RP:Gossip in the HCT

Summary: Joan and Aryas speak about the current events in Vailkrin, namely the newly proclaimed Baroness of House Dragana, Quintessa and her enseignant Kasyr. Joan tells Aryas where Quintessa's manor can be found and warns her of the dangerous flesh golems that gaurd the estate.

Hanging Corpse Tavern

This once-timber tavern has been rebuilt in sturdily vitrified blackstone and imbued with powerful protective magics that prevent occult fire and several other potentially harmful spells being cast within its walls. No effort has been spared to make what might otherwise be a bleak interior comfortable. The bar is made of polished stone with an oaken inlay, the space behind filled with a bustle of attractive barmaids, sundry barrels and a dazzling array of coloured bottles that glint in the light cast by a large wrought-iron chandelier suspended from the ceiling overhead. Here, the one-eyed Steadman stands, ready to take orders for food or drink. Beyond the bar, stout tables are firmly bolted to the floor, though the high-backed chairs are freestanding. The hearth is a true feature, seeming to be cast from black lava into the shape of a colossal, laughing goblin's head, its maw gaping wide and deep, usually containing a merrily crackling fire. A delicious scent of roasting meats drifts in from the kitchens and a winding staircase leads to rooms upstairs. To the south are set cellar doors, usually kept locked unless a special event is taking place, and up the stairs are various rooms for rent. The walls are hung with thick, richly woven tapestries depicting persons and events in the history of Vailkrin and the vampiric race. There's also a notice-board near the entrance, where one may leave messages. Unobtrusive but ever-present are the security staff, staunch fighters ever ready to toss troublemakers out.

Joan enters the tavern with a armload of books she checked out from the Black Library, her guild book as always the foremost on top the pile gathered to her vested chest. She pauses after she enters and moves slightly to one side, looking for a semi empty table to occupy.

Ayras sat at one such table, reclined in one of the chairs around the thing with an open book rested upon her knee. Fingers trace lightly over the page as she reads and rereads one particular passage in the tome, her brow furrowed. Why was she even trying to read this thing? She couldn't focus with what was on her mind.

Joan smiles enough to show a hint of fang as she wanders over to table Ayras happen to be occupying, “Hey! Can I join you for abit?!” She asked, waiting to see if the other wanted the company. “You will never believe who I ran into at Lady Larewen’s manor the other morning!” Joan leans in abit to say in a hushed tone, “Kasyr...the former King! My first time meeting him, dressed like a slouch no less! No shoes.”

Ayras looked up as Joan approached her table, and with a nod she motioned to one of the vacant seats. She closed her book as the other vampire regaled her with the news of having met Kasyr, and that name alone brought the faintest of smirks to her lips. "Kasyr, huh? Short fellow? Cat ears? Insufferable ego?" Her smirk shifted to a grin. "Haven't seen him since the war. Nice to know his fashion sense hasn't changed, though; he has always dressed like a slouch."

Joan nods as she lightly offloads her books onto the table before pulling out a chair and sliding into it, “Yup, everything checked off, seems he is staying there with Tessa’, the young lady that has taken claim to Lady Larewen’s manor and title...Baroness, or whatever...” She shrugs here, “I passed some idle chit chat with Kasyr and mention you, he asked about you, I didn’t know you use to be male!” Joan exclaimed with surprise.

Ayras frowned at the mention of Quintessa. Ah yes. That one. He'd need to pay her a visit, sometime. But the fact that Kasyr asked of her, and the fact that they hadn't seen each other since Ayras was sporting an extra sword, returned some of her good spirits. "Yes, I was once a male. A dragon's magic made me what you see before you, today." She leaned forward onto the table and cocked her head to the side. "He asked about me, you say? I'm honestly not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I'll take my chances. He was staying in Larewen's estate, you said?"

Joan chuckles before answering Ayras’ questions. “Mhmm, was descriptive about you, right down how you act with your sword.” Joan leans back in her chair, “He seemed interested to know how you been and to perhaps catch up?!” She made this a question as she was a tad unsure...the former king as rather tried and wiped out looking but the impression she got that when he asked after Aryas was that he had genuine concern.

Ayras nodded a bit. "I bet he was. We have a...strange friendship. Don't worry if you hear about His Former Highness getting into a fight. It's a fifty-fifty chance that we wind up trying to throw each other out a window." She chucked at that as her eyes shifted to the window at the front of the tavern. "So where, exactly, is Larewen's estate? I've never been there."

Joan lifts her chin to indicate the way out from the tavern entrance, “Just head back out towards the first cut off before the bridge and the remains of the horses, you head north and then east, before you hit Black Pond, near the shack. You can’t miss Lady Larewen’s manor. You don’t really need to knock as you are one of her allies, tho do take care, Tessa’ said that the flesh golems where sorta out of her control since Larewen took her leave. Guess the new ‘Baroness’ ain’t all that and a bag of chips.” Joan would snarfs a tad there.

Ayras rose from her seat, tucking her book under her arm as she did so. "In that case, I'll go scout the place first and see whether or not they attack me. If they do...well...I'll find a way in." Everys did his have uses, after all. "Thank you for the information, Joan. I'll see you around." And with that she turned and headed out the door.