The Tiny Tavern

A gnome dressed fancy and colorful wearing ton of costume jewelry enters the tavern. It soon becomes obvious that dress is all worn out and jewelry cheap. Gnome don't seem shy about the fact and requests a drink paying in copper. Anyone hear about adventurer rescue mission? he asks how it comes adventurers are not eager to save adventurers - who knows when will your own luck turn away? Tragim makes a pause before making a money sign and suggesting the obvious conclusion - rescue mission doesn't seem worth the money and money is the the only motivation adventurers have nowadays

Tragim jokes back that Branric as bartender shouldn't be too happy about the empty chairs. He
Gnome try to sound modest in his desires: I just want to find some friends.. He muses that pulling these new friends out of the pit should be an option. But slowly his topic drifts As my grandfather used to say - fortune is sticky. indirectly and through nice words gnome explains that he would prefer to find friends who are either smart, cunning or just lucky enough to have a better carrier.

Zyra had spent the last ten days recovering from her last adventure. She had secured lodging on a month to month basis a streets away and Branric has send a note saying his companion from the Forge was to meet with her later than evening. Thinking it was time for a treat, she arrived just before the super rush to find a secluded booth in the Tiny Tavern that offered a little more privacy for his conversation with Orryn.

She sits back waving to Branric and orders a meal and some ale from the barmaid. She settles in and waits.

Orryn shouldered his way through the entrance of the tiny tavern. Juggling the swing of the door with his feet as he carried a long object swathed in roughspun cloth. Turning around to regard the state of the tavern, he catches the barmaster's gaze with a nod and grin.

"Well met! As ye can see barmaster. I faired a bit better than the last. Here on business, in fact. Happen to have seen–"

He perked up at the sight of his quarry, sat alone in a secluded corner.

"Cancel that, I found her! A round of the dark an' brooding for the table over there. For yerself as well. Tradition, wasn't it?"

He winked as he hurried over to Zyra's table and plonked himself opposite her. Laying the package across the table.

"Good to see ye, Zyra! How has the tenday been treatin' ya?"

A warm smile wrinkled dark rimmed eyes. A subtle sign of fatigue counter to the cheery mood he carried.

"Ye look good! Far better than the cuts an' bruises from when we met!"

Zyra return the smile with a dopy grin of her own, Orryn's aura of optimism infectious as always.

It's been a relaxing tenday, had a chance to heal and fatten up. Looks like the masters haven't given you much time to sleep. Are they treating you well Orryn?

Orryn removed his hat and rubbed at the corner of his eye as if to smoothen it out.

"That obvious, eh? Suppose I might have burned the midnight oil a few nights more than necessary. The startup was as hectic as one might expect. Some of it less dramatic. Running a broom an' that sort of thing. But I aimed to learn as much as I could. Sleepin' would eat into critical work. Besides, had my own projects to work on as well."

He leaned in, flicking his gaze to the cloth covered pack as an edge of growing excitement pulled tight a knowing smile.

"Had a hand in makin' yer compensation as well! Surely yer curious to see it. Go ahead, have a look!"

Well your input is a welcome surprise. Zyra unwraps the Iklwa revealing the long leaf shaped head, the short shaft wrapped in worked leather and feels the perfect balance of the piece... This is fine work. I thank you and master Grusk. If his wears are 1/2 this good, he will make a fortune in that forge.

Zyra looks about and leans in to whisper to Orryn, Are you up for another job? Similar to the one we just completed but we might be able to come out as the owners of a apothecary shop... She leans back and slides the notice over to Orryn.

Orryn took up the slip, brow furrowed as he wordlessly intoned the short advert. A shop of his own, and so soon? What forces pulled the strings of his life so readily?

He set the notice down as he leaned back and picked as his beard. His eyes searched hers, taking measure in new lighting.

"Well now. Had no idea ye were wantin' to get into the business. I won't pretend my interest isn't piqued. But what's in this for yerself?"

Tragim looked at the strange pair and waited for their conversation to finish before approaching, trying to read both of them.
Zyra, Orryn? his voice suggests he is not sure, but he joins the table without invitation and start talking to the pair selling them the idea that they want Tragim in their party. Not everything of what he say is truth but not a complete lie either (or at least that's something he want o believe in)

To Orryn: I'm not actually interested in the specific business. But I do need a permanent place to live that isn't a "bad job" away from being back in the streets. I have the connections to help us avoid trouble with the faceless lords, I could help you with the books and still have time for adventures and other odd jobs. If we position it right with the heiress, we could buy it off her overtime. It would give us time to clean up the shop, get a steady income stream and with money, we can make more money...Just as Zyra finishes, another Gnome walks up to their booth, and Zyra looks over to Orryn with a look on her face: "do you know him?"