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

[cointosser]

Vampires are supposed to be old!

[He probably shouldn't be humansplaining a vampire to a vampire, but -- to be fair, there is a large chance that Alucard's vampires are not the same as his own. (Though his own experiences with them are, of course, limited. Or nonexistent. Unless people he's met were vampires and he simply didn't know, which would be both awesome and disappointing.)]

Well, as I know them. They're all supposed to be ancient. It's simply... that's how it is. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with it, of course. [He does have the feeling it was somehow insulting, and he likes Alucard. So he steps his words back.] I did not expect to be twice your age, that's all.

[cryptsleeper]

Vampires have to start somewhere.

[He shrugs, not minding the humansplaining. At least Jaskier's reaction is about ten times as entertaining as Geralt's, although in theory that's not hard. Rocks emote more than Geralt does.]

Although is it because you think I'm supposed to be old, or because I've made you feel old?

[There's a faint smile on his lips. Yes, this is a dick move question, Alucard's aware.]

[cointosser]

Oooh, how I would love to see a little vampire baby.

[Or would it simply just go around killing and eating people? Hmm, maybe not. It would be quite an adventure, either way. Wait! If Alucard was only half, would that have made him a little vampire baby at one point?

With a big head of pretty yellow hair?

Why was he thinking of this? It was at least better than the whole dick conversation.

He --]

Oi! I've never felt old in my life, thank you. [He crosses his arms, lifting his nose at the vampire.] Men a quarter my age would pay their weight in experience if they'd be able to do half as much as I.

[It's all that walking, you know. Keeps you from aging for 22 years.]

[cryptsleeper]

[Jaskier's not terribly far off from what Alucard looked like as a baby, curly yellow hair and all. But the last painting of childhood is long since gone, and Alucard'd rather not go down that road.

Better to be an ass, the offense probably perfect. Especially the way that Jaskier holds himself just so, it gets a soft laugh from Alucard.]

I won't debate you on that, but please pace yourself in the future. You don't want to overdo it--

[He needs to stop with the aging jokes.]

[cointosser]

[How had this gotten turned around into making fun of his age! It was only because he liked Alucard so much that he didn't remove a boot and throw it at him -- buit he did throw some sand. Because he was a child.]

You're killing me! Really! Hilarious!

[Was he laughing? No! Maybe. Look, this whole thing was ridiculous, but he sort of loves it, too. It is a moment where he doesn't need to care that they're still, technically, prisoners on the run.]

Not to break away from this titillating prodding of my ego, but I must return home before Geralt assumes the wolf out here has devoured me. Or before I begin to fight you. [He wouldn't, but he has to appear at least a little fluttered.] It is good to see you here. Which, undoubtedly, means I will return to find you at the most inopportune moment. As it seems we are setting a trend.

[cryptsleeper]

[You throw SAND at the part time wolf?! Alucard nearly shifts to bare teeth for that, but he settles for an offended scoff. Good enough, he imagines, because the situation is actually the stupidest he's been in for months. The novelty of it is nice though, a far cry from being in a jail cell for months on end.]

I'll leave your ego be, in spite of that last offering of low hanging fruit. [Alucard inclines his head slightly. Jaskier is right, their paths are crossing more often than not.] Then I will leave you to that. I have some business to attend to myself.

[By that, he means nothing more than running through the cold desert air, embracing the world again. In a blink of an eye, he's a wolf again. That wolf offers a final nod to Jaskier, and then it is off again, paws thundering against the ground.]