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the Hellfire Club - A "Floating Nightclub"
A dark coach pulled by a pair of black horses rumbles over the
cobblestones of the twilight streets of Absalom. It enters the district
called “the Docks” and proceeds at a leisurely walk to the end of a
dock marked simply #13. Drawing to a halt at the foot of the dock,
the footman drops from the rear of the coach to assist a small figure
dressed all in grey from the seat beside the driver. As the child in grey
jumps to the ground, the footman moves to open the door of the coach
and opening it he assists a young Cheliaxian woman from the interior of
the coach. Releasing the hand of the footman, she swirls the scarlet half-
cape back over a bare shoulder and turns back to the door of the coach.
Holding her hand back into the coach, she bids farewell to another passenger
there. "Good night, my lord. Yes, I assure you that this is the correct location.
Perhaps we can do business again soon. You know how to contact me
now." She withdraws her hand and steps back from the coach. The
figure in grey, little more than a street urchin in ill fitting gray livery, steps
behind the adult woman, almost the image of the perfect ladies maid.
The footman closes the door and swings back to his perch on the back
of the coach as it clatters away back in the direction of the city center.
The two figures, woman and child, glance around at the gathering
twilight and then turn in the direction of the gangplank. The woman gives
a sparkling laugh, like the splash of water, and says "And the night
is hardly started!"
Is there anyone still in the doorway?
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An armored outrider, a small warrior on a large wolf, stands to the side as the coach draws to a halt and the women step down. The rider, a heavily armored halfling carrying a shield much to large for him, scans the shadows about for threats. As the women had down the gangplank, he will dismount and clank (in plate) into the club after them. A silent bodyguard, with a tower shield.
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Glancing around the dock to see if anyone else is about outside, Katisha
will call out to the Doorman who watchs the outside of the club ("fishing from the dock"). Cousin, hope your `fishing' is as
fruitful as mine!" She proceeds to the gangplank of the “barge”,
and if not joined by anyone will proceed thru the entry to the club –
commenting to her body servant "I do so hate to go clubbing without
ah… `company'".
Proceeding into the clubs’ common room, she will announce from the doorway
"A round of drinks for everyone!" (after checking exactly how many people are here)
"And Mr. Lee, a mug of mulled wine for my cousin on the deck! The night
looks to be a cool one." So saying, she glides with a dancers walk to the
table closest to the center of the room (three rounds of bardic performance, for
“The Dance of Kindled Desires” masterpiece) and makes ready to sit –
unless invited to some other table.
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A swirl of silk, a aura of spice & sandlewood perfume, and Kat slides across the club to the halflings table. “Jeeves, the chair” and the chair beside Meridoc (across from the riding dog?) slides itself back, and she is seated.
“My dear man, though I have been described as ‘lawful’ more than once, I am always described as ‘good’!” a merry laugh “Yes, very good, often at being bad… depending on the client.” As the lingering performance fades away, and people might notice the two other halflings with her, she will glance their way and lean more down to Meridoc as if to confide a bit of gossip. If he can keep his eyes from distracting his ears, he hears “Things are often not exactly as they seem.”
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What about gnomes? You better be damning them for their awesomenesses. Cause they are awesome in more than one way. Who is Zarta?
So halflings are good at law? I thought they were good at being sneaky and stealing? I can definately see the usefullness of that, but I am better I just go invisible. Seriously why waste the effort when magic is so awesome. Does she know the paralyzing counter?
I once got one of those paper thingies. I ate it. It was not very tasty. I beat to paraylze people it would be a gnome.
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The woman at the table in the center of the room smiles fit to light up the room. She calls out to the "man in half plate" -
"Lord, come rest your splendid body here at my table. Perhaps we can share a bottle of wine and pass a few minutes in conversation?" Turning aside slightly and addressing the empty air beside her she says softly, "Jeeves, pull the good knight a chair out?" the chair to her right slides out from the table turning slightly at an angle to allow someone easy access.
If the man joins her, Kat will speak more softly to him, while leaning more tword him and placeing her hand upon his forearm. "I am looking tonight for another friend of Zarta's? You would perhaps know someone by that name? Are you a friend?"
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The halfling warrior shifts asside, to a position where he can better watch the room and perhaps detect anyone who might be trying to listen in on the converstion at the table.
The child, in her ill fitting gray livery, steps more to the into the womans shadow, her image of "the perfect ladies maid" slightly ruined by the small gray rag doll she holds clutched to her side.
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The man chuckles slightly at Pontificor's (presumably slurred) speech, and sits down with Katisha. "I've met the paracountess before, though that was originally the only name I knew her by. For some reason, she acts as though I need "enticement" to help fullfill our cause. As for friendship, I am the iconic story. A slave brought in, nearly killed my overseer, ended up joining the Hellknights."
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With a raised hand, Kat signals for the steward. Her movements as she raises her arm reveal the lining of her black velvet cloak to be silk that appears to be on fire. “It would perhaps be best if we retired to a private booth for, ah, dessert and more private ‘conversation’?” if Ivar is agreeable, when the steward arrives she requests “…one of the curtained booths, the Red Velvet room if it’s available. I like the small alcove for the servants” she explains with a smile to Ivar. “That way they prevent us from being… disturbed.”
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“Ivan, darling! There is nothing to be concerned about.” Kat stands and takes Ivan’s hand in both hers, and pulls him to his feet. “I promise that this wont hurt at all! In fact, just think of it as being invited to one of the Paracountesses’ social gatherings. Speaking of which, I overheard a very funny story that relates to her parties.
“ It seems that a team of Pathfinders, two weeks into the wilderness, were investigating an old tomb and triggered a fire trap that destroyed their clothing. As they peer thru the smoke at each other, still alive but singed, one exclaims ‘Acmed, is that you? I didn’t recognize you with your cloths on!’ To which the other agent replied ‘Ferg? Wow, you’re here too? Long time no see, how’s the family?’ We often meet friends at the most unexpected times. ”
The grey clad maid pulls Ivan chair back when he stands and Kat will walk with him to the back of the common room, where the drapes for the private booths are. The Halfling guard and the maid both follow, and pull the drapes closed after the party enters.
Once the drapes are closed, Katisha releases Ivans arm and the two small “servants” move past them to the inner booth. With a finger to her lips Katisha will silently motion for Ivan not to speak (shhh!), and wave him back to the inner booth with them, while she remains in the outer (still closed) booth, normally the servants chamber.
As Ivan looks to the small figures in the other room, he will notice a transformation of sorts. He can now see that they are both Halflings, the male of the two motioning Ivan to take a seat across the table from them. As Katisha draws the inner booths drapes closed, she remains in the outer booth.
the Halfling woman speaks:
“Please excuse the ‘cloak and dagger’ drama, but we felt it best to not meet with you openly, and to many eyes watch this place – a little bit of Cheliax in Absalom. Allow me to introduce myself. I am called Da Goblin. My companion here is Percy Footman. And we are in need of your assistance, each on different matters.
“I am in need of a contact with the Paracountess. I have letters of introduction, and orders of assignment, both of which must be delivered to her, but it appears that my contacts in town, my handlers, have “Disappeared”. In order to maintain my cover, my value to the crown, I need to make contact with the organization. I need you to connect me with the Faction”
Here Percy begins to speak.
“Sir Ivan Yager. I wish your assistance in contacting your Order, as I feel “the call to service”. But let me start from the beginning. My family has always been one of service. For untold generations we have served the noble house De’Moor, just as I do even now. Until recently, there has always been a De’Moor carrying the family coat of arms both in the service of the crown, and in the Society. When the three elder De’Moors fell to chaos worshipers two years ago, I took up the duty until the young Master De’moor can perform it. I have passed the training to be a Pathfinder. I am almost ready to test for acceptance with a Hellknight order. And I believe it is possible for me to provide singular assistance to the forces of Law. No one would expect me to be a Hellknight. As is often said, Halflings are easily overlooked. I can go places others cannot. I see things others do not."
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[spoiler=Hidden behind velvet drapes]" He looks alarmed (Ivan hasn't played it but other guy has) Percy, I'd recommend meeting Lictor Resarc Ountar at Citadel Dinyar. (Pentamic Faith) I'm sure you know where it is. A knight there saved my life, and I've been serving them ever since. As for Da, A close friend of mine works for the Grand Lodge of Absalom, he'd be more than willing to help lend you a hand." [\spoiler]
After a few minutes discussion, Ivan leaves, mumbling something about the Blakrose Museum. When he comes back, he seems like he got up on something and is starting to crash.