"Do you believe that there is any threat to his security?" Alika inquires. "There were several of us who were enamored of our freedoms before agreeing to this arrangement. If it is so large an issue that we should remain bonded at each moment of the day, I will speak to this person, but... as I am more or less forced to trust my companions implicitly, I would rather not be perceived as limiting their personal freedoms," she says pointedly.
"You are always teasing me, Mistress," Alika sighs. "Very well then, abandon me to my work. I will have an early supper so that I can meet my companions at the docks with a full stomach and a keen mind."
Alika: As you come downstairs for supper you find Matt, Tristen, and Gawain in the common room.
Matt smiles at the young server glad to she her enthused with the learning. By talking to her about the elven language it also makes Matt feel like he is reinforcing his own sense of self and heritage.
"Sorry, I am new to the town, though I have been exploring I have yet to see a place where the elves congregate or a teaching area." his voice sympathetic. "However, I will find you a book and come by he as frequently as possible if you want a bit of tutoring?"
Matt does look around the place and isn't trying to make her neglect her responsibilities, just if she has a break, or as she serves him he will teach her phrases and sounds.
As the afternoon draws on Matt says a farewell to Ellena and goes back to the Standing Ogre. Upon entering he goes to the room and gets prepared, but he is down in the common room when Alika enters.
He politely asks; "How has your afternoon been?"
"Do we have a plan? Just ask as usual? Mangur is hanging about in the common room."
"I thought we might pretend to enjoy ourselves," Alika says and smiles softly. "We're to meet this stranger. I am quite certain that the venue was chosen to explain our... varied composition. If we move as one, it will draw attention. Loath as I am to act as an individual," Alika's azure eyes glitter with mirth.
"Do you wish to handle the appropriation of this item?" she inquires. "I thought I might dazzle with my voice, if it is possible, to create a diversion for you to act freely."
"True, but a beautiful, talented woman as your self distracting a tavern crowd is possible. However with their intentions, it might be best if Tristen or Gawain watches over you if trouble erupts. I'll go to the bar-man and locate our contact?" Matt quietly and quickly adds to Alika "Not that I mean you cannot defend yourself against a bar of louts."
With a nod of his head, he looks to all the companions gathered in the common room. "So we follow Alika's plan?" Then he rises and prepares to move out into the night.
As you arrive at the Tavern, you find it as it was earlier in the day but much less crowded. While there are still many patrons about, it's obviously before the dinner crowd has hit. While almost all the tables were taken before, now almost half of them sit empty. You see a single bartender behind the counter, cleaning up and pouring drinks as the orders come in. He's a large round man with a tuft of streaked blond hair popping from the top of his head.
Matt walks upto the bar, with a quick look around the bar (familiar from earlier). He looks to the barman awaiting his turn, when the large man arrives Matt orders a drink, that he found quite tasty previously.
He sits casually at the bar, awaiting Alika's distraction before he will ask the barkeep about his contact.
Mangur watches Matt and Alika enter the bar. He keeps his disguise up as he waits to see what happens. He also keeps his eyes on anyone who he has previously marked as 'questionable'.
Alika dawdles for some time at the docks, purchasing a confection from a street vendor and picking at it slowly while she walks, convinced that arriving with the remainder of the party will be a detriment. When she does arrive, after cleaning her hands and freshening herself with a prestidigitation spell, she strides up to the counter and inquires if they've secured a player before she assumes that there is a stage for her performance.
Alika's sings a rather bawdy song about the behavior of sailors with attractive women at the ports, twisting the lyrics so that the women are just as capable predators hoping to divert the attention of the majority of the patrons.
Matt looks over as the beautiful woman starts with a song, enrapt for a second he almost spills his drink. Before remembering what he has come here to do. 'Wow, she can do bawdy almost as well as seductive or emotional.'
After a moment he leans over the bar and puts a hand out to ensure the barman notices him. With a smile and a silver; "Excuse me, I am meant to meet an Ionial Ustalic here tonight." His voice quiet against the melody in the background.
Alika: The shift manager informs you that there is a performer but he doesn't go on for another hour or so. You are welcome to try a song but will only be compensated with any tips you get. By the end of the song you have a good crowd around the stage clapping and hooting for another one. You continue on for a few songs each drawing more attention than the last. After the third song the manager calls you over to discuss having you back as a regular act.
Matt: You lean over to the bartender and ask your question. He looks a little confused and shakes his head. "Sorry mate, never heard of him." He turns back to pouring drinks.
Tearing his attention away from the very provocative song Alika is singing, Mangur scans the crowd for anyone who seems out of place, of acting in an odd way.
Failing that, he will descreetly inquire if anyone knows Ionial Ustalic, starting with this waitress, then moving on to those who he feels are 'regulars' here.
Matt leans forward across the bar, with a hand upon it. Underneath are Sails, which Matt lifts up his hand to reveal.
In a low tone he asks; "Are you sure Sir, good profit for you. He is expecting me." Matt will keep eye-contact with the barman to see if his eyes flicker around the bar to anyone in particular.
"Is there anyone else on tonight?" he asks drawing one coin from the pile towards the obilivious barkeep.
Alika follows the manager, a professional smile on her face. "And what manner of terms are you offering?" she inquires. "I must admit that this experience has not be wholly unpleasant."
Mangur: Perception: As you look around you see many people that are probably acting suspicious but that looks to be a common activity in this place. In fact you have seen so many hushed conversation over these tables today that you realize the reason none of the waitstaff have noticed you hanging out all day. They are very experienced in 'not noticing' the clientele.
Diplomacy: No one you immediately ask knows the name but it will take some time to canvas the staff and customers
The bartender looks eagerly at the coin. "I wish I could help sir, I really do. I could ask around, one of the waitresses might know him. But yeah, I'm the only bartender tonight, that bastard." The last part said mostly to himself.
Alika: The manager replies "Well we normally pay 3 Shields a night for two sets. I can get you booked for a weeknight and the owner will watch the show. If she's impressed, and I think she will be, you can work out a regular schedule with her. I know that if we have a particularly good night at the bar, she has been known to give the entertainment a bit of a bonus."
Matt nods his head, he picks up a coin and rolls it across his knuckles. "I was meant to be meeting someone tonight at 8." Matt looks to any clock . "Was there meant to be another man on tonight? Let me guess, he bailed?"
Placing the coin between two fingers he moves it towards the bar-tender.
"Oh, it's exactly that sir. Sent word that he came down with the flux, he did. I bet he came down with a leggy blonde if you understand." He winks knowingly at you "Your man may be here but I wouldn't know him."
Matt chuckles a low dirty laugh; "What your colleagues name, look like?"
"Here for you, maybe you can get yourself a blonde too. If anyone asks give us a heads up and point 'em over here." And Matt gives him a little wink.
Matt turns around to the bar after retieving the remaining coins. He looks as the waitresses rapidly flit from table to table. He looks around, sitting up straight upon his stool. 'Wow, I suddenly feel like bait. This could be very bad, but I cannot fail my employer now.'
"Who, Bert? He's a tall lanky fellow, always has a goofy grin on his face. Owner likes him, says he look friendly at the customers."
Matt (Perception): As you look around the bar you see a large group has gathered around the stage and is listening to Alika's performance. Of the people still seated, you see several that are by themselves but you don't have a good view of much of the tavern from here. You see that Mangur is also sitting at the bar, just a few seats down from you.
Matt stays seated and positions himself casually upon the stool, his foot tapping in synchronisation to the rhythm. He listens and looks around the room through the second song.
Duting the next song Matt moves towards a passing bar-maid, throwing a flirtatious smile he asks softly; "Has anyone been asking for Bert tonight, amongst your clientelle."
"Bert, that bastard. If you see him, you better tell him not to even bother coming back to work. Cause if I get my hands on him I'll... I'll... Aughh!" As she yells, stamps her feet, and storms off slamming a set of mugs down on a nearby table.
'Well at least everyone now thinks I know Bert, maybe Ionial will show his head.' Matt thinks positively as he moves back to his drink and takes another sip, hoping it didn't spoil Alikas' performance too much.
'What to do next?'
Alika licks her lips, and then gives a nod. "Very well then. Which night do you believe would be best?"
Alika: The manager closes his eyes, thinking intently "How about three nights from now, on Toilday night at 9pm." he nods confidently. "We don't have anyone scheduled for that night. It's usually a slow time but I know the owner will be in."
He turns fully to pay attension to the waitress, "Lead on, my dear." Matts' hip keeping a gentle line of contact between them, as she leads him away.
Mangur looks at the coin then towards Matt. He nod slightly and watches to see where he and the barmaid go. He will keep his eyes open for anyone else watching Matt.
"Of course, Ma'am." He reaches into his coin purse and takes out a Sail which he puts inside her hand. "I appreciate any help that you can give me."
Mangur: They haven't moved away from the bar.
The waitress backs away from Matt and says "If you be needing anything else sir, please let me know." she nods slightly and then moves off to a group of customers at a table.
Matt nods to the barmaid in thanks after a few seconds, he rises and moves over to Mangurs' stool. He starts to speak in a hushed tone, his body language dark. "Turns out the barman who was meant to introduce us to the man is 'sick'! The only person who has been asking questions around here is yourself. Now I am not sure, whether to stay here acting as bait. Asking convertly isn't working. The meeting should already be occuring; as you can see Alika is creating a distraction. We could try being more overt?"
A slow smile creeps across Alika's face. "A slow night, you say?" she hums, intensely interested. "I will do my very best to drum up support then," she says, and studies his reaction intently.
Alika: "Ah great, well if you come in a bit before your show I'll introduce you to the owner." You get the impression he's mostly interested in getting you in front of his boss. He may get a bonus or some kind of perk for bringing in new entertainment.
- Either the barman being ill is a coincidence & our contact is in here looking blindly for us.
- The barman has been taken out by another party which wants the rods, and to grab them from Ionial. In which case we need to act fast.
- Ionial has been removed already, along with the barman. In which case I am not sure what we can do?
- Or the seller has betrayed us and is going to make a grab for the money when we show up?
Matt concludes.
"Sorry just brainstorming, now we could walk around the bar and look at the people in the booths who are not watching Alikas' performance. Not sure how we would identify (the seller)I other than talking to them but...?"
"Perhaps we should seek out this 'sick' barman and actually determine if he is sick, or was paid not to show tonight, or perhaps, no longer among the living. How was the message of his illness relayed to the tavern? Something very fishy is going on!
Matt thinks for a second; "Well if you talk to that cute brunette waitress over there, she was angry with him. So I am sure that she knows where he spends the night" Matt says with a wink and subtly pointing at the first barmaid he talked to. "I'll see how the barman found out about it. See you in a minute."
Matt then shakes his head vigourously as if disagreeing with a negotiation. Downs his drink and puts it firmly down on the bar, he moves away to find the barman.
If/when he finds him; Matt orders another drink a heavy frown upon his face. "Well that didn't go too swimmingly. That bloke was about as much use as a chocolate teapot; it would be good if I could contact Bert? Did he send a boy to say he was sick? I don't suppose you know where Berts' place is." Matt says with a rueful shake of his head, he passes another Sail over for the drink and the information?
'Hmm at this rate I'll need expenses, or a sub' Matt thinks dryly.
Moving over to the maid Matt had indicated, Mangur smiles and asks, "So I hear Burt was treating you badly! That is a great shame, a beautiful lady like you deserves so much better. Maybe someone ought to go over to his place and 'talk' to him about his attitude."
Matt: the bartender looks at you listening to your questions and then sees your coin. "Oh, I'm not sure. You'll have to talk to the night manager. He's the one who sent for me to come in when Bert didn't show up. He's over there by the stage, talking to the singer." He points to a large, older man speaking to Alika.
Mangur: She looks you over for a second and replies "Aye, well I should have expected it from him anyway. No surprises with that one, no sir. But go see him, haven't you heard? He came down with the flux last night. Still can't get out of bed I hear. No way he's worth catching that over, no way."
Matt thanks the barman, picks up his drink and moves smoothly across to the night manager. Matt stands unobtrusively nearby until there is a lull in conversation between him and the night manager.
"Excuse me, marvelous performance by the way." Matt says professionally adressing Alika, the turns more towards the night manager not excluding her. "Sir, I heard that Berts' ill tonight. I'm Matt a friend of his. He was meant to be introducing me to a friend tonight; I don't suppose you can tell me how he informed you?" Matt asks politely.
'We are probalby barking up the wrong tree with this but... lets see about this manager'
He turns to you "Eh, what now. You? You don't look like the kind would be hanging around with Bert. Doesn't matter much tho, yeah he's out tonight. When he didn't show up for his shift, I send a lad round to fetch him. He came back sayin' that Bert was all bent up with the flux. So I send the boy back out to get one of the other bartenders to come in and cover."
Matt looks crest-fallen; "Well a friend of a friend. I'll have to ask around for this fellow then," Matt turns to leave, then turns his head back and says in a plan matter of fact tone. "I don't supose you would know Ionial Ustalic?" he watches the managers' reactions.
'This is dangerous and fool-hardy, but nothing chanced nothing gained.'
He furrows his brow and shakes his head "No, name's not familiar. Sorry." as he shrugs.
Mangur shakes his head violently, looking around wide-eyed as the echoes in his own mind begin to subside.
"What the hells was that!" he blurts out in a startled voice.
Alika pales, her stomach roiling, and begins trembling at the intrusion of the voice in her mind. Such an intrusion upon her will leaves her feeling vulnerable, and exposed. She hugs her stomach for warmth and pressure to avoid vomiting on the spot, excuses herself from the conversation with the manager and moves away from the south west corner of the room.
Matt shakes his head slowly, turning pale at the voice. He had been brought up that certain creatures should not be talked too, a cold shiver went down his spine. The seminary had benn very strict about such things, thats why his learning was always in secret.
He puts a hand on his ring; "Thank you, anyway." Matt says shakily he starts to moves away. Putting a hand upon a table, he steadies himself. 'Well I suppose that was the first time anyone used that name. Stupid.'
Matt moves cautiously towards the South-West side of the room, putting one hand to his head.