"Yes. She's downstairs talking to Seb and patting Bruxa. They're not letting anyone other than students and staff into the school. Everyone is taking precautions now." 

From her reaction, it would seem that this is news to Velma, but she shrugs it off and the two continue carrying the books to her office, where she then picks up her bag ready to leave for the day.

"Shall we?" she asks, linking her arm through Guilliame's. [OOC: Let me know if you want to change anything here and we can retcon it.]

The two make their way downstairs and head towards the gatehouse where they find Granny waiting patiently while Seb is feeding Bruxa his evening meal.

"Are you going to introduce me?" Velma prompts as the approach.

"Velma, this is Naomi. Naomi, Velma."

Granny Naomi and Velma look at each other for a moment and then they both smile, though Guilliame sees that Velma's smile is a little hesitant.

"Hello, dear," says Granny. "It is nice to finally meet you."

"Me too," says Velma with a little stammer, and then she corrects herself, adding, "I mean it is nice to meet you."

There is an awkward moment of silence before Granny turns to Guilliame and says, "I am hungry, Guilliame. Are you hungry Velma?"

Velma nods and so Granny continues, saying, "It is time to eat. Guilliame, can you please escort both of us to dinner now."

Guilliame leads the way out of the School and then the three walk arm-in-arm off to dinner.

[OOC: Where is Guilliame taking them? And is there anything special you want Guilliame to do at this point?]

"I was thinking the Scholar's retreat. It's always nice food and a pleasant atmosphere. Is that alright?"

Granny and Velma are both happy with going to the Scholar's Retreat and so the three make their way there uneventfully through the late afternoon streets. They are greeted at the door by the host who shows them to a table close to the fireplace when they tell him that they are looking for dinner.

"It is a little early for dinner," he says as he seats them, "can I get you something to drink and perhaps some oysters to whet your appetite?" 

OOC Are the oysters likely to be a bit dangerous?

[OOC: Constantine is on the coast, so it is likely that oysters are quite common fare in the city.

Make an Arcana check vs a DC of 10.]

8

Quote from Guilliame >>

8

[OOC: That's a fail, so roll again to see if Guilliame earns some experience. He can also, of course, ask the host questions about the oysters.]

9

"Are they from the river here or further afield?"

Quote from Guilliame >>

6

[OOC: That's another fail, so no experience points, I'm afraid.]

"Are they from the river here or further afield?"

"They are local," replies the host. "From the oyster beds between Fisher Town and the King's Reserve and guaranteed fresh by the port authority."

"I would like some," says Granny Naomi. "I have not had an oyster for years."

"Me too," adds Velma eagerly.

"Oysters it is," says the host, taking his lead from the ladies. "And to drink, sir? We have a very nice white wine from the Brand Estate. They normally send most of their crop south to New Nineveh, but I have managed to secure a case of last year vintage."

"Oysters certainly. I'm sorry to ruin the mood but may I just enquire about the cost of the wine."

"A bottle costs 6 Constantines, but I already have one open and so I can give you each a large goblet for a Constantine each," replies the host before adding, "And of course there are cheaper wines, beers and spirits available. Let me just go and get your oysters while you decide." He then heads off towards the kitchen.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you there, but we have to watch our cubs a bit. How about we have a glass each. I for one would like to have a clear head when we go given there has been a couple of incidents recently."

Granny Naomi and Velma both agree with Guilliame and seem happy enough with only having one glass.

"So, you work in the library at the School," says Granny to Velma, "Are you a wizard as well?"

"No," replies Velma, looking a bit self conscious. "I almost burnt our house down when I was younger, and am paying off my King's Patronage working at the school. I am afraid I am just an innate sorcerer with little skill." 

There is a moment's awkward silence which is broken by the arrival of the host and another servitor carrying a large wooden platter of unshucked oysters, which is placed on the table. The host then places a small loaf of bread, a wooden bowl full of warm water and three cloth napkins on the table.

"And the wine?" the host queries as the other servitor retreat in the direction of the kitchen.

[The platter contains about three dozen smallish oysters. It is up to you as to whether Guilliame has eaten oysters from the shell previously. If you decide he hasn't, I shall get you to make a Survival skill check against a DC of 12 with the chance of experience on a failure while making Guilliame look a little inexperienced to those at the table. If you decide he has eaten them this way before, then we shall just continue without the skill check.

Later: The host has also provided 3 small oyster knives for opening the shells.]

"A glass each thank you."

OOC I think Guilliame would have hung around the docks at some stage and shucked an oyster or 2 from the riverbank. 

The host sets off to get the wine as Guilliame picks up one of the oyster knives and begins opening oysters. 

The oysters are nice and fresh, but a little difficult to open, and Guilliame soon finds himself opening Velma's, who admits to never having shucked an oyster before.

"These are lovely oysters," says Granny to the host when he arrives back with three pewter goblets full of wine.

He smiles at her as he places the drinks down and then begins to tell them what is on offer in the way of food.

As he does so, Guilliame takes up his goblet and finds that the wine has been chilled, no doubt using some sort of magic. The wine is crisp and suits the oysters, but he is not sure it is worth how much it is going to cost.

[The meals available today are: fish (3 lions), roasted chicken (5 lions), and venison (8 lions) per person and in a variety of sauces. How much is Guilliame willing to spend? Granny is happy with the chicken and Velma seems undecided.]

"have whatever you like Velma. If you like the venison I'm sure it's very good."

"I cannot decide," says Velma. "What are you going to have?"

"The venison is nice," says the host. "My wife's mushroom gravy is to die for."