Open Chronicles Deal's a deal

[Briglann Jaros]

Briglann Jaros was sure he was usually far more careful than this. It wasn't like him to miss an arranged drop-off because he'd somehow lost the item he was supposed to be selling.

It was a little wooden box, charming and hand-carved, wrapped in a cloth and all ready for drop-off early tomorrow morning, that Brig had misplaced. A particularly lucrative deal had left him feeling luxurious for the afternoon and so he'd started his tavern-crawl early, making his way up through his favourite outer city haunts and gradually toward the inner city, where the drinks started tasting a little less like old fruit rind and began to actually have names.

It wasn't a lot later that the dusky man realises he'd lost the comforting weight tied to his belt and had been forced to back-track. Two taverns had yet to come up with anything and he scowled darkly as he pushed his way back into the crowd and the cooler night air.

"Excuse me," he asks a ruffled-looking man in expensive cloth who has exited shortly after himself. Then open door of the tarven spilled laughter and light. "I'm looking for a box, so-so big," he motions to indicate, "wrapped in cloth. Have you seen anything like that tonight, friend?" The stranger shook his head and said he hadnt, but moved away in a hurry when Brig's frown deepened. Passerbys seemed to be a little warier of the red-cloaked man at the doorway after that, perhaps suspecting Brig was trying to sell something to anyone entering or exiting the tavern. For once, he wasn't.

 

[Djana Mahin]

Djana sat quietly within the back reaches of the tavern, cool emerald eyes slowly darting over the rest of the room as she surveyed those inside.

There were two men sitting besides her, guards. In a place like this a lady such as herself should not be un-escorted, or that was what Lord Berenthill had told her when she'd made her leave of his manor. She'd wanted to roll her eyes for that, but there wasn't much she could do.

The fat noble had to be indulged, for now.

Djana had found over the last few days that she did not like Alliria. It was a melting pot of a city, beautiful in it's own way and with many interesting people...but the humidity did a number on her hair and complexion. She found it difficult to keep herself together on even the best days.

Still, the Great Lord had many servants here, and she found her work far easier than in many of the other cities she'd been in over the last few months.

Now if she could only complete her task and get out of here.

Then she might be able to breath again.

 

[Briglann Jaros]

There were fewer patrons filtering out of the warmly-lit tarvern. Although the conversation inside seemed buzzing and jovial as expected of this time of night, the looming figure by the door was making new customers uncomfortable.

As the bartender began to advance toward him, Briglann realised he was under scrutiny and quickly filtered inside. He was getting nothing done, waiting for people to leave. The best thing he could do was avoid getting kicked out, and perhaps buy some drinks to get people talking. Surely, if this had been the place he'd lost his parcel someone would have seen it.

Placating the irritated bartender with several words of apology, Brig began to weave through the crowd, occasionally stopping at tables to question those seated at them. Although he maintained a smile, the shaking heads and shrugs was depressing. If he lost this parcel, he would be down a lot of money and that sucked.

Eyeing the guards that flanked her, Djana Mahin's table wasn't really his first choice, but he was still stubborn enough to pursue any possible scrap of information.

"Hello!" he greets, appearing more or less nonplussed by the presence of her bodyguards, "I'm looking for a small wooden box. I think I misplaced it somewhere in this tavern, you see." He had halted at the edge of her table. Despite his relaxed demeanour, he was hesitant of just sitting down uninvited. "You wouldn't happen to have seen something like that?"

 

[Djana Mahin]

The two guards watched the man like a fox watched a mouse skittering across the floor.

It was clear that they were ready to draw their swords and run him through in half an instant if he did anything that might offend her. Djana glanced at both of them with a cool look, slowly rolling her eyes as she tried not to call them fools. They were her guards, she had to appear grateful.

Even if she knew no one would harm her here.

The Great Lord would not have allowed it. "A box?"

Her voice was just barely loud enough to be heard over the sound of the common room. Even still it was a soft honeyed tone, music to the ear without any singing. Her lips twerked in a small smile, emerald eyes floating over the oddly garbed man for just a few seconds before she drew back.

"I don't think so." She looked around. "Your search might be better off in the morning, when there is less activity."

 

[Briglann Jaros]

The woman's guards made him nervous, admittedly. Brig had often been hired as an extra hand to security when merchants upset certain important people, and he knew how persuasive coin could be to someone's loyalty. He very decidedly didn't want to test this burly pair flanking Djana.

Her voice was quiet, and the dusky man almost missed it. "Yes." he confirmed, "Small, wrapped in cloth and string." There are three of them at the table, and assuming they had been here for a while, he was hoping a glimpse had been caught.

Luck was not on his side today it seemed, and as Brig learnt she hadn't seen anything of the sort, disappointment filtered across his face. "You're very certain?" he questions on a sigh, "I'm willing to pay for any information. It's very important to a customer of mine." And their business was even more important to him. Loyal clients were not so loyal when one failed to deliver.

 

[Kalianna Romane]

Kali was sitting at a nearby table, with an eagerly eating Pan by a bowl of carrots and vegetables, stroking his fur calmly. Her mask was off, hanging idly off her belt along with a rapier. A violin and violin bow laid on the table as well, a hand resting on it just to dissuade any thieves who think it might be easy pickings drumming along to an unknown tune. She was waiting for her own drinks and food to arrive, spending the wait watching the crowd. She doesn't often get to familiarize herself with the Inner City's people, often opting out of its social events to partake in those of the Outer City. However, it's no lie when it's said that the food is better in the taverns of the Inner City than out in the Outer City, which Pan seemed to agree with.

As Kali idly watched the people come and go into and out of the tavern, she noticed a man going to and fro between the tables, evidently asking something from those who would listen. Many seemed to inch away reactively, likely in the fear of getting advertised to about some product or merchandise they likely will never want or need. It was a common practice to enter the Inner City to hopefully garner attention from richer folk by merchants with things they want to get rid of quick. However, this seemed a bit different. He did seem to be a bit more upset by the refusals than a merchant advertising their wares would be.

She watched the man talk to the noble women, raising an eyebrow at the rather excitable guards she seemed to have brought with her. Compared to the hustle and bustling noises within the tavern, her voice was nearly silent. Kali thought she heard mention of the man mentioning a box of some kind, as well as it being misplaced above the chatter of the patrons of the tavern, but anything else was lost to the nearby noise.

In an oddly graceful way, she leaned over to the table they were conversing at. She tapped lightly on the table, loud enough to be heard by the occupants, looking over the group. "Sorry to interrupt, but I overheard that someone here lost something, and I was wondering if I could be of assistance?"

 

[Djana Mahin]

Her fingers drummed against the table, perfectly manicured nails slowly drumming against the wooden top. Her lips thinned for a moment in thought, eyes slowly tracing up the man's figure once more.

Briefly Djana wondered if he was from the deserts, just as she, though his accent wasn't. Her lips thinned, and then suddenly someone else floated into their conversation. She moved smoothly, far more so than anyone might have expected, though Djana simply watched her in silence.

A tap on the table rang in her ears, and then a soft voice that spoke of interest. "Perhaps."

Djana mused out loud to the woman.

"I suppose that would be up to him?" The two guards that stood at her flank seemed even more rankled by the random woman coming towards them. Females were generally less of a threat, but these men apparently saw anyone and everyone as an enemy.

She'd need to get rid of them soon.

 

[Sol Minerva]

Busy taverns there were common. With so many faces coming and going, they are the perfect place to go unnoticed—or draw attention, depending on one’s whim. That night, one such tavern served as a sort of hiding place. The person whom Sol Minerva had come to meet had the tendency to arrive late to their appointments and Sol had to bring wine to keep her patience in order. Of course, the tavern sold wine but it was not to taste.
Sol was adjusting the headscarf she had wrapped around her face and hair to conceal her identity when she noticed a man in red approaching tables. She was on the other side of the room but managed to pick up small bits of the conversation that the concerned-looking man initiated with two nearby women and heard “box” mentioned at least twice. If he had lost something there, Sol figured his effort was useless as lost things usually stayed that way in the city. In the corner near the bar was an alternate entrance connected to the alley. Sol directed her notice there when a couple of drunkards jeered at one of their companions when he stumbled over something that then slid across the floor, closer to her table and under someone’s chair. It appeared to be a box wrapped in cloth and held together with string. It took only a moment for her to connect the situations.
The man currently hired by Sol Minerva’s employer to guard her sat at a small table by himself, facing her and sipping from a mug. He wore light leather armor and had a forgettable face; lucky for Sol. He was also seated much closer to the chair where the box sat under. She motioned for him to look there as subtly as was necessary to not be noticed by anyone else in the room. He did and gave Sol a quizzical look. “Oh gods,” she muttered to herself in annoyance before she glanced over at the trio to ensure they were not looking in her direction. She slid out of her chair and crossed the room toward her guard. On her way to address him, she took a coin from her pocket and dropped it near the chair. As quickly as she could manage with grace, Sol bent down to pick up the coin and the box, slipping both into the pocket of her coat before she returned to a standing position and approached her guard.
“You meant for me to pick it up?” he asked. She only gave him a look with raised brows as a reply as she sat beside him and leaned back casually. Just then, her contact entered through the back entrance where the drunkards stood. Brutus was a tall, stocky man with a thick brown beard. He had come dressed in a hooded green cloak, as usual. He resembled a mighty warrior and perhaps was one, however Sol only knew him for his ability to obtain a special herb. Upon recognizing her red headscarf, Brutus sat with her and her guard.
“Good evenin’,” he said, his voice low and gruff. He reached out to take her hand in greeting and to pass the small bag of ground herb into it. Normally, exchanges like these had no need for such discretion though normally the subject was not so illegal. It was the main component of a deadly poison that was commissioned by one of Sol’s friends to get rid of an abuser. It was in Sol’s best interest not to be connected to any shady purchases and possibly deemed a suspect if the victim’s death was investigated. So she slid the bag into the pocket of her coat by the mysterious package as stealthily as possible. From her other pocket she took out a few coins and placed them in front of Brutus.
“Always a pleasure, Brutus,” she said, offering him a charming smile as she stood to leave. Her guard stood as well. “I will be seeing you soon, surely.” With that, she turned toward the front entrance and began to leave, hoping to avoid the notice of the trio who mentioned a box that might be the very one that Sol grasped in her pocket.

 

[Briglann Jaros]

They are interrupted before the dark-haired woman replies, the light rap at the table snagging dark eyes and attention. There is a second woman, unfamiliar to Briglann and equally as intriguing as the first he had approached.

The ruffled reaction of Djana's guards didn't go unnoticed, and Brig pondered if Kalliana was more notorious than she seemed... but her friendly words dissolve his suspicions. Given the opportunity to believe the best of a stranger, Brig was content to take it.

"Yes." he picks up a response with a interested expression and nod of his head,"That would be me. I'd be most grateful of any help you could offer."

Momentarily, Brig is distracted by the scuffed sound of a boot pushing something rattly over dry floor. When a brief glance doesn't give him any clues (and his gaze flits unknowingly over Sol) he draws himself back to the conversation, ignorant of the way Sol had retrieved the item as he continued.

"It's a small box, wrapped in cloth." he explains, hoping it would be the last time he would have to. Inside the box, was a necklace. His client's wife was so very particular about the type of jewelry she wore. If he lost this piece, it meant more coin to commission another (that would undoubtedly have to come out of his pocket) and thus dash any hopes of a profit when the husband came calling tomorrow.

"I'm willing to pay well for it's return."

 

[Djana Mahin]

Djana drummed her fingers on the table, letting her nails clack against the hard wood.

A part of her wondered what all of this was about, if it really was a search for a small box that this man had lost or something more. Her lips pursed for half a second, her gaze sweeping across the room.

After a moment she sighed. "Help this man."

The Guard's looked at her with a confused glance, both of them apparently holding more than a little bit of disdain towards the idea. Their eyes bored into her for a moment, then quickly flicked over towards Birglann. Both of them screamed of a near extreme amount of disapproval.

"Mistress, we ca-"
​

A sigh escaped her.

"Just do it." She cut them both off. Curiosity had gotten the better of her now. She wanted to know exactly what this man was doing.

 

[Kalianna Romane]

As the guards made their surprise and fear apparent by their sudden movements once she leaned over, she flashed them a grin. "Don't worry, I'm just trying to help out somebody, not take away your honor." Once the noblewoman spoke, she nodded. "Hopefully," she said, casting her gaze over to the man.

The bard's eyes flitted over to the sudden sounds of boots shifting harshly on a wooden floor, managing to catch a woman pick up what seemed to be a coin before sitting down. Something seemed a bit off by the movements, but considering there were drunkards in the area, it wasn't suspicious enough to not be dismissed. Her gaze returned to the members of the table she was leaning on, nodding to the man. She listened intently to the description, crafting an image in her mind. Her fingers began to trace something in the air above the table, when suddenly a three dimensional image showed up. The illusion resembled what the man had described: A small box wrapped with cloth. A small smile played on her face, asking, "Something like this, right?" The illusion of the box slowly drifted to the table, Kali's hand briefly touching it to show it was indeed just an illusion. "Tell me if I missed anything, like a color, or a symbol on the cloth. Whatever you remember, at least."

She glanced over at the noble looking woman, listening to her and her guards. The guards and their stubborn dissaproval was simultaneously amusing and odd. After all, one would expect a guard to be able to follow their orders with arguing. Once the woman was finished cutting off the guards' comments, she let the illusionary box drift closer to them, hovering statically in the air. "Use this to help search for it. Maybe an image would do people's memories better than a description." As she moved the illusion, a few threads of curiosity began to tie themselves together. What did a simple box contain that was so valuable? The urge to satiate her curiosity was enough to make her want to help, even without the added willingness of the man to pay for it.

 

[Sol Minerva]

Just as Sol intended to walk out the door, one of the women apart of the trio cast an illusion. It was a small box, almost exactly alike the one she had concealed in her coat. She glanced at her guard to see if he had also noticed. He shrugged. “Thoughtful,” she remarked sarcastically at him before directing her attention back to the little group.

She had two options: she could continue to leave and take the unknown artifact with her or she could approach the table and see where that led. Sol decided on the latter as she had never had the need to steal. At any rate if the contents of the box were indeed revealed to be rare or of value, that could mean the man knew where to get things of such nature. That was precisely the kind of man that Sol wished to befriend. “Stay here,” she commanded her guard. “But keep an eye out.”

Sol approached the table while the illusion was still being cast. “That looks terribly similar to something I have seen recently,” she stated coolly, gesturing toward the image and looking at the man in red. “You’ve lost it, I assume. I may know where to find it, however I’m curious what it means to you.” She smirked coyly but it was not visible beneath her headscarf. If only she knew the box’s contents, she could barter more efficiently.