Garraul the minotaur was uncertain what to expect when he arrived at the center for the conception service. He usually avoided the big cities, with their humans and halflings and various other folk who had only ever heard of his kind menacing adventurers in far-off dungeons. The land was forward-thinking enough that he wasn’t immediately met at spearpoint, but even ignoring how out-of-place he seemed (and felt), the big bustle of the crowds just didn’t appeal to him, and the tiny streets weren’t built for folk his size. Standing outside the conception center’s door, he was filled with even more doubt. The place looked tiny, barely capable of fitting him.

But female minotaurs were in short supply and Garraul was desperate for kin, so when he’d heard tale of a conception center that promised success for any comer, he’d decided to risk it.

Noting that the outside was completely unmarked (as he had been told it would be), Garraul squeezed inside. He noted an interior that was sparse but tidy; quite presentable overall. The room was spacious vertically; what he’d taken as a two-story building only had one floor and a high roof, so he could fit in with ease. There were no chairs of any sort, but there was a broad oak desk with a single receptionist sitting behind.

“Welcome,” the half-elf said. “Garraul?”

“Aye,” he grunted, his voice low and basso. Unfamiliar creatures were often scared of it, but this individual showed no concern.

“Xai will be waiting for you below,” the half-elf said, and with a crank of a lever half-hidden by the desk, a floor panel swung back.

Garraul descended the staircase, which was again surprisingly spacious, all things considered—not quite as accommodating as home, but he was able to pass through without stooping.

The lower level was a broad chamber, well-lit with magic constructs, that was far bigger than the ground floor. It was more richly furnished, with divans and cushions and armchairs of various sizes scattered about; Garraul saw with surprise that more than a few were capable of meeting his size, and others were too big for him!

Sitting in one of the smaller chairs was an individual he assumed was Xai. They had a humanoid body shape, though their skin was a strange, cloudy blue that was halfway to being dark grey. Their features were… well, Garraul had never been great at telling male and female humans apart, but he had no idea with this one. Glossy brown hair, strangely shimmery, almost metallic, fanned past their shoulders.

Their nose was aquiline, their cheekbones prominent, their chin broad, their eyebrows thin and defined. Their eyes seemed slightly too large for their face, and as Garraul watched they cycled through colors for a moment before settling on a muted purple.