Gristav finds the kitchen dark and the stove unlit, but a fresh basket of baked goods is resting on one of the tables, so someone has passed through this morning. He feeds the cat and sets up his ice-making process uninterrupted.
As Samaritha studies her book, Braddon quietly studies Samaritha. He drinks in the sight of her, noting the small band on her delicate long ear, the tiny stud piercing through the side of her streamlined nose, the fine traces that follow the high curve of her cheek and the rune that rests placidly on her brow. He wonders if it has any magic in it and what it would be like to kiss it gently. He watches a tangled lock of honey hair drift to the corner of her red lips and resists the urge to reach out.
He glances back to Samaritha's packed bag and a heaviness settles across his chest. He breathes in the scent of the room and notes the distinct lack of damp musty fish. The silence around him seems to grow and he returns his attention to the beauty before him. He loses himself in her emerald green eyes and the way her lips move. It takes him a moment to realise he is being addressed.
"Sorry. What was that?"
"Well, I think I can trust you," he winks.
Braddon reads the note over carefully before passing it over to Samaritha.
Hammered velvet in a rudimentary pile, Phil exchanges it for his more well worn travelling clothes and re-girds himself in armor. Forcing his mind to focus on what occurred the morning yesterday gives him the certainty of thought that he was seeking and once garbed as though for the streets (bearing all bar his crossbow) he gives Ethel a last glance and smirk before emerging.
Fully garbed and girded Phillip slips silent from his room, cautious to close the door behind him. From there his path is direct and short, towards the stairs and above... to where likely Saul, Larur and whatever others await...
Rising up in the morning, Snake readies himself for the day. After going through his ritual with Lucky, he checks his gear and takes a deep breath. "Alright, Luck, let's see what kinda trouble this day is gonna give us." He heads out the door with his four legged friend sitting atop his shoulder this time.
Snake steps out of his bedroom into the hallway and shuts the door behind him. As he turns to head up the corridor, he sees Phillip doing the same as he exits his room.
Braddon,
The enclosed is an account of a vision I received while communing with the spirits of the Harrow. I will soon depart to investigate the inferences I have drawn from it, but I am leaving the details of my vision with you, in case I have misinterpreted it ... or lest I have interpreted it correctly but fall into the hands of those who are working against the Gold Goblin.
I implore you not to share this information with anyone already employed at the Gold Goblin before our arrival in Riddleport. I fear that the wretched Volo might not be Scarlet Lil's sole agent. Do not even reveal the content of the vision to Herr Vankaskerkin or Herr Felden; as owners of the casino, they may be under watch.
I hope I may return to the rest of you soon with helpful information, but it is also possible I may be found out by the Gold Goblin's enemies. If so, perhaps the rest of you may use the record of my vision to locate me, and Scarlet Lil's associates as well.
Malkith Deraythen
Noticing Serpe Phillip gives him a business like nod of acknowledgement and greeting... but does not linger in the hallway unless bidden to.
Snake nods in return as he continues on his way to breakfast, his mind on the task set before them by the young elf.
The pair, each distracted by his own thoughts, cross the casino floor, companionably if silently, on their way to the stairs. Entering the kitchen, they discover Gristav, stoking the stove while simultaneously dissuading a curious kitten from stalking stray sparks.
Braddon folds up the first note and opens the second, trying to sound casual.
"Hmm, we'll need someone else smart with you and Malkith gone. What do you think of Phil?"
The pair, each distracted by his own thoughts, cross the casino floor, companionably if silently, on their way to the stairs. Entering the kitchen, they discover Gristav, stoking the stove while simultaneously dissuading a curious kitten from stalking stray sparks.
"You catch the first of those, it will be your last. Just be careful none of them catch you.", Gristav is himself caught, cautioning the kitten.
"Gentlemen, good morning. This is Hero. He's been conjectured to be a gift from Malkith, for Sam, perhaps. He's also been mistaken for a rat, and then a goat. His actual provenance and provider are unknown, but I'm betting on cat, and Malkith. Not the greatest of the mysteries before us, but perhaps the gentlest. Although, one should hope not."
"The pastries have arrived, I'm starting heat for tea. If you want to go up, I'll stir the company when it seems less wasteful of their opportunity for slumber. How is our young friend this morning? What plan for frank discussion, with undesired ears, unpresent? I'll leave it to your wits, and what you two agree upon, I will support."
Fetching up the kitten to a cuddle and a chirrup, Gristav corrects himself, "We will support."
Tendal enters the kitchen behind Snake and Phillip. "Are you still on about that kitten?" he sighs to Gristav. "Why hasn't anyone carried the baker's goods upstairs yet? Mr. Vankaskerkin might be waiting for his breakfast." With a frown of mild reproof, he seizes the handle of the basket and heads for the stairs.
"I like him but I dunno if I'd go that far."
Braddon grins.
"And I suspect he's as much good as he is man. Again, doesn't mean I don't like him. Just wondering where he fits into all this and how much I should tell him about Malkith and this."
Ignoring the cat mewling in Gristav's arms Phillip responds only briefly on the second thought "Given he's asked nothing of me himself... yet... I'm inclined to let him tend his own affairs." before the passing of Magnimar gives him a slight reflective smirk and a reason to ride his wake northwards to the breakfasting.
A ship on a dark sea. It wheels toward me. Its prow a gaping maw filled with countless sharp teeth. In the mouth of the ship, peering out as from between bars, Scarlet Lil, neither afraid nor uncomfortable in the ship's jaws. A horned man with red skin and barbed tail approaches the bow and offers the crook of his arm. As if accepting an escort to dinner, she wraps her hand around his elbow and steps out of the ship's mouth.
"Just wondering where he fits into all this and how much I should tell him about Malkith and this."
"Out of everyone, Malkith trusted you," Samaritha points out. "I suspect that means he trusts your judgment as to how to share the information. If you're asking me...," she considers a moment. "It's easier to tell you who I don't trust: Thuvalia, obviously. And Bojasc. I wouldn't say a word to either of them."
"Mr. Hargreaves," Tendal nods politely to the halfling as he follows him up the stairs to breakfast. "We missed you at dinner last night. You've heard about Mr. Deraythen's and Miss Beldusc's departures?"
Tendal enters the kitchen behind Snake and Phillip. "Are you still on about that kitten?" he sighs to Gristav.
"One measure of a tree, is in how much comfort can be found in it's shadow.", Gristav replies, as if channeling ancient wisdom. "A man, might be similar. Or an half-elf."
"Why hasn't anyone carried the baker's goods upstairs yet? Mr. Vankaskerkin might be waiting for his breakfast." With a frown of mild reproof, he seizes the handle of the basket and heads for the stairs.
"Breakfast hasn't been taken up, because it's not yet a breakfast. Coffee. Is why.", Gristav offers. "And fire, is why, no coffee. And I don't know, is why, whoever took in the pastries, didn't start a fire. I've only been working to fix it. Seemed more productive than complaining..."
"Was it you?", Gristav accuses the kitten, his pointing index batted and bitten at. "Was it? Oh, say, you've got a good bite, there..."
Hero neither confirms nor denies the accusation of bringing in the pastries without lighting the stove.
Braddon looks at Samaritha reproachfully then continues on.
"That leaves Gristav, Snake, Phillip and... how's Dayn?"
"Don't forget Mr. Felden," she reminds him. "He seems to be quite responsible and trustworthy ... although he may be a little out of his depth dealing with all these layers of motivation and deception. Poor dwarf, he just wants to run a successful business and be let alone, but I'm afraid he chose the wrong partner for that. Not that I've anything against Mr. Vankaskerkin," she qualifies quickly; "he's been more than generous to me. But his past doesn't seem to want to stay in the past, does it?"
Snake stoically watches the scene between Gristav and the cat unfold - doing his best to not vomit. Simply shaking his head at the stupidness of it all, he says nothing as he makes his way upstairs.
Braddon nods sagely as if he hadn't just read that in a note moments ago.
"I'd better check Dayn before breakfast. Are you coming up to breakfast before you leave?"
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As he makes his way upstairs, "Do you believe how stupid that guy is, Luck? Talking to that animal like it's a person. I swear, some people are just freaks."
Tendal and Phillip arrive at the top of the stairs and head for the owner's suite. At the dining table, they find only Saul and Bojasc as of yet.
"Good morning, sir," Tendal greets Saul cheerfully, setting the bakery basket on the table.
"He doesn't like us, Hero.", Gristav nattered on gently, continuing, one-handed, to make what preparations might come before boiling. And how did that fall to me?, Gristav wondered unbitterly. "He doesn't like that we're talking. Well, I am talking. We knew he didn't like that. He likes it less, that I'm talking to you. But it's important, to talk to an infant. No disrespect intended, mighty Hero, ye banisher of rat, ye goat-omen..."
Judging at the remaining timing of the kettle, large enough for coffee and tea, Gristav leveled a last look at the kitchen, and went to knock on Larur's door.
"When you see Daynadrian, remind him to come to the Cypherlodge if he needs arcane help."
"Of course I'll remember. What's the Cypher Lodge like? Will they allow your kitten?"
"Good morning, sir," Tendal greets Saul cheerfully, setting the bakery basket on the table.
"Hm?" Saul looks over his shoulder at the doorway with a start. "Oh. Morning, lad."
Bojasc adds an uncharacteristic and unpleasant grin of welcome as Snake enters the owner's suite behind the pair.
Gristav's knock at the door of Larur's office yields only silence; the dwarf is apparently not at his desk. He must have a bedroom somewhere in the casino, but it only now occurs to Gris that he doesn't know exactly where.
Gristav's knock at the door of Larur's office yields only silence; the dwarf is apparently not at his desk. He must have a bedroom somewhere in the casino, but it only now occurs to Gris that he doesn't know exactly where.
"Yes, of course.", Gristav says to himself, scritching at Hero. "That would explain reference to the aged pastry. Well, further explain it. I thought it was him, all along..."
Deciding it was not too early to knock on doors, Gristav goes to the staff rooms. Expecting Thiuvalia's rush to the pastries might be a comfort to Dayn, Gristav begins with her door.
"Good morning. Pastries have gone up, coffee will be ready soon."
"My what?"
"Your kitten. Your room was locked so I left it in the kitchen. Did you find it?"
Braddon looks about uncertainly, then looks to Samaritha uncertainly."Umm... Do you want a kitten?"
Expecting Thiuvalia's rush to the pastries might be a comfort to Dayn, Gristav begins with her door.
"Good morning. Pastries have gone up, coffee will be ready soon."
From within comes a moment of silence, then a groan, then a soft phlumph on the opposite side of the door, as if someone has just thrown a pillow at it.
"A bit kinder to the furnishings, please.", Gristav calls through the door, a smile in his voice, he hoped, to match the one on his face. Grinning broadly, he said as if in reply, "And no making faces!" Enjoying his imagined victory for a beat, he then allowed, "I expect there'll be something left, whenever you get there...", letting his voice declare, his stepping away.
Counting off the doors and residents left, Gristav next knocked on Braddon's.
"So that's what.... Gristav's been talking about a kitten, but I haven't seen it. He thought Malkith left it, for some reason."
"It didn't seem to have a home. I figured you might want some company. Since you'll... when you... I mean... I..."
Braddon pauses, then steps forwards and wraps his arms around Samaritha.
Snake walks in keeping to himself as he looks for the breakfast. Once located, he'll grab himself a plate of food and find a place to sit before eating.
Tendal sets the basket of breads and pastries on the table before taking the seat at Saul's remaining right hand. "Someone brought in the delivery from the bakery but neglected to carry it upstairs," he informs him, a faint crease in his brow as he wonders of whom he should be disapproving. "Mr. Felden's protégé is heating the kettle for tea and coffee."
As she returns your hug, you hear a faint rapping at a door: not Samaritha's, but most likely yours across the hall.
Gristav passes the four rooms he knows to be empty (Malkith's, Tendal's, Snake's, and his own) and raps at Braddon's door, pausing to ascertain if the normally late-sleeping half-elf is awake yet -- or, indeed, if he ever made it home from his Fireday night out.
"Ah, like as not, Braddon is still in prettier company than us.", Gristav explains to his wingkit. "But, not for long, I'd guess. Here's an introduction, long overdue..."
Knocking gently enough not to startle in mid-study, Gristav speaks through the door, "Samaritha, I'm sure you're welcome at breakfast. The pastry has gone up, the coffee water is warming. We're in some disarray, but, that only gives us longer, to say farewells, and see to welfares..."
Knocking gently enough not to startle in mid-study, Gristav speaks through the door, "Samaritha, I'm sure you're welcome at breakfast. The pastry has gone up, the coffee water is warming. We're in some disarray, but, that only gives us longer, to say farewells, and see to welfares..."
"Just a moment," Samaritha's voice calls through the door.