Follow the catgirl

Your tour guide leads you back to the main streets. Horse-drawn wagons and people rolling carts pass along the paved roads as everybody goes about their day. Judging by the sun, you’d say it’s currently mid-afternoon, plenty of time to have your new “friend” show you around before you need to get to the inn and figure out how you’re going to pay for a room.

The first place she takes you to is an open plaza with a nice fountain in the center. On the far end of the plaza is a two-story building with nice stonework along the base giving way to solid oak walls. Banners hang from either side of the large double doors, emblazoned with a symbol of two swords crossed over a shield.

“That’s the famous Evris Adventurer’s Guild,” says the catgirl. “You should go pay an adventurer to show you around next time instead of harassing the poor.”

Next, she takes you about a five minute walk down the street to a building with a large open yard in front. A few different families have settled on the lawn for picnics, children of various races running and playing in the grass while their parents eat and chat. The building itself is a small, gothic style building made of stone bricks. It has windows along the sides and a stained glass art piece above the front door.

“This is the temple,” says your guide. “It’s too small for big ceremonies and stuff, so it’s more of a ‘stop by when you need it’ kind of place.”

“Are you a very religious person, miss…?”

“Don’t try that ‘miss’ crap with me. My name wasn’t part of the deal, and I’d rather us never see each other again after today. Religious? Yeah, I guess I am. Isn’t everyone? The Goddess’s blessing is what gives the land its beauty and the people their strength. If it weren’t for her, I might’ve…” Her words trail off as she catches herself telling you more than she probably wants to. After an awkward moment of silence, she turns and walks away without another word.

For the next hour, she shows you around to various kinds of shops and points out landmarks to help you find your way. She takes you past blacksmiths, cleaners, inns, jewelers, bookstores, and curiosity shops. When you get to a tailor, you ask her to stop.

“Odd question,” you say, “How much do you think I could get for the clothes I’m wearing?”

The catgirl looks at you with a mixture of annoyance and disgust. “If you think—”

“I promise it’s not what you’re thinking,” you say. “I just feel out of place and want some new clothes so I fit in better around here. Don’t my clothes look weird to you?”

Her brows raise. “So this is turning into ‘peasant play’ now?”

The misconception she holds of you being rich is really starting to grate on you by now. You were just hoping to get some spending money by trading in your clothes for some cheaper stuff, but now you’re being accused of sneaking out of your castle to mingle with the commoners. Oh well, as annoying as it is to deal with her scorn for the rich, you still need leverage over her or she’ll just ditch you. Best not let her in on the fact that she probably has more legal currency on her than you do right now.

“Never mind, just come in with me.”