Chapter 1: The Shadow Moot

Marlent points Zachary to what he knows is the door to the Maestro's drawing room. "She just followed the Principal into his Hall quarters. I doubt she's even bothered him yet, he left in quite the huff..."

You're standing there for several moments before the door swings in, Capo Sharyn Messandier is standing on the other side. She clears her throat with a sharp, suppressed cough and says with a Sunndi accent, "Thief... Redhill? The Principal I think is not seeing anyone..." Beyond her you can see that most surfaces of the drawing room are covered in papers.

Marlent's brow furrows, "I think that's quite the leap, Brother. Porton made no show of interest in the position himself... Everyone knows he and the Principal have a past. Saloman sent good friends of his - members of his original Family - to the Stone Tower when they were all young men... now they are all old men, if they haven't died in there, they will be even older when they ever see the light of day again. Capo Porton has been a loyal agent to the Maestro for more than a decade.", she shakes her head, "I don't see it. Someone out there saw or heard something - the Docks never sleep, and Capo Messandier will find them and find out what they know. And may the gods help the fool if they are a Guild member and they committed this treachery."

She scans the few people left in the room quickly, "He was here for the meeting, I doubt he's gone far. I don't think he was making the trip back to the Garden until morning. Perhaps the commons room?"

As Gord steps into the commons, the fine, early Yragnian-period paintings that adorn the drab grey masonry of the walls creates an odd contrast. And it doesn't take him long to spot Furzere for a similar reason, he dresses in tight but very fine, ornate livery where most thieves prefer sturdy and functional garb. He sits at a table talking amicably among a handful of other thieves, there are drinks in wood and pewter cups in front of them. The Capo looks to Gord and smiles a welcoming grin as he sees the Fence's gaze settle on himself.
...
As Zachary's foot meets the door Messandier smirks ever-so-slightly, her words are gently twisted by her broad accent, "I see. Well, at this time we have little to take action on. The Principal and myself we review the Maestros ledgers and recent words. The Capos they bring us more. The Quarter Boys already they bring me persons of interest. It has been not even two days. In truth we do not even know there to be foul play." She shrugs, drawing her hand along a scar on her jawline to her chin thinking. She starts to turn away but pauses, "Well ... there is perhaps one thing." She steps away from the door and sweeps an arm toward a chair inside.

"We are alive, we are free, must there be another reason?" His eyes follow you lazily as you get a drink. You think he must have already been deep into his cup at the time of the meeting, as inebriation is already beginning to show in his face. "Good on the Fences for their vocal observance of the Old Alliance on this evening of ... strife." He raises his cup slightly to you, and the others at the table - of whom all but one are Royal Green - follow suit.

The Capo raises his eyebrows, "Indeed? Hm, aye, the Mistress Porter wasted no time in making her feelings about the Principal's new role known. It has been a good long while since I've seen or heard of a Member getting chased out of a Moot by the Enforcers. ... Well, onto the next one, hm?" he raises his glass again, drains it, and a thief goes to refill the Capos and his own.

Furzere tilts his head as his eyes flash with renewed interest, "I see. Well, with the war and it's blockades on land and sea, I don't know that anything interesting has come along in some time... However, I do know of at least one or two Lords or well-to-do merchants in the Garden with discerning tastes for the smoke..." He twists his mustache as he eyes you appraisingly.