The Lucky Lady - Taproom ---IC---

[xerxes]

it's been an interesting day, at least there was that he thought to himself as he watched the dark corners of the street as he walked away from the slave market. his gauntlets gently clinked against his armor as he walked as casually as you can walk in skullport, the rough uneven street familiar under his feet. a good 20 minutes later has him under the sign of the lucky lady and a nod and a gruff "g'day" later and he's in the twinkling stairwell on his way to his first beer of the night.

walking into the taproom he takes stock of the patrons, it's still early, roughly 4pm on the surface he reckons, the sun having lost its influence to the residents of this underground city, yet somehow everyone seems to loosely cling to it's shadow, eeking through their routines and schedules on autopilot from days in the sun. two main groups catch his eye, a rowdy quintet of Aasimar, whispering a little too loudly about what looks like an Alu-demon and a cleric of Bane. The Aasimar give him dirty looks as he comes in, his red skin and horns giving him away immediately as a tiefling, souvenirs from his demon blood marking him, guiding his life as long as he could remember.

Ulrich heads over to the bar, Tom, the very fit human man behind the bar wearing a smart shirt under a vest with his sleeves rolled up already has a beer on the counter for him as he reaches it. sweeping up the cold mug he gives Tom a nod and makes himself comfortable at a table near the middle of the room, kicking his feet up and leaning back so as to enjoy the permanent dancing mage lights that fly about the ceiling, casting weird shadows against the carvings in the stone that stretch across the whole room depicting horrible monsters and valiant heroes, the work of someone on pipeweed he thinks as he admires his favorite carving of all, right in the center of the ceiling rests a beautiful woman, she has a sly grin and seems to be watching you regardless of what angle you sit to her.

absentmindedly he sips his beer and continually flips a platinum coin with his other hand, not bothering to look at which side it's landing.

[xerxes]

The bar starts to fill as the hours pass until it's over half full, Ulrich pauses and stares at the coin in his hand for a moment before flipping it

Rolling some dice:

1d100: 58 (58)

It lands in his palm with Tymora's face looking up at him, he considers that for a moment before slipping it into a pocket and getting up. bringing his empty mug to the bar and giving Tom a nod he whistles and the large blue tome from behind the bar floats up off it's stand and flies over, it's chain clinking against itself as it follows him as he makes his way to the black door on the side of the room, he holds the door open and the book flies through first, Ulrich following after it and closing the door behind him.

[xerxes]

an hour later Ulrich walks back through the black door and into the common area, a nod to one of the serving girls who have started their shifts while he was away and then he makes his way back to the middle table, unoccupied since his departure. hunkering down into the sturdy wooden chair he makes himself comfortable and takes the platinum coin out again, staring at it and flipping it

Rolling some dice:

1d100: 87 (87)

he catches it in his palm and looks down at it, blank, the whole side blank and polished to a mirror finish. "hhmmmm" he grumbles to himself, his brimstone breath coming out strong from his nostrils. pondering the coin he's interrupted as a pint of beer is deposited on the table beside him, he nods his thanks and sets to enjoying a beer for a job well done and the ripples continue, he thinks like dominoes the actions topple onto each other rippling outwards, I wonder what kind of ripples will return to me?

[xerxes]

the night wanes on and a trio of violinists and a bass pick up an enchanting tune, Ulrich watches them lazily, thinking of the night when Chonchobar from Hillsfar had come and lit up the place with music he played with a pair of spoons, what a crazy guy.

Ulrich scans the room for blue dots and finds a pair of men talking in hushed voices in one of the booths, he makes a mental note and heads to the bar, sitting down on a stool near the middle. "Ral tells me you were playing with your friends downstairs" Tom remarks as he walks past, full drinks in his hands, depositing them infront of a hobgoblin a few seats down from Ulrich. "just inviting a friend for drinks is all" he replies to the barkeep, a sly look in his eye, "how have things been up here?".

Tom looks around before answering him, "well, I've been keeping out of trouble, a little imp told me that you might be working, you need any company?".

U: You getting bored?
T: me? nah, but I could use a breather, serving drinks is all well and fine, but ever since you hired the bugs to do security there hasn't been any fun leftover for me!
U: and here I thought the whole point was to lay low and now you're telling me you'd rather be wrestling rowdy drunk half-bloods, I guess I can see your point though

Ulrich chuckles as he says the last, the magic permanently allowing him to see invisible things for what they are also allowing him to look into the ethereal plane, the realm of ghosts and also the security, a good dozen Xill borrowed with coin from a general named Lord Nihilus, one such 'bug' man was standing beside Tom at the moment, giving him a sour look, he caught Ulrich watching him and stared at him with it's beady eyes before continuing it's rounds, walking right through the bar.

U: I'll be honest, I could use the help, but I also need someone I can trust back here to keep things in order and you know what a joker Ral is, he'll be throwing partys the second we're out the door.
R: "You are aware that I'm sitting right here?" the book says
T: I guess you're right boss, hey, maybe you should bring Ral?
R: absolutely not! I wasn't designed for travelling
U: well who's fault is that?
R: we'll see how well you plan when you're on your way out the door and see if you do any better
U: give me a shot of Jameson
T: I don't know how you drink this Dwarven shit, it's rancid
U: grow some balls and then we'll talk about drinking
.................................