Luskan. The cesspool of the Faerûn continent. Currently winter, the homeless have been especially violent in competition for the warmest place to sleep. Bodies are becoming too tough even for starving dogs. This is a standard winter for Luskan and currently, the place is ruled by sea pirates who raided the place and killed the last leader of Luskan just 2 weeks ago.

  Luskan, the sort of place where a 'Weather Stained Cloak' involves light scorching from the occasional acid dripping down courtesy of the floating island above.  Joe wondered what this latest batch of pirate's stances were on urban zombie occupation?  Probably the same old 'eh, not where WE live' outlook.

  Though, the fact such horrors and hardship were becoming samey was a sign that it was probably soon time for Joe to leave.  After all, it wouldn't be much survival practice when it could all be done drunk and half asleep if need be.

A shrouded, bulky but somewhat short figure is walking through the streets, wearing that classic chinese bamboo hat, but with a hood and veil as well. Too thin to be a dwarf as most of the bulk is likely the massive winter clothes, though definitely the right height for one at 4' 6", the figure is holding a staff in one hand as the stranger seems to walk silently. Whoever they are, they don't look like a local.

The figure is headed straight for the local bar, where the pirate's first mate and a bunch of the crew happen to be hanging out.

  Despite prior claims, Joe is not yet drunk or half asleep.  He is however, a cliche.  Cloaked Man Sitting In Dark Tavern Corner™.  Continuing what is slowly growing to be a running gag, he wonders if a Halfling had a Kid with a Dwarf (Or, just a tall Halfling. Average height goes up to 4' 2" after all)

Dido could totally seduce a dwarf lady because he'd be manly enough. But this isn't Dido's love child.

The stranger gets a few glances and glares from the people in the bar. The bartender says, "Passing through?" to which the stranger nods. Then the bartender responds. "Good. This place isn't healthy. Now whatchya wanna order, stranger?"

A soft, feminine and oddly accented voice (most people in this setting have never even HEARD of chinese, much less heard someone speak it or speak common with the chinese accent), "Some of your finest ale, please."

The girly voice has gotten a LOT more attention than the "I'm just a cloaked figure, minding my own business, please leave me alone" look.

  If only the height of immature reasons for such staring was 'a Girl wants to get MAN'S' BOOZE!?'

  Speaking of, Joe is currently desperately trying to figure out if he's had enough that his Conscience may start acting up.  His starting out 'too young to take seriously as a threat' grace period in Luskan had long since passed by for that sort of thing to be practical and get away with it.

The bartender, at least, seems immensely amused by the girly-voice asking for ale. "Heh... sure thing." he has also learned not to address people as "sir" or "ma'am" based solely on voice. Even a beard can't tell you too much if they are a dwarf. He serves the ale, the stranger pays and pours the ale into a container. Then hands the mug back to the bartender and bows slightly. "Thank you."

The stranger then turns to leave and some pirates decide to follow. Yup. One of those days where Joe gets to be inconvenienced by his conscience.

  If Joe is lucky, all those eyepatches will make the pirate's perception checks lower as he follows the followers following Fan... Pan, out of the Bar.  All pirates have eyepatches right?

  Keeping a reasonable distance is practical.  Not only are people slightly less likely to notice you, but bows work better than knives at a distance, duh.

Once outside the bar, the pirates surround Pan and and chuckle. "So... let's see that face yer hidin', shall we?" "As you wish." Pan answers. She tilts her hat back then opens the veil to reveal her panda face. The pirates are a bit shocked.

Pan is holding her staff with both hands, though more to lean on the staff in appearance, she is ready to fight. "Now that you have seen me, may I go?"

The pirates might have actually let her go due to A: Shock and B: She actually showed respect and obedience. But the problem was C: The pirates are currently drunk. "Sorry, madam... we insist you stay." they proceed to tease each other about which one is going to kiss the bear. After all, she's unusual enough, it's kind of a dare in the same sense as petting a skunk.

One pirate says, "I say we play (Russian) Rulette."

Disclaimer: There is no Russia in Forgotten Realms, so Russian is in parenthesis for this reason.

  Joe guesses these pirates aren't particularly popular on the Shifter dating scene.

  Although a cartoonish plan that of all things doesn't involve violence comes to mind.  Joe pulls out a roll of parchment and in large block letters common writes 'Pretending Pirate. Pretend Kiss' (hopefully is she speaks it, she can read it?) and holds it up.  After all, even it the pirates have the girl surrounded, they are looking more towards the ground than across the street.

  A long enough moment of that to hopefully get it across, Joe wanders over then develops stumble Mc Slur as he gets close.  "Yer all a bunch a babysh. Especially you Rob." he says wavering pointing a hand across like half of them.  "I'm goin for it."

  It hurts our brain to try and figure out the numbers involved in Slight Of Hand; Pretend to Kiss vs Perception; Drunken Pirates.  Good thing it's freeform.

The panda girl seems rather surprised by the comical "rescue" attempt, but figures it's worth a shot. Her uncertainty is clear, though, as she doesn't immediately allow him to get that close. The pirates cheer him on, but when he does grab her, Pan does the classic girly struggle. No special moves.

Half-drunk pirates? Their perception takes a hit. Even the ones without eye patches. So the "not a rogue, honest" thievery check for slight of hand succeeds. He even has a convenient bamboo hat to hide him enough to make the kiss look real.

The pirates cheer and hoot and holler.

  Joe didn't get punched in the face, awesome!  That's always a plus in any given day.

  Joe straightens back up.  Now let's hope it stays that way despite implied insults to her personal hygine.  "Now I know why she wanted the best brew, shprobably cant stand the tassht of her own mouth."

The pirates laugh again. "Well ye don't have t' taste anymore. Ye said you were passin' through. So pass through!" They move aside and Pan runs off, staff in hand. She doesn't look back.

The pirates go back towards the tavern, probably assuming Joe will go back in with them, but they don't twist his arm.

  Joe tosses two silver after them and says "grab me a drink, ill de right there after I leave my old drinks in the alley." Sure sign of being completly smashed, trusting anyone one anywhere in Luskan or around it with any money.  Probably no faster way to get them to rush back to the bar without him in the world of course.

  Joe will stumble towards the bar's obligatory back alley until the pirates are out of sight, then resume proper wandering in the direction of Pandas.  Can't say it isn't curious.