Sarshel - The Kingfisher

[Obsidian Sea]

Nestled comfortably overlooking Sarshel's harbour, The Kingfisher is a long-standing and popular drinking den for the city's middle class and many travelling merchants and mercenaries. Due to its cosy placement away from the bustle of the city's square and south quarter, the tavern is less popular among adventurers, but the keen listener knows that it is the optimum place to hear the local news from tongues of well-established local figures.

The Kingfisher has comfortably turned a profit for years, never in doubt of revenue or loyal patrons. For this, if nothing else, it is a great contrast to The Crowning Glory Inn, which has waxed and waned heavily throughout the recent seasons. Currently, however, The Crowning Glory Inn is at its peak, with two resident musicians who surpass the skill and prestige of an ordinary minstrel: they are Bards, and Bards of eclectic origins that only heighten their appeal to the staple clientele of the Glory: travellers and wayfarers. The Kingfisher once had a resident musician of especial talents, though he was no Bard, and ultimately he quit the establishment in order to pursue his own entrepreneurial spirit. Since then, The Kingfisher has been graced by only a few interesting individuals, and musicians of a largely unremarkable calibre.

With one notable exception. In the hope of expanding its reputation and stealing back loyal patrons from The Crowning Glory, The Kingfisher contacts Abigail Beaumont with an offer to make her their resident musician. It is the silent hope of the tavern's management that this shall also attract a civilized set of adventurers (if there are any at all of that profession who can be called civilized).

//OOC: This is an open thread, in which anybody is invited to describe their character's attendance (or lack thereof) of The Kingfisher, located upon Sarshel's docks. It is always a gift to the rest of us when you provide a bit of reading material for us in our downtime so we can get an idea of what your character gets up to on their downtime between beetle-bashing outings into the wilderness!

[Ostheim]

Though by no means a regular as she is at the Crowning Glory and Sailor's Star inn and taverns, Wynna has been known to pop her head in every now and again, presumably to seek the relative solitude that it offers from her usual crowd to drink in peace with. Lacking an inn proper, her appearances aren't quite common, but regular enough to imply a certain fondness for the establishment that goes beyond the convenience the other two inns offer. Assuming those of a scholarly bent show up from time to time, she can be certain to put aside her lonesome behavior for the night and engage with them regarding local rumors and quirks of Impiltur's checkered history. Often she'll have her book-in-progress, The Dark Corners of Impiltur, ready and on hand in case any should like to read through it.

At the mention of Abigail's potential residency, she has a habit of showing up slightly more often. Funny, that.

[Silver Snow]

Abigail Beaumont, despite the flighty and untethered nature of bards, was not so hard to find. She had settled in to Lusenn's Music Shop some weeks ago to aid in the talented young man's business and tutoring..though it became starkly obvious to anyone that Lusenn still favored the younger more femininely-inclined students while Abigail was charged with many of the rest. For the bardess Beaumont, it was a part-time occupation, a practice of a passion perhaps to teach and inspire and kindle the love for music in others... but the missive from the Kingfisher found her there. As dramatically appropriate, the bardess waited a day and a night, offering only silence and the chance to worry and doubt. At the end of the period, she came in person to the Kingfisher and sought out Mizevik. She came prepared with her silver flute at her belt, her hand harp at her other side, and a list of terms. Much perhaps to Mizevik's consternation..this bardess was also a merchant and could certainly bargain among the best of them.

((OOC: Presumably this list would not be IC'ly known to any but the proprietor himself, but I'm happy to play out that negotiation here! I assure everyone that this is me trying to keep legal-ese as simple as it can be kept))

1) Abigail Beaumont, (henceforth known in this document as the "Bardess") upon accepting this residency at the Kingfisher Brewery & Tavern, (henceforth known in this document as the "Tavern") would not be prohibited or in any way discouraged from also playing at the region's and Sarshel's other establishments, among them being the Crowning Glory, the Sailor's Star, and Jezebel's. The Bardess may seek any arrangement with these establishments so long as the terms and obligations of her residency at the Tavern are met. The Bardess will make it known that the Kingfisher is to nonetheless be her primary residency.
2) The Bardess does not dress to the tavern, the tavern dresses to the Bardess. Upon the eve of planned performances, some aspects of the Tavern's interior are expected to be altered. Examples include banners, tablecloths, the dress of waitresses, and other minutia. All such changes will be consulted upon and be made within reason.
3) The Bardess will accept only enough monetary payment from the Tavern to cover expenses and lodging. Drinks and food will be provided upon request. Tips and gifts are welcome and encouraged.
4) This contract is binding after a one month trial of the arrangement for a full six months. If the arrangement is not satisfactory to either party within the first month, it may be annulled.
5) The Tavern's creative and marketing efforts will be co-led by the Bardess during her residency. Any success is of mutual benefit to both parties involved.
6) The Bardess gets to have a batch of brewed beer named after her, the style and flavor of which shall be influenced by Cormyrian styles.
7) Special guests of the Bardess, to be named at a later date but kept to within one table's full per any event, shall not be charged for drinks at said event. The list of special guests may change, and is meant to promote exclusivity. As such, it may involve not only famed adventurers and personal friends, but also dignitaries of other means and natures.

More minutia follows in the agreement, at the bottom of which is a line to date and sign.

[Obsidian Sea]

On a dark and stormy evening, whilst the snow conspires with an angry sea to shake the edges of Sarshel, The Kingfisher is full of melodies. A well-bred milieu of Sarshellan, visiting merchants, and delegates from across the nation gather in the establishment, which affords the warmth that is denied all across the nation even now when the months travel away from the winter season.

In the midst of the tavern patrons are an unlikely lot: the Paladin of Lathander, Westin Highridge; the scholar and historian, Wynna Blackwing; the Vaasan warrior, Merney Valroc; and an unknown foreigner with seething eyes, whose mere presence contradicts the characterisation of The Kingfisher. They come to attend a performance by the Bard, Abigail Beaumont. Matching the atmosphere beyond the establishment's doors, the Sembian Bard composes a dark and stormy piece that circles above the room, gathering all the patrons beneath its eye. The people seem intrigued by the performance, which transitions into impressive improvisations that go against the anticipated format of performances by the minstrels of the city. Though the performance has its nay-sayers, their words are drowned beneath a tide of vivified conversations and eager commentaries upon the quality of Abigail's performance.

Laszlo Mizevik watches the change in key at the tavern from behind the bar, noting the Bard's success. The presence of the Paladin of Lathander has its value for the reputation of the establishment, and if ever a tavern across the city would attract a scholastic, professional woman without a husband such as Wynna Blackwing, it would have to be The Kingfisher, which rises above the petty conformities of other drinking dens. Merney Valroc, and the foreigner, Jun, are deemed shaggy and savage respectively, and do little to liven the bartender's mood. Their revenue is not declined, of course, for business is business, but it might be evident in his professional managing of this pair (as opposed to the more pointed effort he makes to accommodate Westin Highridge and Wynna Blackwing) that he was expecting the beautiful and debonair Abigail Beaumont to attract adventurers of a more charismatic quality.

A discussion of the Sembian Bard's contract is soon to begin.

[Silver Snow]

The bardess finished her presentation on a high note, the tune coming less ambient and more upbeat and vigorous before it ended. To add to the subjects of discussion, Beaumont then gathered the crowd of known adventurers, reputable and "shaggy" alike. The tones of discussion were not kept soft enough for the nearby to fail to overhear: Abigail spoke of pillaging monsters, gnolls near the coast that had taken lives and livelihood and run amock. It seemed that her zeal for doing the right thing, helping those people, convinced the group. The eclectic group set out together, armed and armored, to perform the deeds that would inspire the very songs that would be played at the Kingfisher, and to give truth to the sorts of stories bards are known to exaggerate.
Some days later, tales trickle back of rescued refugees returning home, of people enslaved having adventurers to thank, and of a scattered sum of beasts slain. The details vary, but the troupe of heroes seem to have won the day.

[Obsidian Sea]

Abigail Beaumont's thorough draft of a contract puts her in good stead for the negotations: the owner of The Kingfishers seems, at first, rather taken aback by the Bard's acuity in the matter. Perhaps it was expected that given her natural inclination to grace and lightness, she would not be quite so intelligent. Quickly upon reading the contract, Laszlo Mizevik stands corrected.

He coughs and hums and groans and mumbles quietly over the contract, taking each point as it is written with a due of consideration. Nevertheless, the presence of the charismatic Sembian that presents it to him places a subconscious pressure on him to hasten through and accommodate her, as is so often the case when people are pitted in potentially nervous situations with those that are of a distinctly more vivid character.

• He stipulates that regarding article, the first, Abigail Beaumont would be required to acknowledge her association with The Kingfisher publicly if approached by other venues, and by any clientele that would take an interest in inquiring after her talents. Furthermore, The Crowning Glory Inn is to be exempted from this arrangement - it is a silent suggestion of the competitive dynamic between the two establishments, although Mr Mizevik presses the matter with the suggestion that The Crowning Glory Inn shall likely have no formal need of her services given its attendance by two Bards of good esteem within Sarshel.
• Mr Mizevik seems uncertain regarding the degree to which article, the second, can be accommodated by the venue, but he agrees.
• To article, the third, Mr Mizevik is in full agreement.
• To article, the four, Mr Mizevik is in full agreement.
• To article, the fifth, Mr Mizevik is in full agreement. If anything, given Abigail Beaumont's evident flair and fashion, he lends this article a particularly positive weight.
• Regarding article, the sixth, Mr Mizevik is uncertain what can be done, owing to the undoubtedly detrimental consequences of the weather on trade and production within the reason. He wishes to stall this matter for renegotiation at the close of the month trial period, at which point the possibility and relevance of it can be reviewed at Abigail Beaumont's request.
• Priding itself as a fairly well-to-do establishment - particularly in comparison to its primary competitor upon the docks, The Belle's Bottom - it might strike the Bard as unsurprising that article, the seventh, is not fundamentally objectionable to the owner of The Kingfisher. Mr Mizevik stipulates that any guest lists must first be passed by the tavern's management, in order to ensure that certain associates of the tavern are respected. This request for approval extends also to any adventuring types that Abigail Beaumont might wish to invite: any patron is welcome at the tavern, of course, but in the promotion of exclusivity, it might be unsurprising to Abigail to learn that certain styles of adventurer will not be approved for guest list, for as she would know from her own experience, the endorsement of some of the adventurer's that one meets in their travels is not conducive to a good reputation.

These amendments made to the contract, Laszlo Mizevik states that he will be happy to begin the one month trial with an event held on the evening of the Greengrass festival, which shall be - if this version of the contract is agreeable to her - Abigail Beaumont's fabulous debut as the Bard-in-residence at The Kingfisher.

[Danuvis]

A new arrival in the city, well-dressed and well-spoken, makes his first appearance in the The Kingfisher, immediately drawing to himself reputable company; led and introduced to the establishment by the bard Abigail and the scholar Wynna and later joined by the secretive but alluring Emily. Much of their discussion is uttered in hushed tones to avoid unwanted attention and the awakening of superstition, but discreetly enough to make it seem as though they are merely after innocent privacy. The swarthy man appears to be in his element among the higher echelons of society, conducting himself admirably and with compelling finesse. As time spans on, the nobleman is eventually guided out of the place by Wynna whilst the others disperse.

Thalric returns to the establishment on the morrow, but this time on his lonesome, though it doesn't seem to discourage him in the least; the man is seen approaching The Kingfisher's inhabitants with natural charm and extensive knowledge of several ongoing topics, local and distant alike - a cordial smile adorning his aquiline features all the while.

Talking gregariously and fluently in the local tongue, the comely foreigner shifts from patron to patron in accordance with Impiltur's social norms and customs when the need arises - lowering himself to a graceful bow with a flourish of the hand as he glides into one conversation and in due time detaches himself in order to enter yet another - scarcely a break in his decisive strides. He plants a practised peck upon the hand of a young woman in lavish garments, dipping her, then whirling her back into the embrace of her escort. He moves on to another assembly, a gentle whack sent to someone's back whilst laughing huskily at a jest, and then he's off again. Sliding between inebriated patrons, bowing and dipping his chin courteously to locals, shaking the hands of adventurers and other foreigners - there seems to be no end.

At long last, the swarthy man excuses himself wholly from conversation and maneuvers deftly to the entrance of the establishment, mayhap to the chagrin of those present. A subtle glance is cast overshoulder to spy Thalric's influence on the crowds before he disappears under the shroud of the night with a tip of his feathered hat.

[Silver Snow]

Abigail seems to find most of the terms agreeable at the end, she understand the difficulty of the ale arrangement, but makes the stipulation on the first point that she be allowed to now and again play at the Crowning Glory, but in no formal capacity and can earn no coin doing so. She agrees that she will make her association with the Kingfisher known even if she plays at other establishments, and points out that she has already been doing so. A steady stream of new clients have been found as regulars at the Kingfisher in the last week, which the bardess claims credit for.
In regards to the last point, Abigail proposes that if her guests are well dressed and behaved, they should be considered as her personal guests, but getting them into finer clothes is on her end. Their heritage and reputation, otherwise, should be unaccounted within reasonable limits. Is a well-dressed barbarian still truly a barbarian, after all?

Abigail is ready to sign and commit to the agreement, her recent bardic victories and adventures revolving about her efforts making it to the public light and reinforcing her bargaining position.

[Obsidian Sea]

Abigail Beaumont makes little headway with her insistence on making the guest list her own, autonomous practice. She is invited to select the table she wishes each evening that she invites company, but the list - it must be insisted - is passed to management to clear. The establishment is eager for any fans and friends of the Bardess to attend, but not all of them are fit to be seen as exclusive patrons for The Kingfisher, unless they can back up their support through fiscal donations of some significance.

The contract is signed, and an announcement is made following Greengrass that Abigail Beaumont is the resident Bard at The Kingfisher. The regulars there and a great many besides are quick to do the rest: soon, the merchant class of the city is quite well-informed of the new attraction - and an attraction she is, indeed - on the docks. It seems The Kingfisher might draw back some of its straying familiars, who to The Crowning Glory Inn have converted in recent months.

The announcement receives only a short time in the spotlight before it is undercut by much graver news for the nation. Laszlo Mizevik is not quick to try and capitalise upon King Imphras V's passing: no true Impilturan could be so mercenary. Quietly, he requests that Abigail Beaumont rework her compositions to a mournful key in the coming tenday; apologises that her time at The Kingfisher begins so grim; and wishes her the favour of The Triad and Milil (though the latter, he is sure, she already has). More than The Triad, or Milil, however, it seems that Beshaba might be pulling the strings.

And so begins a new chapter in the history of The Kingfisher; and, too, in the history of Impiltur.

[Silver Snow]

Abigail would make her own attempts to garner the tavern new attention..among the upper classes. She had personally spread the word and flirted her way through the loftier local ranks, ebulliently spreading her own self-worth about and sowing the seeds of promising company and delightful music.
Upon the death of the young king, of course, much of it changed. A bard's greatest asset is knowing her crowd, and playing to it. Abigail's performances drew upon her empathy and intuition. Her clothes, normally bright and gaudy, took on a more somber, sober cast these last several days. She did not eschew color, but used it sparingly in accents. It was a darker look..but a more striking one for her. Her flute, in its lower register, sang mournful melodies to the crowds, and for the ambiance her harp would pluck an introspective, quietly emotion melody to give some sort of solace to the mourners that pass through the tavern. It seemed that each piece came from the bard's large and heavy heart, and there were those who could attest to having seen a glimmer of moisture in the bard's eyes as well while she played. Those coming into the inn would not quite leave it feeling any better about the tragedy..but they would leave feeling as if someone else shared their pain, that they were a part of a greater mourning. The music mourned the passing of the young king, after all.