It’s early afternoon, May 10, the year 2105 of the Imperial Calendar.  The streets of the market district in Bardstown are alive with activity. After heavy rains earlier in the week, there have been two straight days of sunshine and warm temperatures, heralding the summer to come and bringing new growth to the shrubs and flowers that line the green spaces between the shops or rest in pots outside open windows.  There is a faint breeze which occasionally increases to push out the scent of baking breads and foreign spices, and replacing it briefly with the not-quite-fishy smells of the Great Lake, a vast freshwater sea, its shores just a few blocks to the north.

The stalls and shops echo with noise: barkers calling out their wares; a wagoneer shouting out for people to clear a path so he can make a delivery; exotic birds crying and calling from their cages; the clanking of plate boots and mail jackets as the legionnaire watchmen change their shift, replaced by fresh-eyed young soldier, one with a steaming mug of coffee.  Business and activity will only continue to pickup throughout the afternoon, before tapering off as the sun gets low in the sky.

Inside the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern, the lunch rush is over but a few patrons still fill the seats, some enjoying their drinks and delaying a return to their labors, while others are getting an early start in a long afternoon of drinking.  Heavy double doors mark the main entrance, opening out to an alley just off the main market square.  Above the bar hangs the stuffed head of an enormous canine creature, the namesake of this tavern and allegedly a werewolf (though almost certainly an artful forgery for a variety of reasons).  A raised, covered patio offers a view of the square to those patrons early or late enough to grab a table.  Currently that space is occupied by Four Dwarven men, seated at different tables but engaged in loud conversation as a group.  Four Human men and an Elf woman sit at the bar, their own voices raised.  In both groups, the topic is the same; a topic on the lips of most of Bardstown this day.  For the morning light brought with it a surprise – an Elven airship, floating in the skies above Castle Mastieri, tethered by a long silver chain.  And hanging from the parapets and towers of the castle, the purple banners of diplomacy.  It seems the Ancient Elves are in town, for discussions with the Emperor.  A pair of well-dressed Human men sit beside the fireplace, drinking wine and speaking in quieter tones, their conversation for no ears but their own.  The rest of the tables sit empty.  Jonny Nevers, a middle aged Elf and a fixture of this establishment for more than a Human generation, tends to the bar.  Alongside him a quiet and tired looking Halfling girl busies herself cleaning dishes, before the Dwarves cry out for refills and she rushes from behind the bar to the patio to collect their mugs.  As the hurries back down the steps, her passing ruffles the pages tacked to a notice board; missing persons, odd jobs, and wanted posters.

It is here inside the Robust Hound that the PC’s gather, one by one to answer the flier posted by Rohuzar the Ranger; a position in a mercenary company with the chance for adventure and lucrative pay.

(Please introduce yourselves and find a seat.  Rohuzar will surely be along any moment.)

For those interested in the menu...

 The Robust Hound Inn and Tavern

Through the heavy double doors into the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern walks a young good looking well-dressed man, stopping to briefly to look over the taproom before approaching the bar with relaxed yet determined steps. He's wearing a grey trimmed blood red coat over a white shirt. His hair is dark brown and he sports a short well-trimmed beard. He has amber eyes and golden hued skin. He is wearing a golden signet ring on his left hand and is wearing a medallion of some sort in a golden chain. As he reaches the bar he puts down a backpack and a crossbow and takes a quick look on the menu before turning to the middle aged elf tending the bar. "I´ll have a glass of the Riesling, and if you could tell me if you have a Rohuzar here. I´m supposed to meet this person regarding a business proposition." He says calmly putting a piece of gold at the counter while scanning the tap room once more, realizing he may be fashionably early.

Rohuzar is seated at the far side of the patio to avoid as much of the noise of the square as possible. His skin is a dark green, and has dark bristly hair over his arms, and head, more coming out of the open collar of his shirt. His eyes look small peering out below bushy black eyebrows. It’s hard to guess his height right now while he’s seated. He has some papers payed out in front of him, and a tiny pencil he put down awhile ago. 

An exasperated looking dwarf is in front of him. 

“I think, is not good fit,” Rohuzar’s voice is a thick foreign accent, but level and has command of the language. “Please put poster back vere you found it.” 

The dwarf stomps away a bit agitated, and Rohuzar looks around for more potential applicants waiting to speak. 

Noticing the orc by the fireplace seemingly just being done with an interview the noble by the bar realizes this is most likely Rohuzar. "So, an orc, I should have guessed." He says to himself as he is handed a glass of Riesling. He then walks over to the orc. "I´m looking for Rohuzar." He says placing his things by the chair opposite the orc.

“I am Rohuzar.” Rohuzar gestures to the seat across from him. “You are here for job? Tell me vhat you do.”

Sitting in a chair with his back to the wall, a halfling looks around the entirety of the large tavern room. He has sandy brow hair that is close cut, framing his face and hazel colored eyes. It is rather easy to see he is a warriror by the way he sits and the well worn chain mail he wears and the halberd leaning on the wall nearby. He studies a few people but for the most part seems to focus on a poster that he took off the wall. Once he catches sight of who he thinks posted the job he slides out of his chair, moving towards them.

As he gets over and sees the human talking to the orc he pauses and crosses his arms, tapping his foot a bit before he moves to walk past the human to be see as well. "I second that question if you are I want to know if any positions are still available. I have a letter of recommendation from my previous employers." As he speaks he reaches into a pouch, pulling out a very official looking document with a wax seal.

The noble takes a seat opposite Rohuzar, leans back comfortably and takes a sip of his wine before continuing. "I am citizen Aubrey Goldentide, and I am indeed here for the job." He pauses briefly. "I wouldn´t call myself a combat expert, but I think I may have other qualities that could be useful, depending on the mission obviously. The name of Goldentide should still carry some weight throughout the empire and could be used to access places and information. I am a sudent of law and a fairly good speaker, having made a couple of appearances at the forum. I am also a fairly good marksman, having hunted with this since I was young." Aubrey pats the well-made crossbow by his side carrying his familys insignia. "Finally, I wouldn´t claim to be a mage but I have several eldritch powers that could be helpful in a variety of situations." He pauses briefly. "Like this for instance." Rohuzar suddenly hears Aubreys voice in his head and sees how his pencil starts moving by itself, writing Interested? at one of the papers.

For Rohuzar, if he inspects the document from the Halfling warrior...

Walking down the street leading to the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern, a lone gnome makes his way to a post to tie down his pack mule. He wears a fine leather vest with a fur collar. His round face is adorned with mutton-chops and a mustache, dark brown of hair. Hints of graying hair betray his middle age. On his nose rests a set of small spectacles in front of a pair of hazel eyes, and his head is topped is a cinder-colored beret.

He walks with confidence towards the double doors of this establishment. The small man is here for a purpose and he will not take no for an answer. This was the right establishment announced in the flier. Now he only needed to find this Rohuzar. Perhaps this elven fellow would be able to help him. The gnome made his way towards the counter and tried to catch the bar tender’s attention.

"Pardon me, my good man. Would you happen to know where I could find one Rohuzar? I was told they would be attending your fine establishment."

Leelan, the middle aged elf behind the bar smiles and uses his eyes to steer you toward an orc, a well dressed human, and an armored halfling at one of the tables.  

Rohuzar holds up a hand to the halfling to take the letter. “Be vith you in just a moment.” As that is happening, he watches Aubrey demonstrate his skills very seriously. He watches the pencil move patiently and picks it up once it stops. He carefully erases the marks, and begins filling out the form with information Aubrey has provided. 

“Citizen. Vhat interests you about adventuring?  Verk in the forum is good job, yes?”

He then starts reading the halfling’s letter. 

Aubrey hesitates briefly at Rohuzars question. "Yes, hrm, a fair question my good Rohuzar. I could always say I would like some thrill in my life, something the forum is utterly devoid of I´m afraid, but truth be told my family also expects me to do this. It´s complicated but suffice to say I´m supposed to seek experience from several walks of life before inheriting my fathers title. If this works out, my family will most likely have contracts for our group later on that would take us all the way to the ruins of Amnifortis. But that is for another day I think." Aubrey finishes, leans back in the chair again, taking another sip of wine and awaits Rohuzars verdict.

While Rohuzar reads the halflings letter Aubrey turns in his armchair and addresses the halfling standing beside him. "Citizen Aubrey Goldentide at your service." He says and bows slightly in his chair. Quickly looking the halfling over he resumes. "You seem well suited for adventure my friend. I really hope Rohuzar here has room for the both of us."

Rohuzar seems satisfied by that answer, and nods. ”I vill have more questions for you later for registration,” he holds up a stack of papers that look not dissimilar from a tax document. “As long as you are villing to verk hard, I see you having chance of becoming valuable member.” He then holds up a hand to wait. “I have more members to hire. Please wait here for my to finish.” 

Rohuzar continues reading the halfling’s letter, mouthing some of the words out loud. 

”Guilim. You have done this verk before. Is this-“ Rohuzar seems to search for the right word for a moment and making a gesture with his big hands indicating a short distance. “A short time job for you?“ He then peels off a new form and starts filling it out, looking at you and referring to the letter periodically. 

"Yes, well, I wait here then." Aubrey says, breathing a barely noticeable sigh of relief over Rohuzar accepting him. 
History (law) check to determine purpose of Rohuzars extensive paperwork:11 but I suppose it is guild license applications.
"Oh, and if you have any legal issues with the guild I might be able to help out." Aubrey adds before returning his attention to the halfling.

"No it would not be. My own goal after leaving my former work was to form a band of my own. Unfortunately even with that most seek to not take me seriously. The next best thing is to join a company that is just starting and will give me a chance to earn my own fame. As part of such a large band like the Hook and Axe it was hard to stand out, especially with so many of them being Knights and nobles." Guilim explains as he looks to the human from the corner of his eye before turning back to Rohuzar.

For Aubrey, regarding Rohuzar's paperwork...

The gnome turns his head in the direction the elf indicated before turning back to the bar tender.

"Most appreciated.", he says with a smile.

He walks over to the group of people gather at the orc’s table. He then announced his presence by clearing his throat loudly enough to be heard.

"Pardon my interruption, gentlemen. Which one of you would happen to be Rohuzar? Ah! But where are my manners? I am Leelan Dapper. Scholar, Aspiring author and Adventurer. At your service."

He reaches out his hand for Rohuzar to grab, whichever one the these people it might be.

Rohuzar holds his hand out, making a wavering motion. 

“Is understandable. More independence has room for more money. Vhat I am offering is small bit of independence. Verk is for me. But I verk for Red Band. And that last applicant is noble, yes. But if you verk, you have same respect here.”
He gestures emphatically at the floor in front of him. His voice has been going up and down in volume a lot as he speaks about this subject. 

“And same money. Is good deal. Take it.” He gestures to another table. “Talk more later.” 

"Oh, yes, off course, excellent, we will let you continue with your interviews Rohuzar." Aubrey says and stands up. "Let me buy you something to drink while we wait for the interviews to be over." Aubrey says to Guilim and brings his glass of wine and his equipment over to the other table, looking for the halfling to join him, nodding at Leelan as he passes him.

The double doors of the Robust Hound Inn & Tavern abruptly groan open, spraying the room with early afternoon light, and an ashen-skinned Orc steps in through the hostile whisper of a bar patron. "I've seen this guy before." says one of the humans to his friends "Worshipper of that Pentwater demon-god, he is."

The Orc looks around and takes in the tavern before letting his sight rest on an Orc, a human, an armored Halfling, and a weird looking Halfling. He begins weaving through the tables toward you. He wears a short-sleeved hauberk of iron scale mail under an orange tabard with a white symbol on it, leather trousers, leather boots, and a leather undershirt with bulging pockets sewn into the sleeves. His hair drools down onto his shoulders like a pot of freshly boiled angel worms; this is a typical Pentwater haircut, known derisively as a Pentwaterfall in other nations.

On his back, in place of a rucksack, he is carrying a rectangular-prism metal frame that must weigh at least 40 pounds and sticks up past the top of his head by a good margin. Inside the frame a strange metal contraption that looks like a giant metal spinning top is held in place. In pouches hanging from his waist he seems to be carrying common traveling equipment, and under the bottom of the metal cage, pressed against the small of his back, a tightly rolled bedroll wraps around a small axe with a leather sheathe on it.

As he reaches your table, the Orc shrugs the metal cage off his back and takes a seat on it like a chair. He stretches the soreness out of his back muscles, opens a pouch on his hip, and retrieves Rohuzar's recruitment flyer and a small pair of spectacles from within. He places the spectacles on his nose, unfolds the flyer,  sits up straight and proper, and listens patiently as the Orc, who is clearly Rohuzar, finishes interviewing the rest of the group at the table.