"I apologise for your disturbed sleep, but I can hardly be held accountable for the rabble pounding on the door can I?" Cedany smiles sweetly as she grabs a robe and her club and heads downstairs to see what unsociable creature has awakened her guests.
"Kaeldwar, why don't you and your guards come in and have a drink, while I go rouse the rest of the owners. I'm sure they have a better head for business than little ol' me."
Cedany smiles at the little halfling.
Tirkala cursed at hearing the pounding.
Okay, now what is going on?
She got up quietly, got dressed, and sighed as she stepped out into the hall, spotting Cedany.
Eh, why not? I'm bored anyway.
She quietly followed Cedany out, then frowned as she opened the door and heard who was speaking.
Well, he's here early. Sounds to me like he thinks he has something. Maybe I could... Then she remembered the conversation with Harrison. No. I'll be a good girl this time.
Then she smiled as Cedany mentioned rousing the others. I better keep an eye on him.
"M'lady, shall I tend to our guests while you get the other owners? I can make certain they have all they need to be comfortable. I know I am just a humble servant and not up to the task of serving a nobleman, but I shall endeavor to do my best to make up for my lowly station."
As she spoke, she reached up to ostensibly rub hair out of her eye, using only one finger above the eye and one below. It was her signalling that she is using deception.
Cedany rolls her eyes at Kaeldwar's request and nods at Tirkala, momentarily considering adding a little something extra to his drink. "I'll return momentarily, let me just rouse the others."
Cedany heads around to retrieve the other PC's
Tirkala raised an eyebrow at the man's request.
Oh, I think you'll find this quite expensive.
She then smiled. "Of course, m'lord. Our most expensive drink coming right up!"
She then grabbed a bottle of wine and some ale, filling a glass halfway with each, before putting them away to pull out a jar of spice; she couldn't remember what it was called, but it made the tongue feel like it's on fire. She added a single spoon of it, thought a moment, and then added three more before stirring the alcohol and spice concoction until the spice faded.
"Our most expensive drink! The one who created the recipe claims it's a dwarven concoction designed to keep you warm. It's called," she quickly switched to Dwarven for the name of the drink. "Fire Pants Sorrow."
Then, she switched back to Common. "People do not order it very often, and it's not on our menu. One of our secret drinks most people don't know about, given to very special or elite customers by their request. Most wealthy customers prefer our finest drink instead, but I must admire a customer with a truly refined palette who does not go for the more common preference."
I wonder if he will go for saving face by drinking it anyway, or order our finest drink?
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Cedany finds Martin still dead asleep, his internal alarm not set to awaken him for another half-hour still. After being awoken, he promises to be down shortly. Martin thinks to himself he is already awake, so may as well groom himself properly.
Martin spends the few rounds it takes to dry shave his head and face with one of his blades, donning his mithril armour and strapping his blades and any-tool to his side he goes down to go greet the others.
Passing through the kitchen and Using the tower shield as a large plate; Martin piles on cubed white cheddar, flat bread, spicy peppers, grapes and oranges as well as a large pitcher of cold milk.
Martin then takes a seat at a table that would put him, exactly 20' from the Halfling at the other table and starts to eat his breakfast while bluntly observing the Halfling and two guards. As he does sit down he points at his pitcher and plays along.
"I will be needing more of this lass."
When Tirkala comes over with a new pitcher, She will find one of his daggers in the "empty" pitcher if she has need of it.
Years of adventuring and then "keeper of the peace" responsibilities sees Osk normally sleeping in his armor as it was designed with one such as him in mind and rarely caused an issue. To Cedany's urgent awakening the oread simply rises and urges the innkeeper to return to the halfling.
I will get Mael and Harrison. It may be we don't want their presence known right away and I would not have you incur any more anger for your delay in treating with the man...
Assuming she agrees Osk will simply thump on his floor a few times and then move on to Mael's room.
When the elf answers the brawler keeps his voice low, The halfling is back. I wonder if you want to make your way downstairs but stay out of sight. I don't expect violence but I know if you have a bit of time to look the situation over unseen... Osk offers a shrug to finish his statement.
Once these things are done he will make his way downstairs.
When Osk calls on him to awaken, Mael is already dressed and prepared for the days activities. After hearing what Osk has to say, he quickly checks all of his weapons, and he begins to make his way downstairs.
I will indeed remain in the shadows, unless my presence is warranted.
Mael approaches the frontroom from the rear, through the now empty Gameroom. He syealthily cracks the door and moves down the short hallway to a vantage point where he can see the entire room without being seen himself.
I really need to talk to Osk about some peepholes to this room, with some possible arrow slits.
He studies the halfling and one of the guards carefully as potential targets from his hidden position.
Harrison would wake with a start as he hears his friend's large feet start to stamp upon the floor above. Groggily he would start to rub his eyes while the cogs in his head started to turn. He had been having such a good dream he would think to himself just before the truth of the situation dawned upon him. Something was amiss. He was far more tired than usual and Osk had seemed to stomp with a sense of haste.
With the innate grace of a halfling and years of honing his skills, Harrison would leap out of bed and rush to his dresser drawers, upon which his daggers laid. With practiced ease, he would slip a spring-loaded sheath upon each of his arms while slipping into his boots before taking the remaining two daggers and slipping one of them into each boot. Next, he would slip his magical sleeves onto his arms and watch as his nightgown changed to the garments of a nobleman as he runs his fingers through his hair.
He was not sure what the situation called for, but he knew that appearances could mean everything, so as he left his room, he quickly grabbed his jewelry and started to put it into the place as he made his way to the secret ladder and door that would take him up into the back of a store room.
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Upon making it upstairs, he would quietly make his way towards the front, while keeping his eyes and ears peeled for danger. As he moves, he almost unconsciously moves his right hand up to the butterfly birthmark that rests upon his cheek.
Mael simply shows himself and leans casually against the door frame to the main room.
Tirkala looked to Cedany once the woman returned.
"M'lady, shall I get some breakfast for yourself, m'lords, and our guests?" She smiles. "I can also retrieve anything you wish brought to help with the morning."
Harrison would turn on the balls of his feet with frightening speed. As he came around, a look of utter shock could clearly seen upon his face. Harrison had been truly offended by the words that were directed at him. "How dare you accuse me of trying to escape this meeting sir. I had no intention of running away I assure you and it hurts me deeply that a man of your stature would assume such of me. While I might have approached this meeting with caution, that can be explained with the simple fact that I was abruptly woken from my slumber unsure of what was going on. Thusly not knowing what to expect I tried to assess the situation to the best of my capabilities so that I might best judge how to proceed. Upon learning that we had a distinguished guest this morning, one that I am sure has little time to spare to a trivial establishment like our own, I found it prudent that I go retrieve a few things to help hasten our meeting so that a man like yourself could get back to more important matters. So if you still feel that I am up to no good, I more than welcome one of the fine guards that have come with you to escort me to my destination and back. With my situation explained, will you grant me my leave for a moment so that I might gather my things?"
Cedany returns, smiles and nods at Kaeldwar, determined to not let him bait her.
Mael simply stares at Kealdwar and shakes his head in disdain.
Tirkala smiled to what Kealdwar said.
"As you wish, m'lord. Just remember that if you need me, it was you who sent me out of the room."
On her way out, she grins.
I swear, this hateful little man is just too easy to fool.
She waits just outside the room, leaning up against the wall and examining her nails. She quickly shifts them to claw form and continues to examine them, this time with more interest. Right now, she's just enjoying not having to deal with him.
Mael glances over at Tirkala and rolls his eyes as he still leans in the door jamb with his arms crossed.
"Now we're all listening, care to explain why you felt the need to get this dealt with at this hour? Something come up?"
Cedany sits down, with her own glass of wine.
And is he lacking the court order and written warrant at this point in time?
Cedany glances over at Harrison, "You understand this better than I do".
"The crate idea is still on the table..." Tirkala whispers to Mael with a wink.
The corner of Mael's mouth twitches ever so slightly, and he leans in to whisper to Tirkals.
Or worse...
He resumes his stance leaning on the doorjamb, casually.
Osk (having probably sit himself opposite of the bar across from Martin) simply watches the halfling passively. Not the guards or the others, just the halfling. No intensity or malice. Just....watching...
Five. sir.
The oread doesn not expound on the statement or clarify. But he is clearly talking to Kealdwar.
Harrison had thought that Kealdwar might have been in some kind of trouble when he went to gather up the documents, however upon his return his gut told him that his assumption had been wrong and he was started to get agitated with the man again.
Without saying a word to Cedany, he would move to the table closest to Kealdwar and drop his collected materials upon it with a solid thud.
"Miss Cedany, if you don't mind, I would like to take a look at those documents."
As he speaks, he'll start unroll the copy of the documents that they were given the previous day before opening a book on the Laws of Absalom to a bookmarked page.
Then, with a kind smile, Harrison would turn his attention to Kealdwar while saying, "Sir, if you don't mind, I need to check to make sure that everything is to the letter. A process that I am sure will only take a moment considering that a gentleman like yourself will have made sure that all the t's are crossed and the i's dotted. None-the-less though, business is business and one must be prudent in such matters. Something I am confident that a respected public figure like yourself would agree to. Thusly, I welcome you to partake of a drink on the house, because while some might not appreciate the hard work that a civil servant does, I assure you that I do."
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"I would like you to arrest this Halfling, known as one Kealdwar for decept in performance of his duties, attempted robber, attempting to take advantage of my boss, Holding a grudge from decades ago and trying to take it out upon my mistress. And forcing all of us to be awake before the sun of Sarenrae even rises."
Martin stands up and approaches the scumbag pretending to be of noble birth, pulling off his Mithril gauntlet. Martin throws his gauntlet upon the table right infront of Kealdwar.
"I Martin, child of Gullis of the Harem of Vraj te'usta Na'Qadira, challenge you, and not your champion but you whelp, to a battle to the death. May Sarenrae's light shine upon you and grant you mercy.
Tirkala sighed, shifted her hands back to normal, then looked out to Kealdwar.
"M'lord, have you accounted for where the sixth owner is yet? The other serving girls tell me that woman has a rather draconic temper and that she once chased a customer out of here while holding gravy and shouting it was time for a roast." Tirkala smiled, though tried to make it nervous. "They even say she's a dragon in disguise! She frightens me, m'lord!"
And I might have just started a rumor that I'm a dragon in disguise. It scares me how easily I come up with these things.
And then she looks to Martin and tries her best to act like she's trembling, before she looks to the tax agent.
"M'lord, don't do it! I once saw him beat a customer into submission! Using their own fists! While singing a song about doing a day's work! And he sang it off-key just to torment them further!" She tried not to smile as she said the next bit. "No one would blame you for taking the coward's way out! He is such a beast in a fight, m'lord!"
I bet that'll have him accepting the challenge!
Upon witnessing the actions of Martin and Tirkal's additional bluffs, Mael smiles broadly, then stealthily walks slowly inside the door to the Mainroom and behind the bar to see how things play out. He gently leans bow against the back of the bar for easy access. He then leans forward, resting both hands on the bar within view so as not to alarm anyone who witnessed his movement.
Harrison's little hands would start to clench and unclench as his face goes red. A sight that Osk had only seen once or twice before. The Halfling might get agitated from time to time, but it was a rare occurance that he truly became over the top angry and those very habits came as a forewarning.
Upon hearing the guard speak up, Harrison's nerves would start to calm. He did not agree with the tactics used. He felt they were drawing far too much attention to their establishment and this incident would surely make it almost impossible to draw Kealdwar to their side. It could have been useful having such a diligent contact working in the system. Instead he would have to do his best to spin this off in a positive manner.
Motioning to the chair across from him, he would speak in a clam tone, "Kealdwar, perhaps you would like to take a seat. I suspect none of us will be going anywhere soon."
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chuckling softly to himself at the cowards refusal to accpect, Martin picks up his Gauntlet and slaps Kealdwar across the face.
"You don't exactly have a choice. You come here falsely accusing our mistress of failing to pay the taxes that she did, you awaken us before we even have time to pray at dawn. You are holding a grudge of some sort against her father, against her. I call you out. There will be posters and signs plastered upon this city's bulletins boards. Everyone will know that you are coward if you fail to meet me within dueling grounds at Noon tomarrow."
Martin for one is glad of the attention that this will bring to the Inn, I hope that our Lady can keep up with the new influx of customers that will be sure to come once the young guard gets to speak with his fellow recruits and drinkin buddies.
Tirkala relaxed the moment the guard spoke up.
Well, this is even better. May have the guy arrested.
And then Martin slapped him, causing her jaw to drop.
"Martin! By seven tax collectors roasting on a devil's spit... why did you do that? There was no need to slap him!"
Oh holy crap... this ism going to make things difficult!
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Martin reaffixes the gauntlet to this right hand and he walks back to his seat, speaking as clear as he can.
"When one is challenged to a duel, the formal procedure to for the challenger to slap the challenged to prove three things. One - that the challenged IS alive. Two - that the challenge IS real and no amount of bribery or lies or even cowardanceess will allow one to decline. Three - That the pain of the slap will never let the challenged forget why it was they were challenged."
Martin walks back to his table and takes a long pull from his mug of milk, before he continues.
"If I felt that the need was there, it would not have just been my gauntlet that I slapped him with. All here can tell from the pin's that myself and Osk bear that we can handle ourselves in a fight with the odds against us. If I wanted to just simply kill this.." martin gestures as a slave-owner would to dismiss a slave not worthy of even speaking to." ..man, he and the guards both would already be dead and I would have fled, but such is against the law here. So one such as myself would never attack anyone, Especially a noble officer of the Law in pursuant of their Proper Duties.
Martin runs his fingers through his precisely trimmed beard. "Perhaps Sar Kealdwar, this challenge will teach you the lesson your mother forgot to beat into you. Respect, Honor and Love. You have until the Captain of the Watch gets here to come over and kiss Lady Cedany's feet and beg her forgivness, and never do a thing to harm or cheat anyone again. If you do so, I will withdraw my challenge."
Mael cannot resist the urge to chuckle alound at Martin's antics.
Ha, ha, ha...oh, well done, young, honorable Martin. It is good to have you in our stead. Maybe our halfman tax collector can learn something from you and Lucky about how to properly conduct his business.
Osk rises steadily but slowly. Be that as it may Martin, warrior's enter of their own accord. It may be he refuses but I would never wish to see a man bullied to test mettle he does not feel the need to prove or is inadequate to provide.
Osk looks to the tax collector, still intense in his calmness. I pray you sit sir, and we see what leadership from the guards come. Clearly you feel that some injustice is being done just as we do. Tempers have flared on all sides and now honest men and women must all account for the trouble. The brawler gestures to everyone in the room including the agitated guardsman.
I think it best we each sit, sip our drinks and think on our roles in this situation so that we may each reach the satisfaction we desire when we are asked by those that are coming. Osk resumes his seat and sits to sip at his own mug.
As an afterthought the oread reaches over the bar and grabs the first bottle and glass he can find and pours a shot and gestures to Harrison, Lucky. The brawler points to the glass and the stool next to him.
Harrison's eyes would appear about ready to pop from his head as the sound of Martin's slap resonates through the room. "Mar...!" he would begin before being cut off by Osk. Upon hearing the big man's voice, Harrison starts to calm. However, it is clear to see he is still agitated by the fists he keeps his hands in.
After Osk suggests that Harrison join him at the bar, Harrison will rise and gather up the documents before making his way over. Once there, he will hand the book and stack of papers to Osk while asking, "If you don't mind, please put these up on the bar for me."
If Osk does so, Harrison will climb onto the stool and take a long swig of the drink Osk poured for him. It was clear he was not happy with the situation, but his mind was busy trying to think of how best to turn the situation to their advantage.
Osk wordlessly puts the documents in questions on the bar and pats the halfling on the back as he takes to the drink.
After taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, Harrison would spread some of the papers across the bar so he could start taking a look at them again. "This is not going to turn out well. These documents have nothing to do with us. I'm afraid we are going to make a fool of our friend here. While I'm sure it was a simple clerical error, I fear that the rest of his work might come into question," Harrison would say after taking another swig from his cup. With his back currently to everyone, but Osk, he would shoot the big man a look to allow him to know that he was back under control.