Scene 1: Welcome to Averndale

The guardsmen faulters seeing official enough seals and Leon's ring and being overwhelmed somewhat as the other guardsmen were asking who was going to have to take all this gear up to the Watch headquarters to sort them. "Oh. Forgive me Sir..." He doesn't raise his voice, hoping the his Captain will not even notice that he stood in your way. Instead he follows you out a few steps into the city and asks."Sir do you need a carriage through low-town? It can be a bit rough at night."

Sadur and Jasper were also through the gate by this point, only Xarakas was being held, and expected to remove and hand over the offending purple attire. This particular rule was a shame, but the treatment of his kind was probably quite tame compared to what he has seen. His deformaties are minor compared to some, but plenty even that he will need to use his skills more than others.

A guardsman explains that the Mayor did not take audiences this late at night and would expect you all in the morning.

Inside the gates, the city was spread out from a wide central road that runs forward into the misty eve. There are torches here and there, but the light rain is uncomfortable and the darkness now hides the large fort and stonewalls of the interior, or the manor homes on the steep hillside. With a bit of squinting the party can see a line of storefronts along the road ahead and other less visible buildings stacked in thick rows behind them to either side. There was not a lot activity on the street at this time, and most were bunkering down, but ahead in the distance a fainting glowing shape hovers sationary, calling the travelers forward.

The young guardsman's thoughts turn slowly but he gets there and nods with a snap of his heeled boots. "Costable Henries, sir. Wait here out of the rain, please." He rushed off toward a nearby stable and had a young boy hitch a small buggy. Not exactly the carriage, technically, but a roofed area where Leon could sit out of the rain, to his destination.

The rain will soak you all to the bone if you aren't covered, but you are inside the city. The relative stillness of the air leaves the rain to fall in straight lines and as long as you have something to protect you head and shoulders you should not be too worse for wear. As you begin to walk a small passenger cart pulled but a mule pulls up to Leon. The buggy can hold one other person out of the rain, but if all of your new companions were to jump on, it will strain the horse and anger the driver, though it would still be better for them.

However the means, the four new travelers made their way down the mostly straight central road. Hound dogs howl and cats yowl, and the city sits quiet and still in the downpour. Passing storefronts and alleyways leading outward to warehouses areas, industrial parks, and ramshackle neighborhoods. The lights in the builds were sparse, and some buildings even looked as though there have been barred-closed.

Somewhere along the way, the dirt road gives way to stonework tracked roads that rise, making travel much easier and channeling away the excess water. Here the buildings are much grander, as part of the older city center, and while still, some buildings seem
unmaintained, the artistry of carpenters, smiths, and masons are on display. Many finely-crafted amenities are in use, from railings to statues to lamposts that remain lit even now.

Approaching the first real intersection, the adventurers reach their destination. Sitting directly in the crook of the road's fork, the Heart-of-Hearth Inn stands, a three-story building with a front-facing covered balcony, with a glowing sign that flickers with the illusion of firelight. The sounds within the Inn should dispel any fears of this being a ghost-town. The ruckus is a combination of shouting, cheering, dragging chairs, and mugs striking tables.

As the first of you reaches the Entrance the door bursts open, with a half-orc carrying a drunken human man by the scuff of his tunic, and tossing him off the front porch into the gutter with a splash. "Go home Pecker! You good for nothing... Oh! Oh hey! Are you new in Averndale?" The Half-orc smiles and stands aside, holding the door open. "Welcome Travelers" Waving you in from the cold drizzly weather.

Inside is a madhouse, with a little music behind it.