11th of Vhalar 722
While it would've been, and was, against the better judgment of most Hostel and Tavern owners in Egilrun, Woe thought the good will he stood to gain by inviting the Tannery was worth it. However, it'd still be breaks before they arrived, and there were liable to be others who weren't of the Tannery to join in on the festivities. Woe wanted everything to go well, without any incidents. He knew perhaps as well as any leatherworker or tanner, what kind of ingredients it took to neutralize the smell of their craft. Hanging dried oats and tea leaves rubbed down with essential oils infused with coffee curbed that smell (and most others into the bargain). He further presumed the good smells coming out of the kitchen, as Gloom was running the chef line tonight, would curb any disgust at the tanners and leatherworks union members.
And perhaps, though he hoped against the odds, the tanners would have the good sense to wash up before coming over. In either event, he set up these hanging boquets, spritzing a few in strategic locations with perfumes infused with citrus and coconut scents. Overall, the atmosphere was pleasant, not overbearing. Woe was careful not to oversaturate the air with perfumed scents, lest anyone think he was running a brothel.
A break into preparations, Woe invaded the kitchen, bringing in more supplies for the cooks. Jordan Lindsay and Gloom were having words, and it didn't look harmonious as it might. Jordan was used to having the run of the kitchen, and rarely appreciated when Gloom (and his superior skills at cooking) was placed in charge. Woe ignored their chitter chatter, content to let them hash it out, lest he be seen to favor one over the other. He placed the meats and vegetables on the table for them, to sort out later. Then he went to work on his experimental cocktail, that he'd only just devised last cycle. He'd tried a variant of a Hot Toddy in Winston's workshop. Now he thought to stray a bit from the base recipe, and see what he could make.
He started by brewing a cold infusion of whiskey, cinnamon, cloves, black tea, honey, and lemon. On top of it all, he added one secret ingredient, which was slipped in sneakily. These he'd set aside, until the water was boiling. He added just a few grains of salt, which were swiftly dissolved in the infusion, to further ease the extraction of the essential flavors that he wanted to release.
The water began simmering, and he got to making several different jars of the infusion. Each with its own secret ingredient known only to him. Once the kettle began howling, he took it off the stove, and filled those jars with the hot water. The jars were covered then with cheese cloth, and then with a cap to keep the steam from escaping. Repeating this process with all of the jars, he stowed them away in a cabinet, allowing them to cool. He'd try a variety of preparations, hot, cold, lukewarm, with water added and so on, until he found the perfect mixture.
In the meantime, he had people to greet, so he lingered by Primula Troke's reception area, to see who would show up. He stood somewhat apart, so he didn't alarm any arrivals, while Primula admitted them to Onyx Hall.
OOCWill be leaving this open at least until mid cycle, to allow for folk to join in if they want.
