Meet in a Tavern

The tension grows as Tireneans and Kryseans start to drift to party lines. A brawl seems likely, until a heavy presence enters the room.

Glais Danarovus walks through, with Angus Tapkin in his wake - sharks swimming through a school of mackerel.



Danarov, the Ion (OOC: the Boss, Chief), smiles calmly and nods to the small faction leaders in the room. His Pireus (OOC: dock leader) follows behind with a menacing glare that sears like a hot branding iron.

Sometimes brawls are tolerated in certain sections of Gulleyloft, but the signal is sent that tonight is not the time and this is not the place.

The tension is sapped out of the air, and everyone goes back to having a good time instead of looking for a fight.

Xenophon and Syrena have been looking for an opportunity to speak with The Ion. Their opening arrives.

Danarov departs the common hearth hall to an adjacent room, past two sentries.

Tapkin makes eye contact with Syrena from across the room, and nods for the two to follow with him.

As the others break into pairs, Damanadros and Gundus talk through some ideas at the table.

Soon a provocatively dressed gypsie woman imposes herself, showing her allures. "I know you two Patricians will not be drawn in to any fight over forest music like these lower born.



What knowledge do you seek?" She slides in the chair between them, nestling up first to Damanandros. "Do you wish to have a reading?"

Nodding, Damanandros acknowledges the guide's plan with a raised fist. An apparent attempt to signal a show of solidarity but it comes across as thin and awkward. He would have to work on that.

Watching the pair walk away to a private meeting he scans the room for patterns of threat and notes the direction they leave in.

For a while, he engages Gundus in discussion regarding the virtues of faith vs displays of inspired magic in the relationships between the clergy, lay folk, and the divine.

"How do the common folk reconcile the fact that only the clergy wield power and the congregation never becomes a vessel for the will of the gods?"

The arrival of the gypsie completely derails the line of questioning. Not accustomed to unfamiliar people pressing in so close he is set a bit on guard and places his hand subconsciously to his coin pouch.

"So what is the price to have my fate laid out before me?" He quips as he pulls out a silver coin and smiles.

He is both attempting to cover what could be construed as an insult, while simultaneously validating her. Besides, it would be an interesting experiment if he could see if there is actual magic being woven into the ritual.

When Xenophon and Syrena pass into the passage to the guarded chamber, they come to a surprisingly unnoticeable stairway downward. The steps shift in an irregular spiral and then angle out in the opposite direction, leading to a lower chamber beneath the grand room above.

Entering, the two guests find themselves in yet another room of tavern motif, though this one smaller and quiet.



The Ion, Danarov, is at a table reading a small ledger by an oil lamp.

There is a bartender at the bar. He pours two drinks, expensive brandy - offers them to Xenophon and Syrena - then motions them over to the table.

Angus Tapkin soon descends the stairs and joins the room, falling in behind them as they take a seat.

Xenophon knows that he is meeting underworld royalty this night. Danarov's rise to prominence is no secret - Xenophon had heard it from a former employer and mercenary commander, Dimitrius Strabo.

Glais Danarovus was born to a lower noble house and trained his entire youth to join the ranks of the prestigious Palatinian Guard. He gained the post, but it was short lived as his father landed the family name into dishonor.

After demotion, Glais served the remainder of his military obligation as a Centurion, deploying to the wars against Jutland and Celdora. Upon discharge from the 3rd Legion, he joined the Packers' Guild under the tutelage of Guildmaster Dameon Korith, a long time associate of his father.

In less than a decade, Danarov has become one of the most feared men in the region. First renown as a master swordsman and assassin, now recognized as an expert strategist with a skill in operations, he is The Ion in Amanuctum. This makes him the second ranking leader in the Packers' Guild, answering only to Guildmaster Dameon Korith in Kourithos.

"6 plus 6 Eagles of Silver buys a Seeker's Reading and a Word of Wisdom, master," answers the foreign woman in her exotic accent, as she slowly strokes her fingers up Damanadros's arm and over his shoulder.



"But if you wish to truly encounter the Magick of the Gods, follow me to my chamber, drink the Nectar of the Ancients," she holds up a bottle of her potions, tantalizing, "and enter into a Higher Realm of Knowledge, Understanding, ..." she leans forward to finish the last in a breathy whisper, touching her lips to Damanandros's ear, "... and Pleasure."

As the sensuous woman makes her advances, Damanandros uses a specialized technique to detect congregation or disruption of arcane energies, usually the sure signs of magic use.

Though the confessed soothsayer has not yet made any claims of sorcery or divination, so far Damanandros sees no signs of it. It will take longer to reach full certainty on the sense of magic. This technique takes some time.

Something else does capture his senses though, and almost immediately. The Krysean skald Doon Thunder stands nearby. Damanandros can see the lines of magical augmentation, crackling and winding wistfully in irregular patterns, all along the rugged musician's great drum that hangs by a strap slung over his shoulder and across his back. This musical device is wondrous and recently manifested, Damanandros is certain of it.

Sense Power Results: Detection of recently used magical item, the Drum of Doon Thunder. More time would be required to gain clarity on the target to confirm spellcasting (Time listed as 1 Turn = 10 minutes).

Optional Actions: Pay 12 silver to hear short "Seeker's Reading" onsite and continue the Power Sense to completion? Relocate to the woman's private chamber to investigate claim/offer of advanced ritual casting?