[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/181231/186f0c4bb1b6c9f2a04cae0a5b2b8d4d.png[/img] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/ab07ce06-29be-4769-92b6-981a99b19292.png [/img] [h3]Trade District- Early Evening[/h3][/center] [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/779b97e0-fa35-49b1-991d-8b422ee0436e.jpg[/img][/center] Y’Vanna’s gait was quite wide as she hastened her way through the various corridors made by market tents and stands. Everyone was closing down for the evening. Shopkeepers were beginning to light their lanterns and torches whilst packing up their wares as the last bit of the sun’s light retreated over the city. The aromas of spices and fresh breads still permeated the air, making her stomach feel hollow and wanton. No time for morcels, not now anyway. Her contact had been clear regarding the importance of punctuality for their meeting, as their time would be limited to avoid notice from the passers by. She kept one hand on the pommel of her cutlass and the other one steadfast on the grip of one of the flintlocks she had holstered in the thigh of her boot to keep them from clanking about as she hurried along. The crowds had dispersed as dusk approached. She turned the corner and made her way another three blocks before reaching her destination. A small inn and tavern just outside of the masses of the markets, a convenient location for wary traveling vendors and seafaring merchants alike. The sign outside read: [i]“The Lazy Pheasant”[/i], and it seemed straightforward and inviting enough. It wasn’t at all the sort of place that you’d typically find characters of the shady short, not in the least. This was exactly why it was chosen for their meeting. She slowed to a brisk walk and dusted herself off a bit before entering. She made her way inside and over to bar where she was to order a drink, her contact would be smoking a pipe with an aroma of vanilla and hazelnut. She was definitely able to mark him straight away. A middle aged man with a well groomed beard was sitting right on the end of the bar, leaned up against the wall there. His pipe hand resting on his knee, which was perched high upon the rungs of the stool adjacent his. The sweet smoke danced about from the rim of his pipe, like a small slumbering volcano, sleepily wafting about.. [color=#B87333][i] “Two fingers of your finest spiced rum please..”[/i][/color] she said, placing two coins on the bar. The man behind the counter nodded and soon produced a glass and corked bottle of [i]“Portman’s”[/i] which was about as fine a rum as she had ever had, and this was indeed her prefered poison and thus why she had chosen it to be her mark. She raised the glass and glanced over to the man as she turned her glass to the sky. [i][color=#B87333]”fortunes fated”[/color][/i] she whispered. She placed the glass upside down on the bar, and wiped her lips on her forearm as she turned to leave. She would wait outside just around the corner. It wasn’t but a slight moment before the man rounded the corner, tapping his pipe to empty it of ash in his palm. [i][color=c4df9b]”You’re late..”[/color][/i] he said, wrapping the pipe in a small piece of cloth and placing it within his coat. [i][color=c4df9b]”I almost left.. Why if you’d ha-”[/color][/i] [i][color=#B87333]”No time for that now.. Let’s be brief shall we?”[/color][/i] she said, hastily interrupting him. [i][color=#B87333]”I’m to meet with the Prince’s Advisor first thing in the morning.. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to check back in, but as soon as I am able to do so I shall send word.”[/color][/i] [i][color=c4df9b]”Remember to be discreet.. I don’t think I need to remind you of our client’s wish to remain anonymous. Should the question arise you are to avoid giving up your ties to your client.. “[/color][/i] [i][color=#B87333]”Don’t worry, you don’t have to remind me. I shall send word once I know more, but for now I have to go. Make haste, and be sure that you aren’t followed. I shall do the same."[/color][/i] And with that she was off and around the corner in the opposite direction of her contact. It would be another four blocks before she slowed her pace and another twelve before she would make it to her lodgings in the Central district. She made her way to the room she had prepared some three days prior and shut the door. It wasn’t a lavish room but it had the necessary amenities that she required for her stay here in Heston and it was above modest so she was without complaints. She undid her belts and placed them on a chair she had pulled over close to the bed as she had done every night, and undressed. She was weary and it wasn’t long before she was asleep, as she was in need of much rest. The whole ordeal had been quite nerve-racking, what with all the travel and accommodations, the tickets, and the check ins.. [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/c08ee43b-ff52-4c30-9975-dc6fcf5910a3.jpg[/img] [h3]Central District Manor- Early Morning[/h3][/center] The Manor and the central hall that she stood in were perhaps more gilded than suited her own tastes but was rather stunning, she thought. She stood patiently with the others, there shoved together before the Prince’s advisor, Roman was his name. She was accustomed to the upturning of noses, especially from those who thought of themselves as betters, so the scowl on his face was nothing new to her. She listened patiently, though she found herself wishing that he would just cut to the chase. The whole thing seemed very peculiar indeed.. The disappearances, and the void in the way of evidence or direction was baffling. In such a city, one in which she had been in for nearly a week now, how could something like this go on without anyone knowing a thing was beyond her mental capacities to fathom. This Goldthumb fellow was also high on her list to find, if there were anything of him left to find by then.. Another fellow would soon interject. A man of magical esteems apparently, dressed in a blue robe and ever bent on going with them. She would be keen to keep an eye on this one too. Roman nearing the end of his scoffing asked the group if there were any pertinent questions and Y’Vanna raised a hand. [color=#B87333][i]”There’s absolutely nothing in the way of any leads and we’re sure on this?”[/i][/color] she said as if beckoning for another tidbit of information.. Something to go on, though she was sure there would be nothing, but the gesture at least made it look like she was interested. [color=#B87333][i] "Also, is this accidental burning of homes going to be a thing we need to be concerned about? I’m not in this for the money of being a sitter as well..”[/i][/color] she said rather sharply. It was a scouting stab for a reaction, a gesture to feel out the robed fellow..