The smell was, to say the least, delicious. Spices clung to the air and every table in the large tavern was full to capacity.

The Rusty Dragon was split into three main areas. Left of the entrance and towards the back was a sitting area with benches and chairs that could double as an impromptu stage. Currently there was a bard reciting some tale and quite a few ordinary folk were holding plates of food and drink and listening in, especially travelers with small children.

The main area was the bar that had seven stools (all occupied) and three additional large tables. There were just two chairs free among the three tables. Behind the bar, Ameiko was busy filling drink orders. She gave a nod and waved at Zakida when the half-orc entered.

To the right was the main dining area with five tables (all occupied) as well as a "buffet" style table set with fresh baked bread and plates of cured meats. Patrons of the inn could pay a few silvers to eat whatever they wish from the table for the duration of their stay. The main waitress working the tables was an older halfling woman who could barely see above the tables but was expertly setting dishes and clearing away the old ones.

A haggard looking Tien bartender is weaving her way in and out of the crowd with a tray full of food and ale. When she sees newcomers though she looks up and smiles, calling out to them.

"Find a spot where you can and I'll get to you! And if you're looking for a bit of coin..."

She sets down a plate of food at one table full of Ulfen caravan guards and jerks her thumb towards the "HELP WANTED" board over near the sitting area that looked to be picked completely clean.

"Or better yet if you're looking for a sellsword I'd appreciate it if you would hire out a few of the ruffians here."

She grinned and jabbed an elbow playfully at a very un-ruffian looking group of farmers with a table full of empty mugs in front of them and the three men started laughing along with the bartender, elbowing one another and boasting about the number of dragons they each slew on their way to the festival.

As the woman circled her way around the tavern her orbit finally got close enough where she could talk without having to shout over half the crowd.

"The name's Ameiko and this is my tavern. We've got good food, good ale and a very strict "no trouble" policy. I apologize but I think it's going to be standing room only until the festival kicks off."

Talitha reaches the tavern after a few minutes wondering around the area. She approaches the counter and talks to Ameiko.
"Hello, could I have some food and an ale? What do you recommend? I had a long boring trip and I need something to cheer me up." she smiles at her.
"Once my belly is full I'll check those ruffians you talked about. They do really look dangerous."
She winks at the farmers while she waits to get some food and drink.

Tristen entered the Rusty Dragon with Talitha. He waited until she stated her intentions, "Just remember. The owner said, 'no trouble' so don't go looking for something." Tristen smiled at Ameiko, "Tristen d'Cordain. I'd like some ale." He found one of the two empty seats by the table.

The road was long but not hard, not this time. His eye wandered the room noting the women with strong thighs. "Thank you." He said as Ameiko served the drink, "Are all of the room already taken? Seems that this festival has brought a crowd to Sandpoint. Do you have a spare room still available?"

Ameiko nods, wiping her hands on the smock she was wearing.

"Yeah. Right now the local tap is only a copper a mug. If you want to pay for food you can otherwise there's always a big meal served at noon. All the private rooms are full but shared rooms are available for five silvers or two silvers gets you a spot on the floor by the fire tonight."

Talitha laughs and pushes Tristen gently. "Since when do I get in trouble?"
She replies to Ameiko "I think we'll start with a mug of ale and we'll keep our appetite for the meal at noon. This round's on me! I'm happy with a bed in a shared room as well. what do you think Tristen? And where is Kaddock? I thought he was right behind us."

Arialis would walk into the Rusty Dragon, on one arm was a Gnome, and on the Gnome's other arm was a Half-orc. It definitely had to be a site to see the moment that they walked through the door. "...somehow I suddenly feel like this is awkward." She said quietly to herself.

Razyll smiled.

He rarely met the norms which others expected so any odd glances were easy of Razyll to ignore. He moved up to Ameiko.

"This one speaks highly of your spiced cakes, do you have any for a reasonable price?" Razyll said with a smile.

Faeli waved at Ameiko vigorously.

Before she turned to look at the packed Rusty Dragon. She smiled and looked over each and every patron, mentally inventing stories of where they came from and why they were in Sandpoint.

Kaddock followed the striking elven woman with the violet hair as he headed to the tavern.  It wasn't hard to follow as not only were they headed to the same destination but the woman had her arms interlinked with the gnome and the half-orc from earlier.  He entered the tavern right behind them and looked around knowing that his comrades from the caravan were sure to be there drinking already.

Spotting Talitha and Tristen he walked over.  He tossed a copper to Ameiko; "Something from the tap for me as well."  Kaddock took a seat and smiled.  "A bit of a delay in the crowd.  So do we stay here for the night at least?  There is a good deal going on out in town to see and do before the consecration as well as work to be had it seems."

Arialis followed the Razyll and Faeli over to Ameiko and the bar and gave a gentle sigh. "I would like food, drink, and a room as well."

When Tristen understood that they would have to share a room together between the three of them. He grew hesitant. It was one thing to share a camp, but in a town... it wasn't proper. His eyes wandered over the tavern before he turned to the others. "We'll need to take two rooms to share since they only fit two to a room. Kaddock and I will share. Leaving the other one for Talitha."

Kaddock's eyes had followed the violet haired elf as she walked through the bar.  "Perhaps the elf there can share with Talitha.  The rooms are expensive enough."

Talitha is enjoying the relaxed atmosphere in the tavern while driving her ale. She looks at the elf and smiles at Kaddock
"I'm happy to share a room to save some coin; I'm not picky at all as long as the person doesn't stab me or rob me in my sleep. But I'm not sure other people are happy to share a room with a stranger. Have you talked to her already?"
She sips from her mug of ale.
"Anyway let's sort this out and after eating something I say we go out and visit some of the stalls. I'll be fun."

"The celebration? Sure, I'm keen on seeing the dedication of the cathedral." Tristen finished his ale. He rose from his seat. "Besides another crowd has come inside, I'm inclined to give up my seat for the newcomers." He made his way through the busy tavern and headed outside.


OOC: Heading to the Market Square
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Mon 19 Oct 2020.

Kaddock shook his head. "No, I've not talked to her... more admired from a distance.  She seems friendly enough and not the type to stab and rob." He shrugged; "Enough time to figure all that out."

As the others Kraddock threw back his ale in a long gulp. "Ahhh... now that was worth waiting for."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Mon 19 Oct 2020.

Talitha sees the men leave the tavern before eating and send a little disappointed.
She gets another ale while she waits for the food as explained by Ameiko. The men are to shy to make new friends but she is not. Takes her mug and approaches the other three that look like they just made it in town.
"Hello there. My friend just left before lunch is served but I really wanted to try the food here and I hate eating alone. Do you mind if I join you for lunch? You look you just arrived as well."
Talitha showed a frank smile to the elf, the gnome and the half orc.
"My name is Talitha by the way, just got here in one of the caravans that arrived this morning."

Razyll looked over the new arrival and he pulled up a stool for Talitha. "Is it that obvious that I am new to town?" Razyll said as he ran his hands through his hair a few more times, his concern mounting over whatever residential gunk was left in his head due to Faeli's spell.

Then more genuinely Razyll said, "I always hated eating alone too."

Faeli beemed up at Talitha.

"Hey there! My name is Faeli, and think the fancy half-orc here mentioned that his name was Razyll..."

Faeli said as she pronounced the name delicately as if it was something that she didn't want to break. Some of the road customs of the Varisans had worn off on her and she felt that power existed in names, and kinship may be fanned or dampened with the proper utterance of some words of power.

"Isn't it wonderful discovering were life's journeys will take us?" Faeli said as she looked over the crowd of people in the Rusty Dragon and then her new friends,Arialis, Razyll and Talitha.

"Razyll, that is correct little-one."

Razyll confirmed with a smile. His eyes were alert and hard edge which softened just a little at the gnomes apparent infinite mirth. "I've come to town for the concentration of the new church. To be honest, I have been shirking my duties as a priest due to some of the more immediate concerns which are better handled by blade instead of prayer." Razyll said.

To further explain he removed a metal holy symbol of Sarenrae which had been previously hidden away and flush against his skin between his breastplate armor.

Talitha smiled to both Razyll and Faeli.
"It wouldn't be obvious you're new in town of it wasn't for the way all the locals looked at you. They didn't looked like they had seen you before by the position of their jaws when you all crossed the door."
She chuckled and looked at the farmers in the other table.
"One of my colleagues is also s pious person, you will like it, but he's more into the steel than the prayer." she talks to Razyll, but then switch to both again."Well, actually you'll like both of them. They're quite good guys except when they leave a damsel like myself unguarded in this dangerous tavern." she ends with a wide smile.
You can tell by the size and muscles in her arms she isn't exactly a damsel in distress.

Ameiko takes orders and coins for reservations that evening and disappears. While she is gone a table opens up as a group of caravan guards laugh about sweeping through the festival games and leaving town with armfuls of prizes.

It is only a half table in the end, six empty spots that half the standing crowd surges to acquire but it just happen to be closest to Razyll and Talitha allowing them to secure the prize of a seat at a table.

"I am Arialis Moonrider-Dragonfeather, of the elven House of Moonrider-Dragonfeather. I am a follower of Desna myself, as are many elves, and since I was coming here anyway on other business was asked to look and see after the new Cathedral for Kyonin." And that confirmed it, she was indeed the Violet Knight of Kyonin herself. Then she poked Faeli playfully. "Do you always introduce half of your friends?"

Faeli smiled and squealed with glee as she was poked.

"I know, I am sorry..." the gnome said.

"...elven names tend to be harder than other names, full of titles and other important stuff. I wasn't sure if I had yours down yet." Faeli finished with a smile.

Tristen moved next to Talitha with another round of ale, "Here you go." He handed her a second mug. "Who are your new friends? Name's Tristen. This is quite some celebration eh? They are market stalls and I'm planning on seeing that lighthouse."

Kaddock joined the group gathered around the table where Talitha and Tristen had gone to.  "I'm Kaddock of the Hawk Clan.  I think the games and performers will be exciting but the lighthouse does bear examining."

"Ah don't be sorry. I was teasing." She said with a smile to Faeli. "So now that we have rooms and everything. What should we do?"

"Now that we've been fed and have had our share of ale is time to waste our hard work earned money in the stalls."
She stood up and made a sign to the group.
"Who else is coming?"