[sblock=ooc]Sorry, guys. Both my posting windows the last few days fell during the DB maintenance.
[/sblock]
The guard takes the papers with a nod, and begins reading them over with the studious intensity of someone following the rules to the letter. He stumbles as Kanli speaks.
"I ... scripture? But these look like assignment papers?" he says, confused.
He's barely managed to decide that Kanli's joking, and returned, brow furrowed, to examining the papers, when Tyrien sallies forth with her own verbal barrage.
"Well, miss I have to do my duty to ... er, name? I'm Private Hensfield and ... well, the rapier is standard issue, I couldn't afford one of ... have one? See? ... oh, my, you're not challenging me to a duel, are you?"
The prospect clearly frightens the young man, whose hand quavers over the hilt of his weapon. His eyes furiously dart between the clearly-seasoned mercenaries before him and his lower lip begins to quiver.
Thankfully, a woman's voice breaks what might have been an immensely embarrassing moment for the green guard.
"As you were, Hensfield. These must be my late hires."
Hensfield lets out a small squeak as he spins around, saluting and hitting attention.
An tall, athletic, dark-skinned woman crosses to the gate guard. Her black hair is pulled tight into a bun at the back of her head. She wears studded leather armor which, while unassuming in its design, is still clearly well-made. The nicks, stains, and wear marks also show it's been just as well-used. The pair of short swords on her hips, if their scabbards are any indication, are probably a match for the armor.
"Back to your post, little one," she says, taking the papers from him. Hensfield scurries back to the guard house, as the newcomer takes the papers from him. She glances at them barely a moment before her severe look melts to a smile.
"You'd be the folk my good friend 'Effie' vouched for, then?" she says with a raised eyebrow. She doesn't wait for acknowledgement that you've understood her code-name for Finia, apparently secure in her ability to get her point across.
"Name's Katenaya. Lieutenant Torengu to the scrubs. Let's get you in and oriented for the trip."
The Leiutenant turns on heel and walks toward the gate. Whether well-oiled timing, luck, or simply force of will, the gate opens just in time for her to enter without breaking stride, and is wide enough for the full party by the time you catch up with here.
The expanse of Palazzo Boraga more than lives up to the hinted extravagance of the walls. Gardens practically glow with vibrant colors from the exotic blooms throughout. Sculptures of marble, bronze, and immaculatley-trimmed flora depict figures and tableus of power and seduction.
All of the buildings match and exceed the general aesthetic of Roses di Sanguigno, made of exquisite marbles, gilded and festooned elaborately, none so conspicuously as the central house. "House" might be an understatemnt, as the building that anchors the Palazzo seems as of it might challenge the Venza Opera House in terms of its sheer size and presence.
Katenaya passes through it all without appearing to notice any of it, her eyes on her path, which leads to a small throng of people near the western half of the estate, all gathered near a heavily-guarded archway. Bronze columns rise up to the swirling, elaborate top piece, creating and archway large enough to accomodate several large wagons riding side by side, and just as tall. Whether by happenstance or through some tranformative magic, House Boraga's gate is just as impressive in size and decoration as anything else in the compound.
Katenaya hands your papers back to Anaerion and points to a clump of armored and armed individuals near the right hand side of the gate.
"New security hires are over there," she says.
"We like to keep them clear of the new contractors," here she nods to a clump of men and women who in normal work attire with uniformed House Boraga guard attending them.
"Just in case our vetting process missed a connection or two."
[sblock=Perception DC 15]While not all of them are, you notice at least a few of those Katenaya called 'contractors' are actually sporting prisoner's chains. These individuals, as well, tend to be where the House guard have concentrated their numbers.[/sblock]
