The village of Mirantibus, a small area with few inhabitants, yet a strong community. The men tend to their farms and the occasional hunt while their wives handle the house work. The children gather to pretend with sticks as weapons of legendary status, slaying the starchy fiends of straw (haybales). Though it may not be much, this small village is still called home for many travelers and quest goers. The perfect place For Gabe and his travel buddy.
"Why me have to cover in dirt? Make skin itch!" Gobsung resisted the urge to peel off the filth that was attached to his skin as he complained for the hundredth time. "Your wearing that dirt mask so you don't end up as a goblin skewer from any passing adventurers. Even I might not be safe, so we need to cover ourselves until we have the strength to deal with anything." closing the journal, Gabe puts the worn book away and pulled his hoodie taut over his head to hide the leaves on his head. "If it doesn't work get ready to flee at a moment's notice."
The nonhuman duo arrive at the village after days of stumbling through the forest foliage. Before them laid straw houses scattered about, some looking more worn than others. A Gravelly voice then catches their attention. "More new faces. Something must be in the air today since you lot are the fifth group of wanderers to show up." Gabe looks to find an elderly man, withered by the passing of time. His short stature and silver hair were also doing him no favors either. "Well, ya got a name? I'm Mathew, Matt for short." The old man coughs before clearing his throat. "I'm Gabe, and this here is Gobsung." Matt narrows his eyes as he stared between the two new arrivals. A silence settles for a brief moment as Gabe was getting anxious. "Your friend isn't the sharpest tool huh? Well, I've seen dumber. Come, I'll lead you to my Inn."
The old man hobbles off, with the tree creature and goblin following behind. "welcome to the Ox's grazer. If you don't got a home, this would be the place to call one." Matt left the group as he went behind the counter, shouting up the stairs to one of his possible employees. To say It was a beehive of activity would be an understatement. From the shortest stools to the longest lounge chairs, the place seemed to have a chair for people of different walks of life. Some where already day drinking in the back of the inn, likely sharing their feats of drunken glory. The more swarthy customers could be seen to be feasting on what seems to be ham and other meat based delicacies. A few more elegant inn stayers that seem out of place in the environment were chatting with the ladies of the alehouse, with varying degrees of success between individuals.
Matt soon returned from the back, in his handers two cards and a bottle of ink. Curiosity alit, Gabe asked "What are these things for?" Matt holds the bottle up so both can see it. "This is inscription ink, crafted from mana to recognize a person. And these-" The elderly innkeeper slaps the cards onto the countertop."-are id cards. They help us identify who's who. Came to be thanks to the divergence war." 'divergence war? they had a war?' "Could you tell me about this war?"
Matt stared at Gabe as if he had grown a second head. "Have you been living under a rock? Go bother someone else for such info as I ain't explaining that to some log head." Gabe flinches at the insult but hurries to hide his reaction. "Now hurry up and place finger in the ink and dabble a bit onto the card. I ain't getting younger." The two did as they were told, the card shining a bit before returning to normal, revealing names and an adventure rank that seems blank. A pair of keys sock Gobsung in the nose as Matt said "Your rooms are B104 and 105. You two figure out who takes what."
"Old man mean." Gobsung and Gabe sit at a square wooden table as the goblin rubs is nose. "Well hey, on the bright side, we have somewhere to rest now. But we gotta get to work tomorrow or our problems will only be just beginning." The duo head upstairs to see their rooms. Both were nothing to write home to about(Not that either had someone to write to), but it still was well taken care of. "Me take this one!" Gobsung flops onto the bed in room B104 and before Gabe knew it, the goblin was already snoring, consciousness long gone within the span of few seconds.
Gabe heads into B105 as he sits on the bed. His thoughts still linger on the words divergence wars. 'I'll look into it later, now I gotta prepare for the next day'. The wooden man son drifts off to sleep, his mind temporarily calmed
"Is this true?"
"I cant believe it!"
"This is amazing!"
Gabe groggily awoke to the commotion outside his door. "what the.." Dragging himself out of bed, Gabe freshens up before heading out. Gobsung soon follows suit not long after, still looking as if he were asleep. "Matt, do you know what's going on?" Matt looks up from the amount of gold coins he was counting as Gabe was descending from the stairway. "Well based on what these lousy good-for-nothings, a high standing adventurer is on their way here to the Ox's Grazer."