She had been told that the keeper of the tavern often kept track of who had excess amounts of what things, and often these items were bartered for drinks at the inn. No doubt there would be extras. Luckily, Xenovia had some things of her own which she could trade.
Upon reaching The Only Tavern, Xenovia finally spoke again, telling Muraco and Calraen that they could either come in with her or wait outside -- but if they waited, of course, they couldn't go far. Then, she entered.
The smells of fermenting fruit and pungent cigar smoke clung to all that entered this simple one room tavern. The center was taken up by a large square bar surrounded by tall bar stools. A few roughly carved wooden tables were scattered about for those that wanted a game of cards or dice. A trapdoor in the floor behind the bar led to the cellar and the famous still that produced Sierra’s only local alcohol, a whisky fermented from wild jungle grains. The flame haired highlander behind the bar looked up from the mug he was drying and smiled. “Welcome to The Only Tavern. The usual?†He asked.
A tall, cloaked and hooded figure stepped through the door, a spear held in one gloved hand, pack, bow, and quiver on its back.
Xenovia nearly choked as she entered the tavern, her figure hunching for a brief moment as her gag reflex responded to the first breath of too-thick air. It was musty. Cramped. Small. It smelled of humans and fruit smothered in...whatever that was. Someone had been burning the wrong kind of wood in their fire, the smoke in the room was far too thick. Beneath her hood, Xenovia's eyes watered and her nose wrinkled. They breathe this?! All she wanted to do was turn around and walk right back out. The air still smelled of humans outside, but at least it was spread a bit thinner.
Yet she forced herself to keep walking, gritting her teeth and breathing as shallowly as she could, the heavy footfalls of her boots thudding against the floorboards. A few feet away from the bar she pulled her hood down a bit further, obscuring her face more. She seemed to be a man, until she finally spoke in that soft alto, trying to remain audible despite the fact that she could barely breathe.
"I am looking for provisions. Food. I am leading a group of explorers into the jungle for what will likely be a few days."