At the Sign of the Prancing Pony(#27261Rnto)
The Great East Road bends around the southeastern corner of Bree-hill. The Road leads away to the west and southeast, and where it sweeps past the foot of the hill there sits a large three storey inn. The inn is reached by a wide cobblestone pathway, with two wings that run back, away from the Road to the east, on land partly cut out from the hill's lower slopes. As a result, the rear second-floor windows of the inn are level with the ground. A wide arch leads to a courtyard between the two wings. Above the arch is a lamp and beneath it swings a large signboard: a fat white pony rearing up on its hind legs.
Contents:
Daniel
Obvious exits:
Cobblestone Pathway leads to Before the Prancing Pony.
NorthWest leads to North Bree.
South leads to Bree Market - North.
SouthEast leads to GER: Centre of Bree.
West leads to Great East Road.

======================= Bree Time =========================
Real time: Tue Nov 08 18:15:22 2005
Bree time: Early Afternoon <1:45 PM> on Sterday of Summer - August 5,1436
Moon Phase: New Moon
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Breelands Weather
The early afternoon summer air is very hot and dry around you. The sky above is a glorious pale blue with only specks of white cloud floating around.

The sounds of the summer festival have long since faded into the warm summer air. A breeze blows through and stirs the dirt of the road, but hardly serves to cool the town which remains suspiciously muggy, despite the air's best attempts to cool down. It is not yet morning, not quite midnight, but sometime between the both when the stars are thinking of fading into the dark sky, but can't quite seem to make up their minds.
The road appears quiet and empty- there are no lights in the windows of the Prancing Pony. The air around here smells faintly of sweet smoke.

The Chief appears to the west, garbed in his usual dull attire. His short sword at his hip. He is walking steadily east; eyes moving about him patiently, as if inspecting the town over which he has accepted so much responsibility.

And somewhere, lounging in the shadows created by the Prancing Pony, a figure stirs. Very slowly, and very slightly at first. Hooded and cloaked despite the muggy heat, the eyes now look intently to the west, and a brief smirk parts the lips. As the man nears, a voice sings out: "Good evening Chief. Spare us a moment?" Scarlet Greythorn's voice oozes through the night with all the charm and appeal of a bear to a deer. The woman stands.

Seems the Chief only sees one "Us." He makes out the shadowy form, and recognizes Greythorn's distinct voice and manner of speaking. "Ms. Greythorn?" He squints, then looks around, as if looking for spectators. "Of course."

"No need to be worried," She assures, noting the search for company, "It is just myself this morning." She brushes the dust from her cloak and moves a few paces forward. "I have been inside the house or Mr. Pickthorn, and that task should be completed quite soon... But I was at home early one morning quite recently, and I was wondering... What's in this task for you, Mr. Thistlewool? Do you strive to be the Mayor of Bree, perhaps? One day? I am just curious, of course. It's in my nature, you understand."

His mouth quirks a bit as he contemplates his response. His eyes watch hers probingly, to the extent he can make them out in the shadows. "I'm not one to engage in casual conversation, Ms. Greythorn. We have a mutually beneficial arrangement. Isn't that enough?"

There is nothing about her features that would suggest anything other than simple conversation and curiosity. "Oh, it is enough, I suppose... Of course I would not think any different of you if that position was your intention. I can see it well enough now, your concern for Bree. Perhaps if I knew these things now, I would be better able to... well, do what I do most often in sourcing information about those men that may, or may not, become useful to you, should you need it. I'm sure you're aware that with the fall of Mr. Pickthorn, Mr. Poppyseed should move up the ranks, and there should be an empty chair... It is a suggestion, that is all." A casual shrug shifts her shoulders.
The chief listens carefully, taking some time again to mull over it. "I am currently a member of the council as Chief. The only change that would put me in a more powerful position is the head of the council. That would be the only position, in theory, I might wish to pursue. If I was so interested, what might you do to assist with that?"

There is a brief flicker of something that would be a smile, or a smirk, or something similar. "Of course, and that is what I was asking- whether or not you would be interested in that highest position." And she pauses, as though to think. "As to what I might do, I might find some incriminating documents, or at least help in some small way... it would mostly be your own doing, as per the election process, but whatever there was that could be done on my behalf, I would, of course, be more than happy to assist... So you would be interested, then?"

His eyebrows narrow. "It is unlike you, Ms. Greythorn, to take such an interest in my well-being so altruistically." He raises his hand to stifle a brief cough.

One eyebrow raises in question, she takes another few paces forward. "What are you implying, Chief? Of course I am not only looking out for your well-being. There are a number of benifits for myself that I could imagine, once you had become Head Councillor."

His skepticism fades slightly. He doesn't move as she approaches. "Then tell me what those are."

Scarlet sighs quietly, "Well you have already demonstrated, with your position as Chief, what you are capable of, as far as expanding my circle of companions goes, helping not only my financial situation, but the well-being of Bree. If you were Head of the Town Council, of course, all these things could go on still, but you would be much more in-tune with the needs of Bree, and able to provide better assistance to it. Of course you would have my aid wherever needed, and I am certain that I would be rightly rewarded for my efforts- you are a fair man in that sense. Of course, it is difficult for me to reel off a hundred different things. They would have to be carefully planned out, as the opportunity and the need arose."

"Very well." He raises a finger to his lip in contemplation. "I will tell you what you might do. When elections come, that is when I will need your help. We will save it for then. I will tell you what I will need from you. And . . . you are quite right. It would serve you well to have me in such a position." Another pause, as his mind turns. "It is not something to be discussed now, however. But I congratulate your keen intuition." A wry smile breaks; a rare one from him.

And Scarlet regards him for a long moment, then nods her head, with a something of a thin, pleased smile. "Good, I am glad it is settled. I shall look forward to this, I think. One can never have too many friends in the higher places. Return to your patrol, then. We shall discuss this further when you have thought things over, and when an election looms." And she turns, with a nod, then passes by him, heading up toward the northern end of Bree.

His eyes head back to his path instantly after she has finished speaking, and his steps take him in that direction without hestitation. It as if, the meeting did not just happen, and he never broke his stride. That does not mean he isn't deeply mulling over their conversation already as he resumed patrol.