The tavern has been lightly decorated for the event. Each table, large and small, has a beautiful candle centerpiece nestled within a wreath of colorful summer flowers. The nicer silk-upholstered chairs have been brought out so many a rump shall be relaxing in comfort. The host of the event rests at the head of the table dominating the center of the room, shuffling a deck of colorful cards as the patrons filter in. Princess Natalia had also arrived early with him and she the first choice in seating. His squire and his maidservant prepare to get the wine ready to distribute.

Events such of these are more for the common than the noble, but it can't keep Princess Natalia Grayson away. Her fingers lightly touch Silas' wrist as she picks the seat near to his. Her blue eyes sliding over the decor and the people that arrive with a pleasing smile upon her features. "I am eager to see this event. It should be simply wonderful."

Off to the side from the bar and the games, Sila's brother, Lazarus has commandeered a booth with crates of Mercier tea. Serving a couple cups on the table, Lazarus attempts to subtly haggle their ware offering free examples. His attention flirting between those that gather around him and the work with the wine.

Having won the first Game night and it having changed his life, Hammar is definitely going to show up for this game night as well. Hammar ducks his horned helmeted head through the doorway and squeezes his massive frame through the doorway. "Hammar win!" He says excitedly upon entering.

Lazarus puts a bronze-hued brandy with smoky notes of roasted nuts and tobacco in a unique wine rack with removable serving tray.

Lazarus puts a minutely hazy gold mead with a herbal tea-like scent in a unique wine rack with removable serving tray.

Lazarus puts an effervescent white gold wine with floral-confected tropical aromas in a unique wine rack with removable serving tray.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Hammar before departing.

Silas chuckles and gives Natalia a reassuring smile. "It isn't as rowdy as you might think. Game night attracts the highborn as well, even if they simply sit back and relax." He turns his head when he hears Hammar's declaration. "Ah, there's our reigning champion. Our competitors will have their work cut out for them." He gestures for the large, boisterous man to take a seat. His attention flickers to the haggling Lazarus. "Surely you intend to join us, dear brother?"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Hammar before departing.

Natalia allows a smile as she looks towards Hammer and cants her head beautifully to the side to appraise him. Then she laughs a bit towards Silas. "I can sit and lounge with the best of them. If that was the event, I am sure to be a winner. Do you hold these sort of events a lot?"

Isabeau had heard of the game night from a pair of stable boys and with her favorite horse currently sick, it seemed like a fine distraction over dealing with another horse in the stable. Dressed in a simple gown adorned with dark blue ribbons in traditional Valardin colors, she was hoping to avoid drawing any undue attention to herself as she tried to figure out precisely was afoot in the tavern.

Lowborn he may not be, but, Jarek isn't exactly the type of person to stay away from a bunch of people getting together and drinking. So, here he arrives with the first goal of the night to get himself a glass of wine because isn't wine always the most important? Glass of red in hand, he just deposits himself at Natalia's and Silas's table, because he sort of knows one of them. There is a bright smile to the pair "hello there friends."

Jarek has joined the Large Table.

Grabbing a seat, Hammar reaches up, removing his horned helmet, exposing his crushed skull. He then plops himself down into the seat he had chosen, which groans under the sudden weight of the massive man. Hammar offers a yellow-toothed smile to all those who are present around the table.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Natalia before departing.

Lazarus settles his business with a pretty common girl ending their conversation with a charming laugh. His simple blue eyes dart towards his brother, Silas. He chuckles and shakes his head, bringing a tea cup to his lips for a sip before responding to him with a, "Perhaps another time, Silas. Business calls." Lazarus turns back to another prospective client with a smile\, allowing them a sniff and sample of the tea.

The door opens to admit the Velenosa resident Harlequin, arm linked with Ianthe. His low rasp of a voice speaks quietly to her as they enter, but the purr of his syllables sounds as though he gargles gravel and whiskey every morning. Or, you know, it could be the years of poison testing. Blacktongue is true to his namesake and is mindful of it as his cheshire smile curls easily when sharp eyes rove over the gathered crowd. "Choose a seat?" he asks pointedly of Ianthe as a single brow lifts.

    "This is my second time holding this particular event. I like to spice things up a bit. Keeps the populace happy in troubled times, and interesting opportunities pop up when the classes intermingle. Master Hammar here became Lady Dawn's champion after winning a game," he explains to Natalia before greeting Jarek with a grin. "Hello, m'lord. I see you're properly supplied with wine already. Come to mingle and win some silver?" Isabeau is caught lingering in the corner of his eye and he deliberately directs his voice in her direction. "Everyone's welcome! Friends and strangers alike." He distastefully clicks his tongue at his brother as he declines his invitation. "Before long you won't even know what relaxation or fun -is-," he asserts. Ianthe and Blacktongue are also nodded to and smiled at when they approach. "By all means, Mistress Ianthe and Ianthe's friend. Happy to see you join us." He has yet to be introduced to the jester!

Natalia looks up at Jarek. "Ah... so we meet again, Wandering Prince." She smiles warmly towards him and then Hammer arrives. Her blue eyes round out at the sheer size of the man. In fact, she lets her eyes run up and down him before she realizes that she's staring. "Oh." The one word allows color to blossom to her cheeks as she offers a comment towards her escort. Then she smiles at Hammer. "It is good to meet you, Dawn's Champion. It is only my deepest wound that I did not meet you first to have you as my own champion." She takes a sip of her wine before smiling towards the others that are milling about.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Natalia before departing.

Ianthe looks over the crowd as well, recognizing quite a few among them. "The center of the action, of course," Ianthe responds to Blacktongue's question. She leads the way to the large table in the center of the room where the crowd appears to be forming. She nods to Silas in greeting, her smile warm as she takes a seat at the table. "Happy to join, Master Mercier. Please allow me to introduce Sir Blacktongue the Harlequin of House Velenosa. He wanted to see how those of us of the non-Silk persuasion entertain ourselves."

Ianthe has joined the Large Table.

Lazarus laughs at Silas, kicking his feet up on the table and sipping some more of the tea. "When you are a Mercier, work is fun." The man selling tea by the crate says to his brother, Silas, the host of the event. Lazarus mostly lets the crates on the table and ground, marked with the Mercier brand, do the talking. Any specific concern he handles himself.

"Hammar did be Lady Dawn Champion, Hammar make good win!" He looks very pleased, and likely doesn't care in the least whether he wins this time or not, the last changed up his life enough. "We play same game?" Hammar asks curiously of Silas, glancing over the cards. "Hammar use whack card!."

Isabeau has joined the Large Table.

"Mingle yes, win some silver I'm not so sure of." Jarek says with a grin to Silas before taking a healthy drink of his wine. There is also a look at Hammar when he and his large self join and Jarek grins at him "hello to you friend, Hammar? Good name. I'm Jarek Velenosa, a pleasure to meet you." Jarek offers his hand to the huge man. There is a seperate smirk at Natalia "wandering prince? That has a nice ring too it, but what makes you so sure I'm a wanderer or a prince? I could have been making the whole thing up. You know how us Velenosians are."

One of Blacktongue's black gloved hands goes behind his back, the other resting at his abdomen as he bends forward at the waist in a polite bow of introduction to Silas. "Evening, and at your gracious generosity of hosting.." The man's piercing gaze looks around, "What is the game afoot?" He rises back to his full height and hooks his thumbs into his belt. A side glance is given to Ianthe before he slips in beside her, the left foot resting on top of his right knee while now both arms arm draped lazily over the back of his chair.

Blacktongue has joined the Large Table.

Hammar has joined the Large Table.

Both arms drape lazily*

Silas clears his throat. "I am Sir Silas Mercier of the Iron Guard, if any of you are unfamiliar with me. The haggler with the tea is my brother Master Lazarus; but he's too busy selling his teas to join us. We shall upturn our noses in his general direction." His eyes glitter with mirth, suggesting he wasn't being serious with that threat. "We will be playing a game of my own invention, The Grand Melee, which Master Hammar here has some familiarity with. The initial pot is set at 1000 silver, out of my own pocket, but players are free to add to it. It is not a requirement, however! Who wishes to play?" He looks face to face, inquiringly. "I will explain the rules before we start, but it is mostly a game of luck and intuition."

Nodding her head respectfully, Isabeau took a seat at the large table; recognizing a few of the faces present only from descriptions overheard. Adjusting her skirts before pulling her chair in, her elbows were rested on the table and hands clasped together, "Princess Isabeau Valardin. Thank you so much for the invitation to join."

Taking Jarek's hand. "Hammar hi" Hammar greets the man, that massive ham-sized hand wraps those sausage thick fingers around Jareks as he shakes it in greeting. He then turns his attention back on Silas as he begins the talk about the game. "Hammar try not make all bad lose Hammar." He explains and offers another yellow-toothed smile."

Everyone should know her! So it takes a moment for Natalia to realize she should introduce herself. There may be some soft murmurs to Silas ear before she offers, "I am, of course, Princess Natalia Grayson. It is good to see so many new faces." She turns her eyes towards Jarek for a moment of consideration. "I am not sure of what you mean. Are you to imply that your family is full of liars and half-truths?" She clicks her tongue, but her eyes dance with humor. "I would never say that and must of course take you at your word of your name." Her eyes slide towards Blacktongue because with a name like that, how can you not. Her blue eyes move from one to the other. "Master Lazarus, will you not come and join me? I would hate to lose and not have you to tell me how well I attempted."

Tea. Anyone who knows Princess Sophie Valardin knows that is reason enough for her to be most places. After a long day tending to the ill and injured at the House of Solace, a nice cuppa is just what the healer ordered before she makes her way home. Perhaps she's not one to keep up on social events, but her eyes widen a bit in a mild expression of surprise when she realizes it's not just another night at the tavern.

Blacktongue's gaze meets Natalia's and he flashes her a wide smile of pearly whites, even mindful to keep his tongue hidden well behind his teeth to keep the expression from seeming unsettling. There is a respectful nod of his head to the Princess before his attention shifts back to Ianthe. "You'll have to lead and teach tonight. My games a touch different than this one's."

"Oh, no, who would ever say such a thing as Velenosians are liars and secrets? Preposterous" A grin from Jarek as he gets his hand back from Hammar he nods at the man "a pleasure Hammar." And then a look to Silas and a curious raise of the brow "a game of your own invention? Interesting." A smile and nod at Blacktongue "Blacktongue, a pleasure to see you again."

Ianthe notices that the man she'd met at her sister's shop earlier. She gives Hammer a warm smile and nods, "Master Hammar." Nods and polite smiles for the others as well. She glances at Blacktongue, murmuring, "I'll do my best, but this is a new game for me as well." She directs her attention to Silas to learn the rules to this game herself.

"Lies? Secrets? Hardly. We are as honest as they come." Blacktongue defends to Silas with his smile turning venemous, the downwards angling of his eyebrows giving his face an impish cast. Still, his words are never anything but genuinely jovial and light-hearted. To Jarek he nods, bowing slightly in his seat. "A pleasure. I trust the building won't catch fire tonight? It if must, make sure only the silks go. Leave the delicates intact underneath." He begins to say something to Ianthe but she has diverted her attention for the rules, so his next words to her are murmured rather than spoken aloud.

Hearing a relatively new, but slightly familiar voice, Hammar turns to glance over and notice Ianthe. "Joscelin sister!" Hammar exclaims excitedly, his right eye squinting to focus on her.

Silas presents the deck of cards by placing them in the middle of the table. Each colorful card depicts a hero of old. "It's easy when you get the hang of it. Each player draws six cards. You play one card each round, and the player with the highest numbered card wins. An ace has the highest point yield and can only be defeated by another ace." Silas draws his own cards first, to demonstrate. "If need be, there's a tiebreaker at the end of six rounds."

Lazarus smiles to Natalia, "Your highness, you are in perfect company." Catching Sophie's gaze Lazarus motions for the girl to join him and he stands up to fill her a fresh cup of tea, "House Mercier's." He says and then continues, "Picked from a local garden and packaged on the same day for guarranteed freshness. For those that prefer their tea brew in a mead we offer our gold mead." He clears his throat and offers her a cup, "The same quality and experience you expect from Mercier wines, you will find in our tea."

Natalia nods her head a bit to this as she looks at Silas. There is a slow lowering of her brows at Lazarus though and his words. She does turn her blue eyes towards Silas, but there is a nod of her head. "Perhaps." The only word that leaves her lips as she looks at the others and smiles most becomingly to them.

"If the building catches fire tonight, I would personally say that this was the most successful party that's ever been thrown here, but, I may be the only one." Jarek grins at Blacktooth and then a look to Silas as there are rules, and cards, and then hes drawing six cards because thats what we do right?

Ianthe turns her face toward Blacktongue when he murmurs to her. A smile curves her lips and she whispers a few words in response before Hammar's exclamation grabs her attention. She smiles warmly at the big man, "The very same. Fancy meeting you here."

"Nonsense. I'll fetch something to roast on a stick while it burns." Blacktongue reassures Jarek with an abrupt laugh as the deck of cards are laid out. He glances over them briefly, commenting aside softly to Ianthe as he does so. The pair sit relatively close to each other and may be placing their own bets against one another.

Silas withdraws from whispering to Natalia and smiles when the others begin to pick their cards. "Please no fires. The crown would be most displeased," Silas is quick to add. "But I suppose I should have thought of that before we set up all the candles..."

It is not an event until Salazar Argento shows up, already pre-gamed with a whiskey flask in one hand, and a wine bottle in the other, lurching slightly with the an almost swan-like grace. Granted, a swan shot by an arrow, floundering beautifully into a tavern (which begs the age old question -- what is a swan doing in a tavern?). But taking a sip each from flask and bottle, Salazar has two piratical-looking fellows hold him up, and it's almost with stage-production-level precision that he gets carried into the bar, underneath the arm. With a loud nonsensical shout ("HO-HA!"), Salazar bicycles his legs in the air, as his two crewman carrying him. IT'S LIKE FLYING. And then they set him down at the card game table, and he roars, "LET'S PLAY!"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Hammar before departing.

If Sophie had her heart set on a specific blend, she's either gracious enough or adventurous enough to forego her initial choice to instead oblige the merchant. Amiably, the young woman smiles at Lazarus. "I do not wish the same experiences in tea and wines, goodman, but perhaps I will be convinced otherwise. Taking the offered cup with a, "Thank you," the Mercy examines the color before smoothly lifting the drink to inhale the aroma, eyes closing as she takes in the olfactory profile as only an aficionado would.

    And then Salazar arrives, in all his loud drunken glory. After a few hard blinks, Silas smiles uncertainly at the man and gestures towards the deck of cards. "Draw six and play one at a time, m'lord." A pause. "Ask the player next to you for help if you can't read them."

"Here that Blacktongue? No fires. We're going to have to go somewhere else if we want to really end this night on a bang I guess." Jarek seems quite pleased about the idea though. Off in the distance where the Sophie stands Jarek offers a smile at the fellow disciple, though, hes in the middle of this confusing card game and can't get up to say hi. Then a Salazar, who earns a slow grin "I bet our friend lord Stormborn here would love to end the night that way. He looks like hes up for an adventure tonight."

Blacktongue looks as though he were going to say something else to Jarek's comment, but instead he opts to cough and clear his throat, bringing a closed fist against his mouth while the other hand reaches for a card.

"It seems a simple enough game, lots of luck involved." Isabeau mused as she began to draw her six cards from the deck, a handful of silver placed on the table to match the pot, "So, are you chivalrous gentlemen who make the ladies play first or do you lead?" A mischievous smile crossed her lips as she looked through her cards.

Silas checked luck + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 39, 24 higher than the difficulty.

Lazarus watches Sophie as she performs her ritual and smiles, pulling a chair out for the princess, "We aim to please all tastes." He says to her and sets his tea down, "You have this air of experience so allow me to show our most premium tea leaves. Hand picked by yours truly, Lazarus Mercier." He takes a seat at his booth and picks out a small box with samples for Sophie to touch and smell.

Blacktongue checked luck + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 22, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Natalia lofts her brows. "Why my wandering prince, did you just come onto the good Master Blacktongue? I do believe he is a winner already then." Natalia looks towards Silas as she takes her own six cards. "This is an interesting game for so many reasons. I am quite delighted with you currently for playing it."

Jarek checked luck + medicine against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Isabeau checked luck + propaganda against difficulty 15, resulting in 18, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Hammar checked luck + dodge against difficulty 15, resulting in 22, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe notes Salazar's entrance with a bemused expression. The man certainly knew how to make one, she had to give him that. Ianthe slants a glance at Blacktongue. Something the jester has said clearly makes her chuckle, but shortly after she focuses her attention on drawing cards.

Lazarus has joined the Quiet Booth.

Ianthe checked luck + linguistics against difficulty 15, resulting in 56, 41 higher than the difficulty.

Natalia checked luck + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Reaching for his first card, Hammar pulls out the thief card and plays it. "Hammar thief!" He tells the group as a whole, placing it in the center of the table. Watching Ianthe as she plays her card, Hammar grunts.

Salazar checked luck + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 33, 18 higher than the difficulty.

A priest, hilarious first draw for Jarek if he says so himself, and he grins to Natalia "I do a lot of things, if I have to keep track of everyone I come onto though, I wont have a mind to do anything else."

The Harlequin leans back in his seat so that the chair rests precariously on two legs, his feet propped up on the table as he tosses the Mirrormask card into the center of the table. He doesn't do too well and a look is given to the deck. Two fingers curl, beckoning a server forward as he orders wine for him and Ianthe with a kind words and a smile. "It would appear I will not be joining the faith. Alas. My dreams. Dashed."

"Dare like it's your last day, and the prophecies tell true - you will die a great man -tonight-, Prince Jarek Velenosa! Deal me!" Salazar takes seven cards and blurrily draws seven cards. The crewman next to him - missing both a tooth and an eye, the former replaced by a gold tooth, the latter covered by an eye-patch - presses down one card and slides it back into the pile. He may not need someone to help him read the file, when he's got a bloody one-eyed pirate to read the cards for him. And to play for him. Drunk as a loon fallen into a cask of ale. Granted, said loon bird would be dead from alcohol poisoning. He slides a stool up to the table and flips the first card in his hand, tosses it in without regard. It is the Mirrormask. Black cloak, blank face, robes of office. Unreadable.

Silas plays his knight card first, naturally! His grin seems to grow wider and wider as the cards flip, until Ianthe's card reveals itself to be higher than his. Then it stops, but doesn't fade. "Mistress Ianthe wins the first round. Congrats. But it's still anyone's game." He suspects Salazar is just picking cards at random, but it doesn't seem to be going horribly for him yet.

Natalia draws the Mirrormask and then plays it as she sees how the others are playing and what is going on with it. Her lips curve up just a bit more towards Silas a bit. "So do they win the silver and we have another pot?" This is spoken like a noble. "Do we add to it or how does that work?" Her eyes slide to Ianthe as she wins. A soft clap for that. Her eyes fall back to the drunken Salazar. Her lips twitch a moment before she looks back towards Silas.

Ianthe's lips curve into a grin as she glances at Blacktongue before she refocuses on the game. She looks over the others' cards and smiles with delight when she notices that she's won the hand. "Well, it looks like studying well does pay off."

Silas shakes his head to Natalia. "Nay, she must win the most rounds by the end of six in order to win the pot." He chuckles. "I suspect we should leave it untouched so it doesn't get confusing. One thousand silver is quite the sum." The average commoner wage is one silver! He does look curious when Ianthe brings up studying. "Perhaps you can teach my merchant brother a thing or two."

Blacktongue's tosses back his wine without much thought. There is no artful swish of the red liquid to allow it to aerate, no sniff or lingering mouthful to savor its taste. It goes down like water and soon he is motioning for another. "Congratulations, Nightingale. You haven't won our bet -yet-." He reminds with a wide smile, his brows waggling before his loud and boisterous laugh sounds again.

Preoccupied as she is with the prospect of tea, Sophie does not yet notice her fellow disciple of Lagoma (sorry, Jarek) nor does she even realize her beloved sister is here (Isabeau understands). With a smile and minute nod of thanks, she sets down the cup of tea, unsipped, and removes her leather satchel, setting it aside somewhere suitable, before she accepts the drawn seat with a smile and courteous nod. "Well met, Master Mercier," she cordially intones before offering, "Princess Sophie Valardin." The curve of her mouth turns slightly amused at suggestion of her experience, but she offers no comment other than, "Thank you," when the premium blend is presented for her inspection. Carefully, she touches the first of many leafs, with scrutinizing fingertips, then lifts then lifts its, turning this way and that with summer blue eyes most keen in their assessment. Only then is her nose brought in the fold to weigh in with its opinion.

Sophie has joined the Quiet Booth.

Silas checked luck + woodworking against difficulty 15, resulting in 18, 3 higher than the difficulty.

Salazar checked luck + sailing against difficulty 15, resulting in 40, 25 higher than the difficulty.

"Lookie what we 'ave 'ere, aye?" Salazar roars back in an estimation of one of his Lower Boroughs-learned (or unlearned, as the case may be) henchmen. He leans forward heavily and flips his card. "Hold fast, Stormborn! The Admiral is here to cleave the seas, let no man stand strong against ten foot waves!" He opens his palm and reveals the blue admiral card. A stern man with a tricorn pulled over his head, stormy grey eyes staring into the distance, he wears a blue navy surcoat to protect against the elements. In the background, a boat flounders with a lightning bolt striking down from sky down to the raging sea. One would expect the pirate to play the admiral card, of course, but this soon? Perhaps he's playing all his strong cards too fast. He takes another long swig of whiskey, his cheeks rosy with warmth. "I made the mistake of drinking half a crate of Nilanzan red before this."

Salazar elbows Blacktongue, who sits next to him. "Are you drinking Nilanzan red?" Not waiting for an answer, Salazar widens his eyes: "Why not? What in the -Abyss- are you doing with your life? What is -wrong- with you, Blacktongue? A Blackheart as well? My cousin calls herself that," he informs Blacktongue. He raises his glass to the waitress and points in exaggerated, great sweeps at the Velenosan harlequin. "This man needs Nilanzan red in his life! He is -nowhere- near drunk enough."

Isabeau checked luck + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 28, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Hammar checked luck + huge wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 47, 32 higher than the difficulty.

Jarek checked luck + seduction against difficulty 15, resulting in 16, 1 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + streetwise against difficulty 15, resulting in 33, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Natalia checked luck + diplomacy against difficulty 15, resulting in 13, 2 lower than the difficulty.

Blacktongue checked luck + alchemy against difficulty 15, resulting in 34, 19 higher than the difficulty.

Shtuff is 'bout to get real! Hammar decides to play the admiral card, flipping it to be shown to the table. "HAMMAR WHACK" He bellows out loudly to the table and leans back in his seat, as if figuring there's no way anyone could beat him.

Blacktongue rocks back and forth from the two-leg balance on his chair. The toe of his boot nudges off the next card into his outstretched hand and he examines it before tossing it in - the Scholar. He glances aside to Salazar when he nudges him. "I wouldn't know. More importantly, I couldn't care less."

Lazarus entertains himself with entertaining princess Sophie. Delighted at the company, Lazarus shares a cup of tea with her and admists her inspection, he interjects with a fact or two, "The Clemenstone Brooks provide enhanced nutrients that help our vineyard grow. When tested with tea, we found excellent results." The young man sits politely on his chair.

KING ME wait, this isn't checkers is it? Well, it still applies. He played a king, he thought the king was going to be good, I mean its not a BAD card its just also, you know, not the best card. And then of course Salazar is talking about wine which reminds Jarek that he needs more wine because, oops, this glass got all finished. "We need four Nilanzan reds I think"

Isabeau raises her eyebrows at Hammar's intense luck or skill, murmuring, "I see now why Sir Hammar proclaimed he won before the game had begun." Her card played had been the mirrormask but it had been no match for Hammar Time.

Natalia gets the princess card and looks towards Silas. "So... this wins by default of being a Princess, right?" HEr blue eyes are everso hopeful, even as she's looking at the other cards that are being flipped over.

Ianthe glances over her cards and tosses the Thief on to the table. She eyes the other cards and pretends at a sigh if disappointment in not taking the hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she watches Salazar and Blacktongue's exchange with a shake of her head before she looks at Hammer. "Well done."

    Three admiral cards are played, but Hammar's is the strongest of the bunch. Silas rubs the back of his neck. "I suspect Master Hammar is more intuitive than we might expect," he confesses to Isabeau. The smile he wears turns sympathetic at Natalia. "Not -quite-. There is a King on the table, too, but he didn't quite win either."

"you're sure we're not playing checkers?" Jarek asks Silas as the King loses "I could have sworn this was checkers."

    "A king is better at directing his armies than he is charging at the front of them," Silas retorts to Jarek.

Silas checked luck + investigation against difficulty 15, resulting in 13, 2 lower than the difficulty.

Natalia checked luck + etiquette against difficulty 15, resulting in 30, 15 higher than the difficulty.

"Nilanzan red! Oh sweet Nilanzan red.
It goes with all meats and all bread.
Blameless, we are, on sweet Nilanzan red;
What we do or say, blame on wine instead!"

Salazar is not capable of more complex poetry, being massively drunk and incredibly happy. It's part of the reason why Lycene need wine to get through the day. Not because their lives are dreary, bleak affairs. Because the beautiful men and women they surround themselves with all become a blur, and need something to take it to the next level. Enter Nilanzan red wine, the drink of romantics and idealists, of lovers and poets, of the obsessed and the unaddressed. He reaches over the table - all the way over the table, given that Jarek is on the other damn side of the card table - and nearly sprawls to give Jarek a fist-bump on the -fine- choice of drink. Nilanzan red. "Just give me a crate of Nilanzan red, Prince Jarek, and I will show you the stars and the seas, the thunder and the rain." He turns to look -straight- at Ianthe. No one is safe. Not even a lowborn gypsy girl shrouded in silks of rainbows. "Do -you- want to see the stars and the moon, the the thunder and the rain." And then he leans forward and whispers (or so he thinks, because he's fragrantly drunk): "Sweet sister, which do you think would handle a -real- woman better in bed? The King or his faithful Knight?" He takes a long drink from his own bottle of Nilanzan red - the peeling silver label has, in fine script, blood red letters.

Isabeau checked luck + diplomacy against difficulty 15, resulting in 21, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + investigation against difficulty 15, resulting in 37, 22 higher than the difficulty.

Hammar checked luck + survival against difficulty 15, resulting in 19, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Salazar checked luck + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 36, 21 higher than the difficulty.

Blacktongue checked luck + riddles against difficulty 15, resulting in 37, 22 higher than the difficulty.

"The King it is," Salazar murmurs, flipping his card. The left one shows a brazen King of Hearts, wearing a crown of thorns, with spear in one hand, and wine flagon in the other.

Jarek checked luck + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 21, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Being an Admiral doesn't necessarily mean he has much in the way of skills as a Ranger, despite this, Hammar still plays the Ranger card. "Hammar kill boar!" He slaps that ham-sized hand upon the table top. "Hammar wha...." He drawls off and then realizes that he played one of the lowest cards.

Blacktongue's next card is the Shaman, picked and tossed with the same languid casual air as the others. He isn't blind and catches Ianthe's look, but gives her a shrug in response. "It would appear that I am not made for this game." It is said with an amused chuckle and shake of his head. "The Gods deem it fit to play yet another joke on me."

Natalia takes her card a bit to this as she is looking over at what others are playing. Of course, being a Princess. She gets the princess card again, flipping it over hopefully. Only she sees another card that beat hers. A sigh given as she bemoans towards Silas. "I do believe I am not good at this game. If I cannot win it, I should add to it. 100 silver to the pot for the winner." She gives the man a wink.

Its Kings on Kings on Kings, but, Jarek still doesn't win. Though, he seems to care about it not very much because now there are a few glass of wine in front of him, and hes starting on that first one, because its wine, and its red, and someone has to burn this place down at the end of the night and its such a pain to do that sober.

Ianthe plays the Mirrormask this time, laying it down carefully. She looks at Salazar, "Neither. A real woman would pick the stable boy." She lifts a brow and leans back in her seat, smoothing her hands over the skirt of her silk dress. She glances at the cards again. "A tie, then?"

Silas scratches his chin as he studies the flipped cards. "We're both doing poorly, aren't we?" He muses to Natalia before flicking his eyes to Ianthe and Salazar. "Your cards are equally matched. Do you wish to challenge each other to a tiebreaker to determine the win?"

The Harlequin's beard, dyed a venomous green today, is stroked lightly by his black gloved hand as he ponders. "Not a tie. You win." Blacktongue waves that same hand dismissively, as if he were swatting at a fly before he tosses back his second glass of wine in one fell swoop.

With eyes closed, Sophie inhales the leaf's fragrance, her expression softening in the manner of someone's whose senses are well-pleased. "Lovely," she murmurs, "very earthy." With eyes open, she returns the sample back to the box with the measured care of someone well-practiced handling such things. "What is it called?" she amiably asks before brightly smiling, "Thank you," for the cup of premium tea. (So sorry, other cup, but know she still loves you.) The drink is lifted, its color and aroma taken in before she takes a sip, eyes closing as the liquid lingers on her tongue, whispering the secrets of its flavor profile.

Ianthe shakes her head and looks at Silas. "I suppose I can't argue if Master Blacktongue concedes." She finally reaches for her own neglected glass of wine and takes a small sip.

    "Pot is at 1100 silver, Mistress Ianthe scores another victory. Can she be stopped?" He eyes Hammar almost expectantly. Ianthe may have taken Acacia's place. "Chin up, Lord Jarek; I'm sure your luck will turn."

Silas checked luck + ride against difficulty 15, resulting in 10, 5 lower than the difficulty.

Natalia checked luck + propaganda against difficulty 15, resulting in 23, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + sailing against difficulty 15, resulting in 27, 12 higher than the difficulty.

Isabeau checked luck + manipulation against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Hammar checked luck + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 26, 11 higher than the difficulty.

Jarek checked luck + empathy against difficulty 15, resulting in 34, 19 higher than the difficulty.

Blacktongue checked luck + performance against difficulty 15, resulting in 43, 28 higher than the difficulty.

One may expect that the returning champion would be looking a bit bummed out at this point when he is sitting on just one win, but... Hammar doesn't look all that bummed out, he's out, he's enjoying himself in the company of a few people he knows and the rest he does not. The massive man plays the Knight card and grunts. "Hammar Admiral bestest."

Natalia looks at the third princess card in a row and then turns her eyes towards Silas. She offers a comment to his ear as she points to her cards. Obviously, she's accusing him of cheating against her. However, she then looks at his own cards. Maybe she's trying to cheat.

Lazarus clears his throat and sits up, smiling again at her compliment of his craft. "That one is derived from a cultivar I called Clemenstone Brook. When I was young, my father was looking into the expanding the business of wedding wines into different crops. It is the sort of thing you do to keep the soil healthy. Crop rotation they call it." He takes a sip of the tea, growing quiet for a second to enjoy it himself before continuing, "Well, he was given three sprouts and planted them by the river that ran at the back of our farm. Out of the three only this cultivar grew enough for us to harvest the leaves." Lazarus smiles to Sophie, "It takes a certain kind of character to grow up at home and we figure our tea should embody that."

Salazar checked luck + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 23, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Jarek grins at Silas and chuckles "oh, trust me friend, i'm not disapointed" cause hes flipping over that bombass card! Also because he has wine, and all these people, and because it might not even be possible for Jarek to be in a bad mood. Blacktongue that jerk, but, still Jarek laughs and shrugs his shoulders "thought I had that one, silly Blacktongue ruining my moment in the sun." But seriously, Jarek is grinning like a fool.

And so, starkly, Salazar flips the other card remaining - the Knight. A low suit, no doubt.

    It is uncertain if Silas is playing crappy cards because he intends to lure everyone into a false sense of security, or if he really does just have awful cards. Natalia was now doing better than he was, points-wise! He still looks confident regardless. "So close, Lord Jarek." He glances at Blacktongue. "I think he's going to come back from behind, if I were a betting man."

Blacktongue's next card is the Mirrormask, yet again. It goes into the center of the table as he sucks his teeth. The Jester isn't much invested in this game, his piercing eyes far more interested in observing the others around the table.

"Indeed," Sophie agrees, expressing genuine interest in the merchant's story. After she finishes savoring that first sip, that is. "I cultivate a few varieties myself, but not to such an extent." A slight flourish of her hand indicate Lazarus. Cradling the cup with the care born of loving day, she remarks, "You mentioned mead infusions. I wonder... have you anything that would be well suited to whiskey?" For all she knows about tea -- and the Princess of Mercy /knows/ about tea -- whiskey is generically offered, as if there isn't more than one kind.

Ianthe plays the Admiral card and takes another drink. Here is a good card, but the Mirrormask wins. Of course. Her dark eyes glance to Silas and she says with a smirk, "Don't count on it Master Mercier."

Silas tsks. "It wouldn't be a gamble if I didn't count on it."

Silas checked luck + leadership against difficulty 15, resulting in 21, 6 higher than the difficulty.

Isabeau checked luck + ride against difficulty 15, resulting in 14, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Natalia checked luck + empathy against difficulty 15, resulting in 26, 11 higher than the difficulty.

Salazar checked luck + seduction against difficulty 15, resulting in 23, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + economics against difficulty 15, resulting in 28, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Jarek checked luck + theology against difficulty 15, resulting in 40, 25 higher than the difficulty.

Blacktongue checked luck + etiquette against difficulty 15, resulting in 20, 5 higher than the difficulty.

Hammar checked luck + brawl against difficulty 15, resulting in 29, 14 higher than the difficulty.

Another card tossed in, this time the Princes. "I was trying to follow your shining example." He beams flattery at Natalia, his smile growing wider as he reaches for his wine to drink deeply.

Natalia gets excited as she does a little better and claps her hands. Her own card turns over to be a priest one. However, she still doesn't win. There isn't a sad bone in her body over it. "This is rather wonderful fun, isn't it? I mean, it is probably more fun if you are winning, but this is still glorious."

Eyy, wutup, Jarek is going to flip over a priest card just as hes finishing that second glass of wine and swapping it out for another. And its a good priest card this time "I think we might hand the game off to the lady here because none of us have managed to win more than once." Jarek looks up and blinks at Natalia "this is a competition? Oh my i've been playing this game all wrong the whole time. I thought we were going for prettiest pictures."

Playing a weaker of two of his Admiral cards he had drawn, Hammar scrunches up his nose in a bit of annoyance. "Why Hammar get weak Admiral?"

Lazarus nods his head settling into his seat. He smiles when Sophie reveals her green thumb. Perked by this fact, Lazarus interrupts their current conversation and exclaims, "Here in Arx? If so I would love to see it." The merchant chuckles and shakes his head, returning to her inquiry, "House Mercier is renown for their experimental wines with a record of a single generation to cultivate a wedding wine that matches the client's specific taste. With tea we are visiting meads and taking advantage of its dark flavors but with due time I intend to introduce other teas and visit whiskey. We would not be Mercier if we could not please everyone."

Ianthe turns over another Scholar and grins at Jarek, "No, my lord. This isn't a competition at all. You should definitely just hand the game off to me."

    Jarek manages to win a round. And Silas plays yet another weak card. "The players who have already one once have a chance to die Mistress Ianthe. The rest of us are out of luck, I'm afraid," Silas announces after Jarek.

    Jarek manages to win a round. And Silas plays yet another weak card. "The players who have already once have a chance to tie Mistress Ianthe. The rest of us are out of luck, I'm afraid," Silas announces after Jarek.

Hammar checked luck + huge wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 45, 30 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + linguistics against difficulty 15, resulting in 45, 30 higher than the difficulty.

Blacktongue checked luck + riddles against difficulty 15, resulting in 28, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Jarek checked luck + occult against difficulty 15, resulting in 15, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Blacktongue's chair's two front legs SLAM down onto the floor as he suddenly leans forward and with one last flick of his wrist a card appears from his sleeve and he tosses it into the center. Simple slight of hand, but he still doesn't win. Besides, it is only a Shaman card after all. "You win and I am made the poorer for it." he bemoans aloud to Ianthe.

Natalia sets her cards down and shakes her head a moment. "Wandering PRince, I do not believe this is a competition at all. Surely it is just so you may spend time with me. You are welcome for my time here." Then she looks at the other ones that are still playing. Her lips curve upwards a bit more as she lifts her hand for more wine. She will stip at it lightly.

"You're right, its just an event for you to spend time with me" Jarek agrees with Natalia... kind of... and then flips over that card, oh shnap is that an ace? Sure looks like it, and he beams a smile at Ianthe "not a competition right?" And he takes a drink of his wine, kind of cocky for a priest.

When he mentions mead, Sophie perks up a bit more, canting her head curiously. "There was a tea-infused mead at the Crafters Fete. One of yours?" Another sip of tea is taken, savoringly, but the expression is more subtle than with the initial experience. That done, she nods. "At the manor. My good lord cousin," that being His Grace, Edain Valardin, Prince of Sanctum, Highlord of the Oathland, and Hero of the West (although even he doesn't use that last one), if one is going to be specific, here, "had been generous enough to gift me space for a garden, of which some small amount of tea, are among the things are grown. It really is not much to see, but I will happily show you should you visit for high tea."

Ianthe lays down another Scholar. And then notices that Jarek wins again. "Well, damn. I suppose it would be bad form to accuse a priest of cheating, right?" She winks at Jarek, clearly joking. At least she hopes it's clear as she'd rather not be burned down with the tavern or have him put in a bad word to the gods on her behalf. She needed all the help she could get with them...

"HAMMAR CRUSH YOU!" THe massive man explodes with fervor when he pulls out his secrete weapon... a strong admiral card. He leans the card back onto its back legs, the chair groans with warning at this, and then his dreams are first almost crushed by Ianthe, and then Jarek pulls an Ace. "Hammar no!"

Silas blinks at the ace Jarek flips. "Funny how this game never ends without a tiebreaker," he reveals with amusement. He nods to Hammar and Blacktongue. "You both played very well, but the round goes to Lord Jarek. The tiebreaker round will be between Mistress Ianthe and Lord Jarek." He gives Hammar a particularly apologetic look - the big man was so into it, and so close!

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I certainly think I'm perfectly capable of lying and being a disciple of The Flame, you just have to be really really talented" Jarek beas a smile to Ianthe

Lazarus beams brightly to Sophie, "I would be delighted to visit." He says quickly and then raises a brow to ponder for a moment, "I can not say as I have just arrived. Our mead is a heavy gold mead infused with a green tea leaf scent. A very minty flavor."

Jarek checked luck + theology against difficulty 15, resulting in 48, 33 higher than the difficulty.

Ianthe checked luck + streetwise against difficulty 15, resulting in 32, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Hey, look at that Jarek won, and he laughs happily and opens his hands with a shrug like he doesn't know what he did, or how he did it, and honestly he might not. "Can we just, oh, take all these winnings and buy everyones drinks in the bar for the night? That sounds fun, lets do that. If I have to carry a single silver home, I might hurt myself, so drinking is called for I think."

Blacktongue places a hand over his heart and says in raspy tones, "A game of chance more than my skills could chance to win. I'll have to gamble a guess that I'm not suited for this. Alas, I'll settle for smiles."

Isabeau beamed brightly in Natalia's direction, "Well, Princess Natalia. It seems we've both played the game and lost. If I were more invested in winning, I would claim a distinct bias against Princesses." It's clear she's joking though, "I had a marvelous time, even if I left with less silver than I came in with." Not that it really mattered to a Princess!

At that, Sophie brightly chuckles. "I cannot say if that is it, for I have not tasted it. I do know someone who has a bottle and is saving it for a special occasion. I've been assured I will know his opinion once he has once. Should it be favorable, I will readily direct him your way." Lightly, she lifts her tea cup in toast, amiably smiling.

"Joscelin sister win!" He claps his hands together, and then seems to realize that it wasn't Ianthe that had won. "Prince win?" Hammar asks, his dull gaze turning toward Silas. "Good job!" He exclaims and then turns his gaze to Silas. "How much we must pay?"

    "And that concludes the Grand Melee. Lord Jarek stands victorious, proving once again that luck is fickle and likes to betray us," Silas proudly announces as he recollected the flipped cards. "He has expressed a desire to get all of us drunk with his winnings, and who am I to protest? If any of you wish to take home a bottle of wine from the rack, feel free to do so." He grins at Hammar. "Nothing, evidently! I won't force silver on Lord Jarek if he truly doesn't desire it."

Natalia gives Jarek a long look as he turns down the silver. There is something of interest there before she offers towards Silas. "This was a most wonderous event. I am glad that you ran it. Truly, you have come up with a game of interest and you ran it in a most noble fashion."

The cheers of the game finishing calls for Lazarus attention but it is only briefly because at Sophie's chuckle it returns to the princess and the young merchant says to her, "Thank you. I eagerly await to hear back."

Ianthe laughs as she reveals the losing card. "Your luck has almost convinced me to forsake my calling and take up the Flame, my lord. Almost." She settles back in her chair and reaches for that glass of wine again, taking a long drink, before glancing to Blacktongue, "One should stick with their talents and yours is a prodigious one in gaining smiles."

Natalia is overheard praising Silas for: For holding a most wonderous event and coming up with a game of interest.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Hammar before departing.

Lazarus is overheard praising Silas for: Little brother sure knows how to throw a party. Even got me a nice business potential business deal.

Isabeau is overheard praising Silas for: For a fantastic game.

Lazarus is overheard praising Jarek for: Good with cards and lucky.

Jarek is overheard praising Ianthe for: For losing gracefully when she should have won

"I've always had a knack for that since my other talents, former as the were, have failed me." Blacktongue says in a drawl half-hidden behind his next glass of wine. Still, his smile is more than kind as he directs it towards Ianthe once more. A glance to Silas and he thanks him, "Well hosted and gambled. If I could taste the wine and its suspicious additives, I would compliment you further."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Natalia before departing.

Lazarus is overheard condemning Salazar for: The nerves! Mercier wine is the greatest wine.

Natalia receives a message in which she gets a present! It's a good day all around and she starts to pull up her own hair to secure the pins within them. She gives Silas a pleased smile when the others start to praise him as well.

Hammar has left the Large Table.

Silas stashes the deck of cards away and directs the maidservant to serve any wine the participants may wish to try. Blacktongue is served first! A choice of brandy, red wine, white wine, or the mead. "Additionally I'll be sending one of you a chest, as part of a raffle. It'll be a surprise." He eyes Lazarus as he condemns Salazar's choice of drink, even if he's compelled to agree with him.

Jarek grins at Ianthe "you don't need to take up The Flame, just celebrate passion is all. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully at it." Jarek shrugs a little "It would be more entertaining to watch a bar full of people drink themselves into bliss than to have more silver, I insist, we should all have fun."

When Lazarus' attention is drawn, Sophie's follows. It is only then that she recognizes familiar faces. Smiling with good cheer, she intones, "Well done, brother Jarek, even though I wish you had not bested not dearest sister." #TeamIsabeau. As an aside, with mirth in her voice, she informs the merchant, "You are most welcome, but I must warn that I have no idea when I will hear anything at all."

Ianthe raises her glass to Silas and says with a smile, "Very interesting game, indeed. Thank you for hosting it." She sits back to watch the others, still nursing that glass of wine that she started with. At Jarek's comment, she just chuckles and drinks.

With an overly loud yawn, Blacktongue pushes himself up from the table and polishes off the rest of his wine he had chosen - meaning whichever was closest to being poured. "Very giving of you." he raises the empty glass in toast to Silas before stepping out and pushing his chair back in.

Silas turns his attention to Natalia once more. "Thank you for deciding to join us, Princess Natalia. I hope you're not shy about attending more in the future." He now takes the opportunity to indulge his curiosity about Blacktongue, now that the game had finished. "I think I missed your name, Master...?"

Silas adds, "I'm also thrilled you joined us, Mistress Ianthe. It was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully your sister will join us next time?"

Jarek leans his head over to beam a smile at Sophie "Ah, sister Sophie, I swear I won wholy by accident. I would never try and steal a win from beautiful ladies of my own house, that would just be silly." He eyes up Natalia and smirks "I'm sure she will get out more in the future, I believe Princess Greyson is angling to meet everyone in the whole of Arx."

Lazarus nods to Sophie, turning on his seat to look at the commotion. He smiles back to Sophie and idly says, "I can be a very patient man." Looking to those present, Lazarus blends back into the booth. At the man Salazar, Lazarus gleers unappreciated of the promotion at a Mercier party and jokes amongs the other guest at the Nilanza wine's expense.

"It is a virtue," Sophie lightly quips to Lazarus before her mirthful expression dissolves behind the tea cup from which she again drinks.

Ianthe smiles smoothly and says, "Her work keeps her busy lately, but I'll be sure to let her know that her presence was missed tonight." She lifts a brow at Blacktongue rises and lean in to murmur something to him.

Isabeau stands up from the table, not showing any discomfort at the Grayson Princess ignoring her since it was indeed a crowded room. Careful steps are taken towards Sophie, her younger sister whom she leans down to kiss gently on the cheek, "Dearest Sister. Are you spying on me? I hope you are, because then you would know I'm without a drink."

Salazar Argento, last seen, looking dumbfounded at the second King he flipped. Salazar Argento, being dragged away from the card table.

Natalia smiles towards Silas, "With the most wonderful of escorts, how could I not get out more often? It was a glorious event." Her eyes turn towards Blacktongue as well, but she smiles towards Jarek. "Ah now, Wandering Prince, you cannot think that is a bad thing. There are so many interesting people in the city, why not meet them all?"

"Blacktongue." the Jester supplies to Silas with a flourished bow. His head cants to the side ever so slightly to hear Ianthe's soft words to him. He gives a simple nod and says, "Now shall suffice just nicely."

Jarek laughs and smiles again at Natalia "indeed, you are right. Life is about change, about new things and new experiences. I agree whole heartedly that we should try and meet them all. I've heard every story I can tell, I want to hear someone elses." He takes another drink of his glass as he looks between the three people all making their introductions. He can't help but smile a little when Blacktongue introduces himself because really, thats a great name.

Ianthe nods and rises from her seat. She offers a last smile to the remaining members of the party, "It was nice to meet all of you. I wouldn't mind losing this game again." A laugh and then she turns to look at Blacktongue expectantly, waiting for him to lead the way.

    The name only intrigues him further, but he senses the Jester's departure from the table likely means he intends to leave the tavern. "Interesting name. Thank you for coming, Master Blacktongue, and I'm please to meet your acquaintance. Should you win the raffle I will not embarrass myself by not knowing who to send it to." Thankfully he will never forget that name. He can't help but notice his brother has managed to keep himself busy with Sophie, who he doesn't quite know yet, but can deduce a few things with how Isabeau is interacting with her. "Really, thank you all for coming. I'll now know who to approach when I'm in the mood for some fun."

"So I am told." Blacktongue agrees with Silas, offering his arm out to Ianthe as the pair moves to leave. "Thank you for hosting. I promise I will be by far more entertaining the next time around."

Silas chuckles and bows his head to Blacktongue. "You were plenty entertaining, Master Blacktongue. And luckier than I."

Natalia watches Blacktongue with open interest before she looks back towards Jarek. "I find that you are most at your best when you are agreeing with me. You should do that far more often, Wandering Prince." She glances around to see who is staying and who is milling into the night.

"Well, its much easier to agree with you when you are taking stances worth agreeing with" Jarek tease back to Natalia with a warm smile. Like always hes acting like hes having the time of his life right now, just drinking wine and banter and apparently winning card games.

Blacktongue voices aloud oh so helpfully for the curious looks shot his way, "I'll be performing tomorrow at that event of Lady Dawn's if you wish to pry and peer at me some more. Messengers also know where to find me if you wish a private, jeering audience at the poison-tester turned Jester. For now? Ta-ta!" He blows a kiss that ends with a wide and vupline smile before he and Ianthe slip out.

Blacktongue has left the Large Table.

Ianthe has left the Large Table.

Silas blinks and cants his head. "Is that so? I think I'll be there, then," he says outloud but at no one in particular. He swivels in his seat, back to Natalia and Jarek. "Perhaps you two can make it, too?"

Natalia smiles towards Jarek. "It helps when you understand perfection when you hear it." There isn't a mean tone to her voice, it's more teasing. However, Silas steals her attention like a thief in the night. "Of course, I shall be there. I try to come to anything that is thrown by one of my family. I wish to support such things."

Lazarus chuckles, serving a fresh brew of tea. "Here, here." He stands up and offers to top Sophie's cup and a new cup for the others that have gathered, "Mercier Teas. Same House as the Mercier Wine, winner of many awards."

"It is entirely possible I will be there." Jarek doesn't really commit to things, so thats about the best he can offer. Hes finishing that glass of wine and taking another new one when he turns to Isabeau. "My lady, I feel terrible, I don't think I ever caught your name. You are Sister Sophies sister?" thats a weird setence to say.

Silas quirks a smile at both of them when they answer in the affirmative. "Good. Hopefully I won't be too sweaty when I arrive - I have some pupils to train beforehand." He observes Lazarus and Sophie again. "I'll send a few free sachets to you and your sister later, when the new batch arrives. A favor for putting up with him." He winks.

Natalia is silent as a thought occurs to her. "Wait, Sir Silas, you make teas? Custom teas?" Her eyes move over towards Lazarus at that now. She tips her head in a thoughtful manner. "We may have more than just carpentry to speak upon."

"Why would I have need of spying on you when you tell me everything?" the younger of the Valardin sisters teases. One hand fondly reaches out for one of Isabeau's, and Sophie's smile is positively beatific. "Come, dear heart. "Do join me and Goodman Lazarus Mercier. I heard that Prince Jarek won, but did you have a good showing?"

A murmured thank you is offered to Lazarus as pours more tea.

"YOu train people to make tea? Is making tea a sweaty job? And you can always show up to things a little grimy, the worst that can happen is being thrown out and then you get to find something else to do with your time." Jarek questions Silas

    "Our family likes to experiment, whether it's infusing pineapple with wine or tea with mead. My brother wants to utilizes our herb garden more, it appears," he answers Natalia and reclines in his chair. "You can certainly toss a few ideas his way and he'd probably have our men back home test them out." He guffaws at Jarek. "No, no. I'm training a few men and women in swordplay tomorrow. Word has it I know a few things about it."

Jarek says, "oh, whos word?"

Silas steeples his fingers together thoughtfully. "Lady Dawn, evidently."

Natalia looks between those gathered. "I have a most fabulous idea." She leans in to whisper to Silas again. A soft sort of comment and then nods her head to him. Her eyes flick over towards Jarek. "Do you have skill with a sword, Wandering Prince?"

"I met Lady Dawn once, she promised me a tour of the city" A blink from Jarek "I still have to arrainge that. Hrm. Suppose I might be wandering into house Greyson territory soon." And then a happy grin before he chuckles at Natalia "The Flame guides healers not warriors. While some find passion in the blade and bow, I do not. My skills, lacking and uncooth as they are revolve around other things."

Silas studies Jarek more closely. "A man of the cloth, then? Hardly an uncouth calling, m'lord. We depend on the clergy for healing, for the soul as well as the body." He purses his lips. "Perhaps I'll send my pupils to you if any of them get injured."

Natalia smiles towards Jarek, "Well if your wandering takes you to Grayson, you should come for tea." Her smile is most becoming to Silas. There is a feel that he perhaps gave her the answer that she wants. Then she nods her head towards the others as her eyes stray over to Lazarus.

Jarek nods his head towards Sophie "Sister Sophie is the one you should be sending them to. She is the mercy, I am guided in other ways by The Flame." But he smiles at Silas again "of course, I am not so entirely useless in healing, so if need be thats always a possibility..." Jarek gives Natalia a lopsided smile "inviting me for tea already? And I haven't even taken you out to dinner yet? You move fast Princess Grayson."

Lazarus ressumes his seat at the table to continue his hustling. The wine moves on its own so the merchant was giving the tea business more attention. On his seat he takes a sip of the tea and his attention catches Natalia's gaze to whom Lazarus bows his head politely.

"It was a fair showing." Isabeau replied to her sister with a faint laugh, "I scored a magnificent total of zero. Although I suppose that isn't a total, as there was nothing to tally in my case." Waving her hand away at the invitation she smiled, "I fear I will have to decline unless you twist my arm gently. I have writing that calls to me, unless there is greater need for me elsewhere."

Silas chuckles. "Perhaps I'll send half of them to you and half of them to her. 50/50. My maidservant, Lisette, is also interested in learning first aid." The maidservant smiles at them meekly when she overhears her name, but continues to serve the wine to other patrons not engaged with the party. "But that's something to arrange at another time." His gaze lifts to wander to Isabeau. "Be well, Princess Isabeau. Thank you for attending."

Natalia turns her eyes to follow Isabeau as well, perhaps lining up the name with the person. When Jarek talks, there is a loft of her blonde brows. "Surely, you are not suggesting I am doing something improper?"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Natalia before departing.

Jarek cocks his head curiously at Natalia "what does improper really even mean? I don't think I would ever suggest anyone is doing anything I wouldn't be willing to do." And then head shifts to the other side to smile at Silas "The temple of The Flame is always open to your students or those who want to learn to help others, and we would be more than happy to help I am sure."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Silas before departing.

    "I'll keep that in mind." The knight stands from his seat, then nods to his squire and maid as they finish up. "I'm going to go check on my apprentices at the shop. I can't leave them to their own devices for too long - they get bored. Teenagers and boredom do not mix well," he explains with a wry smirk and bows to Natalia and Jarek. "It was nice to spend the evening with you, Princess Natalia and Prince Jarek. Until tomorrow!" He waves on his trek out.