In the east of the Dwendalian Empire, the town of Hupperdook is famed for its industry and inventions, as well as its wild parties. The town nestles against the side of a mountain, the more prosperous upper districts linked to the dirtier, factory-filled lower part by wondrous mechanical lift devices. Or by a lot of stairs.

Off a small back alley, off Ironlot Street in a ward commonly known as 'Ironlot Streets', is the 'Dawnfather's Promise', a small charitable hospital, funded by the church, offering services at reduced rates to the common folk, mercenaries, travellers and all sorts.  It's late afternoon; the inside is bright, clean, and smells faintly of disinfectant.  The atmosphere is professional, business-like - the philosophy here is to get people seen to, and out the door as quickly as possible.  There are only a few beds, where victims of the most severe workplace injuries lie unconscious or groaning.

A dragonborn sits in a chair, looking down at the wound on his leg, now almost healed - a wolf bite taken during a recent escort job. The wound seems to be healing nicely, and this should be the final check.

A volunteer medic is kneeling and inspecting the leg. It's late afternoon of what has been a long and productive day of treating illnesses and injuries of the mundane variety. He checks the dragonborn's wound for signs of infection, and is happy to find none.

Hambergler and MaxandDad, would you like to introduce your characters?

Up ahead, not too far off, the town of Hupperdook is visible against the mountain; you've never been there, but you should reach there in perhaps only an hour or so and you're excited that this part of your journey will soon be over.  You approach a fork in the road, and see a contingent of Righteous Brand soldiers marching east. You've heard rumours of trouble along the border with Xhorhas as you've travelled, but nothing specific.

At the point where the roads join, you pause at the side of the road to watch the troop march past in their impressive, and very shiny, uniforms. They pass, and you notice that another traveller, who presumably arrived along the other road, is standing opposite and also watching the soldiers pass. You notice each other and stare for a moment in surprise and mild awkwardness.

Sir_Karnic and darrrrrah, would you like to introduce your characters.

(For these introductions, you can stick to a brief physical description - what the other character would see at that moment - as well as their immediate actions in this situation - what would they say and do?)

Calasseus is so enthralled by the sight of the soldiers that she nearly trips over her own feet as they pass by. Only when she has recovered her footing and straightened out her clothes does she realize that there is someone across the road staring a her. 

She gives the other person a small, shy smile, straightening up to her full height. She is of normal size for a half-elf, part way between 5 and 6 feet, and looks young, as if she has only recently reached adulthood. Her ebony hair is tied back behind pointed ears in a loose braid, though stray curls have escaped out of one side. She has a pair of bright green eyes that are almost disarmingly large, and she looks pale despite the deep undertone of her skin. A spear is strapped to her back, though only the tip can be seen behind her cloak and backpack.

Inside her cloak, her hand twitches. She wants to give a wave to the other person, but she holds back her excitement at having some actual social interaction, folding in on herself just slightly as she waits to see what they will do.

The doctor, “Wash”, a human male in his mid 20s, re-bandages the Dragonborn’s leg and speaks in common "Well we were lucky to avoid infection given the state it was in when you came in, but I think you are good to go. Just remember, here in The ‘Dook, you need to be really careful about keeping injuries clean with all the industry and whatnot."

Wash smiles a warm, gentle smile as he treats his patient before a concerned look briefly comes over his face "Let me know the details of how this happened again and I’ll try and put some notices up for people to watch out for wolves when travelling in the area."

Also (because I haven’t rolled any dice for 24 hours), are you happy for me to do a medicine check to see if I think there is anything strange about the bite? If so, medicine check:

14

The silver dragonborn just looks down at the doctor taking care of his leg - stretching his arms as he looked at his gear resting next to him. His gold eyes fixing on the human "Got bit by a w'lf doin' a job f'r sum rich folk. Don worry doc I showe' them whose boss, ripped its mouth clean open with mah sword. Don' t'ink t'e rest of the details ar' important."

Wash laughs and says, "No notices or warning posters necessary then, sounds like you took care of the danger" and tries to make small talk as he is finishing up "Do you have any other work organised, or are you "in between jobs" now?" 

Alton steps to the side of the road, out of the way of the marching guards, mostly because he doesn't want to get stepped on being no taller than three(3) feet in height; if you don't include his brown hair that is pulled up into a topknot. Currently Alton is wearing some leather armor that is patch-worked together from different hides looking like it was homemade and has tanned skin from being outside so much. He also sports a small backpack with the handle of a lute sticking out from it; along with a dagger and rapier at his hip. He gets distracted by the guards overly shiny uniforms for a moment. Watching them go by he spots a lady brushing herself off on the other side, and being more distracted by her, smiles and waves as he makes his way over. "Hi there miss. Did those guards knock you down? I know they would have knocked me down for sure if I didn't move out of the way. Here let me help dust you off." Alton casts Prestidigitation to help with dusting parts of her clothes off. "You sure a pretty miss. Oh, my name is Alton by the way. Alton Wildcloak." 

Calasseus looks a bit surprised that Alton has chosen to speak to her, though not unhappy about it. She gives a small gasp as the magic washes over her, but the sensation isn’t unfamiliar. She smiles.  “No, they didn’t, I’m afraid I did that on my own,” she admits. It is not like a monk to be clumsy, but Cala isn’t like many monks. She politely offers Alton a hand, because that is what she was taught to do, trying to hide her confusion at his compliment. She isn’t often complimented. “I’m Calasseus. Or Cala. It is nice to meet you.”

Alton takes her hand and shakes it, "The pleasure is all mine, Cala." Alton looks over in the direction of Hupperdook and back at Cala, "Are you heading to Hupperdook? If so would you like some company for the rest of the journey?" Alton steps back onto the road once the guards pass waiting for Cala's response.

Wash, you're not sure who tended to the wound on the dragonborn's first visit - the hospital is a busy place and you don't know a quarter of the staff and volunteers who work there - but they did a good job.  The wound is pretty much healed, and without complications.  

Wash and unknown dragonborn, there's often a slightly awkward moment at the Dawnfather's Promise when it's time to turn to the subject of payment.  Everyone is treated with no questions asked, that's the rule.  But they are always asked for a financial contribution.  For those who cannot pay, it's fine.  For those who can, there's an expectation they will either make a small payment or promise to do so when times are better.

Alton and Calasseus, there's no-one else on the road, and it turns out you are both travelling towards Hupperdook, so you end up travelling together the remaining hour or so to the city gates.  Do you chat, or walk quietly and enjoy the scenery?

Alton would probably try to get some type of conversation going with asking the usual things when meeting a new person.
What brings them to Hupperdook?
Where did they come from?
How their travels have been?
He does know better not to pester people too much, so if Cala isn't responsive he will content himself with just enjoying the scenery.

Wash gingerly raises the subject of payment "So friend... speaking about the rich-folk-who-hired-NOPE (he rethinks and changes tack [OOC: with "NOPE" said in best Sam Riegal voice])... I’m not sure if you are aware, but the way we are able to offer our services is that those that can afford it, pay what they believe is reasonable for our medical help. That means that when those that have fallen on harder times need our help, we can offer it. All the medical staff are volunteers, so this is just to pay for medical supplies, though your generosity also allows us to help those less fortunate. You seem like a successful adventurer type, are you able to spare a few coins for the services that you have received?"

Persuasion check if needed:

22

[OOC: hambergler, feel free to ignore roll if you were going to pay anyway, I don’t want your generosity to be taken as being because of dice roll, roll is just if needed]

(OOC:  It's absolutely fine to roll, and the dragonborn merc certainly feels persuasive power of Wash's words, but that doesn't mean he automatically hands over any money.  Player agency trumps the dice in this kind of interaction.)

The silver dragonborn just reaches into his pouch as he pulls out some silver "Here's five silver doc - it's the most I can afford to give right now. So when can I get out of here to go get a cold one."

Cala nods, joining Alton on the road and falling into step with him. Her answers are quiet, both giving very little information and none at all. It seems like she did not have much experience with small talk, but she is enjoying Alton's company all the same. "I am on my way to Hupperdook, I've never been....I actually haven't been in the Empire in a long while," she admits, never once considering she might be saying too much. "Are you from around here, Mr Alton?"

Cala and Alton, you pass a pleasant hour walking together along the road.  You reach the gates and see that the guards are making standard checks; you wait perhaps half an hour behind several large wagons, and then you each step forward; there are two guards on duty.

A taller-than-usual dwarven woman asks Cala:  State your name, and business in Hupperdook.

A smiling middle-aged gnome woman asks Alton:  Hello there.  What do they call you, and what brings to you our fair town?

Cala produces a small roll of parchment, undoing the deep purple ribbon that holds it together. "Calasseus Carrow," she says, handing the dwarf her paper. Why did she have to get the intimidating one? She smiles in a way that is supposed to be friendly but probably just comes out at awkward and shy. 

(Charisma check for the fun of it b/c I have bad charisma: 7)

Wash thanks the Dragonborn "Your contribution is welcome and appreciated, you can drop it in the alms box on the way out. You are good to go now and I don’t believe we will need to see you for your leg again - well, not unless you get into more fights with wild beasts [chuckles to himself]. I’m finishing up now, so I’ll walk you out."

After they leave it becomes apparent that they are heading in the same direction, though this might be coincidence and they might be about to part ways. Wash is heading to the local tap-house and given the Dragonborn’s comment about a cold one, he wonders if the Dragonborn is heading to the same establishment and asks "Where are you off to now friend?"

[OOC: Hambergler, what name (if any) did you give when getting treated at the hospital? SteveThaiBinh, my character definitely has drink or two after a long shift. Is there a dive-bar/run-down-pub type place in the Ironlot Streets area (Cheers-like), or would he be heading to the Idleworks Shelf?]

(OOC:  There is a cheap and not-too-rowdy tavern just a few dozen yards from the hospital - it's popular with the medics when they get off duty, and you've been there quite a few times.  It's called the Ironheart's Rest.)

Balasaar stands up his full 6'7" figure able to be taken in as his stretches his arms the broad shoulders and large build giving him away as a Ravenite. He grabs his gear as he begins to attach it in the appropriate places "To a tav'rn now. If ya wan' ta join feel free. I'll buy the fi'st round as a t'ank ya." H"e just holds out his hand, the exposed parts of his arm showing the scars from various fights "Name's Balasaar, by t'e way."