Head into the town
From Create Your Own Story
The path seems to lead uphill for another fifteen minutes before sharply turning around the bend of a large boulder, revealing the small and rather comely town of Startide. Several straw-thatched roofs rise from small farm huts and houses. Grey-white smoke lazily rolls into the clear blue sky. The sounds of people conversing, working and living can be heard.
As you head further in, a small group of children dash by, squealing in delight, as they are chased by a black dog, his tongue flopping to the side, barking playfully. A farmer straightens up from tilling his plot and raises a hand in reserved greetings. You respond in kind. A lovely place, you admit, but not somewhere that screams adventure. Although, you think to yourself, adventure can be found anywhere. And with adventure comes gold. Usually.
The town center is small, but adequate for the population you assume numbers in the dozens. Old women stand at stalls and hawk their wares to passerby's as you quickly assess your surroundings. You find what you are looking for easily enough- a tall building stands high above it's neighbors. A pair of heavy wooden doors hold the sign 'open.' On the wall to it's left, another sign reads, 'The Dancing Mare.' The local tavern. A perfect place for people like you to make their living.
Slowly, you make your way inside. The tavern is very dark, even with the dazzling sunlight pouring through the large open windows along the walls, somehow. Several tables and chairs dot the room, and a large, open pit in the center of the floor holds a roaring fire, being tended to by a rather dashing young man, presumably one of the workers at the establishment. Looking up, you see railing walls off the second floor, where you assume the rooms are.
"Welcome to the Dancing Mare!" A voice booms from your right, causing you to slightly jump. You watch as an elderly, fat man wanders out from behind the bar, raising his arms in a friendly greeting. "What can I get for you today?"
"I'm not so sure," you mutter distractedly, casting a quick glance around the room once more. Apart from one man sitting in the corner, slouched over a drink, the tavern is empty. You didn't expect it to be teeming- it is the morning and people have to work, after all- but not this empty.
- Buy a drink and find some leads from the bartender. (only if the robbers didn't take your gold)
