The #Broken_Dagger Forum

"Up...Little more....more...Down..about a half of my thumbnail...Don't give me that look Colton!...half of my thumbnail...there..perfect...hammer it there!"

The voice of Daphne-Kyle cuts through the morning fog, as she watches the two men hammer in a sign that reads "Way Station & livery" It hung over the newest building to stand in Myrken township. The property was bought up during the seige of the spires when a few of the weaker hearted merchants fled in fear of what was to come...But nothing came..and in time the spires tumbled. She didn't much know as to the why's and how's..Didn't much care either, wasn't her money..she was mearly a frontman..running a business for a backer that though wasn't entirely unknown..wanted to seperate herself from the business...

Daphne herself was alway up for a challenge...She dealt with them all her life..being born with a clubfoot..she has had a sever limp her entire life...and can always be seen using a cane or crutch...especially in winter when the snow made the task of walking doubly difficuly...aswell as being almost completely blind in her left eye...she has an single optical device...that is always hanging from her neck...somewhat bookwormish, she fits the part admorable...Sheepish features, and a slightly plump figure...she's not what one would call a looker...but she gets by with a razor sharp wit, and smarts that have most men grinding there teeth in dislike. when she proves them wrong...which she does at ever possible oppurtunity.

This morn, with the winter chill has her bundled up in a wool jacket and scarf...her skirt scraps against the ground to hide her foot...furlined boots..one fashion special in a design of her own making that allows it to fit around the deformities of her foot...the finishing touches are being completed..the boarding house, already in operation...was finally looking up to the specks she outlined, when she took this job..the sign was the final todo on her list...and after an hour of adjustments...it was finally as she wanted it...and the men doing the hammering?...they may grumble under there breath..but they know better then to speak any disgruntles out loud..for they have seen who she has shared a lunch or a drink with durning the construction....and none care so little for there lives to talk
ill of a friend of the Gypsy...

Speaking of the Gypsy...

"Looking good Daph...."

Came a voice from behind...which had the shorter woman, turning... parchment scrunched under one arm as she lift up the lens...to look upon the face of Khalika Quiller..

"Well Quill...you should now...you paid for the damn thing...though that name leaves something to be desired..."

"That's what i'm counting on actually..."

Came her responce as she noted the men had stoped hammering and where looking at the two..a nod..let them know that she knew they were not working, and soon the sounds of hammering where heard again...as the two headed inside...

There was nothing much fashionable about the inside...basic needs where met. Tables, chairs...a hearth...windows on two of the four sides...facing the street where they enter and the side looking out to where the stables were. Being on the farthest side of town allotted them, some extra breathing room. there was also an entrance that lead to where the horses where boarded, and a staff entrance through the back where deliveries would be brought in...it was to that very back they went..through the kitchen, which two was fully functional. Off the kitchen was a rather Large Pantry..it held most of the dry goods and there was also room for travelers to store things they couldn't carry up to there room...trunks and the like...

A small boy was busy unloading spices and other kitchen requirements when they entered...the gypsy gave him a rustle of his hair....

"Does Pritchard know you're here?.."

She asked with a smile...as the boys other job beside all the little jobs she has him do, was a stable boy at the Broken Dagger...

"It..be me day off..Ms. Daphne say she feed me a full bowl of stew I get these pro..Prov..Provision laid away before breakfast..."

the young boy of 11 was quite proud of his standing, and at the fact that whenever a errand need be done about Myrken the Gypsy came to him...

"Well i think you've earned your fill...go dish yourself up...you can finish up later..me and Quill need to speak about business"

The boy nodded...he also knew..when either of them used the word business, it meant things he wasn't suppose to hear...The Gypsy told him once. That if he didn't know..then he wasn't lying when he told Straka that he didn't know...it was a good rule of thumb..but he also couldn't wait till he was old enough to be able to tell someone else to leave so HE could discuss business!...but off he went..closing the door behind him...

"Soo...did the Nobleman and his party leave on time?"

Down to business indeed...the Gypsy had to make sure everything was running smoothly before she up and left this all in poor Daphne's hands..

"Yupe smooth as silk...funnything though...He packed up the count of Slabin trunk instead of his own...we'll have to make sure to remedy that situation...perhaps well send his trunk after him..."

A feigned shrug..as the woman's good eye twinkled somewhat...she truly did love her line of work...in fact even though she looked about as far from the part as one could...she was about as good a thief as the Gypsy herself...and a damn good book keeper aswell....

"Well i'm sure once he misses it..he will send someone for it...and his payment?"

The Gypsy responded...as she eyed the shelves...and how they alined into the floor...the seams were flawless...Hell she wouldn't even be able to find the door if she hadn't already seen it open herself...

"In full....he was quite pleased with his accomadations...and said he would spread word to his fellow travelers...I believe Myrken might soon find themselves with an influx of visitors...Speaking of which...any news about who my newest employee will be?"

This had the Gypsy chuckling...as she looked over and down at the woman who just barly scrapped 5'1..they were quite the pair.

"Yes..I spoke to her, and she has agreed...but i would refrain from calling her your employee...Drow are touchy enough as it is..and this one..."

a slight whistle...

"Let's just say I don't want to come home and find this place burned to the ground..."

"Oh...don't you go worry your young head about it...I'm the people person remember?..A Drow you say...well...least we don't have to worry about her spilling her guts to one of her many friends"

Again the Gypsy was laughing...as she reached down and began to set things on the shelves..might as well help the kid out..beside there was no way he'd reach the top shelf...and she knew there was dried venison around, she could smell it!

"Who you calling young?...you're barly 8 months older then me... and I sometimes wounder if you smudge your age..like you smudge my accounts!"

Then they were both laughing...like long time friends do....for Daphne-Kyle was perhaps one of a handful that could lay claim to have known the Gypsy for more then a decade...and the schemes they have pulled off are close to legendary in some of the more seeder circles...Of course the Gypsy caught all the glory and all the wanted posting...while Daphne to this day..has not been wanted for a single crime...save the one time she spit on the Earl of Norfork, after he called her a vile cripple...she could have hanged, though funny enough he was found hanging from the rafters of his bedchamber the next day...with one foot so mangled and inturned...it near resembled a clubfoot itself...Charges against Daphne were never filed, as the charge was lost inthe aftermath of the funeral.

"Oh you know damn well I made your life a hell of alot more interesting then it could have been!.."

A poke from a crutch, to the back of the gypsy's knee...had the women laughing again...

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I let you convince me to be dragged out to this God forsake place..just to up and leave me not 2 months after my arrival...."

Her voice now held something of a serious tone to it now....as she looked up to her friend...

"I can't be helped...you know that Daph..."

"Of course I do...but it doesn't mean i have to like it very much..Personally i liked it a whole lot better when the only one you showed your softer side to was me...now look..you're a regular nightie in shining arms"

A chuckle at an inside joke that had to do with a nightgown, and a young man who didn't see much of the sun...

The Gypsy wanted to laugh...tried to...cuss it was truly one of the funniest things she has ever seen..well till she met Phlynn that is...

---------------

I'll be careful...I always am...."

"Will you be taking the Sundery?.....or the Eagles passage?"

Yupe the woman knew enough of her friend to know what the tones of her voice meant..and when to let a topic lay...

"The Sundrey...she's not as fast as the Eagles Passages...but she is also not as known....I want travel time to be as quick as possible...and i think we'll make better time on a known merchant cruisers...then a rumored smugglers vessel.."

"Pirate ship.."

Coughs came pre and post those words...

"In anycase...the Sundrey is already preped and awaiting us..."

Sharp eyes shot over quickly....cuss she didn't need people knowing she was once a suspect pirate captain on top of everthing else...Kilborn would hang her on principle no doubt...

"She's a good ship Quill...My favorite of the two. And I heard word from Jonah, he's pulled together the old crew.. She'll ferry your companions safely..."

The Gypsy knew aswell the tones of her old friend...and club foot and bad eye be damned...the woman was one of the most sea worth people she has ever meet...which is reasonable enough seeing as she was raised in a sea side village to a deep fishing family...

"You should be coming....If it was possible you would...."

"But you cannot have a cripple on this journey.."

"I didn't say that....you know damn well I have never thought of you as lesser then anyone else...besides...if we both disappear in the deep blue sea..who will count all our money?..."

This had the shorter woman laughing...and turning from the door...

"Come on Gypsy filth..I've been saving a bottle of the good stuff..lets get three sheets to the wind...Davey Jones....and his bloody locker be damned!!"

Ahh a true sailor indeed...as she made her way out the Gypsy was smiling...a slight nod...

"WEll can't be saying no to one who is on her last good leg...now can I...Or is that your only leg?"

the sound of a pot hitting wood would echo in the main room where, and have the young boy pause and look to the kitchen door..only to hear laughter and jovial quips and retorts...banter at its best..though perhaps not what a boy of 11 years should hear..

Speaking of drow...

This particular dark elf was doing something she disliked, today - lurking around the town. The constant darkness had made her slightly bolder of late. No longer did she have to limit her excursions to the nighttime hours.

Besides, there was money involved in this.

Money was certainly the best motivator for her, and Khalika knew that well. Money and curiosity.

It was around the new building that she was currently slinking, taking stock of the environs before she approached the door, swathed in hood and cloak. Not bothering to knock, she would merely see if it had been left unlocked. If so, her entrance to the building would be unhindered. If not, she would make sure that there was no one else around before quietly jimmying the lock open.

The outer doors save the one for the kitchen were open for business at all hours. and inside, there was nothing much going on..a few travelers busied themselves with their dinner or their drink...It seems they barely took time to note the Drow. For most of them didn't want to be seen anymore then Jirai did..

Behind the bar, was Where she would find Daphne-Kyle...hair mussed and unkept as usual. Pins sticking here and there, as she had made an attempt that morning to pin it back. leaning against the bar for support, her crutch off to the side...she was making an inventory of all the bottle a man on a ladder was setting up onto the shelves...the main selection had already been there since they started openly taking customers...These bottles were of a more rare find..some From Khalika's Private stocks...Some simply recommended by her.

And if the Drow had made way directly to the bar...she would look over to her with a cock-eyed grin. monicle rested lopsided as it peered over to her..

"thought you be makin' it this way.."

The heavily cloaked and hooded woman would indeed make her way to the bar, calmly leaning against it. She was surveying the others in the room, not even looking at Daphne-Kyle as she responded to the crippled woman.

"I had said that I would," she replied, amiably enough. "I can be a woman of my word from time to time, hard as some might find it to believe." Nothing of her inward distaste showed in her voice - distaste at the proximity of others, and distaste at Daphne-Kyle, oddly enough. Or perhaps not so oddly, considering her race's extreme hatred of physical deformities. Not that she was one to judge, with her scarred face. So she said nothing, and would not allow her feelings to show...for now.

"Has the gypsy left on her "vacation" yet?"

Daphne eyed the drowess carefully, she knew...she hadn't been living in a hole her entire life. After many dealings with the dark elven race she knew. Though their distaste was no different then anyothers...disfigurement is something all can get behind in their dislike for...But she let it go..If the Gypsy sent her, she must be more then simply Drow..

"I am not privy to her day to day activities...."

Said more for the benifit of those around, who knew who might be hinding under the cloaks...

"if you'll follow me..."

She reached for her crutch fixing it under arm, and began to move from behind the bar. heading towards a door on the right side, not the kitchen door which is of course on the left. she had a very distinct limp. but with the length of her shirt, one could not see the sever inturn of her foot.

"We can talk in a more private setting.."

She might not have lived in a hole her whole life, but Jirai certainly had. Literally, not figuratively, though.

The heavily cloaked and hooded woman nodded. "I tend to prefer privacy, for obvious reasons."

With that comment, she followed carefully where the woman led.

Daphne was nodding as she moved through the door...a slight motion, for the Drow to close it behind her as she limped and hobbled. Behind her desk, the room was cluttered pappers and books mingled easily with an ecletic array of this and that's....a variety of time pieces spanning from a snall sundial to three different sized hour glasses...brushing some pappers off a chair she took a seat..

"Serves me right letting Quill in her.."

a light quip more to herself then the drow before she looked up...

"So down to business then....I have spoken to our mutal aquaintance about why you have been choosen...First and formost you ability to go unnoticed when need....also..perhaps a slight waiver when it comes to the moral string?."


She would continue....going over the job itself in more detail...she has no real worry about someone hearing there conversation who wasn't suppose to. For this room had been constructed with special provision...a thicker heavier wood was used and the walls where double...making it as close to sound proof as one could get in this age...

After bundling up in so many layers of clothes, she could almost be considered to be as fat as Treadwell (but only almost), she set out with Sawyer to find the new livery place that Morghan had told her about.

She had her resume finished. Not perfected, but it was good enough for now. A bit in a rush to find some decent employment, she had more or less just given the list of her skills and qualities in a list format between an introduction and concluding paragraph.

Her best dress was worn on the outside, two pairs of britches and three sweaters underneath. It might not have looked too professional, but neither would kerflomping over as a Razcicle, either. At least she got her hair brushed and the front part braided back to form a ‘crown’ over the rest that was left to flow down her back.

Stepping inside, she smiled cheerily to whoever greeted her. The hand not holding her resume was relaxing from the fist it was clenched in to keep her fingertips warm - the other hand had to suffer, as she didn’t want to crumple the parchment.

If Daphne was not available, she’d let a worker take her resume - rather hoping it’ll help her along in this little venture, not knowing just what the rate of literacy is around here - and ask in upmost politeness to have it given to the keeper of the place. Contact can be made at the Broken Dagger, at any time.

Still smiling brightly, she gives a wiggly fingered wave to the assistant, and makes her exit again. Sawyer gets let in on a little secret, then... Raziqa is not always so happy. A deep scowl is suddenly dropping on her expression, as she grumps about the ‘stupid’ cold.

((OOC note - I do have the resume actually written up, if you wanna see it!))

The resume was it seemed handed off to one of the bar maids inside. She gave it a quick once over...noting the jobs listed, she knew it would do more good in Fritz's hands then getting lost in the black hole known as the desk of Daphne-Kyle.

Fritz was a tall man...firmly planted in his 20's his build was that of one who had worked manual labor jobs hs entire life...strong arms, and legs. hands that have dirt so grinded in it will be a miracle if they were ever clean again. A funny thing about Fritz though...Was he was in an accident that had him lose two fingers of his left hand, yet he had six on his right, leaving him with nine in total. It has never been a disadvantage to him in his life. Save for the looks he sometimes recieves. But as he is a natural horseman. and skilled smithy. He was the logical choice. Of course being the 3rd. cousin of Daphne-Kyle didn't hurt either... As it was the bar maid was bringing the resume over to him, as he enjoyed an spot of dinner.


A perk of his brow and he was standing...rushing over to hopefully catch Raziqa before she was to far off...

"Miss!..Missth...!"

The slight lisp, was barly noticed now a days save when he was calling aloud..

"If you have some time now...I would like to discuss possible employment"

Jirai listened to the details offered in silence, arms folded over her thin chest as she watched the woman closely.

"Very well." She nodded once. "This job is acceptable."

Well, that was quick! Her bright smile is springing to her features, as she goes back in to talk with Fritz in the main room - or wherever he leads her off to. A little unexpected, but at least she’s prepared for an interview...or she hopes she is, anyway.

(( maybe we could do the interview on IRC, to flow smoother and save board space? *g* I’ll be on all week! ))

Curin finally found her way through the dark day to the WS&L, dark eyes sliding over the building before taking steps to the door. Once inside she doesn't bother removing her cloak or unstrapping her bastard sword from her back--why would she? Eyeing the interior, she crosses towards the bar where she'll wait impatiently for whiskey and some information, preferably in that order.

Daphne nodded accordingly..as she was moving from behind the deak...almost an attempt to shake the Drowesses hand..till she thought better of it..instead a smile as she opened a tall cabinet..three shelves were inside. holding more of what was upon the desk. Scrolls and bottles and stuff...one shelve seem to hold less barely a scroll or two..shifting them out of the way.she opened what appeared to be a false back..inside a grouping of small bags..varying in color...pulling one out she handed it over to the Drowess...

"A retainer if you will....for future services..."

The bag held about 25 silver pieces...closing both doors she moves to the door.
"Now If we are finished...I do have a business to run."

a light wink. as she grabs her crutch up once more and points to part of the wall Where a floor to ceiling tapestry hung.

"Behind there is a false wall, which leads to the pantry...I discreet exit if you wish it.."

Yupe she indeed knew a thing or two about Drows..As it was she was heading out the main entrance. and spotted Curin. moving towards her she nodded with a crisp bend of her neck...grabbing a bottle a passible whiskey...she doesn't given out the good stuff to strangers after all...

"You look like you could use a bit of snip."

She quirks as she pours a hearty glass....as she leans against the bar, to take the weight off her disabled foot...

"Can I help you with anything else?"

The heavily cloaked woman took the proffered bag in silence, appreciating the lack of attempted contact on Daphne's part.

She nodded curtly. "If you have need of contacting me, a message can be left with Suede the Tailor." He would know where she was, if she wanted to be found.

Leaving Daphne to her work, the scarred dark elf moved towards the tapestry that had been indicated. She slipped silently into the pantry, and from there, outside.