After a rather rough start to her night Sia managed to finally get some sleep with her sister in the bed with her bringing reassurances and keeping the nightmares away. When she finally awoke the next morning the two women got ready and ate a hot breakfast. When Sia was ready to go she said, "Val, let's go check on Khonnir then I need to meet the others so we can finish trying to fix the Torch." She glanced back towards her room and asked, "Take care of my egg for me again please?"
Seeing that it looked like rain Sia grabbed an umbrella her Papa had invented and headed to the temple where he was resting. She entered the temple and found one of the acolytes, asking him to show her to where Khonnir was resting at. When she got to her father she looked in to see if he was awake quietly, she didn't want to wake him if he was getting some much needed sleep.
Having finished her breakfast and visiting Papa Sia went to the place that made the most sense to find the others, Celen's home. When she arrived she knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered.
Being the closest to the door Inlé jumped awake when he heard the knocking. Moving to the door he grabbed his sword before hopping up and checking through the windows (or peephole of the door possessed one). Seeing that is was Sialea he put his sword away and jumped up onto the door knob to unlock and turn it by bracing his feet against the wall before openeing it as he fell back to the ground.
"Hey, Sialea!" he greets his friend. The Lashunta is easily able to tell that he is much more plush and plump than when he was traveling with them.
Val agrees to take care of your egg while you're gone again.
When you reach the Temple of Brigh, you're quietly guided to Khonnir's cot. He's completely asleep, but the pained expression on his face suggests that whatever dreams he's having are unpleasant.
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Sia saw and felt her father's nightmare's for herself, she had a deep connection to him and Val both, and she did her best to project comfort to him for a short time before leaving again and letting him get his sleep, regardless of how poor a sleep it might be.
As Inle opened the door for her Sia tried to figure out how that worked and said, "Well, I'm kind of surprised you managed that but nicely done Inle. I never really thought about the effort it would take you to open a normal sized door," she winced at the unintended slight, "Well normal sized for most people. I guess the definition of normal varies from person to person huh?" She called out to the others inside and asked, "Celen, may I enter?"
Inlé shrugs, if it had bothered him he didn't show it in his whiskers. "Yeah, pretty much. Normal for me is probably weird for you. Don't worry about it, I am a small bunny in the human's world. I am aware of this... we didn't have have doors back in the warrens anyway. Besides, it's kinda fun at times, trying to figure out how to make everything work for you. Like a puzzle. At times. But anyway, it helps me work off everything I ate last night, Miss Hepzibah is such a good chef..." the bunny swoons.
"I think I'm the only one up right now." he says after she calls out.
He came down the stairs with a smile and called back softly of course.
"Of course you may Sialea, after all we have much to discuss. I'll set tea to brew of course."
He began heading to the kitchen.
Edynn awakens, swiftly remembering where she is. Getting up and getting dressed, she makes her way to the living room. "Good morning everyone."
"Morning, Edynn. Celen is making tea." Inlé happily says.
Sialea nodded and said, "Thanks, it's rather wet out here." She turned and backed into the house as she held the umbrella outside and carefully folded it down, then closed the door and propped the soaking wet umbrella near it so she wouldn't trail water through the house. that finished she slipped off her shoes so she wouldn't track the mud in and came in to sit on a comfy looking couch in the living room. Sialea's clothing was just as sparse as normal and as normal she didn't seem in the least self conscious about it. "The tea smells good Celen," Sia said as she crossed her knees, "what kind are you making?"
"Tea is rather nice. I see it's raining outside. I rather like the rain." Edynn says sitting on the couch as well.
"It is rather nice, when you can watch it from somewhere."
You would have to ask the lady of the home that, I think its some kind of green tea infused with jasmine.
He replied as he entered the room with a large wooden tray several cups, a small container of honey and of course the hot kettle on the tray. Once everyone had a cup like a good host he poured of course.
"There are a few courses of action we could take next but my biggest concern is those vouchers from that ...what did you call it Inle? A Cassino?"
He began leaning against the wall with his cup of tea.
"Yeah, Casino, it's a fancy name for a gambling den." Inlé replies after he gets his tea.
Once everyone has had a nice cup of tea and some breakfast, it's time to investigate Silverdisk Hall.
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Raindrops patter down upon the streets of Torch as the party moves. There aren't that many people out and about, and the few that are have dressed themselves in thick clothing to keep the rain off of them.
The Silverdisk Hall comes into view as the party rounds a street corner in the western part of town. The building itself is a two-story one, made of grey wood and with a stone tiled roof. The building's many windows blaze with light and merriment, and a couple of patrons can be seen in various states of intoxication through them. The entrance to the building is a set of double doors guarded by two men, dressed in studded leather and with lengths of rope tied around their hands.
"T suppose we should just hand them out invitations?" Edynn asks her companions.
Inlé's wolf skull nods to Edynn's suggestion before heading over to the bouncers. "We got sent these." he says as he holds up his invitation.
As they left Celen's house to continue their work Sialea was startled to find they weren't heading right back to the water to go back into the section of ruined ship. "Why are we heading here," she asked in surprise at their destination, "we need to go back down and try to re-light the Torch."
"Ah yes, I hadnt mentioned it yet Sialia, sorry i forgot you werent with us. You see this slime of a man I believe has ties to the local thieves guild. On top of that, there have been rumors of well him having something to do with the torch going out... after all his business has certainly boomed since then. With your father... our best expert on what has happened underneath the town and the torch going out not recovering enough... to help us with at least what he knows, this is certainly an avenue to check before we delve below again."
He said catching her up to speed.
The larger doorman, a swarthy-skinned human with closely-cropped brown hair and a vicious scar running down his cheek, arches an eyebrow at Inlé as he presents the invitations. The other doorman, a weedier man with blond hair tied back into a ponytail, nods and moves to open the door. "Welcome to the Silverdisk Hall then, sir. Enjoy your stay."
The interior of the Silverdisk Hall is considerably better decorated than its exterior--the walls are made of carved mahogany, the floors carpeted with fine maroon felt. The lighting in the room is provided by several wall sconces with glowing balls of warm orange light in them. Several tables are clustered together within walking distance of a long, low bar on the northern end of the main room. Patrons of many races and walks of life are crowded into this place of risk-taking and recreation, some of them drinking and cheering. A few gambling tables are in the western portion of the room, down a flight of stairs into a green-carpeted section. The staff here are dressed differently compared to the bouncers--a white shirt, black pants, black vest and black tie for the men, and a white shirt, black skirt & low-cut black vest for the women.
Standing with his back to the front doors is a man with handsomely-groomed brown hair tied into a long braid and well-oiled studded leather armour, his hands folded behind his back. He turns as the doors open, revealing a pale face that seems to be set into a smirk. His beard is tightly trimmed to his jawline, and his goatee & moustache are trimmed to match. His smirk widens as he sees who's entering his establishment.
"Welcome, welcome! The Silverdisk Hall's doors are always open, especially to the daring men--" He glances at Celen. "--and fine young women--" He throws a glance in Sia's direction. "--who've been commissioned to breathe life back into the Torch."
"So... Celen? How's your wife been doing?" He flashes a little smile, his white teeth shining in the light.
As the man speaks, Edynn's eyes sweep across the casino, taking in both the place, it's patrons, staff and owner.
As they enter the odd building Inlé steps back and forth on the strange floor. "Soft"
... how long has he been standing there waiting to do this? he thinks to himself as the man gives his dramatized greeting.
He tries to look around the room from his unique viewing angle, but he is too distracted by the feel of the floor against his paws.
Celen wasnt really a violent person. In fact he did his best to be calm and peaceful.... but something about that man's grin just made him want to punch him in the face.... hard. He took a moment and a deep breath gripping the edge of his pants to keep from clenching his fists.
"She is...as well as one in her condition can be. Quite Irrascible some mornings..
He pulled out the voucher to give his hands something to do beside throttle someone.
"Business has picked up,it seems."
He said with a smile... one that was all teeth and probably not genuine.
Celen wasnt really a violent person. In fact he did his best to be calm and peaceful.... but something about that man's grin just made him want to punch him in the face.... hard. He took a moment and a deep breath gripping the edge of his pants to keep from clenching his fists.
As the others explained why they were going to Silverdisk Hall and it's possible connections to the cause of the Torch going out Sialea nodded and said, "Ah, that makes sense then. She looked on the place with interest when they entered, noticing the garments that were being worn, and was amused. She knew they had the women wear such things because it was considered "sexy" but she found that they were far too clothed for that. Maybe the fact that her own clothing was sparser than theirs had something to do with it, clothing she wore not because it was "sexy" but because she was more comfortable that way. Oh she'd tried to wear more at one time when Khonnir complained but found she got far too hot far too quickly and so reverted to what was comfortable.
As they were greeted by the pale man Sialea noticed the seeming barb directed at Celen. She also noticed that Celen took offense at the man asking about his wife that way and made a mental note to ask about it later. She looked at the apparent host of this place and said, "I don't think I've met you before and you seem to know us already."
"Yes. How is that?" Edynn asks pointedly.
...except you notice a shifty-looking young man dressed in green trying to lift a purse from a burly and drunk-looking half-orc at one of the dice tables.
"Business has picked up, it seems."
"Aye, that it has. Pity about what happened to the Torch, but it's the least I can do for folks around here--providing them an escape from their newfound worries." The groomed man shrugs a bit. "Well, give Hepzibah my best regards when you see her again, eh? And tell her no hard feelings from me, if you would."
"I don't think I've met you before and you seem to know us already."
"Yes. How is that?"
"Word about the lot of you being the latest expedition to go under the Torch gets around quickly." Garmen glances over at Sia (his eyes looking a bit lower than her face before snapping back to her eyes). "And when ol' Khonnir was hauled back into town from whatever hole he found himself in? Folks can't stop talking about it."
"Heroes like yourselves oughta take a chance to unwind after putting in that much work." He hitches a thumb over his shoulder. "Just hand those vouchers of yours in at the exchange office over there--Rylinn will take care of the rest."
"Do you know that there are people stealing in your establishment?" Edynn asks the man. "You're soon going to have a very angry, very violent patron to deal with."
Ooo, fightfightfight, Inlé thinks to himself as he quickly looks around trying to find the soon to be violence.
His eyes narrowed at the way Hepzibah's name just casually rolled off the man's tongue. Another deep breath. Thankfully Edynn brought something up that perhaps took his mind off his problems. Like Inle' he looked about for the trouble.
Garmen looks over his shoulder as Edynn points out the thief at the tables. His eyes narrow and he gives a subtle nod to a couple of nearby bouncers, who start converging on the man.
"Rest assured, thieving is not tolerated in these walls. He won't be a problem anymore." He turns back to the party and spreads his hands wide. "Please, don't let that little incident dissuade you from having a good time at the Silverdisk Hall. The floor is yours to enjoy."
His declaration is punctuated by several meaty-sounding punches and yelps of surprise and pain as the would-be pickpocket is abruptly introduced to Mr. Ulreth's no-stealing policy and dragged off the gambling floor.
Inlé winces slightly as he sees the pickpocket dealt with, before abruptly looking up to Edynn. "Anything you want to play first?"
Sia nodded in understanding as the man explained how he knew them. It didn't surprise her really and actually made a great deal of sense. She smirked slightly as she noticed his eyes shifting lower before snapping back up to her eyes. She may not care about the fact most people thought she was undressed by most standards but she still found the reactions somewhat amusing. With the way the man reacted to her Sia realized that she might have a chance to learn if he knew any information about the torch going out, a better chance than the others anyway.
As the others wandered off with their vouchers Sia stayed behind and asked, "How has your business been Garmen? Has the torch going out hurt it any?"
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Um, okay, just signal back to us if you need help, how close by should we stay?
... can you even hear me or is it just a one-way thing? Hello? Is this thing still on?
"How has your business been Garmen? Has the torch going out hurt it any?"
Garmen grins at you and sweeps an arm around the expansive gambling hall. "Certainly not. Before, I've only attracted ruin raiders, scavengers, and the occasional itinerant gambler. Nowadays, more and more people are bringing in plenty of gold to spend."
"I'm considering expanding the building somewhat with all the profit I've made." His tone is filled with self-congratulatory pride.
Sia looked at the place as Garmen swept his arm around at the place. "It's quite nice," she said, "I'd be wary of expanding much though. With the torch out the trade will soon dry up and the town will die leaving you with no customers at all." She reached out and lay her hand on his upper arm as she leaned in and said, "Still, I'm glad that you're doing so well."
Garmen shrugs. "Ehh, if business keeps up like this, odds are I'll have enough money to start over elsewhere, if worst comes to worst. Of course, if we've got daring young explorers like yourself..." He smirks at you as you lay a hand on his arm. "...on the case, I think I'll be in good hands nevertheless."
"Still, I'm glad that you're doing so well."
"Indeed." He glances up the wooden stairs leading to the second floor. "I've even managed to make myself an office worthy of my success."
Knowing she needed to get Garmen to get used to her presence before she tried anything to get information from him Sia glanced up the wooden stairs as he gestured to where his office was and said, "I'd be interested in seeing your more of your establishment." She gave him a coquettish smile, "If you'd be willing to give me a tour of course, maybe even a private tour?"
Garmen grins at you and sweeps an arm around the expansive gambling hall. "Certainly not. Before, I've only attracted ruin raiders, scavengers, and the occasional itinerant gambler. Nowadays, more and more people are bringing in plenty of gold to spend."
Because people are becoming desperate you conniving f~$!, Inlé bitterly thinks as he walks off with Edynn. He wasn't as interested in gambling any more.
Garmen offers you his arm. "Aye, that I could, since you've asked so nicely."
He then begins to lead you up the stairs and away from the main gambling floor.
The exchange office isn't an office, so much as it's a booth with a chain mesh separating its occupant from the rest of the gambling hall. There's a wooden desk behind the chain mesh, and several cubbyholes behind the mesh as well. Standing at the desk is a young, blonde woman in a low-cut white shirt & black vest, a smile as bright as it is insincere on her face.
"Welcome to the Silverdisk Hall, ladies and gentlemen. How many silverdisks shall I issue for you?"
Sia accepted Garmen's arm when he offered it and allowed him to lead her away towards the stairs. She knew she'd likely be trying to stave off his advances once there but if it got them the information they needed it would be well worth it. She gave him a delighted grin and said, "Thank you, this should be interesting."
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He frowned watching Sialea's reckless (in his mind at least, in fact it was eeriely simular to the very thing he thought his wife had tried though she denied it of course... he just hoped it ended better for her. At the cashiers cage the very first thing Celen did without realizing it was let his eyes wander her... not for any lewd purposes... he was looking for any signs of bruising or neglect.
"We have these vouchers... tell me, what games do you suggest?"
He asked awkwardly still not comfortable in this place.
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Edynn smiles slightly watching Inle, while mentally 'listening' for amy sign of a distress call from Sia. "Yes, I have one as well."
"I wonder what we should play first?"
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"We have these vouchers... tell me, what games do you suggest?"
The staffer takes the offered vouchers (while stifling an adorable giggle at Inlé constantly hopping up and down to offer her his). "Well, upstairs, we have slots, and down here we have card tables for blackjack, Alkenstar Hold 'Em... the roulettes, and a dice table over there." She points to the southwestern corner of the room.
"Personally, I'd go for the dice table." Rylinn says as she offers the would-be gamblers a packet of ten silverdisks each, all of them stamped with an image of a grinning man in black ink.
Garmen leads you up the stairs, and the sounds of raucous patrons give way to the sounds of ringing bells and strange mechanical tones. Arrayed against the walls are several grey boxes with red levers attached to them, their fronts brightly lit and covered in rapidly moving images of fruit, flames, numbers and occasional words. A slot at the bottom of the machines occasionally disgorges silverdisks stamped in black ink, but more often than not they sit empty, to the barely-noticed irritation of the patrons using them.
The owner comes to a fine mahogany door flanked by two burly men in studded leathers with ropes tied around their fists, and he nods at them. They don't stop him as he opens the door and ushers you inside.
The interior of the room is lavishly furnished, in contrast to the blend of utilitarian and decorative wall hangings and carpets of the common room and upstairs machine room. A stately bookcase sits against one wall, stacked with books from top to bottom. A large painting sits behind an ornately carved maple desk; the painting depicts a group of Kellid warriors armed with spears and axes racing to attack a massive, metal monster that resembles a scorpion. The metal scorpion has a bright red eye, and its tail is firing what appears to be a fireball, kicking up a great deal of dirt in the picture's wasteland background.
"You've seen our slot machines, our common room, and now... my office." Garmen pulls up a chair for you and settles in behind his desk. "What do ya think?"