Starting Prompt 7/30.... Whispering Winds Tavern

[DM CiCi]

General Prompt: You are now in the city of Therfis, the largest city in the whole realm and a center of both trade and culture. While business is happening as usual the morning was broken up when the king and his entourage made a large spectacle of leaving to survey the outer reaches of the kingdom. Rumors are that he left because of some kind of supernatural disturbance in the border regions, although the politicians have been trying to quell such talk. Still, there is a general sense of unease as you roam the city.

As evening approaches you decide to duck into one of the numerous taverns in the Merchant district. The Whispering Winds is one of the finer establishments in this quarter and the atmosphere inside is comfortable. The barkeep greats you as you walk in. There are several richly dressed men enjoying their drinks and company around the many tables. A few have started a game of cards, while others are situated in a heated chess match. Everything seems to be as it should be. However there is one figure nestled in a back booth in the shadows. While appearing to be ensconced in a book and a fine goblet of wine, an observant glance can tell you that he is acutely watching the goings-on with a rapt and analyzing eye.

Nia and Terriwyn: You two are still at Thala’s shop after a day exploring the catacombs for the Order. While you are resting comfortably you notice that your host has left for the night.


Daesi: He took a sip out of his goblet trying hard to hide the grimace at what passed for elven wine these days. He had it half in his mind to tell the barkeep what real Elverquisst tasted like, and that the swill he peddled was fake, but perhaps that wasn’t the keenest of ideas these days. Peace was a delicate balance that must be maintained- Lord Baequimitore reminded him of that on a near daily basis now.

That and the two men he was asked to tail were sitting a mere few tables away nursing their tankards of ale. From what he heard and saw they were the type that harassed anyone who sided with the Quessir. Caution was a virtue that he must employ now. Especially with drunken thugs under the employ of less than savory figures who wanted his head right about now.

Swallowing his drink (and his pride) he returned his attention to the book in his hands, still keeping an ear out for any drunken utterances from his quarries. Some people made his job too easy.

“Now that the king is away do you think Fairlane will make his move?” one asked.

“One can only imagine what that one’s thinking. Damned mysterious that one. At least the pays good,” the other replied.

“I wonder what’s in this note we have to send out?”

“You ask too many questions damn it.”

[sue]

As he stepped in through the door of the tavern, the man paused to unclasp and shrug his cloak from his shoulders, rolling it neatly over his arm before approaching the bar. There, he struck the counter's wooden surface, open-palmed. The noise was enough to attract the attention of the barkeep, who looked briefly at the patron's well-manicured hand before glancing to his face. There, he found an expression of impatience.

"I will have a spiced wine. I take it with no orange. Do not skimp on the cinnamon. I prefer it quite hot, but for the love of the gods, do not boil it."

The man withdrew his hand, revealing a small pile of copper pieces as he slid onto a bar stool to await his order, indifferent to the barkeep's reaction.

What a day. The king's procession had thrown a wrench into his plans to make a survey of the market district. He needed goods to export, but how was he supposed to conduct business with this sort of nonsense afoot?

Perhaps he'd stumbled onto something more valuable, however - if there was even a grain of truth to the peasantry's whisperings, maybe he should consider clearing out. He'd had quite enough of the supernatural lately.

His drink arrived, and he sipped it easily without pausing to blow on it, casting his gaze around the room. It seemed to be a standard sort of crowd, but for the man with the book. Anyone sitting by themself, reading, was likely a scholar of some sort - but how he could focus on a book with the noise of a tavern all around him was beyond Merrik.

But then, there were the surreptitious glances he kept throwing at the two drunk blokes sitting a few tables down. Interesting, that, though probably none of his business.

Still, he settled in to watch the watcher.

[DM CiCi]

Daesi:

"Note?" he asked to himself. "That must be the reason Lord Baequimitore asked me to tail these idiots." Fairlane- He'd heard that name before while eavesdropping on The Nameless Ones.

"I ask too many questions?" the first drunk exclaimed- a tone of anger rising in his voice. "Your the one who accepts missions...."

Suddenly his concentration was ruined when someone entered the tavern in a rather brusque manor, and the demanding his choice of drink of the barkeep.

But it wasn't the new patron's mannerisms that drew his attention- rather it was the huge explosion of magic that had overwhelmed his fine tuned senses. Ancient magic at that- one that he hadn't felt since leaving the continent. His head was almost ringing with it.

Rubbing the bridge of his noise he quickly learned that in the moment of his distraction- his prey had left their table.

"Pffffttt," he murdered in frustration at himself.

Putting his book down on the table, he fiddled with the ties on one of the large pouches hanging from his belt.

"Lily Track" he commanded as his feline familiar leapt from her hiding spot. "Alert me when you find them, tap into my magic if necessary."

The small grey cat jumped down off the booth and slunk unseen through the crowd and out the door.

He finished his drink and quickly gathered his belongings as to make a quick getaway once he heard back from his companion.

[sue]

The men left the table as their Watcher glanced toward Merrik. The corner of the merchant's mouth quirked upwards in a wry smile as the scholar looked back to notice their absence, a bit too late to see their departure. Leaving the strange man to his sudden flurry of activity for a few moments, Merrik drained the rest of his wine.

So, that was interesting. He wondered if this meant that this city had eyes, or that this scholar was just a very dedicated people-watcher. His sudden preparation for flight seemed to suggest the former, which although it was to be expected in any city worthy of note, it was still unsettling...though potentially useful.

Utterly neglecting to leave a tip, Merrik rose from his seat and approached the stranger. An insincere smirk of regret played across his face as he spread his arms in greeting. "I'm sorry - sometimes I don't realize the kind of scene I make. I pray my loudness hasn't overly disturbed you."

[DM CiCi]

Daesi couldn't help but laugh. Sometimes it was all he could do to keep frustration at bay. Such as his day seemed to be going. Spend the morning leading one horribly naive paladin and another trigger happy and distractingly female wizard through the cities catacombs scouring out undead, and then spend the evening tailing drunkards who had no idea what they were dealing with.

But now that the strange man was up in his space he could not help but notice that although his appearance was to the contrary, his smell and aura were not exactly human. Not to mention there was the minute traces of what seemed to be a curse there as well.

A quick spell was all it took to realize that his companion was still on the trail of those two drunks who really had made no progress at all on him at all. With an other well aimed spell sent though his familiar it was all to easy to send the two sprawling out in an ally, while the cat liberated the note one was carrying and made haste to return to him. Mission completed. He could return to his master with his head still high on his shoulders.

"If I had wanted a quite place I would have stayed home in my study. After one doesn't encounter an outsider in the city very often given the climate in the outlands. You're not from around here are you?" the elf asked.

[sue]

"True," Merrik admitted, inclining his head back towards the empty table. "It seemed to me as though your book must not have been holding your interest particularly well to begin with, anyway," he added, lowering his voice.

The merchant paused to glance around the tavern carefully, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "No," he answered at last, "I'm not from around here. Though I travel so often I scarce recall from whence I came. Such is a trader's life." He frowned slightly. "I wonder - is your lovely city always quite so disrupted as today? I had quite a time of it at market."

[DM CiCi]

((OOC: Niiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaa I need you tonight..... profile or not.... I know your keeping up with this)
He chuckled again.

"Philosophy is always an interesting subject," he said loudly. "I understand your frustration, I am a also merchant but of a different sort. I peddle in information. The more hard to find the better." he replied softer this time. "The king is a good man. The spectacle today was only to reassure the people. He departed today for the outlands. There are reports of happenings of a disturbing nature occurring."

He turned to the barkeep and ordered another bottle of wine, placing a few gold coins down on the bar before discreetly ordering another drink for the newcomer, and then motioning to follow him to the back of the tavern.

He took his seat, and as soon as he did the cat returned to him. There was a small leather pouch attached to her collar, which magically accepted any small item pressed to it. From that he retrieved a handwritten note on parchment- the note which the feline had filched from his marks.

Proceed with plan as instructed. Kill all that resist.

The seal at the bottom of the note was that of his enemy. He gritted his teeth in anger knowing all to well what this meant. That witch's boastings were true then. The Order would have to be notified shortly then.

For now he would bide his time though, seeing as this note had been intercepted. While he was sure The Nameless Ones had other contingency plans, at least one had been foiled for now.

He was getting a feeling that this stranger could prove to be useful.

[sue]

Merrik cast a wanting glance at the coins before collecting his drink and falling into step behind the scholar. He listened to his words, intrigued by the repetition of the rumors of border troubles. I could possibly stand to earn a fair bit of gold selling luck charms and 'wards' in this place... he mused, a smile playing over his face.

He followed along, apparently unconcerned by the other man's leading towards a more secluded area of the tavern. He had done nothing to attract anyone's attention in this city - yet - so he saw no danger in it.

Gathering up his robes, he slid into a seat across from this 'information merchant'. He took a deep swallow of his drink as the other collected some manner of note from his cat. Making no attempt to hide his amusement, he quipped, "Strange-looking carrier pigeon you have there."

[DM CiCi]

"Strange but effective she is," he replied, stroking the cat underneath the chin. "Far more useful than any bird."

He poured himself an other glass of wine and smiling slightly. Putting down a few more coins seemed to have gotten him a more satisfying drink after all.

"I noticed something earlier and I hope you don't mind me being so forward. I am a bit of a mage, although the arcane arts are a detested practice here. I couldn't help but notice that you've come in contact with a rather strange bit of magic recently."

And then almost if right on cue he spotted a certain female wizard entered the establishment.

((OOC: Nia, I figured I'd give you a bit of a nudge....)

[sue]

The merchant's smile wavered, growing briefly tense before he turned his attention to his drink to give himself a moment to consider his response. This individual openly claimed to deal in information, and the truth was not something that Merrik was willing to divulge for the price of a drink.

Finally setting it down, he twined his fingers around the glass and gave a noncommittal shrug. "Sometimes I deal in enchanted wares, perhaps a touch of it has managed to rub off on me."

At the same time, he made a mental note that perhaps he shouldn't get into the practice of trying to sell 'charmed goods' here.

The smile returned to his face, though not as brightly as it had been. "Pray tell, my good jack-of-all-trades, is this 'strange magic' anything I should be concerned about?"

[Kitsu]

The wizard startled briefly when she noticed the elf that had helped her out of her last predicament, but that was the only real sign that she had noticed him. She glanced around the tavern not noticing any other faces she recognized but those settled into what looked like one of the most heated rivalries in quite some time. Came as no surprise to her. Those two had been rivals for quite some time. And even from the entrance it looked like they were quite evenly matched.

She moved toward the table, ignoring the elf and his companion for the time being. Approaching the table she noted immediately that they were indeed well matched. The white player with a black bishop and three black pawns and the black with a knight and two pawns. Meaning the game had barely just started. So she didn't miss much then.

But darn it. That meant her friend was slightly behind. Well, he wasn't really her friend, just someone she had mat a few times. Both players looked up at her, nodded slightly acknowledging her presence and then went back to their game. She watched for a little while longer, before finally turning back to the two men.

'Hello.' She all but mumbled, barely meeting either of their eyes.

[DM CiCi]

"It feels ancient, and with out further research I can't be sure if it's malicious or not. Dealing with magical wares, especially if one does not know their origins is a dangerous thing indeed," Daesi replied.

This stranger had him curious. It wasn't every day one walked into the city of Therfis reeking of ancient magic.

At the moment he was a bit distracted as his now house guest made her way through the crowd, pausing briefly at the game table then making her way back over to them.

"Well this is a pleasant surprise dear. Come sit! Wine?" he asked offering her a glass.

He waved the barmaid over and asked for another goblet and a small dish of milk for his cat.

[sue]

"It's not that I don't know..." Merrik muttered under his breath, then, aloud, "Ah, well, ancient you say? That's quite interesting. I primarily deal in more trivial items. Unfortunately, a shortness of coin has kept me from dealing in antiquities as of late."

He lifted his eyes to the apparently-shy newcomer, a smile once again crossing his face. "Ah! A friend of yours, er- pardon me, sir, I've neglected to ask your name until this moment." He barely paused for a reply before rising to his feet and offering his hand to the wizard. "I call myself Merrik."

[DM CiCi]

"I'm known as The White Cat- Daesi in my language. Daesi Aridutril." he replied. "The lady here is a house guest of mine."

Well this was quite the welcome development. If all he needed was ample coin to as motivation to gain antiquities than it was a price he, as well as his master, would be willing to pay.

[Kitsu]

She looked up at the human then barely concealing the look of hatred that might have crossed her face. With a quick smile that may or may not have been sincere she shook the man's hand. "Lyrania's my name. I'll have some of that wine, Daesi." she responded.

She looked back at the game she had been watching. From the looks of it, her friend had turned the tables more in his favor.

Turning back to the table she smiled at Daesi and Merrik. Though her eyes were slightly colder then they might normally have been. 'So, what are we all up to?'