Feb 16 20:00:00 107 PA - An Unusual date
From Chronicles
While it's hardly "respectable" by any stretch of the imagination, the time does bring ebbs and flows of people to the bar, and the heat outside coupling with the ticking over of 5 O'clock brings a rather robust shuffling. Celaeno herself is dressed modestly, as might befit the bar, and seated alone at a tiny table crammed against one of the walls, a wobbly chair across from her sitting with an unseasonable coat draped across it. Two pitchers stand in front of her, each half full, her eyes shifting between the coat and the rest of the crowd.
The press of the crowd and volume of Moe's aside Celaeno will still find someone seated the the chair opposite from her with her next look. Though the spindly dark haired fellow looks a little surprised that he can be seen at this point the expression passes quickly with a slight shrug. "Well, if anyone had pointed out what you are Celaeno, we would have been much more prompt in contacting you." He opens with a slight smile. "I'm from the Sages." He tells her. Both statements come across clearly despite the noise, but only to Celaeno.
With a flat gaze at the man opposite her, Celaeno doesn't very amused by the theatrics, though the comment regarding the sages does cause an eyebrow to lift. "My coat was there to keep people from sitting down," she opens with a sigh. "But I guess you're a bit more important than all that - even if you're costing me ten credits' drunk, and a few hours. Give me a few moments to compose myself, hmm?" she asks, closing her eyes for a full minute before opening them, considerably more alert and playful. "And I figure, the fewer people knowing anything about anything, the better; I do what I can to keep it under wraps."
The man smirks and gives a cheerful nod. "We can relate to that position as I am sure you are aware. And if you would rather I not be here following up on you I can certainly go. its up to you." He offers diplomatically, bracing himself to rise and disappear back into the crowd the birthed him.
A hand is raised as Celaeno beckons back to the seat, "Now, now, now. No need to be getting hurt feelings. I did say this was more important, didn't I? Besides, I've already sobered up," she says, leaning forward, eyelashes fluttering slightly, "Just, for, you." While her hand doesn't reach out to "boop" him on the nose, it's practically implied at this point. "You just caught me relaxing with a few celebratory drinks. You're welcome to join in the merriment if you'd like," she says with a gesture, "Otherwise, well, you did just indicate some interest in me."
The man smiles wide flashing perfectly white teeth that match his skin tone impeccably. "Yes that's a much better view of the arrangement. And we are interested to see how someone like yourself can contribute to us. But before that we need do a trial. That is to say though we did our homework on you, seeing you at work would be far more enlightening." He explains with the suave tone of a practiced diplomat.
Celaeno smiles just as widely back, reaching to the lighter of the two pitchers to top her glass off. Dragging a finger around the rim of her pint, she nods, "Well, I imagine a trial's about the norm for this sort of thing. Background checks have, historically, had issues turning up quite a bit about me," she says, sounding rather understanding of the situation. "Though I'm sure you did a much better job than most. Though, you've got to understand, I myself am only thinly aware of just how I might contribute. And, well, 'trial' could mean any number of things."
The man nods once more helping himself to a glass from the pitcher with his spindly hand. For a fairly young person he does look a little frail. "Indeed, well the Society of Sages is a bit different from other arcane organizations. While we are quite active in promoting positive magical pursuits, we are also aware that a good deal of that power, is not used so. Many evil beings manipulate these awesome energies for heinous acts. Dragons appear to be a particularly devious threat with their inherent capability to walk among us and their free access to such power. So the Sages work to monitor such activities and people. So that should someone be abusing the power we can step in and find a better use for it."
"Sounds... perfect," Celaeno says brightly, taking a sip from her glass. "Can't say I necessarily agree with dragons being more heinous than anything else," she says almost casually, though there's a little more bite added to the following, "I've run across a few rather power drunk people, myself." A tinny laugh quickly shifts more wholehearted as her eyes drop. "But that's definitely something I can get behind. Especially if I'm making out on the deal, myself."
The man snickers shaking his head slightly after a long pull from his glass. "Oh not at all. Not all dragons are so aligned. Some dragons help us even. And even they admit that many of their kind gained and use their power in despicable ways. But we certainly don't jump to conclusions with such regal and powerful creatures. Rather we observe harmlessly much like we would any other. But usually our observations reveal something dire. And that is just the case in the mountains to the north west. We have been observing an adolescent dragon near a nexus for some months and recently, it has begun performing some very dark rituals. We even believe it will start making human sacrifices." He explains carefully, his tone becoming quite somber.
Celaeno takes another sip from her glass, a little bit deeper following her last few statements, or perhaps the mention of sacrifices. "Oh?" is her main response, glancing again to the bustle of the crowd around her as she takes a deep breath against the noise. "Well, there's certainly quite a bit that one could do about that, I suppose," she says, not returning eye contact. "Though I suppose most of those things tend to come to a rather singular point - which seems to be rather the point you intend for the trial, hmm?" A small smile is given, "And useful as I might be, I somehow doubt I'm capable of taking one of them on single-handedly," she says with a joking wink.
The man nods his mood brightening. "But of course. You are welcome to contract whoever you feel would be suitable in helping you complete the task. Perhaps someone with a vehicle, as it is a few hundred miles out. Regardless of those variables we feel you are ultimately up to this task and would like to be correct in that belief. Any treasure or artifacts the dragon holds will be yours to divide amongst your group in payment. All we wish for you to return with is the dragon's blood." He says casually, like its not odd at all to want several gallons of dragon blood.
Celaeno eyes the man for a few moments, "So it's all up to me then, hmm?" she asks, nodding to herself. "Nobody along to observe the chaos, see how we do? Or is the trial ultimately just something to see if I can get it done?" her expression somewhat amused, Cel just shrugs it off before continuing, "I'll see what I can do about it. I'm imagining that since I accept, there'll be all sorts of information given at a not-too-distant date, hmm? Though I'm not exactly versed in how to take or store blood."
The man smiles lightly with a non commited shrug before another pull of the beer. "Really the blood will be all we require to know the deed is done and another menace is no more." He confirms before pulling a magnetic card from his pocket and sliding it across the table. "Present this at the gates and the guards will lend you the draining equipment we have stored their. It has an easy to follow manual. When the task is done return the filled equipment in the same manner." He instructs in a warm tone. "Then we can talk more about your interests I think."
Celaeno nods, taking the card as she drains a good half of the pint in front of her. "There any more information on the mark than that, or will somebody drop that off next time I sit down for a quiet drink?" she asks, growing increasingly pensive.
The man nods and pulls out a datapad to slide across to Celaeno as well. "Everything we know is in there. The sentry logs, coordinates, and feeding and supply habits." He offers freely before taking up his glass to finish the drink.
Celaeno picks up this card as well, quickly secreting it about her person, along with the other. "Nice meeting you, though it seems I should, perhaps ask a name," she says with a grin.
The man shrugs not seeming bothered with the formalities of a name, though he volunteers it anyway. "I am Dillan. Good luck to you Celaeno." He offers before rising to step back into the crowd and disappear.
