Mayabelle lead the way through the tavern, her friends and the dragon following close behind. She hopped up to the bar, waiting for the lady to come back out for her. The patrons around the three stared, shocked by the level of confidence these three held. 

When the bartender came out from the kitchen and saw the three seated around with the dragon curled around the tiefling's shoulders, she almost dropped her tray in surprise. Mayabelle started at the sudden noise and said, shakily "Miss are you okay?" 

"It's fine Mayabelle," answered Ember, "it's just me."

The gnome couldn't understand why someone would discriminate like that. She shook her head in disbelief. 

"Actually dear," the bartender interjected, 'it's your very fine dragon there. While I don't see many tiefling customers in my shop, it's a dragon which caused me such surprise. Is he safe?" she asked. Ember looked surprised. 

"Oh, yes ma'am he's perfectly safe, but I didn't even think about that. Should I make him wait outside?" 

"Oh, no, no need dear!" the bartender smiled, reached under her counter and flipped Ceaser a piece of meat, which he happily snapped up. 

The bartender dropped her voice, "Come back here, and I'll take you to his room."

The three friends slipped behind the counter, and followed the bartender up to the Inn area of the tavern. There were a few doors open and empty on the way up which displayed simple but comfortable furnishings. She lead them all the way down the long hall, stopping at a brick wall on the other side. Mayabelle looked at the other two in confusion. For a tense moment everything was quiet. Then with a tap on a slightly odd colored brick, the wall slid open revealing a darker, colder and much dustier hallway. She ushered them through, but stayed on the other side. The three realized they'd have to go alone.

The wall closed behind them, leaving them in almost pitch blackness. Ember snapped her fingers and a small light appeared on the tips, Idril cast a small glowing blue orb which she held in her hands and Mayabelle expended some of her energy to make herself glow like a candle. 

They crept down the creaky hallway, eyes darting around them carefully. A booming voice called out from the shadows, "Who are you?"

They all jumped, Mayabelle whipped out her staff, her light energy beamed out from her, Ember burst into flames and Idril's guitar came swinging out of nowhere. Ceaser snarled and spit a few sparks onto the ground, raising his wings and whipping his tail. The disembodied voice laughed, and a robed man stepped out of the shadows. 

He was tall, white haired, but not old. His face bore scars of battle and his muscular arms were decorated with tattoos. He wore a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a grayish blue cloak was draped around his shoulders. Mayabelle could tell he was a sailor, strong and powerful. 

"You're the ones Jacs told me about," stated the man, crossing his arms. "A gnome, an elf and a tiefling. Who does the dragon belong to?"

Ember put her hand on Ceaser's head who snarled again at the man. He raised his eyebrows as though surprised. 

"Shocking," he continued in his booming voice, "the energy that comes from you, I thought would put him on edge."

The other two girls looked hurriedly at Ember. She was blushing angrily, which was hard to see through her red skin, and glaring at the man. Mayabelle put her hand gently on Ember's arm to stop her from charging forward. 

"Who are you?" asked Idril, her guitar still held tightly in her hands. 

The man laughed, "Oh yes, you don't know me. No wonder you're all so on edge! Please, extinguish yourselves and we can make proper introductions." 

Ember shook herself and the flames puffed out. Mayabelle dimmed her glow slightly and Idril put her guitar back on her back. Ceaser, however, did not back down. Ember knelt down next to him and whispered a hushed phrase to him, scratching him gently. 

The man extended his hand toward Idril to shake, "My name is Illaman Vunakuthea." He shook each of their hands in turn, bending down to shake Mayabelle's. He was a very large man, even for Idril, who stood about six feet tall. Each of them introduced themselves in turn, explaining their skills in brief. The man nodded, "I have found myself what appears to be a fitting bunch. Now let me tell you about your mission."