Prologue: Trouble in Paradise

I do not believe i have ever visited this town before. As such i need to find the the temple to the gods here. Introduce myself to the local clergy and spend some time in worship.

"Great, I thought we'd never get here. I can't remember when I last spent so much time out in the wilderness, camping under the stars. Hate it. Who wants a drink? I might even pay. I'm feeling generous." I take in the sights and colors around me. They're blindingly bright. "Well isn't this... cheery."

"I would love to join you in revelry and merry making Xulara, but i must meet the local clergy and put in a bit of time with the devine before hand. Tell me where to meet you in an hour or so and I will be there."

The bold for character speak works great, i am stealing it.

A wide smile spreads across Garn's face at Xulara's offer, "I'll take you up on that offer! Can't turn down free drink!"

Dahlia heads for the large temple. First things first, and then to learn about this local tradition.

"Sure Dahlia. Do what you gotta do." I roll my eyes when she leaves and join Garn as we walk towards town. "The damned gods have never done nothing for me. I guess some people just like to hold onto childish fantasies. So, the Busty Barmaid, then?"

Dahlia hurries along, intent to get her worship time in and then rejoin the group.

Garn nods, "Sounds like a fine start to me!"

"I'm not too picky. Anyone else want to join, follow me!" I make my way towards the tavern, keeping an eye out for the usual pickpockets that target new folks with heavy coinpurses, or anything else of interest.

Turning towards my nearest compatriot I say, "Hey, when are we supposed to meet Highhill? You don't suppose he's in a hurry? We just got here and I'd love to indulge a bit."

Happy that they get to spend some time away from the caravan Hegy takes a few moments to take in the sights. "Busty Bar Maid? Subtle!" she laughs to herself before hearing Xulara's offer to buy drinks. "Busty Bar Maid it is!"

Toshi sits perched atop one of the caravan wagons, toying with one of his throwing knives. His eyes narrow in the depths of his hood as he listens to Xulara and the others talk, and watches some of them make for a tavern. He is not usually one for merrymaking, especially not in these parts, where racial prejudice runs deep and one of the catfolk is likely to get strung up in a bag and thrown in some river to drown. In his experience, large crowds in a "celebratory" mood can very quickly turn into an ugly mob.

Toshi wishes this Perrin Highhill would arrive already so they can go about their business. It feels strange being tasked with protecting someone instead of making sure they breathed their last. But that is the price of the guise of legitimacy that a membership in the Explorers' Guild affords.

He has been studying his new companions during their travel here, gauging their strengths and weaknesses. It is sometimes hard to puzzle out seasoned adventurers. Xulara in particular intrigues him. The way she moves, the way she carries herself, Toshi can tell she possesses a similar skillset as he. And he is sure that she has puzzled out his true race as well as his true profession. And yet he does not know her from the Guild of Assassins. An outlander then? Best to watch that one closely.

Maia looks around, trying best she can to judge her surroundings. After a bit she strides off toward the Busty Barmaid, looking to see if there might be some kind of job board. Perhaps she can use some of her magic or even writing skills to gain a little extra coin before we meet with Highhill.

"Halfling luck? My guess is there's a little something more than luck going on over there."

Without leaving the others Hegy will take a look for the lucky halfling. If she can find him from her current position she'll use a 'Detect Magic' cantrip centered on his table, just to see if there's more than just the halfling's luck at work.