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Hanali smiles at Issac. She is dressed in a nice ensemble of blue satin and a constellation of jewelry. She smiles wider when Renkar compliments him. "Good job Issac. It's stuff like that that'll make our mark." A sound of clattering hooves echoes from outside. Hanali's bodyguard Noresh opens the door. "Lady Hal'Oight the carraige is here." Hanali waves at the party "Well, I'm off to scavenge rumors and tidbits from the Nobles' District. Wish me luck!" She heads out to a waiting coach-and-four.
Isaac shoulders his way in, his pack strapped on and his efficient quiver on his shoulder. He's also got a large basket in his left hand with the rest of his personal effects. He looks around to see if there's anyone in the common room that he recognizes. Issac sees Hanali eating over in the corner. She notices him and waves him over
"Hello Issac. Ready to move in I see?" The aasimar female is dressed in tight white linen trousers and a red bustier with a short ercu linen jacket over it. The effect is very professional-looking, yet devastatingly sexy. When she smiles, Issac melts just a little
Turning back to Hanali she says, "now when do I start work. I will very soon find myself without much coin with which to purchase food." Hanali smiles "Part of our arraingement is free food as long as you eat here. Bess and Renkar have a long-standing contract. I'm sure they can keep you in venison and ambrosia, no worries."
The two find a seat at one of the larger tables. The proportions of the room seem cramped to Lady Bethany's perception, but not so much that she feels uncomfortable. Hanali introduces Bethany to Bess, the proprieter, Ramona her eldest and the head server and Robyn, her youngest son who is on the hearth spit this morning turning a large roast. The room is crowded with mudcrawlers eating lunch and drinking their thin ale. "What do you prefer to eat Lady Bethany?" Hanali inquires
It appears that we have wasted a good deal of time here talking. I do not have much coin, but you may join me for a meal if you would like. Do they serve food downstairs or will we have to go elsewhere?" Hanali smiles "They do serve food downstairs, and I can introduce you to your landlady Bess and her children who run this establishment. I'll meet you outside." Hanali disappears down the hallway of the garret.
... "I already miss the soaring peaks and lush Bronzewood forests of Harmonia." Hanali smiles and places a hand on Lady Bethany's. "Well, if it is any consolation, Sigil is probably the best place to search for a way back to your world. Our city is the Hub of the Multiverse. You can find a portal to just about everywhere if you look hard enough. Being the crossroads of every place imaginable also means that we are a very cosmopolitan society. I am sure that there are others of your race about, you just have to find them. Now let me tell you a bit about how Sigil works .." Hanali goes on to explain a bit about factions, who controls what in the city, how you get about and things like times, coinage and standard prices
Bethany sees a mudcrawler woman with yellow hair sitting behind the desk. It is hard to determine looks among these non-winged races, but her face seems shapely. She stands up and smiles "Greetings! My name is Hanali. Come with me and I will see if my boss has a moment to speak with you." The mudcrawler stumps to a small door and opens it, revealing a large open room. She calls up a flight of stairs to the side. "Renkar, could you come down here?" She turns to Bethany. "Would you like a drink of tea?"
Drazek opens the door and a small shop bell rings. He finds himself in a narrow front room with a desk and a door leading back in. An absolutely gorgeous female Aasimar decked out in very high-end clothing stands up and smiles at him. "Welcome to The Silver Rose sir, can I be of assistance?"
After the meal Merle will set off to find herself a decent dress to wear. Hanali is excited for Merle "The Fortune's Wheel is a top-shelf place Merle! Let's find you some threads!" Hanali takes Merle out to the shops along the Lady's Ward border and they purchase a nice dress that compliments Merle nicely
Hanali walks with Eir and Karrin through the party, pointing out several notables. "See that well-dressed blue gentleman over there? The tall one with the small horns? That's Estevan, a blood of the highest shelf. He has his blue fingers in so many pies he'd put a baker to shame. More than likely we'll work for him at some point on a job. "That dumpy-looking dwarf female with the long beard is Kalima Garnetheart. She may look short, but she is a high-up blood in the Doomguard. She is opposed to their current factol Pentar, who is trying to move the faction towards more active meaures to promote entropy. "See that floating mask over there? That is Frentek, a lich confidant of Factol Skall from the Dustmen. Frentek is so old he doesn't even have a corpus anymore. You see him out here on the social scene, he is the Dustmen's liason with the other factions. Quite a nice cutter for a puff of animated dust. Hanali pauses "Oh this cutter I have been dying to meet. Karrin, this man claims to be an emperor's son, but fifth in a line of five. You can call him 'your Grace'. He's a sort of elf I believe, from a desert planet called Marhoon or some such barminess. Come with me and wait until I introduce you to speak." Hanali glides over to a group of three beings sipping tall glasses of clear fluid. The three are tall and spindly, close to 2.25 meters in height. They have large, almost unreal-looking violet eyes. Their noses are small, almost vestigial, but with large nostril slits. Their skin is a very pale shade of pink. There are two men and one woman. They are all dressed in long robes of a shimmery material. Hanali walks up and introduces herself. "Escuse me, but would I be addressing Darmik, the scion of the Marhoon Imperial leader Maghir CXXIV?" She is rewarded with a slight nod from the tallest male. Hanali curtseys. "Please allow me to indroduce myself and my companions, Your Grace. I am Hanali Hal'Oight, daughter of Spiral Hal'Oight with whom you have had some dealings. These are my associates Eir Haakonen and Karrin Kind." The tallest male bows slightly. "It is an honor to make your acquaintence Lady Hanali, Lady Eir, Lady Karrin. Allow Us to introduce Our companions: Our Throkkar Degnish indicates the other man and Our betrothed Farasha." Indicates his female companion Prince Darmik turns back to Hanali. "Your father has been most helpful in arrainging for the goods we desired to be ferried to Our Imperium. The deep desert hordes of barbarian Throggs will pay for their attacks on Our cities."
Hanali smiles "In Sigil there is no royalty Karrin, divinely mandated or otherwise. We have a strict custom of Neutrality here, everyone is judged upon themselves, not what some ancestor accomplished or power decreed." Hanali glances over to where Prince Willas now drinks alone morosely "If he had the strength to claim what is his he would be better off, rather than bleating that his uncle stole his crown unfairly. Hopefully the Takers can instill a little of that ethic into him." Hanali turns back to Karrin "Anyone can get rich and powerful in Sigil Karrin, whether a hunchbacked Orc or a Aasimar from Celestia. If there's one thing being the Hub of the Multiverse has taught us is that all beings can rise above their origins if allowed to. Someone's pedigree is meaningless here." Hanali stands up. She looks to Eir and Karrin. "Another pass through then?"
Karrin sits glumly at the table. Hanali notes her moody air and tries to cheer her up. "Karrin, since you don't know a lot about greeting high ups, would you like to run through a few? There are plenty of people to practice on. Just remember, titles in the Cage are worth about a bent Green. You had no trouble talking to Guarsimo when we arrived and he can buy and sell Prince Willas for pocket change. Look I'll explain some of the basics so you wont feel so adrift." Hanali starts indicating different people in the crowd. "That fellow is Fredorm Kar'Lashgar. His family's trade is fine lumber. You would greet him with a simple Ser, he doesn't have a title. "The praying mantis with the sand-colored shell is Krish-Click-Nar-Tok, and he is a member of something called the Tertiary Clutch. His proper title is Tok-Click-Pak, which translates into Gatherer-of-Meat of all things. "The stout lady there is the Lady Greta, Marichoness Nymerion. A simple 'Lady' is her title. "Just remember that most human nobles will accept a 'Lady' or 'Ser' as a greeting among strangers. If you should cross paths with a duke,prince or king 'Your Grace' or 'Your Excellency' would be appropriate. Most non-humans will usually be kind enough to announce their title to you if they feel they must be addressed by it." Hanali drains her wine. A server approaches and carries off her glass. "Would you like to try again Karrin? It's very simple once you get the hang of it. If you feel out of your element just whisper to me and I will get you out of the encounter."
Hanali sips her wine and listens to Karrin. A faint line creases her brow as Karrin finishes her speech. "Now I wouldn't put it that harshly Karrin. This is not life or death, and Eir and I came here to lend you support. If we had tarted you up and dropped you off at the door that would be one thing, but this is a casual soiree. Cagers are a lot less wrapped up in polite forms than you Primes. Think of it like you are a raw recruit on field patrol with some more experienced folks. The best advice I can give you is the same advice you'd get in the field from an experienced officer: Keep your ears open and your mouth closed. Drink in the experience and learn from it. No one expects you to be perfect anymore than your weapon trainer expected you to swing an axe perfectly the first time you picked it up." Hanali sips her wine "If you feel too uncomfortable I can arrainge for our men at arms to escort you back to the Copper Cauldron."
Hanali, Eir and Urgrek finish talking to Prince Willas, make their farewells and wander about the party a bit. Urgrek bows to both ladies, taking his leave to rejoin his daughter Azaria at their table. Eir sees that Karrin has reappeared at their table, busy with a new plate of food. Hanali glances at Eir and walks towards their table and Karrin. "Karrin are you all right? I was worried when you ran off. Was meeting the prince a little much for you? I wouldn't worry too much about him, he is a prince in name only. I'd bet a pile of Ladies that he'll be working for the Takers within a cycle."
To Hanali: "Looks like Karrin has a new friend."
Hanali looks to Prince Willas. "Your Grace you have had no further luck with recruitment?" The young prince looks downcast. "Unfortunately not. There are some who would fight, but I am dealing with the possibility of a long-term struggle. I need experienced captains to come to my kingdom and train the populace in secret. The problem is that there are many in the Cage who seek just such captains for their causes. The competition for good mercenaries is fierce. Every day I delay is another day that Tormdall tightens his hold on my people."
Hanali nods to Eir. "I think it is a good time. Karrin, dear, you can leave the food on the table, it wont disappear. It just wont do to carry that mutton leg about." Hanali leads them through the crowd. "Karrin, if you wanted a real prince, there's one now." Hanali points to a young man dressed in purple silk garments with an ermine-edged cloak on his shoulder. He is talking earnestly with a tall Mercane and a rough-looking dwarf. He wears an iron crown with small blue gems set along its periphery. "That's Prince Willas, heir apparent to the Kingdom of Thallessia. He's been haunting these parties trying to weld together a force to advance his claim since his uncle killed his father and usurped his throne. Nice berk, but he's got no jink, and mercenaries don't fight for promissary notes and pledges of future royal titles." As they sit observing the young prince, Urgrek the Earthborn walks up to them. "I was wondering if perhaps one of you ladies would do me the favor of joining me in this dance?"
Hanali laughs "Dear Karrin, there are virtuous Tieflings and diabolical Aasimar. Blood and birth aren't determiners. Your soul is the real indication. If it's one lesson the Cage drills into your brainbox is that a cutter's outside is no guarantee of behavior or temperment." Hanali looks over at the black silk-clad Erinyes and frowns "Though she does look like a piece of work at that. Tell you what Karrin, I will assist you if she gets out of hand or bothers you. Please do sit in a chair, you are going to ruin your pretty dress." At Karrin's inquiry about Thornton Hanali giggles. "Well he ain't a prince, no. He told me once that he's descended from royalty on some Prime world. Can't swing a cat without hitting a Taker with a noble Prime title. Sometimes I wonder if they sit in their stuffy offices and invent new ones for themselves. I think his was Jarl of Ostvikgard or some such foolishness. That and a Stinger will get you a loaf of bread in this burg."
Hanali frowns when Karrin dives under the table. "Karrin, please do come out. You are making a spectacle of yourself. No one can hurt you here." Hanali rolls exasperated eyes at Eir. "Anyway ... Over there is one of the biggest gem merchants in the Cage, name of Murish Mal'Gevred. He runs a store called Facet on the border of the Lady's Ward, near where we met our current employer Lucius Sar'Ormand. We'll have to go say hello, you never know when you might need a gem merchant ally." Hanali sips her Shiraz "There's a berk who thinks his brainbox is the Spire and we all revolve around it." Hanali points to a tall blonde fellow with a square jaw and a booming laugh dressed in a dark blue velvet tunic and hose. He is with a group of youngish well-dressed people drinking, eating and laughing together. "Thornton Helmdaar IV. He's an up-and-comer in the Fraternity of Order. Chant on the street says he'll be a Bureau Chief soon, possibly running the Vault of Knowledge. I tried to cosy up to him a bit a few cycles back but he is an insuffrable boor."
Hanali looks at Karrin and Eir "Well come now! Go and get ready. Karrin I will assist you if you like. Eir, as well, though I am sure you have your own routine. The carraige should be here in an hour, and Noresh and a few other of Father's retainers will escort us along with whomever else would like to go." Hanali looks at Greep, Swift and Merle "Anyone interested?"
Hanali smiles at Greep "You will not have to actually bodyguard, just be able to pretend you do. We will be guests of Guarsimo Har'Jollek, a planar merchant of some repute. This is a minor soiree he is putting on for friends and business acquaintences. His retainers will be doing the actual security, you all will be feted in a separate area, kept in readiness for when we leave. There will be all sorts of entourage folks there, some of these dilletants bring a squad of warriors, a wizard, a bard, a jongleur and many others along just to look important. I'm sure you would meet and interact with a lot of interesting cutters."
Hanali smiles at Merle "I have been tasked on giving Karrin and Eir a little taste of life in the Nobles' District. Our esteemed boss thinks it would be good for the two of them to see how the high-crust function." Hanali looks over at Renkar "It might be a little late, but perhaps we should include the rest of our group in the mix? Assuming they don't have other plans for the evening. They could possibly go as our entourage, and scope out the guards and such while we attend the soiree? I know that a lot of information gets bandied about by the guards and servants of these nobility."
Hanali smiles as the group approaches. She is already dressed for the ball in a lovely black silk number, her hair piled high and constrained with a golden net set with purple amethysts. "Karrin, Eir, Greep welcome back! Karrin and Eir, you need to go get ready! Our carraige will be here soon, and we will be off! I'm sure Greep can fill us in on the particulars of your meeting."
Hanali leads Eir and Karrin into the dressmaker's shop. A bewildering array of dresses greets them. The shop is so crowded with fabric and clothing that it is difficult to walk through. Hanali leads the two to the back of the store where there is an open space with a screened off area. A couple of full-length mirrors are positopned about, as are several dressmaker's mannequins. Several well-worn leather-clad chairs and stools are scattered about. A slender woman is standing at a mannequin, working on a brocade edge of a dress. She looks up and smiles. "Hanali! How are you!" The woman walks to Hanali and the two of them exchange cheek kisses. Hanali turns to Eir and Karrin "Eir, Karrin, I'd like you to meet Jesssamyn, one of the finest seamstresses in Sigil." Jessamyn giggles and makes a 'pshaw' hand gesture. "Jessamyn, I have a need to see these two clad in some of your lovely creations. I'm taking them to a soiree later in the Antipeak. Are you up to the task?" Jessamyn curtsies to Eir and Karrin. "Pleasure to meet yeh both cutters! I think I can get summat for them. Do you two have summat in mind for what yeh'd be liking in styles?"
Hanali looks over Karrin "Indeed Karrin! You are the very picture of shining youth! Now we need to head out and find you some suitable clothes to dress your tingly skin with." As the three exit the Great Gymnasium, they spy a trio of men-at-arms lounging at a coffee vendor's cart. Noresh is one. They all wear tabards with a sword flanked by white wings, which must be Hanali's father heraldic mark. The three trot up when they spy Hanali, and she addresses Noresh. "Excellent job Noresh. Get us a palanquin, we are off to Needle Court off Copperman Way." Noresh touches knuckle to forehead and trots off, his two fellow men flanking the women unobtrusively. Noresh returns with a palanquin lifted by blue-skinned folks seven feet tall. The lead porter settlesa price, and the three enter within a blue silken interior. The trip is quick, as the palaquin moves fast through the Great Bazaar and moves on to Needle Court. The three women are put down in front of a nice-looking shop with a sign proclaiming it as: Jessamyn's Tailoring: Dresses crafted to order. Formal wear a specialty. Hanali pays the porter and the palaquin lurches away. The three men-at-arms take up positions in nearby alleyways. Hanali looks up at Jessamyn's shop and nods to herself. "This looks promising, shall we?"
Hanali stares at the grime-caked form of Karrin. "Perhaps we should start with a trip to the Maelstrom. Follow me ladies." Hanali procures three cloth robes for them from the attendant and makes sure the lockers are secure. She leads Eir and Karrin down a hallway that opens into several different bathing areas. She walks into one where the waters churn with activity. It looks as if there is a subterranian hot spot under the pool's water, and the heat and humidity of the place hit the three like a wet slap. Hanali wanders over to an attendant and procures a large cake of soap and several long, corncob-looking items. She disrobes and enters the baths, beckoning the two others to follow. "This water is very good for cleansing dirt Karrin, I think you will like it." Hanali says. When Karrin gets in the hot churning water Hanali soaps up the large pale yellow corncob with the pinkish soap and begins to scrub the dirtier bits of the young Tiefling. "Eir would you like to lend a hand?" She asks, holding out another scrubber.
Hanali slams the locker door and places a large lock on it. She looks over at Karrin. "I figured we could start with a refreshing bath here at the heated Celestia pool. The bath water is portaled directly from The Silver Heaven's ocean. The waters are soothing and cleansing, and has a wonderful effect on wrinkles!" Hanali ponders a bit "After we have a good soak, perhaps some hair and makeup styling and a soothing massage. Eir can attest this is a wonderful experience." Hanali looks at Karrin "Sound like a good start?"
Hanali laughs, a pleasant liquid trill. "I will make sure you are the essence of decorum my young friend." Hanali looks at the somewhat crusty and musty gauntlet Karrin wears. "We might have to leave Ser Mitt behind on this journey though. I CAN give you this to compensate." Hanali reaches into her clothing pile and brings forth a small slender dagger with a jeweled pommel. "This can be worn in your hair as a style element, but used if things go awry. But once again, where we are going blood rarely flows."
"I'm sure Renkar can find enough gold in his purse for a nice outfit for you as well." Hanali says with a smile. Eir can see Renkar grimace. "There are some absolutely divine tailors and seamstresses down Needle Court off Copperman Way that work wonders and don't charge all that much. I'm sure Renkar, while a dear, wouldn't want us shopping at the shops along Brocade Row in the Market Ward." At the mention of this place Renkar lets out a small choking sound. Hanali smiles smugly and looks at Karrin. "What do you think Karrin? An adventure that won't involve blood or spilled organs, yet might be just as fun!"
... there's absolutely, positively, no way I'm going to wear a dress . . . and there's nothing you can say to make me change my mind!" Hanali grins at Karrin "I think you would be darling in a nice dress Karrin dear. But there is no rule saying you can't wear some well-made pants. As for fighting, I should hope we won't be doing any of that where we are going! Noresh will be our steel on this journey, we will practice being ladies of high estate. Ladies of high estate rarely wield their own weapons, or often feign that they don't! I concentrate on unarmed combat because it is much easier to take your arms and legs along to soirees. " Hanali looks over Karrin critically. "I think perhaps some Tyrannian-style silk dervish pants and a brocade bustier would leave you free enough Karrin. A little attention to your hair and face will do wonders as well. If you want to keep your axe handy I can have Noresh strap it to his back, or perhaps another of Father's retainers can come with us as a weapon porter." Hanali looks to Eir "I'm sure a cosmopolitan woman like yourself can assist me in this endeavor Eir?"
Zigel and Hanali leave the Silver Rose. Outside a large palaquin sits, a set of burly men chatting softly to themselves stand to one side. At the two's appearance they assume their posts and wait for Hanali and Zigel to enter and get comfotable. Hanali passes a few coins to the front left man, and the litter is lifted and borne away towards the Lady's Ward. Hanali opens a small clutch purse and removes a small mirror. She examines herself and pushes a few stray locks of blonde hair back into place. She fiddles and primps with her ball gown, adjusting the pleats of her skirt and arrainging her bustier so that it presents an even line. She looks over at Zigel and asks: "So Ser Zigel, what are you off to do tonight?"
Eir manages to make her way out of the Lady's Ward with little else than a few strange looks marring her journey. She fairly runs through the Great Bazaar, the crowds parting before her as she hurries, the goblin's smell like her own personal fecal herald calling way for her. She arrives at Copper Court tired, angry and desperately needing a bath. Deciding that lugging Nurkrak into a crowded inn at breakfast time would probably not go over well, Eir makes for the Silver Rose. The door is unlocked and when she opens it, there at the little desk at the front is her new friend from yesterday Hanali Hal'Oight. Hanali looks up and smiles at Eir, then the smile washes off her face like a sandcastle at high tide. "Dear Pelor! What is that hideous smell Eir?"
The delightful meal over, Hanali and Eir depart from the restaurant. Eir notices that Hanali just signs a slip of parchment when the waiter comes at the end of the meal, when asked she shrugs and says, "Father has an open line of credit here, he's a frequent guest." Hanali and Eir emerge from Chirper's as the dinner rush is getting really underway. The crowd is a very lively mix; the restaurant really doesn't seem to care who eats there as long as they bring the jink to cover the tab. Noresh emerges from a stall just out of the Chirper's waiting courtyard, finishing off a leg of turkey and tossing the bone in the sewer as he comes. Hanali sends Noresh out among the milling crowd, and once again an ornate palanquin is procured and contracted for the ride back to Copper Court. Eir can see that moving in these circles will cost a lot of jink indeed. But the silk cushions feel absolutely exquisite, and the perspective as they move slowly towards Copper Court is wonderful. The dimming light picks out many different beings scurrying to and fro. Bands of bariaurs gallop along the cobbled avenue, their hair and back manes beribboned and curled for an evening out. Sharpers, touts, beggars and whores all thicken as they pass along Copperman Way, their time of action rapidly approaching. A squad of Harmonium troops by, their red armor polished brightly and their clean-shaven faces grim as they survey the chaos of the avenue. Eir notices many Lower Planes denizens scattered among the crowd: Spines, chitin and horns aplenty as the Night Market in the Great Bazaar begins its' Antipeak procession. Several other litters pass by you, but few match the opulence of the one you share with Hanali. You arrrive at Copper Court as the hour nears for your agreed upon return. You get dropped at the beginning of the street, and leisurely walk towards the Silver Rose. As you both walk by the Copper Cauldron you can hear some of the voices of your companions. Checking inside you can see that the rest of the group is inside here, excepting Swift. You decide to enter and join the group.
Hanali smiles wryly. "At least the animals get let off after a few weeks of exhibition. Some beings never break free. " Hanali doesn't offer anything further on the subject. As the women eat their (very tasty) meals, several patrons come over to pay their respects to Hanali. She introduces Eir to several of them, and there are several richly-dressed young men that catch her eye around the dinig hall. The crowd thickens as time pushes on. Eventually Hanali finishes her meal and looks at you. "Well that was delicious. We must be heading towards Before Antipeak now, we should really start back to Renkar."
Hanali smiles at Eir "You wouldn't be a peery cutter if you didn't smell the fish to see if it is fresh. Ol' Porky is a terrible bore, and I'm sure that under Sigilian law the Goblins are really doing nothing wrong, but as a new company we have to take our salt where we can Hanali's lips quirk at her feeble pun. Besides, this kind of contract can make our names in the merchant set. Believe me, I run in that circle, it's hard to break in." Hanali dabs her lips with a linen napkin. "As for the animals, I'm not sure. The management switches them out all the time. Would you like to take a look at them?"
The waiter bows and scrapes obsiqiously, and before Eir has much time to ponder the contract a large salad plate with some rich-smelling cottage cheese-type of topping a selection of fresh greenery arrives for her, accompanied by a glass of white wine of a vintage Hanali had suggested. Hanali looks up from her meal, violet eyes questioning. "You have been awfully silent my dear. Is there anything bothering you?"
After agreeing to Hanali's proposal, the two return to their lockers, don their street gear and make their way to the plaza in front of the Great Gymnasium. There are about three hours left before your return is set and the light of Peak is mellowing as Sigil slides towards night. Noresh is awaiting you, a mug of cider in his hand as he chats up the drink vendor, a girl in scanty costume with a barrel strapped to a donkey at her side. He gulps the mug down says his farewells to the vendor and falls in with you. Hanali looks over at you. "Really no need of a palanquin for this trip Eir, Chirper's is fairly close." The two of you strike towards the Great Bazaar, Noresh following a pace behind. The Ciphers are all around you, laughing and often spontainiously kissing, fighting or singing together. They are a handsome athletic lot for the most part, their faction house a testament to clean well-groomed living. A huge winged figure casts a shadow over you. An 8' tall being with heroic features and an impressive wingspan flys off on some errand. A small spiny creature shreiks for a corner alley as the figure flys overhead spitting curses in Abyssal. ::Filthy Deva! A pox on your wingfeathers!:: After a pleasant stroll you approach an enormous edifice. A small line has formed outside of it, but Hanali sweeps past it with nary a glance at the aggreived patrons. Noresh fades to an area outside where other men-at-arms wait. At the door are a pair of spiky-armor clad Mercykiller troopers scowling at the crowd in line. Hanali walks up to them and says something indistinct to one of them and they part to let you both in. As you enter you notice an immense bronze eagle glaring down from above the doors to the dining room. A brace of coat-check beings descend on you, relieving you of your outer cloaks and cutlery and giving you a receipt. Although this time of Peak would be dead in any other inn, Chirper's is quite busy. The clientele is quite varied as well. There is a posting for something called the Seawind Theater, with acts going onstage every hour, admission to the events included in the meal purchase. Hanali approaches a bariaur dressed in a weskit standing behind a podium. The bariaur smiles unctuosly as she approaches, greeting her by name. He snaps his fingers and a waiter rushes forward to lead you to your table. As you enter the main dining hall, Eir is impressed by the size of the establishment. There are almost a hundred tables for dining, an island bar and a dancing area to the rear. A double door in the back is labeled the Seawind Theater. Several small shops are lined up at the side of this immense inn, offering portraits, flowers, haircuts, and various other amenities someone on the town might need. huge fires roar at several hearths, small boys spinning large roasts on spits within them. Eir's eye is drawn to three 20-foot-diameter crystal spheres set in the center back of the dining area. A crowd of chatting guests surrounds them. The three spheres each hold an exotic animal. One has a large midnight black cat that seems to be made of living stone. It prowls its cage incessantly. Another holds a large butterfly/bat hybrid that seems to have wings of molten metal. The third holds a creature that is mostly one large eye with bat wings. Just behind the spheres is a set of two doors above which is a sign reading 'Skull Museum'. Eir and Hanali are seated and given wine and food menus. The waiters seem especially anxious to please. Hanali orders a a mulberry vine salad, Niffhelm Stag cutlet with Shurrock mushroom cream sauce and a glass of Lunia Shiraz.
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