Azure: Gunner

“Oh great PAST, tell us, how did you receive your mighty name?”

[THERE WAS A FOCUS GROUP!]

- Lazlo Smith, Level 31 Patriotic Paladin, Fireside Chats with PAST

We had to stop back at the dorms first so that Arlo could unload the practice weapons and Tara the rest of her clothes. We just dumped the clothes into the chest in my room, planning to move it later, and left the weapons piled on my spare bed.

We were out of the gates ten minutes later, following the path that led down the hill towards Backhorn. I organized us into a simple formation, sending Raylan and Arlo out as rovers – but together. I didn’t really want any of us wandering around alone out past the walls when no instructors were about. As we walked quickly down the path, I could see the town spread out below us.

It proved to be farther away, and a bit bigger, than I’d expected. Moving downhill, it took us at least thirty minutes to reach the outer farms, and another fifteen after that to reach the town gates, which were open, with a pair of bored guards keeping an eye on things. Their eyes widened at the sight of the orcs – and perhaps at Zaire and Jayce as well – but they noticed our Delver badges and waved us through.

We didn’t ask for directions, assuming everything we were looking for would be on the main road. As we approached the town square, I was startled to see a sign with my name on it hanging over the entrance of one of the larger buildings. It took my brain a moment to register that it didn’t really say “AZ”, it actually read “A–Z” in big, bold letters, encircled by much smaller text reading “Weapons & Armor Emporium!”.

“Ah, excellent, I didn’t expect to find an A–Z out here!” commented Arlo, and Tara nodded.

Raylan, who was walking next to him, punched him in the shoulder. “You act as if you haven’t been walking next to one all morning!”

“Hey, I am not a store!” I complained, to general laughter.

“Better watch out, they might sue you for copying their name!” Raylan retorted, and I was briefly nervous before realizing he was – hopefully – joking.

“You guys know this place?” I asked, confused. How did they both know a place and not know that it was here at the same time?

“Not this one in particular,” Tara said, then explained the idea of a ‘chain store’ to us rural types. Intrigued by the idea of knowing that one could reliably shop somewhere they’d never previously visited, I followed the trainees into the store. Well, one trainee and one ex-trainee anyway.

As we entered, a soft chime sounded and a man looked up from behind a counter. He quickly emerged, walking over to greet us with a broad smile. Identify.