H130, Day 257, 11 BP (Hadrian, Ysgard crew)

[Stix]

(Everyone hired for the Ysgard trip received a notice by courier within the last few hours to meet at Airion's Boarding House in the Guildhall Ward.)

An oaken door bearing stylized iron bands opens into the boarding house's common room, lit low by candles in wall sconces and a slowly dying fire. Four figures sit at a table by the hearth playing cards and talking quietly amongst themselves. A fifth person -- a half-elven young man propped up with his cheek against his hand, beginning to nod off -- sits at the bar. A silver mechanical clock on the wall rings miniature bells to chime in the first hour after antipeak.

[exile]

Hadrian quietly enters the common room of Airion’s Boarding House, pausing briefly at the threshold to take in the occupants. A finely misted rain clings to the aasimar’s robes and gleams in the candle light, dancing about in gentle sprays as the black cloth swishes about. The city outside was chill today, and he was glad for the warmth of the hearth however distant.

Assured that he had come to the correct address, Hadrian holds the door open wide for the moment and softly directs his entourage into the room. Following swiftly on his heels was a hovering disk that was itself draped with a tarp over some indistinct bulk. The platform came to a halt several feet away, floating noiselessly. Crossing over to the bar, the Bleaker smiles politely at the somnolent half-elf.

“Good day, cutter. How much are your rooms? And could you point me to the lavatory?”

[Stix]

The half-elf startles blearily at the sound of a nearby voice. "Heh? Umm," he says nonsensically as he wipes a bit of spittle from the corner of his mouth, regaining his faculties. "Sorry about that, cutter. Rooms are rented by the week. Three gold pieces gets you a private bed behind lock and key, warm sheets, a morning and midday meal, and a bottomless pot of pumpkin tea.

"Latrines are the second door on the left," he adds, pointing to the mouth of the broad hallway by the end of the counter.

[exile]

“Excellent, excellent,” Hadrian chimed as he fished out three gleaming coins from his purse. “But before I take the room, I must ask first what the house’s policy is on visitors? I would also have you know up front that I generally keep odd hours, and would prefer not to be disturbed. I promise to be respectful of the other guests and take care of the room as though it were my own however.”

[Stix]

"There's not much space in a room -- a bed, a closet, and a clear path to open the door," he says with a half-smile before rattling off the boarding house's policies. "Visitors in the company of a keyholder are welcome in the common room, open at all hours; only keyholders get free food and drink, of course. Privacy is important to us, so we ask that no one go knocking on doors or soliciting the attention of other patrons in their rooms. We keep things quiet between 8 AP and 6 BP, but you can come and go at any time you like; there's at least one staff person on duty around the clock.

"...But sometimes he's asleep," he adds with a chuckle at his own expense.

[exile]

"That will do nicely then, cutter," Hadrian replied, offering up the required fee. "If theres a room ready at the moment, I wouldn't mind settling into it now. I'm expecting company shortly, so if anyone comes asking after a Bleaker I'd appreciate it if you sent them my way."

[Stix]

"I'll send them your way -- but please try to hold any conversation in the common room rather than in the hallways," the half-elf starts, accepting the payment. "Room twenty-seven is yours for the week." He rises and makes his way behind the counter, selecting a large keyring from one of several pegs on the wall. He removes a stylized brass key the length of Hadrian's hand, passing it to him. "Anything else I can do for you?"

[exile]

“Thank-you but no, cutter, I’m quite content at the moment,” Hadrian replies as he accepts the key.”I’ll be sure to keep the noise to a minimum.”

Signaling for his arcane retinue to follow, the aasimar starts off for the establishment’s private chambers in the rear.

[Stix]

Hadrian unlocks the heavy wooden door, which swings open with ease on well-oiled hinges.

The innkeeper was hardly exaggerating when he stressed the lack of space in the room. The closet door can only be opened when the entry door is closed, and vice versa. The bed could seat two with relative comfort, or perhaps as many as four if personal space is less of a concern.

[exile]

Directing the floating disc under the bed in an effort to conserve what little space there is, Hadrian closes the door behind him and turns the key in the lock. After a moment to survey his surroundings, he takes a seat on the mattress with a sigh. The room was hardly poor accommodations by his standards, though he would certainly not be sad to see the last of it. Soon hopefully; for there was nothing further to be done now except to wait on Tensar's recruits.

Shifting his weight into a more comfortable position, Hadrian stretches out his legs on the cot and places his hands behind his head. Perhaps a quick nap couldn't hurt either, he muses, barely managing to stifle a yawn.

(Cue the rest of the minders any time )

[TheGratefulNed]

A horse-legged tiefling opens the door and a slight click-clack can be heard as his shod hooves tap lightly on the floor. A dull grey cloak covers most of his body though the hood was already thrown back, revealing a weathered ashen face with small rivulets of oily Sigilian precipitate trickling down his scaly face to drip off his chin. His rough, black eyes flash about the common room briefly before he walks over to the half-elf behind the bar. "Looking for a Bleaker who's expecting some visitors," he says quietly.

[hilathic]

Entering the boarding house just behind the the grey cloaked tiefling, Hilathic approaches the bar in turn with notice in hand. "I too, am expecting to meet someone here." Hilathic wears no clothing and holds only an harmonica in hand, with a rolled notice. Snakes scales cover the legs and lower torso of this extremely small tiefling. Green covers his entire body and his facial hair is the same awful green, causing his facial features to blend.

[Stix]

"O' course," the half-elf starts, moving around the bar. "I'll go fetch him."

*****

Two soft taps sound at Hadrian's door. "Two tieflings here to see you, sir," the innkeeper says barely above a whisper.

[exile]

The gentle knocking at Hadrian’s door rouses him from the brink of sleep and his response is languid and mildly confused. “Hmm? Oh yes – yes of course, thank you, friend. I’ll be right along…”

Shifting over to the edge of the cot, the aasimar rises groggily to his feet and fishes about his robes for the room key. Finding it at last, he unlocks the door and shuffles out into the narrow corridor, following it back to the common room.

Standing in the doorway he spies the figures he had been anticipating. “Hello cutters!” he exclaims with a wave towards the two men, beckoning them back towards his chamber. “Gl’Fnak, it is good to see you again my friend. I was most surprised when Master Tensar informed me you had answered the notice. And you must be…?”

Hadrian casts an inquiring eye over Hialithic, taking in his casual nudity and general lack of armament. He was more than a little curious to know what had been said during the squat tiefling’s interview that would have established his worth in Tensar’s mind.

[TheGratefulNed]

When he sees the aasimar spellslinger emerge from the direction of the quarters, Gl'Fnak's toothy grin broadens. Inclining his head in response to Hadrian's greeting, he replies, "I knew 'twas a Bleaker hiring for this ride, but not his name. Well met once again, cutter." The Baatorian Cipher turns slightly to appraise the green-furred tiefling who'd entered just behind him, nodding politely to him while waiting to catch his name.

[hilathic]

"Hilathic. My friends friends call me Hal." Hilathic holds out a hand to his new employeer. "Gonna just be the 3 of us then?"

[exile]

(OOC: Good question. Whats the final verdict, Stix? Who else are we waiting on?)

[hilathic]

(OOC: I have a lot of time right now to play. We going to get rolling with this or we hit another dead end?)

[Stix]

(You're also theoretically picking up Quicksilver and Sirocco, but Sirocco's player hasn't been around for quite some time, so we'll say he didn't respond to Tensar's summons.)

[exile]

(OOC: Ok, we’ll wait on Quicksilver then.)

Hadrian gladly accepts Hilathic’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Well met, Hilathic. In answer to your question, we are still waiting on another. Come, cutters, if you’ll accompany me back to my chambers I have a kit for each of you should you require it. And we can talk business there without disturbing the other patrons.”

With a wave of his hand, Hadrian departs down the corridor once more.