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-----From inside comes a pleasant feminine voice, which says, "Ah, show them in."
-----Upon the door opening, the rogues first see the bed that is positioned along the north wall of the room. The dank seediness of the room is somewhat covered by a pleasant fragrance of sweet springtime flowers. Toward the middle of the room is a chair facing the door by which the other two menservants stand guard on each side of it.
-----The Lady Mitan sits in the chair. While wearing a dress of red satin with designs of golden threads woven into it, her long dark brown hair falls about her shoulders catching the golden sunlight that shine through the window. Her very light colored skin appears soft and smooth while her eyes are a curious and enchanting hazel color. Her features are incredibly beautiful although when she raises a thin dark eyebrow, her eyes belie a cunning and knowledge that almost appears frightening in contrast. Her small smiling mouth looks very full and luscious with the red lip makeup she wears.
-----The Lady is graced by stunning jewelry about her neck, fingers and toes. Her dainty feet dangle over the edge of the chair graced by sandals where on the top of her feet traces of dark brown hair begin.
-----Without a doubt, she is the most stunning halfling the rogues have ever seen.
-----"Tell me of yourselves," the Lady says with a voice that almost resembles the sweetest of singing, "then I shall tell you of the service I need."
-----Seth eyes the lady's feet and then makes a flourish and begins, "My Dear Lady Mitan, it is with extreme pleasure that I introduce you to the most Famed Halfling afloat, the scourge of the seas, the rescuer of countless maidens in distress, The One! The Only! Direct from his Gorian Tour!!! Dreaaaddd Zepp ahh Pirate!!!"
-----Lady Mitan simply looks at Seth before turning an eye on the Dread Pirate. An uncomfortable moment elapses without anyone speaking.
-----A small smile lights Kazel's face as she stifles laughter. She then leans against the back wall and says, "I am Kazel and this one," pointing to the flourishing musician, "is Seth."
-----Seeming to understand the minimal amount of information presented, Lady Mitan begins to speak, "Very well. I have many homes throughout the region. In the Town of Oakwood is one such home and there it is that I enjoy some of the finer things that life has to offer. In the town, there is also a family that has been a rival of my family's for many years. Recently they hired spies and thieves to break into my home and steal a most coveted heirloom. I am needing those with the necessary . . . , ah, shall we say talents, to retrieve it for me."
-----The Lady looks at each of the rogues for a reaction.
-----The Dread Pirate idly scratches his left buttock and replies, "Aye, we be the best at recovery services, whether it be by a dint of head thumpin or by more discrete methods. And our prices are scaled thereby. I'm assumin that since ye live in said neighborhood, that ye'll be wantin a bit more of the discrete approach, rather than the wholesale slaughter and defenestratin of yer enemies. Sneaky is more difficult, hence we will have to charge accordingly. We'll also have to see the place we're breakin into, get a basic idea o' the layout, and lastly we'll have to know what we're recoverin fer yer ladyship. If it's a solid gold life sized hephalump, we might have a problem with transport."
-----The Lady frowns but then slowly nods her head in reply to the Dread Pirate. "My family heirloom is a special work of jewelry worn about the neck," she explains. "It is what we call the Mitan Ruby. It is a ruby set in a framework of interwoven small gold chains and pearls."
-----"The Crawmurds have their home in a small brick mansion on a block not far from the Keep. I am sorry I do not have a plan of their house and I do not know how much help with that I could be. None of my family has ever set foot there."
-----Raising her chin, she adds, "I agree that the utmost secrecy should be used in retrieving the ruby. If you are discovered in some fashion, I cannot express enough that such persons should be eliminated."
-----The Dread Pirate purses his lips and looks doubtful, "If'n they live in a mansion, even a small one, it could take days or weeks to find somethin as small as a necklace. It could be hidden almost anywhere. And if they know that ye are goin to try to get it back, they most certainly will hide it somewheres. I'm not sayin we can't do it, it just might take a bit longer. And the risks will be higher the longer the search takes, what with repeatedly goin in and out o' their house. What sort o' people are these Crawmurds? How many of 'em are there? What sort o' guards do they have? Anythin you can relate might be useful."
-----Seth nods slowly in time to Dread's words and then adds, "Perhaps for this job a small upfront fee is called for and then a large bonus on delivery. That way all of our skulking and watching time shall be recompensed if we are unable to find this jewel."
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