Those 10ft tall elegantly carved oaken doors swung open with unexpected ease to reveal an expansive gathering hall. The inside was just as grand as the outside. Squared, wooden beams support the upper floors and the gentle swaying orange lights attached to them.
The dark wooden floors were clean and lacked that weird sticky sensation on Elisie's boots that she had grown accustom to when entering a tavern. Furthermore the air was filled with enticing spices which caused a deep yearning in Elisie to follow the smell trail directly to those wonderful dishes. Unfortunately now was not the time she thought to herself as she scanned the room.
Elisie's eyes glanced at the bar in front of a wall lined with many a bottles of different sizes, shapes and labels. If those more expensive alcohols weren't enough the table just bellow supported several tapped barrels stocked with various local ales. This was a stark contrast to the last tavern Elisie visited which only served several barrels of the same bland bitter ale.
Several long wooden tables were neatly organized throughout the gathering hall that were all surprisingly unoccupied. The smaller boots and even the bar stools all stood empty. Not a singular soul was in sight. Elisie couldn't help but ponder the lack of people at this time of the day.
Elisie's hollow horns were filled with the soft melodic music emanating from a large diamond shaped crystalline structure that was surrounded by several intertwined constantly rotating golden rings which bore circles of various sized holes along its bands. The music was something akin to a chorus of wind instruments.
With attention stolen by the marvelous device Elisie couldn't help but idly observe the device. Her mind eye curiously try to figuring out the inner workings and magical inlays of this device but all she could muster is that the emerald crystal controlled the air flow of the room through the golden rings to produce the music similar to the way several other wind instruments made sounds.
Elisie was eventually snapped out of her moment of stupor by a gentle poke to her cheek. Leaning in close to Elisie face while gently waving their hand in front of Elisie's eyes was a tomboyish figure with scruffy auburn hair and soulful deep brown eyes.
"Eep!" yelped Elisie as she stumbled back ultimately falling bum first onto the floor.
Elisie's cheeks grew bright red as her eyes looked over at the figure with curiosity. The cbutterflies begin to fill her as she instinctively began to slowly run her hand up and down her left shoulder.
"Umm ... Sorry!" stammered out Elisie as she intertwined her fingers with the figure accepting their offer to aid Elisie back to her feet.
"My name is Kai and it's my pleasure to meet you! How may I help you?" muttered Kia as they punctuated their sentence with a nervous chuckle.
"I would like to join an expedition team." whimpered Elisie as she hastily dusted herself off now that she was properly standing again.
"Unfortunately, There are no more expeditions heading out for at least several months. However depending on your personal skill you can try and do solo missions or try and locate a group that is in need your skill set though I must be honest there has not been much foot traffic here over the last few months." replied Kai's in a bit more solemn voice.
"Oh ... I don't really know anyone in town and my skills aren't particularly suited for solo combat."
The gears in Kai's brain turned rapidly in hope of mustering up a solution to Elisie's current predicament but it unfortunately all she could muster was a genuine apology.
"I apologize for your inconvenience because of our lack of services. I can process your paperwork and test your abilities so that we can put out a request in hopes of finding a suitable group for you to accompany or possibly mustering up an expedition team given enough time."
With an exasperated sigh Elisie gave a halfhearted bow as she replied, "I am in your care."
Elisie politely handed over the refined purple crystalline emblem crafted in the shaped of a shield which is emblazoned with gold that depicts a pair of wings which fold inwards to form a heart.
"The name is Elisie. My primary magical abilities are focused in supporting others and I am sponsored by Alora the Wandering Dreamer."
This small exchange marked the beginning of Elisie's wondrous adventures and what better way to start it but with a giant bundle of monotonous paperwork.