D
Davion
Guest
Original poster
The group had received their invitations by personal carriers at the same time, precisely 9 o'clock at night with instructions to meet immediately if they were interested. Through their different passages, they arrived one by one silently to the ghostly walkways of the Jameson Fishing District, all watching as the different members arrived before setting off into the salty alleyways. The only souls to be seen were hard faces cast in shadows from different doorway arches, all of which disappeared behind moldy doors or smeared windows as the group was led to the side of a large warehouse, where the first courier unlocked a large metal door and pushed it inward. With a motion of his hand concurrently with a nod of his head, he beckoned the party down into the dimly lit cobble steps.
For a minute, the party walked in dead silence through the lowest level of the warehouse until they came upon an open archway, leading to a luxuriously set dining room.
Red padded seats overlooked a display of finely crafted plating, crystal goblets, and polished silver, all supported on a dark ebony table. Small torches burned very dimly periodically across the stone walls of the room, but the main source of illumination came from the great fire that was lit in a large fireplace behind the head of the table. For a second, the darkness cast around the head chair seemed to completely conceal any presence, until a calm, smooth voice called out to them to please take a seat around the table.
As the members took their seats, the same couriers reappeared and removed a cloche from a plate, each revealing an exquisitely prepared meal to their individual likings. Wine, water, and ale was spread around the table, along with garnish and seasonings in just more than the blink of an eye. The couriers all silently bowed and exited through the other archway of the room.
A second time, the voice of the enshrouded male called to them. "Please eat and drink, if you so wish, I often prefer to mix business with dining." The man wore night black robes of silk as he reached forward and delicately picked up a fork and knife, cutting easily into the medium rare filet of meat before him. "All of you… ", he started after his first bite, pausing to take a sip of wine, starting to chuckle before he could finish. "Forgive me, you see it was very recently that I was conducting this same business proposition. What I meant to say is that all of you are slightly known within the city for your individual talents, and I would like you contract you together. I propose an invitation to join my services only on contract. I often require different services performed, from recovering lost items to handling uncooperative business partners." Though the statement was vague, clearly odd in its nature, he continued on, clearly familiar with the notion. "My work can be dangerous, as often I'm sure, as many of your tasks have been. But." He took another sip of the wine for added pause. "I pay well, generously for the task in addition to whatever property you may recover that does not belong to me. It will also be at the completion of every calling, so you may see profits without fear of being held out on by my part." Setting down the fork and knife, he leaned forward, the large hood of his robe concealing all but the tip of his nose from the strangely think darkness that permeated the scene. "Any questions, my associates? For me or your new partners?" he spoke again, holding the goblet of wine up as to declare a toast.