WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

[abraxasmods]

WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

Welcome to The Free Cities! The portal exits outside the capital city of Cadens. The first impression of the city is its sheer size. It sprawls out across the landscape like a great hulking beast at rest. The wall that encircles it barely contains it, the buildings of Cadens practically bulging against its restraint.

The air here seems thicker somehow, tinged with a scent that’s acrid and smoky. Smog hangs high over the city, belched out by smokestacks that tower over the industrial district. The desert stretches out behind it, dotted with towers and dust clouds that disappear into the horizon. Multiple gates lead inside and each is staffed by soldiers in unfamiliar uniforms that wave a steady stream of people through without appearing to pay much attention. People are coming and going almost all of the time, to and from the outposts and areas of activity around the city proper. It’s difficult to tell just what’s out there beyond the impression of tall metal structures and a great deal of labor. Wagons carrying travelers to Libertas and Aquila roll out from the Travel Post outside the city wall.

Anyone who can sense magic will notice a much lower concentration here. No one will be stopped or questioned at the gate, even if the soldiers seem to take note of the fugitives from Thorne.

The activity and sheer number of citizens can be overwhelming. It’s crowded and loud and feels constantly in motion with everyone talking and yelling over each other. It’s easy to get swept up in the ever-moving throng or find oneself ducking into the mouth of a narrow alley just to breathe.

Anyone who’s willing to make their way to the northern part of the city and Portham Hall will find Prime Minister Marlo Reiner available to receive them.

Comments

[abraxasnpcs]

The Free Cities were built to be a home for those that need it. We once fled Thorne's rule and authority ourselves.

[Marlo smiles easily.]

We welcome new blood. Before widespread travel was curtailed, we'd have new immigrants every month. You're welcome here. Follow our rules, don't make trouble, and you'll get on just fine with us. If you fear retribution from Thorne...don't.

[The last word is said very firmly and there's a gleam that comes into the Prime Minister's eyes.]

[falcony]

You were all once from Thorne?

[ now that is interesting. sam sits up a bit. ]

Were you brought here too, or was this uh- plane always home to you and your people? [ it is dawning on sam he knows...very little about anything about this world. he knows there are tensions between the cities, the places, and that thorne is not everyone's favorite place. but how did it get there? what happened? ]

And we thank you- really. Many of those who came with me through the portal- Thorne considered them dangerous. Between you and me, I think it's just because Ambrose said thought they were a mistake. [ his tone makes it very obvious what he thinks about that. ] All we are looking for is a safe place to stay away from Thorne. Where we're not considered prisoners just because some dude screwed up.

[ the gleam in her eyes is what catches his attention, and sam pauses for a moment. ]

Would they really come after us? All this way?

[abraxasnpcs]

Not us exactly, but the Free Cities weren't always the Free Cities. We forged our own way back in the day, without monarchs or mages calling every shot. We elect our leaders, citizens vote on issues relevant to them, and we don't need a bunch of magicians making choices for average people.

[There's a note of pride in the prime minister's voice.]

But I wouldn't put anything past Thorne. You're clearly important to them and they don't like important things slipping out of their grip.

[falcony]

[ sam's expression grows noticeably lighter, more encouraged. this he can work with. this he is more comfortable handling. ]

It's impressive. Really. [ he sounds honest with his compliment. it's always going to take a moment for him to put him back in the mindset of what this place has faced. what would be normal, here. and it really is impressive - he's seen ambrose's magic first hand. that's not easy to buck up against.

sam looks mildly concerned, though. a flash of it crossing his eyes. ]

Are we safe here? I wouldn't want to put you or your people at risk if they come after us.

[abraxasnpcs]

You're safer here than you'd be anywhere else. But I doubt Thorne's going to make any trouble, not with things how they are. Don't worry about it.

[The prime minister seems entirely earnest, secure in her ability to keep Thorne out of the Free Cities.]

What lines did they sell you, if you don't mind me asking. What have they told you about the world outside their borders?

[falcony]

Things as they are - you mean how you disagree on what to do with the Singularity?

[ she is earnest, and that helps but sam at ease, but he's still not entirely sure what to make of all of this. governments vying for power, that he can work with. but the second it involves magic, he's just a bit out of his league. ]

Very little, actually. Ambrose claims he can use the Singularity and its magic to save your world, and ours, from imminent destruction. He claims there is something wrong and that it's unstable, and that he brought us here, because we have a connection to it that he, and the other people here, don't have.

[ a beat, and then sam shifts. ]

I was told you're looking to destroy it, instead, and that it's put you at odds with Thorne. Is that really what's going on?

[abraxasnpcs]

There's a lot more to politics than some mystic chunk of rock. But the revolution was a long time ago and if you ask me, the Singularity makes a real nice and well defined point to rally people around. Good and symbolic. It makes a neat tidy narrative doesn't it? Magic is all that can save us and Thorne are the experts at magic and anyone who doesn't rely on magic is the big scary bad guy. Or confused and ignorant and needs bringing back into the fold.

[Marlo shakes her head.]

We don't rely on magic here.

[falcony]

[ he can see where she is coming from, truthfully. he gets it. revolutions, especially the kind where one type of people are trying to convince another type how to live...

sam just wants to make sure he knows what is going on. really going on. at least as much as he can. ]

I'm guessing you don't believe what they said about all the worlds being connected? Ambrose said that if anything happened to the Singularity, it would end up destroying everything, everywhere. [ a beat. ] You think it's propaganda for your war?

[ because he also gets it. back home, back with the avengers, he didn't rely on magic either. didn't need to. he had his wings and he had his heart and that worked for him.

at least until the larger thread showed up. it's why sam seems hesitant, now. because this sort of threat? this possibility of all of their destruction? that's a little more at stake, now. ]

[abraxasnpcs]

We're looking into things ourselves. We may not rely on magic but we understand it. And we understand how dangerous it can be. Speaking of...I have to ask. Just how exactly did you end up in Thorne's hands in the first place?

[Marlo leans back in her chair and her eyes stay fixed on Sam.]

[falcony]

[ sam almost asks about that - about dangerous and what she could mean. he's officially lived enough of his life around the magical sorts that he now has to consider someone's thoughts towards magic as a potential red flag, but...

well. she doesn't exactly change the subject, but she asks a good question that sam, at this point, assumes she probably deserves an answer. ]

Ambrose brought us through some kind of portal. Or I guess- some people are calling it a well. [ sam gives a shrug, because really, that's about all he can really say about it. ] I'm assuming it's not that different from the portals that brought us here from Thorne, except that Ambrose could apparently reach through space and time. [ there is a hint of annoyance at that, and sam shakes his head. ] But it was all him and his magic.

[ after a moment of consideration, sam watches the prime minister. ]

Guessing this is the first time something like that has happened?

[abraxasnpcs]

Is that so. Do you remember any details? I'm just trying to figure out how worried we need to be over here. Thorne is dabbling in things that I don't think they understand and we could all end up suffering for it.

[The prime minister shakes her head as well in agreement that the whole thing is frustrating.]

Far as I know this hasn't ever happened before.

[falcony]

Depends on what details will be helpful. I don’t know much about the whole magic…bit. But I know someone who might. [ and here he goes again, prepared to just pass around dr strange. ] I can tell you details of the room, the number of people there, the information Ambrose fed us… he’s claiming that if we don’t figure out how to use the Singularity, it’s going to destroy all of our worlds. Is that what you’ve found?

[ because that’s what worries him - beyond the rest, beyond what is probably an impending war. he just needs to know the scale. ]

Something must have happened if Ambrose is just now starting to go this far.

[abraxasnpcs]

Anything and everything. I'm not sure just what's going to be helpful myself. Whatever details you can remember. I can say this much. Nothing we've learned leads us to believe the Singularity can be used. If anything that's more likely to lead to disaster.

[The prime minister takes a moment, as if debating whether or not to say more.]

In my experience nothing needs to have happened for Thorne to pursue dangerous magical paths.

[falcony]

I can see what I can pull together once I think about it more. It's been a few months, but I also know a few others who have better memories. Maybe I can get you a report?

[ sam frowns just a bit at that second part, unsure how he feels. magic is so far out of his realm of understanding, but from what he's heard of the people who do more actively use it... ] You said you have some magic you use here - is that all not from the Singularity, too, or do you think it comes from somewhere else?

[ and then there's that, and sam's brows both lift. ]

Sounds like there's a story there. Have you run up against Thorne doing something like this before?