Iaeum and Lyaeus

You open the door to the west.

Common room.

The smell of pipeweed and stale sweat hovers in the air, while a thick film of dirt, ashes, and tabac stains covers the floor, an undesirable mix in the already oppressive atmosphere. Set behind crudely built tables, padded seats line the walls, most long bereft of their stuffing. A circular piece of corkboard painted with black lines hangs from one wall, holes piercing its surface and that of the surrounding wood. Alongside the dartboard, a long slate plaque is covered with names and
numbers written in chalk, displaying the scores of regular patrons. Wilbur the cross-eyed, slouches in one corner. A runic totem is planted solidly in the ground. A countless number of contorted faces, twisted limbs, and surging torsos have been captured here in a massive bloodsteel shrine dedicated to Sartan. Lying flat on the ground is a key-shaped sigil. A silver-trimmed dartboard hangs here, waiting to be used. Dressed in courtly clothes, the slave Iaeum stands nearby, quill and scroll in
hand. There are 2 monolith sigils in 2 groups here. Crafted of bone and blackened steel, a chessboard rests upon an elaborately sculpted base. Lyaeus stands quietly to one side of the room, absentmindedly plucking a few melodious chords on his lyre.
You see a single exit leading east (open door).
The door to the east slams shut.

Jurixe stops short as she eyes Lyaeus, furrowing her brow slightly.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "You -are- persistent, for a bard."

Jurixe exhales in something resembling a faint sigh.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "I have little patience to deal with you for the moment, so you may live if you do not trouble me."

Having said that, Jurixe turns towards one of the seats, perching herself on one overstuffed cushion.

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall stifles a faint smile.

The slight motion catches Jurixe's attention, and her gaze flicks towards the thrall.

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall lowers his head respectfully before you.

Jurixe nods her dark head slightly in acknowledgement.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "Hail, Iaeum. How do affairs progress?"

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall says, "The matter of the council building is under discussion; the overseer is most pleased with the boost to the labour force."

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "Ah, excellent to hear."

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "Is the proposal put forward by Archfiend Kaevan acceptable, or does the overseer have other plans?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard plays a rousing drinking song on his lyre, encouraging the patrons to join in.

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall says, "The layout is acceptable, I believe, though a new location is desirable. The [place] has been put forth as a possibility, I ..."

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall wrinkles his nose in distaste.

Jurixe tilts her dark head slightly, curious.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "You do not seem to agree with this proposal of location."

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall says drily, "Bards."

Jurixe chuckles softly at that, the sound low and melodic.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "At least you do not have the misfortune to be propositioned by him, as I was last month - twice."

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall says, "I have no right to an opinion regarding the proposal. I was merely caught off guard. A thousand pardons, Minister."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard hums a well-known drinking song, his cloven hoof tapping on the ground in time to the music.

Jurixe nods her head absently to Iaeum, slanting an irritated glance at the bard.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "I think he is doing it on purpose, now."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings softly to himself, the rich tone of his voice blending perfectly with the notes from his instrument.

Jurixe holds up a hand to Iaeum and slides off her stool, moving smoothly over to the Satyr.

You say sweetly to Lyaeus, the travelling bard in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "There is one song I particularly enjoy, Satyr, if you so wish to please me."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard runs his lithe fingers over the strings of his lyre, a pensive look on his face.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "Ah! Let me recount to you a poem that's near to my heart." <<<< ragh, forgot 'song' triggers him

Lyaeus, the travelling bard waggles his horns suggestively, giving you a bawdy wink.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "This popular drinking song was written in the year 365AF by the well-known poet and satyr, Pylades."

A sweet melody accentuating his words, Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "For all of you who've ever had trouble holding on to a Bardic lass. Wily creatures that they are ..."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "I present, "As Soon As I Can Find Her". Feel free to join in if you know the words."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard starts to play a raunchy tune on his lyre, his hooves tapping wildly on the floor.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Swashbuckler, my Swashbuckler!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Have you seen my Swashbuckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Wielding in her lily arms"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "A rapier bright and posh buckler?"

Jurixe stops herself from rolling her grey eyes, but just barely.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "We have a date up in a tree,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "She says, so nobody can see"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Our acts: but while we're making love"

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "I should have known."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'm dislodged with a simple shove."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard urges everyone to join in the chorus.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Swashbuckler, my Swashbuckler!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "Have you seen my Swashbuckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Wielding in her lily arms"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "A rapier bright and posh buckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I mend myself, she swings on down,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "And when she's both feet on the ground,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I make a grope, I take a stand:"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "One knuckleslap: she stills my hand."

Lyaeus, the travelling bard urges everyone to join in the chorus.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Swashbuckler, my Swashbuckler!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Have you seen my Swashbuckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Wielding in her lily arms"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "A rapier bright and posh buckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Backflip, handspring, one, two, three,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Then up she goes, back in the tree,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Leaving me there, on my back,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I see this girl has got the knack!"

Making an effort to keep a straight face, Jurixe crosses her slender arms over her chest.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard urges everyone to join in the chorus.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Swashbuckler, my Swashbuckler!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Have you seen my Swashbuckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "Wielding in her lily arms"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "A rapier bright and posh buckler?"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall steps smartly back and holds his parchments to his chest in an off-hand manner, glancing at the ceiling. <<< oh shutup you :(

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "In front or from behind her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "As soon as I can find her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "In front or from behind her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "As soon as I can find her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "In front or from behind her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "I'd love to love my Swashbuckler,"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard sings, "As soon as I can find her!"

Lyaeus, the travelling bard finishes the song with a flamboyant trill on his lyre.

Lyaeus, the travelling bard says, "More drinks I think!"

Jurixe shuts her grey eyes for a moment, then opens them again.

You say to Lyaeus, the travelling bard in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "Simpler than that, I think."

You say to Lyaeus, the travelling bard in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "I call this one 'A Dead Man's Scream'."

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.
You have scored a CRITICAL hit!

Lowering his head, Lyaeus, the travelling bard slams his stubby horns into your stomach.

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.

Lowering his head, Lyaeus, the travelling bard slams his stubby horns into your stomach.

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.
You have scored a CRITICAL hit!

Lowering his head, Lyaeus, the travelling bard slams his stubby horns into your stomach.

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.

Lifting up a cloven hoof, Lyaeus, the travelling bard kicks you forcefully in the chest.

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.

Lowering his head, Lyaeus, the travelling bard slams his stubby horns into your stomach.

You slip behind Lyaeus, the travelling bard and garrote him with your whip.
The final blow proves too much for Lyaeus, the travelling bard, who expires pitifully.
You have slain Lyaeus, the travelling bard, retrieving the corpse.
A small pile of sovereigns spills from the corpse.

Jurixe uncurls her whip from the dead Satyr's throat, eyelids half-lowered in an expression of satisfaction.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "I think I rather enjoy bards after all."

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall nods coolly and lowers his scrolls again, impassively scanning over his notes.

A snap of Jurixe's fingers sends a few slaves scurrying to clear the body as she walks back to her seat, turning to Iaeum again.

You say inquiringly to Iaeum, a distinguished thrall in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "As you were saying..?"

[more discussion stuff]

Iaeum, a distinguished thrall says, "Thank you, Mistress. I will await your command regarding the
[stuff], and I remain at your disposal otherwise, of course."

Jurixe nods her head slightly to Iaeum, slipping gracefully off her stool.

You say in Mhaldorian in a cool, silken voice, "A pleasure as always, Iaeum."

<random ql>

Common room.
The smell of pipeweed and stale sweat hovers in the air, while a thick film of dirt, ashes, and
tabac stains covers the floor, an undesirable mix in the already oppressive atmosphere. Set behind
crudely built tables, padded seats line the walls, most long bereft of their stuffing. A circular
piece of corkboard painted with black lines hangs from one wall, holes piercing its surface and that
of the surrounding wood. Alongside the dartboard, a long slate plaque is covered with names and
numbers written in chalk, displaying the scores of regular patrons. Wilbur the cross-eyed, slouches
in one corner. A runic totem is planted solidly in the ground. A countless number of contorted faces,
 twisted limbs, and surging torsos have been captured here in a massive bloodsteel shrine dedicated
to Sartan. Lying flat on the ground is a key-shaped sigil. A silver-trimmed dartboard hangs here,
waiting to be used. Dressed in courtly clothes, the slave Iaeum stands nearby, quill and scroll in
hand. There are 2 monolith sigils in 2 groups here. Crafted of bone and blackened steel, a
chessboard rests upon an elaborately sculpted base. An ethereal spiritwolf swirls and spirals
incessantly, constantly shifting. Lyaeus stands quietly to one side of the room, absentmindedly
plucking a few melodious chords on his lyre. <<<<< wtfffff

On her way to the door, Jurixe stops short as she notices the reappearance of the bard, frowning slightly - then with an annoyed semblance of a huff, pushes the door open and departs.