While the upper levels of the Golden Fleece were known as a place of action, it was the lower levels where much of the 'action' behind the brothel truly happened.  A set of stairs, hidden behind a locked door, led down to the Fleece's wine cellars, dark, quiet and cool.  For a fairly large brothel, surprisingly the wine cellars were not extensive, and the vintages were comprised mostly of casks and bottles of mid-level or lower quality, sold to thirsty guests at 'captive audience' prices.  However, mixed in among the racks and bottles were some true gems; Leena's several cases of Tenebrian Blush would do well at the finest tables in the city.

The wine racks themselves covered only about half of the cellar.  The remainder appeared to be divided equally between storage for the Fleece -- food, crockery, spare furniture, linens -- and ersatz living quarters for some of the staff.  The 'quarters' were essentially individual spaces defined by movable, linen partitions that provided a modicum of privacy.  Each contained a simple cot and some interchangeable, spartan furnishings.

To the casual eye, that appeared to be all the cellar contained.

However, if one were to carefully measure the dimensions of the cellar, it would become apparent that they did not equal the entirety of the Fleece's upper-level footprint...

Behind a pantry storage shelf, usually concealed by strings of dried turnips, onions and cloves of garlic, was another locked door.  Behind this door was a small suite of three additional, hidden rooms: a dressing room with four wardrobes, a display rack and two freestanding mirrors; a well-appointed but unadorned bedroom; and an equally well-appointed office, also with minimal decoration.  It was in these apartments that Leena conducted most of her business.

Her furnishings in each of these rooms were exceptionally well-made, but surprisingly simple and gender neutral, offering little in the way of adornment.  The bedroom was limited to a plain but comfortable bed with two pillows, a small vanity with mirror and washbasin, and a corner sitting area containing two chairs and a round table.  Linens on the bed were a light muslin and beige, and the chairs and vanity stool were covered in similar weaves of the same shade.  The only "feminine decorative" touches were an exquisite silver tea service on the sitting area settee and a cloissone jewelry box on the vanity.  Everything else about the room suggested function and depersonalization, as though transported from a pleasant but forgettable inn serving middle-class merchants.

The office was similarly neutral, although the furnishings were of a slightly darker wood with brown leather finishes, granting a faintly masculine cast to the room.  Those furnishings included a large desk with folding leaves on either side to extend the surface workspace, a matching credenza behind the desk, a leather-trimmed desk chair, two smaller versions across from the desk for guests, two matching book shelves, and a work table across which were opened several maps, diagrams and blueprints.  On the top of this stack of papers, its corners held open by four brass weights, was a current map of Tideswallow itself, small, glass beads dotting its surface to mark various key locations in the city.  A free-standing, brass bird perch stood nearby, the perch's surface worn smooth where the Raven's feet would have grasped it tightly...

Decorations remained minimal though:  an ornate, silver mirror hanging above the credenza; on the far wall, a triptych of paintings depicting the same swath of ocean progressing from calm to raging; and on one bookshelf, a statuette of the nude nymph at the center of the Fleece's exterior fountain.  The sculpture may have been the original artist's scale study for the fountain version, or simply a well-made reproduction.

Finally, carved neatly on the front of the desk was the same symbol Leena wore around her neck:  a stylized hand emerging from swirls of mist, its genderless fingers half reaching, half grasping...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

In reply to Leena (msg # 1):

There is a quick knock at the door while are working at the desk.
“Ms. Leena? Are you there? I need to speak with you when you have a moment.”
The voice is one you’re familiar with, and have become used to having to make time for in private. Heartwarder Levesta, your contact from the Temple of Sune and the current resident healer for the Fleece.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

Leena smiled slightly, looking up from the list of expenses she had been reviewing.  Appropriate timing.

"Please, come in, Heartwarder," she called, pushing her papers to the side and steepling her fingers as she stood to greet her guest.

The door opens and a young dwarven woman with a cascade of fiery red hair steps through. She wears a set of fine robes of rich crimson, orange, and gold; cut in a modest, but still not particularly concealing manner. They are very much the robes of a holy woman working in a brothel, though certainly not in the capacity some of the patrons would prefer.

Lavestra has been with the Fleece for a good few months now, but only on the most unofficial of terms. She is present at various points throughout the day, catering to the needs of workers and guests alike when there is need for healing. Her skills have proven invaluable, but she still seems a bit... out of place within the establishment. As if she still cannot see herself as a permanent part of the place just yet.

“Is now a good time, ma’am?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

Immediately, Leena moved forward, hands extended to take the cleric's in her own, her face welcoming to put the dwarf at ease.  Giving Levestra's hands a gentle squeeze, Leena gestured towards the two chairs in front of the desk, offering the priestess one, while taking the other for herself, leaving nothing between them.  There were times when it was appropriate to use the big, wooden desk as a divider in meetings and negotiations -- times when such a barrier set relative positions and aided in negotiations.  This was not one of those times.

When the dwarf was comfortable, Leena sat, crossing her legs and smoothing the front of her dress with perfectly manicured hands.  "Certainly it's a good time, Levestra."  Leena smiled, her tone comforting, reassuring.

"But even were the time less than ideal, I would make allowance to speak with you, my dear.  You are valued here.  I hope you know that; I want you to know that."

She paused, violet eyes focusing on Levestra's, emphasizing her words with intensity of expression.  Then Leena smiled warmly again, and asked: "Would you like some tea, Heartwarder?  Some other refreshment, perhaps?"

In reply to Leena (msg # 5):

“You are too kind, ma’am. Truly. But no thank you, I am perfectly content with simply taking up a moment of your time and being off.”

She seems uncertain where to begin. Uncomfortable even. This is, as you have come to realize over the course of her time with the Fleece, something of her natural state. Unlike many of Sune’s chosen, Levesta has never been the most outgoing, extroverted of individuals. You know her to be warm, kind, gentle, and incomparably caring... but conversationalist she is not.

Which makes what comes out of her mouth next a bit of a surprise to hear.
“I... A while back you made me an offer. An offer to become an official part of the family here. Well... I... I believe I’ve finally come to a decision on that. S-So long as the salary would still be enough to cover the costs we laid out in our previous conversations on the matter.

Leena seemed to consider for a moment.  It would be easy to simply assure the cleric that the compensation would be as discussed, and let it end there -- to keep the relationship all business.  But this was a moment where indications of support would pay even greater dividends.  If she could build further bonds through indications of empathy and understanding, the connections with the other woman would be stronger than those forged purely by coin.

"It's difficult to say goodbye, isn't it?  To let the comforts of the 'known' go and to reach instead for something different...even when that different thing seems better?  I know how that feels.  I felt something similar the day I decided to acquire the Fleece."  A thoughtful smile, tinged with a bit of melancholy punctuated the words, and then Leena laughed with a hint of self-deprecation.

"I was scared...scared and uncertain.  I had no way of knowing if I was making the right decision, no way of knowing if I was throwing away everything I'd worked for.  It was like closing my eyes, jumping off a cliff, and trusting that the winds would carry me.

"In fact, even now I feel it most weeks, sometimes several times each week.  Every time I have to make a decision with far-reaching implications -- the uncertainty that comes with 'what if' and 'what then' can feel...I don't know...almost crippling at times, can't it?"

She smiled, and the proprietress's eyes were full of shared understanding.  "Just guessing, but...is that how you feel today, Levestra?"

In reply to Leena (msg # 7):

The Hearthwarder nods with a bit of hesitation. “It is... certainly not far off, ma’am. Thank you. I know this must seem so very silly to you. You’ve seen so many other girls come here from far, far tougher circumstances than my own. The temple will always be there for me, but so many of these others have nowhere else to go were it not for the Fleece. I know my dilemma hardly compares to the other ones you have to make time for each and every day. So... thank you. Sincerely. And you’re right. While I’m still very, very uncertain this is the right choice for me; I also know that I will hate myself forever if I simply pass up the opportunity without even giving it a chance. So... if the previous offer still stands, I would like to take you up on joining the Fleece as its full-time medical professional.”

Leena's smile was positively beaming.  Standing, she moved to the smaller lady, bent down, and embraced her.  "I had hoped that would be your decision.  You are most welcome here, Levestra."  She gave the priestess another squeeze, and then stood once more.

"In truth, I've thought of you as part of the Fleece for almost a year now.  We are simply...formalizing...that existing relationship, yes?"

Leena offered the priestess a hand up, giving the dwarf's a comradely squeeze as she did so.  Then she moved to her desk, unlocked and opened a drawer, and drew out a brass key.  Returning to Levestra, the Madame offered it to her.

"Room 6B is yours," she said.  "I put you on the outside hook of the second floor.  Further down the hall, and no neighbors to your left.  Hopefully that will...well...reduce the excess noise.  We don't use the 'B' rooms anyway, unless things get particularly busy.

"Obviously, you can continue to use the office next to Madam Kendrie's on the first floor as your clinic.  Feel free to, well, personalize it a bit, if you'd like.  We'd certainly welcome more reminders that Sune's blessings lie upon our establishment of free-willed pleasures."

In reply to Leena (msg # 9):

The relief exuding off of her is almost palpable in the air as a wide smile returns to her face. “That means more than you could possibly know, ma’am! Thank you. I will go and prepare my things at once. There isn’t... much to move in, mind you. But it may be a few hours before you see me again.”

With that, she turns to leave. She opens the door with a bounce in her step and departs.... but as the door closes, the edge of a black leather boot stops it from reaching the frame. The Self-assured, almost mocking tone that accompanies it isn’t the sort of thing you’re used to suffering in your own establishment.

“Got a minute, your highness?”

A tall human woman with blonde hair wrapped into tight dreads one side of her head and freely flowing on the other steps in. She is clad in jet-black leather armor and wears a tightly-strung longbow over one shoulder. Her form comes into view only small bits at a time until she is fully inside the office; the door silently closing behind her. You gather that, to the rest of those outside, she would have gone completely unnoticed.

The corners of Leena's eyes crinkle slightly at the unexpected appearance of the black-clad newcomer, and for a heartbeat or two, her spine stiffens.  Then it passes, and she is the epitome of grace and welcome once more.

"Certainly...come in."  Leena's voice is practically a purr as she seats herself at her desk, putting the wooden barrier between herself and the dread-locked archer.

"No 'highness' of course...simply Leena should suffice."  The woman gestured with one, pale hand to the chairs before her.  "Please...make yourself comfortable.  Would you like some tea?  Perhaps other refreshment?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

In reply to Leena (msg # 11):


She steps a bit further into the room, eyes subtly darting this way and that as she quickly scans her surroundings. The swirling black mist of a Sunless badge rests just above her clavicle, holding together the ends of a long black cloak. This shroud is the last thing that comes into view as she steps forward, and you suspect it to be the source of whatever invisibility the newcomer has been utilizing.

“Nice place ya got here. Never had the time to check it out in person before, but I might need to pay a visit some time real soon now that I’ve seen it. Got a real cozy vibe going on...”

She steps up to the desk and puts a hand on her hip, gazing down at you with brown eyes so plain and unassuming that they’re almost off-putting. Compared to the rest of her figure and demeanor, her eyes could belong to that of any random citizen... something that likely comes in quite handy for one who needs to hide amongst the general populace.

“Boss want’s a word with ya when you have the time... The Solarium. Alone. Ask for Jahvil when you get there. Tell her you’ve got business about protection some gold you own.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Wed 23 Sept 2020.

“I am honored that such an esteemed member of our ‘organization’ was sent with the message.”  The radiant smile she had all but perfected punctuated her words.   ” I will show similar respect with prompt action. Would tomorrow afternoon be too soon?”

A pause.  ”You are, of course, welcome here anytime. In fact, if you have the time, I would be most willing to let you explore some of the…delights that we offer here, Miss...?”  Leena let the sentence trail off with an implied question.  It would be useful to know who this woman was; or at least to have a name to classify her by.

In reply to Leena (msg # 13):

She shrugs indifferently. “Won’t hear any complaints from me. I won’t be there. Just try not to keep the boss waiting too long. She gets a little bite-y when people make her wait.

She looks at you a moment, then around the room again, clearly not liking something about it but not saying so. “It’s Ki. Just Ki. And I just might take you up on that offer... another time. Right now I have other places to be. Just remember what I said about not keeping her waiting.

She turns to leave, twisting the latch on the door with more force than is necessary. She pauses just a moment before she steps back out.

(In Infernal) Oh and, careful about bringing pets along with you. Little critters that get off their leash down in the Solarium tend not to come back out...”
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Wed 23 Sept 2020.

Leena's smile was unchanged as 'Ki' left her office, but her almond-shaped eyes narrowed once more.  All things considered, the brief meeting hadn't gone too badly.  Beneath the other woman's vague flippancy, there had been some suggestion of respect in what was phrased initially as a request rather than a demand:  'when you have the time.'

Further, sending someone with this woman's obvious skills to deliver what amounted to a simple message suggested a certain level of regard...or at least caution.  Which was all to the good.

On the other hand, Ki's final comment as she'd departed was somewhat troubling.  She wondered if the archer had known in advance that Leena likely was fluent in the tongue she'd used.  She assumed so.  But...

In reply to Leena (msg # 15):

There is the slightest shuffle of movement from the coatrack as Hammond adjusts his grip on it a bit.

Leena nodded thoughtfully, then shrugged.  Situations were what they were.

Leaning back in her chair, she steepled her hands in front of her, eyes seemingly focused on an almost imperceptible water spot on the ceiling, mind racing through various permutations and iterations.  Ah, for a crystal ball...

"Tea," she murmured after a long moment.  "The situation calls for it."  And with a thoughtful smile, the elegant woman rose to get some...