[Thanal Manor] - Bringing in the Cavalry

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Second Cycle of Immanis
Ninth Candlemark in the Twenty Forth Brightening of Solaria
The Winter of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Thirteenth Era Post Fractum, the Second Era of the Reign of Arabella
Paradigm: The Eclipse of the Sun

Keldon was sitting in his room looking things over when he was going to change into some clothing. However he had very little, only several pieces he bought in Alleria Prime and the clothing from Paxia. He sighed slightly and left his room making his way down the hallway until he found Arabella one of his servants who seemed to always be around at times.

"Could you please send for a tailor, i need several wardrobes made for me." He said softly with a smile.

[Chocolate]

A tailor had been requested and a tailor was found. An individual of slim build and average height for a human, modestly dressed in a dark green frock coat and breeches, with white stockings, shirt and a green embroidered neck stock. Arriving at the residence of the Thane four candlemarks after the initial summons, he smoothed his short jet black hair to one side, the scented hair oil aiding his attempts to appear presentable and gave his card to the servant at the entrance. It cited him as Thaddeus Slypole, tailor to nobility and with ten eras of experience backing his claim to being the best tailor in the city – although no doubt there were others who would contest such a claim. In his late twenties, it might also be claimed that he were a handsome man were it not for a rather long chin and small grey eyes which were set rather too closely together. Still, Thaddeus was not one who was courting young ladies, rarely stepping outside his workshop except to attend those who required his tailoring skills.

He sat stiff backed in the reception hall, waiting until a servant would show him into the presence of the Thane, his hands placed on his thighs with his fingers nervously drumming against his knee caps. By his side was a large leather bag, containing such tools of his profession that would aid a first meeting with a potential customer and as he waited until the Thane was ready to see him, Thaddeus pondered his good fortune at being one so summoned. To say that he was tailor to the Thane of the city would be a remarkable feather in his cap. Not that he wore caps, nor would recommend anyone else to wear such things. After all, anyone who knew anything about fashionable attire would know that hoods were the current de rigueur, especially during the months of winter.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon was in his private office, attending to some documents he requested brought from his main office in the Iscola. Arabella was aware of the Tailors presence as she informed him to wait in the main hall for Lord Elsdragon.

She arrived to Keldons office and informed him that the tailor had arrived. She also informed him of his name. Keldon rose from his seat and made his way towards the hall. He entered the hall wearing a slightly tight suit, the Thanal Staff had it for him when he arrived, it however did not fit well and was baggy in some areas.

"Serale Mr. Slypole, and welcome to my home." Keldon said with a warm smile. "I would assume your presence here is rather obvious, with my recent appointment I am need of some fashionable clothing, along with proper attire for my leisure time." He said with a brief laugh and waited the mans response.

[Chocolate]

Thaddeus Slypole bowed to the Thane as he was welcomed by Keldon – a bow so deep that it showed off the beginnings of a bald patch at the back of his head which the side parting of his black hair failed to disguise. “Honored, your Grace, to be at your service,” he smartly replied as he returned to vertical. His surprise at the appearance of the Thane was swiftly hidden under the small, polite expression of those who were used to serving others. The tailor had expected an elf, had heard as much that Lord Elsdragon was a handsome elf also, but he’d never seen an elf quite so tall. Of average height himself, the few elves that the tailor had met within Primus Gaudeo had always been slightly shorter than himself, and with their thin build, had usually seemed even shorter than perhaps they really were. That the Thane towered above the tailor by a good half-foot made the human wonder if the Thane had some mixed blood somewhere within his heritage, especially as the frame beneath the ill-fitted suit appeared to be more human than elven. However, it was not for him to ask such questions. He had his place within society and it was to serve.

And serve he would. “I will be delighted, Your Grace, to provide you with all your clothing needs,” he continued, tactfully avoiding comment on the suit which Keldon wore. “If there is a room we could use, I will take Your Grace’s measurements. May I enquire as to how many suits of clothing Your Grace desires?” Thaddeus was not lying when he said he was delighted. From the sounds of it, this was going to be a large order and already he was beginning to think about hiring some temporary help to aid him with this commission.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon nodded his head with a smile. "Good, good. If you would please follow me," Keldon said turning beginning to turn around and motioning towards the stairs of the Estate. Leading Thaddeus up the stairs into the first vacant room there was. It was occupied by one of his guests but they were not present at the time so he was going to take advantage of it. On the way up the stairs he started a conversation however. "Now, as for the amount I require that will be a ongoing thing from what I presume. As I require not one, two, or four suits. I am in need of an entire wardrobe. Which no doubt will make you rather pleased, and quite busy." Keldon laughed as he stepped upwards. "I require things from suits to work in the office, cap tailored to a suit of armor with the signate of the city, formal wear for myself to use during official events, general clothing to use while in my private office, and home... it will be a rather busy season for you, thats if you accept the amount of work I require."

[Chocolate]

The tailor smiled modestly at the Thane’s comments, although his eyes gleamed at the prospect of supplying Lord Elsdragon with a completely new wardrobe. He would definitely need to hire some additional help in the short term and perhaps take on a new apprentice – and it might even lead to him acquiring larger premises from which to work if this was going to be an ongoing contract. Of course some items he would not be making personally for he had no skills as a cobbler, but he had sufficient contacts within the trade to be able to arrange for items such as boots, hats and belts to be made according to his designs to match any suit of clothing he created. “I will be honoured to accept the task of providing Your Grace with all that Your Grace requires,” Thaddeus answered. “And if I may speak without offence, Your Grace, but is this suit you are currently wearing your only formal suit?”

It was a terrible ensemble which Keldon currently wore – not so much in terms of the design or choice of colour, but in that it so obviously was made for a different person and did not fit the Thane at all well. Once they had arrived in the room to be used for measuring Keldon, the tailor would ask him to remove the jacket so that accurate measurements could be taken.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon smirked with a grin. "You may speak so, with out the concern of repercussion. But aye it is my only formal suit, save for a small selection the thanal staff managed to assemble in the short notice of my appointment. With duties around the office keeping me busy I have not had time to shop, and I have thus far been lucky only minor interactions with city officials has taken place. Thus the reason for your presence here," As they entered the room Keldon removed the doublet from his person, throwing it to the bed.

"So, what do you need me to do? Or what else do you need me to remove?" He laughed gently. "I would like my clothing to fit well, I do not like to much air underneath. I prefer to present myself for who I am, not someone who moves around in the wind.... and please forgive me if I throw some humor your way. It has been sometime since I have been measured, and in my experience tailors are lovely conversation."

[Chocolate]

“No need to remove anything else, m’lord,” the tailor replied, unbuckling the clasp of his leather bag to take out a stub of a pencil, a small notebook and a long tape measure. “I will be able to take your measurements quite adequately, except may be if you would take off your boots. I assume you would like me to take care of ordering footwear which will be appropriate for your suits?” He smiled politely at the Thane’s chatter, quite used to clients being nervous or uncertain about the process of being measured. It was, after all, not every brightening that one man became so intimate with another’s body. “If you would just stand to start with, m’lord, with a straight back but relaxed, and then I’ll ask you to move when necessary.”

What then followed was the usual dance of tailor about client, as around twenty five separate measurements were taken of Keldon’s frame. Thaddeus was much practised at this procedure, and asides from the occasional soft requests for an arm to be lifted, he moved silently about the Thane with his tape measure, jotting down the figures into his notebook, until he had recorded such an accurate rendition of the elf that should he wish to create a life-like statue of Keldon’s frame, it would be possible. As he took the final measure, the circumference of Keldon’s head so that hats would fit snugly, Thaddeus realised he had not provided any of the ‘lovely conversation’ that the Thane had hoped for.

“Forgive me, m’lord, for being silent, but ‘tis imperative to get these measurements correct. And I would recommend that I be allowed to take new measurements every 5 months, m’lord, in case of physical change. Now, do you have any preferences, m’lord, with regards to colour and style. Whilst doublet and breeches are a classic style, would you like your clothes to reflect the culture of the city, or have you noted anything on your travels that you favour. Naturally, only the best fabric will be used in the creation of your suits, but ‘tis always best to know upfront, m’lord, if a client is opposed to lace on the cuffs of his shirt sleeves, for example. I have found that a person might claim to not care about their appearance, only to discover that on presenting them with clothes they suddenly develop a great many … opinions. Do you have any preferences regarding headwear?”

Thaddeus spoke with dry amusement as he recalled the extremely opinionated client who had begun by claiming the would wear anything as long as it wasn’t the shade of lemon-yellow, but had then proceeded to reject everything else offered on the most whimsical grounds. Men were worse than women, he decided, in this regard. Women tended to be precise about these matters. Men tended to be vague until presented with the results.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon nodded. "Yes, having footwear that matched what I was wearing would be most suitable, and rather welcome." He said with a warm smile. Keldon mearly followed the requests of the tailor. Moving when asked to, lifting up his arm, leg, and whatever else was requested.

He started to chuckle as Thaddeus made his applogise. "Oh, it is quite alright sir and I shall take your recommendation to mind." Keldon thought briefly. "A silk red that almost looks metallic for a shirt, with everything else a solid black, perhaps with a metallic appearance to it would be quite lovely if possible. Along with a matching red cloak." Keldon said nodding his head. Smiling softly he smirked his lips. "However that is only one outfit and one that I will likely wear on private, more casual instances. With my position I think my clothing should reflect the culture of the city... yes that would be wonderful.""As for my preference, well I have none particularly. I will trust in your abilities to make me look like a man befitting my position. However I would make a request for clothing to boast my appearance. As I pay very little attention to my looks, however in the political world it could benefit myself and the city greatly if I use every edge at my disposal while dealing with the duties of my office and daily life. I also want the clothing to make me appear strong, I can not have my appearance looking weak. Not while the city I watch over is one such as Primus Gaudeo."

Looking around the room for a brief second Keldon shook his head. "I have no preference in headwear no. However I would request all the outfits look correct with, and without headwear as I do not wear it all that often. I prefer to have my full head seen when about."

[Chocolate]

Thaddeus wasn’t quite sure what Keldon meant by a metallic appearance, but assumed that the Thane meant using material that had a sheen to it and made a mental use to include silks and satins amongst the wardrobe that would be created for the Thane. He nodded solemnly at the request to make the clothes impressive and befitting Keldon’s station within Primus Gaudeo. It made perfect sense to do so and already designs and ideas were floating through his mind. “Red would be an excellent choice of colour, Your Grace,” he replied, “And indeed any other colours used would be from the palette that I like to term ‘jewel’ colours – strong, distinctive and eyecatching, although these will be limited to trim and shirts, for a solid base colour of black, deep grey and brown is always wise. It will show a person who has taste, but is also subtle enough to not overpower the eyes.”

With the measuring complete, Thaddeus put away his tapemeasure and notes. “I believe I will have the first outfit completed within two cycles, Your Grace, and thereafter a new outfit can be made each cycle following unless it requires particular and unusual material or trim.” There was a brief pause, and then in the same tone of voice, “And regarding the matter of payment, Your Grace, should I be presenting my bills to your office?” Talking about crowns was such a vulgar matter, but Thaddeus was a business man as much as the next tailor and it was better to settle how payment was to be made from the start than cause embarrassment later on.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon nodded. "I will request the bulk of the suits be acompanyed by long sleved shirts, even those made for warmer weather. As that is my personal preferance." He paused for a moment and then shook his head. "No that will not be needed, the bills should be persented to myself at the Thanal Estate where I shall have a check waiting the following brightening, or the funds transfered directly into your account from the bank."

[Chocolate]

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Thaddeus answered politely, fastening the clasp of his leather bag and picking it up. After a deep bow once more, he straightened up to take his leave. “It is an honour to serve, Your Grace. Thank you for this opportunity. I shall endeavour to produce the finest outfits as befitting your station as Thane of this great city.”

True to his word, over the winter season and until such a time as Keldon chose to change his tailor, Thaddeus Slypole provided outfits for the Thane, each carefully created to fit the elf to near perfection and bearing in mind the Thane’s particular tastes.


OOC: Guidelines for outfits

Shirts – 20
Waistcoats/tunics/doublets – 30
Coats - 60
Trousers/breeches - 40
capes – 40
cloaks - 50
boots -60
belts – 20
hats – 30

Price Adjustments
Fabrics are largely linen/cotton or wool based and without pattern. For silk/satin double the cost. For patterned fabric or if stitching is used, or if there is trimming (lace/velvet/etc), multiply by 0.5.
Example – silk shirt – 20 x 2 = 40 crowns
Example – silk shirt with lace cuffs – 20 x 2.5 = 50 crowns
Example – silk shirt with embroidered pattern and lace cuffs – 20 X 3 = 60 crowns
Waistcoats and tunics come with embroidered fronts. For plain waistcoats, take off 10 crowns.
Boots are leather and in a variety of brown tones or black and to the knee. They WILL have a buckle or some sort of decorative trim.
Belts are leather and in a variety of brown tones or black. They WILL have large buckles.
Hats are of the tricorn variety. If feathers are wanted, add 5 crowns.
Capes and cloaks are hooded. For a different coloured lining to coats/cloaks/capes, multiply by 0.5.

You may assume that a completely new outfit will take two cycles to assemble. You may either use this thread to note spending on clothes or in your CIR. Prices are more expensive than in stores in location threads in PG because of the tailoring skills of Thaddeus Slypole.