The Bloomsbury Inn and Tavern

[Reliant]

In the more exclusive part of town, away from the riff-raff, stood the Bloomsbury Inn and Tavern. Built of sturdy granite, the ivy creeping up the stones created a homely feel to the place. A small way from the Inn stood the wooden structure of the inn's stables, a neigh floating towards the ears of travellers looking for a place to rest.

Entering the tavern revealed a large, high ceiling room, warmth spilling from the nearby fireplace, which cast a soft glow on the plush surroundings. Above the heath two crossed swords had been hung, the words "to the death" depicted on a sign beneath them. The furniture in the room, the rugs, and the curtains had all been decked in the same shade of maroon, creating something that possibly even royalty would be at home in. To the left, several rooms were partitioned off with thick black velvet curtains, creating a more private setting for those who needed it. To the right stood an expensive-looking mahogany bar, with stools of the same wood placed around it. Throughout the room were tables and chairs of the same deep red wood, few of which were empty.

Several serving ladies walked back and forth through the room, carrying silver plates of food or pitchers of wine, ale and mead. The clientele of the tavern seemed to be that of the wealthier population of the cities - rich merchants conversed over a meal, and a few of the city's richer sailors could be seen swapping tales over a pitcher or two.

In the corner of the room was a spiral staircase, which twisted its way up to the rooms on the second floor. Beside the stairs stood a small desk, behind which sat a young woman, black hair left loose around her shoulders, ready to check anyone into a room should they require it.

On the back wall behind the bar is a noticeably large wooden board, neat black lettering making up the menu of the inn.


Dishes

The Bountiful- Sea - 10 jumbo shrimps batter fried, a small lobster tale with butter sauce, a thick fillet of today's catch grilled with butter and spices after a fine marinade, 10 batter fried scallops, and a fresh sliced toasted roll. If you have a big appetite, or love seafood, this one is for you! - 8 crowns

Crafties Lobster Feast - One large lobster tail cooked to perfection, using Crafties special butter sauce, a whole baked potato, with spicy Yarrowlish cheese, melted, and laid
liberally on it, fine rice pilaf with a secret combination of spices, a fresh sliced toasted role, heaped with butter and a serving of our famous onion soup! - 7 crowns

Crafties Crabs - 14 juicy, succulent pieces of crab meat, freshly dipped in Crafties special batter, and fried to perfection, 2 large crab legs with Crafties special butter sauce, 6 toasted and stuffed mushroom caps, stuffed with spicy sausage and bread, and a fresh sliced toasted roll, heaped with butter - 7 crowns 5 silvers

Zimmers Delicate Wave - Assorted fresh fish, mussels, and crab meat poached in white wine, chilled and marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, served with a fresh salad, and a fresh sliced toasted roll, heaped with butter - 8 crowns

A Taste of the Sea - Fresh sea scallops broiled in white wine and butter, served with clam chowder and a fresh sliced toasted roll, heaped with butter - 6 crowns

Steak and Potatoes - Cooked and spiced to perfection - 5 crowns

Drelic - Steamed chicken served with over boiled or fried rice - 6 crowns 5 silvers

Pronis, Fu`pronis, Ak`pronis - Turkey, pig or chicken heavily seasoned with salt, pepper and olive oil. Served with steamed vegetables - 6 crowns

Verperes - Leafy greens, onions and slices of potatoes mixed with olive oil - 4 crowns

Zachu`el - Finely ground crumbs cover fried chicken, served with steamed vegetables - 6 crowns

Fregat - Thick creamy stew made from potatoes and milk - 4 crowns 5 silvers

Krolaca - Steamy broth with pasta and beef chunks - 5 crowns


Beverages

Wines - By the Glass

Nuryondi White - 5 crowns
Nuryondi Red - 5 crowns
Arakmatian Dry - 4 crowns
Golden Mist - 3 crowns 5 silvers
Midnight Rose - 3 crowns
Southgate Ruby - 3 crowns
Mead - 2 crowns

Beers and Ales - By the Tankard

Barrows Haunt Ale - 1 crown
Claymore Ale - 7 silvers
Wicked Wolf Hunting Ale - 5 silvers


Other

Elven Tea - 5 silvers
Allerian Tea - 2 silvers
Cider - 3 silvers

OOC: Originally written by Cherish, edited by Aesha and Reliant.

[Klue Malinconico]

Aperitus, Summer of Era II, Era XI

After signing up for a course to keep him busy during his time in the city, Klue went in search of lodging for both him and his mount. Ordinarily, he’d have found the place in short order, having a talent for smelling out taverns. At least the kind he was accustomed to. But he had the crowns to spend on a nicer stay, and he was bent on spending them. Whether he could pull off belonging in one of those nicer places was questionable, but he was up for some practice. A challenge. After all, he had big plans. And when those revealed themselves to the near boy, and he managed to realize them in turn, the nicer places were the only ones he’d step foot in. Besides, the sort of woman he fancied didn’t frequent the sorts of taverns he could smell a league away. At least not the kind he fancied more than a candlemark or two for a price. They stayed at places with fancy names and menus. Still, it took awhile to find the place, for this being unexplored territory.

Once discovered, he stabled Mime for the duration of two cycles at the least, and hoisting his duffle over his shoulder, he entered the inn. The near boy paused there in the doorway a second or three to take in the scenery. The room, he’d guess, was larger than the whole of the house he’d been raised in, with too many people inside. And finery the likes of which he’d never seen, he noted as he watched a fair lass walk by balancing a silver tray. He smiled, looking for all Telath as if he were right at home and approached the desk at the foot of the stairs.

Dropping his bag at his feet, he pulled his hat off his head and grinned at the dark haired woman. ”S’rale, miss. I’d like t’ rent a room for two cycles. Maybe more. But for now, two will do.”

[Reliant]

If Klue was searching for a place to stay and still wanting to appear respectable, he had found the right place. The young man walked through the doorway to the most fancy inn in town, and looked around amazed. The many chandeliers, most likely gold from the appearance, sparkled in the candlelight. The many waitresses hustled and bustled around, waiting tables with their shiny trays and attractive outfits. After taking in all the splendor this place had to offer, he moved on up to the counter at the foot of the stairs. There waiting for him was a dark-haired woman, quietly shuffling through some paperwork layed before her. She heard Klue approach, and looked up, a broad smile stretching across her thin features.

"Serale, sir. May I help you?" She blinked her eyelashes at him as he spoke and slid her hands down the edges of her skirt. "Two cycles for now? Wonderful, sir." She reached behind her and from an enormous keyboard plucked a key from a hook. She set them on the counter and pulled out a large leather-bound ledger. She scrawled on a line and turned the book towards Klue, handing him the quill and ink well. "Please sign here," she stated kindly, pointing to the line below where she wrote in the room number and length of stay. After he has finished, she put the book away and handed Klue the key. "You are to stay in room 23 upstairs sir. Enjoy your stay, pracenda will be served in only a few candlemarks."

[Klue Malinconico]

One enduring notion prevailed as the young man’s gaze caught fast on one of the chandeliers, and distracted him long enough to suggest he was unaccustomed to places such as this one. Either that, or he had a mind predisposed to wandering in odd circles. Both were true enough…Though the former, he was bent on concealing while outrunning it for all he was worth. Still, melted down, the cost of one light fixture likely would’ve kept his family well fed for an era. Made him wonder just how substantially a stay here was going to lighten the weight of the leather pouch in his pocket.

But the girl’s comments snapped his mind back to the present, and he was tempted to look behind him for the referred to ‘sir’, and grudgingly step aside so whatever gentleman lurking there could take care of his business. Sure, in uniform, he’d grown used to being addressed as such. But he wasn’t born to it. Only aspiring to it, after all. Had to wonder just who she was batting her lashes at. But realizing it was him she was talking to, he leveled a grin at her. So he hadn’t been sniffed out and tossed into the street, directed off to accommodations deemed more likely to suit him. He’d long suspected that the rich could sniff out the common so to speak, no matter how it tried to conceal itself. Tell it to shove off quick before it muddied up the waters. Maybe not. It emboldened the human and tilted his grin in a more confident direction.

He took the quill in his left hand and leaning over the registry, scrawled his name in a flowing text on the indicated line. When he was done, he took the key and picked up his duffle, slung that over his back. Pracenda will be served…Folks probably dressed for pracenda in places like this. Good thing he’d brought the fancy suit Dunnear had recently fashioned for him. He wondered again about the cost of his stay, but concluded it was probably considered uncivilized to ask. ”Thank ye, miss. I’m wonderin’, meantime, if ye could arrange for a hot soak sent up t’ my room.” Some things were harder won. Casting off rougher speech patterns was one of them. Maybe she’d think he was quaint? Nevertheless, with a parting grin, and armed with his key and bags, Klue made his way up the stairs in search for his lodgings for the next few cycles.

[Reliant]

It was Klue's request for a hot soak before heading off to his room that caught him off guard. The miss at the counter clapped her hands once and a small Cether appeared from what it seemed like nowhere. "What be it, ma'am?" The small jolly fellow asked, prim and proper in a smaller version of the niceties worn by the rest of the inn's crew. "Prepare a hot soak for this gentleman here, good Matthew. Have it up to room 23 as soon as possible." The woman responded, turning to smile at Klue once more. "Enjoy your stay, sir." The Cether scampered off and the man headed up to his room.

As he finally got to his room, he turned the key in the lock and there waiting for him on his bedside table was a large ceramic bowl filled with steaming water and a bard on either side, which hung a towel and two washcloths. The man couldn't help but wondering how they had accomplished such a feat in such short a time. Lying beside the dish was a small card, folded in half so that is rested upright on the table. It read in a fancy-looking cursaive scrawl "Enjoy your stay at the Bloomsbury Inn." Klue looked around the room and took in the expensive things that met his eye. The four-poster bed was at the edge of the wall, a large quilt draped over the immaculately clean sheets. Even a mint was placed on the down pillow. On both sides of the bed there were tables, one with a lamp and the other with his dish of water. A dresser stood on the other side of the room, with a door leading to a communal bathroom. The inn liked to boast of its indoor plumbing. A roll-cover desk stood in the corner with a swivel chair, complete with a full ink well and several quills. Next to the bed was a large cord leading to a bell and a dumbwaiter stood next to the desk. It seemed this room would be quite complete for every need that Klue could muster.

[Klue Malinconico]

Alone in his room and waiting for his tub to arrive, Klue spent a good deal of time looking over the luxury of it. That he’d never stepped foot in such a fine place was a given. It took a minute, getting past the notion that he shouldn’t touch anything. Another, at least, to resist the temptation of giving that rope a tug, just to see how fast someone came running. As it was, he was distracted enough that it took some time to notice the bowl of water by the bed. Walking over, he tossed his key on the bedside table and pondered this at length. He ate the mint while he pondered. Clearly, it had arrived only just before he did. And how that was managed, he wouldn’t mind knowing. But more puzzling, was what it was for.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, recalling that he’d asked for a soak. A bath…was what he meant, having stumbled past what was likely the more appropriate term. But now this. There was clearly a purpose to it, being placed beside the bed as it was…The wheels turned in his young mind, getting nowhere at all. Though given a young mind, it was often given to the inappropriate. By the gods, what had he asked for?

Preferring to ignore the possibility of a blunder, he ended up assuming that the woman had thought he’d just wanted to have a quick wash off and decline the bathroom he’d spied through the door when he’d opened it. That was what he’d wanted, nonetheless.

So after scattering his clothing round the floor and unpacking the rest, he strolled sans clothing into the bathroom and ran himself a hot tub. Thus, the better part of a candlemark was spent there, though a nod was thrown in to anyone seeking to share the facilities.

And when all was said and done, almost two candlemarks later, Klue had donned his suit…Black trousers over boots buffed to a high shine. White silk shirt with ruffles spilling out of the collar and sleeves and over all, a dark red velvet top coat with brass buttons. Face shaved and unruly hair tamed, he left his room and strolled back down the stairs, pausing at the foot of them to grin at the girl he’d arranged his room with.

Unwilling to risk comitting a social blunder, still unsure he hadn’t already, he waited for some sign that he should wait to be seated, or suit himself where he would.

[Reliant]

OOC: As to not clutter this thread, this will be continued here.

[Yarrow]

Timestamp: The Month of Cryxatum in the Season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate. First Cycle, Ioannolia. Early hours.

The walk from her house to the inn had only left Yarrow hungrier and in need for some food. I guess I should've gone to the mess hall... Yarrow thought to herself, but it was already too late because she was here and she didn't want to walk all the way over to the military district. She would be even worse off. So she chose an empty seat. She didn't even need to look at the menu because she had lived here for a few patterns already. She knew this place like the... Is that new? Yarrow shook her head at her wondering thoughts and looked about for a waitress and hoped that she wasn't too early for a good meal.

[Reliant]

As Yarrow may have suspected, it wasn't quite too early for a decent meal, as The Bloomsbury Inn and Tavern was always open for the ones who could afford it. As Yarrow sat herself down at one of the many tables in the inn, a waitress dressed in a fancy uniform of blacks and whites approached her, pulling a small piece of slate and a piece of chalk out from a pocket in her blouse.

"Serale, ma'am. Is there anything I can do for you?"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow looked up at the waitress and gave her a friendly smile.Thank you, yes. I think I will have the steak and potatoes with a drink of Elven Tea. Yarrow had first been introduced to Elven Tea by some friends before leaving for Abestat and it was her favorite drink ever. It was the only thing that she did drink besides water because she wasn't much of a ale drinker. Yarrow pulled out her purse and pulled out 7 crowns. Keep the change.

[Reliant]

The waitress nodded as Yarrow ordered, and wrote the order down on the small piece of slate she held in her hands. Smiling back, she excepted the crowns, nodding again, "Thank you, ma'am. You are quite gracious." The woman moved off to fulfill Yarrow's order, as she waited peacefully at her table, the candles flickering gently in the still air.

A little while later the woman returned, carrying a precariously balanced silver tray with a lid. She placed the tray in front of Yarrow and removed the lid, revealing a steaming plate of steak and potatoes, accompanied with a train of gravy and a small cup of elven tea. The waitress smiled and nodded, "Enjoy your meal, ma'am." And then she left, carrying the lid back with her to the kitchen.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow looked at her meal and smiled. For a while she simply looked at it like she was a crazy mad woman. Then she slowly picked up an utensil. The meat sizzled inside her skull as she ate and she was very glad she had come here instead of the mess hall. There they would have given her a slopping mush of some mysterious thing that resembled food. Then they would give her some weak tea that could hardly wash down the mysterious mush. Yarrow took another bite of the meat and then took a gulp of the tea and sighed. Glad I came here...certainly glad I came here...

Sometime later Yarrow's tummy sighed with pleasure and she sat quietly looking about her. She didn't want to get up yet, but knew that she had to. A long day ahead of you... Yarrow sighed, but still she couldn't move. I'll just sit here a moment longer and THEN I will get up. She kept telling herself.

[Reliant]

After Yarrow had finished her meal, the waitress returned with a bow to the woman seated.

"Did you enjoy your meal, ma'am? Is there anything else I can get for you? Some more tea perhaps? Some dessert?"

As she waited for Yarrow to respond she started to collect all the silverware and plates, stacking them all neatly on the silver platter, and putting on it all the lid which she carried back from the kitchen. She would collect the tea cup as well, and if Yarrow did want some more, she would return with a new cup.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow gave the woman a smile. She didn't want to get up yet, but decided that it was time to start her day. Thank you for everything. I am finished with my meal, but I am sure I will be back in the near future.

Yarrow made herself stand up on legs that weren't protesting as much as before. They were still stiff. Should've meditated before leaving... She thought as she stood up to stretch. Her body creaked in response and slowly she made herself move to the door of the inn and then out into the street. She looked at the sun and nodded to herself. She had plenty of time to walk to the military district without being late...I hope! She slowly moved out of sight.

[Yarrow]

Timestamp: The Month of Aperitus, Season of Summer of Era II of the Celestine Mandate.

Yarrow led the group to the Bloomsburry Inn and Tavern. She loved the food here and oftin came here instead of the mess hall in the military district. She also heard that the rooms were very nice here as well, but she had never really tested them before. She had always had a place to stay in Abestat. First it was in the military district and now it was her own home.

The clientele of the Bloomsburry Inn consisted of the wealthier population of the city which spoke in favor of the food and drink here. Rich merchants talked over some food while some rich sailors were talking over a pitcher of something...alcholic. Yarrow didn't much like to drink anything stronger then tea, but had long gotten over other's drinking.

"There's an empty space..." Yarrow said to the others behind her. There wasn't many empty spaces here and it hardly ever was (except for the early hours when Yarrow sometimes got breakfast). She gave the three behind her a warm smile and started to make her way toward the table she had spotted. She slipped past serving ladies with their silver plates of food and pitchers of wine, ale and mead.

"The place is busy, but the food here is great." She told the three as she got to the empty table. "Is this okay or would you like me to ask for a private room?" She indicated toward the left of the inn where several rooms were partitioned off with thick black velvet curtains, creating a more private setting if it was needed. She didn't know what these rooms looked like because she hardly ever came here with anyone...let alone someone important.