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Old 10-22-2003, 02:12 PM   #88
Mithadan
Spirit of Mist
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Tol Eressea
Posts: 3,310
Mithadan is a guest at the Prancing Pony.Mithadan is a guest at the Prancing Pony.
Sting

The line to enter the casino was very long and moved very slowly. Grrralph stood patiently in his place sandwiched between a very regal looking Elf maiden and a rather rustic looking chap from Soreham. Nearly four hours had passed since he had taken his place in the queue. At last the gates were in sight.

The Elf stood in front of him, pointedly ignoring the wraith. She wore red sequin encrusted high heel shoes, a royal blue silk skirt cut fashionably above the knee, and a stole made of some handsome but unfortunately deceased fuzzy creature. On the few occasions that Grrralph attempted to engage her in conversation, she peered at him frostily over an elevated nose, examined him quickly from head to toe, and, apparently finding what she saw to be somewhat wanting, sniffed and turned away without responding.

The Sorethighhim behind him was clearly what some euphemistically call 'a man of the earth'. Indeed, there seemed to be quite a bit of earth on him, to the point where it was not entirely clear where the grime ended and his grey stained clothes began. Upon arriving in line behind Grrralph, he had enthusiastically introduced himself as "Arry Ar-flizzlephlegm". Upon receiving blank, or frankly astonsihed, looks from those around him, Arry translated his name into the Simple Tongue as "Lord of the Herders of Pigs". Most of those near him in line could have guessed his profession, either from the cloud of flies which surrounded him or the manly aroma of a man of the earth (and pigs) which he exuded. On the few occasions that Arry attempted to engage Grrralph in conversation, he peered at him frostily over an elevated...blackness , examined him quickly from head to toe, and, apparently finding what he saw to be somewhat wanting, sniffed and turned away without responding.

It was another hour until Grrralph, at last, neared the gates. The Dwarf who vetted the prospective clientele looked over the Elf with a scowl on his face. "Aredhel Ar-Whiniel, isn't it?" he asked, tapping a clipboard with a pen. She blushed bright red, and nodded reluctantly. "It seems," he continued, "that you have an unpaid barbill of 767 silver pennies from your last visit. I assume that you have returned to settle up?"

Ar-Whiniel smiled and took him by the sleeve, drawing him a bit away from the rabble, though not quite out of earshot. "There must be some misunderstanding," she purred. "Perhaps an accounting error?" The Dwarf frowned and shook his head. Instantly, four large Sorethighhim appeared and stood beside her with hands on their swords. The Dwarf rummaged through his filofax and produced a lengthy strip of paper which he handed to the Elf.

"Oh, THAT barbill," she said with a not-so-convincing smile. "I intended to pay it. I must have forgotten." One of the Sorethighhim growled menacingly. "Can you take a check? No? Well, there must be some accomodation which we could reach; some way I can make everyone happy."

The Dwarf peered at her frostily over an elevated nose, examined her quickly from head to toe, and, apparently finding what he saw to be adequate, sniffed and turned away. "Around back, third door from the trash heap. You'll have to sign a confidentiality agreement."

As the Elf was escorted firmly away, Grrralph stepped forward. Before either he or the Dwarf could speak, the members of the Itship exited the casino hurriedly, looking warily behind, around, and above themselves. As they went throught the door they broke into a run towards the stables. Grrralph looked at their receding backs for a moment and the wheels of what passed for his mind turned slowly. Then, a flash of insight, or perhaps a premonition of severe bodily harm, struck him and he ran after his comrades.

The Dwarf shrugged, then turned to the next person in line. "Arry", he cried as he bowed deeply three times. "So good of you to stop by our establishment. You'll be wanting the Valleyum Suite I assume. And we'll arrange for some company for you. We have a new...entertainer, a very pretty Elf..."
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