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

[frontlinetitties]

[She almost sees it there-- a twinge of something, the snapped-bowstring of some kind of tension, but discerning the subtle emotions of others isn't something she's had any particular practice with. Not unless one counts Harrow's black and mystic moods - of which she's something of an expert - but neither Harrow nor the other inhabitants of Drearburh are exactly your standard kind of people. So the moment - if it had been there at all - bleeds out into nothing, unremarked upon, and Gideon takes a swig of her own drink in kind. The glass is sweating in her palm, feels cool and somehow good, which only acts to heighten her diamond-focused interest as Ciri begins to talk about smashing her way through flesh and blood monsters, which is both kind of hot and crying out for innuendo. Innuendo that sits lewdly at the tip of her tongue--

--until Ciri mentions the beasts in the desert. Gideon sits up a little straighter in her rickety chair, and quite visibly, her eyes brighten.]

What sort of beasts?

[She says, as if she knows anything about any sort of beast at all that isn't made out of bones.]

[wiedzminka]

[ Oh, good. If Gideon thinks that monsters and monster-hunting are topics of interest, they'll have plenty to talk about.

Ciri is glad she doesn't press about the scar. Instead, she carries on with her change of subject more easily and with some enthusiasm, gesturing vaguely with her free hand as she takes another gulp. The ale is cold, and she appreciates that; she's noticed taverns in Cadens usually manage to keep it cold even in this desert heat, which is impressive, whether it's machinery or magic or both. ]

Giant scorpions. Haven't seen 'em yet, but I'm assured they're big enough to warrant the moniker. Wolves and wildcats too, I think. Not sure how far out or how much trouble they cause, though.

The ones I'm most interested in are beasts I've never heard of before. But I've been asking around. Picked up some books, too. Some armored bastards called 'chaigon' and big mean birds that go after travelers.

[frontlinetitties]

[Yeeaaah fuck knows why she even asked. Giant scorpions and wildcats? She hasn't got a clue, but the words giant and wild nestled within their names give her hope that they're something interesting, something that will give her a good run for her money. Wolves she's heard of before-- if only from that stoic warrior of a guy she'd run into in one of Caden's taverns, and he hadn't exactly given her a thorough explanation (they're white though, probably?).

But whatever. Ciri throws armoured into the mix, and it's enough to set her imagination buzzing, to have her muscles aching for a fight. Her face remains quick and alive with interest, and she leans in across the table, drink momentarily abandoned as her palms press flat to the wood. The molten gold of her eyes is hot on Ciri's face.]

Can't say I've heard of any of them, but giant, armoured, and wild sounds like my kinda party. And I'm kind of sick of all the inactivity, you know? There's only so much drudge work you can do before your brain starts turning to jelly.

[wiedzminka]

Yes. I know precisely what you mean. Soon as I get my hands on a proper blade, I'll be taking contracts. Come with me if you want -- but you gotta help find work too, or we're not splitting evenly.

[ Ciri's not sure how Gideon can handle herself against monsters, but she looks competent enough, and she carries herself like someone who's had a sword strapped to her for years; Ciri recognizes the look. And Gideon's got a point. She's bored. Itching for something actually useful to do. Work she's competent at.

She grabs her mug of ale again, swallows down a large chunk of it and lets the bottom hit the table with a satisfying thud. ]

Let me know where I can find you, Gideon. I plan to do some scouting in the desert. Welcome to tag along and see a scorpion or two if you want. Put that slab of metal you call a sword to good use.