As you enter the Tavern, it is easy to spot the man you have come to speak with. The tavern is not particularly busy at the moment, and most of the people present are regulars whom you recognize, though you may not know them by name. Sitting in a booth by a window is Regis, which you know by virtue of the small stack of fliers sitting at his table. He is a hardy man, with short black hair and a scruffy beard, as if he has not shaved in a few days. He looks to be in his late thirties, perhaps as old as forty, and he is clothed in light armor. A shortsword lies upon the table in front of him, though he is more engrossed in the history book in his hands. A few other books are stacked on the table by the wall, next to a couple mugs. It is apparent he has been sitting here for a while, passing the time with his books.

Orpheous knew how to be a subtle man. Not caring to make a racket and draw attention, he barely opened the door to the Ornery Cucco when he made his appearance. Indeed, the doorknob couldn't even be heard squeaking or rattling at all before some light showered into the tavern – so slowly and steadily did Orpheous make his entry. Once the path was open enough for him to pass, he slipped in and shut the door as quietly as he had opened it. His feet didn't make much noise either, as he tread lightly. His staff he even held up slightly, not using it as a walking stick which would tap against the floor with each step. He knew better than to bother the poor fools nursing their hangovers with the hair of the dog that bit them. If he were too loud, no doubt some such patrons would not take too kindly to him. Plus, he had another reason to attempt to go unnoticed.

He glanced over at the man he could only assume to be Regis Turniver, or at least the man who claimed that identity. Orpheous could tell even in the unforgiving dimness that Regis was reading a text that appeared to a book on history; yet, he was more curious as to what specific book Regis was reading. Orpheous knew a fair amount of literature from his time in Hyrule. Maybe he himself had read the book, but had forgotten enough of it to not be able to recognize from what he could see of the title and cover. He tried a little harder to discern what the name of the book is and what subject matter it pertained to [Awareness Check]. He then glanced over at the stack of books on the table yet hugging the wall. Perhaps they were of similar subject matter [Awareness Check].

Deciding that it would be best to introduce himself before Regis noticed him, Orpheous walked up to Regis. He would have preferred to start by asking him about the book he was reading, but Orpheous had a feeling the book might serve as a better conversational piece once Orpheous himself knew more about the book. After all, if Orpheous were to ask what Regis was reading, Regis might simply not answer the question and hide the book from view so Orpheous couldn't gleam more. It was unlikely, but Orpheous had a feeling either way that he should know more about the book from his recollection before commenting on it.

“Hello, Regis Turniver I take it? I ask because I recognize most of the others here, but I've never seen you before – to the best of my recollection. Plus, you have those fliers there. I can't see them too well in the light, but from his angle they look a lot like the fliers all throughout the courtyard outside,” Orpheous spoke with a wistful smile. He stood about seven feet from Regis, but addressed the man directly. His warm ochre brown eyes were poised to meet with Regis', should the man's eyes leave his book. His posture was relaxed, and he finally was resting his staff on the ground. Orpheous' cloak draped around his body. He carried a travelers sack slung over his left shoulder. His dirty dark hair hung out from under his hood a bit, but mostly because his bangs were a bit longer than normal. He had a bit of scruff on his face, and it looked like he'd been pretty busy lately. Only being a man in his mid-forties, he looked every bit as old as fifty

“I ask simply because I make it my responsibility to help the citizens of Hyrule. My other responsibility is to bring criminals to justice. I would love to help a determined crusader take on the Pilferer's Pha-”; Orpheous words were cut off when he jumped in surprised. The door to the Ornery Cucco swung open in a rather dramatic fashion. A woman in her mid twenties entered, bounding through the door before allowing it to swing shut on its own. She had dark blond hair, which was exceptionally curly. She wore a blue jerkin typical of the vagabond class, and a dark green skirt which extended a little past her knees. Her bag was also long over his shoulder, though on her right, and her red eyes pierced through the dim light. She bounced about the tavern, offering he greetings to the patrons she recognized, which seemed to be almost everyone.

As she neared Orpheous and Regis, her feet stopped moving for the first time since she entered the tavern but only for just a moment. Even when she wasn't moving at gifted speeds, she couldn't seem to sit still. She tapped one of her feet in the rhythm of a shanty. She gazed at the two, almost with a serious expression, before appearing taken aback with herself, but only for a moment. As though she was struggling to realize something, promptly realized it, and then remembered how foolish she was for forgetting in the first place.

“You're Orpheous right?” she asked. Orpheous nodded. “I'm Pepper Pinkerton, I've helped out with the Hylian Investigatory Guild before. I don't think we've ever worked together, but I've seen you around the office a few times. It's so nice to formally make your acquaintance. I hope we can be friends.” She offered out her hand for Orpheous to shake.

Orpheous took her hand firmly. “Yes, I believe I've seen you around as well. A pleasure indeed to finally meet. I see no reason why friendship wouldn't be possible.” Orpheous hadn't stated that one of the reasons she left a very keen impression wasn't just because of how animated she was. Pepper Pinkerton, the Sheikah, was the heir to the Pinkerton fortune. The family members had long been magnates in the world of real estates. It's believed that if you liquidated all the wealth at the Pinkerton family had available, they'd be easily one of the ten wealthiest families in Hyrule. Pepper was also an expert socialite, both in planning her own events and attending others. Orpheous knew of dozens of people who happened to know her by name. She did her best to try to befriend everybody she met.

Pepper glanced over at Regis. “Heya there, I'm Pepper. Might I ask who are you are? Oh, and what are you reading there, looks interesting? And that sure is a lot of fliers, are you in need of help of some kind? I love helping people!” She may not look like much, but she did carry a dagger in a sheath strapped around her waist.

OOC: Sorry if anything is wrong with this post. I looked it over to the best of my ability to still post it tonight before I head for bed. I like it for the moment, and I think I'll stand by it.

As Orpheous approaches, he can see that Regis is holding the book at just a low enough angle that he cannot see the title (1+5+2 vs 10 FAIL), but the other books laid about on the table are easy enough to see. (20+5+2 vs 10 PASS) The book on top of the stack is titled: The Sealing War: A Study and the one underneath it looks like it says: The Era of Light and Dark. There are two more books underneath, but the stack is haphazardly arranged in such a way that it's impossible to see the covers or spines of the remaining two.

“Hello, Regis Turniver I take it?"

Regis glanced up at from his book, and seeing Orpheous standing there, made mental note of the page he was on and set the book down on the table, closing it.

"I ask because I recognize most of the others here, but I've never seen you before – to the best of my recollection. Plus, you have those fliers there. I can't see them too well in the light, but from his angle they look a lot like the fliers all throughout the courtyard outside,"

By this point, Regis had stood and extended his hand to Orpheous with a warm smile.
"Yes, your guesses are correct, my friend. I'm Regis, and these fliers are mine. I assume you've come to inquire about them?"

“I ask simply because I make it my responsibility to help the citizens of Hyrule. My other responsibility is to bring criminals to justice. I would love to help a determined crusader take on the Pilferer's Pha-”

It was at this moment that Pepper entered the room, startling the both of them and bringing their conversation to a screeching halt. Regis watched her with a raised eyebrow, curious at her robust energy and sociability, and not at all expecting her to approach the two of them. He watched Orpheous and Pepper's exchange with a bemused expression, though glanced at Orpheous with a raised brow when she mentioned the guild, but his attention was immediately brought back to Pepper when she addressed him.

“Heya there, I'm Pepper. Might I ask who are you are? Oh, and what are you reading there, looks interesting? And that sure is a lot of fliers, are you in need of help of some kind? I love helping people!”

"So many questions!" He said with a good natured laugh. "My name is Regis Turniver, and these books are mostly just my way of passing the time. I'm a bit of a history geek." He said with a grin. "As for help, it would be most greatly appreciated. This man here - Orpheous, is it...?" He asked. Pepper had cut them off before Orpheous had the chance to introduce himself properly, but Regis had caught his name amidst Pepper's chatter. "...was asking me about these fliers as well. Please, take a seat and we can discuss it at length." He gestured politely to the table and waited for them to be seated.

OoC: Yes, you really did roll a 1 and then a 20. Are we sure these dice are really random? Maybe I should just roll my real, physical dice in the future...

Embarrassment overtook Orpheous for a moment. He should have introduced himself first. He was planning on getting to that, but he certainly wasn't expecting Miss Pinkerton to arrive and interrupt the conversation he was starting with Regis though. Then again, Orpheous didn't have any objections to her arrival either. The more aid Regis could get, no doubt the more chance of success his mission had. "Yes, it is Orpheous. My apologies for not leading with that."

While Orpheous was still speaking, Pepper found the seat by the window. She slid into the seating across from Regis though, as opposed to squishing the man in. It seemed Regis had set up a nest, and Pepper didn't want to impose on his comfort. She seemed to spot somebody she noticed out the window, and she gave another little wave. She was less animated though, now that she was seated and apparently about to talk details. She noticed his shortsword on the table and thought about examining the pointy bit with her fingers to get an idea for its condition. She was beginning to bring her finger next to it, but ultimately though better of it. Besides a potential small cut, there was the fact that the sword was Regis' property. She wasn't about to touch it without permission. She even kept her arms away from touching the stack of books next to her, making sure that even if she got excited for whatever reason that her arms weren't going to brush against them and knock them over.

In the same half dozen seconds since Pepper had taken a seat, Orpheous had propped up his staff against the outside of the seat before taking a seat besides Pepper. He did his best to give her ample space, but she was also shying away from the books, so the two were almost on top of one another though. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been in such close quarters with other adventurers though - even female ones. Meeting in dark taverns in crammed booths had their way of putting you in close quarters with others. He showed no discomfort, but clearly took no pleasure in the crammed space. The only satisfaction he got was that he was seated after walking for a fair amount of time. Plus, they were about to talk about what exactly Regis' goal was - which was a prospect he found exciting.

Pepper didn't seem to notice Orpheous proximity to her either. She simply looked at the stack of fliers, now able to actually read them from her angle. "Truth me told," she confided - as one confides a blasphemous thought to a priest of the Goddesses - "I recognized your name from the fliers, but I couldn't remember too much about them outside that. Now that I'm looking over them now, I remember. You need help getting your stuff back? From ruffians calling themselves the Pilferer's Phalanx? Well, seems to me like they're a group of thieves. It would be very petty of me if I didn't heed this call to arms from somebody whose friendship I'm trying to earn. One can never have enough friends, right? And you seem like a well-mannered, good-hearted man. I'm already sold to helping you, but I won't say no to more information."

Orpheous was patient enough to let her speak her turn before he added his thoughts on the matter. "Yes, I don't think you can talk me out of helping you. But I could stand to know more details. If you don't mind me asking, what did they take from you?" He glanced down for a moment, gathering his thoughts before looking Regis in the eyes again. "I don't doubt you, but I know that vast majority of thievery victims don't try to take on the thieves themselves. I work with the Hylian Investigatory Guild, the remnant of the doomed People's Front of Hyrule - which I helped establish. I learned a lot about the costs of running a company dedicated to non-profit causes like helping victims of thievery. And I learned even more about actually catching thieves and other criminals as well. In the few short years I've been in Hyrule before the Southern liberation began, I must have handled at least thirty cases of thievery. Most from citizens who wanted me to go out and catch the thief myself."

Orpheous straightened himself up. "But you're different. I'm trying to determine if that's because you've got the skill set to help deal with the thieves. Or perhaps what you lost is too valuable for you to sit back and not be an active participant. Maybe you'd come to seek the justice that you mentioned in your fliers. No matter what, I wouldn't have an issue with you accompanying me to retrieve your things. That would be nonsense," Orpheous said with a warm laugh, realizing how foolish he probably sounded making this accusation-like comments. He did his best to show that his composure was friendly though, and to show that he was open-minded. "I guess I just want to know what your reasoning is." He paused for a moment before remembering what Regis himself had just said not a few moments prior. "But then again, you did ask us to take seats. I'm sure you were planning on disclosing this all anyways. So please, start with the beginning and tell us your tale of how we came to this point."

Pepper maintained an attentiveness to Orpheous' monologue and seemed interested at what Regis would say in response. She thought some of what Orpheous said seemed to lack some tact, and it was plain to see in her expression when he used words or phrases that made her feel a bit on edge with how Regis would react. She would look taken aback a bit, before glancing over at Turniver to question if he might snap. Motive could sometimes be a sensitive topic after all, especially with people you've just met. But by the end of it, she felt Orpheous had explained himself in a more adequate way. Indeed, she leaned her body forwards so that her head was a foot or two directly over the table. It seems she was just as interested in Regis' story as Orpheous. It was time to talk!

OOC: Once again, I'm feeling a bit rusty with this one, but I feel like I'm doing pretty good developing Pepper while sliding back into the comfortable skin that is Orpheous. He's verbose, and he sometimes straight up addresses hard-hitting matters of interest. But he's got good intentions. Once again, if you see anything flat out wrong or just weird, let me know and I'll try to fix it. And if you catch any typos or grammar mistakes, I'm willing to have those pointed out too. I looked it over a wee bit before posting, but not overly so. Not saying you have to go over it with a fine tooth comb, but just in case you catch something.

Regis waited for the two of them to sit down, and haphazardly moved the mess on the table to the side as he sat down across from them.

"In truth, there isn't as much of a story as you think there may be. You see, I'm a mercenary by trade. And these thieves have been accruing quite the bounty. The most obvious reason for taking up this quest is the reward. However, I do have a slightly more personal reason for doing this." He folded his hands and leaned in a little bit.

"They stole something from me - a magical artifact that I'm afraid would only make them more powerful, and in turn, more bold. Should they use this item, I fear for what may soon follow. I doubt these ruffians are intelligent or strong enough to realize it's full potential, but I'd rather not take the chance. Which brings me to where I am now. By myself, I am not enough to take on their entire combined might. But a team of experienced adventurers such as yourselves - that, I feel, could do the job." He said, smiling at Orpheous and Pepper.

"Now here's where it gets more interesting. A few days ago, I received an..." here he paused, as if searching for the right word. "...Anonymous tip, telling me where their lair is. I was skeptical at first, but I did a bit of investigation and it seems that my source was correct. Their operation is set up in the South Greens, in a hidden cave at the foot of the hills. There's a hidden switch that opens the door. It's only a matter of finding the right time to ambush them." Here he cast a forlorn glance at his fliers. "Honestly, I was hoping to attract a few more people to assist me, but... I suppose with the recent endeavors to retake the south, help is in short supply. I'm not worried though; we'll simply have to be a little less conspicuous with our surprise attack." He looked up at Orph and Pepper with a wry smile.

"So... are you in?"

IC: Orpheous and Pepper listened politely. Orpheous body language was interested but relaxed. Pepper's posture though suggested fixation. She leaned in a tad bit, maintaining eye contact the entire time, though trying not to be threatening. She would nod her head from time to time, showing that she followed what Regis was getting at.

Orpheous thought process was already going through what Regis had said. The artifact in question sounded like it was being downplayed. Regis wanted his property back, which was fair; yet what was a mercenary doing with the artifact in the first place? Perhaps Mr. Turniver's love of history had helped him retrieve that artifact. Still, it seemed strange. Additionally, if this artifact was as powerful as Regis insinuated, this was definitely not the kind of channels that should be used to retrieve it. In a similar situation, Orpheous would no doubt seek the assistance of the crown - he would have not gone so far as going to the King, but at least somebody more official than adventurers off the street.

Then there was the anonymous tip. The language Regis used, in conjuncture with the hesitation to find the words, suggested a lie. Orpheous theorized that the only other source of the information could have been a bribe or an interrogation - at least those were his first explanations. Then again, it's possible he may have been telling the truth. Orpheous examined the mercenary to gain further insight into whether or not he was telling the truth [Insight Check].

Either way, with Regis' story finished, Orpheous gave a quick nod of affirmation. "Of course I'm in. These criminals need to be stopped - especially if they possesses something which can only become a greater threat once used. We should start immediately."

Pepper in turn waited for Orpheous to be done talking. "I'm in too. Helping people is one of the best way to gain new friends! I hope I can prove my usefulness."

OOC: Already caught one mistake in my work. When I wrote the reply where they sit down, I had forgotten that Regis was standing. I had written the details that they sat across from him - as though he was still seated. And I'm sorry about that. Luckily, I don't think it was an error that produces massive repercussions. Also, I didn't proof read this much; it is presently getting late and I intend to sleep soon. So hopefully it stands well on its own.

Orpheous' knowledge of human psychology serves him well, and he does indeed notice that something about this conversation is a little off (14+5+2 vs 15 PASS). Regis clearly knows more than what he is saying, although Orpheous gets the feeling that most of what he HAS said so far is in fact true. There is simply more to the story than what has already been said that, for one reason or another, Regis is unwilling to share. But one small portion of information does appear to be at least partially false - the "anonymous tip". The way Regis had said it indicated that it may not have been entirely anonymous, though again, it genuinely seems as though his intentions here are good. Perhaps he is trying to protect his source? Overall, most of what Regis has said seems to ring true, and even though there are portions that may cause Orpheous to be suspicious, Regis' intentions seem to be genuine even if he is hiding some things.

"Of course I'm in. These criminals need to be stopped - especially if they possesses something which can only become a greater threat once used. We should start immediately."

"I'm in too. Helping people is one of the best way to gain new friends! I hope I can prove my usefulness."

Regis grinned broadly and leaned back in his seat. "Thank you so much. This means a lot to me, really. And I agree, the sooner we get this accomplished, the better... We'll just have to figure out the best time to strike. Is there a way I could contact either of you once I have figured out what our most opportune moment would be?"

OoC: Not much, I know, but I didn't feel like there was much more that needed to be said haha I'm leaving it a little open for you to push him for info a little bit more if Orpheous still feels like he needs to. If not, that's about it for this topic, and I'll start working on getting the next part up soon!

Pepper was the first to respond to his question. "I usually keep my assistant updated with my schedule. She in turn reports the schedule to the North Castle post office. I have so many corespondents that I'm like always getting mail. Just stop by their office and they'll be able to dispatch a courier straight to me," she explained. She moved her bag around to make sure it was secure - after all, she'd be off on her next errand soon. It was clear that there were indeed a lot of letters in her bag, some even stuck out of the top.

Orpheous waited for Pepper to finish before he too answered the inquiry. "Yeah, I guess if you're going to the post office to send a courier when that time comes, you could probably send a courier to the Hylian Investigatory Guild for me. I'm sure that's where I'll no doubt be once it's time for us to mobilize. Is that all right by you?" Orpheous asked in turn.

OOC: I guess you might have to reply again, unless you just want to treat this last post as the scene cut itself before the next topic. It wouldn't be unheard of, such things are done in cinematography and even literature all the time. Of course, if you want to actually wrap up this topic in a traditional fashion, the shortest manner would be for him to answer in the affirmative before gathering his things and leaving, that way your character is no longer in the scene to interact with mine, effectively making a very traditional way to end the topic. Alternatively, if your character has a reason to stay at the tavern, you'd answer in the affirmative and have Regis stay, while I sent my characters away - also ending the scene in a rather regular format. Sorry for over-analyzing it, I guess I just wanted to see where you want to take this. Also, in hindsight, I probably could've posted this on Skype in our conversation, but at least now it's here - where it's right next to the post in question. So it's like you'll read the post and the then the Out of Character bit, and they're both conveniently in the same spot to read. I'll stop rambling now.

"Sure, sure... sounds like we have a plan!" Regis said, moving to shake their hands. "I'll probably stay here the rest of the day, just in case someone else sees my fliers and decides to help us as well. Anyway, these ought to keep me company in the mean time," He said, patting the stack of books on the table.
"Tomorrow I'll set about watching the movement patterns of the Phalanx. See if I can find an ideal time to strike. Hopefully I should be able to get a courier to you within the week."

Pepper shook his hand first, her grasp was what Regis most likely wanted to see. It was clear she had shaken hands with hundreds if not thousands of people. She knew how to give somebody the handshake that they were desiring, or sometimes the one they weren't desiring. Pepper decided to go with a handshake that affirmed Regis' faith in her. Thus, her handshake was firm and fluid, but she managed to maintain a bit of an edge in her zany individuality when she brought up her other hand to cup the bit of his hand she wasn't shaking (we might know this as the "hand hug" shake).

Orpheous in turn just gave the man a simple shake. He used a mostly loose grip this time around. Perhaps this was because Orpheous had felt like he had already speculated enough about the man's intentions that he wasn't sure how Regis' would trust him if Orpheous just gave him a firm handshake. Then again, it's not like Regis would know Orpheous thought something was amiss, but perhaps Regis could tell. Orpheous tried not to shudder at the thought of Mr. Turniver knowing how he felt. He listened politely though as Regis continued talking. He gave a simple nod when Regis was finished. "Okay, I'll be expecting it any day then." He stood up, reached over for his staff, and left.

Pepper watched as Orpheous left, still seated. "I'll be waiting for the message too. I really can't wait! I'll see you soon. Oh, and don't worry about Orpheous," she exclaimed, scooting out of the booth and springing up. "I'm sure he's just as excited as I am." She hummed a little tune to herself as she bounced over to the door, tumbling through the entryway with all the deftness of an acrobat. And with that, Regis' two new contacts were out of sight - but probably not out of mind.

Regis seemed not to notice anything unusual about Orpheous' behavior, and instead settled back into his place at the table and re-opened his book. The rest of this day, it seemed, would be a quiet one.

OoC: I'll work on getting the next topic up soon. I'll probably post something about it here when it happens!

A week later, Orpheous and Pepper received the same letter:

Greetings, Orpheous!

(Pepper's letter listed her name instead)

I have studied the comings and goings of the Pilferer's Phalanx for an entire week now, and I'm fairly certain that the majority of the gang will be out on a small raid two nights from now. While I have not been able to ascertain where the raid will take place, I believe that it will be a small enough operation that their leader will stay behind with the artifact and let his cronies do the dirty work for him, leaving most of their base defenseless. This will be the ideal time to strike.

<a href= "viewtopic.php?t=3577">He then gave the location of the lair.</a>

Meet me there in two nights time, at midnight. I will be bringing one other person who dropped in after you left and agreed to help me. He seems capable and eager to help our cause. With any luck and the blessing of the Goddesses, we won't run into any trouble that we can't handle. I look forward working together.

He then signed his name, and written just below it, in Hylian: Let Justice Prevail!