He looked around... well, the floor really, as he had been thrown into a chair. The tavern was dimly lit, the patrons were a mix of humans, elves, and orcs. The smell of roasting meats and spilled ale filled the air. Rob felt his head swim as the sudden change of scenery washed over him, his new reality setting in... noone seemed to pay him any mind. The bar area was full, but there were a few tables empty. The blue box menu remained in front of him, now displaying the status of his health and abilities. A full tankard of ale lay in front of him, along with an empty plate; at least he got a welcome drink, he sipped it as his head swirled.

This was normally where you were supposed to be in denial, but the details and the warm ale were VERY convincing. He shut his mouth and tried to make sense of what to do.

Rob's hands glide over the coarse fabric of his pants, searching the pockets. His fingertips brush against something metallic and cold. His hand closes around the object and pulled it out under the table. Inside was an open pouch, filled with 32 copper coins. The sound of the coins jingling against each other briefly drew the attention of a nearby patron, a grizzled human with a half-empty tankard of ale. The man's eyes flicked towards Rob for a moment before returning to his drink. The pouch looked old and well-used, hinting at a life of adventure or perhaps just a commoner's daily struggle. The discovery of the coins brought a slight sense of relief to Rob, realizing that he wasn't entirely without resources in this new world.

He looked around and saw people were paying about a copper for an ale.

As Rob took a moment to observe the tavern, he notices the diverse range of species and classes of patrons. The atmosphere is lively, with a mix of laughter, murmurs of conversation, and the occasional clank of metal as weapons hit the tabletop. The tavern keeper, a burly orc with a gruff demeanor, was busy serving drinks and food. A group of rowdy dwarfs at a nearby table burst into song, their deep voices echoing off the wooden walls. An elf, dressed in finery, sat alone at the bar, sipped a delicate wine and eyeing the crowd with a discerning gaze. A young human couple whispered intimately in the corner, seemingly oblivious to the noise around them. The smell of roasting meats becomes more pronounced, and his stomach growled. The tavern keeper noticed his empty plate and gestured to a “Customers Only” sign behind him.

A girl in a simple dress threw down a wooden menu in front of Rob, the vibration causing his pouch on the table to jiggle. The menu was handwritten with a variety of dishes, including meats, stews, and a few vegetarian options. Prices ranged from 1 to 50 coppers, indicating that food here was relatively affordable. The most expensive dish is an "Elven Delight," which was described in an overly poetic way that made it sound both exotic and mysterious. The cheapest was a loaf of bread, the next was a simple "Traveler's Stew" at 2 copper, which is likely made from whatever scraps are on hand. There were also several drink options, from water to various ales and wines, with prices ranging from 0 to 10 coppers.

It looked like he had been "blessed" enough for a decent lunch and dinner... but not probably not enough for tomorrow. He would have to get his bearings fast, before fatigue set in. At least he was hydrated.

The girl who threw down his menu looked to be a young adult, with short cropped blond hair and a mousy face. He realized he was staring; she wasn't exceptionally attractive, but she was still... distracting. Evidently there were perils to a 16 year old brain he'd forgotten, hopefully this body wasn't as dumb as he was at 16. This looked like the kind of world where idiots got their head knocked about.

He nursed his drink and took a moment to ground and enjoy himself. He'd already died once, somehow, life was too short to panic. It wasn’t like he’d been dropped in front of some ravenous monster, he’d been given a brief rundown and dropped off in a tavern with a beer. He still had to find shelter and a place to reflect, but for now it would be a waste to ignore the beer.

His eyes strayed back to the server; she didn't have any tits, but he was fine with that. She moved quickly, and he could make out a shapely ass through her dress. As she bent over one of the tables to pick up an empty mug, she looked back and winked; "No extra service".

He flushed; he thoughts had been muddled, and he hadn’t realized he was looking. He cleared his throat and nodded, averting his eyes and focusing back on the menu. He decided to order the Traveler's Stew and a mug of water. The girl took his order with a smirk, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

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The dwarf at the next table elbowed him and said "Don’t worry lad, she's used to looking by a lot uglier; we've all been on the road for awhile at some point". He laughed and seemed to dive into his mug with a passion. The dwarf had a point; the tavern was filled with hardened travelers and adventurers. Rob felt a bit embarrassed, but also a bit more at ease. The girl brought him a steaming bowl of stew and a mug of water, the smell was heavenly, and he thanked her with a nod. She winked again and took his coppers, disappearing back into the kitchen. He took a bite; it was bland, but filling, and just what he needed. The warmth spread through his body, and the food began to restore his energy. The tavern's atmosphere was comforting in its familiarity; it reminded him of the gaming taverns he used to visit in RPGs, though this was a bit more... "rustic". Some of the tables looked like they were just stacked old crates.

Rob looked at the dwarf next to him; the social awkwardness would be a little easier with a drunk who'd already initiated conversation. He had black hair and long braids, peppered with grey; his beard was thick and braided with beads. He wore a simple shirt and had a heavy leather apron over his trousers. The dwarf had a kind smile, and his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Thanks. I'm no gentleman, but I'd rather not piss the locals off", Rob responded.

"HA! You? You're more likely to flatter them, you've got a couple years before you need to worry about that," the dwarf said with a chuckle, slapping his hand on the table. "But if you're looking to get on their good side, I've got a few tips for you." He leaned in closer, and his speech became a drunken whisper. "They're a feisty bunch, the girls here. Give 'em a good show, a bit of your coin, and they'll warm up to ya' like a dragon to its hoard." He winked and took a large gulp of his ale.

Rob laughed. "I doubt I even have enough for a night, the gals can wait until later." The dwarf chuckled. "Ah, priorities! You're smarter than you look, lad." The conversation with the dwarf provided a bit of insight into the local customs. The tavern's ambiance grew more relaxed as Rob finished his stew and felt the warmth of the food and ale spread through his body. He observed the tavern's activities, keeping an ear out for potential job opportunities and rumors spreading among the patrons. The tavern keeper called for last food orders, signaling that the night was winding down to the final hours.

"OH SHIT. What is wrong with me? Homeless is a bad start to a life."

He paused and hefted his pouch. The way he saw it, he could either beg a discount room, find a place to crash(A stable somewhere?), or ply someone friendly for work.

A well muscled woman next to the dwarf started laughing. "What was that about priorities, young one?" she slammed her hand on the table and the tavern went quiet. "You're either with us, or you're on your own." She winked at the dwarf, who was now trying to hide his face in his mug. Rob swallowed, suddenly aware of the some of the attention.

She was huge. About 6'5, with a wiry build, bare arms, corded muscles, a thick leather vest, and what looked like a two handed sword strapped across her back. She had a shaved head, with tattoos that snaked around the edges of her skull and peeked out from her collar. "Looking for work, are ya?" She looked him over, "Well, I might have something for ya. I've got some... personal problems. My friend here, Grommash..." she nodded to the dwarf, "... wouldn't much like it if I hired you for them, though"

The dwarf kept his face in his drink.

"For now, I'll offer you a spot in my room if you tell me your class, and promise we’ll try to build a working relationship later. You wouldn't be in an adventurers' dive if you weren't motivated or powerful, and you have the look of the newly awakened. What do you say?"

In his old life, Rob would have been ecstatic, but right now he felt like a deer in the headlights. Everything was moving too fast. He'd only been here an hour or two trying to escape his racing thoughts, and his life was starting to being thrown out of a tavern.

Seeing the panic on his face, she continued:

"Come on, my name's Tara, I'm a warrior. Can't be letting a kid like yourself out on the streets on your first night adventuring, can I?" She slapped him on the shoulder. "You lucked out. The problems will sort themselves; you're with me. And if Grommash here doesn't like it, well, he can deal with my 'personal issues' himself. We won't do anything you don't want to, but if you play your cards right you'll have some new friends. Ye’re not too much of an ass, or Grom wouldn’t have been talking with you. "

Rob looked at the dwarf, who was sighing and putting his drink down. "She won't swindle you, especially not with me around, but be careful what you say 'yes' to. If nothing else, should could give you some decent advice without hawking your class to everyone. Just remember, you're no more mature than you were yesterday… you might want to ask around and get the lay of the land yourself tomorrow".

Yesterday, Rob was doing data entry for a healthcare company. His job was putting shit into excel, and an AI could probably do it nowadays if his employer wasn't so ass backwards. Earth may not have been as rough as this world looked, but he didn't think he'd be fleeced his first day - at least with nothing to steal.

Making a judgement call, he looked over at Tara and reached out a hand. "Fuck it, I'm Rob, I'm in", he said, as she grinned widely and grabbed his forearm.

Gloating in her victory over Grom, Tara was beaming. He couldn't tell if she was a predator or just rough around the edges; back on earth he would have assumed she was some flavor of "neuro-spicy". Here, the towering frame and greatsword kept him from any assumptions.

The rest of the night started to blur. You had to trust someone, right? Maybe the [SYSTEM] dropped him here on purpose to keep him from panicking, or integrate into society, he had no idea. Or maybe it was just random and lazy.