<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;">Opening:</span></div><br/><div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f4/4d9cbd27f2c6a8c213683a30b74fa889--fantasy-inspiration-writing-inspiration.jpg)</div><br/>There's naught a roadside inn and tavern lacks for energy and character.<br/><br/>At the least, that's what it felt like in the Idle Boar, especially just before sunset.  The evening's boars were sizzling on the spits, the sounds of a flute playing a jaunty tune floated through the haze in the common room, and there was the ever-present sussuruss of dozens of voices in conversation, all in a multitude of attitudes.<br/><br/>But it was crowded, moreso than anyone had ever remembered before.  Ostler Goodcup was running ragged seeing to his customers, but with the rather short length of his gnome legs, it was no surprise.  Two of the help were home ill after taste-testing Jaery Offhide's newest berry pie concoction, too.<br/><br/>An earlier party was already at table, having been there for the better part of ten minutes.  The crowded common room was now almost standing room only, what with a traveling dwarf-and-halfling circus from Hardby filling up most of the other inns in Two Ford--their ringmistress had on an omen from a passing group of dwarven pilgrims heading for the Lortmils that they should not encamp in the countryside that night.<br/><br/>Those at the table made for an eclectic mix. A slight elven maiden dressed in shades of green, but still enwrapped in her cloak...with a tiny scaled and horned head that pokes out of said cloak on occasion.  A blue-garbed half elf woman, obviously not shy in the least, exuding confidence and an aura of<em>come-take-me-on</em>.  A serious-looking male elf, seemingly relaxed and fairly observant.  An auburn-tressed half-elf, rustic but humble-looking and appealingly shy.  And a halfling woman with an eye on everyone and everything, and a smile to match.<br/><br/>Entering at this time was the entourage from Greyhawk to Narwell, recently successful in their bargaining to bring that town into the fold of Greyhawk's protectorates.  Just a half a day's ride to the great city, they would not have made the gates before nightfall.  As it was, the Idle Boar was a well-known if rustic stopover on the river road, and the ambassador and the older members of the entourage were welcomed and seated at the last open table, some distance in the eastern wing of the common room.  The youngest member of the entourage, Melan, and her new acquaintance Eferhild, were offered a spot at the aforementioned table.  Those already seated were in no way nonplussed, and welcomed the new arrivals.  A passing server left two more tankards on the table for the two young women, and quickly moved off again in her hopelessly busy night.