OOC<br/><br/>a few possible options<br/>1)Insight to gage Rayena's honesty and intentions - be specific about what you want to know<br/>2)Persuasion - to persuade Rayena to a specific course of action<br/>3) History, Investigation.  You will find that your characters have knowledge of the local area and customs.<br/><br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/07/22/d3/0722d35558e74345c1e7fc6aaa39a2b9.jpg)</div>Rayena's gaze swept over the entourage entering her tavern.  The face was a pleasant smile.  However, those that had faced violence before saw eyes - eyes that were looking for a threat. Finally, she gave Drip a neck movement, halfway between a nod and a tiny bow,<strong>"Greetings Bard, new entertainment is always welcome.  Let me show you and your entourage to some lodgings."</strong><br/><br/>She turned quickly to the young adults that had followed the party in,<strong>"Bekn, you should be here working, not out galivanting around.  Nell, I'm sure your mother has chores for you at home."</strong>Then she turned her stare to Alex and his friends,<strong>"You lot were supposed to be out hunting. I see no game unless you consider Beken and Nell sport for your hunting.  And if you are messing with Beken, know that she is my child, and I'll deal harshly with anyone that messes with them."</strong><br/><br/>Upstairs, Rayena let out a deep sigh,<strong>"That child. She will be the death of me yet. I would tan her hide, except that is what my parents did to me, and look how that turned out."</strong>Rayena bowed again to the group. This time, a deeper and more heartfelt thanks.<strong>"You have my heartfelt thanks. I know not exactly what happened in the woods, but there is no blood and no broken virginity, two conditions which would lead to yet more bloodshed."</strong><br/><br/>"You have come at a perilous time for Bekn and me.  Additionally, your position in this village is precarious. No offense, but there are only two males in your party, both of whom are non-human.  Some in the town may see this as an opportunity to wrestle your women away from you.  As you can see, the village is now quite patriarchal.  It was not always so.  However, the new Lord and the new Priest that moved in a few years ago teaches that men are the rulers of their households. Many men eagerly embraced these teaching. Those that did not found themselves on the wrong end of various situations.  Some moved away.  More poor Albert was waylaid by bandits and killed.  Our supplies were stolen. Now the tavern survives on the mercy or rather greed of the local Storekeeper.  He expected to be my betrothed when I announce in a week."<br/><br/><strong>"I'm desperate enough that I would accept a job offer from a group of strangers."</strong>Rayena sighed and shook her head,<strong>"However, I'm not enough of a scoundrel to take advantage of you. Know that by the laws of this land, Beken and I, all the women who work in the tavern, are like the building itself; we are property to be conveyed through marriage. If Albert or I had had relatives here, we already would have been given through marriage.  Fortunately, we have the loophole of a year and day of mourning, which no one can gainsay."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Know that should you seek to help us escape, you will be considered thieves."</strong><br/><br/>Rayena sighed in frustration,<strong>"As well, you should know the true depths of the blasphemy you commit."</strong>She loosened her drawstrings and lowered her pantaloon to her knees. Her legs were smooth and soft like a female.  However, her muscles were well defined. The unusual part was the Reyena had a penis where a woman would have a clitoris and vagina.  "<strong>Yes, I'm one of those cross-breeds born with male and female aspects.   Should any in the village find out, I will likely be burned at the stake."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Bekn is poised on the cusp of her maturity.  I fear that once someone learns of their nature, they will be hounded like me."</strong><br/>