can solely for appearances.<br><br>The man glared silently at the maid for a few tense moments before he spoke in his familiar deep baritone. "Ms. Celador...thank you for coming. I trust you know why I have summoned you here?"<br><br>Alyssa felt she knew he answer, but she wasn't sure and didn't want to give an incorrect answer. "I'm afraid I don't, my Lord," she replied.<br><br>"Then I shall tell you," Ludwig continued without a pause. "There was a break-in in my vault two nights ago. Someone made off with a valuable artifact from that vault...and nothing else, telling me that someone targeted that item specifically."<br><br>Alyssa felt her hands tense a little but she managed to hide them in the ruffles of her dress well enough. "That is most unfortunate, my Lord...but what does this have to do with me?"<br><br>The Baron's glare grew a little more intense at the question, but he answered it calmly. "I only told one person about this artifact, Gregor, and he would slit his own throat rather than steal from me. That means someone in this house overheard our conversation, mostly likely someone on the cleaning staff that day. You, Ms. Celador, were on the cleaning staff that day."<br><br>Her hands were getting a little jittery, and she had trouble keeping it under control as she struggled to remain calm. "I can assure you, sir, I did not steal your artifact, whatever it may be."<br><br>"Did you really not?" the Baron mused, a thin, sneering smile forming on his lips as he abruptly started approaching Alyssa, his cane somehow clacking on the plush carpet as he walked. He slowly encircled her as she remained still, his piercing gaze remaining fixed on her nervous figure. "Perhaps you are telling the truth. Perhaps you really didn't steal it. It's certainly believable - you are far too clumsy to steal something like that without leaving a trace, like the thief has done. But maybe you didn't need to steal it yourself. Maybe you just gathered the necessary information and passed it off to another to steal it instead. Does that sound reasonable, Ms. Celador?"<br><br>Alyssa was struggling not to sweat and visibly shake in front of the man, her body threatening to collapse from the tension wound inside her. She had to be very careful: the Baron was very good as reading people, and lying directly to his face was considered a fool's errand. She had to be careful with what she said...<br><br>"It is...reasonable, my Lord," she agreed as the man hovered over her from behind.<br><br>"I'm glad you agree," the Baron said as he slammed the tip of his cane down, striking the wood beneath the carpet hard enough to echo in the study. "So is that what you did, then?"<br><br>One wrong move, and that cane would be the last thing she would ever see. Alyssa swallowed as she chose her words carefully...<br><br>"My Lord, I can honestly tell you I did not give any information to any thief so they can steal something from you. I've served you faithfully for seven years now, and I would never do that to you."<br><br>Alyssa could swear she felt the weight of the man's shadow as he looked over her, judging her based on her answer. Did he accept what she said? Had she worded her answer well enough, or had he detected her attempt to...?<br><br>"Very well," he said finally, moving away from her and back to his original spot. He had believed it! Success! Alyssa nearly breathed a sigh of relief but caught it in time as she felt the tension inside her chest eased off. "I believe you are telling the truth, Ms. Celador, so you are free to go. But I expect you to keep your eyes and ears open for the real thief and any accomplices. That artifact was precious to me, and I was planning on using it with the tri-point amplifier that arrived tod..." He paused, catching himself saying something he shouldn't, and then continued as if nothing had happened. "...I want that artifact back, and I expect you to help me find who stole it. Understood?"<br><br>"Yes, my Lord," Alyssa said as she bowed politely, before being dismissed with a wave of the hand by the Baron. She wasted no time in leaving the study through the double doors, not caring if that lecher Gregor was still there to leer at her.<br><br>It was only when she rounded a corner in the corridor that she breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she had escaped the Baron's wrath. But something the Baron had mentioned just now had her worried. She knew about the stolen artifact, the Basilisk Heart, because indeed she had been the one to overhear that conversation between the Baron and Gregor. And she had indeed relayed that information, though it had been to Arch Magister Quintillion, not a thief, which had helped keep her earlier statement truthful. But it seemed the Baron was now in the possession of something equally dangerous: an tri-point amplifier, a magical artifact that amplified the effects of magical gemstones. If the man somehow got hold of another Basilisk Heart, that amplifier would increase the stone's power immeasurably. It had to be taken care of.<br><br>After making sure she wasn't being followed or watched, Alyssa made plans to leave the manor soon under the guise of a shopping trip, hoping she could relay this information to the Arch Magister so he could take care of it like he had taken care of the Heart.<br><br>Back in his study, the Baron was seated in his favorite chair, an open book in one hand and a glass of dark red wine in the other, his cane resting against the chair's arm within reach. Alyssa had been the last maid he had spoken to that morning, and the trap had been fully set. Whoever had stolen the Basilisk Heart from him would undoubtedly be interested in the amplifier as well, so all he could do now was wait for the thief to make an attempt on that item as well.<br><br>Oh, but won't the thief - whoever it was - be surprised to learn that there was no amplifier waiting for them, only a snare for someone who was going to suffer for stealing his precious treasure from him. And if he was lucky, someone else would suffer along with them: there were many different types of amplifiers - tri-point, quad-point, circular, and more - and he had mentioned a different one to each of the maids he had met with. His lips almost curled into a cruel smile at the thought of hearing which amplifier the caught thief would mention to him, and which of his maids would be accordingly punished for daring to betray him... 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>06-09-2017, 08:42:37</strong>
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				It was odd that such a fine looking Elf had come into the Dew Drop Inn looking specifically for Mercedes. Oh she had plenty of men vying for her attention, but the Elves seemed to go for the more elegant females. Not that Mercy was ugly by any means! She was slender but curvy, a little on the short side, and had long lustrous dark hair and pretty grey green eyes. Mostly a little on the perky side, she flirts outrageously with the men to get better tips. However, the blow up between Hani and Doryn has sobered her a little and she is wondering if she should cut it back a bit. She is still a little upset with Doryn for using her like that. <br><br>She was not totally out of sorts, as she knew for her to do a good job meant she got paid well for her efforts. The young Elf seemed sincere and when she thought about it, he did not deserve being shut out, simply because he made a little mistake. Possibly he did not mean what he said in the way she took it.<br><br>When she took him his mead, he seemed very nervous. He ordered the elk roast at her suggestion and then stammered an apology. <br><br>Mercy felt her smile would let him know she was not really that angry at him. To further explain, she took a deep breath, “No, Theolin, it is I who should apologise. I have been out of sorts ever since last night. I should not take my personal problems out on strangers. You have been polite and sweet. Tell you what, if you will meet me back here after the dinner hour, I will sit with you after my shift and we can talk. I can’t exactly go out for a meal, as I work here and at almost all the meal times. But I can visit with you for a few hours after my shift. Is that alright?”<br><br>----<br><br>Hani smiled as Ethirdir explained he had known Doryn for a few years, mainly as a contemporary who attended the same social functions. It amazed her how kind and compassionate Ethirdir was. He took her hand and squeezed it gently. His eyes gazing into hers with wisdom and understanding. <br><br>When he mentioned that Doryn had never acted like that before, it surprised Hani. Was it true? Did the brash barbarian have actual feelings for her? “If he cares so much, why hasn’t he said something?” She sighed in frustration.<br><br>As he explained that Doryn was worried he would lose her, Hani felt annoyed. “So he was jealous because he was too chicken to actively pursue me until he thought I was slipping away from him?”<br><br>A soft smile formed on his lips as he lifted her hand close to his lips, his long fingers tenderly caressing the back of her hand as he held it. "And maybe he has a right to be concerned, because I do admit to being very intrigued by you, Hani. You have an air of excitement and an energy I have not seen in ages, and you have a beauty that caught my eye from the moment I first saw you. I cannot deny that I am drawn to you, and would not be opposed to learning more about you if you would give me the opportunity." <br><br>His voice filled her with warmth, so there was a reason for Doryn to be jealous? Here the Elf was, talking to her with all his charm, enticing her to get to know him better! Part of her wanted to burst out laughing! Suddenly it seemed like there could be some entertainment in all this! So these two very handsome males were both attracted to her and were in some kind of competition to gain her affections? A moment of sly mirth crossed Hani’s features.<br><br>“Oh, now I get it! You two have some kind of wager going? Hmm? Maybe to see who can get into my pants first?” She could not help it, a very amused giggle came from her. “That is hilarious! And I walked right into it! So Doryn is the tease, flirting and holding back, making me pursue him, while the charming Elf seeks to influence me with his suave manners.” She could not help herself and now was laughing openly.<br><br>Still, she squeezed Ethirdir’s hand. “I will tell you the same thing I tell every man who comes after me. I am not ready to settle down. I am not even sure I ever will be. Honestly, I do not see myself as the motherly domestic type. I am a rogue, Lord Talion! I crave adventure and excitement. If anything, I would have fun with both of you in my bed! Does that shock you?”<br><br>Hani was delighted, this was the kind of thing that made her life so much fun! “That does not mean I am inviting the two of you, no not quite. I am sure Doryn will only get more jealous and do something silly, and I can hardly wait to see what you will do to charm me. I can flirt with who I want and enjoy it, but the ones who make it into my bed will have to work for it!” The giggles continued as she rose to her feet. “I think our business is concluded for now. You can let me know when you have a buyer contacted. I need to get back to the Inn. I also have plans later tonight. And so you both can have something to think about, it is with another gentleman, I shall not name.”<br><br>Gathering her things, she was still chuckling as he led her out the door to the street. He might be trying to explain things, or even try to deny what she had guessed, but Hani did not stay long. “I will see you at the Manor for the dinner. I am really looking forward to it!”<br><br>----<br><br>Alyssa was certain she was going to die in this job. The Baron scared her half to death. But he paid well and she was half afraid he would do or say something to keep her from finding another job. As it was, she was under an obligation to the Arch Mage to report what the Baron had said. She had no clue what a tri point amplifier was. Maybe Quillian would know. <br><br>It was later in the afternoon when she was able to get to the Mage Tower and ask to see him. Jordan took her into the kitchen and gave her a cup of tea. Writing a short note on the chalk board in the kitchen, he explained the Magister was in conference. <br><br>Alyssa did not argue and merely sat in the kitchen until she could see her superior.<br><br>Meanwhile, in the upper floor, Quillian smiled at the nervous Knight Captain. “You have no need to be nervous, Sir Aelland. Have a seat by my fire and enjoy a glass of wine. There are tidbits if you are feeling peckish. If you care to smoke, I have fine pipe tobacco or cigars.”<br><br>Once they were settled in front of the fire, Quillian sat back and contemplated the young barbarian. “It seems you have made quite a name for yourself in Crescent City. The rumors abound and tales grow taller with each telling. The Duke highly recommends you. It seems he has a fondness for your skills and intelligence.” He filled a pipe with fragrant tobacco. Leaving the cigar box open and the bag of tobacco handy if Doryn preferred to use a pipe.<br><br>After the barbarian had relaxed a bit, Quillian got to the point. “As you know, the High King in Gutenburg considers this port a very important strategic holding. If you are a loyal servant of the Crown, which the Duke assures me you are, then you may know that the outlying kingdoms are too small to be of concern. Inside the City, however, some of the nobles seem to be thinking of gathering power for themselves. Most of this I can handle very well. I am a seasoned diplomat. There are other things, however, I cannot do.” <br><br>Quillian reached for a scroll on a side table and unfurled it on the table. “I have been told there are numerous tunnels beneath the City. Most of them are used as sewage outlets. But some are also used as nests of underground crime. I am well aware of your efforts to contain these ruffians and to blot out the worst of them. You are doing an excellent job, so far. I am concerned with one particular gang. They have been actively abducting people and spiriting them off to some unknown location. I suspect a slavery ring. So far, they have limited their efforts to the poor peasants. It is only a matter of time before they get cocky and decide to abduct some noble and hold him or her for ransom. I am only getting concerned with such mundane matters because I sense a rogue mage is aiding them. Possibly a half Elf. Though I have no proof, on that. Only a suspicion. Only recently have I foiled a certain noble in his attempts to use magic to further his ambitions. I am not certain I have been entirely sucessful in that. He is well placed and I cannot openly accuse him just yet. But the plans are underway to neutralize him.”<br><br>Quillian paused to sip the fine wine. “I am certain you will be investigating the abductions, after all, we need our peasants. They feed us, provide a healthy economy and are definitly in need of the Duke’s protection. If I can do anything to aid you in your efforts to rid the City of the slavers, I can only do so if they are using magic. I would also like to know if you can find any proof of any noble who is involved in this slave ring. Perhaps they are delving into the old Dwarven mines. I am told they connect to the city sewers. If there is anything left in the mines after the Dwarves left, it would be good to know. I have heard it said those mines once held the richest veins of mithril in the continent.”<br><br>There was a quiet moment as Doryn digested the information and thought of a proper answer. In case Doryn might be concerned that the Duke had any knowledge of this, Quillian smiled. “You are free to discuss this with the Duke. I am sure he will encourage you to be diligent in your efforts. The High King abhors slavery. He had to be convinced to allow indenture, but only when he could implement laws to safeguard the servants so they would not be abused. You can report back to me or the Duke, at your discretion.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>10-09-2017, 14:33:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Doryn, as was his tendency, happily enjoyed the comforts offered. Some wine, a pipe of fine tobacco, some of the aforementioned tidbits. He didn't exactly "calm down," of course, the Northerner's distrust of magic and especially of those who worked with such unstable energies was particularly widespread. Even so, if the Arch-Mage expected that the Knight-Captain would be "off his game", then he would find himself very much wrong in that particular and as Qullian talked the Knight-Captain soaked up much of what was said...<br><br>...and, of course, what <em>wasn't</em> said..<br><br>He'd put together some time ago that Hani was more than a simple thief, that she had some higher-level contact in Court that was assisting her in various ways-- and giving her various targets,-- and when he'd considered just who could be this secretive Patron... he'd had no small number of candidates.. amongst whom was the Arch-Mage himself. More than a few of his various candidates, he'd long since crossed off his list or ruled out, but Qullian was still very much a possibility and the more that Doryn listened to the task that was set out for him the better and better he seemed to think of the position. He wasn't sure how the two had first crossed paths, but he was beginning to seriously consider the possibility that Hani was so engaged.<br><br>Really, as far as patron's go, the Arch-Mage was one of the better possibilities. If she was involved with someone too dangerous, after all, that could have put Doryn in an uncomfortable position but if Hani was working with the Arch-Mage then she was probably... in one fashion or another.. an ally of his own goals. Which-- well, it wasn't a solid reason to believe one way or the other, but it certainly made him want to be right.<br><br>Once the task is fully laid out, of course,--<br>"Hmm, yes, of course I will endeavor to investigate the matter. I've actually already been looking into the slave-trade in and out of the city,-- I had a bit of a brush with being a slave myself, and wiping out said filth is very important to me for many reasons,- but if you're right about this gang and that it has a 'rogue' Mage helping them.. that is quite serious!"<br><br>Scratching at his chin, Doryn is already pondering this matter.<br><br>Who to assign to the case, the resources to give them, and so on,--<br><br>"Though, to be fair, I'm not entirely sure how well the City-Guard can deal with a Rogue Mage," Doryn admits, idly. "Friedrich and Lai,-- our Elf,-- are probably the best experienced at such things. Myself, as well, though the Duke keeps reminding me that now that I'm a Noble I have to be more circumspect about putting myself in the line of fire. 'You are a noble now, Doryn, not an adventurer...'"<br><br>He smiles a bit, having a sip of his wine.<br><br>"...as for your problem with the other issue, the Noble? I can only imagine," he says, lightly. "I know 'House Aelland' is something of a laughing stock, for now, but I'm beginning to get a decent feel for the politics of the city and there are certainly no small number of factions... I'd never imagined how dangerous the fights at the upper crust of society were, and how easy it is to find yourself in a compromised position, and of course some of the players are far more ambitious than others.."<br><br>He ponders, shrugging a bit.<br><br>It's a subtle thing, really, reading someone,--<br><br>"It doesn't surprise me that one of them has taken 'ambitious' to the level of 'treason'," he notes, idly. "I take it Hani wasn't able to get you enough to use against him? Or is it simply that you cannot rely on the word of a Thief and an Innkeeper's Daughter in order to crucify him in High Society? I take it that's what this mission of mine is intended as, at least in part, a test of my loyalties? Wise, honestly, especially given the traditional Northern view of those who use magic. Plus, apparently, Hani has <em>no idea</em> how I feel about her..."<br><br>--but Doryn was fairly good at it, honestly, and why he wasn't sure of the details... he was <em>very</em> sure that he'd balanced the equation correctly in his mind.<br><br>Hani worked for the Arch-Mage.<br><br>"..This Rogue Mage? I'm guessing he plays into the larger scheme in some fashion? Is there anything else you can tell me?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>12-09-2017, 23:13:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				At first Hank seemed intrigued by his words, as evident by the way her face appeared as she allowed his offer to carefully roll around in her head. Ethirdir didn't expect anything drastic to happen - Hani was not the kind of girl who would demand him to claim her right there and then on top of that table - but at the very least he expected a seed to be planted within her mind. Now that she knew of his interest, he believed she would be open to the possibility of getting to know one another better.<br><br>When that sly smile crossed her face, it confirmed a seed had been planted...but not the sort he had expected. With a cheeky glee she accused him and Doryn of conspiring together, of establishing a wager between of who could get into her pants first. There was no anger in her voice, only delight at seeing through her two suitors' brilliant plan. This caught Ethirdir off guard, long enough for Hani to clarify her stance on being pursued. There were a few subtleties here and there, but the gist was that she was not looking to settle down, and if the Elf was going to get anywhere near her bed, he would have to work for it, as would Doryn.<br><br>With that explanation, Hani made ready to leave. Again, there was no anger in her actions, only childish glee at the thought of being so desired by two suitors, but it was clear that her business with him had concluded for the day. Before she left, Ethirdir quickly collected his thoughts and offered a quick response to her accusation.<br><br>"You certainly are as interesting as I believed you to be, Hani. I relish the opportunity to pursue you, I will not deny that, and I promise the effort I put forth will not be minuscule. If there is one point I just contest, however, it's that Doryn and I conspired together to pursue you. My dear, we do not conspire regarding ladies who interest us. You succeeded in grabbing our attentions all by yourself. I would conspire with the good Captain for both of us to share your bed before treating you as a trophy to be won..."<br><br>When he said that, Ethirdir couldn't believe the words had formed so easily. He wanted to make a retraction, but Hani excused herself after that, reminding him of the scheduled dinner at his manor before finally departing without another word. The Elf was left alone with the puzzle box containing the Basilisk Heart, alone to contemplate on what he had just said. It took him a full minute to finally move again, realizing he had to get the gemstone to his private vault as soon as possible.<br><br>"Can't leave this lying about, after all," he said, making sure the gemstone was secure inside the box before departing from the store, making his way through the city with his prize clutched tightly to his chest.<br><br>As he headed home, he thought more about what he had said earlier, that he would be willing to share Hani's bed with Captain Doryn. Now, he had used the statement to indicate he would never treat Hani as a prize between him and Doryn, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized how...intriguing the idea seemed. In all his years, he had shared his bed with many ladies, sometimes more than one at a time, but never had he shared his bed with a man. He had simply never considered it worth his while on its own, but sharing a bed with a man <em>and</em> a lady might make it interesting. And if that other man was his rival, the gracious Captain, who honestly wasn't that bad looking...?<br><br>Ethirdir shook his head, trying to get the idea out of his head. It seemed too ridiculous a notion. Hani surely made that suggestion to play hard to get, to tease him upon figuring out he was interested in her. And even if she <em>was</em> interested in such an arrangement, and Ethirdir was <em>also</em> open to the idea, then Doryn had to agree to it as well, and for some reason he couldn't imagine the jealous Captain be willing to let the Elf assist him with Hani in bed.<br><br>Laughing at the silliness of it all, Ethirdir continued on his way, hoping to get the Heart to his valet quickly so he could begin arrangements with his buyer and get the damned thing as far away from the city as possible...<br><br><hr><br>Theolin waited for Mercedes to shoot him down again his apology rejected out of hand, but to his relief Mercy realized he had made an innocent mistake in his eagerness and seemed grateful that he had said sorry for it. His grip on his mead relaxed, and internally he breathed a sigh of relief when she apologized for her reaction. After what had happened to her last night, Theolin couldn't blame her for being irritated - in fact, he kicked himself for not thinking that in the first place. But at least Mercedes was now opening up to him, and what's more she thought him "polite and sweet." That was very welcome to hear.<br><br>As he felt his nerves loosen up from being so tense just moments earlier, Mercedes explained to him that she couldn't meet with him for any meal because she had to work the lunch and dinner rushes. She was a barmaid, after all, and was needed during the busy hours. Theolin wished he had thought of that, as well. However, Mercedes offered a compromise: meeting her <em>after</em> the dinner rush when her shift was over and talking with him for a few hours.<br><br>The Elf had to restrain himself from getting too excited as he smiled at her and nodded. "Idea sounds like a good plan. Shall come back here later tonight, meet with you when your shift is finished. Might even come during the dinner hour, order something here to eat first. Look very forward to chance to talk with you. Just say where you'd like us to meet, shall be there."<br><br>He paused, and then added with a soft tone of sincerity, "And...thank you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>13-09-2017, 01:33:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5e/ef/c6/5eefc6a0390d563a505c77b953193b99--character-concept-character-art.jpg) Although Quillian had not mentioned Hani, it seemed that the good Captain had already surmised her involvement with the mage. This intrigued him, the barbarian was far more astute than he had given him credit for. He carefully schooled himself to accept this fact calmly. "Miss Hani is a very captivating woman. Her talents are many, of which you seem to be well aware. It is best if you keep that information to yourself, however, as it would endanger her life if it was bandied about. As to what I will do to a rogue mage who is endangering the public, it will be far more than a public shaming. It matters not to me what the social standing is of someone who abuses the arcane powers. There are certain places where such arrogant fools are imprisoned, never to be heard from again." <br><br>Quillian smiled then as he puffed on his pipe. "As to her feelings about you, she has not shared them with me. It occurs to this old mage that she is very independent minded. I do know that she has charmed many people with her sparkling smile and long red hair. The man who captures her heart will have his hands full. No doubt it would be very worth it. If I were you, I would tread carefully. I am told she has quite a temper."<br><br>They sat quietly smoking for a time while Quillian contemplated just how much information he could give Doryn about the nobles who spoke with treasonous thoughts. "The nobles in this Court are a fickle bunch. Most are harmless blowhards, making more noise than anything. Only if they gather together under one very ambitious leader will they get anywhere with their treasonous plans.&nbsp; It is quite easy however, to cause them to switch allegiance if they feel like their leaders are unstable or dangerous far beyond what the Duke offers. They only feel rebellious towards the Duke because he was sent here to govern the captured territory. It gives them a common enemy to rally against, even if the Duke is a very competent governor. I am sure you know they are not thrilled with you either.<br><br>What I do need, is concrete proof of a noble who is engaging in the use of Magic to further his aims. You are right, in that Miss Hani was able to remove one very dangerous item. If this noble complains, it will very likely be not to the Duke, but to the crime bosses he is paying to protect him. He may not even report the theft. Or if he does it will be only that someone broke into his home and stole important personal things. He may list everything except the one thing he is desperate to retrieve. This puts Miss Hani in danger, as it is likely the next rumors that surface will include a trap for a thief. If you do care for her, I suggest you keep a close eye on her and who she is associating with. As cautious and intelligent as she is, there are ways to trap a thief."<br><br>----<br><br>Her steps to the door of the shop only paused as Ethirdir tried to justify his interest and to insist he and Doryn had not conspired. The fact he insisted he would rather be with her and Doryn both rather than treat her as a trophy actually surprised her. She had meant that as a joke! Surely he was not serious! Of course she had no idea what Ethirdir might like as far as bedroom activities. Hani chuckled at the thought and dismissed it as Ethirdir's way of trying to win her over. He would have to try harder! In the meantime, she intended on enjoying every minute of this crazy courtship. Playing one off the other was fun, especially if both knew about it and were each trying to outdo the other!<br><br>When she reached the Inn, it was time for work and Hani changed into her work clothes, a simple green skirt and white blouse with a tight corset top of brown leather. Her father was busy in the kitchen and it seemed he was upset about the night before. He glanced at Hani and gave her a thoughtful look. She was not about to ask, and he seemed too busy to volunteer anything at the moment. She knew however, he would talk to her later. <br><br>The lunch crowd had left and Hani was clearing tables when she spotted Mercedes. "You look cheerful, I hope you are over the drama from last night? Has Sir Aelland come to apologize yet? I have a feeling he will be in later."<br><br>The pert brunette shook her head. "I am not sure I can forgive Sir Aelland, he was treading on shakey ground as it was. I mean, I have no illusions on how he feels about me. I am just a barmaid to him. The rumors of his engagement to the Lady Elena are hard to ignore. But using me to get you jealous was not very nice! I have had a visitor today, who is very intriguing. He is an Elf, and he is very polite and sweet. He will be here later to talk with me. Apparently he was here last night and spoke to your father. It surprises me that he asked permission to talk to me. Kind of refreshing to be treated as something other than a flirtacious ornament. We shall see how it goes. I have not seen the Knight Captain since last night. I am sure we will see him again. I should make him crawl to beg my forgiveness!" She chuckled evilly.<br><br>They soon got too busy to chat, with the dinner crowd filling the Inn very nicely. Hani had little time to think much and only had a brief break when she made arrangements for someone to work the dinner crowd in her place when she would go with Doryn to the estate of the Elf Lord Talion.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>19-09-2017, 00:59:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The Knight-Captain couldn't help but be slightly disappointed--<br><br>--he was <em>used</em> to being underestimated and taken for granted, it was part of how he'd been so successful in his endeavors, he'd made a bit of an artform into getting the people he was targetting to lower their guard and tell him things that they really shouldn't. Apparently, though, it was coming rather more easily than he'd intended it to... or maybe he was just that nervous in the presence of the Arch-Mage... given the fact that Quillian had apparently entirely misunderstood most of what he'd just said. Either that, Doryn supposed, or the Duke was just much better at such things than the Arch-Mage. It made sense, really, given that Quillian was rather presupposed with matters of higher spheres and magical intrigue.<br><br>Still, it was something to consider.<br><br>"No, I imagine she hasn't shared much with regard to her feelings toward me with you, I'm not sure she's thought much on the matter myself," he says, idly. "That, however, wasn't my point. Rather, I was suggesting that because Hani doesn't realize just how strong my feelings toward her is... she wouldn't be able to assure you to your satisfaction that I am imminently trustworthy. I'm not sure how well versed men of your sort are with matters of the heart, but rest assured, as long as your fortunes are tangled up with hers... I am your devoted man..."<br><br>Pondering his next words, Doryn can't help but hrmmm a bit.<br><br>"That said, you are correct, the nobles are not very thrilled with me. Not in my person and not in my position; certainly not in my accomplishments," Doryn says, chuckling a bit, thinking over to the great upset that he's made to the underworld in the past several years. Really, the best part of it all was how very <em>fun</em> it was, at least in his own mind. "You're right, it's doubtful that your mark will report his theft but I also don't think he'll be reporting to his criminal contacts either..."<br><br>A bit of a smile on his face, Doryn runs a hand through his hair, having a sip of the wine that the Arch-Mage had gotten him.<br><br>"...you see, those self-same contacts have.. changed... several times over the past year. What's left of the Underworld hasn't much recovered, and as it <em>does</em> recover, it finds itself increasingly under the sway of myself and the Duke. Mostly not directly, of course, you'd be surprised at how much I know about what the underbelly of the city is up to... So, no. If your target is at all intelligent, he won't turn to <em>them</em>. He'll try to deal with this <strong>himself</strong>."<br><br>Which... well, puts Hani in rather direct danger, Doryn supposes.<br><br>A thought that brings a bit of a frown to his face.<br><br>"I'll keep an ear open, in any event, and I hope you will as well," he says, idly. "That said, I hope you'll trust me with the name of your target before I leave, <em>that</em> is the information that I need if I'm going to keep Hani... and this Kingdom, I suppose... safe and your delay in recruiting me more fully in this matter could prove very costly. I will note that, if I know who Hani stole from, I can potentially approach them under the guise of investigating the theft. It's no secret-- among the upper classes, at least,-- that I've been investigating such things for a while now. I operate at my best when I have direct access to my target."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>20-09-2017, 06:35:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir had sent a message out almost immediately upon arriving home, asking a servant to bring him some fresh quality writing ink to his office immediately. The ink was already on his desk by the time the Elf had headed to his bedroom to dress in something a little more comfortable and then walked directly to his office, the inkwell sitting on his desk with a brand new quill resting beside it. Always pleased with his servants' promptness, the merchant wasted little time in using that quill and fresh batch of ink to write an important message that was rushed out by another servant almost immediately. The parchment had been rolled and sealed with an official wax insignia, which Ethirdir hoped would make the recipient understand how important the message was.<br><br>He was not disappointed - almost one hour later, a response arrived in his office. Not in the form of a letter, but in the form of a servant, one directly from the household to which he had sent the message. The servant was dressed in a vibrant red coat with a pair of similarly hued trousers. His elven ears were perhaps the sharpest Ethirdir had ever seen, piercing through the well-maintained long black hair that draped behind the elf's shoulders. His pale blue eyes were calm and collected, and when he spoke he had a fairly even voice that sounded like it could go deep at any moment.<br><br>"I am Aolieth, head servant of Lord Mage Tanaven," the servant said without a hint of shame or pompousness. Ethirdir had no doubt that this man was probably paid very well to look absolutely flawless when doing everything. "My master is currently very busy and doesn't wish to be disturbed, so he sent me in his stead to deal with the 'most important matter' you mentioned in your letter."<br><br>Of course, Ethirdir thought with a sigh. Mages, especially Elvish ones, were so wrapped up in their own little world that they often thought the entire universe revolved around them and they didn't need to bother with things they considered trivial or unimportant. It did make sense that Tanaven would send a servant to deal with this matter, since Ethirdir had been intentionally vague about what this meeting was about. He was being careful, after all, considering how dangerous the item he currently possessed truly was.<br><br>"I am honored that your master has sent someone he clearly holds in such high esteem," Ethirdir said, offering the Elven servant a bow, "but this is a matter I must speak with your master directly. It is a decision that he alone can make, and using someone to relay my words to him is not ideal under the circumstances."<br><br>"So says many people who wish to see him" Aolieth said without pause or hesitation. "Pray, tell me, what is so important that it requires his direct attention?"<br><br>Ethirdir grinned a little as he answered: "A Basilisk Heart."<br><br>For the first time in perhaps the servant's entire life, his eyes widened greatly and his jaw dropped. Apparently, the Elf had not been expecting to hear those words today, if ever. "A Basilis..." The servant seemed almost reluctant to say the phrase in its entirety. "Sir, if what you say is true..."<br><br>"It is true," Ethirdir assured Aolieth.<br><br>"But then...how did...when..."<br><br>Ethirdir held up a hand. "As I said, I will only speak to your master directly. No more details will be given to you, only the fact that I have one. I expect this will bring your master out of hiding, my good man?"<br><br>Aolieth hesitated...and then seemed to recover from his shock, smoothening out his surprise. "I will relay this message to my master at once. You can expect a response for a proper meeting time and place soon, I imagine."<br><br>Ethirdir widened his grin. "Now that's what I want to hear..."<br><br><hr><br>Theolin walked through the front door of the Dew Drop Inn right in the middle of rush hour. Still dressed in the same smart-looking clothes he had worn earlier that morning - because, honestly, why change when he was going to see Mercedes again anyway? - he for the briefest moment wondered if he could find a table that Mercedes was likely going to be serving before he noticed just how many people were currently filling the tavern. Getting a table that she would serve was going to be a crapshoot, and even then, he wasn't going to have much time to talk to her anyway. That's why he was going to talk to her after the dinner rush, after all...<br><br>Shrugging, he decided to simply find an open booth and take it. If he got Mercedes as his waitress, then at least she would know he was here and waiting for her to finish his shift. Regardless, he wasn't going to leave once he had dinner; he planned on waiting for Mercy's shift to end so the two of them could find a nice quiet place to chat and get to know one another. Even though it would involve just talking, Theolin was actually feeling excited, though he couldn't figure out why he was so eager like this. Perhaps it had just been a while since he had found a girl as lovely as Mercedes, or maybe he just wanted to make up for his stupid mistake earlier that morning.<br><br>Eventually he found an open booth, and as he sat down he checked to make sure the wrapped package in his pouch was all right. It was a little something to give to Mercedes later on, something he hoped she would like. Nothing fancy or elaborate, just something he hoped she would appreciate after a long day working in the tavern. If things went well after tonight, he would consider getting her more expensive gifts, but tonight this would do just fine.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>20-09-2017, 10:40:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5e/ef/c6/5eefc6a0390d563a505c77b953193b99--character-concept-character-art.jpg)</div> The Arch Mage had not intended to irritate or confuse Sir Aelland. "Indeed, Captain, Miss Hani holds you in high esteem. She has told me you know your job and do it well. A little smugly, in my eyes, as she seems to think you do not care about her secret hobby, which has now become a very worthy asset of the Court. I am glad you are willing to look aside when she is out doing her clandestine work. It is for that reason I am trusting you with this information."<br><br>He paused then to rifle through some scrolls, all of which had some incriminating words on them about a certain Baron. "Hani is not my only agent, of course. I have others in discrete places, and they bring me information. I will allow you to look at these reports, to give you a better understanding of the danger this noble presents to the Kingdom. It was through them that I was informed of the possession of a very dangerous focal gem, used in the most powerful of magics. This particular gem is known as a Basilisk heart to the Elves. To the uninitiated it is commonly referred to as a Bloodstone. It is a very dangerous tool, allowing the user to increase his or her power to near God like levels. Unfortunately, for those who abuse it, it also has the potential to cause corruption to the user, to the point of utter insanity. Only with the utmost care is a Master Mage able to safeguard against this foul tool of demons. For the most part, it is better left to the Elves, who have a better understanding of it, as well as sense enough to protect themselves. It is this Bloodstone I had Miss Hani remove from the home of this Baron." Handing Sir Aelland the sheaf of papers. <br><br>The scrolls detailed meetings between Baron Ludwig von Berenholdt, and several of the less than honorable nobles in the Duke's Court. Arrangements to undermine several of the Duke's pet projects, as well as spreading the sedition with bribery and intimidation. There was enough here to hang the Baron, but the Duke hesitated, as noted in a statement he had sent the Arch Mage. He wanted control of the situation, and not outright rebellion. "As you can see, the Duke is cagey and not willing to move just yet. Perhaps you can discuss it with him at your leisure? My only concern right now is to make sure he does not recover the Bloodstone. Miss Hani has sent me a message saying she is in negotiations to sell the blasted thing to someone outside of the City. I am worried that she will find herself in a trap if she is not careful. If the Baron gets any inkling of who it is who stole the gem from him, I fear for her life. As competent as she is, everyone has weaknesses. Be very careful in approaching him, Sir Aelland. He is a powerful man with more resources than you may imagine. His magic talent is minimal, but with the Bloodstone he could do untold damage to the Kingdom. Still, he will be aware of any attempt to mislead him."<br><br>At about that time, Jordan returned to see if any further refreshments were needed. He made a sign to the Arch Mage, indicating another guest awaited him. He was discrete as always and bowed out when Quillian nodded in understanding, giving him only a curt. "We are almost finished here, Jordan. I do believe the good Sir Aelland will be leaving soon." It was a polite if not outright, notice to the Captain that their interview was coming to an end.&nbsp; <br><br>----<br><br>Mercedes saw Theolin come in and grinned once at him as he sat in her section. Before going to his table, she made sure the other customers were happy. When she approached, she had a mug of mead in her hand, as it was what he had ordered last time. "Nice to see you back, Theolin. The dinner menu is quite varied. Everything from seafood fresh from the Bay, to the very finest of beef or game you can imagine. The chef is the owner of the Inn, and he prides himself on making only the best." She smiled as she handed him the menu. It was an attempt on Silas' part to get the nobles to eat at his establishment, if they did not mind the location. He was close enough to the noble residences that a short ride by carriage would take them to the door of the Dew Drop. So far, he had attracted a few, and he knew word of mouth would bring in more. They paid well and he could guarantee a good living if he was careful.<br><br>The other waitresses, including Hani, were busy, making sure everyone got excellent service. It did not surprise the red head to see a few of the Guard come in, some with young ladies in tow. She smiled, Doryn was certainly making sure someone kept an eye on her! Either that, or her father's plan was working! By the time the majority of the dinner crowd had started to thin out, Hani took her break and went upstairs to change into something more comfortable. She had no clue if she would see Doryn tonight, he did not come in every night, after all. The staff would let her know of course. She was quite relieved to get off her feet and rest before the late nighters came in for entertainment. <br><br>Tonight, there was a Bard singing, a traveling musician named Taliesian. He was a tall dark haired half elf with a wanderlust and a fine voice that had asked to play for the tips. The regular musicians would let him play some solos, as long as he would help with the dance music when the customers demanded it. Hani was looking forward to seeing if he was as good as he claimed. She rested for about an hour before she dressed in her dark blue skirt with a matching velvet blue corset. The white silk blouse set it off perfectly. When she went downstairs, she heard a few whistles, and waved at the regular customers, blushing at the attention. She noticed Mercedes and Theolin had moved to a small cozy booth in the corner, where they chatted like old friends.<br><br>Hani took her usual seat in the balcony, where she got a clear view of the stage. The Half Elf had dressed in a bright costume and had already started singing. <br><br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJH6F47sIdQ <br><br>(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/41/11/0d411197736a2687bc51aae6cd5a7a33--male-elf-character-concept.jpg)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>01-11-2017, 20:50:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				On much more comfortable footing, Doryn found that the rest of his meeting with the Archmage went very very well. Quillian had gone on about the threat arrayed against the City, and the Kingdom, while the Northerner had dutifully devoured the reports that the Archmage had shared with him. This was going to be quite a challenge, beyond any that he'd yet faced in his service to the Kingdom, that quickly became apparent as he read about the trouble that Duke Ludwig von Berenholdt had gotten into,-- and <em>gotten away with</em>. Even beyond simply worrying about Hani's involvement with such characters, Doryn knew that he couldn't allow such a loose cannon to operate freely in his adopted home.<br><br>Crescent City was <em>his</em>, after all, and he'd not see some insane demagogue turn it into a glowing hole in the ground.<br><br>Eventually, of course, the meeting came to its end as Doryn knew it would. Even so, the Northerner only slowly peeled himself away from the papers that had been provided him, knowing that he wouldn't be taking them with him and wanting to make sure that he'd committed as much of the data as he could to memory. Even as sobering as what he'd read had been, Doryn found himself slightly excited about the prospect of matching his wits against a truly worthy opponent, biting his lip just a bit as he finally placed the last of the papers aside and rose to his feet. "Yes, yes, I do believe we're just about finished here. Rest assured, you have my total cooperation in this matter, but even so... It's probably best if we don't meet again directly. I'll arrange a more indirect means of contact with the Duke, if you require such,--"<br><br>"--also, you'll have to forgive me in advance the histrionics of my exit."<br><br>~<br><br>It was almost a certainty, of course, that the Baron was watching over the Archmage's Tower.<br><br>Even if he wasn't, really, those were odds that the Knight-Captain didn't want to take. So, as he left the tower, he did so in a bit of a huff,-- an exaggeration of how he'd approached the building, all but warding himself against unclean influences as he left, ranting with paranoiac fervor about users of foul sorcery and how he couldn't believe the Southerners let them dwell <em>right in the middle of town</em>. Such things were for Elves and the Gods, not for Mortal Men, and no good would come of it! It was a well known superstition amongst his people, of course, and in truth Doryn <strong>did</strong> find the open presence of Wizards in Southern Society to be something that he had to get used to.<br><br>...he'd mostly gotten used to it since his Exile, admittedly, but it was easy enough to get back into the mindset..<br><br>He'd even assign one of his men to watch over the Archmages' tower for the next couple of days, keeping track of the comings and goings of his guest, until someone was able to 'talk some sense into him.' It wasn't much, at least for now, of course. Only a brief hint of a strategy that might serve him well,-- <strong>if</strong> the Baron was aware of who his enemies were,-- but these were the early days of this particular game.<br><br>Really, Doryn couldn't help but think.<br><br><span style="font-size: 11pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">This would be fun.</span></span><br><br>~<br><br>The rest of the day was engaged in as normal a fashion as any.<br><br>He took interviews with various members of the Guard, keeping himself abreast of what was going on in the city, and attended to the numerous tasks that marked his position. Most notable was probably the efforts he took on the first matter that the Archmage had given him. Even if it was primarily a test of loyalty, after all, the matter of the slavers in the Under-City was still one that would have to be dealt with. So, Doryn took the effort to arrange a task-force on such matters...<br><br>...and since Guards moving down through the cities Sewers, and even deeper, would only be so effective? He even arranged for some posters to be put up, advertising a bounty to hopefully attract some freelance warriors who might look into the matter for him. It was a risky solution, of course, and one that could on occasion cause more trouble than it solved. Of course, considering that Doryn had himself once been just such a freelance do-gooder? It was a solution that he rather enjoyed.<br><br>He did, briefly, ponder stepping out for a bit of entertainment that evening,-- the Dew Drop beckoned, even after his previous night there,- in the end, though, Doryn thought better of it. It'd been a long day and he was already running a bit behind because of his meeting with the Archmage and the extra labor that'd added to his day. He still had a wrap up a few things to wrap up to ensure that hed' be able to attend Ethirdir's party. He did double-check on the arrangements that he'd made, by way of apology to Mercedes, and took a few moments to look over his plans for Hani's apology as well.<br><br>He'd probably be better off simply showing up and saying he was sorry, of course, and on some level the Northerner knew that.<br><br>If he was anything, though, Doryn was rather fond of large gestures.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>05-11-2017, 07:29:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The entertainment in the Dew Drop Inn was exceptional tonight. The Bard had everyone laughing, dancing and singing along as he played and danced. By the time he had taken a break, the smiling faces had him in a very good mood. He let the band that normally played in the evenings continue to entertain, while he went to the bar to get himself a mug of ale. He had to ask the lovely Mercedes for his mug, and he was quite taken with her long dark hair and flashing eyes. "My name is Taliesian. I am dying of thirst! I see the locals have quite a good ale here. Did you enjoy the music, my dear?" He openly flirted with Mercy.<br><br>"The local brew is very popular, good sir. And the singing and music is very good. I am impressed. Where are you from? I have not seen you here before." She was polite and friendly, as she should be working as a wench. <br><br>Taliesian bowed and accepted the mug of ale. "Thank you for the kind words. I know that you are busy tonight. I intend on staying in town for several weeks. Perhaps I can play more nights here. I do try to hit all the taverns in town at least once before I move on."<br><br>"I am sure Master Silverthorn will welcome you to play at any time. The patrons seem to be enjoying themselves. You can discuss it with him of course." Mercy moved out of the reach of the Bard's wandering hands before he got too friendly. "I do have lots of work to do!" she smiled as she made her way back to Theolin's table. <br><br>Hani looked down from the balcony and watched as the patrons came over to the Bard and told him how much they enjoyed his music. Something about him tickled Hani's memory, but she could not quite place it. She wondered if Doryn would show up tonight? He still owed her and Mercy an apology. Hani sipped the wine and enjoyed the evening as the musicians played on, inspired by the Bard.<br><br>----<br><br>After Doryn had left his tower, Quillian had his other guest shown in. Her fears were justified as she told him how badly the Baron had treated her. Alyssa blurted out the story to the Arch Mage. "He has something he calls the tri-point amplifier. I have no idea what it is. He was planning on using it with the gem. Do you think that needs to be removed from him as well?" <br><br>A few moments time went by as Quillian wracked his brain trying to discern if the girl even knew what she was talking about. But he was worried that if this amplifier would work with the Bloodstone, then the foolish rogue mage might try it with some other gem. He could not afford to take chances, so he sighed deeply before telling Alyssa she needed to get out of that household and find a better position. "You were wise to come to me, child. But it would be foolish to go back if something else is stolen, he might not believe you knew nothing about it. I can help you find another position. Go home and gather your things, and make some excuse to leave."<br><br>He paced the floor of his tower for several hours and finally sent a messenger to the Inn. The young boy was discrete and knew how to get Miss Hani to come to the Mage tower, without even speaking to her. They had some kind of code worked out. <br><br>That night, when the moon disappeared behind a cloud, Hani came to the Tower to receive her instructions. Another trip into the Baron's manor house would be very dangerous. It was a challenge to her, and one she was excited to do. Of course she would not tell Doryn of her plans.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>14-11-2017, 06:56:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Theolin got to spend a decent amount of time with Mercedes that night. It was easy to see how busy she was with the large crowd that filled the Inn, and he suspected that such crowds were fairly typical for the Dew Drop. He almost felt foolish for thinking he could have dinner with her at a regular hour with the amount of work she undoubtedly had to do each and every day, but from the moment she smiled at him when she had first approached him, he convinced himself to stop worrying about silly mistakes that meant nothing in the long run.<br><br>During the dinner break that Mercedes chose to graciously spend with him, the two managed to talk as if they had known one another for ages. Theolin has always believed he would like Mercy, but he was still genuinely amazed at how giddy he felt as he made her smile with his stories and as he listened to her own tales. By the time it was nearly time for her to return to work, Theolin wanted any excuse to keep her at the table so they could continue talking.<br><br>Still, before she went back to work, Theolin did offer her something as a small gift: something he had cooked himself. It was a simple confectionary item popular among the Elves called a <em>flemeul dei’in</em>, or a butterfly bun in the common tongue: a simple pastry stuffed with fruit jam and dusted with assorted sweet sugars. The buns were small, about the size of a coin, but were sweet and tangy when cooked properly. Theolin didn’t know if Mercedes had ever tasted one, but he hoped she wouldn’t mind trying one from made by his hand.<br><br><hr><br>It didn’t take long for Aolieth to return to Ethirdir’s manor, and this time the Elf was far more cordial than last time. Apparently the Mage had taken Ethirdir’s promise of a Basilisk Heart seriously, and didn’t want a haughty servant to jeopardize the chances of obtaining such a covetous prize. Ethirdir didn’t understand why that couldn’t mean the Lord Mage coming directly to see him in person, but at least the point had gotten across.<br><br>“I discussed your request with the Lord Mage,” said the servant, struggling to appear contrite but seemingly physically incapable of expressing such an emotion, “and he had agreed to your condition to meet face to face. He wishes to meet three days from now, at midnight at his chateau, and will only speak with you if you bring the item with you. He wishes to see it for himself before he makes any offer.”<br><br>The Mage was smart, obviously, and Ethirdir knew he had little choice. Of course, he doubted the Mage would dare double cross him - any action untoward would bring unwanted attention on him really quickly, merchants were famous for having plenty of safeguards to prevent theft. “I accept your Master’s conditions. I shall be at his chateau on the appointed day, with the Heart for him to examine. In return, I expect him to be ready to open his purse for such an expensive item.”<br><br>“If the item is authentic, you will receive your gold,” Aolieth replied, returning to the same condescending tone as before. “Until then, good sir.” With that, the servant bowed and left the premises, his brief task complete.<br><br>Pleased to have a date and time set for the sale of the Basilisk Heart, Ethirdir rubbed his hands in glee as he thought of all the money he - and Hana - would be making from this transaction. Speaking of which, he realized he needed to prepare for the party for her and Doryn. Luckily, he was very familiar with planning such events on such short notice, so it wouldn’t take too much effort to get things in order. Still, he needed a few things ordered, so he hurried to his office to get the ball rolling...<br><br><hr><br>While Theolin was busy doing his best to convince Mercedes that he might be worth seeing again, and while his master Ethirdir was finalizing the arrangements for both the deal with the Archmage and the party he was hosting, Alyssa was making her way back to the manse where the Baron resided. Not too long ago, she had been instructed by Quillian to return to the manor and retrieve her things so she could then run away from the danger that the Baron seemed to pose to her. If it were entirely up to her, she wouldn’t return to the manor at all - why put herself at risk to retrieve mere things when the Baron was insane and fully capable of killing her without a care in the world?<br><br>Ah, but they weren’t just things; Alyssa had some prized items back in the Baron’s manse, including her mother’s locket and her the last letter her late father ever wrote to her. Such things were irreplaceable, and she couldn’t allow them to get tossed into a fire once the Baron realized she was never coming back. So she returned to the manse with gritted teeth and a beating heart, hoping upon hope that it was late enough that she could get in and out without too much trouble.<br><br>The house felt incredibly quiet when she entered through the side entrance meant for servants. Her room was thankfully not far from that entrance - servants weren’t expected to reside anywhere deep within the home, where the Baron dwelled. All she had to do was go down a short corridor, past doors where other servants lived, and she would be in her own personal chambers. Then it wouldn’t take long to get her things together, pack everything up in a single small pack, and leave before anyone even missed her...<br><br>“There you are. I was wondering when you’d come home.”<br><br>Alyssa froze when she entered her chamber and found a familiar, hideous face staring back at her from her bed. She hadn’t expected to see Gregor again upon returning to the manor, but seeing that repulsive face made her realize she should’ve kept an eye out for him. <br><br>“What...what are you doing in my room?” she demanded, trying to distract him with his blatant invasion of privacy.<br><br>“I’m here to relay a message,” Gregor said, standing up from her bed while keeping his beady black eyes trained on her. “The Baron wanted me to make sure you knew that he expects to see you again tomorrow morning with the sunrise in his office.”<br><br>There was no light in that room save the faint moonlight streaming in through the line window, so Alyssa was grateful that Gregor couldn’t see the blood drain from her face. “What...? But why...? I already had an audience with him...”<br><br>“It’s a follow up, that’s all he said,” the man replied, grinning with a devious smile as he walked past the stunned maid. As he drew alongside her, Gregor stopped and turned to look down at the poor girl. “You know...you’re bed’s pretty soft. Care to make sure it holds up to a lot of pressure?”<br><br>Alyssa, despite fear welling up in the pit of her stomach, had to resist the urge to slap the disgusting man in his vile face. Instead she simply looked up at him and hissed, “Get out of my room...now...”<br><br>Gregor only widened his sneer at her words. “Careful what you say, or you might lose more the your job.”<br><br>With those words ringing in her ears, Gregor left the room, closing the door behind him. It didn’t matter that there was no lock on the door; Alyssa was effectively trapped. The Baron knew...or at least suspected, and she was now being watched like a hawk. She so badly wanted to have the brains to figure out what she needed to do to escape, but all she could do for the rest of the night was curl up on her bed and cry her eyes out...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>20-11-2017, 06:07:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The day after his meeting with the Archmage, Doryn awoke with a thousand troubles on his plate,--<br><br>--it made him glad that he hadn't decided to retire to his Estate the night before. It was only a few hours out of the city, admittedly, but when as many things were happening as was currently the case? Well, Doryn had always preferred to be in the thick of things. Most of the morning was spent taking care of the Archmages' little rogue magus issue, and the slavery ring, assigning a team to the detail and making sure that they achieved proper support from himself. He also put up some notices, attempting to gain the interest of any local adventurers that might be in the area, the kind of thing that the Knight-Captain didn't <em>overdo</em> but which he was perfectly willing to indulge whenever appropriate.<br><br>...as a former adventurer himself, he knew what he could and couldn't get away with..<br><br>He <strong>also</strong> spent a bit of time going over the various information that he had on the Baron,-- and his various associates,- filling in the gaps that had been present in the Archmage's own files with his own facts, some relevant subjecture, and a few educated guess. Most notable, as he'd thought, the Baron hadn't in any fashion reported the theft in the first place,-- quite unlike many of Hani's other victims, who would frequently come to him with complaints and demands to get their stolen items back. Whatever Berenholdt intended to do to get his gem back, he obviously intended to work on his own... probably due to the absurdly illegal nature of the item in question.. which of course gave Doryn a bit of an idea of himself.<br><br>After all, he <em>did</em> have all of those Nobles raging for him to find the crook,--<br><br>--it was a simple enough matter to arrange the raid. Similarly, while he didn't want <em>everyone</em> to know, by the end of the evening all of the Nobles in the City would know that Doryn had done a raid on one of the cities fences and recovered a number of items. Including, as it would happen, a number of items that had been reported stolen by the "criminal gang" that most believed responsible for the thefts. Information that Dorny would, normally, release to great fanfare but which the Nobles would learn that he was attempting <em>very much</em> to keep <strong>very quiet</strong>.<br><br>For reasons unknown.<br><br>For reasons that, really, the Baron wouldn't be able to ignore.<br><br><div align="center"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" class="bbc_size">~</span></span></div><br>Even as the first part of Doryn's plan unfolded, the Knight-Captain himself was taking a well-deserved break. He didn't show up at the Dewdrop <em>that</em> often, of course, and in normal circumstances he wouldn't have dropped in only a few days after his last appearance. Except... well, the Northerner had apologies to make.. and <em>finally</em> the arrangements for such were complete.<br><br>...plus, well, Doryn had heard a few interesting tidbits from his reports on what had happened last night at the Dewdrop. Oh, to be sure, it was good to hear that Mercy was well-taken care of, and the guard that he'd assigned to escort her home had more or less backed off when she'd made other arrangements. For all that, of course, he would continue on that duty until relieved. No, far more interesting-- in a different fashion,- was the fact that <em><strong>Taliesian</strong></em> had been spotted at his favorite hangout the previous night.<br><br>Really,-- at that point,- Doryn HAD pay a visit to the Dewdrop.<br><br>The main difference between the Knight-Captain's arrival tonight, and on previous night, was the simple fact that things had been <em>so</em> dramatic the last time he was here. There was a long moment of awkward silence as the Northerner 'showed his face here again so soon,'-- some probably expecting that Doryn was going to make some apology, some expecting that he'd <strong>not</strong> be making any kind of apology, and of course (those who knew him the best,) expecting something... truly epic..<br><br>It just made him smile, really.<br><br>"Alright, everyone. Settle down," he said, smiling a bit, taking the feel of the place. One of his finest-- and most loyal,- Guards, the elf Lai, at his side as Doryn moved further into the Inne. Nor was he the only member of Doryn's "Honor Guard" that was present. Vaughn had been at the Dewdrop for the past few hours, blending in and keeping an eye on things, and when the shady seeming subordinate saw his employer he simply nodded and glanced over in a meaningful direction toward...<br><br>...Taliesian.<br><br>The sight of the young Bard brought an immediate smile to Doryn's face, the older man simply moving over toward the bard-- the crowd parting in confused fashion,- as the two men embraced.<br><br>"Taliesian, my young friend! I'd heard that you were tucked away here,--"<br><br>"--count me not surprised that, when I finally make my way to Crescent City, I find that-- Noble or not,- you still spend most of your time in a Bar. It's good to see you, old man."<br><br>There was laughter as the two headed off to find a table, sharing a few drinks and more than a few tales, interrupted only sporadically by ballads... well, Ballads and the handsome young Bard flirting with everything that moved to Doryn's vague amusement. He'd find out what brought his old friend to Crescent City when the timing was right, of course, but for now it was nice to see one of his old friends. Indeed, if things were as dire as Doryn's gut thought they might be, having Taliesian nearby might be... a very good thing.. not that the Northern would ever admit that to the young man.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>29-11-2017, 03:39:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The entrance of the Knight Captain did not go unnoticed. Hani had been aware of Vaughn for some time, and had not approached him, knowing that Doryn would be here tonight. She primped a bit and stayed upstairs in the balcony section, keeping an eye on the business below. She would step in if needed, for now, the crowd was transfixed on Taliesian. He was putting on a good show, and Hani could tell her father was pleased. She was prepared to give Doryn a chance to apologise, after all, she had not stopped caring for him. He just needed to accept her as she was, not a common wench, but the daughter of a very respected Innkeeper who could probably give Doryn a shakedown he would not soon forget. Of course Sirus liked Doryn, so he would lecture him a good deal first. He loved his daughter, and would not allow anyone to harm her. <br><br>Mercedes kept busy, serving as she usually did, with only the slight deviation of smiling at Theolin whenever she got a chance. His treat she had sampled and enjoyed very much. Whispering to him when she had a chance. "You are going to spoil me! But I do not mind. It's kind of nice to have someone who actually cares." She found herself stopping to check on him several times during the evening, making sure he had his glass full. <br><br>When the Captain made his appearance, nearly half the tavern was shocked and amused. Would there be more drama? Or would the presence of the Guard keep everyone on their toes? Taliesian was smiling and singing when Doryn appeared, and he stopped only to greet the man with enthusiasm. "Doryn! You sly dog! How did you manage to get yourself into this plum position? Eh?"&nbsp; He chuckled as the men embraced. Whispering into Doryn's ear with a smirk, "Who did you bribe? And do you have work for an old chum?"<br><br>Mercy kept her distance from Doryn, keeping busy with the customers and only giving smiles to them and avoiding catching the Knight Captain's eyes. It was not difficult to do, the Inn was busy. Most of the customers watched with interest to see what Doryn would do now. Rumor had it he was cracking down on the thieves in town, and the merchants were happy to hear that. Of course there were those who were never satisfied, they tended to frown and mumble about the lack of protection from the crime syndicate that had been so busy of late. There were still missing people to find, and some would wonder what Doryn was doing to stop the slave ring that had sprung up in the underground. <br><br>Sooner or later, Mercy would have to get around to the table where Doryn and Taliesian were sitting, as the girl waiting on them took a break. The ale was flowing freely and Mercy took the full mugs to the Bard and the Captain and set them on the table. "The crowd is asking if you take requests, Master Bard. Would you care to grace us with a ballad of the North? It appears you know the Captain, perhaps you have written a song about him?" She rather hoped that the Bard would sing something so outrageous that Doryn would be embarrassed. <br><br>Taliesian would not disappoint! "Of course I have songs about my dear friend here. I was hoping someone would ask!" He then strummed his lute and began in a clear baritone. <br><br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUASXuJiDXY
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>05-12-2017, 06:03:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Alyssa hadn’t slept at all last night - just the idea of having to face the Baron again had kept her awake. It didn’t help that she had essentially ratted him out to her superiors about his plans regarding some bizarre artifact whose name she couldn’t even care to remember anymore, and his file servant Gregor either suspected her of her treason or had something else just as diabolical in mind. Regardless, horrible thoughts drifted through her mind every waking minute that night, and by morning she was a nervous wreck. She didn’t want to believe that she was about to die - or worse; with the Baron, there was always the possibility of there being something worse - but at some indistinguishable point last night she must’ve accepted her fate. The tears she had cried for seemingly hours had dried up, leaving her face scarred with a depressed expression of apathy. Clumps of her hair had been torn out in frightened frustration, leaving her locks uneven and tangled. Her voice couldn’t even muster anymore words, having been whimpered hoarse.<br><br>When the door to her chamber was opened, she didn’t even look up from her bed, content to simply stare at the ceiling. She didn’t need to look to know who it is - she could smell the stench of expensive yet foul liquor on Gregor’s breath almost immediately.<br><br>“Rise and shine,” the man cooed, walking up to the bed so Alyssa could get a good look at him from where she lay. His toothy grin stared down at her almost mockingly, that leering gaze in his eyes still as arrogant as ever. Seeing how his gaze so casually wandered across her body, still clad in yesterday’s clothes, almost made her find the energy to get up from her pained stupor.<br><br>“Had a long night, did we?” Gregor sneered. “And after I told you that the Baron wanted to see you this morning. You need to take better care of yourself, lass. You can’t go presenting yourself to the Baron like this, you’d better get dressed into something better looking.”<br><br>A lecherous sneer formed on his face. “Of course, if you’re so determined to stay in bed, maybe I could join you, show you a thing or two...” As he said these words, his hands reached out towards her bosom with a shocking amount of casualness.<br><br>A loud crack was heard as Alyssa’s hand soared outward and slapped Gregor’s hand away, hard enough that the man yelped in surprise. Alyssa almost believed she had broken one of his fingers or something, but she no longer cared if that would lead to a punishment or not. If she was going to die this day, she was going to die with dignity; she would not allow this scum of a man lay a hand on her, even to save her own life. With a renewed sense of determination, she sat up from where she lay, her narrowed eyes throwing a piercing stare towards Gregor, who was still stunned by how sharp her slap had been.<br><br>“You got a lot of nerve hitting me like that,” the man hissed. “And here I was, thinking I could convince the Baron to go lenient on you in exchange for a bit of slap and tickle...”<br><br>Alyssa interjected Gregor’s word’s with a hissed warning of her own. “I would sooner sleep with a leper than ever let you touch me.”<br><br>Gregor’s eyes widened at such a harsh rebuke, but he straightened his back as the pain dissipated from his hand, a smile returning to his face. “Strong words. Now let’s see how tough you really are. Get dressed - the Baron’s waiting for you in his study.”<br><br>Alyssa knew she was about to face the Baron’s wrath, but she was willing to accept her fate if it meant denying this piece of vile filth any satisfaction. Defiantly she climbed out of bed, intending on getting ready for her fateful meeting before realizing Gregor was still in the room. When a vicious glare didn’t get him to leave, she offered to finish the job by breaking one of his fingers. He left soon after that...<br><br><hr><br>Theolin never imagined he would be coming to the Dew Drop this frequently, but it wasn’t difficult to see why considering he now had quite the incentive to do so. That incentive, naturally, was the hardworking woman who currently whirled around the floor of the tavern, taking orders and carrying trays with food and drink to the establishment’s numerous customers, all while flashing that beautiful smile that had made him first notice her. Of course, she now saved her best smiles for him, and whenever she flashed that grinning face his way, he felt naturally compelled to return the smile.<br><br>It seemed so long ago that she had initially scorned him for being so direct in asking her out, but he chose to focus on just how wonderful it felt to know she was enjoying his company, about as much as he enjoyed hers. He hoped she could get a day off soon and the pair could have a more traditional date, but until then he was content to meet her at the inn for a meal whenever she had a sliver of free time. The whisper in his ear made it clear she appreciated his attentions, and she always made sure his glass was full. There wasn’t much Theolin could do to show his appreciation outside of a smile and a few words here and there, but he was enjoying her growing affections just the same and only hoped he could offer the same when the opportunity arose.<br><br>Amidst his few moments with Mercedes, he did notice the girl that his boss had his eye on - Hani, that was her name - standing in the balcony overseeing the tavern floor, and how she was keeping an eye on that Captain that Ethirdir apparently know. Theolin didn’t quite understand what his boss was thinking, whether he was going on another of his conquests or if he had some big plan in mind regarding the innkeeper’a daughter and the soldier, but it was too complicated for his tastes. He preferred to keep things simple, and Mercedes seemed to appreciate that approach. Speaking of, she looked incredibly lovely gliding around the inn so effortlessly, he thought, and he couldn’t help but smile as he watched her with the hopes of locking eyes with her whenever she had a spare moment...<br><br>“I see you’re enjoying the view,” said a voice suddenly that snapped Theolin out of his dreaming. He turned his head to see Ethirdir standing over him, a knowing smirk on his lips as he casually slid into a seat next to his subordinate.<br><br>“Boss,” Theolin stammered before he regained some of his composure. “I’m not staring at her like that, I was just...hoping to catch a glimpse of her eyes. I just...like it when she looks at me, and...they’re really pretty...”<br><br>“So I saw when I danced with her,” Ethirdir said before laughing softly and patting Theolin on the back. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m actually glad you and Mercedes are getting along well - that poor girl deserves someone as sweet as you after what she had to put up with the other day.”<br><br>Theolin tried to contain a blush as he hastily changed the subject. “So what are you doing here, boss? I thought you were preparing for your little dinner with your two friends...”<br><br>“I am, but I need to eat too. You seem to be coming here a lot more often. Anything you recommend that I might not have tried yet?”<br><br>Theolin was about to answer his boss’s question when the ruckus of the crowd was interrupted by the loud twang of lute strings. All eyes seemed to turn at once towards a table housing a bombastic-looking man with the expected instrument, and to Ethirdir’s amazement he immediately recognized Doryn sitting beside the man as well. What had prompted this unexpected outburst of song, he wondered. More important, did it have anything to do with his good friend the Captain? Curious, the elf sat back quietly to listen to the song, unable to contain an eager grin on his face.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>20-12-2017, 17:34:32</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Doryn had known what was coming the instant that Hani had asked the question and Taliesian had answered so enthusiastically. When the first few chords of the ballad began, it only confirmed his thoughts, and the Northerner just gave the Bard a vague glance,--<br><br>--he could put a stop to the song, if he wanted, he knew that. The last thing that he wanted, though, was to cause <em>another</em> scene so soon after the last one. He'd not be kicked out of the Dew Drop, of course, but Doryn understood that being allowed to visit a place and being a wanted fixture were too very different things. So, when Taliesian began to sing the tale of a Northern Chieftan's two son's, Doryn simply closes his eyes for a moment and mutely allows the ballad to ring out over the Inne as his young friend's dulcet tones so outlandishly outline the story of his exile.<br><br>It's not a perfect retelling, of course,-- it's a song! Embellished for artistic reasons and simply to embarrass his old companion. It also focuses, perhaps, a bit too much on... certain purile elements such as the bounteous size of the endowments belonging to the young Northern woman who came between the two brothers. For, in such songs, it's <em>always</em> because of a woman isn't it? A woman who was woo'd by both brothers, but ultimately chose to marry one of them, except... that she betrayed that vow by sleeping with the younger.<br><br>An act that drove the brothers apart, driving the elder to rage and anger-- and an act that could never be taken back,-- an act of fratricide.<br><br>Which, as it turns out, is about the verse where Doryn finally decides to cease the story before it's climactic end.<br><br>"Alright alright, that's more than enough," he says, feeling vaguely as if entirely too many eyes are on him. "You've always been such an gossip, Taliesian."<br><br>The poor Bard looks rather out of sorts, but stops in his song, a queer look on his face as he stops the song. Frowning a bit. "Really, you're making me end there? I haven't even got to--"<br><br>"That's <strong>enough</strong>," Doryn says, just glaring at the bard.<br><br>Who.. for his part.. just nods, looking somewhat chagrined.<br><br>Someone from the crowd, sounding a bit confused, "But, I don't,-- Doryn killed his Brother? Is that why he was Exiled??"<br><br>"Well now, actually, I never--"<br><br>"--Enough, Talisien. What you all heard was a <em>song</em>, don't take especial note of it," Doryn says, lightly, seeming vaguely annoyed. "...drink.. I need something to drink.."<br><br>Even as someone orders him something, Doryn can't help but hear the muttering-- knowing that, not for the first time, people were talking about him. In the end, though, he would very much rather they thought that he killed his brother as opposed to knowing the truth that he couldn't quite bring himself to let Taliesian speak aloud...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>24-12-2017, 00:32:26</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Mercedes tried very hard not to smirk at Doryn. Oh yes, revenge was sweet! Now it was his turn to be embarrassed and uncomfortable. How she wanted to shout out loud to him! 'See how it feels! You crazy barbarian!' But she refrained from voicing her thoughts. Contenting herself with a barely held in chuckle as she pointed to the mugs on the table. "If you empty that one, I will bring you another, Sir Doryn." Her voice smooth as honey, but dripping with sarcasm.<br><br>Taliesian kept his cool and began sturmming his lute with intentions of singing another song. His snicker held back in the simple knowledge that Doryn could pack a punch, and it might be better to sing something more appropriate to the town. He sipped some of his drink before starting up again with a rollicking song of the sea. The ships in the harbor meant there were sailors in the Crescent City, and their songs of adventure were sung in every port. He soon had the entire bar singing sea shanties the like of which made some of the ladies giggle, others blush!<br><br>For her part, Hani simply watched from the balcony, waiting to see if Doryn would look up to find her gaze upon him. She had noted Ethirdir's entrance and smiled. It was hard to tell what kind of entertainment she would have tonight. She could, of course, choose to go down and dance with the many who would love to whirl her around the floor. She clapped with enthusiasm at Taliesian's songs and finally arose to go down the stairs to the dance floor. It was just busy enough to keep the waitresses busy without being swamped. Hani wanted to dance!<br><br>It did not take long for a tall Half Elven archer to ask her to dance. She enjoyed the intricate steps the archer put her through, swinging her around the dance floor. Hani wondered how long it would take Doryn and Ethirdir to notice her?
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>16-01-2018, 04:23:28</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir has trouble containing the grin on his face as the bard’s voice rang out throughout the Dew Drop with amazing clarity, letting everyone within earshot hear every word perfectly. It was clear from Doryn’s face that he found the sound very uncomfortable to listen to, though in a manner that didn’t illicit any guilt from the elf. If Doryn has been truly pained by the son, Ethirdir might’ve considered stepping in and putting a stop to the song himself, but the merchant only saw the sweet discomfort of embarrassment in the good Captain’s visage.<br><br>Eventually, though, the fun did end and Doryn put a stop to the bard’s tale, leaving several plot threads hanging that the good Captain no doubt would’ve preferred remained unfinished. Ethirdir couldn’t quite tell which story elements Doryn didn’t approve of, but he still enjoyed the overall effect, seeing his friendly rival writhe in embarrassment in front of dozens of patrons of the tavern. No doubt if the tables were turned, the captain would be similarly enjoying Ethirdir twisting uncomfortably in his seat; the elf, though, like to imagine he had thicker skin and a better sense of humor. Regardless, the only harm done was the wounding of pride, and Ethirdir had enjoyed the display quite a bit.<br><br>As he tried to get his facial muscles to relax from all the smiling he had done, he turned and noticed Theolin was staring out into the middle of the main hall. At first he thought his employee was staring at Mercedes again, but Ethirdir then realized Mercedes was off in another direction, busy serving some customers.<br><br>“What are I staring at?” he asked Theolin, trying to see what the man was looking at amidst the throng of people on the dance floor. <br><br>“I think I saw your new lady friend down there dancing,” Theolin replied. “I could be wrong, but I was certain I saw her just now.<br><br>Curious, Ethirdir glanced down again, and this time almost immediately spotted what he was looking for. Hana was indeed on the dance floor, dancing with a young male elf with the biggest smile on her face, twirling around amidst the other dances without a care in the world. While it pleased him to see her so happy, seeing her dance with someone else - and another elf, no less - caused a small pang of jealousy to flare up in his chest. He had no right, after all - Hana belonged to no one - but he wasn’t the kind of person to simply let things like this play out.<br><br>“Excuse me, Theolin,” Ethirdir said, abandoning the idea of having dinner for the time being as he stood up. “I’ll be right back.”<br><br>Theolin chuckled as he took a swig from his tankard. “No worries, boss. Enjoy yourself.”<br><br>Calmly and quietly Ethirdir made his way through the crowd to the dance floor, trying to keep an eye on Hana as she danced her way across the floor with the other elf. He seemed like a decent fellow, thought the merchant, the kind of person who was simply enjoying a dance with the innkeeper’s daughter. Still, Ethirdir couldn’t let this pang of jealousy remain idle within his chest, and as he reached the dance floor and the song currently playing drew to a close, he made his move.<br><br>Stepping forward, he approaches both Hana and the other elf, bowing politely to both before facing Hana. “May I have the next dance?” he asked sweetly, offering her a hand.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>17-01-2018, 01:51:27</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The whirling of the dancers was almost dizzying, as the Half Elven archer, who offered his name to her as Kaelen Swiftstrider, danced superbly. Hani was almost glad the music stopped, so she could catch her breath! She was smiling and laughing at Kaelen, who bowed to her, murmuring his thanks. To her surprise, another Elf came up to them as the music stopped. She turned to Ethirdir and grinned. "Ethirdir! How nice to see you again. Of course I will dance with you!" she smiled at Kaelen, who had simply nodded with a polite smile and left to find another partner.<br><br>Taliesen had taken a short break to wet his tongue and to take requests. The music that came from him now was slower and easier to relax into. As Ethirdir took her hand and they moved to catch the slower beat, Hani felt something infinitely sweet the way he had seen her on the floor with someone else and had not hesitated to gallantly come to her and sweep her away into his arms. There was a look in his eyes that hinted of a slight jealousy, though he did not say anything as he pulled her close. <br><br>Hani wondered if Doryn had noticed her as well? He was in a position to see all the dancers on the floor, and would not be too far into his drinking to miss seeing his rival come and whisk the Inkeepers daughter into the slow dance the others had requested. For a moment, she simply lost herself in the music, and the charming Elf who held her as if she was a treasured and precious possession. Ethirdir was a marvelous dancer, he moved to the beat and guided her into the intricate moves without a single misstep. Hani could feel his breath on her temple, where he gently rested his cheek, his lips tantalizing her ear. Yet, he was proper, even while holding her in his arms. She did not feel pressured to respond, though his charming ways were slowly wearing away her hesitation. <br><br>Thoughts of spending more time with Ethirdir were dancing in her head as well. At least he made no secret of his admiration of her, and he respected her wishes to remain chaste. This was a very different kind of flirting than what she had been doing with Doryn. She found she rather liked being pursued, by such a gallant and charming Elf. Not that she was against doing the chasing herself, as she had been teasing and flirting with Doryn almost shamelessly. She was certain she was wearing him down and sooner or later, he would not be able to resist. A wicked smirk might have crossed her face as she wondered if he would be jealous of Ethirdir? Oh it was a wicked game, and she knew well how to play it. <br><br>The music that the Bard played was dreamy and sweet, his fine voice carried over the dance floor as he sang of lost love and bitter tears of regret. Taliesen had chosen a slower tune to please the crowd, and Hani began paying attention to the lyrics.<br><br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmOb5H8kL30
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>27-01-2018, 10:20:32</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"So ye killed your Brother?"<br><br>It was the kind of question that most wouldn't have asked, if they'd been sober, especially if they had any sense at all and could spot the mood of the man sitting at the bar nursing a tall mug of heady brew. Except that in this case the poor fellow that had asked it was very much <em>not</em> sober, and in point of fact, was not perhaps possessed of the most sense even when he was. Doryn hadn't even reacted, overtly, before several of the drunk fellows friends tried to pull him away-- a process which the drunk protested, protesting that he'd just asked a question and wanted to know the answer. There wasn't any especial <em>reason</em> that the fellow should want to know, of course, Doryn didn't even know his name.<br><br>...who knew what was the cause of some petty jealousy, though, especially in a fat drunk oaf?<br><br>The Knight-Captain of the City Guard just took a sip of his drink, noticing that more than a few of the people around the bar were now looking at him, and he couldn't help but suppose that Taliesin was probably correct in that he'd chosen a rather inopportune time to end that story. As much as he didn't want people to know why he was exiled, in specific, Doryn didn't think that them thinking he'd killed his brother was... ideal.. either. "Wrong crime, I'm afraid. Mine was sleeping with my older brother's wife."<br><br>That just confused everyone, after all,--<br>--the song had made it quite clear that the older brother had <em>killed</em> the younger.<br><br>"As I told you, it was <em>just</em> a song. Don't give it much thought," Doryn said, shrugging a bit. "Now, give me some space, if you would."<br><br>Nursing a bit of a drink, Doryn couldn't help but glance over at Ethirdir and Hani as they danced to the music that Taliesin was playing. There was a bit of that fire in his gut, still, at seeing someone whom he apparently had rather stronger feelings for than he'd ever admitted to himself dancing with another. He was more than able to control himself, though, even after having had a bit to drink,-- even while, honestly, feeling rather low and very very much wishing that Hani hadn't prompted the Bard to do what he'd done,- even as he knew he deserved it. The funny part was, most of the people in this city wouldn't necessarily <em>care</em> if they found out precisely why he was exiled, but that didn't mean that Doryn wanted them to know.<br><br>Really, when he got past everything else, he had to admit that Ethirdir and Hani made a pretty dashing couple of the dance floor. It hadn't been the first time that he'd admired the graceful moves of the Elven Merchant, of course, the two of them travelling in many of the same social circles,-- this was probably the closest attention he'd paid to the matter though,- and as he rose his mug to his lips and had another quaff of his brew he had to admit that the Elf was a fair rival on the dance floor. Off of it, too, that much Doryn knew from experience. He was, thanks to the night before, operating at a bit of a handicap...<br><br>...but, really, what was the point?<br><br>He couldn't actually be with someone like Hani, could he? It didn't make much sense to HIM, mind you, it didn't work like this in Northern lands,-- there, a man could have any woman he wanted, no matter his status. One of his Sister's had ended up married to a Blacksmith, in point of fact,-- though, admittedly,- <strong>that</strong> kind of match tended to be a bit rarer. Surely, though, he should be able to have any kind of wife that he wanted-- even if she was a tavern wench,- but that just wasn't the way that it worked in the South. There was a part of him that just wanted to say to hell with Southern Tradition, honestly, but enough of his friends had made the point that while he was 'eccentric' he could still only get away with so much.<br><br>And, more over, that he needed allies and one won allies via Marriage.<br><br>So, really, pursuing Hani was... pointless..<br><br>So, he hadn't pursued her.<br><br>"...I need more drink.." he said to himself, sighing, glancing over at the Bartender who just smirked at him and went to fetch exactly that. "The funny part is, I knew tonight was going to be a miserable night, but I also knew that I had to come here regardless. I didn't expect it'd be THAT bad though."<br><br>The fellow just smiled a bit, nodding, refilling Doryn's mug.<br><br>"You know that girl is still expecting some kind of apology," the Bartender noted, idly. "Mercy, too, for that matter."<br><br>"Oh, I know, believe me," Doryn said, chuckling. "I wish I'd made different arrangements, she might not have thrown me into the fire if I'd planned this differently, but I suppose her feeling a bit guilty for having caused me such pain once all my arrangements come to pass will work for my purposes as well."<br><br>Not that he thought Hani had much shame...<br><br>...but, well, he was eternally hopeful.<br><br>The Bartender just rolled his eyes, a bit of a smirk on his face, to which Doryn just smiled back and had a bit more ale while he watched the Elf and Hani dance. Yes, they really were quite good together,-- he probably <em>should</em> just step aside- after quietly warning Ethirdir that he'd find life very very difficult if he should harm the girl in any fashion. The thought came easily, though, but the resolution to actually <strong>do</strong> that was rather harder to come by.<br><br>Possible to have or not, Doryn found that the more he thought about letting her go the less he wanted to.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>30-01-2018, 05:34:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After the way Hani had laughed off his confession of interest in her the day before, Ethirdir wouldn’t have been surprised if she had continued playing her game of hard-to-get and rejected his offer of a dance. He would’ve been disappointed, certainly, but not discouraged, as he felt fairly committed to this chase of the beautiful innkeeper’s daughter-turned-thief. Thankfully, that feeling of rejection didn’t come to pass as Hani seemed almost elated at seeing him again and gleefully accepted his offer of a dance. Her precious partner, recognizing the need to step away, gracefully bowed out and went in search of another dance partner.<br><br>Hani was all his, and Ethirdir grabbed he opportunity with aplomb as he slipped his arms around her in the customary dance formation and began to lead her across the dance floor as the slow music began playing. His face rested against hers as they grew comfortable in their dance positions, though not before Ethirdir’s eyes met hers in a display of obvious affection. While playing his usual games against his rival Doryn, he often focused too much on showing up the good Captain and not bestowing enough attention on the lady who had grabbed his affection. There was no chance of that with Hani, however; she had captured his attentions from the moment he had laid eyes on her, and he made sure she knew it as he led her quietly and blissfully around the dance floor in his arms.<br><br>And she seemed to realize that. There were moments during their dance when Hani seemed lost in his affections as she almost begged him to sweep her off her feet like in the romantic poems and epics sung by the bards. But then again, there were also moments when her eyes clearly scanned the crowd, no doubt in search of the only other man who could capture her attention. Ethirdir knew he was at a disadvantage against the Captain, who had known Hani a lot longer than the Elf, and it would take more than a memorable dance to steal Hani’s heart. Thoughts drifted back to her tongue-in-cheek offer to only offer her myself intimately if both men would have her simultaneously, and Ethirdir again half-seriously pondered if she might indeed be worthy of such an arrangement.<br><br>Regardless, he still enjoyed his dance with Hani, and despite his hopes of more he chose to continue acting the gentleman and accept her wishes. As much as Ethirdir would’ve loved to woo such a beautiful woman to his bed, she deserved a far more intimate and thoughtful courtship. Besides, she was far too smart for many of his usual tactics, a fact she was all too eager to point out. Of course, that didn’t mean he couldn't offer her something.<br><br>With a pleased smile on his face, Ethirdir took Hani’s hand and kissed it upon the back of her palm. “You dance beautifully, my dear. It is truly a pleasure,” he said, slowing their dancing down a little as the music started fading into the next song. “I could dance with you all night.” And unless Doryn stepped in, Ethirdir fully intended on doing just that. How dare the good Captain not act like a man and step forward to show how much he obviously cared for this amazing young woman...<br><br>Suddenly, without warning, the music stopped playing. At first Ethirdir thought the band had simply messed up their song, but to his surprise the silence wasn’t limited to just the band - most of the entire Dew Drop has fallen silent. All around the tavern, wide eyes in stunned expressions were facing towards the door of the inn. Curious, Ethirdir turned to look in that direction as well...and he felt his own face immediately mimic everyone else’s countenance when he recognized the tall figure standing menacingly in the doorway, the cane in his right hand clearly visible in his silhouette.<br><br>“Baron Ludwig von Berenholdt,” he muttered, somehow feeling compelled to speak the man’s full name, as if saying anything less would mean being cursed.<br><br>The Baron scanned the suddenly quiet crowd silently, his piercing black eyes judging everyone who dared look his way, before stepping inside the tavern. His cane clacked loudly against the floorboards, echoing loudly inside the enormous chamber as people dared not say anything about a muted whisper. The man had never visited the tavern before, and it was unclear why a man of his stature would even wish to patronize such an establishment, but there he was, making his way through a rapidly thinning crowd as bystanders hurried out of his way to avoid any hint of a scolding from him.<br><br>Eventually the Baron stopped and sat down at a lone small table with no one else seated around it, his scowling face remaining as stoic as ever. The silence from the crowd lingered as people wondered what was going to happen next - none of the waitresses seemed particularly interested in even approaching him, let alone taking his order.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>02-02-2018, 01:01:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Slow dancing with Ethirdir was a very pleasant experience. Not only was he a superb dancer, but she could tell he was really trying to shower her with affection and gain her trust. She loved the attention and the way he held her, so tender and yet with such grace and style. She had to admit, he was making huge strides in winning her over. Her glances towards Doryn were only out of curiosity. Did he care? Or was he afraid of repeating the fiasco of the last time? Perhaps she and Mercy were being too hard on him? <br><br>She knew it took a lot of guts to make an appearance in the Dew Drop after that. She fully expected him to apologise to both her and Mercy. Her attention was really focused on Ethirdir, however, as he complimented her and kissed her hand. Oddly enough, that simple gesture sent shivers down her spine. A part of her began to wonder what it would be like to continue exploring the affections he was offering? There were no rules against a human and elf pairing. He was not as ostentatious as most of his elven fellows. It gave her some satisfaction that he chose to lavish his attention on her, and not some elegant elven beauty. Of course she did not know if he did or not. Hadn't Dorynn mentioned the fact they were rivals of a sort in the pursuit of female companions? She could not shake the thought of being a part of some wager or competition between them. Truth be told, she liked both of them, and only wanted to be given the respect she was due. She could no more settle on one more than the other, than a plant would choose water over sunlight. That enlightening thought made her smile. Did she really need both? Or more to the point could she have both? Now that was an entertaining thought!<br><br>The sudden entrance of the Baron put all these thoughts out of her mind in a flash. <em>What is he doing here? Of all places in the City, this is the last place I would expect him to be!</em> Her mind was filled with sudden alarm. Did the Baron suspect her? What if someone had told him? But who would know? Her mind raced through possibilities. Certainly not Quillian, the Mage who had entreated her to steal the gem in the first place! Was there someone else the Mage had as an informant? But they would not know who stole the gem. It seemed highly likely that Hani was just allowing the tiniest bit of guilt to cause her some anxiety. Once she realized this, in mere seconds, as she stood next to Ethirdir, she relaxed. It would not do to appear guilty!<br><br>Her thoughts racing as she turned to whisper in Ethirdir's ear. "Your dancing is superb, and I enjoy your sweet affection as well, but I am afraid there might be trouble. That is the Baron Berenholdt, and he never comes here...I wonder why he is here now?" She was turned away from the Baron as she spoke, using Ethirdir as a cover for her nervousness. Her hand still in his, as the other hand rested on his shoulder. Out loud she chuckled. "It appears the music has stopped. Shall we go to my table upstairs? Maybe we can have a bit of wine and some dinner. I know it is late for dinner, but I ate lightly today, so I can indulge in something." she smiled at him, her eyes dancing in mischief. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>03-02-2018, 00:16:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Doryn had been halfway down his drinks, and feeling rather down in the dumps, when he heard the commotion caused by the Baron's entrance into the establishment. If he'd been a lesser man, one who wasn't generally quite in control of his emotional outbursts, he might had broken out into a positively ear-splitting smile. The Baron had come to him, and so quickly,--<br><br>--it <em>had</em> to be because of the rumors that he'd arranged to be released, the rather well-substantiated rumors of a quite-successful raid. The gushing of news about this and that, which had all so suddenly stopped only to be replaced by utter quiet, so soon after the initial gush of information. Indeed, he'd even arranged for one of the particularly high-ranked Nobles to get a particularly valued heirloom back before he'd shut everything down like an iron grate and began greeting any further inquiries with suspicion and concern. In terms of the various bits of theatre that he'd performed in the service of his job, Doryn would largely consider this one quite the critical success, and that it had apparently drawn the Baron here was... quite the feat..<br><br>All while wrapping up more than a few of the cities criminal enterprises in the process, and putting a good bit of pressure in at least one organization that he was fairly sure the Baron had his fingers in. Nevermind the fact that his men were, <em>at this very moment</em>, wrapping up the matter related to the slavers under the city and their half-Elven sorcerer... which, honestly, Doryn was half convinced probably traced back to the Baron int he end for all that he somewhat doubted such a connection would be easy to trace.<br><br>No...<br><br>...if he was paying any attention at all to current affairs, the Baron should be.. just a bit antsy... at this particular point.<br><br>Of course, there was always some dim chance that the Baron had come here for some other reason, perhaps even that his own contacts had somehow traced the theft of his property back to this Inne. It seemed unlikely and rather high on the 'well that's a coincidence' factor, but, at the same time, it would perhaps explain a few things. After all, Doryn had rather imagined that he would have to approach the Baron in his traditional fashion rather than finding the other Noble intruding on his own territory. In a lot of ways, though, this was so much better.. especially with a few drinks in him...<br><br>Yes, yes, he could very much make this work.<br><br>Thus it was that, with a bit of exaggerated fanfare, Doryn stood and let out a loud boisterous exclamation. "Well! I dare say, there's someone of my own social caliber,--"<br><br>While most of the criminal sorts had long since corrected their mistaken belief that he was anything other than dangerous, the Nobility still largely believed that he was rather foolish and easily manuevered. Doryn couldn't count on that, though, not with how-- connected,- the Knight-Captain suspected this man was. Still, he did appreciate a challenge..<br><br>"--I dare say, my dear Baron, it is ever so nice to see you in the Dew Drop Inne. Especially on so terrible a night for myself. Please, please, allow me to invite you to my own private table. I'd been draining my sorrows by the bar but with some <em>good company</em>, well, I dare say that my own spirits might improve somewhat." He laughed a bit, clapping the man on the back in defiance of all social custom as was his fact, all but leading by the nose the man that almost everyone- except him,-- were honestly rather terrified by over toward his table. It was at that happy medium between 'I know everything, and you're in far more trouble than you could ever have imagined and had better be VERY CAREFUL' and 'I'm drunk, helpless, and in a chatty mood as you've no doubt seen me on more than a few occasions.' "I dare say we've never had much opportunity to socialize at the Duke's parties, when we're both in attendance, so this is quite a pleasant surprise. I've always admired the way you present yourself... you remind me of some of the fearsome leaders of my own homeland.. a man who is feared, yes, but respected and even loved by those whom he keeps close to him."<br><br>A soft disarming smile, coal gray eyes looking very directly into the Baron's eyes,--<br><br>"--so, my good Baron, just what brings you to the Dew Drop? I like to think I'd have noticed before now if you were a regular."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>13-02-2018, 04:47:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir remained just as perplexed as most everyone else about this unexpected appearance by the Baron, a man who was as secretive as he was feared. Few people could ever honestly claim to have met the man in person, and those who did were often left speechless by his mere presence. Not because they had been in awe of him, but because they were so scared of saying something that might cause the man to retaliate against them. Ethirdir had once joklingly considered the possibility that the real reason they were speechless was because the Baron could cut out their tongues with just a look in his eyes. As the elf gazed as the imposing man as he walked to his table, Ethirdir actually wondered if his joke might have some sliver of truth to it.<br><br>He was snapped out of his stupor by Hani, who used his body as a means of shielding herself. From what...or whom, thought the Elf. From the Baron, maybe? But why? Did she have some connection with the Baron...perhaps related to that Basilisk Heart that she had brought him the other day? Could...could she have perhaps stolen from Baron Ludwig von Berenholdt himself? His face threatened to shift into a paler shade as he thought what he had gotten himself into.<br><br>Hani mentioned the possibility of trouble as she held him close, confirming the Baron never came to the Dew Drop, which meant the man had a purpose for his visit, though what that purpose was, he couldn’t tell. Hani was noticeably worried, so Ethirdir could only quietly comfort her by squeezing her hand and letting her cling to him as she kept herself out of the Baron’s line of sight. She then suggested that the two of them leave the floor and dine at her table upstairs, indulge in a good meal together. Ethirdir noted the mischief in her eyes, but he assumed she was using this more as an opportunity to escape the Baron. Still, he wasn’t going to turn down an offer of food from Hani, of course he wouldn’t.<br><br>“Lead the way, my dear,” he said with a smile. “I haven’t eaten yet myself, so a meal with a lady as lovely as you would be wonderful, I’m sure.” <br><br><hr><br>People began to return to their previously jovial forms soon after the Baron had taken a seat at an empty table, but he remained as quiet and reserved as ever, his piercing gaze silently pivoting around the room at regular intervals, as if searching for something. When people noticed him looking their way, they fell silent and held their breaths, only resuming their enjoyment when he looked away.<br><br>The Baron remained quiet and judgmental until he was interrupted by someone who actually had the stones to not only approach him, but also talk to him and even <em>touch</em> him. When Captain Doryn slapped his back, the Baron certainly didn’t expect it and lurched forward a little, and several people who had witnessed the deed gasped, as if expecting something to explode with indignant fury at such a break of nobility propriety. Mercifully, the Baron didn’t react to the boisterous gesture, instead gazing up at the good Captain with a look of recognition in his eyes...followed closely by a look of contempt.<br><br>The Baron didn’t answer Doryn’s question immediately, but he did answer it eventually, after a very long pause. The man’s face didn’t change as he spoke, remaining as stone-faced and gruff as he ever looked. “Your observation skills tonight are impeccable, Captain Aelland,” he said with a sly, almost mocking tone. “It would do you well to use them more frequently when they actually matter.” His suggestion was cryptic, almost indecipherable, and that apparently was how the Baron wanted it, as he made no attempt to clarify his words.<br><br>“I come here tonight not to drink, so you will have to seek out other company to drown your remaining wits in liquor,” he continued. “No, I come here tonight on private business...that is none of your concern.” His eyebrow raised a little as his eyes looked over the Captain for a moment. “Then again, perhaps you could be of assistance, after all. After all, I hardly expected such an esteemed Captain to be here tonight...though perhaps I should have.” The slight barely had a chance to land before the Baron used his cane to stand up, allowing him to stand eye-to-eye with Doryn.<br><br>“It pains me to admit this, Captain Aelland, but an item was recently stolen from my home, one that I hold very dear to me. It was a diamond, whiter than the winter snows, and absolutely flawless. It was stolen recently, and it’s not the sort of thing one can sell easily. I recently came into some...<em>information</em>...that places like this bar are often used for illegal exchanges, and I figured I’d visit to see if I could investigate on my own. This is the third such bard I’ve visited tonight. Perhaps you’ve heard rumors of a diamond being traded within these walls...or perhaps another gem like it? After all, if a thief steals one kind of gem, he’s bound to go after another.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>14-02-2018, 11:14:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				No one could have been more surprised than Hani, when Doryn approached the Baron in his boisterous way. The other patrons of the Inn were quick to murmur and a few even rose to their feet to casually go out the door.&nbsp; This would not do! Oh no...Hani could not let this over confident noble chase away all their customers! And yet, Doryn seemed to have the situation well in hand. Hani found herself clutching Ethirdir's hand as she led him upstairs to her usual table. "I do hope that Mercedes is brave enough to wait on that pompous..." she bit her tongue, not wanting to say something she might regret. Taking a deep breath she sat down at the table and glanced over at the bartender. <br><br>Charley was well aware that the girls might not like waiting on the Baron. He took it upon himself to hurry over to the table that Doryn had commandeered and offer the Baron and the Captain menus. "The Dew Drop Inn is pleased to see you here, Baron Berenholdt. We serve the finest wines in the area. Our menu is simple, but the food is the best in town." He gave a low bow. <br><br>For her part, Mercedes breathed a sigh of relief. It was not unusual for Charley to take orders from customers. He also served as the bouncer, when the patrons were rowdy and needed escorted out the door. He was a big man, nearly as tall as Doryn, but not any less imposing. He had spent his youth on a battlefield, and his lack of one eye and another scar down his left cheek were his badges of courage. His balding head was cleanly shaved and he was dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers. Not many missed the dagger at his hip, and he did not need it to floor a rowdy drunk and toss him out the door. His bulk more than made up for his&nbsp; missing eye. <br><br>Hani grinned, between Doryn and Charley, the Baron did not stand a chance in hell of causing much trouble. Of course, he could cause trouble of a different sort, if he chose to. As long as everyone was polite and courteous to him, there should be no trouble. At least she hoped that much. She wondered if her father would make an appearance, since the customers seemed to be edging out the door.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>20-02-2018, 18:06:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about that,-- I can drink more than enough for both of us," Doryn says, chuckling a bit, turning his attention to the bartender that had come to attend to them.<br><br>Most of them have seen Doryn in the state that he's in now, on occasion,-- the Dew Drop is one of those places where the Knight-Captain feels safe enough to drop down his guard, and he's certainly gotten drunk here on occasion, and is generally regarded by the staff as a pleasant drunk.<br><br>...of course, the Captain hasn't really been drinking that much <em>tonight</em> (and it's a bit early in the evening for him to be so inebriated), but you certainly wouldn't know that to look upon him.<br><br>Ordering himself a bit more to drink, seeming vaguely amused by something that the Baron shared,-- which, honestly, WAS kind of amusing,- the poor man must not have done any research at all on the place where he was sent if he didn't realize that this was one of his regular hangouts. Hopefully he didn't kill whomever left that little detail out too badly, but sadly, there probably wasn't anything Doryn could do for that. None the less, that little bit of good fortune was certainly good for him, so he just hoped that whomever it was... wasn't someone that Doryn actually cares about..<br><br>"As for the other, well, I'm afraid that whomever gave you your information was rather misinformed," he says, finally, chuckling a bit and shaking his head. Giving the Baron another pat on the back, as if in sympathy for the poor guy's position,-- or just, as Doryn was generally said to be, 'a friendly drunk'. "Really, I rather think that I would have noticed such a thing, considering that this is my preferred resting spot. It gets rather more attention from the City Guards, as well, and most criminal sorts steer clear from that sort of thing."<br><br>A bit more of a chuckle, Doryn's attention wandering over toward the bar, waiting for his drink,--<br><br>"--where is Charley with my drink? Anyway! I have some good news for you, in any event, that being that I'm fairly sure I saw your Diamond earlier. It's a shame you didn't report the theft earlier, that'll make releasing it to you a bit more of a hassle, but that's neither here nor there anyway. The Duke has ordered everything locked down for now in any event..."<br><br>Doryn glances over a bit, hrmmming as if considering something before putting an arm around the Baron and leaning in.<br><br>"...actually, maybe <em>you</em> can help <em>me</em> my friend. Especially if I can, perhaps, get your Diamond back? Sentimental value, I'm guessing?" the Captain asks, glancing at the Baron, looking to all the world like a somewhat-drunk-but-serious-man deciding if he can make a deal with someone under the table. "I need someone I can trust amongst the Nobility, you see,-- I'm not supposed to say anything but honestly this Treason business is a bit over my head and I'm in need of some outside expertise here less I end up looking like a fool to the Duke,-- these thieves, you see, well,-- they stumbled upon something a bit out of their depth."<br><br>Voice low, eyes intent, Doryn leans in a bit more.<br><br>"..well, suffice to say, there might be some noble heads no longer attached to noble bodies in the next few months. If you get my drift. My men are heading under the city first thing in the morning, in point of fact, to execute a raid on some slavers that I was alerted to earlier today. All part of... well,.. you see my predicament, I'm sure? Things are so much <em>simpler</em> in the North."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>03-03-2018, 05:23:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Initially the Baron barely seemed to notice when Charley approached him and offered the typical waitress introduction, touting their wine selection before offering a menu to decide on their modest food offerings. But the Baron had indeed heard the man, turning his head slowly towards the enormous former soldier who seemed more of a bouncer than a waiter. Berenholdt's cold, piercing gaze settled directly on Charley's face, his lips pursed in a frown that seemed to magnify the sharpness of his eyes. The Baron was no match physically for Charley in the slightest, that was no question, but the man's eyes were so devoid of empathy and emotion that they could drain the soul from anyone who dared gaze into them long enough. Even Charley had to divert his gaze every now and then to stop himself from feeling weak in the knees.<br><br>A brief silence followed, and it seemed likely that the Baron was ready to snap at Charley to leave him be. But then the Baron's facial features abruptly softened - not completely, but noticeably - and he answered, "I shall not be here long, so food will not be necessary. However, I will take a bottle of your finest wine. I don't care what it is, simply bring it here." That seemed to be an end to the order, the Baron's attention returning to Doryn.<br><br>The Baron's face didn't react in the slightest upon hearing that his information was "misinformed," his features returning to the stone-like visage that everyone knew and..."loved." He did, however, react when Doryn informed him that his Diamond had been found, though his reaction seemed strangely muted. A raised brow, an unnatural upward curl of his wrinkled mouth, and a soft grunt seemed to be the extent of his reaction. The Baron was playing at something, though it was difficult to tell what he was playing at, and when Berenholdt was playing a game, the stakes tended to be fairly high.<br><br>"I see. Well, I am pleased to hear my Diamond is safe, then," he uttered without any trace of emotion in his voice. "It doesn't please me to hear of the hassle I must go through to get it, but at the very least it isn't in the hands of a dirty little thief any longer. I will be calling upon the Duke to retrieve it later, though I hope I can expedite the process. Something very important has arrived today that requires that Diamond, and I must..." The Baron abruptly fell silent, as if not wanting to let Doryn hear the rest of what he had to say. Any attempts to prod him for further details would've merely elicited a scowl and a glare stating quite clearly, "It is none of your business." The only thing that could be gleaned from his words was that something "important" had arrived, and he planned on using it as soon as he had the means of doing so.<br><br>When Doryn attempted to discuss something further with the Baron, Berenholdt actually listened, though his face still shone with the same scornful countenance he was known for. Even so, his lips actually curled into a curious, almost genuine grin, as if amused by the Captain's attempt at confiding in the notoriously reclusive aristocrat. When Doryn finished laying out his proposal, the Baron held his grain as he leaned in a little as well. "You are bold, Captain...and reckless. Men like you don't often live long...but those that do become great men. I wonder what path you will take? But you offer...it intrigues me. If you bring me my Diamond, I will do what I can to assist you...without your superiors being the wiser. I know when to hold my tongue...a valuable skill you should learn yourself, but for the grace of you lucking into my assistance. The sooner you bring the Diamond, the better. I trust you know where I live?"<br><br>The Baron reached into one of the pockets of his coat and pulled out a money purse, his fingers fishing inside the bag for several polished gold coins. He laid the coins on the table, lifting his fingers off of them as if they had been contaminated by merely touching the tavern table, before pocketing his coin purse again and turning his gaze back to Doryn. "If you would be so kind, bring the wine I requested with you when you visit my abode? I have what I came for, so there is no need to remain here. Do what you will with the change. Give it to that young fellow bringing my bottle as a tip, distribute it amongst the poor, use it to buy a whore tonight, I care not. And that is all I have to say. Until we meet again, my good Captain."<br><br>Without another word, the Baron picked up his cane and headed straight for the exit, without even one additional glance towards Doryn or anyone else in the Dew Drop Inn. The lasting image of his face was that of a smug satisfaction, as if he had planted a seed of information that he needed to get out into the open, but what that seed was couldn't be determined. As he approached the door, patrons who had been filing towards the exit abruptly stopped their exodus and stepped back, allowing the scornful nobleman to step outside without anyone else touching him. The Baron vanished wordlessly into the outside sunlight, the sound of his cane clacking against the cobblestones dissipating with each retreating step, until all traces of his presence were gone.<br><br>As if the Inn had been cleansed of a terrible curse, dozens of patrons released a collective sigh of relief before heading back to their seats, hoping to resume their meals and drinks in peace again. Upon on the balcony, seated next to Hani, Ethirdir found himself able to breathe more easily as well. Whatever had just happened, he was glad it was over, though his mind was still reeling at the sight of Baron Ludwig von Berenholdt in the Dew Drop Inn. The man had come here for a reason, and the Elf was worried it had something to do with the Basilisk Heart. Turning to his companion, he said, "Hani...I fear something terrible is going on regarding that man. Perhaps we need to speak to the brave young Captain who shared a conversation with that ghoul of a man...and lived to tell about it?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>05-03-2018, 17:16:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Bold and Reckless.<br><br>They were words that had been used to describe the young Captain before, and Doryn didn't miss the vague implied threat in the Baron's note about 'men like you don't often live long.' Though it certainly wasn't a direct threat for all that the Knight-Captain was sure that it <em>was</em> a threat. Still, while the Northerner was fairly sure that the Baron wasn't entirely fooled by his charade, he still couldn't resist the urge to bandy wits with the scourge of the cities underworld.<br><br>Pride...<br><br>...it'd been the end of mightier men than the 'good' Baron..<br><br>"Hah, aye, you might be right about that," he says, shrugging a bit, not seeming to care about the risk nor giving any suggestion that he'd noticed the implied threat. "Even so, I think there's a certain amount of grace in knowing the right people-- and your own limitations,- wouldn't you agree? As for the other, aye, I know where to find you and I'll see about getting you what you're looking for. I dare say my running into you here will be quite the windfall for my career in this city."<br><br>As the Baron rises and gets ready to make his retreat,-- paying for the wine and asking Doryn to bring it,- the Knight-Captain just nods slightly.<br><br>Then, the man was gone, and-- Doryn's demeanor doesn't particularly change in any patricular,- no the Knight-Captain continues with the same seeming that he'd had before. He takes his drink when Charley arrives with it and has the man stow away the Baron's wine, noting that he'd be taking it with him when he left, enjoying an evening. The only sign he gives, in point of fact, is a subtle shaking of his head to Ethirdir when he haphazardly notices a bit of attention from the Elf.<br><br>The Baron almost certainly has men, or at least a man, keeping an eye on things.<br><br>So...<br><br>Doryn remains in the Inne's common room, entertaining himself for a bit longer at the very least, before he eventually rises up and grabs a certain barmaid by the arm. The fact that it's Mercedes is surely just a coincidence, and indeed, the drunk old Northerner gives no especial sign that he knows WHO he's pestering as he grabs the young woman. "Ah, my lovely, could you be a dear and pass on to Hani that I'm going to have to catch up with her a bit later. I've just had something come up that I must attend to right away. I think I saw her with... that Elf.. whom you can simply tell,-- <acronym title="May your home, shelter and--">'Aek un ush, hi'devihr--'</acronym> Ah, nevermind... I'll tell him myself. I'm not even sure if he speaks the Northern tongue."<br><br>With that, and grabbing his wine, Doryn makes his leave of the Dewdrop...<br><br>...leaving with some help from one of his Lieutenants, and accompanying a patrol of Guards, who tend to their slightly drunk Superior.<br><br>(It's only, oh, 30-minutes or so <em>after</em> Doryn leaves that the first of the deliveries come. A young man, bearing flowers, who delivers them to the Bar- directly to Mercedes,-- followed only a bit later by a delivery to Hani of an identical arrangement. The flowers that come <em>after</em> that, though, are different... and they don't stop coming.. not for hours. There's at least a few flowers for every woman that works at the Dew Drop, and some wine an treats as well in smaller numbers, a veritable deluge of gifts that doesn't stop until the bar itself is looking closer to a flower garden than a mead hall. Hell, Hani's father even gets a delivery of the wine that Doryn provides to the establishment, the paperwork for which was lost and no, they can't possibly accept payment, he'll just have to keep that shipment while they work this out...)<br><br>It's a shame, really, Doryn had really rather hoped that he'd be there during all of this chaos...<br><br>...if nothing else, he expects that-- without him there to be berated for making a scene,- he'll end up having to apologize for his apology.<br><br>This, though, this was far more important.<br><br>He just hoped that Ethirdir got his message, and understood that Doryn would meet him and Hani at his house, later in the evening. First, though, Doryn had to check on something.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>08-03-2018, 01:24:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				To say that Hani was nervous, would be a wild guess, as she turned her attention to Ethirdir and planned out a nice meal with the handsome elf. She was enthusiastic as she explained. "My father has been experimenting with some new recipes, he even asked some elven diplomat what the elves like to eat and got some recipes from them. So if you see something on the menu that looks familiar, do not be afraid to try it. I have been told he is doing very well capturing the elven flavors. Of course it helps that he was able to procure some spices from Aluvia. I have to admit, some of it I am not particularly fond of, but I have tried the glazed duck and the spicy rice that the elves like to serve as a side dish. And here I always thought rice was bland!"<br><br>The conversation between Doryn and the Baron could only be guessed at, since they were no where close enough to hear it. Hani refused to let the Baron's presence interfere with her enjoyment of the evening. As she relaxed and chatted away with Ethirdir, her attitude seemed to help others relax as well. Still, it was with a great sigh of relief for all when he finally left. Mercedes was calmly back to her cheerful self and was encouraging all to have another drink and have some fun. She even went to the Bard and asked him to play a lively tune to bring everyone's mood back to normal. When she passed by Doryn's table she was not surprised when he pulled her aside. His request, however, seemed odd. Listening to him, she blinked in surprise. "I will pass your message, Captain. Have a good evening."<br><br>It was only a few minutes after he left that the delivery came, it both surprised and thrilled Mercedes. "I love flowers! Oh Doryn..." she wanted to give him a hug, but of course he was already gone. She giggled as more deliveries came, until the whole Inn seemed full of them. When she came to the table where Hani and Ethirdir were dining on the delicasies they had chosen, she remembered the message. "Ethirdir, the Captain wanted me to tell you something...now what was it?" she thought for a moment. "It was some phrase in his native tongue. I cannot remember the whole thing, but what he said was,&nbsp; 'Aek un ush, hi'devihr--' Ah, nevermind... I'll tell him myself. I'm not even sure if he speaks the Northern tongue."<br><br>After hearing the message, Hani blinked and turned to Ethirdir, "Do you have any idea what that means? I remember Doryn saying that a few times and I think it has something to do with a house. Whether it is his house or yours, I cannot recall. I think it was a saying they used when visiting someone's house. The fact he said he would tell you himself might mean he will be paying you a visit." They had almost finsihed their meal by this time, so Hani began to wonder if she should go home with Ethirdir, if for no other reason, then to hear what the Baron had said. Of course she wcould not invite herself. She had things she wanted to say to Doryn, herself, but his leaving precluded that. <br><br>After they discussed the implications, Hani decided to call it a night. She had it in mind to call on Quillian, to get his opinion on the reasons for the Baron visiting the Inn. It did not bode well, and she was beginning to feel like doom was approaching. "Ethirdir, I have enjoyed this evening immensely, in spite of the Baron's appearance." she smiled at him. "I do think I will have to retire for the evening. It has been a long and exhausting day. I do hope that the Captain has things in hand with the Baron, as I hate to think the sour mood that noble brought to the Dew Drop will be repeated." she leaned in to kiss Ethirdir on his cheek. It was a simple sweet gesture of affection. "I will see you at your dinner party tomorrow. I have to get some rest." With that, she left the room, heading for her quarters.<br><br>It was a short time later, dressed in her dark leather armor and sporting a hood and mask, that Hani appeared in the mage's entryway. Jordan was not surprised to see her. "His Lordship has been expecting you. This way, please." he gave her a brief nod, before taking her to the Mage's study. <br><br>Hani could not help but chuckle. When she was shown into the study, her hood was off and she thanked Jordan before turning to the Mage. "So you were expecting me? Something tells me this is not good. What is it you need me to do now?" she was quite prepared to do whatever Quillian asked of her, to prove her loyalty.<br><br>Quillian smiled. "I knew you would come, as I have agents telling me exactly what the Baron is doing, especially when he does something out of the ordinary. His visit to the Dew Drop was such an oddity, I had several reports! Did he say anything to you?" He looked to her with curiosity.<br><br>"No, I avoided talking to him, as I was eating dinner with my friend Ethirdir, the elf noble. The Baron did talk to Captain Aelland though. It seems he had some complaint that the Captain is following up on. I really do not know the details. Perhaps the Captain will tell you?" Hani felt that the reason the Baron came was to sow fear into the patrons of the Inn. She had no idea why.<br><br>"This does not bode well. Are you certain that the Bloodstone is out of the City? I have had some disturbing news. It seems that the Baron has some sort of device he intends on using. My worst fear is for the maid Alyssa. I told her to leave his employ and to come here, but she is nowhere to be found. I fear the worst. It pains me to think the Baron will punish her in some way, and I scarcely know if I can act to help her. Making an accusation like that to his face could be disasterous. I need you to go to the Baron's home and investigate. Do not venture inside! Try to discern if the maid is still there. Her life may be in danger, but I do not want you to risk your own. If you see anything strange going on, come back here, and we can decide on a course of action. We may need to get the Captain involved." He then handed her a simple amulet.<br><br>"This will protect you to a certain extent. It will allow you to move undetected in the shadows. Beware of actually getting close to the Baron himself, as he may be able to see you, due to his magic affinity. Those without magic will not see you, as long as you do not make any noise or attack someone. Observe only! Come back to me when you have something to report, even if it is that you cannot see inside the manor at all. Is that clear?" His face was stern. He felt bad about Alyssa, and did not want to lose Hani.<br><br>The mage's warnings were taken in stride. "He will not see me, I am better than that." she grinned confidently. She took the amulet and draped it over her head. To her surprise, she seemed to fade slightly, even to her own eyes. "I like this...can I keep it?" She teased the mage.<br><br>"My dear, if you want it, I am happy to gift it to you. Be sure to take care, as I warned, the Baron may still see you, andhe may in fact be setting a trap. Do not get too close, as I am sure he will be watching. Here, take this scope, it may help you to peer into windows from a distance." He handed her a very ornate high powered telescope, though it was small in size, it could bring objects as far away as a mile, into sharp focus. It collapsed into a small cylinder she could put in her pouch.<br><br>(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/301989561246-0-1/s-l1000.jpg)<br><br>Hani nodded and put the scope away. "I will be careful. It is late enough now, I will go and try to see inside the manor. It does have a lot of windows. Though most of them are covered or dark at night. If you do not hear from me tonight, better send in the troops." she joked, but there was an underlying fear there, that she might be caught. She left right after that.<br><br>Ghosting over the rooftops until she came to the Baron's manor, she was surprised to see no one else about. The windows were all mostly dark, as it was about two o'clock in the morning now. Maneuvering around to a tree that overlooked the manor property without going any closer, she used the scope to peer inside the only window that had any light showing.<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>17-03-2018, 06:22:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Either Hani hadn't noticed the Elf voicing his concerns about the Baron's conversation to the good Captain Doryn, or she had chosen to ignore them. Either way, instead of agreeing that the two of them should invite Doryn to relay what he had discussed with the "good" Baron, she instead launched into a fully planned meal with him. Ethirdir couldn't say for sure, but he wondered about the possibility that she was doing this simply to get the Baron out of her mind and resume a more festive mood now that that wicked man had left the premises. Admittedly, Ethirdir found himself enjoying the way she lavished attention upon him, and it didn't take long before he completely forgot about meeting with the Captain at all.<br><br>"My dear Hani, you've already have me salivating with anticipation. Elvish food can be an acquired taste, I will readily admit, but even if there are some dishes you aren't fond of, I can certainly recommend some you will find most enjoyable. You say you enjoyed the glazed duck and spicy rice? Well, then, let's see what we can find that will really make your taste buds sing..."<br><br>It didn't take long for Ethirdir to completey forget that the Baron had ever visited the Dew Drop Inn; the tavern itself regained its electric atmosphere and people returned to drinking and dining and dancing without a care given to the man who had interrupted their fun times. For his part, Ethirdir focused solely on Hani as much as he could, no longer letting his rival even cross his mind as he dined on delicious elvish delicacies like cinaroot honey bread, roasted bush fowl, and chilled custard. To say that it was a wondrous feast would be selling the meal short, for in addition to the food, Ethirdir also cherished the time alone he had with Hani. Talking with her, laughing at their jokes, trading subtle and not-so-subtle flirtations, it was an enjoyable experience that the Elf could put no price on. <br><br>Sometime after the Captain had left - Ethirdir hadn't paid particular attention - was when the Elf started noticing the flowers arriving. It was a confusing spectacle at first, though it didn't take long for word to spread about who was responsible. Mercedes was the first to get a bouquet specifically for her, and by all accounts she was delighted by the gesture. Ethirdir could only grin, seeing Doryn’s grand apology for his behavior a very fitting gesture, one that made clear his sincerity in saying sorry. There was a slight worry that Theolin might be jealous of the Captain’s gesture towards his new lady friend, but later that evening Ethirdir saw his friend sitting down with Mercy during a slow moment in the evening, talking and laughing as if nothing outlandish had occurred. Ethirdir could only smile and hope that Theolin’s newfound relationship with Mercedes was a lasting one.<br><br>Speaking of Mercedes, she eventually visited his and Hani’s table that night, bringing announcement of a message that the good Captain wished to pass on to the two of them. It was a message in the Captain’s native tongue, and when Ethirdir heard it, he had to resist tilting his head in befuddlement. “Well, I am familiar with the Northern tongue, yes, though not incredibly influent, especially when accents are taken into account. Good lord, those Northern accents are as difficult to decipher as their language. But if I’m understanding correctly, he’s saying something about home and shelter, but the sentence feels incomplete. Why he would give us only half a message is beyond me, Hani. I suppose we’ll have to ask the good Captain what he was referring to when we next see him.”<br><br>The discussion over Doryn’s cryptic message was brief, and they resumed their meal shortly thereafter. The mutual appreciation between them had become fairly obvious by this point, and Ethirdir wouldn’t have been surprised if Hani would’ve accepted an invitation to go home with him. Alas, it was not to be, as she informed him the day had exhausted her and she wished to retire for the evening in preparation for their dinner tomorrow at his home. But before she left, she did part with a kiss upon his cheek, one brimming with affection that made the Elf’s cheeks flustered a little in the light of the inn’s torches. “My dear, it is an honor to have dined with you tonight, and I look forward to our meal tomorrow with the captain.” He didn’t allow her to leave before he brushed the top of her hand with a kiss and told her, “Sleep well, my dearest Hani.”<br><br>After Hani left, Ethirdir didn’t stick around for much longer either. He paid for his share of the meal, leaving a generous tip for the cooks who had devised such a wonderful meal and the waitresses who had served them through the evening. Before leaving, he did pay a quick visit to Theolin, who was enjoying another drink while Mercedes was continuing her shift. The man’s eyes never seemed to leave her, and it was clear that he was smitten with the lovely barmaiden.<br><br>“I trust your work won’t suffer by coming here so often?” Ethirdir teased. Theolin could only laugh and shrug before returning his attentions to Mercedes, his smile perking up noticeably whenever their eyes locked from across the room.<br><br>His business at the inn complete, Ethird exited the building and began the long walk back to his manor. It was getting fairly late, and while he had no fear walking alone - he could take care of himself, after all - he had an inclination to get home as quickly as possible. The Captain’s bizarre message kept rolling around inside his mind, begging him to figure it out. Why did Doryn offer only half a message like that, and in a tongue the Elf might not have even known? Unless...unless it wasn’t the Northern language part of the sentence that was important, but something else? What else was in the message that Mercedes had relayed? Something about how he’ll tell him and Hani himself? Did that mean anything...? Was it supposed to mean anything...?<br><br>Realizing he was being tormented by what was likely a sloppily devised riddle, Ethirdir came to the conclusion that he couldn’t let this matter slide. Sure, he would see Doryn tomorrow evening at the dinner between the two men and Hani, but something told him that this message was fairly important and couldn’t wait until then. If the Captain had indeed hidden a riddle in that message, then it would be in Ethirdir’s best interests to visit the Captain and confront the man about it. Go directly to the source.<br><br>His mind made up, Ethirdir raced back to his manor, intending on getting his carriage ready to carry him to the Captain’s house. It would be fairly late when he arrived, but something in his bones told him that waiting on this would be a very unwise decision...<br><br><hr><br>The only light that was visible in the Baron’s manor came from a lone candle in a small candleholder, and it illuminated what appeared to be an enormous office. Numerous books outlined the far walls on thick wooden bookshelves, and directly framed in the window was a massive desk. Sitting at that desk was the Baron himself, and though his back was turned to face the window, it was clear he was writing something on the numerous pieces of parchment scatttered across the surface. Occasionally he would look up, as if hearing something nearby, but then immediately return to writing.<br><br>After what seemed like hours, the man finished his writing and placed his colorful quill pen back in the inkwell. The man then stood up, stretching his lengthy limbs briefly, before abruptly turning to face the window. Even from a distance and through a spyglass, the piercing viciousness of his gaze was noticeable, though there was no indication that he noticed Hani at all.<br><br>The man unlatched the window and lifted it open, sticking his head and looking around the ground of his manor, as if making sure that nothing was prowling around. Satisfied, the man returned his head to inside the room and slid the window shut...though if Hani had paid attention she would’ve noticed he neglected to lock the window behind him.<br><br>Grabbing his cane, Baron Berenholdt then made his way across the room to the far bookcase, which was still visible through the window from Hani’s position. One final glance aroudn the room was made before the Baron pulled an enormous book from the shelf, turning to face his desk before opening it. Inside the book, the pages had been hollowed out to form a cavity, and inside that cavity was...something. Whatever it was, it glowed with a faint, almost sickening blue hue. The Baron gazed at the item intently before smirking that familiar snide grin of his.<br><br>The blue light instantly vanished when the Baron slammed the book shut with a snap and replaced it on the shelf. Appearing satisfied, he walked back to his desk and picked up the candle before making his way out of the study, seemingly ready to retire for the evening. The study fell dark, and no additional movement was seen within the room. The blue glow had been snuffed out within the confines of the book, safely hidden on the shelf from prying eyes...well, most of them. The window to the room, by all appearances, remained unlocked.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>18-03-2018, 12:14:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The darkness was nearly complete in the area surrounding the Baron's manor house. Of course, Hani had been here before and she knew where the easiest way to get inside was located. Conveniently, it was in the back of the manor, where there was a broken section of wall that was easy to climb. It was covered in vines of ivy that hid her slender form as she climbed to the top of the wall to peer over. She had watched the Baron in his window and she was surprised he did not have guards patrolling, especially after he had been robbed once. She rested on top of the wall, the ivy hiding her quite well as she peered around to see if there was anything placed in the yard as a trap.<br><br>The words of the Mage rang in her ears as she frowned. This was probably a trap. She should just go back to Quillian and tell him about the glowing object in the book. But she was incredibly curious now. What was in that book? Her thoughts also turned to Alyssa. If the girl was missing, and had no family to raise the alarm, then she might be already dead, or locked away somewhere for the Baron's pleasure. Hani bit her lip. There might be a chance she could locate where Alyssa was being kept. There were several outbuildings, a shed and a nearly empty stable. The baron had a carriage and a team of horses he used to travel about the city. Hani was certain there was a stablehand and a driver, possibly his bodyguard filled that duty.<br><br>The yard was empty as much as she could tell. Nothing moved in the shadows as she made her way to the outbuildings to check. Of course, the Baron had a large cellar, and it was likely that would be used as a prison for anyone he thought needed to be kept there. There were no windows leading to the cellars, so she would have no luck getting in there. Her only other option before had been the roof. There were some musty old attic rooms that had crates and boxes for storage. Furniture and old draperies were cluttering up the space, but it was a way in through the vent at the top of the roof, beneath the gables. Hani was uncertain, she wondered if the Baron had figured out how someone got in before? If so, he would have had plenty of opportunity to lay a trap there. Best to avoid that way in.<br><br>It was not until she had gone completely around the manor and peered in the windows she could get to that she noticed the chimney was rough enough for her to scale it to the window the Baron had conveniently left unlatched. A small balcony of sorts was just outside the window, more of a decoration than functional. Did she dare climb up there and inside to find that book? Part of her mind screamed at her to listen to the Mage and wait. There was no hurry, as the Bloodstone was out of the city and he could not use it in his device. Still, if he had any other gem, he might try it anyway. Who knew what kind of mischief the Baron planned? There was also the problem of the girl. If she was being held against her will, Hani wanted to see if she could be rescued. It would not hurt to get inside and look around? She had the handy little amulet. No one would see her...she hoped.<br><br>The agile rogue climbed up the side of the chimney, using the cracks in between the bricks and a set of climbing claws that she could slip onto her boots and hands to make it easy. Like a cat, she made her way to the balcony, quietly and slowly. Hidden in the shadow of the chimney, she peered inside the room. It appeared to be totally empty, even though the candle was out. She listened intently for several moments. Nothing moved inside the room, not even a clock to tick away. Easing her way onto the tiny balcony, she paused to attach a thin tough cord to the railing. It would be a fast descent, especially if she was in a hurry. Thankfully it was a bit windy this night and the trees were brushing against the side of the building, making a bit of noise she was certain they all knew it was nothing to worry about. Using gloved hands, Hani eased the window open and stepped inside. Still, no movement or sound anywhere in the house. On silent cat feet, she crept to the bookcase and looked for the large book she had seen the Baron looking into. There...she reached for it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>22-03-2018, 13:37:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Very good, very very good," Doryn said, walking down a veritable row of captives that his Guards had managed to round up while performing their raid on the Slaver's under the city,—the ones that had actually been taken alive in any event—"And, no losses on our side? Your supreme competence never ceases to amaze me, Lai. I'll be sure to sing your praises with the Duke when next I see him. What of this gentleman?"<br><br>The final question was spoken once Doryn had reached the end of the line, had gotten to the captive and bound form of the Half-Elven Sorcerer that had been in charge of the operation, a rough-seeming sort who was even now glaring up at Doryn with raw hate despite the fact that he was bound in irons and rather securely gagged. If any of these men had any connection to the Baron, it would be this man, and keeping him in sound condition was of the utmost importance.<br><br>"...taking him alive was difficult, but thankfully, Sorcerers are something of my speciality," Lai said, sparing the bound man a wry grin. "...isn't that right, cousin..?"<br><br>The half-elf just glared back, clearly happy with either, even more clearly wanting a rematch that Doryn had no intention of giving him.<br><br>"I want him transported to my own private cells and put under guard," Doryn noted. "The others can go to the Duke, but still, I'll expect everyone interrogated. You and Fredriech can manage such. Oh, and go ahead and send the payment to the Adventurers."<br><br>"They didn't actually do anything, Sir," Lai said, slightly confused.<br><br>"They were part of my distraction—everyone in the town was keeping an eye on them, and didn't notice my raid had started earlier, under your command." Doryn shrugged; it wasn't important that his subordinates understood his orders only that they were followed. "In any event, given what I'm <strong>actually</strong> asking of them, they'll want an advance."<br><br>Lai was quiet for a moment, then Doryn saw awareness flood over him.<br><br>"You're sending them after the Drow..."<br><br>"That's too dangerous for Guard work, but yes, I want information on who the slavers were working with," Doryn said. "Be sure to offer them a bonus for a high-ranking captive, but, we'll pay for any bit of information that they're able to bring back from the Underdark and as long as they present some kind of proof that they took an honest attempt at the mission they'll be paid double the advertised fee again upon their return."<br><br>The Knight-Captain waited long enough to be sure that his subordinate understood, whistled for some attention from some of the other Guards, and managed a bit of a transport for the Half-Elf back to his compound. After the Baron's unexpected visit to the Dewdrop, it was a prisoner transfer that he oversaw himself, wanting to make <em>absolutely sure</em> that nothing went wrong and everything was taken care of. There were some things, after all, that Doryn didn't believe in delegating to his subordinates...<br><br>~<br><br>...even as Ethirdir was making the decision to follow his hunch and make his way to Doryn's home, the Knight-Commander was wrapping up his final few bits of work for the evening (which included a few more surprises that he was sure would be quite amusing when they were eventually unveiled) and getting ready to excuse himself for the night as well. He truthfully hoped that Ethirdir had understood his somewhat purposefully opaque message, that he'd managed to earn enough of Hani's attention to keep the rather troublesome girl out of harm's way for the night, that indeed both of them were even at this moment waiting for him at his home anxious for whatever message Doryn had hoped to share with them both.<br><br>That, after all, had been his intent.<br><br>To ask them to his home, without making it obvious that he was doing so,-- to either them, or anyone else who might be watching,-<br><br>It was a shame, really, that Doryn had no especial intention of heading home right at that moment. No, instead, the Knight-Commander of the City Guard was making his way through the upper reaches of the city toward the residence of the very man who had so unexpectedly dropped in on him tonight. Or, rather, who had ever so unexpectedly dropped in on the Dewdrop. Doryn was fairly sure that the Baron hadn't known that that particular establishment was one of his haunts, that his presence there had proven more than a little disruptive, but he truthfully rather doubted that it'd done much in the way of actual... disruption..<br><br>No, the fact that the Baron had come to the Dewdrop could only mean one thing.<br><br>He was after Hani.<br><br>Which, at the very least, was one prize that Doryn had no intention of letting the Baron claim.<br><br>So it was that the Baron, who had no doubted settled into a quiet bit of evening relaxation,-- or, just as likely, some nefarious planning in further indulging his plants,-- was soon interrupted by a rather frightened servant who would be informing him of the presence of the Knight-Commander of the City Watch at his front door. Seemingly alone, in point of fact, for all that anyone who followed the exploits of the cities newest Noble would have good reason to doubt that Doryn was <em>ever</em> truly alone. (He had a rather disturbing habit of seeming vulnerable juuuust enough to make one of his targets make a mistake, at which point there were suddenly quite a few members of the Guard on the scene, and even the odd high-ranking official. One notable crime-lord had managed to confess his crimes within hearing of a city magistrate, which probably been the only possible way to actually take down someone of his caliber, a feat which Doryn only ever explained with a sly smile.)
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>03-04-2018, 07:03:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ethirdir arrived at the Captain's abode not too long after he had made the decision to do so, managing to reach his own manor and procure his carriage in one would assume was record time. Throughout the rather uneventful journey, the Elf couldn't shake the sensation that something big was going down that night, and that it involved more than simply Doryn offering a cryptic message that seemed too intricately coded to properly decipher. There was always the distinct possibility that Ethirdir might not be as smart as he thought he was and wasn't able to understand Doryn's strange message, but what were the odds of that happening?<br><br>Regardless, once the carriage pulled out in front of the Captain's manor, Ethirdir didn't even wait for the coachman to step down and open the door for him, choosing to do that himself. The Elf hadn't even changed clothing for the occasion, figuring that this occasion did not warrant the propriety of a private dinner party. He crossed the brief distance from his coach to the front door, where the enormous double-doors opened to reveal a servant ready to greet him.<br><br>"Good evening, sir," said the young man, who looked about ten years older than the Captain and yet seemed to own far more wrinkles on his face than such an age would normally allow. "Welcome to the home of Captain Doryn Aelland. May I ask who I am welcoming?"<br><br>"You may," Ethirdir began, "I am Lord Ethirdir Talion, and I come at your master's..." A sudden realization struck the Elf. "Wait, did your master not inform you that I was to arrive at his home this evening?"<br><br>The servant, as professional and unshakable as he seemed at first glance, blinked in mild confusion for the briefest of moments at the question before immediately regaining his composure. "Forgive me, my Lord, but Captain Aelland made no mention of receiving any guests this evening. However, in his absence I am most capable of hosting his guests until his return, and..."<br><br>"Absence?" Ethirdir interjected. "The Captain isn't even here? Where is he?"<br><br>"The Captain doesn't share specifics with me about his work, my Lord," the servant replied, unfazed by the Elf's rude interruptions. "If I had to guess, I'd say he was performing a special mission tonight, as he mentioned he would be home late tonight...later than usual, in fact, though he did not specify why."<br><br>The Elf didn't interject again, his thoughts racing as he tried to comprehend what was going on. Doryn wasn't home, which meant that the Captain's riddle was either completely misinterpreted...or a blatant lie. But why would the Captain lie, asking Ethirdir to come to the man's mansion alone when Doryn wasn't even home...? Wait...alone? Did the Captain really want the Elf to come alone? Or was the message meant for more than one person? But the only other person who was with him was...<br><br>"Hani..."<br><br>Before the servant could inquire what was going on, Ethirdir turned around and raced back to his carriage, screaming instructions for the driver to take him back to the Dew Drop Inn. Somehow, though, he suspected he was already too late...<br><br><hr><br>As soon as Hani's fingers touched the leather binding of the book on the shelf, there was an immediate reaction. Without warning, the book cover and ancient-looking pages exploded into thousands of tiny particles as the blue light kept inside the book burst into a brilliant fire that launched itself directly off the shelf. The light latched onto Hani's hand and quickly spread up her arm, racing with the speed of a wildfire devouring a dry countryside. Every part of her body that it touched, the fire rendered immobile, unable to move as if the air around her had become stiff. Quickly the blue flame spread throughout her entire body, covering up her torso, her waist, her legs, her other arm, and even her head. In a matter of moments she was completely consumed by the flame, which rendered her as still as a statue while the flames lapped at her hungrily while burning nothing it touched.<br><br>Moments later, the flames disappeared, leaving only a pale blue light surrounding Hani's body, and yet she was still completely immobile, unable to move a muscle beyond the ones necessary to breath. She was forced to stand there in that position, frozen in the stance of of a thief trying to reach for something that wasn't hers. An eternity seemed to pass before the door to the study opened and a familiar figure stepped inside, his cane clacking against the floor louder than it seemed to before. A sinister, triumphant smile was spread across the Baron's weathered lips as his beady eyes stared gleefully at his prize. Behind him, a disgusting looking man followed closely, giggling like a maniac as he silently watched his boss approach the young female thief.<br><br>"So..." said the Baron, leaning down so that Hani could see his face directly in her frozen state. "You are the young thief who stole my jewel, aren't you? I figured that the thief operated in one of the local taverns that secreted supposed those wretched fencing networks, but I never suspected that it would be a lithe little thing like you. Still, you couldn't resist the little seeds I planted, could you? I don't care what seed brought you here, but the fact that you fell for my trap is all that matters."<br><br>He laughed as he firmly tapped Hani's leg with the tip of his cane. "I have to admit, I had my doubts about this trap. You see, Lotus Fire is a very finicky thing. It requires careful preparation beforehand and has to be handled in just the right way, or else it can easily backfire. But it looks like it worked perfectly. All I had to do was use a minor spell to cause that book to explode when someone other than me touched it, and the fire latched onto the closest living thing it could find, rendering you hapless. Perhaps a bit elaborate, but the perfect bait for someone like you, it seems."<br><br>The man behind the Baron laughed a little before speaking up. "So, Baron...what shall we do with here? Want me to gut her and feed her to the fishes?"<br><br>The Baron smirked at the suggestion, but shook his head. "No, not yet, Gregor. She knows where my Basilisk Heart is, and until I get that back, she is not to be harmed...too much. Perhaps we can start with a bit of anticipation, letting her imagination loosen her tongue a little. If she's still a little reluctant to talk...well, we have ways..."<br><br>Their conversation was interrupted when suddenly a voice called out from down the corridor outside the study. "Baron von Berenholdt! Baronn von Berenholdt!"<br><br>The aggravation in his face was immediately apparent, and the Baron snarled as he looked away from the hapless Hani. "Watch her," he instructed Gregor before stepping outside into the hallway.<br><br>Moments later, a servant came rushing up to the Baron. "What is it?" demanded Ludwig, the snarl on his face obvious even in the low light.<br><br>"Baron, my apologies, but...Captain Doryn Aelland is at our front door and requests your presence."<br><br>The Baron's look of aggravation quickly morphed into a look of surprise. Captain Doryn, that obnoxious braggart? Here? What was the man doing here, of all places? Had his little performance at that wretched in perhaps attracted the man's attention? Whatever the reason, the Baron couldn't let the Captain suspect something, not when he had the little thief who had stolen his precious Basilisk Heart. The interrogations would have to be postponed, apparently...but only postponed...<br><br>"Very well, see him in and take him to the Red Room," the Baron instructed the servant, who immediately bowed and hurried off to carry out the man's instructions. The Baron then returned to the study, where Hani was still entrapped by the glow of the Lotus Fire. "Gregor, it seems I have an unwelcome guest. I need some time to get rid of him. In the meantime, take our new guest down to the dungeons and chain her up before the effects of the Fire fade. You can put her in the same cell as our other guest, that stupid little traitor of a maid. And make sure you take the private passages so that our guest doesn't see you." The Baron then turned and hastily walked out of the study, heading to the Red Room to greet the Captain and hopefully get him out of the manor as quickly as possible.<br><br>"Will do, sir," Gregor said before turning to Hani, grinning maniacally. "All right, sweetheart," he said, reaching out and grabbing the poor girl roughly, lifting her into his arms and swinging her stiff body over his shoulder. "Let's get going." As he carried her out of the study, he added, "You got a nice tight little body, little girl. Maybe the boss will let me have fun with you when he's done with you..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>04-04-2018, 01:17:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Even though she had a hunch it was a trap, Hani could not resist reaching for the book. Her gasp of shock turned into a frightened scream. Whether someone could hear it was unknown to the red headed thief. All she knew in that moment was sheer terror! She thought she would be totally consumed by the blue flames! It was only a small relief when the flames merely froze her in an awkward position instead of killing her. Hani struggled as hard as she could, but could not free herself. The sound of the cane approaching did nothing but cause her heart to hammer even more fiercely in her chest. <em>A fine mess you have gotten yourself into, Hani! You should have listened to the Mage!</em> <br><br>The fetid breath and ugly face staring at her was not a welcome sight. To top it off, she could not reply to him. But her eyes blazed a mixture of fear and loathing and anger. Hopefully the Baron would not get too obnoxious. Then there was the ugly Gregor, a more loathsome man she could not imagine! In spite of the bad situation she was in, there was a ray of hope. As long as he kept her alive she had a chance of rescue. She whispered a little prayer to the Goddess. "Please let me be rescued soon."<br><br>Over in the Duke's massive courtyard, the Mage's Tower seemed to be entirely dark. But inside, a different story. Quillian cursed softly at the warning chiming in his study. "What have you done now, Hani?" He studied the magical aura coming from his crystal ball, willing it to show him his agents location. Whispered incantations echoed in the study. His pet raven cawed sharply as the scene suddenly cleared in the scrying crystal. Quillian shook his head as he noted not one but two of his agents chained to a wall in the Baron's dungeon. "You have gone too far, this time, Baron. Now you will pay a dear price for your folly. I shall have to bring the Duke in on this. I am sure he will be interested in the latest noble to cause more trouble than he is worth."<br><br>Quillian picked up a tiny scrap of parchment and scribbled a message on it. "Come to my study, there is something you need to see." He then rolled the parchment up and attached it to the leg band of the raven. "Take this to the Duke. Yes even if he is asleep! You know how to get in."<br><br>The raven made a series of caws and it seemed almost as if he was cackling. He flew out the open window and circled the Duke's huge mansion until he found the one window he knew the Duke kept open for just such an emergency. Flying directly into the hallway and making his way past startled servants and a guardsman who gave chase. In a chaotic dance of black wings, a few feathers and a mad dash through hallways to the Duke's chambers followed. Landing on the doorstep, the raven called out several times. "Message!! Message!" as he strutted and flapped just out of reach of the flustered guard. The commotion alerted the servant inside to open the door to investigate. That was all the raven needed to flutter his way into the chamber and fly directly to the Duke's desk. Strutting proudly around and fluffing his feathers as the Duke stared at him incredulously. "A message for me?"<br><br>The raven would not let the Duke touch him until he was offered a treat, in the form of a scrap of meat on the Dukes snack plate. Finally the Duke managed to get the tiny scroll off the bird and read it. "Damned mages...always something...Alister, get out my clothing and boots. I have to pay a visit to Quillian. It damn well better be something important!" He set about getting dressed and the raven flew to the window and tapped on it until the Duke shouted at his guard. "Let the raven out, will you! Before he breaks the glass."<br><br>The flustered guard went to the window and threw open the shutters. The raven flew straight home again, landing on Quillian's windowsill a few moments later. The mage was still studying the image in his crystal and did not do much more than acknowledge the raven with a tossed treat. "Good boy..." Absently he rang his servant's bell. When the butler arrived, Quillian turned to him. <br><br>"Prepare to show the Duke into my study as soon as he arrives, refreshments will not be needed, we may be leaving again as soon as I know where this scene is showing me." He had a rough idea, but wanted the Duke to witness this before taking him to the Baron's manor to make sure Hani and Alyssa were rescued. He cursed silently to himself as he saw the rough way Hani was treated. "Maybe you will listen to me next time, little thief." he murmured.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>CrownedSun</strong> on <strong>23-04-2018, 07:49:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Easily adopting the haphazardly happy-go-lucky easily-distracted manner that was his most common demeanor in investigations such as this, Doryn milled absently about the room where he had been left while one of the servants went to fetch the Baron. He <em>hadn't</em> been left alone, of course, and the busy-body who was watching-over-him-without-it-being-obvious-what-he-was-doing had managed to keep Doryn from actually doing any really effective snooping.<br><br>...well, that was the theory at least..<br><br>Several of the Knight-Captain's more deliberately blundered attempts to 'snoop' had been prevented, and the entire act had so convinced the poor servant that the man in front of him lacked anything of Guile or Cunning that the Northerner had actually managed to glean considerably more than anyone gathered would have guessed. Most of it was little things, <em>feel</em> things, such as the way that he was being ushered off to one side and kept busy by servants who seemed just a little too eager. He could almost smell the servants fear, at first, and their relief in turn, once they 'got his measure'. He doubted any of them knew exactly what was happening, but servants tended to know more than those in power think, and these obviously knew that <em>something</em> was going on.<br><br>--that wasn't exactly news, Doryn having realized that such was occuring when the Baron visited the bar, though given all this-<br><br>He'd hoped that Hani would have the sense to stay away from what was so obviously a trap, and indeed, if anything happened to her he'd never be able to forgive himself for not having taken more active steps to ensure that she'd been warned of the danger. Though, knowing Hani, that might not have done anything other than <em>ensure</em> that she'd fall into the danger... that had been the thinking that had kept him from sharing what he suspected with the others. With, indeed, his attempt at misdirecting the two of them.<br><br>Even so...<br><br>...he wasn't sure..<br><br>The trap could be baited, but that wasn't to say that anything had been caught?<br><br>No, Doryn didn't know for sure that the Baron had her until the door opened and the man himself entered into the room. He probably didn't realize just how much he was giving away, thinking himself the smartest man in the city at worst and certainly the room at worst. He probably wouldn't realize how mistaken he was until it was far too late. Doryn's reaction to this, thought, was simply to smile brightly and offer the Baron a large somewhat overbearing greeting.<br><br>"Hello my good friend, I must say, you have a wonderful home here,-- very beautiful,- much nicer than my own dwelling," Doryn said, chuckling. "Though, honestly, your servants could use a bit of work. I can name the people I got my men for,-- they're <em>much</em> better-- yours are too pushy, too bossy, not courteous at all. Can you believe they wouldn't even let me open up a window earlier?"<br><br>He shakes his head, moving over toward the window as if to demonstrate.<br><br>"...do YOU mind if I open it? It's so STUFFY in here.."<br><br><hr><br>"You won't find her here, I'm afraid."<br><br>The words came from a dark shadowy looking figure, dressed in dark leathers, tucked away in a corner of the inne. It wasn't a figure that Ethirdir was entirely unaware of, having spent enough time around Doryn to know from experience that this was one of the Knight-Captain's loyal lieutenants. One who goes by the name of Vaughn, who probably has the dubious honor of being the most shadowy and cunning of the men in the employ of the City Guard. Only a few knew that he was, once upon a time, very much on the other side of the law but had fallen into the employment of the resurgent Captain Aelland during his early days.<br><br>"I was keeping an eye on both of you, but, she lost me just like she lost you," he said, sighing a bit. "Probably to the same place that the Captain is, if I had to guess, which would almost be good news. Except that the Captain, he likes that girl too much, if he thinks he's in danger..."<br><br>It's one of those thoughts that doesn't need to be voiced: if he thinks Hani is in danger he might start acting stupid.<br><br>It was a behavior which Doryn had demonstrated just the other day, after all, when he thought that he might lose the woman whom he'd never made any promises toward.<br><br>"...busy night, I guess, is what I'm saying.."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Velasterian</strong> on <strong>29-04-2018, 07:06:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With Hani's body - including her mouth - kept rigid as a statue thanks to the magical trap, Gregor had the pleasure of not listening to her yell at him or make constant threats in his direction. Though an irredeemably vile man, he had enough strength in his arms to carry Hani without effort, a worthwhile trait to have when needed to carry out his master's orders. Under the Baron's direction, he took Hani far away from any place that might potentially be witnessed by people downstairs, instead carrying her stiff frame into a room that looked little more than a storage chamber of random antiques and other assorted goods. However, when Gregor pressed a switch hidden inside a plain-looking vase on one side of the room, the storage area proved to house a secret when a hidden door swung open on a back wall.<br><br>Giggling all the while like a scheming madman, Gregor carried poor Hani into the door and down a winding flight of stairs, the stairwell taking them several floors through the manor. The hidden door closed behind them shortly thereafter, briefly coating the stairwell in inky darkness, but a lit flame torch was waiting for them in a chamber adjoining the stairs at the bottom of the well, leading to a dusty and mold-scented corridor. The man's maniacal giggles continued as he took his frozen thief down that corridor and towards a heavy-looking door, one that was latched tightly with several iron bolts.<br><br>After taking a few moments to unlock those bolts, Gregor pushed the door open to reveal that inside was a prison cell, one without any windows to the outside. The cell was completely bare except for dozens of iron chains and shackles attached to the wall, and several chamber pots sitting idly in each corner. Actually, there was one other thing inside that chamber: a young woman chained to the wall, dressed in little more than clothes that appeared to be made out of burlap. Her wrists and ankles were all secured to the wall via shackles, forcing her into a standing position, and her visible skin was covered with bruises. She looked utterly miserable, her face stained with tears, and she barely even looked up when Gregor entered.<br><br>"Got you a new cellmate, Alyssa," Gregor announced as he carried Hani over to the same wall as the other girl. The girl, Alyssa, looked up at the announcement, and she looked startled to see another girl being imprisoned like her. "Be sure to explain how things work around here once the spell wears off," Gregor instructed as he set Hani down and began chaining her up. He secured shackles to each of her wrists and ankles, made sure they were secure, and then began tightening the length of chains until Hani's stiff form was dragged all the way to the wall. Once the spell wore off, Gregor planned on tightening the chains further, but this would do for now.<br><br>"I'll see you two once the Baron is finished with his guest upstairs," Gregor said with a grin. "Until then, keep me in your thoughts, would you? I'm beginning to have some...ideas on how to have fun with you two when the Baron no longer needs you." With that, he cackled loudly as he turned and left the cell, closing the door behind him and sliding each dead bolt back into place.<br><br><hr><br>Of all the people the Baron could've expected to show up in his home at that hour, the last was Doryn, that bumbling, nosy Captain he had met back at the inn. The surprise hadn't left his face since learning about it from his servant and was still evident on the Baron's face when he stepped into the room where Doryn had been instructed to wait. Even as he quickly attempted to regain his composure he worried that he had given away something. Doryn may have been someone the Baron had no respect for, but that didn't mean the man wasn't capable of messing things up. Why else was the man here, after all? Something didn't feel right...<br><br>"Captain Aelland," the Baron uttered, trying his best not to hiss through his teeth as he approached Doryn from across the room, his cane clacking softly on the floor with an almost intentional sharpness. "What a surprise, having you here in my humble abode. It is not...often that I receive visitors such as yourself. May I ask what brings you here at this hour?" He then remembered the peculiar question regarding the window and added, "I prefer keeping my windows closed...after having a thief make off with something precious to me, I choose to reduce the chances of it happening again, you understand."<br><br>If the Captain was here, then either he had found "information" regarding that bogus story the Baron had cooked up...or the man was smarter than the Baron had given him credit for. What if he suspected that he currently had the thief girl locked up? What if he suspected even more than that, perhaps knew about the Basilisk Heart? Was Doryn simply here to taunt him with that information? If so, then the Captain made a terrible mistake coming into his home. The Baron had means of dispatching troublesome fools that meddled in his affairs, and not all of them involved trap books...<br><br><hr><br>Ethirdir hadn't come all the way back to the Dew Drop Inn to simply get the runaround from one of Doryn's subordinates. He was already in a panicked mood, strongly suspecting that something was going to happen to Hani if he didn't help her, and his hopes of finding some clue to her whereabouts back at the Inn had proven fruitless. No one knew where she had gone, including Doryn's lieutenant, and hearing the man speak so vaguely didn't exactly reassure the Elf that everything was all right.<br><br>"She's possibly at the same place where the Captain is..." he uttered back at the man, towering over the seated lieutenant like a wolf eyeing its prey from a rocky crag. "And&nbsp; I don't suppose you're going to tell me where that is."<br><br>The man called Vaughn simply shrugged, indicating he either didn't know himself or he was sworn not to tell on someone's orders. Ethirdir didn't fault the man for his loyalty, but he did fault him for offering him a tantalizing piece of information, only to leave of the most important part. Apparently the Elf was going to have to figure things out himself if he was to find out where Hani had went.<br><br>Stepping back to get some space to think, Ethirdir pondered over all the information he had so far. Doryn had given him and Hani that cryptic riddle earlier in order to signal that he wanted the two of them out of the way that night, with Hani kept safe. That implied that if Hani had headed for some place dangerous, it would most likely be the same place Doyrn went to, so Vaughn's hunch seemed plausible. But where would Hani have gone...hell, were would Doryn have gone? The man rarely talked about his work to people like Ethirdir, and Hani had made no mention of it during their dinner earlier. The only hint of anything that might relate to Doryn's work came during that meal, when the Captain had approached the Baron von Berenholdt during a surprise visit and...<br><br>Baron von Berenholdt...<br><br>No...<br><br>"Hani, you didn't go <em>there</em>, did you?" he blurted aloud to no one in particular. "Not to <em>his</em> house..."<br><br>It was not conclusive, but it seemed the most likely lead. The Baron's arrival in the Dew Drop Inn was completely out of the ordinary, and now both Doryn and Hani were out doing their own things...it seemed too much of a coincidence to the Elf. Nothing concrete, but what else did he have to go on? Realizing he might not have much time, Ethirdir raced back out of the inn, hoping his carriage could get him to the Baron's manor before something...foul happened to his friends...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Crescent City-Verasaille, Velasterian, Crowned Sun-IC</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Verasaille</strong> on <strong>10-05-2018, 01:36:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Though she could not struggle nor speak, Hani was livid. How dare this man trap her and then have this oaf carry her about like a sack of potatoes!? She stood there helpless as he fixed the restraints on her wrists and ankles. All she could think of were ways to get back at this foul man and his cronies. His words caused her to sneer at him and there was a fire in her eyes that promised retribution. Other than that, she could do nothing until he had left and secured the bolts. <br><br>Gradually her limbs started relaxing enough for her to move a bit. A numb tingling sensation replaced the stiffness and she was able to look around. Her gaze fell on Alyssa. "So, I see you did not make it out of here. I am sorry you got caught up in all this. But I have hope that help will soon arrive. Just hang in there...sorry." she bit her lip at the unfortunate choice of words. As feeling returned to her fingers and legs she began to test her bonds to see if there was any weakness. She gave up after several minutes of struggle. <br><br>----<br><br>Meanwhile in the Mage Tower, Quillian was studying the crystal as the Duke arrived, being shown to the study by the butler. The Duke was not happy. "What in tarnation is it now, Quillian? You woke me out of a sound sleep! This had better be important!"<br><br>"Your Grace, I have concrete evidence now of the Baron and his criminal activities. Kidnapping is only the first part. He is also in possession of some sort of gem activated device that he intends on using against you and others. You can see for yourself, he is holding two of my agents in his dungeon, against their will." Quillian showed the Duke the scene of the two girls in the dungeon.<br><br>"So he has some kinky tastes, Quillian. How do you know they are not there of their own free will? How did they get there and how did you know about it?" The Duke was not convinced.<br><br>"I am well aware that some of the nobles are 'kinky', but this man is a mage user who is not at all trained or stable in his mind. I have been investigating him for some time now. I have a report filled out. You may read it at your leisure. Right now, we need to arrest the scoundrel before he does something worse than chain those girls up.." He was adamant in his belief.<br><br>"It will take some time to call out the Guards, I suppose I could send in Knight Captain Aelland to investigate. Would that make you happy?" The disturbed sleep was making him grouchy. He turned to go when Quillian called him back.<br><br>"I am not sure, but I think the good Captain is already enroute, or possibly there. He will need your presence to make the arrest official, I am sure. We can get there rather quickly in your royal carriage..." the Mage smiled, trying to make this as painless as possible. "We cannot waste time sending messengers, Your Grace. We need to go now."<br><br>With a long suffering sigh, the Duke nodded. "I will still send a courier to Captain Aelland's abode to make sure. But we can get the carriage ready, if you insist. Meet me outside in about a quarter hour." He left then to make ready.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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