The Blue Dragon - A Large Tavern for all your needs! We have rooms, drinks, and a warm fire...

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Walking down the Street you come across a refurbished building, quite a small building, but with some land around it nonetheless. It is situated in a middle-class area of the Capitol, a respectable area but nothing too fancy. It looks clean and well looked after, probably due to it being recently renovated. Not noticing this building before, and indeed not hearing anything about its apparent new owner, you walk closer up to satisfy your curiosity. As you get nearer the merry sound of gentle chatter and mirth draws you to the wooden door at the front, which is slightly ajar. Your nose is enticed by the smell of a burning fire, the heat already radiating out towards you, and the aroma of clean beer. Inhaling the smells fill your nostrils, and with a smile you open the door and walk inside, ready to sample the latest inn of Kings Landing...

The Blue Dragon

A rather large jolly man greets you, "Hey ho, welcome to the Blue Dragon, the best place for a drink and a room save for the Red Keep itself- come follow me and we'll get you something to wash down that rather nasty King's Landing air," he says with a chuckle.

You follow the man the bar, noticing the roaring hearth in the centre of the room. There are tables surrounding it, more than half already occupied by patrons of the Inn, all drinking away and a few even having a bite to eat, more than likely residents of the Inn as well. A separate room on the bottom floor leads off to a room for the richer clientèle, where the distinct smell of some Arbor Red wafting into the main room. The man walks around the bar and leans across to you, "So what can I get you..?"

Staff: (OCCUPIED = in conversation with another Character/unavailable to talk)

Owner: Simon Roebuck

The Innkeeper: Bertie
Assistant: Anya
Cook: James
Cook's Assistant: Riff
Serving Girl #1: Sally
Serving Girl #2: Doreen

Bonuses:

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Details:

Level Three Trade Asset - Large Tavern
Provides 30,000 Dragons a year income

Grants +1 to spy rolls for your Merchant in the city it is located in. Represents tavern gossip yielding information. These do not stack: having 3 Large Taverns in King's Landing nets +1, not +3.
Merchants can hide people or items in the inns in secret. If, somehow, their pursuers trace them to the inn a detection roll must be made, weighted in favour of the hidden player/thing.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Simon Roebuck was sitting in one of the back rooms of his Inn, fondling a stamp that was hidden in the depths of his pocket. It had been some time since he had first been given the stamp that bore the sigil of Elia Martell, and since then it had lived in a strong-box or where it was now. Thus far he had not used the item, nor told anyone else about it, for he was unsure of the rumours that were filtering through from the Red Keep and what was really going on.

Today how ever Simon was not brooding over such things, for today the side he had been drawn into, the Loyalists, were winning - the Lannisters had arrived with their host to help bolster King's Landing, hopefully...

[Hengest]

It had been nearly a year since he had sought out the rising star of merchants, Simon Roebuck, and it seemed that war and change was finally on the cusp of its almighty turn, just as Nymerion Cyvassian had predicted. Having whiled away his time in the capital, waiting and watching, it was with the titanic Lannister host at the western gate that Rors began to feel the tingle of electricity before the breaking of the storm. He hated to be unprepared, it was a sign of weakness and failure. Although he was not entirely unprepared he was as much as he was loathe to admit it, slightly afraid.

He pushed in the black-tar painted oaken door and past the hearth to the bar. He still wore the black turban and cloak, but now it stank of months of sweat and the city. There were even signs of struggle and violence about his attire. Rors had acquired a few cuts and bruises about the face, and the dried mess around his blond moustache from a healing bloody nose was most recent. "Where is he?" Rors demanded with a calm cold clear voice.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

A terrible scream tore Simon from this thoughts.

Quickly he got up and went into into the front house, where a few patrons were also looking alarmed at the scream, the majority simply turned back to their drinks. Simon quickly signalled for one of the heavies employed to keep order to come over, "What was that?" Another scream was heard.

"I don't know Sir," he replied in a voice that asked why on earth would he know.

"Well don't just stand there, go and have a look!" Simon snapped harsher than he meant to, recent events had shortened his temper ever so slightly.

The heavy just rolled his eyes and strolled out of the Inn without a care in the world, vanishing behind the doors.

Simon tapped his first as he waited, pacing around the Inn and drawing a few glances from some of the patrons who didn't know who he was. Bertie, the Innkeeper, motioned for his boss to sit down near the bar and poured him a drink, which Simon accepted gladly, trying his best to patiently wait for his man to return back with news. He wasn't sure why he had to know what the cause of those screams were, but the Seven be blessed if he was not going to find out.

Realistically it wasn't long until the heavy came running back into the Inn, face pale and breathing heavily. Upon his entrance Simon sprung up and walked quickly over to him, "What is it man?"

"S-sir the," the man replied in between deep breathers, "the Lannisters-"

A wave of relief passed over Simon's face, "They have arrived to reinforce the city?"

The man looked up and shook his head, his face a mix of terror and disbelief, "No Sir, they-they are sacking it."

Simon stumbled back, his hand leaping towards where the stamp was kept, clutching it tightly. He had thrown himself in with the Loyalists, it had seemed, and things had just taken a turn for the worst, who knows what would happen if they found the stamp. Damn men in high places meddling in his affairs! He just hoped his 'friend' remembered him after all this, surely they could not have expected such a thing. Ignoring the man, his drink, Bertie, and some of the people who hurriedly left the Inn upon hearing the news to get home he quickly walked back into the rear of the Inn mumbling before doing so, "Let everyone who wants to leave go quickly, then bolt the doors..."

As he entered the room he closed the door and leant back against it, sighing deeply, sweat dripping down his forehead. He took a few deep breaths to compose himself and began to reassure himself that the Lannisters wouldn't both with his establishment, heck they wouldn't even know about it, let alone his possession, his loyalties. A sharp knock at the door snapped him out of it much sooner then he wanted, he needed time to think, to plan, "What is it?" he shouted.

"Sir, a man is demanding to see you. He says he is a business associative. Not someone I've seen before Sir, defiantly not a local either."

Simon blanched, could it be? The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence. Quickly he wiped his forward and took another breath, composing himself and opening the door, pushing past the man outside it with a nod, and heading back into the common room, which was now rather empty, a few more people filtering out of the doors. Then he saw a man in a black turban and cloak, a man whose face had haunted him since their first meeting. A man who had put him in this predicament, a man he had thrown himself in with, and a now a man whom he relied on for answers and more importantly, help.

Simon met his eyes, trying to convey a sense of confidence despite the panic he was starting to set in.

OOC: Sorry I was already typing this reply up for myself just to do some RP during the sack before seeing your post and I thought I would incorporate it in, that okay?

[Hengest]

He removed the veil and grinned showing his golden tooth. He drew his sword and raised an eyebrow coyly, "Like it? Took it off a man who'd just bought it on the Street of Steel." With the back of his hand he brushed away crusted blood from his top lip and grinned again. "He won't be needing it now..." He broke off his quip to dip his head at the window, he looked up to the rooftops of the buildings across the alley, "A heavy rain tonight, Roebuck. Better get a bucket." Orange and feint red was beginning to fill the sky, and soon the smoke would follow the terrified victims of slaughter like a spectre down the narrow rookeries.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Simon was glad all the customers had left and the staff were in the back, he could quiver in private now, "W-what are you doing here?" he said mumbled still in shock - he was not sure what about the man made him so terrified, but there was something there.

[Hengest]

Rors, or rather Nymerion Cyvassian, began to crack jugs and pour water and wine (some of it very dear indeed), over his cloak and turban before replacing them around his head and shoulders. He smashed a window with his elbow and cleared off the glass. They would soon have to ready to clear the flames and smoke, to run through the streets and alleyways and escape the slaughter. "I've come to protect my investment, Simon." He said and invited Roebuck to climb through the window first.

[MikauZora]

OOC: Is Simon still in King's Landing or is this business abandoned?

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Rors, or rather Nymerion Cyvassian, began to crack jugs and pour water and wine (some of it very dear indeed), over his cloak and turban before replacing them around his head and shoulders. He smashed a window with his elbow and cleared off the glass. They would soon have to ready to clear the flames and smoke, to run through the streets and alleyways and escape the slaughter. "I've come to protect my investment, Simon." He said and invited Roebuck to climb through the window first.

OOC: This still happening? If so Simon has followed you.

OOC: Is Simon still in King's Landing or is this business abandoned?

OOC: Simon I don't thin would be here, but this place is still open - if you are wanting to talk business probably best visiting the Guildhouse.

[Hengest]

OOC: This still happening? If so Simon has followed you.

ooc: this will have to be set during the sacking of the city then.

ic:
"Look, we will get somewhere safe; hole up in a cellar until the pillaging has died down." He led the way through the rookeries with Roebuck and a select few of his guild workers following suit. "The rest of your people should be able to keep your assets safe, or at least put up a good fight." He said turning to his would-be vassal.
Cyvassian saw two turbaned men dressed in black down the alleyway ahead. He stopped. All that could be seen of the men were a thin opening in the fabric around their eyes, they wore broad scarlet belts where curved knives were held fast and a large broad scimitar on their left hips. The two men bowed to Cyvassian and then kicked in a humble doorway.
Rors, or rather the Cyvassian, beckoned Roebuck after him. They burst their way into the tiny house that the black Dornish retainer had commandeered.
A family of a man, a woman and three daughters huddled terrified under a poor rickety table.
Once Roebuck and the group were inside, the two scimitar carriers lifted up the broken door and returned it to the doorway, moving whatever furniture could be found to block and support the threshold.
The cyvassian looked down at the family as the group gathered their breath and began to settle into hiding. He drew his blade and cut the man's skull so that it caved in. The children screamed and the mother began to mutter, weeping insane with fear and grief.
Rors pulled her up and knocked back her shawl to see her face. She was not very pretty. He cast her behind him at Roebuck. "This one is for you." He said bluntly, and then gathered the three girls before him faced them against the wall and ripped their tattered garments revealing their skin.
He panted heavily as if out of breath again, and then removed his belt and closed up against them.
The two scimitar-men stood silently like statues and watched the room, listening outside for danger.
As the Cyvassian relieved himself inside the first girl he told Roebuck. "When all of this is over, you will go to Dorne and claim your lordship." He paused, closing his eyes and groaning, before withdrawing himself and then facing the second girl. She trembled and wept and the mother screamed. "Go to Scorched Rock, it is yours, once there I will send word to you- I will have an important mission for you." He sensed the merchants judging him. "The entire city is being devastated," he said flatly and coldly "if you want to survive do as the Lannisters."

[MikauZora]

OOC: Ok thanks, now is not the time but perhaps later I will speak with Simon.

[MikauZora]

A dark bearded man enters The Blue Dragon and sits down at a table, demanding an ale. The room is lively with drinkers but the man just sits there looking rather tired whilst he waits for a drink.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Bertie, a big bumbling man, walks with a mug of ale, sliding it down onto the table where the man was sitting, "Hey-ho Sir, welcome to The Blue Dragon, I hope you enjoy your drink, when you want more just give me or one of the ladies a shout, and if I can get you anything else in the mean time just say" he says with a laugh above the bustling atmosphere that fills the Dragon.

[MikauZora]

OOC: I was waiting for the whole hand incident to be resolved before I started to talk

IC: "Thank you friend" Marwyn says as he gulps the beer down like he needs it "Before you go, are you the owner of this place? I need to speak with him or her."

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Simon had been in shock, everything had happened so quickly, and now he was terrified and horrified at this man, this monster. "S-stop," he said shakily, trying to grasp hold of something to steady his nerves and himself, "Stop this," he said again, with a harder edge than before. He was scared yes, but he could not sit by and watch this happen in front of his eyes. With a sudden burst of energy who pushed the mother aside and tried to push the man away.

"What are you doing? These are innocent people," he spoke quickly, with a sense of desperation, still grabbing at the man, trying to say anything that could convince him to stop, "The Lannisters' cannot see us, they can't, you don't need to do this."

[Hengest]

Simon had been in shock, everything had happened so quickly, and now he was terrified and horrified at this man, this monster. "S-stop," he said shakily, trying to grasp hold of something to steady his nerves and himself, "Stop this," he said again, with a harder edge than before. He was scared yes, but he could not sit by and watch this happen in front of his eyes. With a sudden burst of energy who pushed the mother aside and tried to push the man away.

"What are you doing? These are innocent people," he spoke quickly, with a sense of desperation, still grabbing at the man, trying to say anything that could convince him to stop, "The Lannisters' cannot see us, they can't, you don't need to do this."

The Cyvassian felt the shove at his back and sucked his teeth with displeasure. His black guards jumped forward and attempted to kick the merchant down. The Cyvassian already distracted was forced to sheathe his manhood and in turn, unsheathed his scimitar. He turned slowly. "This has nothing to do with the Lannisters, nor need... this is about what I want. I want these girls. And I am no monster... they will be well looked after in the Water Gardens. They will have a life they could never have dreamed of here in this pisswater hovel." He pointed his sword at the merchant with raised eyebrows. "I will give you a choice: your left hand, your right hand, or your head."

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Simon's head slumped, he knew this would happen, this man did not like being questioned, but he could not let this happen, he couldn't. He didn't think of himself as a man with strict morals, indeed he often bent them to accommodate the needs of those more powerful than himself, but this... after what happened he could not bend on this. Speaking quietly, eyes down, he mumbled out, "Ask them, please, before you do anything just ask them," he paused, bringing his eyes up to face the man who held the fate of his left hand, his right hand, and his head, "Ask them if they want this, if they want the life you can offer them in return for this..." he said with a gesture to the crying women.

[Hengest]

Simon's head slumped, he knew this would happen, this man did not like being questioned, but he could not let this happen, he couldn't. He didn't think of himself as a man with strict morals, indeed he often bent them to accommodate the needs of those more powerful than himself, but this... after what happened he could not bend on this. Speaking quietly, eyes down, he mumbled out, "Ask them, please, before you do anything just ask them," he paused, bringing his eyes up to face the man who held the fate of his left hand, his right hand, and his head, "Ask them if they want this, if they want the life you can offer them in return for this..." he said with a gesture to the crying women.

A single guard held our Roebuck's hands in the table, forcing him prone. The other stood watching over with his hand on the hilt of his scimitar. The cyvassian raised his blade, unable to comprehend the merchant's words; -why would ask anyone what they wanted? What difference would it make? He would still get what HE wanted, what else was there? "When we met I warned you."

Ooh: a chance to enrich your character, we can do rolls if you want to try escape or charisma on the guards, or he will lose both hands

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

OOC: What are the survival chances of having both hands cut off?

I have +3 Charisma so I'll go for convincing the guards to help me out - before that happens out of interest how loyal are they to Rors? (are they like sellsword's or personal?)

Simon could not help it any longer, tears started slowly trickling down his face as he tried to sniff them away. So this is how it was going to end? In some hovel trying to defend some insignificant woman and her daughters from an investment, nay a monster. It couldn't though, he had so much planned, so much to do, quickly Simon began thinking of ways to postpone his death, his mind was in a muddle but thoughts here and there filtered out, "Wait, please, I can pay you..." no that wouldn't work he thought himself still prone on the floor, "No-no, I know things, I can give you information..." he said to the man who held his fate - catching his eyes Simon's heart shrank, there would be no convincing this man. In a whimper as he turned back to plant his face in the floor, thus to avoid the sight of any descending blades, he caught the eyes of one of the guards and a thought struck him... could it work? No, unless... "Please," Simon said trying to hold onto to one of the guard's gaze pleadingly, "How much is he paying you? Whatever he offers I can offer more..."

It was his last chance. A desperate chance.