Chapter 4: The Inn.
Copyright © 2000 by the players of Emerald Sphere of Sighs.

From: Game Master [2000-03-10 14:57:16]
Subject: Gong.....din din
After about two hours of relaxation in your prospective places a servant approaches you.

"Most noble sir. I have been given the great honor to inform you that the tables have been set and the repast is ready to be served. The master wishes for you to join him in his private apartment on the third floor. He would have you arrive there within the next half hour. I am here to help you prepare yourself in any capacity which you might see fit. Then I am to escort you to the apartment and make you as comfortable as possible. What would you have me do?"

The servant bows and waits for your words................

From: Game Master [2000-03-10 15:02:53]
Subject: oops
[OOC- Sorry about the delay people I was away at the TechEd conference for a few days and sort of lost track of time. This sort of action will be held to a minimum on my behalf.]

From: Ssrivan hiTlokhar [2000-03-11 22:22:50]
Subject: Preparations and Anticipation of Dinner
Ssrivan has the servant lead him back from the luxuriant bath he has pleasantly been enjoying and prepares himself for the meal. He dons his best set of clothing, noting with pleasure that his traveling clothes have been well-cared for. Good help is always a pleasant surprise, the more so in this seeming backwater. He places his eating-dagger at his waist and heads back down into the tavern area, looking for the rest of the group and snagging a quick sip of his drink before he leaves his room.

From: Kúnur Chettukéng [2000-03-15 09:27:18]
Subject: Dinner's on
Kúnur likewise dons his best set of clothes. He is refreshed and relaxed after his bath and rest, and looks forward for dinner (though you could never tell from his face).

From: Game Master [2000-03-15 15:45:20]
Subject: going up???
As the rest of the part assembles in the main hall you can clearly see all manner of clan status, wealth, rank or circle as the members of you party adorn themselves with there finer apparel. You notice the servants becoming more and more nervous as the half hour time limit is nearing its end. Finally, when all are assembled Aijom Ketkolel once again steps before you.

"My most Noble guests, it is now my great honor and privilege to escort you to your hosts modest apartment where you are invited to dine in honor with him him this evening. I am sure that you will understand that those of you who carry weapons will be ask to set them aside in the anti chamber of your hosts apartment. Eating utensils are more than welcome and due to the fact that you are such a mixed group there is quite a bit of latitude offered you as to what you might consider an utensil."

You see a wry smile come across his face as he speaks that last line. "Would you be so kind as to follow me now."

Without looking Aijorn turns his back to you and starts walking. Several attendants and servants follow him quickly. The other servants wait for you to move before following in behind. You walk down a long hallway made of polished stone. This hall is wide, tall and very cool in temperature. At its end is a wide circular staircase which only winds upward. As you ascend the staircase you notice that, carved into the center stone column of the stairs, is the symbol of every change god with its stability counterpart next to it. You wind around the column several times before you come to a small landing with a door. Aijorn motions you to continue following him as he continues up the stairs. At the top of the staircase is a broad landing.

The landing starts in a fairly good sized covered room and then proceeds to extend on out to a balcony. The evening air is warn and filled with the sweet smells of flowers and herbs. You step out onto the balcony with your guide and walk for a few more feet until you reach a large covered doorway. Aijorn knocks twice and the doors open to reveal a large room with a very large low table and many soft and inviting cushions. The many lanterns and candles give off a wondrous golden glow which is both calming and useful. You notice a handful of young, vail clad, women approach and motion for you to enter and find a place to sit. They move with much grace and you can easily recognize the influences of the Green Girdle Clan on these servants. Once again they motion for you to enter and you..........

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2000-03-15 18:14:02]
Subject: Here we are
Adzul will take sit where he is instructed, hopeing for a good meal and better answers.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-03-16 12:19:17]
Subject: Last-minute arrival
Chúrisan arrives briskly, just before the half hour ends. He has changed to civilian clothes, and is obviously fresh from the bath. He has left most of his weapons behind, but at his belt he retains a rather substantial dagger, as an "eating utensil". He moves carefully into the feasting room, and takes a place appropriate to his high clan status.

From: Deshnah [2000-03-17 21:18:19]
Subject: The smell of food....
Deshnah's sense of time is both fine and rough: the awe at every muscle pulling on the flap of a bird's wing, the slow waning of the sun from mid-summer's warmth to mid-winter's cold, dark absence. In any case, he arrives at the feast more or less on time, and smelling somewhat less 'fragrant' than he did on the road. It appears that he has not quite understood the request to leave all weapons aside: he leans his light spear against the wall behind his place at the table. Aside from an extra large gravy knife, it does not appear that he carries anything more dangerous. In fact, aside from a somewhat more pleasant olfactory presentation, he looks pretty much like he did on the trail....[though that grumbling in the tummy..]

From: Game Master [2000-03-21 08:27:10]
Subject: Supper time.
Each of you are taken to your seat by one of the vail clad serving women. They are polite and extend you every courtesy on your short trip from door to floor. You find your seat well cushioned and, if you sit, very comfortable. The table is large and wondrously set, you know that this meal will be good and last for some time. There is quite a buzz behind you as servants and caretakers move from place to place preparing your feast. The vialed women serve you wine and small black berries as an appetizer and rub your shoulders, if you will let them, to help make you comfortable. This is all very relaxing and inviting.
Through all of the midst of this motion and attentions Deshnah still notices his spear being gracefully, skillfully and quietly removed from the wall where he had placed it. He turns and rises as if to object and as he does the spear is thrown, very artfully, to the door where another man catches it and places it into the small closet near the door.

From: Deshnah [2000-03-22 06:03:21]
Subject: spear
Having risen quickly, Deshnah tenses for action, chin lowered and eyes scanning.....he remains standing-- probing the pattern and the people for a couple of long breaths and then, as if nothing whatsoever had happened, softly sits back down.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-03-22 08:46:34]
Subject: tension
Chúrisan's hand goes to his knife when Deshnah stands, but he stays still and watches the foreigner, frowning perhaps at the servants.
When Deshnah sits, Chúrisan continues his own struggle: the food and drink are very tempting, but he doesn't want to consume anything that our hosts haven't also taken. If Neshkriuma, Orún, or Dlarumei are present, he'll try to eat and drink what they do, if they are not, he struggles to abstain until they or "the master" arrive.

From: Game Master [2000-03-23 17:58:38]
Subject: Orun's here...
You turn towards the entrance as Orúns hulking frame blocks out enough light from the torches outside to be noticeable. He is adorned in his very best, which is impressive I might add, and he stands and gathers in the room. Once satisfied with the appearance of things he steps through the doorway and is escorted to his seat where he sits, most eloquently for a man of his size, accepts a glass from his veiled server and eats some of the appetizers offered to him. He glances around the room whilst sipping on his drink and, after seeing that each of you are present, leans in the direction of Chúrisan and says quietly.

" It has been quite some time since I have been in this much finery. We warriors don't get a chance to enjoy this aspect of life as much as we should, do we?" He smiles, then turns and takes another draught off of his wine before holding out the empty glass to his servant to fill again.

Dlarumei, as you know her, is no where to be seen. You start looking through the veiled servers to see if she is there ( perhaps she is in disguise for some strange reason?) But none of the women have the tattoos that Dlarumei has. Never having seen her face means that she could be sitting next to you and you would not be able to recognize her. This is a little interesting mind game that some of you will play with yourselves for a while.

The old man is no where to be found. In fact you don't remember seeing him at all since the time when you entered the city. Something else to contemplate for a bit while the table is being set.

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2000-04-03 05:22:51]
Subject: We Wait
We sit around politely waiting for our host to appear.

From: Game Master [2000-04-03 15:36:37]
Subject: and so it starts.
As you sit enjoying the hospitality of your unseen host you notice that the doors are now closed and that the servants have stopped their scurrying around and have taken up residence on the floor behind you. The veiled ladies kneel beside you and put their hands in their laps and lower their heads. All is calm and reverent when a light comes in from the far side of the room (opposite from the side that you entered) It is obvious that it is a door that has been opened. You see the shadow first and then you hear the footsteps of a person who is slow and old. After a few moments you see a man who looks like an old gnarled piece of root, twisted and dark enter the room. His gray hair, brought up into a top knot, is thick and silky. His tightly trimmed beard frames his face and hides a pointed chin. His eyes, set deep back into their sockets, are still quite bright and of a sea green color. He is accompanied by a lovely woman on his arm and two rather brutish warriors who follow behind him. Following them is a small contingent of servants and the like.
Everyone in the room bows deeply, except you of course, as he enters and is guided to his seat at the head of the table. The woman steps aside as the two warriors, one on each arm, help the man sit on his cushions and then step back. The woman sits beside him in an elegant and very well trained manner. As he reaches for the glass of wine being handed to him, you notice the light glimmer off his 19th circle Priest insignia. He raises his hand high in the manner of a toast and as the sleeve of his robe slides up his arm you notice that his hands and arms still are strong and vital for a man of his age.

"A TOAST!" he exclaims, in a voice loud and strong. " A TOAST to our friends who have traveled so far with nothing but trust and mystery as their motives. Tonight all shall be answered, and their eyes opened; let us drink to them a drink of good fortune and well being!" With that he looks around the room and then tips his glass to his lips and drinks.

[ ooc- just a side note, for all of you who have been watching closely, the wine he is drinking has come from the same vessel that your wine has been served to you from.]

From: Neshkriuma hiKharsama [2000-04-03 18:20:12]
Subject: Cheers!
"WELL SAID", Nesh blurts out in a voice a touch too loud and more than a touch too slured. If his dress is any indication, he has spent the time meant for bathing and such in less than productive ways. His face reddens and he sits down awkwardly.

From: Chúrisan Sóruna [2000-04-05 14:41:38]
Subject: catching up
"...We warriors don't get a chance to enjoy this aspect of life as much as we should, do we?" said Orún; Chúrisan murmured "er, yes, indeed" rather noncomittally in return. ~Actually~, he thought, ~I'd been enjoying this "aspect of life" quite nicely, until this mysterious summons came along.~
As the table chat continued, Chúrisan spoke to Ssrivan: "Master Locksmith, have you noticed the works in the walls? That fixture there, and the seams in wall and ceiling -- perhaps this room has more to it than meets the eye?..."
The temptation of fine food and drink was too much for him. Seeing that many items were served from common plates and pitchers, Churisan let down his guard and took a glass of wine and plate of small tastes.  He joins in the priest's toast, murmuring "to open eyes" to himself.

From: Adzul hiOgeado [2000-04-06 18:37:51]
Subject: Adzul joins in
Adzul raises his glass in salute drinks and settles back hoping for good food and a better conversation.