A Loli's ENF Adventure/Luneiris/Pee/The Party
As much as she didn't want to, she settled on the group of adventurers. Judging by the scuffs and wear on their weapons and armor they seem to be well experienced and undoubtedly have some spare gear, if not on them then in their rooms, to give her. On unsteady feet she approached the table.
"...so to simplify it, we'll have to go around the forest to avoid the local Beastkin population, and from there loop back around and approach from the west. Unless we wait until the first snow and travel up the frozen river from the south."
"I say we wait until winter so we have more time to prepare."
"Aye"
"Agreed."
"Very well, I'll let him know and reserve the contract."
Luna had no idea what they were talking about as they finished by the time she arrived. She just stood there, too focused on trying not to turn tail and run to speak up. Thankfully, the man with the sword that seemed to be the leader happened to notice her and spoke first.
"You lost young one?"
At that the others turned to stare at her. The questioning gazes made her curl in on herself a little, unconsciously holding her tankard close to her chest for security. Mustering her willpower she manged to squeak out a reply.
"N-No, I'm not lost. I was just, um, h-hoping you could help me."
She must've been quite the pitiful sight as immediately the expressions on the four men softened. It was the dwarf who spoke next.
"Of course we will. Here, let's get you a seat."
He signaled a waitress and within moments a chair was brought to the end of the table. Setting her tankard beside their own drinks she hopped in the chair, only to nearly jump out of her skin as she felt the hardwood of the chair against her bare backside. Starkly reminded of why she approached them in the first place she quickly scooted forward until her lower half was entirely under the table. As she grabbed her mug again the dwarf continued.
"So, what seems to be the problem, Miss...?"
"L-Luneiris, b-but call me Luna, just Luna."
"Nice to meet you Luna. I'm Ondir, the healer across from me is Wen, next to him is Samuel, and the orc beside me is Lunok. What can we help you with?"
"Well, I lost my cloak out in the city and was hoping if you might have a spare one I could have. I-I have some coin! It's not much, but I'll pay for it."
She began reaching for her pouch to show them when Samuel, the one with the sword, interrupted her.
"Hold on there, girl, there's no need for that. Wen."
He nodded to the healer, the next sentence unspoken yet understood nonetheless. Wen nodded back and turned to Luna.
"I'll go find you something to wear, just wait here."
He left the table, leaving Luna with the remaining adventurers. She looked between them before her eyes landed on Samuel, who looked to be turning something over in his mind. Before she could ask Ondir spoke up.
"So Luna, you live around here?"
"Uh, yeah. Wait, no. What I mean is I live in Lower Tyerse, the dark elf city."
"Ha, should of figured. You come up to the surface often?"
"No, not really."
"Oh, then it must be the Autumn Festive you're here for, yes?"
She furrowed her brows in confusion. Ondir seemed to notice this as he continued.
"You don't know about the festival?"
"No. If I did I would've stayed home. I-I'm bad with crowds, you see..."
She trailed off, to embarrassed to continue. Thankfully he didn't mind
"Don't worry about it, we've all got out own problems to deal with."
To emphasize the point he took a large gulp from his tankard, leaving little doubt to what his own problem was.
The friendly conversation was helping Luna relax a bit, so she asked them a question of her own once Ondir set down his drink.
"Where are you guys from? How'd you all meet?"
"Well," Ondir began, "Samuel and myself come from right here in Tyerse and grew up together. Wen moved here from a small farming village to train as a healer and rented out the spare room at Samuel's house. And Lunok is from Ghokresh, having hitched a ride with a merchant caravan to find new lands for hunting. I met him when he broke his old bow and came to my brother's shop needing a replacement."
At the mention of a far off land Luna's ears literally perked up as she turned to the quiet orc. Having never left either city she was infinity curious about other places and couldn't resist asking further.
"You're from Ghokresh?! What's it like up there?"
Lunok chuckled a bit at her sudden burst of enthusiasm before speaking in a deep voice.
"The village I'm from lies in valley filled with hills and trees. During the winter the snow is heavy and the cold unrelenting, but the summers are very enjoyable even on the hottest days. I became a hunter to help feed the village, but once a trade route was opened up I found my serves in less demand as foods were bought and traded from the caravans. After a few years I set out on my own and never looked back."
Luna continued to stare, enraptured with the story, however brief. She wished to know even more and was about to ask when Ondir spoke again.
"Luna, what's the drink you've got there? I've never seen a purple ale before."
And just like that embarrassment flood back through her system. She struggle to create a good excuse before the blush in her cheeks became too noticeable.
"It's a, uh, family secret! Only me and my parents know how to make it, and I, well, made some earlier and brought it with me, hehe."
It was only a partial lie, she did indeed "make it," and she did choose to bring it with her, but they didn't need to know the details.
"Family secret, eh? Let me give it a try!"
...What.
Luna was dumbfounded by what he just suggested, so much so she couldn't react in time to keep him from nabbing her tankard. Samuel and Lunok didn't stop him, and the look Lunok gave her suggested this was a normal occurrence and she just had to let it happen. So she watched in silent horror as the dwarf brought the mug to his mouth, gave it a quick sniff, and took a large gulp. Dread filled her veins as she waited for him to declare in disgust for all to hear what it was. He licked his lipped, stared at the mug for a moment, and turned to look her in the eyes.
Here it comes.
"Luna, that was one of the best damn drinks I've ever had!"
Again, what.
The dark elf in could only stare in disbelief at his proclamation. He passed the mug to Lunok, urging him to try it. The orc looked to her and, receiving no objections from the stunned elf, took a gulp as well. He swallowed and pondered the taste for a moment before giving it an approving nod and continued the chain, passing it to Samuel. He took a few drinks, his brows raising a bit in surprise.
"Not bad Luna, let your parents know we approve."
"Am I missing out on something?"
Luna jumped a little as Wen reappeared, a black cloth draped over an arm.
"We were just trying Luna's family's special drink. Have a taste!" Ondir encouraged as Samuel held it out.
Wen took a couple drinks and actually swished it around a bit in his mouth before swallowing.
"Wow, now that's an interesting taste. I can't quiet describe it but it's very pleasing to the senses."
As the others nodded in agreement Luna was at a loss for words. These four men just drank her own pee and thought it tasted great, indescribable almost as Ondir has just declared. She was vaugely aware of Wen offering it back to her, to which she shook her head, watching as he shrugged his shoulders and took another drink before passing it around again. Luna didn't know if she should feel disgusted, mortified, utterly baffled, or amazed at what just transpired.
"Luna?"
She was shaken from her thoughts by Wen calling her name,
"S-Sorry, yes?"
"I got you a cloak. It's normally for, well, lets just say really sad religious purposes, but it'll do you just fine."
He held out the black cloth, detailed with grey patterns seemingly purposefully hard to make out, to which she gratefully accepted, if only for the distraction it provided.
"Thank you, very much. But, I can't keep it, not if you'll need it later. How can I return it to you? Or repay you?"
"I actually have suggestion."
Luna looked over to Samuel.
"What is it?" she asked, uncertain.
"Well that depends, how good are you at stealth?"
Luna was a bit taken aback by the question, but still answered.
"Uh, I would say I'm pretty good, maybe very good by human standards. My parents tell me that dark elves are naturals at stealth."
A smile crossed his lips.
"That's what I was hoping to hear. Here's my suggestion: you go home, get plenty of sleep, and meet us here at dawn to return the cloak. If you get back and fall asleep within the hour you should have plenty of rest by then. You following?"
"Uh-huh."
"Okay then, that's the first part. The second part is this: I'd like you to accompany us for a mission or two. If I understand dark elf culture right, you appear to be approaching the age where you look for an apprenticeship, so why not join our group? We're a sanctioned party so we can accept an apprentice, we'll keep the missions easy, and we'll be happy to meet your parents and answer any questions they might have. You don't even need anything more than what you have on now, we'll provide the basics. We could use someone with good stealth skills, so what do you say?"
What does she say? Luna was overwhelmed! All she wanted this night was to check out a magic brewery and now here she was, bottomless in a tavern with four men who just unknowingly drank her urine and were now offering an apprenticeship as an adventurer!
She looked at the others, but they just told her about how they've been looking for a fifth member for more stealthy jobs and haven't had much luck. Lunok even explained that it's why they're staking out this bar so late at night, hoping to find a dark elf to proposition. Unable to find any outside help she quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Pros: No more need to worry about finding an apprenticeship (which she had been purposefully delaying), gaining some new companions that could easily become her friends, the chance to explore the surface world beyond the city limits, and hopefully overcome her aversion to large crowds of strangers.
Cons: Having to reveal her midnight trips to her parents to explain everything, more interactions with strangers, the fact that they've all drank her urine, liked it, and might ask for more someday, and she's expected to dress similar to how she is now, in only a tunic and boots, undergarments not being an option as dark elves doesn't wear them and she can't buy any in time.
Needing to make her choice, what does she decide on?