"And you seem to be a fan of drinks!"

Tahnis smiles as he continues to eat his food and take notes.

"My God demands it."

     Conversation is suddenly halted as you see the lithe but athletic figure of Duchess Morwen of Daggerford almost stomp down the stairs and halls leading to the waiting room. She is followed down the stairs by two guards looking sheepishly down at the ground, their faces red with shame or embarrassment. She has an angular, beautiful face that at the moment is stuck in an expression of pure frustration. She wears a plain white shirt, but it is obviously made of fine silks once one takes a closer look. She also has trousers on, tucked into a pair of riding boots. Her sleeves rolled up and her vibrant red  hair tied up in a high bun, she definitely doesn’t appear to be a normal pampered noble. Entering the waiting room you all found yourselves in, she appears to be flattening out any wrinkles in her shirt when she finally looks up to meet all of your eyes. 

    “You all showed up. I appreciate it, now let’s get dinner started. My apologies for the wait.”

    She then walks past you towards the door leading to the dining room, you hear her telling servants that you all hope to start dinner soon. She speaks to the help with a soft voice and a gentle smile, before going to sit at the head of the table. She looks at you all expectantly but not rudely as she sits, waiting for you to join her. You all enter a fine dining room that doesn’t seem to lack the luxurious decorations that had covered the walls in your entrance into Ducal Castle. You all presented with fine porcelain plates, and silverware that shines as servants bring you all plates of fine meats and vegetables cooked to perfection. 

   “Please take a seat, we can talk business after everyone has satisfied themselves.”

Gadhan insures to be the last to sit down, he spends what is left in his chalice, fills it then sits.

Tahnis sits in his seat and begins to dine while paying attention to Lady Morwen in case she speaks. He takes note of the food he is tasting for the first time.

  As you all feast, Lady Morwen takes a long gulp from an ornate golden chalice, her teeth stained blood red with wine as she looks up at you all enjoying the meal with a smile.  
     “I’m sure you’re all curious about why I’ve brought together such an odd assortment of individuals...Have you all introduced yourselves yet?”

Lady Morwen's voice echos's back at her "Curious," the kenku lifts her head up from awkwardly trying to get food off a fork and int her mouth. 

Ketch vigorously eats and drinks, several times motioning that he is ready for more.  He doesn’t make a glutinous spectacle of eating, but it’s clear he’s either not dined at anything fancier than a tavern, or he just doesn’t care.

He pauses with a fork full of food about to enter his mouth.  “Aye, we’ve all nodded at one another and said a few names.  Can’t say we’ve become friends but I’m sure you’ve not asked us here to play matchmaker,” Ketch answers the lady before shoveling the food in.  

“Just why did you ask us here?” He inquired while chewing.

"May I say you look lovely as ever my Lady. Though past your resolve, I cant help but notice something is the matter. I assumed you called us all here on a simple job, though now i think its all more complicated than that. I dont think Ive ever seen you so... flustered." Gekks takes a sip from his chalice, his eyes moving from the Lady to the others around the table, a look of curiosity on his face

"Flustered"  repeats the Kenku

  She looks to the amiable goblin, saying with a smile and almost looking up from under her long eyelashes as she cuts the piece of bloody meat in front of her with a sharp, golden knife. "Thank you Gekk, your perceptive eyes miss nothing."

     Looking to all of you around the table she then says,

     "I called you all here because you're capable, and I'm in desperate need of capable people right now." You see her stand up and grab the jug of wine from a passing servant, who was heading to refill Ketch's cup. She heads over to Ketch, just behind him, and fills his cup as she says "You are all strong and haven't failed me yet...And you know how much I hate failure."

    You all then see her walk around the entire table, slowly filling everyone's goblets and mugs with alcohol once again as takes the moment to look at each of you, almost scanning you before smiling and moving on to the next cup. Once she has fully rotated around the table, she heads back to her chair at the head and fills her cup to the very brim, some wine spilling onto the table. She doesn't give a second glance as she takes a deep gulp and looks to you all after,

    "I have a job. I will pay you all 100 gold each, on completion, it shouldn't even take too long especially with them around." You all see her nod her head in the direction of the unassuming kenku. "You all just need to get some pests off my land."

Tahnis turns to the Kenku, still curious about him before focusing his attention back on Lady Morwen. "Pests? Are you talking about mice? Rats? I wasn't aware that Daggerford had a rat problem. Mother never said anything about this?"

"What kind of pests do you refer to miss?" Gekks shifts his robe a bit suddenly feeling a little stuffy, he never liked the word pest.

The Kenku smiles as much as her beak will allow. "Removal," repeats the ladies voice

Ketch nods in appreciation as Lady Morwen fills his cup and then makes a point of drinking a long gulp when she herself takes a drink.  He listens politely as she starts revealing her motives but except for some curiosity about the Kenku, for he's not really encountered their kind before, Ketch is mildly bored and waiting for her to get to the meat of the issue.  "We're hardly the lot you'd hire for mice and rats, and that's more gold than that kind of exterminator could ever hope for.  Duchess, I don't think we need you sneaking up on the issue.  Just lay it out for us.  I'm sure none of us will blanche at whatever you are getting at."

As Gadhan notices the dutchess fill glasses he empties his before she gets to him, then again before she finishes the person next to him, offering his chalice to be filled once more.

Gekks gives a few small sips to his drink

“Dear Tahnis, we are not fortunate enough to be plagued with tiny creatures we can crush beneath our boot...Otherwise I wouldn’t need you all. No the problem at hand is a band of invaders encroaching on Daggerford. They camp outside our walls and harass my people, demanding money or wine with threat of hexes if they refuse! They threaten traders who seek to bring commerce to the city! Now this is a problem that would usually be solved by my personal guard!” At that you see her raise her voice, very much enunciating the last two words as she glares over at the guards watching over the room. 
   “But unfortunately they seem to have lost the last of their wits, as they’d returned yesterday telling me that these invaders were friends and that I had nothing to worry about...” She appears visibly irritated as she grips her ornate goblet tightly and downs it in one gulp. She appears to raise the goblet, silently waiting for a refill as you see servants immediately stumble and rush to complete their job.

   “So I hire you lot, 5 very capable individuals who I know won’t fail me. Get them off my land, whether it be by words or blade. If they remain when you return I will burn their wagons to the ground...with them in it if need be.” At this final note she slams her goblet to the table and looks at you all in the face, as if scanning for a reaction to her words. After examining each of you she smiles suddenly and calls out, “Refills for everyone Hilda!”

Gadhan has a look of aggravation as he watches the Dutchess spill some of her drink.  But at the call for refills Gadhan finishes his drink, after it gets filled Gadhan slams the drink and then asks for another.