2 Beginnings in Lindin

Standing before the outskirts of Lindin Hawkfrost, berated himself for the optimistic observation he had made 12 days earlier. However, now that he stood in front of the city gates with the moving crowd of people entering and exiting he could happily say that it was worth the wait.

Upon entering he was bombarded with voices and scents as street vendors sold their wares off to the many people lining the street. Slipping through the crowd he was a fish vendor pushing the freshness of his catch as a selling point and a jeweler insisting that his creations would wo the heart of any woman. At one point he was nearly knocked to the ground as a man on horse back pushed through the crowd.

Biting his lip to supress the desire to shout at the rider, he instead adjusted his traveling pack and continued walking through the crowd. It wasn't long until he was again swept up in the bustling energy of the street, his attention torn from vendor to vendor as each competed to attract the most business.

"New to town, eh"

"huh", Hawkfrost replied looking around for the voices origin.

"I said you're new town? You big idiot"

"Where are you?" he asked his scans of the crowd not turning up anything.

"Right here, humie", he heard as a he felt a tug on his boot.

Looking down Hawkfrost saw a grey skinned gnome, clothed in a dirty brown tunic and breeches looking up at him with an air of contempt.

"sorry about that, but yes I am new. just walked into the city actually", Hawkfrost answered as the gnome spit a wad of something green on to the cobble stone road.

"Figured, nearly everybody who enters in through that gate, who ain't been here before has your exact same expression", the gnome said taking, a pinch of leaves from a bag at his waist and shoving them in his mouth.

He hadn't realized it but he had been smiling at the grandeur of the market street.

"Now you're probably wondering why I stopped ya, but first introductions. The name is Benz, Benz Tordil", the gnome said extending a hand upward toward him.

"I'm Hawkfrost", he answered bending over to shake the tiny gnomes hand.

" Pleasure ta meet ya. Now as I said before your probably wondering why I stopped ya today. Well the answer is simple, I'm what's known as a tour guide", Benz said while chewing on the leaves in his mouth.

"What's a tour guide?" Hawkfrost asked he had never heard of this profession before and wondered if it was similar to guides that would take people across the mountains back home.

"Excellent question, ya see, with the many people who enter and exit the city each day many groups have formed that prey on said people. Naturally that is not a good thing, so a group of us started a guild ya see to protect those newbies like your self from being swindled or harmed. That includes showing ya some of the establishments in town for good business", the gnome explained in a manner that suggested he had used this explanation many times before.

Looking around at the crowd of people Hawkfrost remembered hearing stories that Lindin had recently become a hub of trade and travel. This was thanks to the cities acquisition of a set of an ancient stone tablet that foretold the future. It was due to this tablet that many people made pilgrimages from around the world to Lindin nowadays, and with all that fame came people with money to spend.

"So you wish to accompany me around for a bit until your certain I can take care of myself?" Hawkfrost asked with a quick look around the area.

"Exactly, however our services dont come free, I need ta eat ya know. That being said the price for my services is 5 silver", the gnome answered extending a hand to accept his payment.

"Sorry Mr. Benz, I can't afford your services right now, however if you could point me in the direction of the nearest inn I'd be very grateful", he replied.

"Of course, no skin off my back. The nearest inn is The Weeping Dragon they'll set ya up for as long as ya can pay em," the gnome replied pointing off behind him.

"Thank you, very much", Hawkfrost said as stood up and began to walk in the direction the gnome pointed.

"Your welcome" the gnome answered and disappeared into the crowd.

Walking down the street he kept on eye on the stores signs looking out for the inn, although as he searched a different train of thought ran through his mind. His encounter with the gnome had reminded him of the prophecy tablet, he wondered if maybe he should head to the city temple and request a reading. However the more he thought about it the less he liked the idea, the temple was than likely to be crowded with people looking to have their futures foretold, priests would be trying to push their deity on to the masses, and to top it their was his reason for being here in the first place. Shaking his head he decided that haveing his future prophecized was over rated, knowing what was going to happen would suck the fun out of life.

While in this this thought he felt something slam into him from his right side as he was passing an alley. The impact of the hit was not enough to knock him over but made him lose his footing for a second. Not only this but he heard a clattering of items, and a very quick "ouch". Turning to face his assaulted he found a female elf in a dirty apron sitting on the cobblestone ground with packages tied with twine strewn about her.

"I am sorry miss, are you ok", he asked, kneeling down next to her.

"I'm so sorry sir, so sorry," the elf lady replied after looking to see who she had run into, "I was running to get the supplies we needed for the bar and was on my way back and I didn't see you there. I'm so so sorry."

"As long as your alright", Hawkfrost answered feeling a bit flustered by the elf ladies spit fire apology, "You said you work for a bar? it wouldn't happen to be the Weeping Dragon Inn would it?"

"Yes, yes it is, we're a bit under stocked for today so I was sent to grab some items we had run out of and then I ran into you and... I'm so so sorry", the elf lady answered as she began picking up the fallen packages.

"Well why dont you let me help? I'm headed there as well", he asked while grabbing a few of the packages.

"Are you sure? I can carry them by myself", she asked in a way that made Hawkfrost smile.

"I'm certain", he answered and held out a free hand, "by the way I'm Hawkfrost."

"Hello, I'm Layla", the elf girl replied while shaking his hand.