The nameless man craned his neck to look at the top of the rampart. "This has got to be over 50 meters tall!" The pure height of the wall astounded the man. How exactly was this colossal wall made?
Lilith smirked at the man's gob smacked face, "I know right? I'm not too sure myself how this place even came to be." Lilith then looked at the top of the wall where the man could barely make out two dots. "HEYYY, OPEN UPPP!!!"
A brief shudder alarmed the man before the grand gate opened up enough for the two to walk into the fortress. Upon entering, the man couldn't help but gasp in surprise. The past few days had made the man feel alone in this world. Like maybe it could just be him and a few crazies. But seeing at least a remnant of an organized group of people gave the man some much needed solace.
There were dirt roads, guards, stands filled with an assortment of goods, people on the corner asking for people to join their expedition group. The hustle and bustle of the fortress reminded the man of a distant memory he couldn't recall. At least the man felt more comfortable within the sturdy walls than the vast wilderness filled with monsters.
"Cmon nameless, let's go get a drink or two!" Lilith urged as she grabbed the man's hand and guided him to the nearest tavern. Along the way a multitude of people greeted Lilith, "Ah, good to see you're back Lilith!" one man said in passing, "Nice to see you made it back Lilith, and it looks like you brought fresh blood too!" one woman said as she walked by with a bag full of goods on her back. "You seem to be pretty popular here Lilith, just about everyone here knows you." Lilith smiled as she responded "Once you live here long enough people tend to remember your name, especially if the fortress officials favor you."
The pair continued to walk down the streets and greet a few people walking by before ending up at a stone building. Outside there was a wooden sign displaying a hearty mug with drink pouring out. "Here it is nameless, my second home! The Cask & Keg Tavern!" Lilith said with voracious eyes. Upon walking in stringed instruments, boisterous voices, and a warm fire greeted the nameless man. The stress of coming to this world had finally washed away, and he felt like he could finally let loose for a bit.
On the way to the bar top a few drunkards greeted Lilith, "Gooood to see ya Lilith, looks like ya brought another sorry soul here hahaha!" Lilith grabbed the drunk's shoulder "Good to see you too Joseph, glad to see you didn't slip off the ramparts in a stupor!" Joseph guffawed "The mightiest guard of Poplis would never!" Lilith chuckled, "Yeah sure thing you drunk, don't go scaring off our newest addition. Hell he might be able to take you on!"
Joseph quickly scrunched up his face and raised his arms threateningly, "Ohhh yeahh, I'd like to see em try~!" The nameless man hoped Lilith would stop her teasing, it might really get him into a bar fight. Joseph laughed and let down his arms, "Haha, nothing to fret about lad, I'm just messing with ye. What could ya 'ave done to impress miss scout over hear?" Lilith punched the nameless man's chest lightly "He fought with a wendigo on the way from the titan forest, and even managed to kill it!"
The few listening raised their eyebrows at the tale, and Joseph even patted the nameless man on the back, "Looks like we've got a warrior in the making! Not many nameless can say they tangled with a monster! Much less a wendigo, I hate those creepy little buggers!"
Lilith smiled, "As a treat for his successful journey and battle, I decided drinks and food would be on me tonight!" This time a lot more heads turned around at the mention of free drinks. "Ah, only for the nameless, you drunkards!" A few people grumbled and looked away.
"You call us drunkards, Lilith, but what does that make you?" Joseph inquired, booze radiating out of his mouth. "What does that make me? I guess that makes me an addict!" Lilith guffawed aloud. Next she walked over to the barkeep, "I need two tankards full please, ah the good stuff please. Also two wait no three whole fricklens, baked till crisp and juicy!" The man could practically see Lilith drooling at just the thought of drink and food.
Soon two tankards with a beautiful foam overflowing were placed in front of the two. They let some of the foam dissipate before taking a large swig. "Ahhh, that hits the spot after over a week out in the wild!" Notes of fruit and clove pervaded the man's taste, before a heavy wheat flavor took over, before all that was left was a minor alcohol taste. It wasn't ice cold, but nicely chilled. Overall, the drink made for a great refreshment.
Lilith had already downed a second tankard by the time the man had finished his first. By that time an herbaceous and savory smell reached their noses. The man licked his lips at the smell, and could feel his salivary glands at full force. Three huge plates of some bird looking dish were laid before them. Slathered in herbs, seasonings, and surrounded by some root vegetables, it made for a rich and hearty meal.
"Thank the gods for this divinely inspired meat!" Lilith ignored any notion of utensils and dug into the feast savagely. The man would criticize her if he wasn't doing the same thing himself. Every few bites, a swig of ale would cleanse away all the oil and refresh the man. The seasonings were savory, the herbs added an earthy note, and the crackling skin made for a great gateway to the juicy meat that lay underneath. Even the starchy root served with it soaked up juices and was perfectly crisp and flavorful.
After his third tankard the man was beginning to feel a bit tipsier. Hell by now Lilith was getting up on a table showing off party tricks. The man began to feel warmer, happier, with a full belly and music making the place feel like an eternal party.
"Haha, now that's the Lilith I remember!" Joseph yelled out as he swung his tankard around. "And for my next trick, I'll eat a named level knife!" The nameless man cringed at her 'interesting' antics. It wasn't terribly long till the tavern was completely full and a cacophony of voices filled the room.
Despite the sweaty and hot room being somewhat uncomfortable for the nameless man, the ale and mood of the place was doing wonders, as he himself was leaving his shell and began loudly laughing with others. It seemed at this tavern people could let the stress of the environment leave them, and simply enjoy a good time.
"Haha, pour this new lad another drink!" A few boisterous men even bought him drinks. They held sympathy for his journey here, and wanted to share some congratulations. "Ah, I really shouldn't drink anymo-" Before the nameless man could say no they would shove the tankard and insist he drink. The man ended up crumbling to the pressure and drank as best he could.
The man at this point felt very warm and giddy having lost track of how many tankards he consumed. Everything at this point was somewhat of a blur. "C'mon newbie, get up here!" He even joined Lilith on the table, as she told grand tales of their journey, to the delight of the tavern-goers. They even re-enacted some of the events! "Then I punched the wendigo, like this!" A punch to the man's gut sent him flying off the table into the crowd. "Burgh-" The man had to hold down that precious ale and meat from escaping his gullet while he gasped for air.
"Oops, sorry nameless!" It seemed Lilith forgot about their level difference in the heat of the tale. The man blinked and he was already somewhere else.
"So what should we call you newbie? At least till you become named!" A few people surrounded the nameless man and threw out ideas. "How about… Zero!" A few people sighed, "Fred you suck at this naming thing!" Everyone began arguing about the nameless man's (temporary) name. Some more things were thrown around, John, Blank, Robert. None of them fit the bill though. The nameless man stood up and boisterously proclaimed, "My name henceforth shall be… Cassius!" People around him cheered.
"Cassius… Cassius, it's got a nice ring to it!" One man commented. "Sounds like a warrior or a hero!" a drunkard added. "Everyone everyone! Let's cheer for the birth of the newest addition to Poplis, Cassius!" Everyone in the tavern raised their tankards and let out whoops and cheers. Another blink later a faster paced tune was playing and the nameless man was dancing. Dancing might be sugarcoating it, but he was trying his best!
Looking up he saw multiple pairs of people dancing together all laughing and stepping to the tune of the instruments. The man finally noticed he was actually dancing with a woman right now! "Haha, you're stumbling all over the place!" A pretty girl with a brunette ponytail and freckles laughed aloud. "Surely this isn't the display you showed that supposed wendigo, was it?" Cassius's face flushed red in embarrassment, "Err, no haha. If I'm being honest I can hardly walk right now!"
The woman laughed as they spun together trying to synchronize their steps. "My name's Jessica, maybe we'll meet later, Cassius. If you want to ever visit, I work near the gate at a stand, come find me. Surely the wendigo slayer could spare me some time?" The woman winked at Cassius as she threw him to another person.
Landing in another person's arms the man gulped as he looked up. "Well well well, if it isn't the newbie? Or should I say Cassius? Ah whatever." Lilith quickly began dancing with Cassius. "You just got here and you're already flirting? Never took you for a playboy type" Lilith spun Cassius around, like she was leading the dance. "I guess I'm a natural", joked Cassius. "Don't get too cocky, newbie!" Cassius was once again thrown to some other dancer.
Once again he blinked and he was somewhere else. He had just guzzled another tankard and began trying to play an instrument with the bards in the tavern! Blink.
"Haha, it's all mine! Cough of your credits!" A man with a scarred eye bellowed while playing a card game. Cassius ran through his pockets. "Sorry, I'm broke beyond repair!" Blink.
Food and drink lied all over the tavern. There was even a broken table in the middle. "Fight fight fight!" Cassius popped his neck after standing up from the broken table. "Let Cassius the great display his fighting skill!" Cassius jumped into a brawl between three people, one of them being the man with a scarred eye. Blink.
Shuffling of metal and leather filled the tavern. "Break it up you drunks, break it up!" Blink.
"Blurghhhhh" Cassius vomited and tears fell down from his eyes. Someone was patting his back as he threw up the ale he so voraciously drank. "Let's get you to an inn bud."
Blink.
Creaakkk. "All right newbie. You get a good night's sleep, oh and I can't forget to leave you this." A door opens and closes once again.
The room felt like it was spinning, and Cassius felt sick to his stomach. Not to mention his aching jaw and bruised fists. Cassius stared at the ceiling before eventually falling asleep. [This is not how I envisioned my first night here…]