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

[gynvael]

[ Geralt is watching her, trying to gauge what conclusions she might be drawing. It's a lot. It isn't a decision to be undertaken lightly. He doesn't like not knowing. Geralt is not a man who excessively prepares, but he does know, usually, what in the hell he's stepping into and how to deal with it. Everything here, since they've been pulled out of that well, has been unchartered territory.

He's growing tired of riding blind. Especially now that Ciri is looking to him for answers. There should be more he can offer her, more he can give—but there isn't. ]

Thorne claims venturing too close to the Singularity will tear them apart. I believe them. [ Their fear had been real; Relena's description of the man bursting when he couldn't contain her connection within himself—that's real, too. ] The first time you enter, you will not have your memories. I'll be with you, but... [ He hesitates, aware of the implications: that he'd also lost himself once, not too long ago. ] I don't suggest lingering.

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri's uncertain look deepens. She blinks, taken aback by Geralt's warning, confused by it. ]

...no memories? [ Clearly, Geralt has experienced this, from what he's said and implied about his own venture into this Horizon. Ciri asks: ] I'm having trouble imagining -- what is it like?

[gynvael]

[ What is it like. The question is expected, but it leaves him both uncertain of how to answer and almost unwilling to. If he'd been a completely different person, it might've been easier. He hadn't. He'd simply—

Wanted. The things that were not his to want, because he remembered nothing that would tell him otherwise. ]

You are without your past.

[ What will that mean in particular for her? He intends to stay with her, to make sure she doesn't lose herself for as long as the rest of them had. They'd been in there for two weeks or more. And somehow, it'd felt as though he lived an entire lifetime. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ That doesn't... really answer her question. But at the same time, it seems that's as much answer as Geralt is able to give. It seems the sort of thing that's as difficult to explain as it is to imagine.

Ciri swallows, hesitating a moment, before she finally nods. She trusts Geralt. If he's bringing it up, offering the option, after taking it himself-- it is probably worth it. To be able to access something the native people (especially Thorne) cannot. To be able to, potentially, speak with Yennefer. ]

How do I enter?

[gynvael]

[ While she considers, he waits. Is he hoping she turns him down? Might be. It'd make things simpler. She would still have the option should she change her mind later.

He senses she'll want it, though. He's right. His expression is heavy, but he nods. They'll go. ]

When I brought another in, only physical contact was required after I entered. To return, you'll need undisturbed concentration.

[ Which, if he's taught her, she should know how to do. He tips his head for her to follow him back out of the alley they've tucked into. If they'll be doing this, he wants to return to the inn, where the doors can be locked. He leads through the overflowing streets, answers what questions she has remaining. Despite having tried this with another already, it's still too much like toying with a power neither of them understand. But it is a tool, too. One they can use. He might not be keen to fuck with what he can't fully grasp, but he gets the value of a calculated risk.

He takes them upstairs when they return to their room and shuts the door. Seats himself on the floor. He looks at Ciri. ] I'll be right alongside you.

(( narrator: he was not right alongside her at all. ))