The boy very nearly falls off his stool at the sudden clatter and bombast. Scrambling to his feet he grabs a nearby torch from a bracket and stumbles over to the gate. Blinking he takes in the odd collection of fellows before him. "You seek lodging? At this hour? Mistress doesn't take kindly to drunken revelers I can tell you. If you want to lodge here, you needs must stifle that racket. It is best not to wake the mistress. Have you any bags? A word of advice. Tip Crumpet, the bell boy, even if you don't..." He produces a key and with clumsy hands eventually gets the gate open and ushers you into the courtyard. A brace of mules slumbers nearby in a lean to. From the back of a cart near the mules a huge figure climbs to his feet. The enormous fellow waddles over. Revealed in the lad's torch light is an ogre just clapping a ridiculously small red bellman's cap on his head. "I'll show you to your rooms," he announces in a deep voice as he motions you forward with a massive hand. The lad yawns and passes over his torch. "Thanks Crumpet," he says has he turns to re-lock the gate and return to his stool. The ogre leads you deeper into the courtyard holding aloft the torch that looks more like a match in his hand. It soon becomes clear that there are two buildings on the lot, one a old but elegant three story house surrounded by a columned porch and topped with a widows walk. The other is a somewhat less refined rectangle with two floors. A narrow stair leads to the upper floor and a row of doors that open onto the walkway there. The lower floor also appears to be a row of four rooms each with its own door. The Ogre heads for the stair which creaks ominously under his bulk. "Lower rooms is all took tonight," he rumbles. "You want all four rooms up here?" he asks. Glancing inside you see a spotless chamber simply furnished with a bed, nightstand, desk and chair. A lamp, turned as low as it will go, burns on the nightstand. The linens look freshly laundered and are turned down. A small stove at the foot of the bed is unlit on this warm night. The other rooms are similar. The ogre offers Gnurl a small step ladder and gestures at the rather high bed. "Mistress 'll like as not give you a cut rate if you fill the house at this late hour. 'sumin you don't make too much noise."
