A Beacon in the Darkness

The sign creaked in the wind, reading "The Red Griffin Inn" in faded letters that seemed to cling to the wooden board for dear life. The building itself looked like it had been through a war, its walls cracked and worn, the windows cloudy with grime. But despite its run-down appearance, the inn seemed to be a haven of sorts, a small patch of humanity in a city that seemed determined to crush it. As I pushed open the creaking door, a warm glow spilled out into the night, accompanied by the murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses. The air inside was thick with the smell of smoke and stale beer, but it was a welcome change from the stench of decay that permeated the city's streets. The patrons of the Red Griffin Inn were a rough-looking bunch, their faces weathered and worn from hard living. But despite their rugged appearance, they seemed to be a mix of humans and...others. A half-elf with a scar above her eyebrow nursed a mug of ale in the corner, while a stout dwarf with a thick beard played a mournful tune on a battered lute. A human with a missing eye and a scarred cheek sat at the bar, eyeing me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. I made my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of Mari or information about her whereabouts. The bartender, a gruff-looking man with a thick beard and a scar above his eyebrow, looked me up and down before nodding in greeting. "What can I get you, friend?" he asked, his voice like a rusty gate. I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Just a room for the night, and information," I said finally, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible. The bartender raised an eyebrow. "Information, eh? What kind of information are you looking for?" I leaned in, my voice low. "I'm looking for a friend. She was last seen in the city, and I was hoping someone might know something about her." The bartender's expression turned sympathetic, and he nodded. "You're talking about the ones who went missing, eh? Yeah, we've had a few folks come through here asking questions. But be careful, friend. The demons don't take kindly to strangers asking questions." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If you're looking for information, you might want to talk to Old Tom. He's been around for a while, and he's got ears on the street. But be warned, he's a bit of a trickster, and you'll need to be careful what you say around him." I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. Old Tom, it seemed, was the next step in my search for Mari. I ordered a room and a drink, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of this mysterious Old Tom.