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For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel and the Witchbrand
You arrive at the city gates before sunrise. But the city gates are open with a dozen gendarmes armed with long rifles standing guard. They notice you and they arrange themselves into a double ranked firing line. The officer, a naked saber in one hand, calls out, “Halt and identify yourselves!”
For Armand
For Vivienne
<Grim scowls at the guards but keeps his hands where everyone can see them.>
"Dayenn? I think this requires gentility. That would be your department. Please don't offer them your services - I don't think the common people appreciate your talents as much as you think."
"Professor Dayenn Naight returning from a research expedition. These are my assistants. I reside in the Quartier Savant."
Marius waits patiently beside Dayenn in case Dayenn's ability to persuade doesn't work.
Radavel:
"My dear man, I will certainly come back to your home in a moment, but if I'd take of your offer immediately your master would certainly regret it. If he comes back, before I return, so be it. I will not be expecting him to turn up before midday, even later if he was in the arms of a woman this night. I will be back before that time, and even if he turns up earlier than I think, you might mention to him, that I am to be found over there."
Vivienne goes into the tavern and orders a breakfast.
Witch sighs and mutters under his breath, "This had better work."
Despite the urge to rush down and try to break up the fight, to protect all of Ezra's children, Armand also immediately realizes that a scuffle with drunken sailors would only end bad for his own skin. With a heavy sigh he instead stands up and walks over to the washbasin and pours some water into it. Rubbing a wet cloth across his face to clear the last cobwebs of the disturbing night he looks into the cracked mirror above the washstand. Bloodshot and haunted eyes stare back at him and with another heavy sigh he walks to the door and opens it slightly, trying to get a whiff of breakfast cooking in the kitchen.
"Professor Dayenn Naight returning from a research expedition. These are my assistants. I reside in the Quartier Savant."
Nathaniel stays silent, arms crossed in front of him. He eyes the guard’s weapons curiously – he’s only seen such rifles from a distance previously – but makes no hostile – nor helpful – moves.
As far as he is concerned, if he is turned away now, he shall move on elsewhere, or return again on another day. He does though wonder if this greeting is typical for this city.
<Quietly to the others.>
"At least he didn't call us his servants."
"If he had done that I would have had to kill him" whispers back to Grim and then smiles innocently at Dayenn
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For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel and the Witchbrand
Sheathing his sword, the officer waves to the rest of the gendarmes, “Boys, clear a path for the professor.”
Extending his right hand to Dayenn, the officer says, “Professor, I am Leftenant Guy Loup. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Can I schedule an appointment with you for tomorrow afternoon?”
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For Vivienne
As you consider your answer, you notice that the tables are generously spaced to afford diners privacy.
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For Armand
”Die!!!”
Then the cacophony is pierced by the shrill noise of a whistle heralding the arrival of the gendarmes.
Meanwhile, the delicious aroma of bacon cooking in the inn’s kitchen can be smelled as it filters through the floor.
For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel and the Witchbrand** spoiler omitted **
To 'Guy Loup', Dayenn says "Certainly. Tomorrow afternoon should be free. Please come by the house."
To the party, Dayenn says "Gentlemen. Breakfast awaits?"
"I appear to be eating my words, professor."
You and me both Grim....didn't realize he had gotten so good at the old wavey wavey.." he says As he makes a two fingered gesture. " thought I was going to have to jump over a wall or stab someone to get in here" he says as he flashes a dagger at Grim....
"You are a violent man, Marius."
Nathaniel ignores Marius and proceeds through the gates with the professor.
Radavel:
"I'd like a cup of green tea with jasmine flowers, please. And a small selection of Petit Fours, if you would be so kind. I would be delighted, if you you give me a table where I can get a view of the street?"
Vivienne lets herself be shown to a small table.
"You are a violent man, Marius."
"why thank you!" marius smiles evilly and chuckles as he walks through the gate and into the city. "where to now Proffessor?"
"As Grimnebulin said, you are a very violent man..." says the Witchbrand, "It will catch up with you one day."
With the law finally taking care of the brawl, Armand turned his attention to the smell of bacon and the sound of his grumbling stomach. Even the nights haunting memory could not drown out that sound and feeling. Putting on his boots and his woolen vest over his shirt, just to stave off any remnants of the nights chill in the common room, he slowly went down the creaky stairs. Smiling curtly behind his moustache to a serving woman he selected a table close to one of the fireplaces and sat down.
"Breakfast first, then off to the professors house again," he thought to himself as another serving woman approached.
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For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel and the Witchbrand
For Vivienne
Your musing is interrupted by the waiter who efficiently deposits your order onto the table. “Do you need anything else, madame?”
For Armand
"where to now Proffessor?"
"Well Marius, I think we all deserve a good meal now that we are back in civilization again. Something that wasn't cooked over a campfire and in which I'm certain I won't find a stray arrowhead or splinters from the arrow's shaft perhaps. There's a place near the house that is good. Let's drop our stuff off at the house and then head over."
This is Grim's first time to really see the civilization he despises. He soaks it in quietly.
“So many soldiers so busy … corpses lying in the streets,” comments Nathaniel quietly to Grim. “I’ve never been to a city before, but this does not seem normal to me.”
Barely loud enough for Nathaniel to hear: "Happens in the country, too..."
"where to now Proffessor?""Well Marius, I think we all deserve a good meal now that we are back in civilization again. Something that wasn't cooked over a campfire and in which I'm certain I won't find a stray arrowhead or splinters from the arrow's shaft perhaps. There's a place near the house that is good. Let's drop our stuff off at the house and then head over."
"Aye a good civilized meal not cooked by a bunch of country bumpkins sounds wonderful Dayenn.." notices the corpses in the street and the sailors being hauled away looks over at grim "And you call me violent, at least I am sneaky about my death dealing, I don't leave all this evidence lying around, much less do it were someone will notice me" chuckles as he takes in the fresh beautiful scent of carnage
"Yes, please. I'd be delighted, if you could bring me this morning's newspaper, while I wait for my appointment to arrive."
“So many soldiers so busy … corpses lying in the streets,” comments Nathaniel quietly to Grim. “I’ve never been to a city before, but this does not seem normal to me.”
"It depends on the city. Once, in my travels, I saw something like this."
“So many soldiers so busy … corpses lying in the streets,” comments Nathaniel quietly to Grim. “I’ve never been to a city before, but this does not seem normal to me.”"It depends on the city. Once, in my travels, I saw something like this."
"Well you can tell us about it as we walk. Come on. Something about the dead makes me want to enjoy the simple pleasure of being alive -- gluttonously alive -- even more. I want meat!" says Dayenn far too dramatically. "There's a restaurant near my house we should go to. I'll buy you all a meal."
Grim is stilled stunned silent by the city.
"Bacon and eggs sound just fine. And some bread and butter too, if you please. Do you have any fresh milk mayhaps?"
With the small fire in the fireplace and the rising sun it quickly becomes more comfortable in the common room. It doesn't take long for the serving woman to return either and Armand speaks a soft prayer over the food before breaking bread.
"I truly hope the professor is back, otherwise I'll have to try the university again to see if some of his lesser known colleagues are able to help me"
Grim is stilled stunned silent by the city.
Witch pats Grim on the shoulder. "I don't like it either. That's why I left. Well, that, and other reasons."
Witch pats Grim on the shoulder. "I don't like it either. That's why I left. Well, that, and other reasons."
"Another reason, eh? Like people with torches chasing you?"
Witch pats Grim on the shoulder. "I don't like it either. That's why I left. Well, that, and other reasons.""Another reason, eh? Like people with torches chasing you?"
"My aren't we persecuted," Dayenn mumbles under his breath followed by a louder "So! Are we agreed on breakfast then? Let's go."
Dayenn heads off assuming the others are following.
Witch pats Grim on the shoulder. "I don't like it either. That's why I left. Well, that, and other reasons.""Another reason, eh? Like people with torches chasing you?"
"Yes, me and my friends."
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For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel, the Witchbrand
For Vivienne
For Armand
For Dayenn, Grim, Marius, Nathaniel, the Witchbrand** spoiler omitted **
For Vivienne** spoiler omitted **
For Armand** spoiler omitted **
Once the party arrives at the house, ceases acting like an arrogant jerk and begins acting like a pompous host welcoming them all and showing 'his guests' where they can stow their things.
Grim gives his blanket to Dayenn. When Dayenn eyes the greatsword on Grim's back he replies.
"I have no other possessions to leave behind."
Grim sits down in a comfortable chair while Dayenn is showing guests around and closes his eyes for a while.
Witch sighs, propping his staff on the wall and siting down.
Nathaniel nods in thanks to Dayenn, but keeps his gear – and weapons - close.
"Guests, sir?"
"Guests, sir?"
"Ahh! Derby, there you are! Help our guests to the spare room. No, don't worry about breakfast we'll be going out but we'll be back for lunch. If any clients call, tell them I'm just across the street. Good man, Derby!"
"Guests, sir?""Ahh! Derby, there you are! Help our guests to the spare room. No, don't worry about breakfast we'll be going out but we'll be back for lunch. If any clients call, tell them I'm just across the street. Good man, Derby!"
"Darby, sir."