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Continuing from the introduction of Oh Bloody Hell - The Tavern (link at bottom of section). Carei is introduced to a mysterious, interdimensional being
Colleen walked towards the bar, Carei following. Carei watched many sets of eyes follow them as the moved.
When they arrived at the bar, the Flansh turned to greet them, a beaming smile on her face.
"Oh, hi Carei! My name is Benari. How are you feeling?"
Carei felt at a distinct disadvantage that everyone knew who she was, but she knew nothing of them.
"I'm... fine. Well, not really. I hurt like crazy. Who took care of me here?"
Benari had a stricken look on her face, full of sympathy.
"I'm sorry Carei! We have been doing our best. I will get you something to drink to make you feel much better!"
She turned around and started mixing some strange concoction, her tail swishing back and forth.
Carei looked at Colleen questioningly. "She... didn't answer my question."
Colleen smiled.
"You'll get used to being here. I have to get back to the customers." She turned and walked away.
A moment later Benari was back. She held out to Carei a large mug with a steaming liquid inside. It smelled good, a fruity, apple-like smell. But it had a dark foreboding color. Carei hesitated. Benari leanded back, pouting.
"I... where am I? And what is that?" Carei asked, pointing at the mug.
Benari perked up, bouncing lightly on her feet and spilling some of the drink.
"Try it! This is Flansh Felishol. It makes you feel better!"
"It's... good," Carei observed, and she took another sip. The stress drained out of her, but she still kept a wary eye on the the other patrons. She sat down on one of the stools at the bar, and looked again at Benari, who was busily wiping down the bar. As Benari bent over concentrating on her work, Carei noticed a small set of horns poking through the Flansh's hair at the temples.
"This is a bit unreal," Carei said aloud. She put the mug on the counter, having consumed barely a third of it. Her mind felt strangely clear, but that just made the strangeness of the place all the more present to her.
Benari looked up, a knowing look on her face.
"The doctor who took care of you is a friend of mine. You were about to die. He healed you. You can't meet him, he's gone. Yvinda fed you and bathed you. She's... a wood elf..." Benari said, a bit of a sneer in her voice. "Thinks she knows everything. And you are at the Tavern."
"Thanks," Carei said, still confused. She had no idea what a *wood elf* was, and was getting more new questions than answers. "I got that. But where are we? Is it in the Verge?"
Benari shook her head, her bangs dancing.
"Is it... in union space?"
Benari shook her head again.
"Are you going to *tell* me where it is?" The stress was returning to her, despite the drink.
Benari bit her lower lip, and then showed another of her huge smiles.
"It is not anywhere," she said. "If you look for it, you won't find it. You need to let the Tavern find you!"
"You aren't making any sense," Carei growled.
"Thank you!" Benari replied, obviously taking the comment as a compliment, confusing Carei more. "You have to be hungry. You're Terran. I will make you steak and eggs! You'll like it!" She turned and shouted orders to an unseen cook in the kitchen. Carei frowned, and took a long drink of the Felishol. Colleen said the bartender would answer her questions. But that wasn't happening.
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