Meeting some interesting friends

The first few hours pass by easily enough, and I settle into a steady rhythm. I'll stand by the door for a while, paying attention to the people who come in, then walk the edge of the room, paying attention for signs of patrons who have had too much to drink or the like. I can see what the guide meant about the company here, though, as most of the serving girls are being very flirty with everyone they interact with, and I even saw one sitting on a customers lap at one point!

Just when I was thinking that this would be an easy night, though, I notice a possible problem. One swarthy-looking human has his hand tightly wrapped around the upper arm of a younger looking half-elf wench, who is clearly not thrilled by the attention. This particular girl hasn't been anywhere near as forward as the others, so I figure this guy has probably just gotten too into his cups.

I stride over to them, grab him by the arm like he has her, and yank him off of her. "Hey, buddy, the lady isn't interested, so either take a hint, or take a hike," I tell him, my fingers tightening in warning on his arm. He looks at me, his breath reeking of ale, and shakes my hand off his arm. For a second, he looks like he might want to press the issue, so I rest my hand on the pommel of my sword, hoping it will be enough of a threat. He glares at me while swaying a little on his feet, before turning towards the door and stumbling out.

I check on the girl, who is shaken, but not hurt at all. A few people seemed to have noticed the incident, but they went back to their own business after the guy left. I get back to my route, but when I get back to the door, I'm approached by a young-looking elf. "Good evening," she says, her voice with a rich elven tone to it, lyrical and light. I give her a polite nod, and she continues "You are a new arrival, yes?" I raise my eyebrow, and she smiles sweetly, explaining "I saw you arrive on the...how you say...vaelundrhá? Big ship?"

I cautiously answer "Yes, I just arrived today. Name's Aiden."

She motions to a nearby table, and asks "Could you spare a few moments to hear my offer? You can continue to watch from here."

I shrug and head over, making sure to position myself so I can still see whoever comes and goes. She sits down across from me, and explains "My name is Milaya Edérestie. I saw how you handled the maluhr just now, and noticed how at ease you seemed with your hand on that blade. I wondered if you might be willing to aid me in a hunt for gaelruha?" I raise my eyebrows, and hers scrunch up briefly, before she clarifies "Treasure."

I lean back in my seat, my eyes roaving the crowds. There is a card game getting a little animated that I might have to break up. "Maybe. Tell me more."

She smiles, "Long ago, before the Founders brought Kandis to an honest place, there was a captain known as Lightheels. He collected many things of value and power in his time, and according to legend, many he stored away in a hidden cave somewhere on this island. Many have sought this treasure, but so far none have succeeded."

I excuse myself briefly, and head over to the card game. There, I pick up a halfling by the collar, and give him a good shake, causing the card I saw him slip up his sleeve to fall out onto the table. He gives me a weak grin and chuckle, and I just glare at him, carry him to the door, and chuck him out onto the street. Then I head back to the table where Milaya is waiting, noticing she seems to be fidgeting a little bit, and ask "If no one else has been able to find it, then what makes you think you can?"

She blushes a little bit, then just says "Lets just say I feel I have more...mo-ti-va-tion? Than the other had. But I will need a good sword-arm in case there is trouble along the way. That is why I come to you." She looks at me again, but before I can say anything, another voice comes from next to us.

"Excusse me," we look over, and see a leopard style catfolk standing there, wearing priestly vestments. She continues "Parrdon me forr eavessdrropping, but did I hearr corrrectly that you seek the trreassurre of Captain Lightheelss?" Milaya and I look at each other briefly, before she nods, and she gives a sound almost like a purr, before continuing "Then you arre in luck. Jusst within thiss hourr, I learrned that the ownerr of the Drrunken Drragon iss sseeking trreassurre hunterrss forr thiss verry trrove. I planned on sspeaking with herr about this tomorrrow, but in trruth, I would feel morre comforrtable with otherrss by my sside. Alymarrez makess me...nerrvouss."

Milaya leans back in her seat, "I can understand that. What kind of skills do you bring to the table?"

The catfolk smiles, "I am a prriesstesss of the Lady Forrtune. Brring me with, and good luck will surrely follow."

I look at Milaya, "A priestess is usually a good idea to have on an adventure, especially when you don't know what to expect." She nods at that, so I look to the catfolk, and tell her "All right, sure. I'm Aiden, and this is Milaya."

"A pleassurre to be ssurre. I am Nerrisssa." We talk for a few more minutes, agreeing to meet out in front of the Wench tomorrow around noon to go and talk to Alymarrez about her offer. Milaya and Nerissa both head out, and I get back to patrolling the Wench for the rest of the night.

Nerissa smiled to herself as she walked out of the tavern. It had been a stroke of luck that she had recognized the elf, Milaya, as she walked into the Wench. It just so happened that Nerrissa had seen Milaya a couple of other times around the city in the past week, always suffering from some form of unintended exposure. She would never admit it out loud, but Nerrissa always enjoyed watching people getting exposed or frisky with each other. Even more when it was in public.

Out in the fresh air, she glanced around, before making her way to the Nature district where she had been resting in the care of the local Druids since arriving. Now that we'll be travelling together, I'll have a lot more opportunities to see what she has to display, she thinks to herself, smiling, and I'm quite certain my own little issue is under control, so there shouldn't be any problems! This ought to be fun!

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Authors Note: The picture I used for Nerrissa is drawn from EnergyVector, over on DeviantArt, while the one for Milaya was AI generated (thus no credit needed XD). Also, for the sake of clarification, I was trying to represent the Khajiit accent from the Elder Scrolls games with Nerissa's speech patterns there.