The tavern, named "Broken Wing"

The building wasn't exactly glamorous. But for what it was, it had a certain charm to it. Looking like it was made a long time ago, the short building was made of wood that seemed to be stressed and worn out all over. Splinters could easily be seen near the corners and nails poked out.

But it really wasn't the actual tavern itself that is what made it what it is to me, it was the people. Anyone could go in and have a drink. Anyone was allowed to play a song in the stage. And most importantly for my purposes, even if you were Marked, they'd never rat you out to The Church. A blessing fo many of the people in town.

I walked in and stood at the doorway for a second as I let my eyes adjust to the dim room compared to the harsh light outside and saw a few familiar faces. Alistair, my best friend was having an argument with an Orc. Alistair is a tall lean man, around 6'2", his black hair had the few markings of older age but he did his best to keep it in a mohawk, never got why he liked it that much. Through his open vest you could see the tattoos that seemed to cover his entire torso and they all led to something hidden on his back. See Alistair, like me, is Marked. He was never afraid of it like I was however. He always seemed prowed of it. And too his credit, he never got caught.

"Oi! Astoria, come settle a disagreement between me and my 'friend' here!" No one noticed me walk in until he shouted at me. They all looked my way and acknowledged me, some with glares I know all to well. Always so loud this guy. I rolled my eyes and walked over, now getting a better look at the Orc he was talking to.

The only words I could use to describe her at first glance, absolutely stunning. She was short for an orc, but she was built like every blacksmith I've ever seen. Her arms toned from lots of work with a hammer, hands calloused from holding hot metal everyday. But the feature that drew me to her almost instantly, her eyes. They were green with flecks of gold in them, something not many people would notice, but as someone who has been running from the Church her whole life, it was something I picked up. She was blessed. But didn't seem to be upset that not one, but two marked were talking to her.

"This is Zephra, she's just told me she doesn't think the church is evil, just not what it should be," Alistair said.

"That is not what I said! What I had said is that it's not the people who're the problem" Zephra spoke. I don't know what it was but her voice made me smile a bit. I quickly shook it off and nodded.

"Look, I know you two have a reputation of helping people. And I need help."

"Come on! She's obviously a Cleric in disguise trying to break the charm in the tavern! Look we already have enough trouble as is and you haven't even said we'll be paid. So our answer is no. Right Astoria?"