...pull a wizard's hat onto your head.

From Create Your Own Story

You always feel a little more... together... when that hat goes onto your head. The broad-brimmed red thing shades your eyes, and little more - it's not actually magical itself - but it's warm, comfortable, and durable. A crimson jacket comes out of the trunk next, thrown on over the travelling clothes that you slept in, followed by your boots and knapsack, which contains your spellbook. In mere moments you're ready to face the day! Or, rather, you're technically ready. You still don't want to head out and face Grath's jolly beaming just yet. But you buck up and open the door anyway...

"Took you long enough." The burly, pale outlander is stretched out on a bench in the hallway, his long dark warrior-braids dangling off the edge of the propped-up plank of wood. His trusty axe leans against the wall beside him.

"We practitioners of the ars arcana take a little more time in the morning, that's all."

"You practitioners of the flickery lights and things that go boom need to learn to sleep a little deeper and rise a little earlier." He rolls his eyes. "Come on, breakfast is already being served."

The inn's common room is bustling, a simple "serve yourself" buffet-style affair long since set up. There's plenty of fruit and bread left, and you satisfy yourself with a huge chunk of melon - just now in season! - and a bit of white cheese before sitting down to eat.

The common room is full of other travellers, most of whom are in conversation with each other about this or that. You take a bite of your fruit and let the juice run down your chin as you...

Do you:

• Listen in on the conversation to your left
• Listen in on the conversation to your right
• Block out the conversations and concentrate on your breakfast!