Xeresgate
You warily make your way across the lower level, carefully avoiding any accidental physical contact with the rowdy King's Arms Inn patrons. Finally, making it to the other side and under the stairs, you carefully open the "OWNER" door and slip in before you can be seen.
A false shoulder-high wall has been put in behind the door to provide the proprietor some privacy and make a little faux-foyer. You peek around the wall to see the owner and his mistress (She'd have to be... she's far to young and attractive when compared with the owner!) having breakfast at a table next to a yellow stained glass window with crossing metal supports like Xs (not the least bit ironic in Xeresgate, as it turns out).
"Helena, I think perhaps you haven't been giving in bed as well as Monika used to. I'm thinking of removing you as Head Wench," says the owner.
"Removing me?!? Heh! You never had it so good, Roland! I'll bet Monika wouldn't even take you back, you old, hairy fart, you!" Helena retorts.
"WELL!! That settles it, Miss high-and-mighty Helena... you're out on your arse! ...and we'll just see about Monika not taking me back!!" At this, Roland the Owner stomps in a huff in your direction. You're so involved with the conversation at this point that you almost forget to dodge out of the way and Roland narrowly misses you.
As he slams the door behind him, you look back toward Helena, who isn't budging from the table, but has rather crossed her arms and is grumbling as she stares at the shadowy forms walking outside the window on the street. It is then that you remember your original purpose in coming... look around and possibly find something of use! There are many extravagances in this place that are unusual for Xeresgate - a sink with overhead running water (from a tank upstairs which must be filled by servants from the nearby well) that spills into a marble washbin that drains, a fine china cabinet that actually contains china instead of the stereotypical wooden plates and utensils, a cedar hope chest (no doubt promised to every Head Wench that properly fulfills her duties for a long enough period of time), and all kinds of tapestries that look fine enough to be owned by a Lord (not a King, mind you, just a Lord)! Your interest, however, falls on two distinct items: a half-full corked bottle of blue potion marked "Force of Love" on the counter under the china display and a gleaming rapier with a brass handguard that rests precariously against a post of the fine four-poster bed at the far end of this admittedly large room.
What will you do?
A false shoulder-high wall has been put in behind the door to provide the proprietor some privacy and make a little faux-foyer. You peek around the wall to see the owner and his mistress (She'd have to be... she's far to young and attractive when compared with the owner!) having breakfast at a table next to a yellow stained glass window with crossing metal supports like Xs (not the least bit ironic in Xeresgate, as it turns out).
"Helena, I think perhaps you haven't been giving in bed as well as Monika used to. I'm thinking of removing you as Head Wench," says the owner.
"Removing me?!? Heh! You never had it so good, Roland! I'll bet Monika wouldn't even take you back, you old, hairy fart, you!" Helena retorts.
"WELL!! That settles it, Miss high-and-mighty Helena... you're out on your arse! ...and we'll just see about Monika not taking me back!!" At this, Roland the Owner stomps in a huff in your direction. You're so involved with the conversation at this point that you almost forget to dodge out of the way and Roland narrowly misses you.
As he slams the door behind him, you look back toward Helena, who isn't budging from the table, but has rather crossed her arms and is grumbling as she stares at the shadowy forms walking outside the window on the street. It is then that you remember your original purpose in coming... look around and possibly find something of use! There are many extravagances in this place that are unusual for Xeresgate - a sink with overhead running water (from a tank upstairs which must be filled by servants from the nearby well) that spills into a marble washbin that drains, a fine china cabinet that actually contains china instead of the stereotypical wooden plates and utensils, a cedar hope chest (no doubt promised to every Head Wench that properly fulfills her duties for a long enough period of time), and all kinds of tapestries that look fine enough to be owned by a Lord (not a King, mind you, just a Lord)! Your interest, however, falls on two distinct items: a half-full corked bottle of blue potion marked "Force of Love" on the counter under the china display and a gleaming rapier with a brass handguard that rests precariously against a post of the fine four-poster bed at the far end of this admittedly large room.
What will you do?