"Well thats only a matter of speculation on my part. From what Hoff told me, they had already turned their noses up at the living accommodations they had previously. Could be they are the type of people that are difficult to please. Maybe he grew tired of catering to their whims. I've heard rumors that Hoff has a disreputable side and doesnt care for labor imported from other locals."
"We can follow up on that another time. Right now, we'd like to see about having a looksee at your hotel. Standard protocol and all that. Just need to make sure we're crossing our T's and dotting our I's, you know?"
"Oh of course, of course!" he says excitedly. "Its never difficult to convince me to show off my pride and joy!" he adds with a wink. " Do you wish to come see it now? We can head there straight away. Or you can stop by later?" he asks.
From how excited you are to show it off right away it would be rude of us to say no, don't you think? Roscoe will look towards his fellow agents. Roscoe will stand up getting ready to head out.
Rocky will stand and give a nod
With a nod and thump on the table, "Most rude indeed. Shall we be off?"
Towerr stands up, following with the others, pondering to himself, "I sure hope it was just tea in that cup of his..."
Aeric looks over from the bar as the group gets up to move. Wiggling a finger in his ear, he starts to follow after scanning the room.
Surprising how much difference 5 ft makes. Could barely hear anything.
Pratchett nods and says, "Follow me then gents!" Pratchett moves to the door and opens it, then holds the door and gestures politely for the agents to proceed first with a slight bow. He continues to hold the door with an expectant look until all the agents have exited.
As Roscoe approaches the door he gives a nod and says, Thank you sir. as he leaves.
Towerr follows behind Roscoe out the door, nodding to Pratchett and giving thanks then waiting just outside of the establishment off to the side waiting for the rest to follow. Speaking to his fellow officers that still reside in the building, "Well come on then, make haste. Would be rude to have Pratchett hold the door open forever." Towerr chuckles softly.
Mason rises to his feets. Puts one foot in front of the other until he is outside of the building. Then stands and waits, for however long it takes for the others to filter out of the place and then for Practhett to make good on his words of “follow me gents”.
Mason rises to his feets. Puts one foot in front of the other until he is outside of the building. Then stands and waits, for however long it takes for the others to filter out of the place and then for Practhett to make good on his words of “follow me gents”.
Rocky will move through the door and give a nod as passing
Aeric follows the group as it starts and stops on the way out the door.
"After you, good sir. Or did you forget something at the bar?" Pratchett asks, continuing to hold the door and looking expectantly for Aeric to proceed. The awkwardness begins to be palpable, but Pratchett remains in his position, unchanged.
something wrong aeric?
"Ahh, Aeric. Great name. Strong, and wise. Yes, is something wrong Aeric?" Pratchett chimes in.
Nothing wrong. Just first time here. Trying to see it the way the others did. He moves up to Rocky.
Once the agents have exited the building, Pratchett waves goodbye to anyone paying attention inside the establishment, then follows the agents out onto the street.
Pratchett then resumes the lead, smiling and waving and saying greetings to many of the people passed on the street.
"Hello Mr. Norell!" "Ahh Mrs. Bagshot, looking lovely as ever." "Mr. Greenwall, how's the missus?"
Eventually Pratchett, with agents on tow, arrive at the Dreaming Palace. From the outside, the hotel appears nice enough, if a little strange. Several of the street-level walls are a thick gray stone, with windows irregularly placed and half-concealed by elegantly draping ivy. The second floor is more conventional half-timbering with whitewashed panels and leaded windows, several brick chimneys, and a small, round tower poking up from the northeastern side.
"Allow me." Pratchett says and once again opens the door and holds it, allowing the agents to pass through first.
Large arched windows illuminate the elegantly polished floor and warm wooden furniture of the hotel’s reception area. Directly across from the stout main doors, double doors of bronze lattice are carved to resemble interwoven vines and offer tantalizing glimpses of a large chamber beyond. A few comfortable chairs surround a fireplace to the west, while to the east a long, tall counter encircles a small wooden door.
Some of the agents recognize Raslo, the half-orc female, behind the counter.
"Welcome to my humble establishment agents. Some of you will remember Raslo from our first meeting. What would you like to see, now that we are here?"
Hello Raslo, how have you been? I am not going to lie this is my first time in your wonderful establishment so if you don't mind giving us a bit of a tour. The one thing I would like to see would be the location that the workers would of been staying.
Aeric looks around and nods a greeting to Raslo. "Good afternoon. I am Aeric."
Mason tips his hat in recognition at Raslo.
Raslo nods at the greeting. Pratchett addresses the agents, "Here we are gents! Unfortunately, as I'm sure you understand, I have duties to attend to here. But I will leave you in the capable hands of my associate, Raslo, to show you around. I'm certain we can arrange to have you view the public areas and the bunk room, but the privately rented rooms will be off limits unless you can gain the permission of the renters. To preserve their privacy, of course." Pratchett turns to Raslo, "Be a dear and show these gentlemen around? They're interested in finding those workers Hoff was supposed to send here. Anything we can do to help, of course." then turning back to the agents, "I hope to see you again before you leave." and with a bow he walks through the double doors leading further into the hotel.
"Right then." Raslo says with a bit more gruff, and a bit less welcome in her voice in contrast to Pratchett. "Follow me." and she leads the agents north through the doors.
A sweeping, bifurcated staircase rises up from the northern end of this open space, splitting and curving to either side as it reaches the second floor. A huge portrait of a handsome half-elf man, Pratchett, looms over the staircase. At the base of the stairs, the handrails end in marble pillars topped with statues, one of a crying angel and one of a laughing devil. Tiled corridors stretch off to the east and west, while bronze lattice doors lead south to the lobby.
"All tours begin at the Primarch Sweet. Our most opulent room." and Raslo indicates the first door to the south west. She leads the agents there and, after opening gbthe door with a key from her pocket, stands to the side to allow the agents in to view the room.
This spacious room has its own bathroom and large, curtained windows overlooking both a small decorative garden to the west and the quiet street to the south. A huge feather bed, a couch, a coffee table, and several chairs furnish the room, and large paintings of city landmarks such as the Starstone Cathedral and Azlanti Keep hang on the walls.
Yes, we will make sure we talk before we leave. Roscoe will give a nod as he bows.
Roscoe will look at Raslo after her gruff comment, Come on now Raslo, we have to make this fun and exciting. Roscoe will look at the handrails, Wow these are exquisite. Raslo, is there any significance of the laughing devil and the crying angel?
As we move to the other room Roscoe will enter to give the place a look around. You are not lying Raslo this room is fabulous.
Raslo grunts at Roscoe's comments and then, looking at the statues carved into the hand rails, says "Its an artist's statement on the sins of mortals and their need for redemption. Mr. Pratchett is a very spiritual man."
Mason smiles, "This is quite a sweet suite. Though unlikely that the workers coming here would be housed in such a space. You say Mr. Pratchett is a spiritual man, any hint at which god or gods he follows?"
yeah this is all too Rich for my blood. I'm more of a rustic wood cabin kinds woman haha
"Theres a difference between being religious and being spiritual." Raslo responds.
An older female halfling comes around the corner and says, "Well good afternoon Raslo! And who do we have here?"
"Good afternoon Mrs. Honeywall. These are agents of the Edgewatch." Raslo responds.
"Oh my! Is everything alright?" Mrs. Honeywall says, with a bit of distress in her voice.
"Nothing to concern yourself with. Someone lost track of some out of town laborers and the agents are following up on a lead. I'm giving them the grand tour while they're here." Raslo assures Mrs. Honeywall. "We wouldn't want their presence on such a routine inquiry to rile up the guests." she says, pointedly looking at the agents.
"Well I think introductions are in order, don't you Raslo?" The halfling woman asks.
"Of course..." and for a moment Raslo has to stiffle her irritation. "Mrs. Honeywall, if I may introduce these agents of the Edgewatch. I'm afraid I don't know their names. Mrs. Honeywall has been staying with us for several weeks now."
"Oh yes, yes!" Mrs. Honeywall chimes in. "It has been just lovely here. And that Mr. Pratchett is quite the stallion, isn't he? Id sure like to take him for a ride!" which she punctuates with a giggle not unlike a school girl.
Roscoe will let out a chuckle, Well at least I know why your here Mrs. Honeywall. Just kidding of course. My name is Roscoe Talbot a Agent of the Edgewatch. We are here following up on some things about some missing folks. We like to be as thorough as possible, I promise we will try not to intrude on your stay here.
"Well I appreciate everything you folks do to keep us all safe. If there is anything I can do to help just ask? Who are you looking for?" Mrs. Honeywall asks.
Thank you very much. We are looking for some Minkian workers. If you could let us know if you hear anything we would greatly appreciate it. Sorry but we must excuses ourselves to continue our tour.
Roscoe will look at Raslo, Where to next?
"Feel free to call me Mason."
The investigator smiles and gives a bit of a bow.
"It's a big city, but these poor folks deserve to be found. I'm sure their families would like to see them again, so, we do what we can to try to make that happen. I hope you can forgive us for parting company so quickly Mrs. Honeywall."
"I can't say I have heard anything..." and she ponders for a moment. "To be fair I don't know what a Minkaian worker is. But I have been living in this hotel for several weeks, as was said. Perhaps if you have descriptions of the missing persons and you expect them to have been here sometime while I have also been here, I may have seen them." She offers up helpfully.
Sorry ma'am, they are workers from the Dragonfly Pagoda. we also are looking for Archibald Knight and Minera Frum from the Menagerie and Kemeneles an older wizard and others that have gone missing. If you have any details that would be great.
Roscoe will tell her names and descriptions of the workers and the others that he knows of.
Mrs. Honeywall grows pensive for a moment after receiving the information. "There are a lot of comings and goings in the bunk room. Mostly laborers for higher end clients and other blue collar folk. I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with them. I do recall a family with twins, a boy and a girl, but I never got their names. Its possible they may have been who you are looking for. Do you remember them Raslo?" The halfling woman asks the half orc.
Raslo blinks and after a few seconds where she appears to consider her answer, she says "The agents can look over the guest book if they wish. They might find answers there."
Mrs. Honeywall brightens, "Of course! The guest book would have the names of anyone who stayed here. I'm sure that adorable Mr. Pratchett would let you look through it to help your investigation! He's so thoughtful, you know?"
That is very true Mrs Honeywall. If you remember anything else about the people we are looking for please reach out to us. You have been a great help.
Roscoe will look at Raslo, Would we be able to look over the guestbook before we continue the tour, if you don't mind.
"I suppose that could be arranged, agent. I'll have to retrieve it. I believe it is in Mr. Pratchett's office. If you'd like you can wait for me in the lounge until I return with it?" Raslo answers.
Before Roscoe or the other agents have a chance to respond, a young boy, sometimes used by the Edgewatch precinct as a messenger runner, bursts in breathlessly. He scans the assembled people and locks eyes on Aeric. "Agent Hiderous, you're requested back at the precinct sir. There's been an emergency." Aeric nods, then makes brief farewells and follows the runner back out the way he came.
"Oh I do hope everything is alright." Mrs. Honeywall says, then makes her own departure. "Good luck with your investigation. I'm glad I could be of some small help." the elder woman says before crossing the entryway and heading further east, into other areas of the hotel.
Raslo clears her throat after a few moments and asks again, "Would you wait for me in the lounge while I retrieve the guest book agents?"
Could we look around the halls, we will make sure not to be loud to bug the patrons?
"If you're left to wander, how am I to find you when I have the book? Also, having agents of the guard wandering the halls unescorted might send the wrong impression about what sort of establishment this is. No, I think it best if you wait for me in the lounge or in the lobby." Raslo says.
That's fine, I understand. We can wait in the lobby for you to get the books. Thank you very much Raslo.
"Sure. That should be fine."
Once at the lobby and away from Raslo or any of the other staff we might chance to come across.
"So... this seems a little suspicious. Why not just bring us to the office? Or protest so strongly against us checking things out without the handholding? It's feeling a bit like they're trying to hide something, and the longer they're gone, is just more time for them to get rid of evidence."
As Mason sets his mind to speaking surreptitiously and away from hotel employees, he realizes he hasn't seen any additional hotel staff.
Yeah, when Raslo mentioned the guestbooks it seemed like she was being a bit evasive. I agree that with us waiting here they could be covering up what really is in the guestbook. Also does it seem odd that Mrs. Honeywell was that into Mr Pratchett or was that just a horny old woman talking. Also doesn't it seem weird that Raslo is managing the front desk and then she just leaves. What happens if people come in wanting a room? Just odd.
”Mmhm.”
The agents waiting in the lobby do see a pull chord hanging with a sign the says "Pull for service." This is common practice for Hotels and Inns when the staff is not currently in the lobby.
why not pull the cord for service and if no one comes we just go "looking for the toilet"
"A good idea in theory Rocky, however, I'll be left to the lobby unfortunately due to not requiring such bodily functions."