FC1 - CH 1: Welcome to Sturnheim

[HorizonsDream]

"He did say he brawled a lot," Tavi says with a giggle as walks along with her sisters. "Hallie, you might have to get use to having a bunch of brutes around. Not everyone can be prim and proper like you."

[JadedDM]

"I just hope the whole town isn't ruffians," Hallie responds.

As they reach the town's gate, Tavi notices two guards talking to each other. They do not even notice the women's approach at first, they are so engrossed in their conversation.

"Hey," says one to the other.

"Yeah?"

"You ever wonder why we’re here?" asks the first.

The other replies, "It’s one of life’s great mysteries isn’t it? Why are we here? I mean, are we the product of some cosmic coincidence, or is there really a god watching everything? You know, with a plan for us and stuff. I don’t know, man. But it keeps me up at night."

There is a length pause, then the first exclaims, "...What?! I mean why are we out here, guarding the gate? Nobody ever comes here!"

"Oh. Uh... yeah."

"What was all that stuff about God?"

"Uh...hm? Nothing."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Finally, the first one notices the women. "Oh, hey! Someone's...someone's actually coming in." They both snap to attention. "Err, uh...what is--no, I mean, state your business here, strangers."

[HorizonsDream]

"...We came here to stay at the inn?" Tavi says, though she seems a little unsure after hearing that conversation.

[JadedDM]

"Passing through then?" says the first guard. "There's only one inn, and it's the Three Crowns."

The second guard nods. "Yep, just follow this road straight, until you reach the fountain in town square. Then turn left, and bam, there's the inn. Can't miss it."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I wouldn't say that we are just passing through," Tavi admits. "We are kind of looking at a long term stay, really."

[JadedDM]

"Long term?" asks the first guard. "Nobody stays long term." He shrugs. "Hope you got plenty of gold then."

"We're here to find work," Sparrow offers.

"Work? People don't come here to find work," the second guard says. "They leave here to find work. There's no work to be had."

[HorizonsDream]

"There has to be SOME work in this town," Tavi says, trying to sound hopeful. "I mean, you two still have jobs it looks like."

[JadedDM]

"Yeah, we're with the militia," says the second guard.

"But you can't have our jobs," the first one points out.

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I wasn't thinking of taking your jobs," Tavi says with a small smile. "I was just pointing out that there are some jobs here. There has to be something here, otherwise the town would be empty."

[JadedDM]

"Almost is," says the first guard. "Although I guess it used to be a real hot spot back in the day."

"Good luck, though," says the second guard.

[HorizonsDream]

"Thanks, I guess." Tavi glances over to her sisters for a moment, knowing that they are rethinking this whole idea. Though, they don't have very many other choices here. "Come on, you two," she says as she makes her way into the town.

[JadedDM]

Sturnheim road seems to continue into the town itself, and go straight through it. As the three walk it, they pass by a number of small houses. Most of them seem dilapidated and abandoned.

They pass by one building that seems to be a shop of some kind. Tavi cannot read the sign, but it bears the emblem of a sword and axe crossed over a shield.

"This is...not what I was expecting," Sparrow admits as they reach the center of town, where the fountain sits. It's completely dried up, though.

To their right are a couple of larger buildings, one of which is a stable judging from the smell. To their left is a large building with a sign of a crown with three gold coins over it.

A man steps out of the building on the right (not the stables, but the other one) and approaches them. He's wearing chain mail, and has a sword buckled to his side and a polearm on his back. He has long dark hair and appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He's handsome in a roguish way, cutting a quite dash figure.

"Excuse me," he says. "You are strangers here, yes? Welcome to Sturnheim. I'm Valdar, captain of the militia. I make it a point to personally meet everyone who comes into town."

[HorizonsDream]

Tavi looks rather surprised that the captain of the militia has time to actually greet people personally. Though, then again, he was probably the first person that was acting semi-decent towards them. "It is nice to meet you then, Captain. I am Octavia, Tavi for short. These are my two sisters, Hallie and Sparrow," she says, motioning to each as she introduces them.

[JadedDM]

"Charmed," Valdar says.

Hallie, blushing holds her hand out to the man. "Very nice to meet you, Captain." With a slight grin, he accepts her hand and gives it a small peck. "The pleasure is all mine, miss. What brings you to Sturnheim?"

[HorizonsDream]

"We are looking for a place where we can make some sort of living," Tavi explains. "This was the only place that we knew of in which we could do that."