Go with the guards [Majority vote]

You returned to your chambers to find that there still wasn’t any message anywhere. You sigh relieved, knowing that a maid would have placed any letter directed at you on top of the bed.

Calmly you go to the closet and start getting ready for some drinks with the guards. You take off your heavy armour and stretch for a few minutes. The equipment had long been a trusty tool, but it was always a uncomfortable, especially around your chest area. Once you felt your joints relax and the soreness subside a little you looked through your clothes trying to find something appropriate to wear.

You didn’t own much in terms of clothing. You didn’t them considering that you wore your armour when going in public most of the time, and the time you spent on your own was usually done in your undergarments. For a second you thought about going out in such a state, but quickly dismissed the idea despite how exciting it might have sounded.

After a few minutes of deliberating, you decided to simply use what little you had. You put on a modest blue tunic with a long neck that you closed up with a string, a pair of brown pants covered your legs and a leather belt made your attire cling to your body safely. In the end you decided to wear your armour’s boots as well as the gauntlets to keep an air of your knighthood intact as well as some protection in case anything might happen tonight. Lastly, you sheathed a short sword before lending it to your belt. You never knew where danger might lurk and it was better to be prepared.

Feeling ready you awaited expectantly for the time to meet with your compatriots. You left for the tavern with a steady step, doing your best to hide your excitement. With your hands on your back and your head held high you made your way out of the palace and onto the street. As you passed people seemed to turn their heads and look at you in awe. You moved swiftly and soon enough found yourself at the door of the tavern.

The Broken Claw was somehow one of the most successful taverns in all the kingdom. It was positioned quite close to the palace, but despite that patrons from all over came to have a drink, meet one another or simply enjoy the tales from the bards playing each night. It was a simple wooden place with various circular tables filling the space, a bar sat on one of the corners where an orcish man happily served the drinks, a large wooden stage occupied one of the sides ready to be used by any who might wish to entertain, and a staircase on the side made it clear that a second floor was being used as well.

The place was buzzling with all forms of life. You were able to spot a table filled with noblemen who chatted amongst themselves, although they seemed to shrink once your gaze fell upon them. You could spot a few goblins on the corner speaking in hushed tones, they were a rare sight on the city, but they seemed to be keeping to themselves. The drunken song of some dwarves hit your ears and you couldn’t help but smile at the ridiculous, yet charming display. Eventually, however, you managed to find a feline figure waving at you in the middle of a packed table.

As you approached you noticed that although some of the guards had kept their leather armour on, most had changed into their casual clothing. What caught your eyes the most this time around was Gale himself. You had known him for a few years, but never before had you seen him in casual attire. He wore what a prepared to be a tight crop top shirt that showed off his toned, yet slender mid riff, a pair of tight leather pants seemed to cover his long legs and his tail wayed happily behind him.

“Glad you could make it my lady.” He smiled up at you and handed you a mug of strong ale.

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss hanging with the troops for anything.” You smiled before taking a seat next to him.

Looking around the other guards seemed to straighten themselves and give you a salute. Your rolled your eyes and chuckled at the display, but didn’t do anything else to stop them for now.

The start of the evening was a little awkward. The guards appeared to feel a little unwilling to interact with the same vigour they had when you first entered, but as the night went on and drinks were drunk eventually the atmosphere began to change. With the voices become louder and the words a little less careful it didn’t take long for everyone to start sharing stories and laughing at each other.

You listened intently at what the guards said, learning more about each one and happily ignoring how clearly exaggerated some got when describing their feats. Eventually, as you got to your third drink or so, you began getting a little tipsy and ready to share your own stories.

After a draconic guard finished explaining how he had once bested a horde of goblins all by himself you simply shushed him and stood up. You began retailing the story of how you had once saved the royal mage from a group of bandits that were trying to steal from her tower. It seemed that the bandits had learnt that the mage was unable to use any of her magic due to a potion making accident and wanted to ransack her tower while she was defenceless. The poor fools, however, didn’t take into account that loitering around the royal’s closest allies clearly made them suspicious. You had kept an eye on the ruffians for various hours and noticed how they slowly began sneaking onto the tower. When the bandits had gone inside you quickly stormed through the doors to find the mage being held by two of the bastards while another one was looking for valuables and the last one seemed to taunt the young woman while licking his lips. It didn’t take long for you to walk in and bash their heads.

You continued to explain exactly how you broke each of the bandits down before handing them over to the royal guards… at which point you remembered that most of the people on the table had actually lived that story and probably knew it all to well. Looking around you realized most had light smirks on their faces before everyone bursted out laughing. It didn’t take long for you to join them feeling embarrassed by your lack of judgement, but nevertheless having a good time despite everything.

After fumbling the recount of your feats the guards seemed to relax quite a bit around you. They loosened up realizing that you were just another person, even if a person that could easily beat them all up. While speaking eventually you heard your draconic compatriot make a weird statement to the table.

“It seems like the clock is almost hitting midnight lads.” He smiled and silently took another sip of his ale. “Will you be joining us to watch the entertainment your knighthood?”

“Come on Drax, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Gale began fidgeting after the comment and looking down at his drink.

“Relax dude, I’m just asking a question.” Drax simply shrugged and looked over at your confused expression. “Wait… you don’t know about the entertainment hour, do you?”

“I’m afraid I do not. It is rare for me to be out this late into the knight.” You admit with a hint of embarrassment. “My knightly duties often need me to be awake early in the mornings.”

Drax smiled widely, the white of his teeth contrasting against the red scales surrounding his face. The other guards mumbled amongst each with a few chuckles being noticeable.

“Don’t worry, it’s just some special sort of entertainment that only comes out after midnight.” Drax takes another drinking while thinking how to sell his pitch. “They invite some… exotic dancers on stage for a special performance. You know, before asking for public participation.”

You were not the biggest fan of art or stage performances, but you were having a good time currently. Besides the arts were always important to know about, and as a diligent knight knowing what your people like might be good to know so you can protect them more appropriately. As you are lost in your thoughts you notice a hand reaching for your bicep. Looking down you notice Gale reaching forward before addressing his companions.

“I’m sorry but I believe it is getting a little late.” He looks at you directly and smiles shyly. “I think I have drunk one too many mugs, would you mind walking me home my lady?”

You were pretty sure Gale had been the one who drank the least amongst the guard. His expression and demeanour didn’t really show that he was that drunk either. Looking directly at him, however, you noticed that he was holding you steady as you definitely had hit the **** a little too hard. It seemed like Gale was trying to get you out of the tavern with an excuse to make it seem like it was to help someone else, keeping your status intact.

You smiled at him realizing what this catboy’s devious mind had come up with and chuckled lightly. He was definitely being quite a gentleman and in your drunken state you actually found him to be quite cute in a way. You thought about the proposition a little longer.

You could:

Stay in the The Broken Claw?

Or

Follow Gale to his place?