To the Wench!

After collecting my things, I step outside feeling refreshed. That guide certainly was right about this place, though it's not just the water. I see my carriage waiting just where I left it, and head over. It's nearly evening now, if I'm going to get to the Wench, it had better be now. I climb in and tell the driver where to go.

The tavern isn't that far from the bathhouse, apparently, as it only takes us a few minutes to get there. I climb out, and look at the driver, "I think this is going to be my last stop, but wait here for a bit. If it is, I'll come out and settle what I owe you." He nods, and I head inside.

Inside the tavern, I see a number of tables, set a little further apart than they probably need to be, of varying sizes and different numbers of chairs around them. There's also a raised up area by one wall that I think is supposed to be a stage for performers to use. There's a handful of people in around, but it seems like it's just the pre-evening stragglers. I get approached by a curvy-looking human woman wearing a stunning bodice that makes her boobs just pop, "Hey, handsome, what can I get'cha?"

"Actually, I was wanting to speak with the owner, if I may?"

She raises her eyebrows, and yells out "Hey, Mardnab! Someone here to see you!"

I hear a high-pitched voice from behind the counter yell out "Coming!", and an unnaturally curvy-looking pixie flies up from behind the bar to hover in my face

She smiles at me, "I'm the owner here, how can I help?"

I'm a little taken aback, but I tell her "Actually, Sam sent me. She said you had some work that needed done?"

Her little face lights up, "Good ol' Sam, always looking out for me! Have a seat, I'll be with you in a second!" And with that, she zips back over and drops behind the bar. I head over to an open table and have a seat.

A couple minutes later, a gnome walks out from behind the bar. Only, I do a double-take as I realize it's Mardnab! Exact same features and figure, the only thing that's changed is she's bigger, but her wings are the same size so she can't fly now. She's also wearing a little bit more modest of an outfit.

She comes over and climbs up to stand on one of the seats across from me, and I ask "What in the world is a Trixie doing so far from the deep woods?" Trixies are really rare gnome/fairy hybrids, which normally can only be found in gnome burrows deep in the woods near where Fae live.

She looks surprised, "You know about Trixies?"

I nod, "I've read about them, but I've never encountered one before, nor has anyone I've ever asked about it."

"Well, sometimes they do go travelling! Besides, I wasn't always a Trixie," she holds her hand up in front of my face, "Long story, not important right now," she looks me square in the face, her eyes scrunching up a bit. "Sam told you what I need?"

I nod, "Yeah, some muscle to hang around and deal with troublemakers for a few days."

"So how good are you in a fight?"

I shrug, "I'm better with my sword than my fists, but I'm betting you'd rather I not use that," she nods at me, and I continue "I'm decently strong, and I'm new to the city. Having some work here will help me get started learning my way around, as well as making sure I don't run out of spending money."

"Well, if Sam sent you, then they must think you're ok. Right now I can offer you three night's work, 7 sloops a night, plus a room upstairs you can use whenever you want, and a free drink with everyone at the end of the night." Seems like a good enough offer to me, so I agree, and we shake on it. She tells me I'm starting right away, so I go out and give the carriage driver the galleon I owe him, and then position myself just inside the door, with my arms crossed, trying to look intimidating.