Name: Charisse Race: Human
Ht: 5’6, Wt: 130, Sex: Female,
Archetype: Rogue
HP: 7 / 7 Mana: 0 / 0
Stats:
Physical : 2, Moxie : 3, Spiritual : 2, Luck : 3,
Agility : 3, Magic : 2, Mental : 2, Energy : 2.
Relevant Skills: Relevant Skills: Archetype - Awareness, Intuitive Logic Leap, Mental - Resist Compulsion, Moxie – Seduction,
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"I see the sign for an Inn down the way. Shall we get a room for tonight?" Henderson said. He looked at Charisse, then after no response, he looked at Reggie and wiggled his eyes. "Though earlier we get a room, the more likely we'll get one in a good place."
"Probably for the best and will give us a rendezvous," Charisse said. Reggie nodded in agreement.
Charisse thought she spotted something from Henderson but brushed the thought aside. Instead of taking the lead, she started walking toward the inn. The street was wide, with enough room for two wagons to pass each other and room for some pedestrians. Rows of shops and homes built of brick and stone-lined streets, tiny windows were dotting the fronts, a couple of shops even had grids of small windows to show their wares.
The row of almost reinforced stone buildings and small openings brought that these were built as part of a defense to Charisse's mind. But, unfortunately, she couldn't think of any city maps, so she tapped Henderson on his arm. "Do you know where the more expensive inns would be?"
"Closer to the center, but I don't think we can stay there," Henderson said.
"We have coin," Reggie said.
"It isn't that. It's," Henderson looked at Reggie, then Charisse. "You don't look like the type they'd want."
"So we get new clothes," Charisse said.
Henderson looked a little nervous and seemed to be mulling over something before speaking again. Then, finally, he started angling his walk toward a building and out of the street. When they stepped onto the wooden walkway, he glanced around before whispering, "You're not of Terador blood; the affluent and wealthy aren't just wealthy; they come from the right families."
"Ok, so we'll need papers and possibly makeup. What's the best we could find that'd take us?" Charisse said.
"I'm not sure, and I always stayed at the cheapest that didn't smell like piss," Henderson said.
"I guess that is a start," Charisse said.
"Never took you for the pampered type," Henderson's voice took on a slight accent that dragged the last consonant of each word.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Charisse threw him a glare before replying, "I'm not, but we'll need a way into the castle and was hoping we could get someone to invite us."
"Ah, that makes more sense; it's not pampering; it's cause you crazy."
Charisse stopped and pulled Henderson in close. "You do know why we are here, right?"
"Actually, no, and I'd prefer to keep it that way; it helps me sleep at night."
"Ok, we need a way to get all of us into the castle, minus you," Charisse said.
"Alright," Henderson looked at the inn they were walking toward, then toward the center of the city. "Let's find a room deeper in the city as a start."
Charisse and Reggie nodded in agreement. Then, turning toward the center of the city, they all stared at the line of buildings in front of them.
"Hopefully, there is a road straight there," Reggie said.
The three of them soon stood in front of a nice-looking inn. The Medicated Goat was three stories up and as much around. Each room had bars on the windows, but the bars were decorated to look like flowing water streams. A sign in the shape of a goat holding a mug swung gently from chains holding it out front. Double wooden doors with leather bands across the middle were slightly ajar as some patron who couldn't decide if he was ready to leave yet blocked the way. Only the back of their head was visible.
Charisse stepped in front of the guys and walked up to the door.
"Pardon me," Charisse said. She tried to put on the sweetest smile she could come up with.
The door shifted as the person turned around. Charisse found herself looking into the clearest blue eyes she'd ever seen. Long blonde hair billowed to the side as momentum carried it. A slightly angular face with pale skin and dark red lips looked at Charisse.
Something inside of Charisse's heart melted as a smile spread across the face of the stranger.
"I apologize, I was unsure if I could find help here, but now that I see you, I'm certain that help has arrived." The lady said. She took a step forward and allowed the door to close behind her. She held out her right hand, palm down, "Lady Amelia Vettion."
Charisse's mind went blank as she struggled to remember what she was doing. Then, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see Reggie standing behind her. Charisse stepped to the side, and the lady flashed the kindest and most gentle smile at Reggie. Reggie bent forward and kissed the lady's hand. Briefly, Charisse fought anger until the smile worked its way over to her as well.
"I'm sure you brave heroes can help me. Please come have dinner and let me tell you my tale of woe." The lady said. Her voice was gentle and soft like the melody of angels.
"Uh, ma'am. We are attempting to procure lodging for the evening." Henderson said from behind Reggie. The lady looked and met Henderson's eyes with another beaming smile.
"I have plenty of room at my house if you require a place to rest, I just desire your consideration for my problem, and I'm certain a few minutes of your time is all it will take." The lady flashed another smile, catching Charisse, Reggie, and Henderson in one smooth motion.
"Of course, we'll help you, but please do not let us be a bother regarding lodging, we can find," Charisse was interrupted by a casual raising of the lady's hand.
"It'd be my pleasure and the least I could do." The lady gave a slight nod, then turned and started walking away from the inn's door.
Charisse and Reggie immediately followed behind the lady. Faintly behind Charisse, she heard the sound of Henderson's footsteps and him muttering under his breath, "is this part of the plan? Am I crazy?"
She ignored the muttering and focused on staying as close to the lady as possible without accidentally stepping on her feet. When her eyes did lift, she quickly scanned the area to see if anyone looked threatening.
Most of the people along the street avoided looking toward Charisse and her friends. A member of the city guard would glance toward them, but once it was evident Charisse and the lady were not moving toward the gate, the guard would look at other threats. When a passerby did look at the lady too long, Charisse would meet their eyes and give a glare that quickly diverted their attention elsewhere.
The lady led the group deeper into the city, the rows of buildings ended, and a large stone wall rose above the roofs. They turned down a side street and found a gate with guards, but they were not interested in who came through the gate. However, Charisse saw one of the guards look directly at the lady then give a short nod as they walked by. Not sensing any danger, Charisse noted the face of the guard and threw a glare at the side of his head.
Charisse caught herself almost stepping on the back of the lady's foot. With a glance behind, she slowed her pace a little to allow for more distance between her and the lady. It also gave her more room to view more possible threats. She caught Henderson lagging a little further behind. She made a note to speak to him about it when they were safe.
A few more turns before Charisse had to stop before running into the lady. A large house, almost a tower than a mansion, loomed over them. An iron fence surrounded the square building with a distinct lack of trees or bushes between the wall and structure. Bars four inches apart rose from the ground up ten feet, ending in points: every two feet, a beam of metal that seamlessly wrapped around each pole. There was no gate breaking the line of iron bars before them. Without hesitation, Charisse quickly unslung her backpack and pulled out a rope. Looping one end, she stepped to the lady's left side as she prepared to secure it to the top of the fence.
"Ah, sweetling, that isn't needed. My home will open for me." The lady said. At her words, the bars nearest to them started lowering as if sinking into the ground. Then, directly in front of them, the fence lowered entirely into the ground, soft dirt closing up after the pointed tips sank under. With a wave of her hand, the lady beckoned everyone forward. "I'm confident you'll get along excellently with Samson and retrieve my family treasures.