Long moments pass. "Is it fair, then, to say, the priestess is less the servant, of the Goddess, and more, the student? That the Goddess, more the exemplar, and less, the benefactress?"
"Can we discuss theology later?" Daynadrian asks, tugging at the sleeves that don't quite cover his wrists and looking around at the people on the bustling morning streets self-consciously. "For now, I'd just like to focus on finding out Shorafa's conditions and figuring out what we can do to meet her demands." While an elf child is probably not a common sight on the streets of Riddleport, he isn't actually drawing the attention he seems to dread he is, as if every passing laborer on his way to work or matron out shopping knows his humiliation.
They pass the Mystery of the Gate and cut through a narrow alley in the line of buildings separating them from the House of the Silken Veil. They can see the rooftop garden atop the imposing building before they actually round the corner to the open-air plaza in front of the temple. At this time of the morning, there are already a handful of girls on display, smiling and waving invitingly at the passersby. Daynadrian ducks behind Snake, using the tall man to shield himself from view as they approach. "I don't want Rose to see me like this," he hisses. "Look and see if she's there: human girl, red-blonde hair."
At Daynadrian's request, as well as his own reticence to expound upon his own worship, Phillip speaks no more of the Savored Sting and transits the remainder of their journey in relative silence.
The juvenile elf's pantomine of embarrasment arriving at the Silken Veil however draws both a sarcastic laugh and caustic words from him "You're embarrassed a whore might see you? Trust me in hearing that she wouldn't give a sh1t what you look like as long as there is coin in your hand. Either pull yourself together and act like the elf you're trying to get turned back into... or I'll call her out myself." letting the threat hang.
Phil does look over the girls present though, seeking a familiar face from those he knows to work... Anakinyi if possible, or Taffy at a pinch.
"I was in Shorafa's chamber when we last met. It was just an office really and didn't have guards if I remember. I'd say she has guards somewhere. Dull square room. Very bare. The baths would be more pleasant. She could probably just order us up there naked anyway and we'd have helped any guards search us." Braddon shrugs.
At Dayn's description Braddon looks at him quizzically.
"Rose? Rosamund? Wasn't she the one who got in trouble yesterday What did you do?"
"Baths sound soothing, and set aside any pretext. We are at the lady's leisure, we may as well be at our own..."
At Dayn's and Braddon's coincident cognizance, Gristav grouses, "Ah, yes, do let's review the circumstances here. We've only had the night entire."
Approaching the nearest nubile, Gristav smiles genuinely. "Miss? Which way, to the baths? Just the baths, I think. We're to meet with the lady, responsible for him, but he didn't know when, and I'd rather be at my best." An empty hand guides her eye over Dayn, then slowly (so it might be met, and meet) takes her own. Bowing at the hand and the woman with momentarily closed eyes, the half-elf concludes, "I am Gristav."
Phillip watches Gristav walk to the nearest whore he can see, and after listening to the words that spill from his mouth pauses for a slight moment before physically facepalming and shaking his head.
"Look and see if she's there: human girl, red-blonde hair."
Any of the party who grant his request can spy only one likely candidate: a redhead in a light summer dress on the far side of the plaza.
At Dayn's description Braddon looks at him quizzically.
"Rose? Rosamund? Wasn't she the one who got in trouble yesterday What did you do?"
"In trouble?" he repeats sharply. "What do you mean? You don't think Shorafa did this to her too?"
Braddon shrugs.
"I just heard from my... contact... that Rosamund had been one of Shorafa's favourites. Until yesterday. Didn't really pay much attention."
Braddon looks around warily and tries to move to place Snake between himself and the redhead on the far side of the plaza.
"We should move in before we attract the attention of the guards."
He tries to motion Snake forward with a nod of his head.
Approaching the nearest nubile, Gristav smiles genuinely. "Miss? Which way, to the baths? Just the baths, I think. We're to meet with the lady, responsible for him, but he didn't know when, and I'd rather be at my best." An empty hand guides her eye over Dayn, then slowly (so it might be met, and meet) takes her own. Bowing at the hand and the woman with momentarily closed eyes, the half-elf concludes, "I am Gristav."
The young woman stares back at him with a complete lack of comprehension. "Baths are inside. Ask at the desk. Unless you're wanting me to go for a dip alongside; then I'll come in with you." She looks over at the rest of the group, where Dayn is successfully hiding behind Snake. "Each of you pays separate; you can't all pitch in to hire one girl, you know." Her eyes wander to locate the nearest black-clad guard, in case the group is about to make trouble.
"I don't want Rose to see me like this," he hisses. "Look and see if she's there: human girl, red-blonde hair."
"I got ya, kid." Snake looks around attempting to spot said girl.
Stepping in to salvage the conversation from Gristav's start Phillip smooths "Don't mind him, he's not often near a whorehouse." slipping his hand within his shirt to liberate his three-daggered symbol of Calistria.
"What he meant to say we'll take a private bath - no need for an attendant but you can send word to Shorafa that A young elf and his associates have come as requested. She can come down to the baths to talk." pausing to ensure that all the words were heard and understood before adding "Should I still go through to the desk?" and making it clear that Phil was offering the courtesan a choice of either being peripherally involved in whatever business they had with Shorafa (even if only as an errand runner) or fobbing them off to another.
Snake looks around attempting to spot said girl.
Any of the party who grant his request can spy only one likely candidate: a redhead in a light summer dress on the far side of the plaza.
The woman looks startled when Phil produces his holy symbol, and her tone immediately shifts from businesslike to deferential. "I'm sure that's above my place, sir, to know the high priestess's schedule; I'm just a working girl. You speak to them that's inside at the desk, and they'll be able to guide you right, sir."
Putting his holy symbol back within his shirt Phillip nods and gives the lass a smile "Fairly said" looking to move off within to the bath's desk before catching himself and pausing. Turning to Gristav he queries "Unless you'd prefer she keep her schedule available for you when we're finished Gristav? I'm sure she'd be happy to fit you in..."
Regardless of Gristav's response, Phillip looks to take point and lead the others onwards and within.
"Far side of the plaza, bub," he tells the young elf under his breath as he keeps an eye on the woman. "She's not paying any attention, let's go." He starts to make his way inside with the others before abruptly stopping and looking to the woman the others were speaking to. "If it makes you feel any better, I would've just walked on in without wasting my breath on you. The small one and the Gristav one just like to hear themselves talk," he tells her in a matter of fact tone before continuing on his way inside.
Braddon follows the others inside.
Stepping in to salvage the conversation from Gristav's start Phillip smooths "Don't mind him, he's not often near a whorehouse."
"True enough!", Gristav agrees.
---
The woman looks startled when Phil produces his holy symbol, and her tone immediately shifts from businesslike to deferential. "I'm sure that's above my place, sir, to know the high priestess's schedule; I'm just a working girl. You speak to them that's inside at the desk, and they'll be able to guide you right, sir."
Putting his holy symbol back within his shirt Phillip nods and gives the lass a smile "Fairly said" looking to move off within to the bath's desk before catching himself and pausing. Turning to Gristav he queries "Unless you'd prefer she keep her schedule available for you when we're finished Gristav? I'm sure she'd be happy to fit you in..."
Regardless of Gristav's response, Phillip looks to take point and lead the others onwards and within.
Gristav is framing his response when Snake makes his:
"If it makes you feel any better, I would've just walked on in without wasting my breath on you. The small one and the Gristav one just like to hear themselves talk," he tells her in a matter of fact tone before continuing on his way inside.
"How can that make her feel better?", Gristav hisses, pirouetting slack-jawed in shock, to follow Snake's exit. Turning back to the lady, Gristav regrets, "I am sorry, to have wasted your time. You are, lovely. I simply have... other plans."
"Good... hunting?", he guesses, before rushing to keep en bloc with the others.
Braddon looks to Dayn, Snake and Gristav.
"I think it would be best if we let Phillip do the talking. He's got a holy thing. He knows their ways. He speaks... um... whore."
Braddon nods helpfully.
"All of which might have been discussed, during the planning we didn't do.", Gristav says, otherwise agreeing.
Phillip maintains point towards the internals of the House as he replies "I'll talk us into the meeting... but it's Shorafa who needs to do the speaking first. Depending on what she's asking it may be a decision for each, all or none of us to make." silently knowing that he couldn't expect to control whatever conversation flows within... and a part of him saw more opportunity in chaos than control.
The party approaches the nearest of the temple's three entrances, an open portal whose only door is a diaphanous yellow curtain, fluttering lightly in the morning breeze. As they step through into a wide hallway papered in scarlet and gold, the ambient smells of the river and the street are overwhelmed by the more immediate scents of incense and perfume.
Following the corridor into the heart of the circular building, the party enters a central lounge, scattered with cushions and statuary. The walls are hung with tapestries and set with just enough oil lamps to keep the room comfortably dim, while a small fountain plashes soothingly in one corner. Behind a small desk, a halfling with pale blond hair the same color as the young Daynadrian's awaits like an attentive concierge; he is clearly standing atop a stool or stepladder to see comfortably over the top. He nods companionably to Phillip. "Pleasure to see you again, Phil."
Phillip is somewhat surprised to see the halfling attendant but he covers it reasonably well. Returning the nod with a smile he adds "I would hope it will be pleasure Pip, though I wouldn't commit at this point. As yet, business calls more strongly." as he mulls over his previous encounter with the slip and also the words he shared with Ethel as well. His mind connects now the halfling's slip of paper, Taffy's potential involvement as well as Ethel's misplaced embarrassment and he makes a mental note to address the personal concern once the Goblin's business is resolved.
Cutting through the chaff he dives straight for the wheat in clipped and precise tones "Shorafa has called, we have come... We'll take a private bath and she can join us there." a side glance to the young Daynadrian clearly indicating that he is the matter to be discussed and resolved. "I trust you know what matter this is referring?"
Braddon looks to Dayn, Snake and Gristav.
"I think it would be best if we let Phillip do the talking. He's got a holy thing. He knows their ways. He speaks... um... whore."
Braddon nods helpfully.
"Fine by me."
Cutting through the chaff he dives straight for the wheat in clipped and precise tones "Shorafa has called, we have come... We'll take a private bath and she can join us there." a side glance to the young Daynadrian clearly indicating that he is the matter to be discussed and resolved. "I trust you know what matter this is referring?"
"Not doing no bath, Raccoon." Snake says resolutely, fixing the halfling with an unwavering stare.
Without even taking his eye off Pip, Phillip replies to Serpe dismissively "So don't get wet."
"Shorafa has called, we have come... We'll take a private bath and she can join us there." a side glance to the young Daynadrian clearly indicating that he is the matter to be discussed and resolved. "I trust you know what matter this is referring?"
The halfling's eyes slide to the young elf. "Only enough to know to expect a group bringing in an elf child," he replies slowly. "Didn't know you had anything to do with it, Phil. No children in the baths with consenting adults; Shorafa won't allow it."
"I'm not a child!" Daynadrian snaps angrily.
"I'm sure you've lived more years than I have," Pip replies placidly. "Nevertheless."
"He isn't a child, for all it seems his good sense has been wrung from his shrunken head like so much water from a sponge. He's fully-grown, and freshly-shrunk. Shorafa was to... help with his restoration. But of course, you can't take our word for it, so you and Snake win the hand. We'll not separate, so, there'll be no baths. Pity, might have been relaxing. I'd heard... they can be? Wait- consenting? We weren't any of us consenting..."
"I'm sure you've lived more years than I have," Pip replies placidly. "Nevertheless."
"He's taller than you too," Braddon points out helpfully.
"Didn't know you had anything to do with it, Phil. No children in the baths with consenting adults; Shorafa won't allow it."
Quipping to Pip's statement "I don't... but I'm here regardless." before waving off the second statement made "Fine, did she leave instruction as to where to corral us until she saw fit to grace us with her presence?"
Without even taking his eye off Pip, Phillip replies to Serpe dismissively "So don't get wet."
"Just so we're clear."
As the talk turns to the rules of the bath, "Works for me, bub. Now we can deal with this directly and get it over with instead of wasting our time like fools. Tell her we're here then," he says to Pip.
"He's taller than you too," Braddon points out helpfully.
Pip grimaces humorlessly.
"Fine, did she leave instruction as to where to corral us until she saw fit to grace us with her presence?"
He nods. "In her office. A moment, and I'll have someone escort you there." Hopping down from his perch, he momentarily vanishes behind the desk before reappearing on one side. Several corridors radiate from the lounge, and he decamps down one of them, leaving the four men and one boy alone with the plashing fountain and a handful of low settees with plush velvet cushions.
Phillip sighs at the missed opportunity, but does not dwell. He remains standing by the desk and after a short moment spent not entirely sure how to busy his hands - pulls out a copper coin and sets it dancing across his knuckles.
"In Tien, I had occasion to provide magic to a house, with a similar carnal function. The religious- the greater?- function not being present there, the society being very different, of course. Though, similar, in ways, form following function. Absent velvet, as an instance, they favored brocades, of silk. Did you know, it comes from a worm? And yet, becomes a treasure, and art. Nature, turned by hand, hand by mind, mind... by heart?"
Braddon lowers his voice and speaks quietly to Phillip but loud enough for the others to hear.
"Down there, through that door was her office, bare except a desk and a few chairs. No windows, but another door behind the desk through which she made her grand entrance. And where that guy was hiding and listening until called to find and fetch. All very dull really."
Completely ignoring Gristav's ramblings, Snake cuts his eyes toward Braddon as he speaks. Nodding ever so slightly, "You ain't kidding about that, bub. This place is real dull." He then moves to lean up against the nearest wall, lowering the tip of his hat a bit before crossing his arms and waiting. He takes a moment to glance over at his ferret friend that is currently residing upon his shoulder and concludes that he looks quite bored. "Yeah, me too, little buddy; me too."
If the men were expecting to be kept waiting as a demonstration of power, they are surprised when Pip returns almost immediately, an attractive woman of Taldan descent in tow. She gives Phillip a slight familiar smile before turning her attention to the group as a whole. "I am Esmeralda. I will take you to Shorafa." She turns her back and retreats down the same corridor, without looking back to ascertain that they are following.
Pip climbs back up to his perch behind the desk and gives them a polite nod of farewell.
Phillip gives Braddon a slight nod of affirmation that his words were heard, but refrains from speculation on the vagaries of velvet and silk manufacture. At the attractive Taldan's emergence Phillip gives a slight smirk and shallow bow of knowing greeting "Esmeralda." saving any expense of words and holding to formality for now. He crosses his arms behind his back as he follows her through and beyond.
Snake looks up as the halfling returns with a woman right behind him. After she introduces herself and turns to lead them to Shorafa, Snake snaps his coat straight and follows.
Braddon recognizes the corridor from his last visit; unlike the other areas of the temple members of the group have seen, the floors are uncarpeted and the walls unpapered, though the hallway is still scrupulously clean and well-maintained. Esmeralda opens the door to the same spartan office, with its empty desktop. Besides the one behind the desk, there are five simple wooden chairs arrayed before it, two of which are sized for Small occupants. Daynadrian scowls at the second undersized chair.
Apart from the door from the corridor, there is another door behind the desk. With so many chairs set up, there is little extra space available, but there is one additional item in the room since Braddon's last visit: a brightly-painted box in the corner, about two feet in each dimension, depicting a ship with gold sails tossing on the sea beneath a starry sky on each side.
"Make yourselves ready," Esmeralda invites them, waiting in the doorway as they enter so as not to overcrowd the room. (It's hard not to notice she didn't use the more common phrase 'make yourself comfortable.') "Shorafa will be with you momentarily." Her eyes meet Phillip's. "This is Shorafa's sanctum. You can be sure that your discussions will be private." When everyone has entered, she closes the door and leaves the party alone in the room.
"Needn't have bothered, so many chairs. So little room." Gristav tries to usher his companions toward the center, hoping for an end chair, and an arm uncrowded, to mind his staff, which he was not so much wont, as habituated, to have at hand.
"But I take up so much less space now," Daynadrian points out facetiously. Scowling, he takes a seat in one of the smaller chairs and folds his arms across his thin chest, looking like nothing more than a schoolboy sent to the headmaster's office.
Perception:
Phillip gives Esmeralda a small nod as she departs and looks about the room. To Braddon he quips "As you said." before his wandering gaze lingers slightly upon the painted box. A brief puckish thought passes through his head to exchange the chair intended to be Shorafa's with the unoccupied small sized one... but he lets that pass.
Nevertheless he does not seek to be seated, remaining standing behind the chair set out for himself. To pass the time he focuses on the copper coin previously retrieved and keeps it dancing.
Snake takes notice of the box, examining it a moment before finding his place against the back wall as he leans against it - not the least bit interested at all in having a seat in such a confined place.
The party has barely had time to settle themselves when the door behind the desk opens, and Shorafa Pamodae enters. Braddon and Daynadrian have seen the woman before and are familiar with the purpling skin the color of a cooling corpse, the slender goat-like horns curling back over her glossy black hair, and the blood-red irises of her eyes. She is no ingenue, rather a woman whom polite society would term 'of a certain age' and less-polite society might call 'well-preserved,' but she wears her years well, with a confidence and self-assurance many younger women would envy. As she seats herself behind the desk, she gives Daynadrian a motherly smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement, then lets her gaze travel over the rest of the assemblage. "Oh my," her eyes flash with interest as they light on Gristav. "Elven blood and a beard. How exotic. It is elven?" she asks, tilting her head and examining him appraisingly.
Phillip keeps an appraising eye upon Shorafa as she enters the room and takes her seat behind the desk...
Apart from that he says nothing and forces his face to betray neutrality in it's features. Nevertheless he allows his mind to run Should one respond and query if she has goat in her ancestry?... Heh, it would be one way to escalate the situation. the thought conjures the slightest upward tilt to his corner of his mouth.
"Oh my," her eyes flash with interest as they light on Gristav. "Elven blood and a beard. How exotic. It is elven?" she asks, tilting her head and examining him appraisingly.
Gristav smiles, nodding faintly at the flash. "If seeress serves surety, certain it's so, but no sire, dame, nor blood e'er were known. Yet bow plys lightly, magic burns brightly, and ears... make their point." Faintly shrugging, Gris adds, "Your guess is as good as mine. If more welcome. I am, most exactly, Gristav." At this, he bows more formally.
"What I'm not, exactly, is Saul's. I'm an endured nepotism, more the banker's than the gambler's. Didn't seem fit to quibble with Dayn, he's at that difficult age, still trying to find himself. But if you're looking for loyalty to Saul... I'm not entirely sure it's to be found in this room."
Having expected Gristav's tongue to know no restriction or tact, Phillip is untroubled and unmoved by his grand eloquence. He does however move a hand to rest upon Daynadrian's shoulder to provide a restrictive support... delicately suggesting through touch that it would be in the elf's best interests to let the magus' poor attempt at humour pass uncommented upon. Moment passed his hand is released and returns to his side.
Ignoring the seats like everyone else, Braddon steps forward.
"Okay, we've come. Turn him back or else. We've done nothing to you and I'm a little sick of you and your lackeys attacking girls and staff without cause. Saul doesn't want trouble with you, but if you keep attacking us we're gonna fight back."
Braddon folds his arms.
Braddon's more direct appraisal of the scenario also draws no additional comment... though the tilt in the corner of his mouth steepens a mote perhaps.
"Well. Braddon, I doubt the lady has diminished Daynadrian and called us here to apologize to us. Let us hear her side, if not take her side. We still don't know enough to form an informed opinion. I'd guess she's of similar mind; we may all yet be of similar purpose."