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The clouds above darken, and rain begins to fall upon the tattered hood of a green-grey scaled Nagaji man. He stands before a small tavern, staring at the sign gently swaying in the wind.
"The Corn & Cob Taverne? What kind of name is that?" he mutters and shakes his head before entering.
He shakes himself dry before ignoring the stares of some of the patrons and approaching the bar.
"What can I get you?" the youngish man in charge of the establishment does not even look up from the counter he seems intent on scrubbing into spotlessness, when he asks. It is only after some moments of nonresponse he peeks up, to be met by the Nagaji's curious glance.
The Nagaji unfurls a parchment from his loose dark clothing and shows it to the bartender.
"I understand your establishment needs some sort of entertainment act." The Nagaji's voice is less accented and far more... smooth than anyone would've guessed.
"...Yes-"
The Nagaji clears his throat.
"Well then, you are in luck. You can call me Darsten. I am a travelling troubadour, you might say... I sing, play the lute, tell jokes, do comedy routines, er, anything your tavern needs!" he chuckles.
The bartender sighs. "Look, I just need someone who can play a musical instrument to provide some background ambience for the pub. That is all. You said you play the lute?"
"Yes!" Darsten retrieves the lute that's strapped to his back. His trustworthy lute of many years, looking particularly worn and - peculiarly, at least to the bartender - scorched. Darsten strums a couple of notes, but something sounds off.
"Ah, er, I'll need to tune it! Heh heh..."
The bartender merely grumbles.