Annie bustled around, collecting emptied tankards and chatting with her customers. 

"Now now Tiny, talk like that is just going to cause trouble." She said, laying a hand on the shoulder of one of her patrons, a huge man glowering at his opponent. "How about you boys talk about it proper? Don't want you causing trouble for Annie, eh?" She said with a motherly smile, patting the giant on the shoulder. A civil tone had merged back into their conversation by the time Annie made it back to the bar.

Annie was cleaning tankards and watching people entering the bar, calling out to those she recognised...or at least those that didn't mind the attention. She recognised some of those who entered as members of the guild, slipping in for the meeting downstairs. Others she didn't notice enter but knew their punctuality meant they had passed without her notice.

[@bloonewb]
Shi pulled himself up onto the barstool in front. She liked the little man, where others shunned the dwarf Annie saw past to the brilliant mind which lay inside. 

"You're very welcome dear." She said with a smile, remembering the first time she had to explain dear as an endearment, rather than an animal. "I might just know of a group..." She said, cautiously - did she want to expose Shi to the group? He would handle it okay, they were all nice really, deep inside...some deeper than others. After a few moments she put down her towel and tankard, asking her husband to watch the bar, and guided Shi down to the basement.