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"Thanks for your help, I appreciate... and—" you pause for a moment, "Sorry that you had to go through that."
"Don't be," she says, smiling. "That's way better than what we came from before." Her words carry a sense of resilience, and you realize that the people choosing to live at this remote outpost, seemingly at the end of the world, must have compelling reasons for doing so. With a nod of gratitude, you leave the general store, now equipped with a fresh set of clothes, feeling a renewed sense of dignity. The evening is settling in, and you decide to make your way back to the alehouse to get washed and eat.
After Avina points you to the makeshift bath on the lower floors of the alehouse, you follow her instructions, heating the water with rocks and taking the opportunity to cleanse yourself thoroughly. As you soap away the grime, it's as if you're shedding a layer of dirt, revealing a cleaner version of yourself. The bathwater turns a deep brown, and after chucking it away, you dry off and change into your new clothes.
"Talk about a diamond in the rough," Avina flirts. "Maybe taking a bath should become a regular thing for you," she teases, noting the slight red tint on your clean cheeks.
"Here, nothing fancy—meat, potatoes, and steamed vegetables." She shoves a plate filled enough to feed a small family in front of you. After a satisfying battle with the plate, victorious, weeks of hunger have given you a bottomless appetite. Looking up from your plate, you notice the alehouse getting fuller. Avina's two boys, the drow, and a more clearly visible dwarven teenager, work tirelessly bringing tankards of ale to what feels like the entire town slowly gathering in the alehouse. STOMP. A large tankard is placed in front of you as Avina gives you a cheeky grin.
"I was half expecting you to throw up, but you actually finished the plate. Here, have some proper dwarven ale to wash it away, boy!" she says, hurrying and shouting instructions to her two boys. Sipping from your tankard, you realize you don't truly know anybody. Now might be the time to meet people and find those who could be invaluable to starting your new life at the frontier. You lack money, friends and knowledge.
You glance around the alehouse and spot several individuals:
>The Mayor: Red-faced, chatting with an elderly woman and a halfling man.
>Delruth: Silently sipping his drink with Aluan and Lucas speaking amongst themselves.
>The Lone Red-Headed Huntress: Drinking stoically alone at a table.
>The Human Builder: The one you saw constructing his building when you left. He was building something, but what? It might be interesting to find out.
>The Elderly Man: Quietly drinking while reading his book. He looks like a wisened sage, he might be able to give you advice on whatever topic you might ask.
>Avina and her boys: After rush hour you could talk to them. Alvina is the alemaster, she knows better than everyone the relationship and players in town.
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