The hollow, watery sounds of a Cistern echo through the room, becoming one with the clamor of shuffling feet on stone, idle talk, and mugs being drained and plates scraped.
Principal Nicastro Saloman: "All right, ye lot! Order! I know, yer naught but vagabonds and scoundrels, but I know you know what Order is! So, ORDER! … … *casts his eyes from side to side as the din subsides* Yes. Fine, fine. Well, you all know why we’re here. The word travels quickly enough… Maestro Pavel has gone missing.
What may be news to you is he was not on any official Guild business at the time, and he is not believed to have been about any of his Council duties either, indeed he was at his leisure – or at least recently so – on the Docks. And in the span of maybe 30 minutes and less than 1 kilometer he went missing. Of course he has his enterprises like any of us, but he was to be on his way to Guild business so we don’t believe it was any of his private affairs either… With the War and the unrest in the City, we are looking at many avenues.
So yes, to get this official business out of the way; while he is absent, I will be acting and speaking in his stead as decreed by the Writ. You will bring your dues to me, you will bring your Guild issues to me, and that is how we move forward in what is undoubtedly his temporary absence.
Now, Capo Sharyn Messandier has volunteered to allocate some of the Quarter Boys – and gals, yes – to pursuing the Maestro's whereabouts more vigorously. If you have information that we should know, take it to her. She will be my hand in this for the foreseeable future.
With that I will open the floor up to questions, and new business."
Capo Repnel Porton: "You’re mad if you think Gallow Hall is going to bring you their Dues, Saloman!!"
At the Capo’s outburst, the clamor erupts with the renewed vigor of heated argument. It is several moments before there is a lull in the colliding voices. Nicastro is clearly biting his lip, staving off anger.