Having spent a good ten minutes walking around the docks trying to find the Wandering Adventurer, I finally asked for directions. Now, I found myself in front of a nondescript building. Like most of the buildings closer to the docks, it was built from wood that had aged and weathered to a grayish color. There was no sign out front, and it blended in with the rest of the surrounding warehouses and office buildings so that one could walk right by it and not even know it was an inn, which was precisely what I had done…twice.
Seriously how do they expect to attract any customers if they don’t even have a System Damn sign out front? I think, annoyance tinting my mental voice.
Along the back wall, a polished wooden counter spanned the length. The innkeeper is busy pouring drinks or polishing glasses. To the untrained eye, the tables and chairs appear to be placed randomly around the room, but if you look closer, it is clear that they were strategically placed to allow for easy movement by the staff. Each table had its own Light Crystal power lamp as its centerpiece. The lamps were made with heavily clouded glass that cut down on the intensity of the light, allowing only a soft glow. Waitresses and even a few waiters moved among the tables, bringing food and drink or taking orders.
“What it’ll be,” the innkeeper asked as I approached the bar.
“I don’t suppose you have a room available?” I ask.
The innkeeper looked me over before asking, “You Bill’s kid?” which had me raising an eyebrow. “oh, doncha be giving me that look. Old Guildmaster Williams sent word earlier that you might be by looking for a room and that I should keep one available for ya. O’course I wouldn’t have kept it for more than a day. I do have a business ta run. Anyho, for adventurers, I charge two and a half silver, including dinner and one bath. If ya want breakfast in the morn, you’ll have ta pay extra.”
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Thinking it was probably the best deal I was likely to get in the city, I handed the innkeeper a gold coin.
“Pleasure doin' business with ya,” the innkeeper said, pocketing the coin and turning to one of the staff standing near the bar. “Lucas, why dontcha make yourself useful and show the young lady to room two? I’m Garrick, by the way.” The innkeeper said the last part, handing me a key.
“Thank you, Garrick, I’m Melissa,” I say, taking the key.
Lucas led me up a flight of stairs to the second story and down a narrow, well-lit hallway before stopping in front of a door with a brass number two affixed to it. “Here you are, ma’am. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, I think I’m good. Thank you.” I answered, unlocking the door and entering the room. Closing the door behind me, I look around the modest room. The room was rectangular, with one wall dominated by a large bed, a small desk across from it, and a modestly sized dresser next to the desk. Another of those light crystal lamps sat on the desk; unlike the ones in the dining room, this one had a built-in shutter to block the light. A window with wooden shutters takes up the far wall, no glass, which was kind of expected in such an old building. Overall, the room was functional, and really, that was all you could ask.
< All right, you have a place to sleep, at least for the next four days.> Gem says as I push open the shutters to see a great view of the docks at night.
< You're not planning on trying the Evergloom; you're not scared of it, are you> Gem asks with a snicker.