Welcome to the world of Mejal to all!

You all have been travelling with each other for about two weeks now, and know a bit about each other. You have just now gotten inside the gates of the town of Gaaren, near Traveller's Square (it is what houses Inns, Taverns, and shops with survival supplies). What do you do?

Coal-black of skin, with bright red hair tied back into two braids, Brand enters town strumming her yarting. She has been trying to compose a new song about the legendary Horovar Kalaki, but is having difficulty. She turns to the firbolg Newt who towers over her.

"Hey big guy! What's a good word to rhyme with 'flamey'?"

https://flic.kr/p/2ncUzgH

Caidi catches up with the group after taking in the view of the town, the very pale, white-haired elf breaths a contented sigh.  "I've been looking forward to getting here for awhile." she raises an eyebrow at Brand, "Glad you didn't ask me, flamey isn't a word."  Once they get past the gates, "So, where to first?  Shall we find a tavern?"

She's a slender elf, as most are, slightly tall for her stature.  She has braids in her hair and is adorned with random forest affections throughout her clothes.  Her clothes are well kept, though dark green and somewhat plain.  Good to help her blend into the forest, though her paleness and hair are almost blinding.  

Laumo walks along next to his companions with his hands in his pockets, and his eyes down. 

Laumo is tall, with dark orange skin. He wears a brown, hooded poncho and pants, with bare, hairy feet. Around his face, his hair is kept only a few inches long, to keep from looking too wild. His facial hair is kept I'm aculately tidy, when he can. He grows it as a wide, flared mutton chops style beard beneath his ears, and his chin and lips clean shaven.

His eyes are yellow, and although he looks as though they're just barely open, his friends would know they open wide like a beast's when alerted to danger.

His friends would also know that beneath his poncho, Laumo has all the predatory instinct of a tiger; rolling slabs of muscle on silent feet made for violence.

"Gamey."

Newt, as usual, lumbers at the rear of the group. He is likely the tallest and bulkiest Firbolg you've ever seen, built like a strongman with enormous arms, a barrel chest and an ample belly developed after years of drinking ale. He has pale mint colored skin that stands in stark contrast to his pitch black hair, which is itself scarred with streaks of gray. He's currently wearing his full armor, though he's opted to remove the sleeves to leave his arms and shoulders exposed.

He doesn't respond immediately, but instead stands with a quizzical look on his face, using a thick thumb and forefinger to pull idly at the graying corner of his beard. Finally, he speaks in his roaring bass. "Perhaps you could rhyme it with a phrase rather than just a single word. 'With a flick of the Flame Shard he would swift devastate ye?'".

"Aah, you guys are so good at this! We should just give in and be musical troupe, huh?" Brand says enthusiastically. "You see Cai?" she directs to the elf. "There's a rhyme for anything if you just believe! Anywho, a tavern sounds great. That must have been the dustiest road yet, and I really need to wet my whistle if I'm going to perform tonight!"

She swings her yarting on its strap so that it hangs on her back, it's pale beech wood contrasting against the bright yellow leather of her bodice and the red of her off-shoulder blouse. 

"Anyone know a good place? You all know I don't know this bit of the world at all!"

Brand hears a voice in their head remind them that no perfect rhymes exist for orange, besides one old botanical term no longer commonly found in dictionaries.

Caidi smiles in spite of herself.  Her normal cool, calm, composure deflated a bit by the fire genasi and she finds she is starting to enjoy this ones company.  I guess fire does melt ice she thinks as they make their way into town.  "Still not a word." she retorts to Brand though completely agrees with needing a drink.

"Oh, taverns are easy to find, now that you've stopped playing that cursed thing, just listen and you'll find one once we get towards the center of town." 

From the back, Newt's face almost looks offended at the remark. "It may be easy to just find A tavern, but finding the RIGHT tavern? That takes effort." 


He begins to once again start sulking at the lack of good ale or tea during the groups stops so far, but thinks better of it, and instead takes a swig of luke-warm wine from his wineskin. He swishes it when he's finished, noting with a a twinge of sadness at how little remains of what he brought on this trip weeks ago. "Pray the Gods finally bless us with a good drink in this town."

You see a few streets branching off: Market Road, Housing Road, High Street, and Adventure Plaza.

"Oh we must see Adventure Plaza!" Brand exclaims. "How could you not with a name like that?" She positively skips on the spot with excitement.

"Sounds to me as though Newt is looking for something specific, why don't you lead the way sir?  I wouldn't mind a good brandy."  Caidi ignores Brand's enthusiasm and waits for the firbolg to take the lead.

"Goodness, leading the way...so much responsibility! To be honest though, I've never been here before either. I say we just wander anywhere that sounds interesting, and if I pick up the smell of a nice dive or tea shop, I'll sound the alarm. For now, why don't we walk to the Adventure Plaza, and see if any such establishments are placed along the way?"

Newt begins walking leisurely in the general direction of the Adventure Plaza, keeping an eye out for anywhere the group might stop for good refreshments. Despite his size, he makes a concentrated effort to flow with any foot traffic rather than forcing his way through. He also keeps a careful eye out for any passerby significantly smaller than him, as he'd hate to accidentally crush someone.

Laumo keeps an eye out for the old familiar signs of his previous occupation, and the "tradesmen" who ply it.

Perception 9 

"Adventure Plaza itself will be an adventure!" Brand smiles. She links arms with Caidi. It's quite the image, the short figure, both dark and bright, next to the taller elf the pale white of the full moon. Her skin of her arm is hot, to the point where Caidi would have suspected a fever if she didn't know better.

"Cai, why do you want to come here so much? I think the rest of us were plenty happy to tag along, but Gaaren was your idea. What's here for you?"

A typo: it is Adventurer's Plaza, not Adventure Plaza, but autocorrect decided it was

Quote from Fenzik >>

"Goodness, leading the way...so much responsibility! To be honest though, I've never been here before either. I say we just wander anywhere that sounds interesting, and if I pick up the smell of a nice dive or tea shop, I'll sound the alarm. For now, why don't we walk to the Adventure Plaza, and see if any such establishments are placed along the way?"

Newt begins walking leisurely in the general direction of the Adventure Plaza, keeping an eye out for anywhere the group might stop for good refreshments. Despite his size, he makes a concentrated effort to flow with any foot traffic rather than forcing his way through. He also keeps a careful eye out for any passerby significantly smaller than him, as he'd hate to accidentally crush someone.

 There are a few small restaurants here and there, but most larger establishments will be in squares around the city designated for food selling or distributing.

Quote from nschrock >>

Laumo keeps an eye out for the old familiar signs of his previous occupation, and the "tradesmen" who ply it.

Perception 8 

 You see a cool looking bird and get distracted

Laumo points off in another direction, mumbling something about a "macaw" before settling back into himself again

Caidi reluctantly relinquishes her elbow to the firey thing even though it is uncomfortable as they walk down the Adventurer's Plaza.  Seeing the few local places, she wonders if these are the types of taverns Newt is looking for or the more lively joints most likely towards the center of town.

"What's here for me you ask?  Well, new discoveries for the most part.  I haven't been to civilization for quite some time and I figured this was a good a place as any.  I do appreciate the company though."  You aren't sure if she wants to say more or not, but she trails off and continues to follow Newt looking forward to some brandy.

Newt is going to specifically be looking for a bar, tavern or inn that seems like it has a lot of character. Nothing to upscale or fancy, but also not filthy. He's primarily looking for any sign or indication that a place makes it's own ale and is at least semi-proud of the fact. (He's a craft beer sort of guy.)

Quote from Fenzik >>

Newt is going to specifically be looking for a bar, tavern or inn that seems like it has a lot of character. Nothing to upscale or fancy, but also not filthy. He's primarily looking for any sign or indication that a place makes it's own ale and is at least semi-proud of the fact. (He's a craft beer sort of guy.)

 There are a few smaller bars. One you see is the Drunken Dragon Inn.