The days had been getting slightly cooler lately, and the Tantari Cafe, which was known for it's steamy food and and piping hot beverages, has become quite popular (as it always had this time of year). The newly placed glass doors seem welcoming as ever, as you step through them to see the bustling and busy restaurant. It was alive and thriving with customers, and employees were scrambling everywhere to fill the orders, as well as a familiar Zora who'd just joined the staff. A hallway extends outward away from the main dining center, and a door on each side of the hall leads to the restrooms.

However, further down the hall, past both restrooms, an iron door with a large crank lock on it lies at the end of the hall. Its a large door, big enough for even a Goron to fit through, and an imposing muscular looking man stands guard. He is wearing plated armor on his chest, shoulders, and sides, and he has a thick build with a muscular looking jaw. His brown and curly beard runs halfway down to his chest, and his large broadsword rested in a sheath at his side. His armor runs all the way down to his legs, and ends at his boots. Looks like you'd have to be exclusive to pass through the <a href="viewforum.php?f=252" target="body">door. </a>

A tall figure appeared through the glass in the doors. He fiddled with the knob for a while, and finally opened the door, entered the Cafe, and carefully shut them behind him. He hoped to make as little an entrance as possible, today.

Victor quickly scanned the restaurant for any suspicious figures... and, well, he gave up halfway in. Too many people; anyways, he would probably go unnoticed. He strolled into the fray, dodging the frantic employees and weaving among the many tables. The Bard took a moment, from the center of the Cafe, to find the manager. Waited to catch his eyes, nodded when he did, and then continued moving.

When he reached the guard at the iron door, he stopped, and smiled.

"Hey, Nate. Mind?"

Without waiting for an answer, Victor moved forward, operated the crank, and passed through the doorway, disappearing into darkness and letting the portal slam closed behind him...

Around the corner from the bathroom highway, a young head appeared, and gazed towards the door. Seeing the burly guard, it disappeared behind the wall, then showed itself again: this time, attached to a body. It was an older teenage boy, lightly armed, feigning importance. His chest puffed out, his head high, he strolled with confidence up to the guard, nodded curtly, and spoke. His voice cracked.

"I.. Hey, uh, Nate. How about you let me in the door, eh? I'm with the Bard!"

The guard looked at the teen with an inquisitive face. He stroked his beard for a moment with his right hand, and looked the man over. "Oh really now?" He asked, folding his arms. "So I suppose I should let you through huh?" He smiled under his beard, and stepped aside. However, as soon as the teen made an attempt to walk through, the man spoke again. "That is... After you show my proof of membership." He looked at the teen with piercing eyes, and held out a gloved hand. "That is, if you have it." He added, smiling again. "I don't believe I recognize you. Show me your proof, and you can go on through." He glared in the teen's direction, and his hand hung in the air waiting.

"Ah... err... ah..."

The teen trembled under the guard's gaze. He didn't have proof of membership, and Nate seemed to know it. The kid stood there for a while, pondering what he should do next, and then finally just blurted,

"AGH! NO, I DON'T! DON'T HURT ME, PLEASE!"

And he proceeded to bolt out of the Cafe, probably scared for his life. He would never try to enter a secret door again... especially a heavily guarded one. Perhaps if the teen had only told the truth and asked about the door, the circumstances would have been more favorable...

Even during the coming of the cooling of days, Tantari was stubborn as it had always been. Those coming from the forest would be a bit chilly, while those emerging from the warm winds of the desert, like Shigure, would be sweaty. Shigure, however, had grown accustom to the heat, and while he wasn't bothered by the heat, the walk had made him hungry. He turned the bend, and walked to the entrance to the famed Tantari Cafe. Ever since it had been established there, it attracted more and more business. Walking through the double doors, the Goron stepped into the restaurant, and began searching for an empty booth. Before he could do any more, he felt a light bump on his stomach, and looked down to see a boy who looked to be in his late teens, look up at him with a horrified expression. He was on the floor, and had most likely ran into the Goron. Scrambling to his feet, he jetted out the doors, and disappeared from sight. Looking over at where the boy was running from, a guard in plated armor stood by a massive iron door. Cocking his head, he never recalled seeing a door in that area. Walking back towards the bathroom hallway, he passed the bathrooms, and stopped at the door. He looked at the guard for a split-second, and then back at the door.

"Can I help you sir?" The man asked, leaning against the door. His arms were crossed, and he wasn't smiling. "Errr..." Shigure began, looking back over his shoulder, and then back to the man. "I was just wondering what scared that boy off... and I'd also like to know what you're hiding behind this door." He stopped, and traced back over his words. "Not that its any of my business, I just..." He paused, and stared at the guard. "That guy just tried to sneak past me just by calling me by name." He rolled his eyes. "Speaking of which, my name is Nathan, and I've been hired to guard this door. Whether you pass beyond this point isn't up to me." He scratched his beard, and sighed. "Its some kind of private club I believe. Do you want to join?" Shigure folded his arms, and pursed his lips. "What kind of club? What are their practices?" He asked demandingly. "Heck, I don't know." The guard said annoyed. He turned around, and knocked on the door. It made a large sound as his knuckles collided with the iron on the massive door. "Hey." He called out. "We've got a guy here... He's asking a lot of questions."

A few moments after the last knock, some shuffling could be heard coming from behind the iron door, and at Nathan's words a small rectangular window slid open near the top of the door. Through it, Victor eyed Shigure, his face still slightly hidden in the shadows.

The Goron seemed familiar enough, he must have seen him around some time. Suddenly he remembered the small tournament that had gone on in Castle Town. That's where he was from! Shigure had been one of the participants; had lost, but displayed skill in battle. Well, what luck! He was just what Victor needed right about now. The Bard stepped closer to the door, revealed his eyes, smiled behind the iron.

"Hey, you're Shigure, right? Thought I recognized you! What brings you here?"

Then Victor realized that he was standing behind a thick, ominous, iron door. Guarded by a hulking, bearded man. In a rather popular cafe.

"Oh. So, you're here about the door, then. I guess. Well, let me tell you... behind this door lies the solution to Hyrule's problems. The solution to the problem in the South. The... well..."

The Bard's eyes shifted, and he lowered his voice.

"... we're a group devoted to wresting the South from the hands of Ganon's minions, and delivering it into the King's. Some might call it... Southern reconstruction. Ah, well, if you're interested in helping out, we could sure use the members..."

The Goron cocked an eyebrow, and listened intently. "Freeing the South? Isn't that only a rumor though?" He asked, expressing a concerned look nonetheless. "While it may just be a rumor... The possibility that our loved ones' lives could be in danger is a very real possibility." Shigure nodded, obviously agreeing. He knew he was pressed for time. He wasn't sure how he'd find the time to do this- but he knew it was a good cause. The greatest deed of all good deeds... He thought.

The ultimate repent of one's ways... to save hundreds, possibly thousands of lives. He looked up confidently, and stared the unseen man in the eyes. "I'll help as best I can, though I'm pressed for time. He smiled a bit. "I will definitely do all I can to liberate the south from any demon that dare threaten it. Its my homeland, and the home of my loved ones. I'll see to it that they're protected." He folded his arms, and closed his eyes. I wonder how Shadowclaw is holding up in the eye of this mess...

Victor's eyes gleamed from behind the iron window.

"Great to hear you're up to it! I'm from the South too, as it happens, and my family is down there too. Part of the reason I started this Guild... and, well, it's for the King too, eh?"

The area around his eyes wrinkled as the Bard smiled.

"Anywho, we'll have to initiate you. But you're welcome, I suppose, if you're really up to it. It's your choice, Shigure. But if it were me, I'd join."

A wink.

"Let 'im in if he wants, Nate. I'll be downstairs. If anyone else comes by, you know the drill now, eh?"

With a click, the window closed, and the sounds of footsteps descending stairs could briefly be heard behind the iron door. And then it was silent again. It was all up to the Goron, now...

Shigure held up a hand to Nathan. "I'm joining. I've made up my mind about that." He took a few steps back. "But I'm still starving here. So I'm going to order some food, and eat before I walk through that door." The Goron's stomach agreed with him, making a few loud noises of it's own. Turning around the Goron sat down in a booth, and ordered his food. After about 30 minutes, the Goron left the money on the table, and returned to the door. Without any more mental conflict, he opened the door, and descended the staircase that was laid out before him. "Didn't even know this place had a basement..." He muttered, as he walked down the long staircase.

~Tantari Cafe. You will never find a more retched hive of scum and villany. Pyre decided that it would be best to proceed with caution, keep his bags of ruppees hidden and wear a large sandy colored cloak to hide his fine-spun clothing. It would be best not to parading his wealth in a place such of this. Flicking his blond bangs out his eyes, and keeping his hood up, he entered the Cafe, and found it to be quite crowded. This would make it easier for him to keep a low profile, but unfortunately would also conceal any measly thief who would try to steal from one such as himself.

The hylian had been planning on taking a seat, but most of the chairs were occupied, and he found himself hovering awkwardly, inwardly cursing himself for entering the Cafe in the first place; what on earth was he thinking. Then however something caught his attention... a suspicious looking door, guarded by a tough looking man. It seemed like the perfect place for..... extra seats for new arrivals? Pyraline strode towards the corner to find out.

"Excuse me, sir, does this door lead to somewhere were an important man like myself can take a brief rest?"~

OOC: I'll step in for ZV this time, since he's nowhere to be found.

IC: Nathan eyed Pyre with suspicion. Well... he eyed everyone with suspicion, that was his job. But nonetheless, his eyes flitted up and down Pyraline for a few moments, even after the question was posed. A few terse seconds later, the man stopped eying the Hylian, sniffed, and growled,

"No."

A few more seconds passed, and Nate had begun to gaze out at the restaurant, thoroughly ignoring Pyre. But when he realized the visitor had not yet left, he sighed, and continued.

"This is the door leads to the basement. Not a lounge for uppity nobles like yourself. If you must know, it's headquarters for a new organization."

At this point, Nathan glared piercingly into Pyre's eyes, and crossed his arms tightly.

"And only members are allowed in."

OOC: Oh yes, he noticed you were a "noble". Nate's a badass.

~"A secret organization!"

Pyre turned and began to have a brief internal arguement with himself. On the one hand, it looked like he would find more of the roguish brute types in this organization, judging from whom they trusted to be the door guard. On the other hand, it didn't seem like this was an outright criminal organization, since it was meeting in a cafe, and an organization that was not made for crime could only have one other possible goal: it had a special mission and would do anything to accomplish this.

"A quest!"

The hylian berated himself for letting one of his thoughts escape and made a furtive look over his shoulder at Nate before continuing his argument. If there was some sort of mission that this group was aiming towards, he would love to be a part of it. That was what Pyre lived for, a life of adventure.... as long as it allowed him his comforts and excesses. For now, he would play along and see what this was all about, and if they really were all rogues and villians, then he would leave and report them to the proper authorities.

Turning back around, he addressed the guard once again.

"So, er... what exactly does this organization do?"~

Nathan watched Pyraline's internal argument with a mix of confusion and suspicion, and stayed on his toes the whole time. Never know what to do with these crazy-types.

When Pyre finally decided to inquire further, Nate sighed again. It was his job to guard the door, not recruit. The members were supposed to recruit. He wasn't being payed enough for this. But what could he do? He shifted hesitantly, then recited, from memory, in a monotone voice,

"It's a group devoted to wresting the South from the hands of Ganon's minions, and delivering it into the King's. Some might call it... Southern reconstruction. Ah, well, if you're interested in helping out, they could sure use the members..."

No need to bother the boss when he knew the answer himself.

~Pyraline, watched as Nathan recited his little speech, and one of his fears fell away. Apparently this was not a criminal organization. Not if they had to rely on silly speeches like that and were desperately looking for members. However, some of his excitement started to drain away. This "southern reconstruction" sounded a bit silly. No true grand quest had a name like that. An organization that really had a good goal would be called something cool.... like the Iron Brigade or something like that, not just "Southern Reconstruction."

Plus, this man didn't seem very into the recruitment job. What kind of door man was he.

"Well, I have some suggestion to make to the leader of this joint about how he runs things. Having a good-for-nothing like you as his guard. You don't even sound like you care. If it's hordes of Gannon's minions we're talking about, you should be a bit more eager. You have a nasty look about you anyway, some might think you're up to no good. I think I'll lower myself to joining this group. My expertise should come in handy to whoever the leader is."

With that said, he took up a waiting position, and began tapping his foot, waiting for the man to step aside and open the gate.~

By the time Pyre had finished his elitist rant, Nathan was gritting his teeth and clutching the side of his arms with fury. What gall this man had, insulting the guard and then expecting to be let in? Nate had half a mind th pound Pyraline into a forgettable little pulp... but that's just what he wanted him to do. No, the guard knew better than to prove the man's point. He glared for much longer than he had before, and finally his fist flew outwards with a flash.

But it didn't hit its obvious target. No, the pompous little Hylian was spared a world of hurt, because Nathan pounded the door instead - leaving just the slightest dent. From within came a soft call:

"Let 'em in!"

And so, Nathan opened the iron door with a growl.

"Welcome to the Iron Brigade, jackass."