At first, I wasn't sure what time of day it was when I originally appeared here, but as I wandered back down the main road towards the Inn I had just passed, I noticed the sun starting to lower towards the houses and the distant top of the wall I could see off to my right. So, probably around noon, I'd guess - and now moving towards evening as we pass through the lazy afternoon.
The time didn't seem to affect how busy the city was, with enough people walking to and fro that I'm sure it looked like a hive of insects from above. Likely there's no concept of a specific "lunchtime" here to delineate traffic.
While the vast majority of the populace seemed to be wearing clothing not dissimilar to my own, even if in different styles and to differing appearances of wealth, I did notice here and there beings walking around fully dressed in armor, with weapons equipped at their sides or on their backs - and not while wearing a city guards tabard over it.
I assume these are mercenaries, adventurers, or whatever passes for them here in this world. It seems like an in-demand profession too, seeing as how many of them there are and how they all seemed to be moving with a destination in mind and no lazing about.
As I approached the inn ahead of me, I noticed one of those adventurers dip into it from the road. So, open for business! Hopefully, they have work available for room and board...
Opening the door and walking in I find myself in a place that looks exactly like I'd expect. Wood framing, sconces with some light (and not fire!) within lighting up the room, and rafters with a front desk that doubles as a bar along one wall, with a few scattered tables set in different places around the large main room, and a fireplace at the opposite end of the room from the door with a few chairs set up facing it. I noticed stairs on the wall to the right, opposite the front desk and bar.
There were a few people here and there, sitting in groups of 2 or 3 while the adventurer who entered in front of me plopped down in front of the fireplace.
I didn't see anyone standing behind the bar or at the front desk, so it seems whoever worked here was back in the kitchen, whose door I assume I can see in the corner behind the bar. Since there isn't anyone here to talk to yet regarding employment and room and board, I suppose I should gather some information if I can.
I walked through the room, trying to keep a sensible distance between myself and the people sitting at the tables to not disturb them. I walked up alongside the adventurer sitting in front of the fireplace and called out, " 'Lo, friend!" and smiled at him like an idiot.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt, as they say. And in this world, I am most certainly the fool.
He removed his helmet and sat it in his lap and I discovered he was a human, the full face guard having prevented me from noticing before. He seemed to rock back and forth to adjust for a second, settling into the chair in his heavy steel armor, before considering me for a moment and answering.
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"What do you want, stranger?"
"Ahh well you see good sir, I'm just a young man," It should appear valid to him, I appear to be about 20 in this body. "and I find myself bored with the drudgery of daily life. I was thinking of becoming an adventurer like you, but was wondering what you think the best way to see some action is?"
He snorted at that, "Lad if I had a gold piece for every young man that had asked me that... I don't see any equipment on you, I assume you don't have much in the way of it - or the gold to buy some?"
Well, he's right on both those accounts.
"No sir, I do not. I do know two minor magics, but neither holds the greatest combat potential." I looked down as if in shame, playing up my assumed lack of preparation.
"Minor magics are better than nothing, it's not everyone that bothers to invest in the arcane arts given how much time it takes to be great at them." He perked up at this.
Seems to have any magic at all is rarer than I thought - maybe others weren't gifted novice starting spells and had to learn from scratch?
"However, if all you have is that, you're hardly going to be able to protect yourself, nevertheless others around you. You need to practice some skills, martial or arcane, and then once you have the minimum level of ability and hopefully some equipment perhaps either the mage or the fighter guilds would have you." He continued. "Sign up with one of them, do not try and go at it by yourself. Too many young fellows get killed because they don't have the experience and skills to back it up, and the guilds can teach you what you need to be successful."
"Thankee sir, I'm certain I can get a food up with that advice!" I smiled at him - not that it meant much, under my hood and with my hair in the way, but I hope he understood I was thankful. "Um, I must be honest with you - I find myself amid some trouble. I have no place to stay, nor any means of employment. I don't suppose you'd be aware if this inn is offering any work, perhaps even for room and board?"
"I'm pretty sure the proprietor is looking for a new server for the crowds that come in after dinner, but whatever you do, don't-" the adventurer began to say, before getting cut off by a very short person appearing on his other side.
"Well ho there Aldrous!" The boisterous shorty said, "Who's this then?"
A dwarf! That's exactly what he looked like anyway, with a long beard and hair, and almost certainly as wide as he was tall, with muscles that looked solid as a rock. That's a little unfair, I wasn't even offered that racial choice! Oh well. Best to make a good impression.
"Greetings! My name is Dekar." I responded, giving him a wide grin and bowingly slightly at him. "I've been asking good Aldrous here for some advice. But I must say, it gives me great pleasure to meet one of the famous dwarves here."
The dwarven man's face did not change during my statement, but as I finished my words Aldrous' face seemed to blanch.
"Tim, don't-" Aldrous began to voice, as the dwarven man suddenly leaped towards me moving faster than my eyes could track.
And just like that, all of a sudden everything went black.