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Message: <blockquote data-quote="peteyfrogboy" data-source="post: 1086368" data-attributes="member: 5677">Settling InParika rolled over in her bed, smiling as the ropes creaked. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept in a proper bed and she felt no need to cut the experience short. Her further attempts to learn more about the local criminal element the previous night had been fruitless. When she finally met back up with Gambumbo he was wet and broke. She was too tired by that point to ask any questions. The two of them headed away from the docks, hoping to find somewhat more upscale accommodations. They stumbled into the first decent inn they saw, got a room, and slept.Lifting her head ever so slightly, Parika cracked an eye open to look down at the floor. The rug where Gambumbo had slept was empty, so he must have gotten up early. More power to him, she thought. She lay back and considered her current strategy for personal advancement. So far it had gotten her exactly nowhere, but she couldn't come up with any other viable option. She had heard stories of what the Guild did to independent thieves back home, and she has no desire to go down that path. She was determined to learn how deep the water was here before diving in.Too much thinking had driven the sleep from her head, and she reluctantly got out of bed. The smell of frying bacon and biscuits from below gave her a little more motivation, and before long she was trotting down the stairs to the common room.When she had first arrived Parika hadn't paid any attention to the decor, being more concerned with a soft horizontal place to put her body. In the morning light she decided that the place looked like she would imagine her grandmother's house, had she ever known her. Everything was very pleasant and rustic. It certainly didn't look like it belonged in a famous pirate haven -- and perhaps that was the point. Behind the desk was the same little old man that had been there the night before. His little old wife bustled in and out of the kitchen, bringing food out to a long table set along one wall of the room. There were a few other guests sitting at tables eating, alone or in pairs. They looked mostly like traveling merchants and artisans.As she availed herself of the fine food, Parika saw someone else descend the stairs. After her previous experience with strangers in Freeport she was wary, so she studied him carefully. He was tall and slim, with short brown hair and green eyes. He looked young, but his ears revealed that he shared the same fey heritage that had caused Parika so much pain in her youth. His clothes were stylish yet tasteful, perhaps a little more flashy than absolutely necessary. Adding to that the lute case slung over his shoulder gave Parika a good idea of his profession. The man greeted the little old lady warmly, giving her a peck on the cheek as he passed her. He sat in the middle of the room with a plate full of fruit and biscuits and began tuning his lute.Parika gnawed thoughtfully on a strip of bacon. If there was anything to know about this town, surely a bard would be the one to know it? And if he happened to be an attractive half-elven bard that certainly didn't hurt her resolve any. Hoping that lightning wouldn't strike her twice, she went over and introduced herself.Despite her forward greeting, the bard rose to his feet and gave her a small bow. "Delthic Duin at your service. Would you care to join me for breakfast?"Parika sat and chatted with him, mostly about the inn. Delthic had lived there for years, finding it to be a haven of civility in an often uncivil city. Still, he added, if Freeport were tame it wouldn't be Freeport.Finally Parika got around to her real question: "So, if someone had... special talents... where might she be able to find gainful employment?"Delthic raised an eyebrow, then smiled slightly as he mentally discarded one possibility. "Well, there are many talented people in this city. I would humbly count myself as one of them, and I have managed to find employment at any number of fine establishments. But perhaps your talents do not lend themselves to... public performance?" At Parika's nod, he said, "Well, I may have some resources for you. If you would accompany me up to my room, perhaps I could show them to you?"In another inn, with another person, this proposition would have earned a laugh, if not a dagger. In the current situation, however, it was met with eager acceptance.***Delthic sat on the edge of his bed, offering Parika the chair at his desk. The room was packed full of stuff, though it wasn't untidy. Clearly this was a permanent residence, not just a way station for an itinerant performer. From what Parika could see displayed, she deduced that Delthic was well travelled. Being a bard with an Ahandrian accent, this was hardly surprising. She sat in the proffered chair."So, you're looking for work, eh?" Delthic asked, rubbing his chin. "What sort of work do you do?"Parika hadn't ever had to put together a criminal resume before. "Um, breaking and entering, mostly. Taking things that aren't nailed down, that sort of thing." It sounded strange to say it out loud.The bard nodded. "I see. Well, this sort of thing isn't exactly my area of expertise, but I might be able to get you in touch with someone who knows someone." He frowned slightly. "You realize that I would be taking quite a risk? I hardly know you, so my vouching for you would be a complete act of faith." Parika nodded, and he grinned. "But I like to think I'm a good judge of character. I think you'll do just fine."</blockquote>

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