Ch. 1, Scene 1: The Order of the Silver Rose

The Smart Sahaugin was built right along the base of the Eastvale River, nearly three hundred years ago. According to legend, a young bricklayer offered to build a strong, sturdy bridge which would allow for easy use of the land on the other side, where the noble Treymane family intended to build their keep. When asked what renumeration he expected, the bricklayer forewent any payment except the rights to the land, perpetually tax free, near the bridge itself. The nobles acquiesced, under the condition that no entry toll could be charged for anyone in the noble family or anyone crossing with business for the noble. The bricklayer, to their surprise, eagerly agreed to these terms and set about construction of the bridge. The Smart Sahaugin was what he chose to build on his land reward; while the nobles had forbade taxing anyone crossing the bridge, there had been no specifications about sea traffic going beneath it. The convenience of bringing cargo around the river rather than hauling it through the city proper made paying a small fee worth it to most merchants, and of course the tavern experienced a wide variety of both ground and sea patronage. "It was a move so smart," then-Baroness Loanna Treymane was said to say when drinking with the bricklayer near the end of construction, "that even Sahaugin could patronize the place without a problem." And thus, the Smart Sahaugin earned its name.

The decor as one steps down into the main tavern area does little to reflect its namesake; simple house crests for all six Zhanniquan counties hang above the bar, with a special seat reserved to the side for any sufficiently highborn patron. The most striking thing about the place is its complete lack of odor; there is no scent of ale nor mead, venison nor tobacco smoke. Most importantly, the stench of the river, which is all too apparent to those travelling near the building, is completely absent from the inside tavern walls; this is no doubt the reason they've sprung for such effective magical deodorant.

At this moment, the tavern sports about five staff, serving the needs of three dozen patrons. A lute player sits near (but notably not on) the High Chair, playing a light but somber ballad describing a young serving wench travelling with a group of adventurers to help tame the path between Zhanniqua and the Lightscar Empire. A poker game is going in the back left table.

Provos had provided fairly simple instruction... he pinned the brooch of a silver rose upon your lapel, and instructed you to be sure that you were wearing it when walking into this place on this date, at this time. There you would find five other people wearing the identical brooch, and Baron Treymane would come to collect you after you'd had a few minutes to get to know one another. "The Baron is a very influential fellow," Provos had said to you. "I'm trusting you to enhance my own reputation with him, even as you build your own. Please be as discrete as he asks you to be."

Scanning the room, and seeing no other roses on lapels, Nyx smiles to herself, First to arrive, lucky me. Smile still on her face she saunters to an open corner booth that's large enough to fit the amount of people Provos had told her were coming and takes a seat. She settles in to wait and scope out the others as they walk in.

The other patrons see a petite, pale, and a bit freckled young woman of no more than 18, with fiery red and curly hair. Her well put together clothing is of fine make but there are a few places where she has patched it herself with passible skill.

Lude arrived at the tavern fairly early, well before the dinner rush or the evening drinking had started. With more advanced age had come a change in her waking habits; she had become more of a morning person rather than a wee hours of the morning person. Lude had the silver rose on her golden armor and was looking forward to adventure.

It was very different from when she had known Baron Tremayne before. Then, he had been a young man, not yet a baron. She had known his father fairly well though as the Duke and the Baron had been friends, or at least not unfriendly rivals in the constant jockeying for position that had kept the court on its toes. She had decided not to bring this up to the Baron, however, and hoped he would manage the same discretion. Fitting in at this new profession was difficult enough without having her long and very different past come stare her in the face.

She entered and quickly spotted a slight ginger woman with the correct badge. Striding across the room, she stopped briefly at the bar to pick up a brandy, or a dry wine if that was the best they could do, before arriving at the table.

A wide smile greets Lude, The pleasure is mine I’m quite sure. Please sit with me as we awate the others. Nyx will scoot over. Your armor is quite beautiful.

Once the response would have been that I was quite beautiful. Lude sighs a bit; old mindsets, moved on from.

Thank you, dear. What name do you go by here?

Kyle ran over the checklist in his mind one last time, go to bar, wear brooch, ????, Profit!". He removed the brooch from his earth-toned cloak and placed it into one of the pouches at his belt. There was no need to announce himself before he was ready. He drew his hood a bit more closely over his sandy-brown hair, brown eyes, and youthful clean-shaven face, ran his hands over his weapons, and took the final few steps down into the bar. As the strains of a competently-played lute drifted in the air, Kyle eyes glanced all throughout the room. It was with a sense of relief that he realized that there was no one he recognized—personally or professionally, and that he was safe, at least for the moment. His eyes caught on the pair of women at the booth, each with Provos's brooch proudly displayed. He quietly made his way to the bar, to a point which he hoped was far enough to elude their interest but close enough to catch what they may say. This way he could see who else would arrive. He would introduce himself when the time was right.
Having caught the bartender's attention, he raised his armed and suddenly grimaced for a moment as he grabbed his right wrist with his left hand. "By the mothers or daughters, that hurts. Do you have any Camborran-style ale?"

I’m Nyx. Do you by chance know any of the other people who are to join us or what this nobleman looks like? Provos what so short on the details, dear man. Nyx says that last part with a fond sigh.

A pleasure Nyx. Your hair is quite amazing.

I have not met the other members of our company to the best of my knowledge. Provos is playing this one quite close to his chest. The Duke, I will probably recognize; I saw his father and presumably there is a family resemblance that has grown over time.

Nyx’s smile grows with the compliment to her hair, Thank you, she twirls a strand around a finger before letting it bounce wildly away, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I’m incredibly fond of it. You seem to at least have a one up on me, for you know what our patron might look like.

At the appointed time a young man in his late teens, or early twenties, enters the inn. The rose emblem is on display above his heart. He is dressed in metal armour and a sword on his back. He looks around like he has never been in an establishment like this before, and it takes him a minute to figure out where he will place his Halbert. After an awkward moment where he almost knocks over other weapons, he manages to get his staff weapon stored and can now pay attention to the people in the room.

An armoured matron and... wow a beautiful redheaded girl His eyes are fixed on Nyx and her rose emblem. As he approach her he mutters to himself: Compassion. Aid others, protect the weak, and punish those who threaten them. Show mercy to your foes, but temper it with wisdom.And I would love to aid her! Even if she looks like a wildling

He smiles at both the ladies. Hello my name is Hal Rool
Provos asked me to assist with a problem he had.

The doors of the Smart Sahaugin open, and in steps a petite young woman. She appears to be around 18 years old, with blonde hair styled in a practical yet elegant ponytail. Her glasses frame her icy blue eyes, and she wears fancy clothes in white and pastel pinks. On her chest is a brooch of a silver rose, perfectly complementing her attire. To those who do know, it might seem like a fancy accessory.

At first, she takes a step back, her gaze sweeping over the rowdy tavern and its patrons. She takes a deep breath, whispers something to herself, and then resolutely enters the tavern as she carefully looks around. She walks directly to the table where the others are already seated.

Sitting down without looking directly at anyone, these is an awkward moment of silence. Then she states the obvious.

"You all are wearing brooches. So, I presumed I should sit with you."

A few seconds later, as if remembering something important, she adds,

"Oh... I am Eirika Wintersun, by the way. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

As she says it, it sounds a bit rehearsed.

Tante Lude gets up to greet the newcomers.

"Hal, Eirika, a pleasure. I am called Tante Lude (the "e" is pronounced as a long vowel). Welcome. We were just getting acquainted and sharing information. I will let my companion introduce herself."

So, the awkward young man will be fighting with me, Nyx appears to be an archer or scout, and this Eirika is presumably a mage. It appears Provos is going for a standard mixed adventure party. The classics are always good, but we have not yet met everyone.

Every time someone new entered the bar, Kyle's heart would race until he was sure that he wasn't a target; this was not good for his young nerves. He felt too open sitting at the bar by himself; he would be safer at a shadowed table or among other people.

Kyle watched as two more figures joined the pair of women at their corner booth. The first, a handsome, young man in shining armor—around his age more or less. He almost chuckled out loud as he observed the near-catastrophe with the young man's polearm, the clerk, and the one of the coat racks. I wonder how well he dances, and how many toes need clerical attention when he is done?.

The young man was followed soon thereafter by a third woman—another striking young woman—a blond whose aplombness stood in contrast with the redhead's dynamism. So, a cleric of Essendra, a vision of Essendra, and a vision of Derla? This could be…interesting.

Kyle sighed and thought there is only one more for which we are waiting; then I'll introduce myself. Followed immediately by where is that blasted bartender with my ale!

Nyx scoots farther into the booth, so she is in the back corner, as the newcomers arrive. Hal, Eirika, lovely to find new friends. Please sit with us. She smiles at each of them, ever so slightly through her lashes at Hal. Two left to arrive, then our dear.. Barron I believe Provos said, correct?

Hal takes the offered seat next to Nyx and has a "dear-in-the-headlight"-moment. He has absolutely no clue what to say or do, so close to a pretty girl. Luckily the mention of the baron and the Provos mission is something he can handle.

Yes Provos baron. Do we know who he is?

A elf dressed in grey robes with a bow on his back (looks like quite cliche Wood Elf - even if you haven't met one, he reflects how humans imagine them to look like) is waling all around the tavern and greeting each and every patron (including every PC and even the lute player), as with a acquaintance.

If anyone asks his name he introduces as Sylvanor, but never care asking your name. If anyone start conversation he speaks of weather and good health - just some polite phrases and moves on to next person.

"Nyx, Tante Lude, Hal and Sylvanor," Eirika repeats each of her companions names. "Alright. Now, please exvuse me in advance if I use the wrong name accidentally. Rest assured that I did not forget your name. I just might have had more interesting thoughts in my mi..." Eirika stops midsentence, drawing a face that makes her realize that she might have said something that could have been ruder than she had intended.

Blast it again, that makes all five, and that bartender is so slow it feels like he only works three days a week!, Kyle thought frustratedly. No tip for that yokel. Too youthfully impatient and impetuous to wait for his ale, he decided that he wouldn't wait, but introduce himself to the group—he so hated waiting around. Standing up from the stool, he took the brooch out of his pouch, shined it on his sleeve, and pinned it to his cloak.

He carefully made his way to the corner table. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlecreatures, he said with what he thought was a flourish. I see you all wearing the same delightful jewelry. Jewelry of which I happen to posses an instance myself. I am Rupert McClintock, man-at-arms, at your very service. With whom will I be having the pleasure and privilege of travel and adventure? he asked.

I saw you when I came in. Why have you keep yourself hidden up to now? Hal looks to the group. They did notice man when they came in as well. Right?

I noticed him arrive but didn’t pay much mind because he hadn’t the appropriate pin. Nyx will smile to them both, Perhaps he was a bit cautious about meeting a group of strangers and wanted to make sure we all looked… friendly, before announcing his presence. One can only make one grand entrance after all. She winks at Rupert.