<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"><strong>Location:</strong> Falcon's Hollow (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r41YBIGhbYBevatYDfiX-VPrgI8FdTe98eT5ji8QiUk/edit?usp=sharing)<br/><strong>Date:</strong> 12th <acronym title="November">Neth</acronym> 4708; <strong>Time:</strong> 7:30 pm<br/><strong>Weather:</strong> precipitation (none), temperature (<acronym title="4 ⁰C to -17 ⁰C | 40 ⁰F to 0 ⁰F">cold</acronym>), wind (<acronym title="11-20 mph">moderate</acronym>)</span></span><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">JAK-A'-NAPES, Common Area</div><div class="spoiler_body">The inn's common area is a relatively small place that could hold 30-odd individuals if crowded to capacity, and is presently at about 2/3 that number.  Most appear to be local lumberjacks and other woodworkers, come in to enjoy their evenings, interspersed with a few travelers who keep to themselves or their local contacts for the most part.  The inn not only looks old, but feels old.  Everything is made out of wood, most of it unworked in general.  Hanging glass lanterns and the fireplace provide lighting, albeit some corners are unreached and shadowy.  The timbre of the clientele is active and loud, without being raucous.<br/><br/><strong>Bar:</strong> Sells drinks and inn services, a few locals crowded here.<br/><br/><strong>Fireplace:</strong> Large 6 ft. wide fireplace with stone hearth, flanked by half-filled bookcases.  6 wooden chairs, all taken.<br/><br/><strong>Main Floor:</strong> 8 round tables; 5 filled, 3 partially taken.  Almost everyone seems to be nursing a foaming drink of some kind, though handful of people are also engaged in their meals.<br/><br/><strong>Side Door:</strong> Lead to ground floor rooms.<br/><br/><strong>Stairs:</strong> Lead upstairs to rooms.</div></div><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/VxlASaE.jpg)</div>"Unsurprising," Xan notes when Shala mentions that he's only the second person to have warmed up to him.  "The locals aren't exactly fond of outsiders, though I suppose you can count yourself lucky that you were here a decade ago.  What with all the troubles with werewolves and a vengeful hag, the folks were more or less ready to string up strangers and burn them at the stake.  Even one of the local families wasn't spared, and, ironically, they were one of the few who stepped forward to save the town on a previous occasion."<br/><br/>Xan sighs and looks like he has more to say, but restrains himself visibly.  "Still, as long as you can ignore the cold shoulder, and avoid the attention of... some people in town, it's not a bad place to live.  The inconvenience of not having access to luxuries a bigger place might have, notwithstanding of course."<br/><br/>When Shalashaka mentions that he might need some help getting oriented in town, Xan thinks about it for a few moments.<br/><br/>"I don't mind," he nods, taking a sip of cider from his mug.  "I'm in town for the next couple of days anyway, so you can get the tour whilst I shop for supplies and such - I'm a hunter and part-time scout for the local militia, so I'm in the woods for a week or two before coming back into town.  We should pass by the Iomedan's church whilst we're at it and I'll introduce you to the priestess.  She's been in town doing much the same as you're trying to do, I suspect.  She came better funded, but... we'll I'm sure she could explain things better than I.  They're a bit too stuffy in my opinion.  Not sure what business the Glorious Crusader has in a place like this, but who am I to say.  Now, if they were willing to provide soldiers and such to watch the walls, that the town would certainly have been grateful for.  But, they just sit in their church preach."<br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"><strong><span class="bbc_u">Diplomacy 28 vs. DC 16</span></strong></span><br/>Xan drains his mug and sighs, lost in his own thoughts regarding the town for a few moments, before he looks up again at Shalashaka.  Taking the slender, silver-haired youth from head to toe, his mood seems to lighten up somewhat, and his critical hawk-like gaze softens.<br/><br/>"Since you're probably going to be looking for a place to stay, I don't mind loaning out my house.  It's a small cabin and right against the wall; it's a little cramped, but it does have basement for what that's worth.  Truth be told, I'm rarely even in it, unless I'm in town... by Shelyn's hair, I think I've spent most of my life under the open sky or beneath a tree!  Altogether,<em>someone</em>might as well live in it.  It's yours if you promise to keep it clean and not get it burned to the ground."