Open Chronicles A lost lamb, or is it a wolf in sheep's clothing, (Alliria)

[Esmoria]

The sky was ablaze in warm pink, and orange. The sun setting on the hazy smoky air of the streets of Alliria. Amongst those bustling about this evening there was a creature even pinker than the sunset sky. She had donned a black traveling cloak but it's practicality hardly dimmed the fuchsia hues peaking through it's opening.

Esmoria stood to the side of traffic along the busy street peering over a bit of parchment. A map crudely inked on the back of a letter. Perhaps to some Alliria might have seemed a naive choice to start a journey. It's streets holding a seedy reputation. Yet it was well known for it's diverse populace. So perhaps in that way it was a perfect start. Not just for it's hub of sailors who might further spread word but for the chance such a place would be more permissive of a Tiefling doing so.
Even so her manner of dress or rather near lack thereof and bright features would have looked out of place most anywhere. They seems to almost glow against the more muted colors of the city in the warm fading sun.

Her eyes looked up from the parchment with a slightly troubled expression. They flitted about for a moment before returning to the map. Reaching up to place a hand against her cheek she hummed a reluctant little tune. Her tail swished back and forth in thought under the cloak.

 

[Gunner Valenntyne]

There was always something so damned freeing about being out on the open sea. Gunner wasn't sure if it was the salty air in his nostrils, the wide blue expanse that stretched out endlessly into the horizon, or maybe just the idea of travelling without walls to constrain him. Yeah, that was probably it. After spending half is life in that damned tower city, he'd be right and well if he never saw a stone building again!

'Course, life didn't work quite like that, did it? The folks he was sailing with had families and lives to go back to, and you could only store so much food and drink on a ship before you started running low. Content as Valenntyne would have been to stay out at sea for the next handful of years, the bustling city of Alliria now lay spread out before them as they came to dock.

Back to square one, with a pocket full of coins, a half-flask of whiskey, and a golden smile. Woulda been frustrating, if it wasn't how Gunner was used to living anyways. A couple nights off and then he'd find more trouble to get into, another adventure to get buried neck deep in. Be it at sea or on land, he had his freedom, and that was more valuable than any commodity.

Funny how fate works, though.

No sooner had he finished counting his money and planning out his day than his next bit of trouble came wandering into view. Not that he was lookin' yet, but... she was pretty fuckin' hard to miss. Gunner wasn't sure what to call her, not being a fellow too educated on the names of all the different types of folk. She was a woman, that much was abundantly clear to him. It was hard to hide curves when you wandered around in a getup like that. Oh, and when you were bright pink.

Whatever she was, whoever she was, she looked to be in a spot of bother. Girl didn't seem to have much of a clue where she was going, and she stuck out like a sore, bleedin' thumb.

That wasn't good in a city like Alliria. The more eyes you had on you, the more likely one of em' was willing to do something bad to you. Without a second to consider, Gunner pushed his broad chested form through the dense crowd, making his way over to the oddly-dressed lass.

"A-hey there, ma'am!" A thick finger tapped on her shoulder from behind, gentle as the big man was able. He flashed that smile of his, so perfectly cliche and yet completely genuine, and offered a little wave as she turned. "Couldn't help noticing you look a little out of sorts! Anything I might be able to help you with?"

Esmoria