Selane had investigated the Winking Mermaid, as well as some other taverns and inns, and decided it fit the bill for a place to perform and, hopefully, earn a bit of coin. At worst, the tavern keeper had agreed to make sure she didn't leave hungry. Sailors meant drinking, so she probably wouldn't want for ale either, if she played her cards right. She knew she had to be careful however; never get drunk, but nurse a drink that came your way. Both Mama and Papa had beat that into her thick skull! 

She returned to the tavern early, and warmed up. However, trade was slow this night; probably why the keeper had readily agreed to allow a new music'ker on the floor, largely untried. She'd been told that other nights there were signing contests. The tavern keeper had said she ought to come one of those nights, while one of his serving girls silently shook her head "No" right behind him to warn the petite bard off. Ah… those kinds of contests. 

Still, the night was young, and patrons came and went. With a little luck, she could liven the place up, and attract some of the passers-by to stop for a bit. After all, that was her job really; to attract more trade for the tavern. So, she picked a local favorite, and began to sing and strum on her mandolin, her clear voice carrying out the open door and away into the street. Not quite a siren's song, but hopefully it would attract attention. 

"Gentlemen it is me duty"
"To inform you of one beauty"
"Though I'd ask of you a favour"
"Not to seek her for a while"
"Though I own she is a creature"
"Of character and feature
"No words can paint the picture"
"Of the Queen of Adeluna…."


[ooc: warning! if you join this thread, expect to participate, not lurk. Your character can certainly try to lurk, but you've got a bouncy, outgoing, very social Bard running the floor, and getting dragged to the floor for a dance is to be expected. Maybe worse…
song: Queen of Argyll, by Silly Wizard]

To inform you of one beauty
Though I'd ask of you a favour
Not to seek her for a while
Though I own she is a creature
Of character and feature
No words can paint the picture
Of the queen of all Argyll

Word on the grapevine was that one of her delinquent borrowers had tried to jump ship and go into hiding to avoid paying his monthly minimum payment. It was some lesser noble, with horrible fashion sense to match his equally awful money management. The loan wasn't even very much, and he could easily have paid it off if he sold those gaudy overpriced trinkets he kept purchasing. How was she to know he would think that investing in 'antiques' would be his way of quickly returning what he owed? But things had rapidly gone downhill since the last three months, as his perpetual mismanagement and lack of advertising meant his ancestral horse breeding grounds were filing for bankruptcy. All because he thought it beneath him to sell to 'commoners'–including self-made merchants. Now she was on a manhunt, and she had a feeling he wouldn't be leaving Adeluna City right away. The man was used to living in luxury, so unless he had some distant relatives somewhere else, he should be lurking around. 

The Winking Mermaid was the place for people to spend a few hours for business, drinking, and finding work. It was also a convenient place to find a captain who didn't ask too many questions for a heavy pouch of coin. Disguised as a deckhand, Shiloh strode into the tavern with practiced poise matching her mask. Slumping into a chair, she eyed the people present. Lord Westley, should he be here, wouldn't be hard to find. She scanned the room for any familiar faces, including those of the deadbeat aristocrat's servants. Running was a poor choice when it came to her; like a hound, she'd track down those who tried to cut and run from payment like a hound follows a trail. 

When a server came to offer a drink, she motioned for the woman to lean down as she whispered into her ear in an altered voice. Flashing a small handful of silver crescents, Shiloh stated to the barmaid that these would be hers if she happened to notice anyone fitting a particular description. No food or drink was needed, only information–then she'd pay. She even offered to double the money if she did find them. While the woman hurried off, Shiloh took out her canteen and took a swig. It was a full house today, and it looked like they had a new person in to entertain them. The singer was doing a good job of creating a rousing atmosphere, and maybe if she had the chance, she could ask for a small favor from the bard in exchange for a generous tip.