Go to Lastredast and the Inn of the Whispering Dragon

Mounting Dusk, your blue-grey mare, you set off down the heavily wooded mountain trail towards the village of Lastredast. To a human, this trail, little more than a bare strip between the heavy-boughed mountain oaks, was as foreboding as any untamed wilderness. The ancient, twisted trees, thick roots digging deep into the rocky soil, held about them an ominous presence for the short-lived races. For the elves, however, who recognized not malevolence, but majesty in their presence, there could be about this path nothing but a fond respect for the wizened trees and a feeling of restful poise. This trail, so intimidating to humans, was possibly the safest trail in all of Valendrel.

Lastredast was a small village on the border of the elven kingdom, and the kingdom of Torrand. It was principally a trading village, a politically neutral territory where human and elven traders could exchange goods and information on equal footing. This clean, orderly, and bustling village was possibly the safest village for hundreds of leagues, patrolled as it was by a joint constabulary of human and elven militia. These soldiers, though ostensibly there to protect the citizens and the travelling merchants, and to oversee and regulate the trade of goods, were not without their ulterior motives. Lastredast, being on the border of an elven and a human kingdom, occupied a special position in the minds of both rulers, and neither felt it inappropriate to keep a very close and careful eye on the activities of his or her neighbours. Elves were not above a little smuggling, if the goods were valuable and hard to come by, and humans certainly were not chary of spying, mostly by stealth and magic, on the goings on of their elven friends, whom they feared and respected so greatly. For all of its peace and prosperity, Lastredast was not without its hidden tensions.

Coming upon the Elfway Gate, you note that, though evening is beginning to draw on, the heavy wooden doors remain open. Two pairs of guards, one human, the other elf, stand idly about, engaged in boring and familiar chatter. The human guards are armed with pikes and shields and are clad in studded leather armor. Over their armour they wear black tunics bearing the blood-red emblem of the Royal Torrandian constabulry. The elves are armed more casually, bearing bows and long swords, and wear the soft white leather of forest wardens.

On seeing you approach, all of the guards stand up straighter and scrutinize you intently. Your beauty has rendered the human guards, who have probably never seen an elvish maid in the flesh, speechless. Both of them stare at you like oafs with gaping mouths. The elven guards, however, are a little more wary. Clearly, they are aware of your beauty, but it is a kind of beauty with which they are already familiar. They are certainly intrigued by your presence among them, however, such an incident being unprecedented.

You look the elven soldiers over carefully, but you recognize neither of them. It is possible that one or both of them know of you already, however.

"Good tidings, m'lady," one of them says in a pleasant, but professional tone. "I must inquire: what is the nature of your business at Lastredast?"

"My business is my business," you reply, cooly, staring him down. The soldier's eyes flicker away ever so briefly, unnerved by the unyeilding inkyness of your eyes.

"I must apologize. It is not usual for a lady to travel alone...in these parts," he adds, in a rather hasty afterthought.

"I make no claim to being usual," you respond, nudging Dusk forward with a gentle clucking of your tongue.

"My lady," the elven guard says, taking a step forward to bar your path. "Again I must inquire. It is an unpleasant, but necessary, duty."

"Very well," you say, smiling ever so slightly. "I have no wish to discomfit you in your duties. If you must know: I have come to shop, and perhaps to stay a day or two. Though a lady," you add with emphasis," I am not above a little adventure."

The guard seems to accept your explanation at face value. After all, you have no doubt he is thinking, woman are wont to shop. You are simply more adventurous than most.

"Of course, m'lady," he says with a relieved smile. "If you are ever in need of any assistance, please allow us or our brethern to be of service." He places special emphasis on the word 'our', and casts a derisive glance at the human guards.

You nod graciously at his proposal and lead Dusk on into the village.

Being the principal trade route, Lastredast is also the principal jumping off point for young elves of the kingdom out to make a name for themselves and have a look at the world. In this respect, you are no different from your numerous brothers, the many young male elves who stroll here and there about the village on matters of personal business. Most of the inhabitants are so engrossed in the details of their private affairs that they pay little heed to the business of others; but your beauty and your gender makes your presence a matter of great and public interest. Most of the inhabitants of the village, men and women, seem powerless to avert their eyes. To the men, you must appear to be a twilight vision, a spirit of pure beauty wandering wistfully through their undeserving village, an alabaster angel in a coral gown sitting gracefully atop a blue-grey steed. To the women you seem either a great inspiration, or a tremendous threat, depending, it appears, on whether or not their lovers are there to witness your entrance.

You make your way to the Whispering Dragon, the inn of which you have heard numerous things. It is a common waypoint for adventurers of all races and creeds, and if there is adventure to be had, it is certainly to be found here first. Dismounting Dusk, you gather your things and prepare to enter when you hear a voice to your left.

"Hello there, lass," comes a musical voice. You turn to look, in spite of yourself and see a young, handsome elf standing at the corner of the inn, waving invitingly in your direction.