The Onyx Rose Meeting Place (Open Guild RP)

The planks and sands of Cutthroat Harbor gave many a man their start and end in these lands of Arborea. Once the place was a pristine jewel, that sparkled on the coast with docks and grand galleons to port. Trade bustled with a thriving hold on many economies, all the while gnawed upon by pirates, cutthroats, and thieves.

Even the old Silver Champion tavern, right in the middle of the now loathsome hole of scum and villainy, had lost what grandeur it held. As the community slid off into the troughs of refuse and hard men's greed, so too did the fine silvered figure marking the double doors to become a tarnished and gouged up mockery. Now, most folks called the place The Craven. And based on the lot that filled it, no finer name could grace it.

The place had changed hands a few times. Typically in the most astute method of ownership disputes. Daggers betwixt ribs. All but the last and longest lived owner could hold it so. An Amani with carved up horns, a discolored eye, and a sawed off deck pylon replacing a missing right leg held the place in his hip pocket...so to speak.

Ol' Shuba took control of the tavern after a badly lost hand of a wizard's end card game found the Amani fighting to staunch the blood from a hacked up leg. Despite being a strong field medic, even his talents could not save what the gods demanded in sacrifice. By the end of the week, he had stabbed the last owner through with the newly afixed pylon ripped right from the east decks, or so the stories say. The last thing the swindler saw was that glaring warlike face and barnacles clinging for life.

The worst of the pirates had met their fates in the hands of that medic turned tavern owner. But the place would always be rougher around the edges. Perfect for up and coming company's like the Onyx Rose. Why, it was at these very tables that fateful hand played where Arawn won the deed, and gained his first members.

This night, like every night, the crowd's pleased ol' Shuba. The sawbones stood his station behind the bar, cleaning mugs and trading old stories with the young and battle-scarred. Tables and dealers were setting up with trays of drinks and the various delicacies of their Castanic patrons. A few of the local ladies even had come to peddle their wares, knowing the Amani would always keep them safe for a cut of the earnings.

Who could say what the night would bring. The Craven was always...open for business.

((Welcome to the guild Onyx Rose! Feel free to post away and enjoy some open RP! This is the current home of the Onyx Rose. Many members may have rooms rented in the large tavern/inn, or simply visit it for whoring, gambling, and making deals with Arawn. Start posting and have fun!))

In the very back corner sat the blond Castanic at his usual table. To his right sat a red head Castanic with a larger then average chest for her race, to his left an elf with legs that made any man look twice. Both were dressed in normal attire for the establishment, something that Alek often referred to as "less is more".

Across from him were two men he had never met before, but were focused more on the women then their cards. Of which Arawn happily took advantage of. They had, according to them, just gotten off a long term job and were looking to relax. From their coin purse he figured this to at least be somewhat true. The night was still early, and he would gradually clean them out, but he had to play into them but if only briefly. From experience he noticed that by doing this the person who ended up broke at the end of the night seemed less angry and less eager to fight.

The tavern was busy tonight, he saw many familiar faces, even those from his own Company which he always greeted with at least a nod. Word was starting to spread about the services that his people could provide and already letters of proposals had started to come in. It seemed that now days there was always someone who needed some type of help, and if they paid well they would not get turned down.

The day had been long, frustrating, and filled with more men and women whining over every single detail possible to drag proceedings into a quagmire of policies and power plays. More than once, Voriel considered leaving the assembly to wander the sellers seeking some tiny find to make the trip worthwhile. By luck alone did some of her crystals and carefully crafted potions sell.

Gold. Her small purse clinked with the heavy sound of those lovely gold coins. The elf loved money, and those with money, far more than any fair lady should. Wealth meant success. Success meant fine gifts. And did she not deserve such things?

The ringing of voices still tugged her twitching ears as she slipped into the tavern in a long gown of red velvet. The straps and high cut hems barely clung to her curves as she took long strides to the bar. The wet heat made her curl pink hued tresses in a messy bun, long sticks of amber driven through it.

With a slight nod to the far table, she draped into a stool near Shuba, receiving her usual chilled spiced wine. Voriel could swear Arawn's eyes gleamed for a moment as if hearing how heavy the gold was in her purse.

"Another long day. Do they have an opening at the table?" Her fingers trailed around the rim of her glass.

Shuba gave a feral grin, staring not at her face. No one ever did. "For you? Or your purse?"

She sighed and took a long slow sip. "Of course they will. Thank you."

Riding through the jungle on the back of her white lion, with the sun gleaming off her red revealing armor, Sylvara rode up to the gates of Cutthroat Harbor. Wiping the sweat off her forehead while slowing her lion to a walk, she heads on over to the stables in hopes they would stable her mount. After "persuading" the stable boy to keep her lion, Syl heads down to the harbor.

Upon entering the harbor for the first time, Sylvara stops to take in the view of the wooden town. Yells coming from the hustle and bustle of the shops that fill the street greet Syl as she walks into the marketplace. Waving off most merchants who were shouting her to buy something, Syl wonders around the market, glancing a couple of times at what was for sale. Finally approaching a building that looks like it might be a tavern, Syl stopped just outside the entrance. Noticing a broken sign reading "The Craven", She reaches into a pouch to pull out a piece of parchment and double checks the name, "I guess this is the place."

Pushing the door open, Syl steps in and takes a gander of the place. "Not much to look at, but I guess that's the kind of place you'd want for this kind of business." Taking another quick look around, Syl walks over to the bar and waits for the bartender. The amani walks over to her and asks her what she would like to drink, "hmm, what kind of wines do you have?" With a grunt, the Amani just grabs a bottle and hands it to her, then walks off. "Well....I guess i should expect nothing less from a place like this", grabbing an empty glass near by, Syl pours the wine into the glass and then takes a sip.

The screech of gulls fighting over some scrap of fish or another could be heard down on the docks where Alektos sat enjoying what little breeze the humid day had to offer. Glancing around the harbor city she currently called home she spotted the familiar bouncing chest of her favorite elf headed into The Craven.

Oh how she loved to make Voriel squirm. Ever since their fateful meeting in Velika it had become a favorite pastime to tease her and see what reaction she could stir in the elf. No longer did she just dress to please herself but also to try and scandalize her prim companion, it was a temptation to good to resist.

Hopping off the pylon she had been perched on Alek headed into the tavern after the elf for this was sure to be more entertaining than watching gulls fight over scraps from the mornings catch and possibly more lucrative too.

Stopping to let her eyes adjust to the lighting inside she cast a quick glance at the table in back before tossing them a wink and wandering up to the bar in search of drink. She was just in time to hear Shuba say “For you? Or your purse?” and grinned at hearing Voriel sigh before replying "Of course they will. Thank you."

With a glint in her eyes she wrapped her arms around the elf from behind before speaking “I will take a pint of what ever you have on tap.” Standing on her toes and pressing closer to the elf to see Shuba over her shoulder “And put my friends wine on my tab.” A sinister smile curved the woman’s lips sure she could manage to at least recover the cost of the wine if the elf gave in and joined the game at the table.

This day was turning out to be more interesting than she could have hoped for.

Ears perking slightly, one gave the faintest twitch. Voriel did not need to cast her eyes below to know exactly what the damned harlot was doing. At least the metal covering her fingers was not too hot or cold as it traipsed along.

Holding her wine glass in hand as if at a formal gala, she simply waited for the seemingly daily ritual to end. Two pirates at the end of the bar both turned to watch, leaning in to ask the price for the wenches if on sale.

"That was my left breast. And..yes that is my right. If nothing else, Alektos, you are consistent." Her chin raised slightly as the fondling commenced, trying to simply raise above it all. Spine straightening at least she would make this damned display a challenge. Whatever did Alektos hope to gain through this little show of hers, she could not discern. But the idea of a free drink...never could be turned down.

A brow raised to provide an expression bordering on exasperated as she turned ever so slightly. "I trust your day must have been quite lucrative to make the offer. However did you earn it...or do I really wish that tale?"

Arawn usually always concentrated at the cards in his hand, but today he had no need to because the two he was playing with were just horrible. He could have sworn at one point in the game he heard one of them say 'Go Fish' before the other jabbed him in the ribs.

His attention turned to the bar, noticing the new faces that recently came in. He couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the daily display between the two women who he recruited. It was always the same, Alek tried her best to embarrass Voriel, and Voriel tried to hide the shades of red that seemed to cascade down her face and play it off as nothing.

Sighing as one of the men he was playing with threw down his cards and yelled "Gin!". He almost felt bad for helping this fool part with his money...almost.

Alektos smiled knowingly and stretched further so she could whisper in her ear "And what a fine pair of breasts they are my dear Voriel. So firm and perky." As she said this Alek gave them a firm squeeze before letting her go and taking a seat next to her at the bar.

Grinning she turns to her companion and pulls a few coins from a pocket hidden under the shoulder of her armor. Tossing the coin on the bar Alek replies "I have had more profitable days but today went well enough. The coin was earned honestly too if you really wish to know." Sipping her beer Alek thought back to the events earlier in the day "Some fools were causing trouble down by the docks. I was going to just let them have at it too until the idiots got to close and scuffed my boots."

Turning around on her stool she sticks out a foot and looks sadly at them. You would never know they were scuffed unless you were looking for the small mark along the toes. "So I had to reach the cretin a lesson in manners and it turns out that the merchant they were harassing was grateful for the assistance and offered me some coin. Who am I to say no to good coin."

Grinning once again she turns back to her beer. "So you were saying something about cards before? Shall we go join Arawn and play a few hands?" Alek was already counting Voriel's gold in her head, the thought making her smile all the more.

Golden light sparkled upon every edge to shimmer as the risen sun of the morn to glisten and blind. Hues of copper picking out the imperfections of the mix, a sheen upon the gear etching from such rubbing and counting, even the impressions of teeth to determine the worth caught Voriel's attention.

Alektos could have disrobed her without an eyeblink was she so enrapt in the very beauty of the thing she loved almost as much as chrysoberyl or diorite under her fingers with a tiny pick to tap and explore. Breath gasping deeply between parted lips, she had to keep from reaching for...

Gold. Gold coins. Damn she loved wealth.

Instead she simply finished her wine and sought another glass from the nimble hands of Shuba. For some reason the men were all staring at her again, or rather below her chin. With a glance, she could understand why, but did nothing to move in modesty. She simply eased the dress back in place from Alektos' adventure hoping the lack of reaction would end it all. Inside, she was positively screeching.

"Cards? With Arawn?" Twisting in her seat, clasping fingers on the edge of her stool behind one curved hip, she flicked a little look his way. Despite such a fantastic poker face, something in the slightest curl of his fingers told her how aggravating the men at the table were. Which meant...

...she might win this hand!

Leaping from the stool with an obvious jiggle, Voriel tilted her glass towards the far corner. "By all means, let's."

A lone female elf entered the bar, her dark hair obscuring any real detail of her face. She paused in the doorway, her gaze scanning the patrons and tables, obviously searching for someone. As she did this, one gloved hand traveled to the side of her leather vest, delicate fingers tracing the outline of a piece of paper. More specifically, a letter.

It had been a surprise to receive such an offer. A surprise and an annoyance. She didn't like to think that people were aware of how difficult finding a job had been the past few months. Regardless, gold was gold and she wasn't one to pass up an opportunity.

The man who had sent the letter was named Arawn, a local smuggler with a decent amount of clout to his name. From Reyth had heard he was good on his word, at least to those he 'employed.'

Swiping her hair back, she made her to the bar, catching the eye of the Amani tender.

He gave her a slight nod. "Drink?"

As much as she longed to say yes, Reyth shook her head. "Looking for a Castanic named Arawn. Know him?"

The Amani pointed passed her, towards a table in the back. A group of people were huddled around it, cards scattered about the top. "Blond guy over there."

Without replying, Reyth strode over to the group. Her hand went back to her side and she pulled out the letter. Blatantly ignoring the others, she slapped the paper down.

"Arawn I presume?" Her voice was low, an almost throaty quality to it. "I'm Reyth."

Looking up at the woman before him, elvish features complimented her face as she threw his letter down in front of him. Grateful to have any sort of interruption from the discussion he was having with the two dim witted humans in front of him he gestured toward an empty seat.

"Take a seat."

His gaze traveled back to his hand as he laid it down upon the table, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Full house gents, sorry."

Pulling in the coins from the pot in the middle towards his stack he took up the deck of cards to deal. Looking at the woman he inclined his head.

"Care to play while we discuss business?"

She slid into the empty chair, folding one of her long legs neatly beneath her.

She shook her head at his request. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

Reyth's eyes flicked from him to the women, and then back. "I'd prefer to discuss my business matters in private."

Once again she lapsed into silence, waiting and observing.

Noticing Alek and Voriel making their way to the table he stood up and offered his seat. He know how horrible of a card player Voriel was, perhaps she could make some gold off these two idiots. Then he could come back down and make sure that newly acquired gold of hers found a safe home.

"Please, take my spot for a bit in this fine hand, these two gent...men will be more then thrilled to have two more beautiful women at the table."

Smiling as he took a step back he looked down at the sitting Reyth and offered his hand.

"I have private offices upstairs, shall we?"

As Voriel neared with Alektos far too close to her heels, she gave the slightest of nods. Her eyes took in the scene, and ears keened for their slight discussion from a distance, surmising this was business, and not just any simple contract. The lady's attire held no question of profession, not a whore, not a layabout, certainly no merchant.

With the lightest tap of fingers on Arawn's tossed cards, she gave them both an appraising look, seemingly plain. Yet he could note slight changes in tone, the way she tapped, interested but understanding that this was important.

"But of course. Alektos and I can keep the table...entertained. Shall we not?" Sliding into his seat, she crossed her legs with one knee risen a little before settling, letting the skirt part just so. Leaning forward, that purse of hers opened to set a few gold to stack. "Shall we play?"

The whores gained a baleful glance from the elf as she made ready to shuffle the cards with a bit of skill. Before a word could be said, they leap to their feet seeking the two pirates at the bar. Another tongue lashing about sexually transmitted diseased and their affects in graphic detail was not something they wanted to endure...again.

"I appreciate it."

Seeing the newcomers to the table, Reyth extended her hand to Arawn, allowing him to help her up. She studied the women quickly, giving a slight nod in greeting. Castanic and Elven, both clearly took exquisite care of themselves and their attire. Reyth knew how simple and plain her own appearance must have seemed, but brushed the thought away. While, beauty and seduction were only necessary at particular times in her profession, these two women seemed to have it perfected.

"After you." Reyth finally spoke again, stepping to the side to allow Arawn take the lead. Then, added dryly. "Must run a lucrative business to have an office above this place."

Her eyes drifted to a man with a scantily clad woman resting in his lap.

While enjoying her glass of wine at the bar, Syl then focuses her attention at the spectacle the two women were putting on, "Looks like this place will be a lot more fun then i thought...wait...i know those two..." Taking another sip, she watches on while trying to remember, "Right, they are part of the company, .uhh...Vo something and... Alex i think...I need to start learning names." She continues to watch the two as they make their way back to the table in the corner. "Looks like theres my new boss, uh....arawn", and with that she finishes off her glass and turns back to the bar to refill it.

Grabbing the chair next to Voriel she noted that Arawn was stepping away from the table with an elf she had never seen before. Alektos raised an eyebrow in his direction. "We would be happy to play a few hands with our uhh friends here." she casts a glance in the direction of the two men at the table and their dwindling piles of gold then smiled at them.

The stranger with Arawn was not anyone she had seen around town before and she was curious as to what business she may have with Arawn but trusted that if it has anything to do with the company she would find out soon enough. For now however she had gold to part from the woman sitting beside her.

Alek grinned as she noticed the whores scatter at a look from Voriel. "Pity they had to leave before the first hand was even dealt." She sighed before taking a large gulp of the amber beer she had carried over from the bar. “Lets get this game underway." She said nodding at the deck of cards.

Nodding his head as he started to head up the stairs. "We're just starting out and expanding." When he reached the top he turned left and headed down a row of doors that over looked the bar area, stopping at the fifth one he took out a key and opened the door.

Stepping inside the room first he extended the door open to the woman, allowing her to step fully inside before closing it behind her. The room was fairly large, the right wall was lined with stocked book shelves that extended to the ceiling with a door near the back. The left had a door almost right right, made from the same wood as the other and after was filled with paintings. The back wall of the room was almost entirely windows from the waist up. A large wooden desk with a leather chair behind it sat near the windows, the front of the desk facing the door, two smaller chairs were setup in front of it.

Closing the distance between himself and his desk in just a few strides, Arawn opened two of the windows before sitting down and motioning to the chairs in front of him.

"Do sit down and we can discuss things a bit."

Reyth let out a small whistle at the sight of the room. After all, she had expected a hole in the wall or a dripping closet. She followed behind Arawn and took a seat, once again folding her leg beneath her. A breeze drifted into the room from the newly opened windows, and she took a deep breath before facing him again.

"Listen," She began. "This is all very impressive and such, but lets get to chase alright? You said a steady stream of clients. Are you sure you even know what I do?"

With both elbows on the arms of his chair he tapped his chin with his fingertips grinning while she spoke. He let her finish and didn't respond right away. Instead he took a few moments to look her over and study her attire. While it was simple and clean, most would dress up even if a bit when attending a business meeting. He knew what it was like for those who wished to go it alone in the field right now, work was far and few between.

Leaning back in his chair, the grin so ever present on his lips as he spoke.

"If you're asking me that then I have to wonder how much you know about myself or what I represent. My company has a lot to offer the right individual."

Letting his words sink in before he continued.

"More contracts cross this desk then I have people able to complete them. Some of these jobs require tact and cannot be completed on the tip of an arrow. After all, if all that was needed was brute force I would hire soldiers while spewing out garbage like 'For the Federation!'. What my company needs are those who can take a large variety of jobs and complete them. After all, a happy customer is a repeat customer. Understand?"

His eyes drifted over her, and like before downstairs with those women, she became aware of lacking her attire was. She scowled at his reply, irritated at the roguish grin. Of course he was right, but that was what annoyed her. She was making herself to seem like an uninformed fool. Pulling her knee into her chest, she pursed her lips, brow still knitted together.

"Fine. Regardless, what makes you think that I am the right individual." Then realizing how mannerless she seemed, quickly added in a softer tone. "After all, you must have a lot of faith to entrust these business matters to someone you just met."

And finally, despite her better judgment, she spat. "And why are you smiling like that? I don't see any humor in this situation so far."

The act was everything for this stage. One-handed, Voriel raised the deck of grimy cards. As if through some strange inversion and bending of bone, a nail parted the deck just enough for a tip of finger to slide between. The motion parted the deck once, while a second nail and digit parted it again. The three sections held and moved to secure like parts of a machine, yet elegantly shuffling back together.

She of course made sure to do this entirely at chest height. The two humans were in need of drool cups, which only made her clench teeth together lest she vomit on her coins.

Voriel did this little talented move three times, before shuffling in a more expected way, tossing out the cards one at a time until a full hand was laid before each. Alektos lifted her cards just enough to view them and think before actually picking them up. A wise move with such reflective bits of armor, what little she wore.

Voriel raised her own cards in a fan, curved tightly and high enough for just her eyes to be seen over them. Sometimes it was the only way to distract and win a hard. And by the limitless sea, she would win one tonight!

The two men started asking for cards, anything to see her shift and move. Simple minds, simple pleasures. But her thoughts tumbled to the office upstairs and some document the woman tossed before Arawn. Someone collecting? Someone he collected? Perhaps she would find out later in the eve.

Her reaction, facial expressions and tone of her voice was just too much for him; he couldn't help but burst out laughing. Once finished he regained his composure and continued.

"This may be the first time we have met, yes, but I know a great deal about you and how you handle business. I pay well to be 'in the know' and your name came up as someone to know."

Clearing his throat before continuing.

"Like I mentioned, we have a lot to offer, are you interested?"

She bristled at his laughter, although it wouldn't be obvious to untrained eye. A smart ass, lovely. She found herself thinking. Tilting her head, she flashed him her most winning smile. Although she didn't have the beauty of the women downstairs, she wasn't unattractive, just had a quiet and understated look about her.

The smile, however was one she had perfected over the years, making her eyes light up and her expression warm. Something that most certainly differed from her retort.

"I'm here, aren't I?" Her words were icy. "I'd think that would be an obvious giveaway. Maybe you need something clearer?"

Careful there. She mentally chided herself. He's a potential employer, we aren't in the means to be making enemies. The smile fell away at the thought, and she gestured loosely.

"So what needs to be done?"

Pulling out a piece of parchment from a drawer in his desk, placing it down and pushing it towards her.

"Some are polite enough to refuse an opportunity personally, while others find their way into the chair you're sitting in now not entirely sure why they're there."

Leaning forward, offering her a pen.

"Here is our standard contract, you sign on for just a year at a time. During your time within the company you will be provided with a room at this fine establishment and your travel and lodging expenses will also be provided. In addition to this you will gain a percentage of the coin earned on the job while the company takes only but a modest amount."

The grin back on his face as he continued on with his sales pitch.

"All the while you have a steady flow of work. Now doesn't that sound much better then your current employment situation?"