Parlour
You step into the parlour, which is lit by a crackling fireplace that fills the room with cozy warmth. The hardwood floor is mostly covered by a large intricately-patterned Persian carpet, on top of which is a fancy antique pool table with elegant maroon felt. You think the balls might be actual ivory, too. The walls are covered with glossy wood paneling, further covered with expensive-looking paintings and stuffed hunting trophies. Over in one corner you see what must be a small bar, except instead of regular bottles of booze it's all crystal decanters.
You're beginning to feel a little jealous; your Guild hall's lounge isn't nearly as nice as this.
| Examine the pool tables |
As I said, this is a finely-crafted antique pool table. The felt is a deep elegant maroon color, with not a scratch or cigarette-burn to be seen. The balls do appear to be made of ivory, as you guessed --you roll one across the table toward another, and the click they make has a rich, cultured tone.
Possible results:
- You start searching the pool table for a key, even taking the balls out of the various pockets. Soon, you look up and find a bandit standing there looking at you, obviously wondering why you've got your hands in his pockets and are playing with his... well, anyway.
| Fight! |
or
- You search around for a moment, but don't find a key anywhere. Instead, you pocket the cue ball (and scratch yourself for a bit).
 | You acquire an item: ivory cue ball |
or
- You search around for a moment, but don't find any keys, or anything else you feel like pilfering. Oh well.
or:
You carefully search the area, but don't manage to find a key to Lopez's hacienda. You do find a clue, however, which strikes you as oddly out of place considering how fastidiously tidy these bandits seem to be. Hmm.
| Examine the bar |
You take a moment to peruse the collection of crystal decanters covering the top of the antique mahogany cabinet. Just about every kind of booze you can think of is represented here, with little brass plaques on the bottles so you don't confuse the bourbon for rye. Above the bottles is a shelf full of various types of glasses, as well as (naturally) a stack of coasters. The cabinet itself proves to be a cleverly-concealed mini-fridge, with one side being an ice-maker and the other storage for various mixers and garnishes. Man, you could get a seriously fancy drunk on with this setup. What do rich people call getting trashed? "Blotto", or something?
Possible results:
- First time:
You search the bar for a while, and finally find an elegant-looking brass key -- you have to fish it out of a jar of olives. Probably six or eight martinis told someone that the olive jar would be the most perfect hiding place ever for it.
 | You acquire an item: hacienda key |
or:
You search the bar for a while, but don't turn up any keys. You decide to help yourself to a drink, instead. In fact, you help yourself to several drinks, and a crystal decanter to keep them in until you need them.
 | You acquire an item: decanter of fine Scotch |
Subsequent times:
You thoroughly search the bar and fridge, but don't find any keys. You consider pouring yourself a drink instead, but decide that you'd better keep your wits about you. Stupid wits.
or
You carefully search the area, but don't manage to find a key to Lopez's hacienda. You do find a a clue, however, which strikes you as oddly out of place considering how fastidiously tidy these bandits seem to be. Hmm.
or
As you're searching the bar, a mariachi walks up and clears his throat. You pour him a drink, and he thanks you politely before attacking you.
| Fight! |
| Examine the fireplace |
A fire crackles cheerfully in the fireplace, shedding a warm orange glow -- you can feel yourself relaxing automatically, despite the danger of your mission. Three comfortable-looking leather armchairs stand in a semicircle facing the hearth, and on the wall above is a large stuffed rhinoceros head (its facial expression the same one used by every rhinoceros ever, at all times: "..."). Below the rhino, the mantelpiece holds an array of knickknacks: a vase of flowers, some framed photographs of people you don't recognize, a box of expensive cigars with a cigar-cutter and a box of matches lying next to it, a little bronze bust of Mozart, and an errant cube of chalk from the pool table. You brush some dust from Mozart's head and return the chalk to its proper location, then stop and wonder what the heck came over you.
Possible results:
Shaking your head, you return to the fireplace and poke around for a key to Lopez's hacienda. You find it behind the cigar box and pocket it, but not before turning Mozart to face the wall and putting the photographs in disarray, just out of spite.
| You acquire an item: hacienda key |
or:
Shaking your head, you return to the fireplace and poke around for a key to Lopez's hacienda, but you don't find one, so you help yourself to a cigar instead.
 | You acquire an item: expensive cigar |
Subsequent times:
Shaking your head, you return to the fireplace and poke around for a key to Lopez's hacienda, but you don't find anything of interest.
or:
Shaking your head, you return to the fireplace, just in time to see the door open and a bandit stroll in. Darn the luck.
| Fight! |
or, after defeating Somerset Lopez, Demon Mariachi:
Leads to Puttin' on the Wax.
| Sneak out of the fort |
Quietly as the shadow of a very quiet thing (like maybe a snake or a giraffe), you sneak back out of the bandits' barracks. (still consumes an adventure)
Occurs in The Barracks as a choice of Hallway Right
Notes
- The expensive cigar can be found after defeating Somerset Lopez, Demon Mariachi, if a mariachi had been there before. Subsequent visits go to Puttin' on the Wax.
