It was in the confines of the tavern known as the Bloodthirsty Pelican that this story begins. The Bloodthirsty Pelican certainly lived up to its name -- it was the roughest and rowdiest tavern in the Azure District. The entire tavern was drenched from top to bottom seemingly in spilt ale, or perhaps it was blood stained into the rotten, creaking wooden floorboards that threatened to collapse under the weight of so many patrons at one time.

This seedy, dimly light cesspool of debauchery was notable for its illegal underground gambling den and the opium den that was situated next to it. It was a place that the morally decadent and the corrupt could while away their ill-gotten gains. At this moment in time, the air was thick with the smell of tobacco smoke, and it was pierced with the sound of a scream as a thick, heavyset man stubbed out his cigar on the palm of a small, weedy fellow that had annoyed him. In here were the seedy, the fallen, the pirates and the ne'er do-wells within the Azure District.

And Garem Vursk.

Right now in fact, the ruggedly handsome fellow was steaming drunk, having spent most of his day drinking himself into insensibility with the cheap, disgusting pig-swill that the bartender said passed for ale in this hellhole. Standing next to Garem, another fellow with a slightly posh upper class demeanour ordered a bottle of wine, something that amused Garem no end. Holding his hand in the air, he clapped the posh fellow hard on the back as he draped his arm drunkenly over the other man's shoulders.

"A bottle of the house finest? You obviously haven't tasted the pig-shit that passes for wine in this place. Finest my ass, hahahahahahahhaha ughhhhh *hic*"

Garem staggered, swaying drunkenly as he placed his hand on the bar, steadying himself on it before he regained his balance. Waving a mug of ale around with his other hand, he took his hand off the bar to wipe his mouth as he groaned, "I don't think that last one went down too well, uggggghhhhhhhh *hic*."

The door opened and a gust of cool air came in to cool down the hot, sweaty atmosphere in the place. Garem looked around to see a wizened looking, older lady with gray hair and a wrinkled face standing next to him. In her hand she clutched a note, holding it out to Garem, who shook his head.

"Well, hello there.....ugghhh what's that you got *hic*?"

Swaying to both sides, he took the note and opened it. Garem’s eyes squinted as he started to read the finely-written, beautiful flowing script. What the note actually read was as follows:

Greetings, and I trust this missive finds you in good health!

My name is Vanessa Laveine, and I humbly request your attendance at dinner at my estate on Festival Street and Blue Skink Lane tomorrow evening. I think that I can present you with an opportunity uniquely situated to your skills. Please inform the carrier of this letter of your response to this invitation, and hope to be speaking with you soon.

Yours truly,
Vanessa Laveine

However, what Garem saw was a series of squiggly lines that, when he squinted, just turned into a blurry mass of strangeness. He sighed, screwing the note up in a ball as he shrugged, tossing it over his shoulder.

"I can't read."

Then an idea came to him. His eyes brightened as he held his finger up in the air, proclaiming, "AH-HAH!" He reached into his tunic pocket, withdrawing a pair of six-sided dice as he looked back to the woman. "Do you play dice by any chance?"

--Time Passes--

At the designated meeting spot and time, Garem stood outside the large, very fine-looking manor that served as Vanessa Laveine's Manor. The seven-foot-high stone wall that surrounded the estate was impossible to miss, as was the towering, gothic three-story house that dominated the grounds within. Leering gargoyle's and capering nymphs festooned the manor roof. The front gate was open, inviting him to step within.

Garem looked at the gothic architecture and the decorations on the manor, and he smirked to himself as he remarked, "Nice, lady. Real nice. Like crazed serial-killer nice."

Dressed in his finest clothes, a fine black tunic with ruffled white shirt, and fine black breeches and boots, Garem Vursk certainly looked the part. What was different about him than before though was the beautiful golden jewellery that he now bedecked himself in.........

@Angstyrainbow

It had been another rowdy night at the Hanged Man. It wasn't the most well-known or the busiest tavern in town by any stretch but Mimas liked it all the same. Most of the drunken patrons were regulars. A healthy mix of local dock orders, sailors and pirates filled the small building along with the smell of booze and the sea.

The bar woman weaved expertly between men that slurred and stumbled as they cheered, pulling a laugh from Mimas. She had a wonderful system in place as she worked. Talk to customers and take their orders, deliver drinks and collect old ones, collect payment and tips, rinse and repeat. It helped the tavern was set out in an almost U shape, with the middle being used as either a dance floor or fitting pit depending on the day.

She stood with her back to the bar, grinning at the alcohol-induced chaos around her. Mimas thrived off it and lived for it. She adored hearing about their adventures and the sea, it made her wishful for it. She had never set foot on a boat before, let alone be out on the sea fitting pirates and such. But by the gods, did she want it.

She sighed to herself and shook her head. It wasn't meant to be. Her talents lay in other, unused places.

Mimas was startled back to reality by a very out-of-place, elderly seeming woman suddenly appearing in front of her.

"I'm so sorry! You gave me one hell of a fright there darlin'!" She laughed, She opened her mouth to speak again but was quickly silenced by a letter being thrust into her hands. The barmaid tilted her head curiously and took it.

It took only moments for her eyes to skim across the beautiful handwriting. She didn't need to even think twice about her answer.

-----------

Mimas approached the large gate that separated the beautifully haunting manor from the rest of the world. Once again, she tilted her head in curiosity at the sight before her. It seemed as though she wasn't the only one to have received a letter.

The figure of a man became clearer as she approached, a smile growing on her face at the sight of the man. What an eccentric-looking man! Mimas could tell almost right away that he was going to be an interesting character.

"Evein'" She greeted. "I take it you also got an invite to some vague dinner party?"

“Is that what that was darling’?” Garem said with a smile and a wry chuckle as he cast his gaze up and down over the newcomer.

“I was approached by an older, distinguished looking lady who thrust a piece of paper towards me? Unfortunately though, lite….literar….ummm, reading stuff ain’t exactly my strong suit.” Thrusting a hand towards the girl, he added, “Name’s Garem Vursk. Pleasure to meetcha milady.”

He cast his eyes upwards over the strange yet equally stately looking mansion that was as impressive in its grandeur as it was bizarre with the odd, almost life-like statues that Garem was convinced were looking straight at him. He shook his head, blacking them all out of his mind’s eye as he turned his attention to the woman.

“She said something about this here manor, and dinner, and a job. A well-paid job, may I add, and that was the bit that really got my attention. So I figured I’d show up here and see what’s what.”

It was that precise moment that a creak was heard as the door of the mansion opened, and the same wizened looking woman poked her head out.

Nodding her head, the woman spoke, "The Lady Lavinia will see you now if you would care to wait in the atrium." She gestured past her into the mansion, then she looked at Garem and added. "You didn't bring your dice with you did you?"

Garem grinned, showing his teeth. His hand reached up to touch the expensive looking golden jewellery hanging around his neck.

"I always bring my dice with me."

Reaching into his pocket, he produced two six-sided dice as he walked into the mansion.

@Angstyrainbow

Mimas offered the strange man a small, almost apologetic smile at his reading trouble. "I got much the same letter from much the same woman. I can understand them seeking out a gentleman such as yourself for a mysterious job but I'm just a simple barmaid." She responded.

Her smile grew as she took his hand, giving it a firm shake. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Mimas Nox." She greeted, her voice bright and welcoming. "I don't know about you but I have a feeling the job she wishes to offer us is going to either be unpleasant or dangerous." She paused then gave a small chuckle. "Of more likely both. So while I'm not overly..keen on whatever this job may be, I'm always up for free food."

Turning to face the gates as they opened, Mimas offered the elderly woman a smile. "Thank you. Lovely to see you again."

Mimas raised an eyebrow at the exchange, unsuccessfully suppressing a giggle at Garem's excitement to show off his dice. She tilted her head as she looked at them and raised an eyebrow. "I get the feeling that those dice might not be entirely honest."

Walking through the manor had Mimas spinning as she walked, trying to take in as much of the building as possible. She had always enjoyed the more gothic style and to her, the eerie atmosphere and decor were breathtaking. "By the gods, this please is beautiful."