Revelers still filled the late night streets of Montfort as Cari worked
her way through the festival mobs towards the PanDemonica. She had decided
that tonight she was simply going to check out this new establishment -
one said to offer Montfort's criminal element a meeting place. Later, she
might be able get wind of some rumors about the missing envoy, but she
knew that newcomers were always suspect and were better off not to be on
fishing expeditions. The festival had offered a perfect excuse for yet
another traveler to be in town, and she had dressed in general garb of a
hiresword; though the insoles to her boots added a little more height to
her petite frame, and her braided-up hair was now brown - as were her
contacts.

Nor had she overlooked researching what was known about the
establishment, and while she had worked up a cover persona it was a
passive matrix. And what weapons she had on her, visible and not, were of
the most ordinary sort.

She had done some scouting of its location, both during the day and at
night, and had found the rumors were correct on two points so far. The
first being - the building was not there during the day, and as she had
noted, it definitely was there at night.

But tonight was not a scouting expedition and she strode up to the
entrance.

[Leonardo]

The slim, sharply dressed assassin leaned against the balcony and
peered down at the crowd.  Beside him, the Imp shuffled uncomfortably
atop its pedestle.

They were bored.

It was another slow night in a long string of slow nights.  The Club
PanDemonica was only three-quarters full...  the normal patrons
were all out conducting their 'business.'   Things would pick up as
the night wore on,  but for now there was simply nothing to do.

"Any trouble?"  he asked the Imp.  The red-winged creature
sniffed and shook its head.  Leonardo sighed.  As the Club's
greeter and chief of security, Leonardo usually abhored
troublemakers.  He ran a nice, orderly club, despite the
tendancies of the clientelle.   But enough was enough.
Besides... when the Imp got bored, bad things tended to
happen.  Very bad things.

The Imp squawked an unexpected warning.

"Eh?  What's that?"

Another squawk, followed by  chicken-like
clucking noises.

"Really?"  said Leonardo.  "Hmmmm..."

He stepped over to the large iron door that lead to the
outside.   He grasped the handle and opened it.

"Greetings,"  he said to the woman standing
there.  "Welcome to the Club  PanDemonica.
Please come in.""

[Cari]

"Thank you," Cari said, her voice soft and husky, but not due to any
affectation on her part; she was still learning to speak after the Company
repaired her vocal cords.

She noted a slight movement out of the corner of her eye, but kept her
attention focused the man before her as she stepped into the club.

"Rumor has it that this is one of the more interesting places in
Montfort," she said. Her burgundy tunic and brown trousers, while
travel-worn, had been washed and were in good repair. And both her boots
and the scabbard to her short sword were scuffed enough to indicate they
had seen a few miles.

[Leonardo]

"Indeed it is, madam... and in several other cities as well."
Leonardo smiled, his perfect white teeth gleamed in the
slightly reddish light of the Club.

Off to one side, the  Imp clicked its claws and scanned
the newcomer's weapons, causing them to vibrate.
Of course, it could detect weapons without causing them
to rattle noisily in their sheaths, but it just liked to see the
expressions on the patrons' faces, especially the ones
who thought they were 'sneaking' something into the Club.

"I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting you before.
My name is Leonardo.   Don't mind the Imp, but please pay
attention to the rules-"   Leonardo swept his arm in
the direction of the bar.  Above it were two stone tablets
engraved with glowing red letters.

The first read:

1. No Fighting - Take it outside.
2. No Telepathy
3. Pub closes at Dawn. No Exceptions
4. Stay Away from the Golems
5. No Spitting

And the second read:

6. Curiosity Kills - Mind Your Own Business.
7. Living Only - Undead, Stay Away!
8. Don't Stare At the IMP!
9. You Steal...You Die.
10. Mages Welcome, But Keep Your Spells to Yourself.

For some reason, rules 2 and 6 were glowing slightly
brighter than the others.   Leonardo looked back
at the young lady and winked.

[Cari]

Cari had managed to look a bit surprised - some of which was real - when
she felt both her sword and dagger rattling in their scabbards; along with
the hold-out daggers in her boots. But she also managed to keep her
attention on the stone tablets.

When she looked back at Leonardo she said, "I am sure I can abide by your
rules." And again she blessed the prudence of requesting elective surgery
- it was times like these that made being solely telepathic very awkward.

She gave a bright smiled and said, "Its a pleasure to meet you Mr.
Leonardo. I'm Theisa Natch and new into Montfort. And since I'll be seeing
enough of the festival I figured I'd see what else the town had to offer."

[Leonardo]

"We have quite a FEW things to offer.  Drinks to tickle any palate.  Food
to fill any stomach.  Woman... and men... to suit even the most unique
desires.  And believe me, some of the patrons are QUITE unique  in
their...ahh... needs.   But see for yourself."

Leonardo stepped to one side and allowed Theisa a full view of the
PanDemonica's pit.   Thieves and rogues of all types and races were
sitting around enjoying themselves.   None seemed to be worried
about the close proximity of their deadliest rivals and mortal enemies.
They knew that the PanDemonica represented sanctuary in their otherwise
violent lives, and with Leonardo on watch, none dared violate that
sacred peace.

"So are you looking for anything in particular?" said Leonardo.

[Cari/Theisa]

"Food and a touch of a drink," Cari answered, and with a slight smile
added, "And if there are some polite games of chance that would be of
interest."

The PanDemonica did indeed look to be a well-run establishment, and one
she would keep in mind for future reference; there could well be a time
when she needed a safe, and discrete, rendezvous point. While she was
known at the Dragon's Inn, both from her Refuser days (hells, Hugh had
pointed her towards the original cell) and as Batista, she didn't like to
push her luck; so far Fawn hadn't painted her with the same brush that she
used for Smith, though she knew they had been confederates. It was far
better to let them think she had settled down to a merchant's life in
Montfort. So, she just might find a way to add "Theisa" to her list of
semi-permanent guises, since continually creating new ones was a formulae
for problems down the road.

"Very impressive," she said, and that was no lie.

[Leonardo]

"Why, thank you,"  Leonardo bowed. "We have gambling
throught there-"  He pointed to a large iron door that was
guarded by two 9' iron golems.  "And just about everything
else you can imagine.  Rooms are available on a per-hour
basis.  For business or pleasure."  Leonardo winked.  "Do
have a good time... and mind the rules."

[Cari/Theisa]

"I shall - to both," Cari said, with another quick smile, and stepped on
into the pit. Her first stop was to order a tankard of a decent brown ale,
which she would be nursing for most of the evening, and proceeded to head
for the gaming room.

She had with her the equivalent of a hiresword's pay, and knew that if she
literally played this right she could keep occupied for a few hours. Time
in which she might just hear something interesting, without actively
eavesdropping.