"Don't worry about me, I am just looking at the district."
Mystrala answers the overly intrusive citizen politely, but doesn't seem inclined to engage with random people while she looks around.  Passing by the iron gate she moves along to finish her first pass through the district before seeking anything in particular.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 4):

One thing that really strikes you about this part of town is the lack of road-side stalls and carts. Every other district plays home to numerous merchants and vendors who simply love peddling their wears on the side of any major street they can find space on... but not here. This stretch of the city is utterly devoid of vendors, despite the heavy amount of foot traffic you pass through. Men and women of every manner go by, all dressed in the finest garb you’ve ever seen in this city. Many seem to simply be wandering while others are clearly rushing toward some goal or another. It is an odd mix of folks, with the only unifying feature about them being a general air of indifference toward everyone else nearby. No conversation. No friendly “Hellos” or “How are yous” being shared. No interaction at all out on the streets.

For such a beautiful part of town, it all feels so very sterile.

Torn between interest in the overall difference and distaste for what that difference brings out in people Mystrala spends a little while longer looking through the district, keeping an eye out for any sort of cracks in the blank facade of its non interaction based culture, the little known friendly shop keeper, the secret locals only gambling den, or even a back door access point between districts that avoids the inspection point with guards.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 6):

Make a perception check (If you’re just doing this subtly in the general vicinity) or investigation check (If you’re going out of your way to really investigate what you’re looking for).

Starting to press her luck a bit by wandering the same paths in the district and looking around in more detail Mystrala doesn't seem to be to concerned about being discovered in her search.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 8):

The district seems a pretty universally heartless, soulless place. The more you watch, the more dismal the populace here appears. You are nearly out of the district (Heading toward the Town Square) when you offhandedly pass a figure in an alleyway, cloaked and hooded, and a line of children standing around them. You notice a large sack of a bread and other baked goods that they are passing out to the kids, before sending them running back out of the alley toward a large orphanage near the district gates.

More interested in the answers to this tiny glimpse into the underlying truth of the district than in anything even remotely like stealth or secrecy Mystrala changes course to follow the man who was passing out bread, waiting only for the majority of the children to be on their way before she separates herself from the general flow of foot traffic to investigate the alleyway more closely.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 10):

He notices you approaching and does his best to straighten up from crouched, almost squatting position he had been in while dealing with the children. The man before you is human, but a big human. The hood conceals much of his face, but you can see a fairly thick gray and black beard protruding from beneath it. His skin, what little of it you can make out beneath the hood, is a dark shade of hazelnut brown, and heavily creased with deep-set lines around his mouth and nose.

The bag of baked goods rests behind him, still about a quarter full of pastries and breads.

“Something I can help you with, ma’am?”

Greeting the big man with a warm smile and an almost pleading tone Mystrala opens up with the tried and true technique of asking for a minor favor to build investment from him. "I believe you can, I am considering expanding my business into this district more directly and there are a number of unexplained situations, and I think you might be just the local to help me uncover some piece of it.  I see you are helping children, likely ones without families of their own, yet the entire rest of the district has no signs of anything of the sort, how is it these two streets in the same district are so different, and nobody seems to notice?"

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 12):

He shrugs. “Someone ought to help em, but since no one else outside the orphanage do, I figure the least I can do is spare some of my day-olds... You say you’re looking to expand here? Where from, if I might be so bold? This quarter ain’t exactly the most open or friendly to its newcomers, but you look to be the sort of lass with a classy enough background you might be able to fool some of them into thinking you belong here... no offense meant, of course.”

Mystrala pulls a small stack of little pieces of robust paper with the name, mermaid symbol, and address for Thermal Remedies from her pocket and hands them over to the helpful man. "My business is based out of the entertainment district, but geared to cater to a more upscale client than even that district tends to have.  Some few around here are already members or have heard about it and considered no doubt, but I have only just completed the remodel and upgrades that are likely to be appreciated by those of discerning taste.  While I doubt any of your day old baked goods market will overlap, those who seek out your freshest and finest work may appreciate you passing word along to them."

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 14):

You can see a bit of a smirk crease his lips. He holds out a large, gloved hand toward you. “Suppose that was deserved. Name’s Ishgar. I own “Buy the Dozen,” the bakery just up the road from here. If this little venture of your’s gets off the ground round here, give me a holler. Could provide a touch of catering as needed. Who don’t love a good pastry alongside a nice bath, eh?” The laugh that accompanies this makes it virtually impossible to know for sure whether he’s being serious or not...

You don’t remember passing a bakery, but as he points it out, you notice it quickly enough. Amidst all the similarly-gaudy building around it, it is initially pretty hard to pick out. Much of this district begins to run together after a while; becoming one vast sea of flanged spires, flying buttresses, and multi-tiered quarters for all manner of business.

Accepting he handshake in exchange for the little cards she has to offer Mystrala's little hand matches his for strength and firmness in every way, but doesn't make any effort to push him. "I am sure I can find a way to help promote your business as well, perhaps I should invest in a few samples before I return, something to make this trip more personally worthwhile."

Stepping away from the man she turns partially in the direction he indicated for his shop, to accompany him back to it now that they have come to an arrangement.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 16):

The crowds have grown a bit thicker in the few minutes you have spent conversing with Ishgar. It is beginning to grow late in the evening and you suspect much of this traffic is from the various businesses letting out. Dusk is beginning to set in and you can see the faintest hints of fog beginning to creep in to the lower-lying portions of the Office District. The Town Square, you suspect, will already have a thick, knee-high layer of wispy fog covering it; as it often does in the evening during this time of year.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:03, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

While not native to this place Mystrala is always watching for details, for tells that describe unusual situations, or important opportunities.  Perhaps even more inclined to do so in unfamiliar surroundings.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 18):

Never the less, the way forward is mostly unobstructed. You got a good glimpse of where Ishgar pointed and have no trouble finding your way there. Without issue, you push your way carefully through the crowd marking their way either home for the evening or toward some other destinations within the unfamiliar district.

After a short jaunt down the road, you find the indicated building; with a large wooden sign shaped like a frosted cupcake hanging from just above the door. Upon it in gold lettering reads “BUY THE DOZEN CONFECTIONARIES” in a fancy, swirling script. The interior is darkened, however, and the door is sealed tight.

Mystrala makes her way to the shop before she even thinks to look for the man who directed her to it, only when she discovers the door locked and him not on hand to open it does she start to look around for him, heading back to the alley if he isn't just making his way there more slowly.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 20):

The streets are still fairly well-populated but you don’t see any signs of Ishgar’s presence anywhere. Whether he followed you or not, you’re unsure of where he ended up when you left the alleyway. You wait before the closed shop for a few minutes, but nothing seems to change. No one inside. No one coming to open it.

After waiting for a few moments, and searching the alley one last time, Mystrala shrugs it off, the whole thing was a bit of a long shot anyways.

Turning back in the direction of home she heads for the exit that will take her out of the office district and back home to the more logical entertainment district, where she likely plans to stay until such time as the event she has been invited to starts.

Returning to the Office District after the Market Day Mystrala makes a brief stop at a pastry shop identified by the large wooden sign shaped like a frosted cupcake, hopefully before they close for the evening, but keeps her focus on making her way to the villa of Lord Sulthor van Ellsworth.

Somewhere along the way she must have found the time to change because when she gets there she presents herself, and the sigil she was issued, to the guard at the gate wearing a fancy dress, although not one so fancy as to restrict her movements.  Open and flowing with the breeze or even without a breeze it is an impressive mix of fashion and function in any setting.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 23):

Entering the district with little issue, you soon find that the streets are fairly deserted tonight; making exploration far easier this time around. You suspect most folks are out at the Market still; as the lantern strings would keep the festivities going well after dark. If it was anything like how it turned out most years, the majority of the town would still be out browsing the stalls and wagons well into the midnight hours.

With the Office District virtually to yourself, you find your way to the bakery quite easy to navigate. The wide streets of this district leave you feeling a bit exposed, but the relatively straight shot you have down to the bakery means that you can easily see anyone approaching long before they ever get near you. No big turns or side alleys needed in order to get where you’re going.

Upon reaching the building, you find it shut up and shuttered for the day. It wouldn’t surprise you if they have a stall set up in the Market, which would explain their absence here.

Only, even as you near the building, you notice a small violet glow emanating from far back within It. A colored candle or lamp perhaps, spilling from some back room behind the counter. The building’s large front windows give you a decent view of the interior, but the light is too far back to make anything else besides simple silhouettes visible within. One you are quite certain is the counter. Another a set of chairs. You can see the hall from which the light is coming, but no details.

Well aware of the frequent need for after hours work inside any business Mystrala takes the closed, locked, and darkened entrance as sufficient explanation and presses on with her quest to reach the villa without any of the easily found pastries, they will likely have far better stock already in place anyways.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 25):

The villa proves easy enough to find simply by sight. Following the course of the three hills that make up the Office District’s geography, you locate the manor seated high at the top of the smallest. A long, winding path leads up the hill to the manor at the very top, twisting with a serpentine suggestion to its oddly-meandering path. There doesn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason to its twisting course, beyond perhaps forcing visitors to walk longer and gaze upon the rows and rows of grape vines, apple trees, and well-maintained herb gardens that coat the entire hill.

Around the villa’s base runs a 4ft tall stone wall topped with 5ft-high upward facing iron pickets sharpened like pikes. There is a good bit of space between each, however, and you don’t suppose it would be terribly difficult to squeeze between two if one really had to. This barricade runs the entire perimeter of the orchard, connecting to the grand city walls themselves at the very back of the property. The only genuine opening appears to be a tall, opulent iron gate at the very edge of the street. A pair of guards in full helms, lobstered armor, and cyan cloaks stand beside the entrance; a curved glaive resting in each one’s grip.

From the road, you find the front gate currently wide open. In fact, it looks as though it has rarely ever been closed; judging by the lack of any major wear on the stone paving around it. The guards appear to be the only thing separating the villa from would-be visitors.

This message was deleted by the player at 07:12, Tue 27 Oct 2020.

Tegan, Yshtar, and Bartimaeus walked up to the gate restricting commoners' access to the Office District.