The blustering wind made my trench coat cling to me like a blood-sucking debtor. Huddled deep within the meagre warmth of the apparel, I made my way, 5 inches at a time, for fear of running into something. Some might have called it insanity to be out on such a day, when most of the denizens of Aylor were burrowed deep into their homes, sipping herbal tea and watching WizardView, the newest creation for mage enabled entertainment. But in truth, it was not insanity that drove me to such extents, it was the fact that this was the type of day when a mystery would arise. In fact, Shylock Hermes, the well-known Jewish trivia-fueled halfling detective had 67 out of his 89 cases started on such a day.

Tugging up the collar of my coat, I peered hopefully into the darkness and wall of myst, this would be the perfect sort of day for a mystery. Pondering on what impressive logical device I would use to solve my hypothetical mystery, I lost track of where I was going and ran into a door. Dang, it did look like a wall of water. Since my face was already involuntarily plastered to the glass door, I chanced a glance in. The mage lights were dimmed low, since the erratic weather limited the frequency range of the spellings. However, what the bar did have was something I could never find out here. Blessed warmth.

Sliding my hand down the door, I groped around for the handle. Rain sluiced down my uncovered head as I quickly grasped the metallic knobs. Pulling them down with great force, I pulled hard against the door. It didnt budge. I tugged hard against the door. It didn't budge. I shoved my weight back and tried to yank the door open. It didn't budge. I.. you get the point. Aargh, It was just my luck... coming across such a door on such a day. Muttering under my breath, it suddenly occurred to me that this might be one of those clubs that I heard of. Clubs formed by the men of society, where women were not allowed in. Oooh, so this was one of those sexist establishments wasn't it. Created by those filthy, ignorant, sexist, mean spirited, jealous, sexist, overbearing males. Defeated by the basis of my gender, I slammed my fist angrily against the doors and slumped tiredly against them.

Suddenly, my world fell away, and I distinctly heard the simulated creak of the mage barrier, implemented when trolls complained that they couldnt see the door open very well and mage doors were too silent. I cringed, waiting for the embarassing moment, when I was falling hard toward the floor, but my downward progress, or forward degression was halted by a... kind, considerate and hopefully not sexist male elf. He leapt forward silently and quickly, in the way elves do and caught me as I fell. A red flush stained my cheeks, not a blush mind you, it was out of embarassment.. okay, perhaps it was a little of a blush, but only a little. A sheepish smile crept onto my face as I noticed my predicament. Still hovering in the arms of the elf, I glanced around and noticed I was dripping all over his dry clothes. His well-made elf clothes. His well-made expensive looking elf clothes. His well-made expensive looking elf clothes that I was beginning to destroy.

Horrified, I leapt upright and started inching away, surveying the elf, looking for a way I could perhaps mend a little of what I had done. Dismayed, I realised there was no way I could pay for a replacement set of clothes like that one, perhaps if I worked non-stop for 40 years, but only then. Noticing the amused smile the elf had, I began to apologise profusely. To which he quirked an eyebrow and proclaimed, with the melodic tones of an elf, "My my, I may not be best specimen of an elf around, but I didn't know I was that repulsive."