Hamburg nodded but said nothing, apparently overcome by the luxury of the place. He counted out five coins as well and slid them to Cybele. His understanding of money and economics had grown after spending time with these strange new companions of his, but he still was very vague about the customs and practices of monetary exchange. Following Lanliss's example seemed the best course of action and least likely to offend.

"Do you know of a good tailor, someone you could recommend?" Hamburg dared to ask the woman. "Or perhaps a clothier who sells quality robes or even leatherwork?"

The odd wizard's cheap costume had taken a great deal of wear and tear during their adventures since leaving Cynodicea, and they hadn't been that great to begin with. There were tears and tatters he'd tried to mend, but there are only so many times one can patch over patches. The soles of his boots were worn paper-thin, and his long leather gloves had begun to lose stitching. Even the stuffed raven wired to his shoulder looked as if it could use an thorough working over!

Beneath the frayed hem of his robes, there as a slight skittering sound, like nails tapping on stone... but the skeletal hand chose not to reveal itself.

At the combination of the gold on the counter and the mention of Hariman's name the clerk's face becomes a bit more welcoming.

"Cybele is otherwise occupied at the moment, but we'll definitely be getting the four of you baths and laundry services," he observes, reaching a hand up to gesture to a couple of attendants who had been standing around the perimeter of the room.

"These will take your bags and show you to rooms and baths.  How many rooms will you require?"

The attendants, dressed in finder clothing than most servants, step up quietly and hold their hands out, waiting for packs and gear.

Voran smiles broadly. "One room for each of us, if you may." He is visibly pleased with the prospect of a nice room!

Roak pipes up, "All rooms with locks, of course." He may or may not be aware of the gaucheness of this request, but he clearly doesn't care either way.

"Four rooms..." the man looks over something below the counter, "Very good.  We'll have to put you in the noble's wing.  That will run two pieces of gold per night...each...in advance..." he trails off with what sounds like a question in his voice, still looking slightly dubious.

Hamburg slapped the coins into the man's hand with a high degree of enthusiasm, and entirely no inclination to talk him down. "Noble wings? That sounds wonderful!" The strange mask hid the fact that his facial expression would show he had no idea what that meant.

The ruby eyes of the stuffed raven glistened, and though it did not move from the perch upon the wizard's shoulder - which the bird was wired to - in just the right light it might look as if it was smiling...

Voran produces the money and pays the fellow. "Show us the way, good man," he says, sounding his best to sound like a noble.

The man smoothly takes the proffered coins from each of the adventurers before him, seeming mildly surprised that the money was forthcoming, but he masks it well.

He gestures several servants over and they move to take the group's packs and lead them off to a well appointed bathing room which contains several tubs which are quickly being filled by other servants by the time our tired travelers get there.

The tubs are soon filled, and the servant stand ready to take clothing and whisk it away to be cleaned.

Hamburg seemed a little tentative in the room with the tubs. Whether it was shyness or just a lack of knowledge about what was customary, he seemed reluctant to disrobe.

"Was a clothier or tailor able to be found?" he asked the man holding the towels. (msg #185) This attire is all I have...

The fetishes, talismans, hand-stitched runery, and the odd skittering sound beneath the hem were just a few of the concerns the odd wizard would have to deal with if he were to give up his costume.

He set the dilapidated lantern by a bench and offered his arm to the stuffed raven on his shoulder. Of course the prop - which had certainly seen better days - was wired to the cloth of the outfit's shoulder, and it seemed to no interest whatsoever of leaving its perch. But then, in the next moment it was on the bench, sort of propped against the wall to be upright. No one saw it move, or saw Hamburg mess with the wires, it was almost as if it happened while everyone had simultaneously blinked!

The fake rubies that were the stuffed raven's eyes glowed red...

Hamburg removed one of his long gloves, revealing a thin arm with spindly fingers wrapped in tight skin that was so pale as to be nearly translucent. He tucked the glove beneath the hem of his robes and waited a moment, tapping one booted foot slightly. Suddenly, the glove emerged of it's own motation and scrambled, pulling itself behind the lantern!

The odd wizard continued to watch the others for clues as to how to proceed in a situation he was certainly unfamiliar with.

"I can have Master Umbrim send up a tailor to take measurements for some new attire, sir," the attendant responds, only reacting slightly at the unusual nature of the goings-on around the wizard.

"Will that be to your liking?"

"Uh... yes, that will do just fine, thank you." Hamburg said with a tinge of nervousness creeping into his voice.

He then sat on the bench and removed the other long glove, setting it next to then lantern which had a faint, sickly yellow glow. Hamburg the began to detach his various accouterments, placing them neatly beside him or in his satchel. His tall boots were next, and then his dilapidated hat.

It was becoming obvious he was stalling...

Not one for shyness or any concerns at all in this matter Lanliss immediately disrobed, revealing an atheltic, muscular physique that would be the envy of many (and not just elves). With a nonchalant smile he immediately stepped into one of the baths and lowered himself into the cleansing water.

"Ah! Just the tonic for a long journey. Now, if someone could provide some wine..."

One of the attendants quietly exits, then returns some minutes later with a bottle of wine and a glass, offering it to Lanliss.

"Will this be adequate, M'Lord?" he enquires, presenting what appears to be a recently-dusted bottle of a local vintage.

Lanliss considered the bottle for a moment, then smiled.

"There is only one way to find out! Open it please, and if you would be so kind pour me a glass."

The man swiftly removes the cork and pours a glass, which proves to be a dark, clear liquid that fills the air with scents of dried fruit.  The flavor is simultaneously dark, crisp, dry, and leaves a faint after-impression of sweetness and a sense of a cellar full of various ripened fruits, with some even more delicate floral notes.

Hamburg seemed momentarily stunned by the brash behavior of the elf, but then shrugged and began to remove the remainder of his clothing. The thin, emaciated, almost sickly looking body beneath the ragged costume was very, very pale. Veins both stood out and streaked his body with dark lines. He was entirely hairless and his fingernails and toenails were very pink. It was not albinism exactly, but having been born and raised in the deep beneath the sands.

He stepped into the tub slowly, enjoying every moment of the hot water as if it were a new experience for him.

He had removed his hat to reveal a bald head, the skin similarly pale, nearly translucent, but his odd mask remained in place.

"This... is... wonderful..." he sighed.

Voran stripped to his undergarments but then slipped into the bath. He waved the servant over and gave some instructions about washing the spare undergarments in his pack. He declined the beverage.

Roak stripped himself naked quickly, dove into one of the pools and surfaced, almost swimming-pool like, waving at the servant. "Human-sized pint of ale for when I'm done, thanks."

The party relaxes and cleans themselves as the water slowly cools, while the servants stand by impassively, filling requests for soaps, scented oils, towels, more hot water, and any additional beverages.

When finally preparing to exit the tubs, their freshly-cleaned and repaired clothing is made available, and a tailor waits quietly in the wings to take measurements, should he be needed.  Road's requested pint is swiftly brought forward as well, still somewhat cool from the establishment's cellar.

"A light dinner can be served in a private dining room at any point," one attendant notes to the four of you, "or we can arrange to have it brought out to you on the veranda."

"A private dining room would be most welcome. We look forward to sampling your fine fare."

Lanliss knows he smells better than he - or anyone else - has in months, and he takes time to dry and dress, all the while enjoying some more of the wine. A private room might be better for Hamburg, but the elf did not mind in any event.

The odd wizard luxuriated in the hot water until his nearly translucent skin began to pucker and wrinkle. Eventually he motioned the man carrying bucket after bucket that he'd finally finished. He indicated that private dining would be appreciated at Lanliss's suggestion. Finally, with reluctance, he exited the bath and wrapped himself in a wonderfully soft robe. He felt the fabric as if he'd never seen anything like it. This was a city full of such experiences for Hamburg.

Propped on the bench, not far away, the stuffed raven awaited the wizard's return. Its ruby eyes glowed softly...

He went with the tailor then to a side room and began to describe what it was he would like made. The details were concise and intricate. He insisted on quality of materials and craftsmanship. He even went so far as to request a new mask be made in similar fashion to the one he was still wearing. When he protested at removing it, the tailor made the suggestion of using one of the linen shirts as a temporary mask. Hamburg relented and when the tailor had cleverly made the necessary adjustments to the shirt, Hamburg turned away and swapped masks. The narrow slits made for his eyes seemed to make it nearly impossible to see through, but even so, he held a hand up almost continually to shade his eyes.

The tailor was instructed to begin immediately. In the meantime, Hamburg dressed in the clothing that was brought for him. The raiment hung loosely from his nearly emaciated form, but felt comfortable. He joined the others for dinner, his appearance now looking more of a dark assassin than a terrible necromancer.

"Well friends," he said, tasting the word behind the cloth he wore over his face, "that was perhaps the highlight of luxury. There are hotsprings in Cynidecea of course, but they often smell of sulfur and are harmful to the skin. I can't imagine that we'll top that!"

Roak stays in the tub a long, long time, finally drying and dressing quickly. He then starts giving instructions about dinner, as, being a halfling, he has a number of notions about how that should be done properly.

Upon hearing of Roak's instructions regarding the upcoming meal, servants scramble to accommodate, altering both the composition and quantity of food, sending runners to inform the kitchen staff of the alterations.

The last of the servants is withdrawing from the private dining room just as the party enters.  It seems that there is more food on the table than four people could easily eat, and serving vessels filled with various drinks stand on sideboards, their sides glistening with condensation due to their chilled contents.

This is no light repast.  There are various fresh fruits and cheeses, to be sure, along with slivered meats, both freshly cooked, and otherwise dried or preserved.  In addition, there are at least two wholly different types of salads, three sorts of hot fresh bread, one cold flatbread, several whole roasted gamebirds, some sort of roasted red meat, steaming root vegetables and tubers, and three different desserts.

New servants in finer clothing usher the party into the room, hold chairs out for them, and work to see them seated at the table, then inquire regarding their preferences for beverages.

Roak orders ale and dives quickly into the food, eating his full, especially of the richer items like the meats.

Voran chooses the mead and eats less than Roak, but well.

He pulls a servant aside. "When we are done, I wish for you to distribute this to other guests who do not have as fine a repast, at no cost to them, please."