abraxaslogs | WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

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WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

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.

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[ Well. He's the fool who gave it to her when she didn't ask; it's her money now! As he walks away, he'll probably hear Ciri bullying the shopkeeper with her newfound leverage in having some money as opposed to almost none, until the man relents (possibly just to get her to leave and stop giving other customers ideas).

After all that, Ciri is the satisfied owner of a fruit-and-cream-filled bun and one rolled in cinnamon sugar. Plus, her original money still in her pocket. All in all, that's a win in her book.

Belly full and with coin to spare, she turns her attention only about ten or fifteen minutes later on considering the very odd stranger who'd decided to make the charitable donation to her sweet tooth. Tracking in a city is far different from tracking out in the woods, but she's not looking for just any man. Even such a belated start doesn't hinder her; asking around, shopkeepers remember the antlered deer-man well, and eventually point her in the direction of a tavern some blocks away from the main market square. It's tucked into one of the less-polished parts of the city, which seem to hide in plain sight in pockets between larger buildings and wider streets.

Ciri spots him instantly. Hard not to, antlers and all. She slides in to stand at the bar beside him, leaning on one elbow. ]

There he is. The altruistic gentleman who didn't stick around for his thank-you.

Must be nice, having so much coin to throw around without ulterior motives.

[His ear twitches as she approaches, the motion more obvious than on a human with their size. He peers at her out of the corner of his eye, sipping his whiskey.]

Ah, and you are the lady from the bakery, aren't you? Did you successfully harass that shop into lowering the price?

[He can't always recognize different humans so easily, but she's distinctive for a human. He's noticed that most young humans don't have white hair, and she has very piercing green eyes.

He can't help but find the thought of him being described as 'altruistic' and 'having no ulterior motives' a little amusing, but he supposes that has been a superficial reputation he's had for a long time, even from back home.

He doesn't address the unspoken question of why he has that money. Admittedly his quality of living quarters isn't what he's used to, and his funds aren't what he's used to, but he's always had a knack for finding ways to climb up swiftly and make himself valuable. Value comes with a decent paycheck.]

[ Ciri smirks. Without looking, she extends a foot to the side, hooking the empty chair beside her with one boot to drag it over and sit next to her new 'friend.' ]

As a matter of fact, I did. [ she answers brightly, unashamed.

Just as unashamed when she asks: ]

Does your generosity extend to drinks too?

[ Difficult to tell whether or not it's a joke. Though that probably depends on how her companion decides to interpret it. ]

[She's got cheek, he'll grant her that. He lets out a huff that's both amused and exasperated, arching an eyebrow.]

Considering your haggling skills, I think you'll do just fine without me.

[Good luck negotiating with the bartender, though. He sips at his whiskey again.]

Is there a reason you wanted to find me?

[ Ciri laughs. No more freebies. Fair enough.

She points to the glass of amber-colored liquid and holds up one finger. Whatever he's having. The bartender obliges, and Ciri pays up. ]

Why, to thank you of course. [ Said with a smirk. She takes her drink when it's set down, swirling it in the glass. Smells potent. ] And because I've never seen anyone like you before.

Well, I understand that most humans are used to a very different kind of deer. [She seems like interesting enough company, so he'll humor her. He turns to face her finally, swirling his whiskey in his hand with a light twinkle of amusement.] It seems I am in the minority in this world.

[And he is very much not in the minority in his own world, but that's neither here nor there at this point. He sticks out hard around here, and he has to adapt to that.]

Your understanding would be correct.

[ So he does call himself a deer? Or has just heard humans call him that? She's so curious, and trying to decide how impolite to be. What are you? feels far too crude.

But it's the 'in this world' that she really latches onto. As far as she can tell, strangers from other spheres do not simply appear without being summoned as they had, back in Thorne. Which means that he must have come through the portal too. ]

Not every day one meets a deer-man from a foreign dimension. A recent transplant from Thorne, I suppose?

Just a deer. Not a deer-man. [It may seem pedantic to correct her on the matter, since it seems that calling him a deer-man is a way to distinguish him from the deer humans are used to, but Louis feels strongly about this one. He's a red deer. Just because they think of something else when they hear that doesn't mean he's anything other than a red deer.]

Yes, I came from Thorne. [He sips at the whiskey casually, like it's no big deal to talk about being transported from another world. And it isn't, really. He has a strong feeling that this human is also from another world.] Where I come from, humans don't exist. You can imagine my surprise, coming here with that in mind.

[ Ah. So that answers that question. Just a deer, he says. A deer in a world with no humans.

Ciri has seen stranger things-- or at least equally strange ones. And ones far worse than a deer who stands on two legs, drinks liquor and throws around free coin. She accepts it. ]

Mm. I imagine it would be very surprising, indeed.

You seem to be faring quite well for yourself, all things considered.

[ The not so subtle glance at the top of his head demonstrates two of the things to consider, among others. ]

All things considered.

[He doesn't need anyone to point out that he's out of place here. But being out of place can have advantages, if one has the savvy to use them.]

I find that most people here consider me a novelty rather than a threat. Things might be different were I a carnivore, or if I were an animal with a worse reputation.

[Louis knows that deer are a striking sight. The antlers makes them look regal. It's why deer males can be so vain about taking care of their racks, and why there's a thriving industry of fake horns to wear during the season they fall out. He uses the image to his advantage.]

But it seems I'm not the only one who sticks out. [He glances at the human, arching an eyebrow.] You're not from around here either, are you?

Fair enough.

[ He's savvy enough to understand how humans react to his particular species, despite coming from a world without any humans in it. Interesting, but respectable. Ciri gleans from this that there must be many different kinds of 'animals' like him in his world too, carnivores among them, and -- like in all societies -- some sort of hierarchy. Makes sense. Weird, but makes sense.

She's quite interested by the fact there are no humans, though. A world where they haven't managed to proliferate is rare. Hers seems to be a species that's scattered across most universes, but she doesn't comment on it. Ciri, for her part, has traveled many different spheres; she accepts the strange and unnerving with more ease than most others of her kind.

The deer's observation is met with a thin smile. She raises her glass in a wordless toast and takes a sip of her whiskey. Tastes just as strong as it smells, and burns all the way down, warming her belly. ]

Mm. Good guess.

I also came from Thorne. About the same time as you did, I'd wager.

[ She gives him a pointed, steady look. ]

I see. [He nods in understanding. One can't help but feel some small level of kinship with the others stolen from their worlds. They're all strangers in a strange land--although Louis is more a stranger than most of them.]

I suppose that then begs the question, what's your name?

[And what's her world like, if it's not like this one and not like his.]

Does it?

[ Ciri snorts. What a way of asking a simple question, as though her name has anything to do with their mutual escape -- and judging by his apparent wealth and the fact she's never seen him in the prison yard, where he'd definitely have stuck out, Ciri suspects the concept of their 'escape' is relative, too.

Still. It's not like she has a specific reason to want to hide her name. ]

I'm Ciri.

I would say so. [He doesn't elaborate. Doesn't discuss the shared interests of newcomers, or how he thinks that it's likely they'll have to work together in some capacity soon even as they've splintered across this world. Doesn't discuss that he has a strong feeling that the relative peace they're living outside of Thorne is temporary. He doesn't fool himself into thinking that being newcomers immediately makes them allies, and he'd like to get to know her better before letting onto anything.]

My name is Louis. [He sips at his whiskey.] How are you finding the Free Cities, besides overpriced pastries?

Better than the dungeons, that's for sure.

[ If he was wondering what sort of treatment she got in Thorne, there it is. It's no secret.

But he is a novelty. Ciri watches him drink, unable to help herself; she's thinking about what his world must be like, what sort of place it is without any humans and only other animals who look like him, walk on two legs and make vague comments over hard liquor. She's never been to a world like that. ]

So you've really never seen a human before?

[Louis nods. He's not surprised that she was one of the prisoners. It was a toss up if she was a guest or a prisoner, and if she were a guest, he likely would have recognized her.

He's aware of her eyes on him. Any herbivore that lasts to the age of ten is aware when eyes are on them. But her eyes don't seem threatening, don't seem hungry--just curious.]

Not before arriving in Thorne, no. Your kind doesn't exist where I come from.

[He gently swirls the whiskey in his glass.]

I've spent my life living among other beasts, such as wolves, rabbits, or lions. We live in cities, and towns, and any other configuration of settlement you may find here.

I will admit to some culture shock. I'm not used to living among so many people who look so... similar. [The difference between an elf and a human is far more subtle than the difference between a wolf and a dog. And after living amongst people who have so many stark differences, it's strange to live only among people he has to carefully distinguish according to things like hair color, skin color, or eye color.]

...hah. [ Ciri actually laughs a little at that, amused, and shakes her head. ]

Put that way... yes, I see what you mean. A refreshing view. [ Considering the wars being waged back home and in other spheres over humans and humanoids looking only slightly different from each other. She tries to imagine a world of beast-people like Louis. ]

And a source of some frustration for you, I take it.

[ She leans forward on her elbows, tapping her fingers absently on the sides of the glass. ]

I'm sure being in your world would be just as confusing for a human.

[Louis nods in acknowledgment. Yes, it is a source of some frustration. It is annoying how many varieties of 'not-human' there are that just look exactly like humans with maybe a subtle difference, and how offended they get when they're called human. To say nothing of the struggle of learning how to recognize everyone he meets when they're all the same species and the same basic height and shape.]

My world would be very difficult for a human to adjust to, I imagine. [He sips at his whiskey. He's not an open person, but he also doesn't see why he can't reveal a bit about his own world.] Omnivores don't have a place there. There are many social considerations between herbivores and carnivores that a human wouldn't understand from the outset, and they would run into trouble when people learned they were carnivores despite having no fangs or claws. They'd have no place among herbivores, and they'd have no defense against carnivores.

[Considering how much humans take meat-eating for granted, it's very likely they would let something slip in front of an herbivore. And meat-eating is one of the most illegal things people can do in his world.]

Mm. I see...

[ She's beginning to, at least, she thinks. The way he separates herbivores and carnivores and social considerations. ]

Likely it's a good thing, then, there are no humans in your world.

[ She takes a thoughtful sip, swirling the amber liquid in her glass before and after, peering at the deer on her periphery. ]

Do your carnivores...? [ Ah. How to ask if they eat what are, essentially, people? ]

Do they live in separate communities?

[Louis hums and nods. Yes, it's a good thing humans aren't in his world. At least, good for the humans. They could pass as some breed of ape, and they should be able to comfortably live off of vegetables, but they have no muscles, no particular speed, no claws or horns or anything. Nothing to defend themselves, and a proclivity for eating meat. He thinks that if a human tried to eat a herbivore, most medium species of herbivore could handily kill them. Maybe even an alpaca could kill them.

It's a grim line of thought, but Louis has never been known for optimistic thinking.]

No, we live in integrated communities. We live in the same cities, attend the same schools, work in the same companies. [For the most part, but explaining the minutia of what jobs carnivores and herbivores tend to stray to is for a different kind of conversation.

But he hears the underlying question. He sips at his whiskey, his missing leg twinging against his prosthetic.] You're wondering if they eat us. The answer is that it's punishable with life in prison, but yes. All carnivores crave herbivore meat, and devourings happen. It's a part of life.

['Devouring' rolls off his tongue like a familiar noun. 'A Devouring', akin to 'a murder'. It's just a part of life, to the point where a devoured classmate is only enough cause for school-wide uneasiness and a shrine of flowers rather than the closure and investigation of the school.

What he doesn't say is that the criminal penalty is far lighter if the carnivore doesn't devour all of the herbivore, if the carnivore only eats a limb or rushes to get help after losing control. It would invite questions that he'd rather avoid, or at the very least let her find herself.]

...ah.

[ Yes, she does notice that. Devourings. In her world, it's not so uncommon of a concept either -- except the context is completely different when it's monsters eating humans. The implications are awful, and yet, in an equally awful way, sort of fascinating. She would be very interested to travel to his world, despite his warnings.

This seems, however, a terrible thing to say. So Ciri drains the remainder of her glass instead, putting it back on the counter with a thump. ]

It is a very different world from this one. But it sounds like all worlds have certain penchants for violence in common.

Where I'm from, people with relatively little physical differences from each other and no instinctive urge to devour still round up their fellows to the slaughter.

But I did not mean to let the conversation get so dour. We are both away from those places now, regardless.

Let us speak of the now. What sort of work can a deer find in Cadens?

Really? How strange. [It's hard for him to really imagine a large group banding together and agreeing that someone who looks a little different from them must die. Maybe it's because there are too many people that look too far away from each other in his world. Maybe it's because no one species is ever a large and powerful enough faction that they reasonably could band together and pick on one other species in particular. Maybe it's because a deer and a sheep are only a deer and a sheep until a carnivore walks in, and then they're two herbivores.]

Politics. Speaking of dour conversation. [He lets out a slight huff at his own dry humor, sipping his drink.] I'm working as a clerk and unofficial ambassador for a small time politician from Libertas who likes to be known around the Free Cities. I convinced him that someone like me could quite effectively build his brand. [What the fool didn't really consider is that Louis is building his own brand, really, not his own. Louis can pick up and walk away to another politician any day, and he'd take his newfound growing recognition with him. But that's why Louis inserted himself with a rather low-ranking politician who has never quite developed the cunning required for the job.] And you?

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WELCOME TO THE FREE CITIES!

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sorry for the wait!

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