Alain smirks. "Yes, my flask has been empty for too long." he says. "To Arbroath, comrades!"
Alain begins to set off briskly. Then turns around and asks, "Which way?" with a grin.
The party travels to Arbroath, encountering signs of devastation along the way. The straw roofs of the hovels are mostly gone and even a few bodies lay along the muddied roads. Some chickens are running along and scurry away as the party approaches. Soon, the group enters the city proper and the damage seems less severe, mainly due to the sturdy construction of the more prosperous city residents sheltering the houses of the poor.
Unfortunately, it is approaching nightfall and the inns in this wealthy part of the city are all closed for repairs.
The area that you have entered is a well-off quarter where people like merchants, guildsmen, and the like reside. Near the wharf, there is a general mass of various wooden slums, although there is a small area within known as the old quarter where only the descendants of the original founders of the city live. Although it is prosperous, there are many superstitions surrounding it since it is a place of arcane study, so most people don't venture in.
I will take point. You best be followin' me. Mal starts to go towards Arbroath, carefully trying to orient himself in the forest.
"It is getting quite late, shall we see about finding a place to sleep for the night?"
Guy surveys each landmark as they pass, becoming more bothered by the moment. "This place chills me, somehow. As though heaven had shut one eye to this city, and let some wickedness creep in. God save us from evil." Guy crosses himself, muttering another prayer under his breath.
Everyone in the party notices a poor, little street urchin attempting to pickpocket Alain. It seems to be his first time doing it, but he is just so awful at it.
There is also a group of ragtag street urchins off in the shadows, though they look perhaps more sinister and experienced in this stealing business.
Mal smacks the urchin in the head with the back of his hand, not hard to hurt him but hard enough to be convincing. Bugger off, lad. Ye still in time to not get a proper beating. Then, turning towards the other ragtags, I am talking about ye there as well. Mind yer own business and nobody gets hurt.
Most of the urchins flee into the alleys, afraid by the big man with the sharp sword, but the leader gives Mal a fierce look, gives a profane gesture, then runs off after the other urchins.
Although the beating of urchins is a common sight (most get it worse), some of the poorer townsfolk come out of their houses to look at the strange out-of-towners.
Guy looks around at the gathering townsfolk. Such a dreary place, that children are forced to steal for their bread. Out loud, he says "Good evening good peoples. Where might we find a place of rest here in this town?"