Sariel: April 19th: Kargos Capital, Slums
I've arrived in the capital, the place of my dreams.
And as quickly as that came, reality ripped that preconception of a brighter future away from me.
Ive came so far yet so little.
This place wasn't what was promised.
Brothels and taverns littered every corner, and the market looked less like it dealt in coin and more like it dealt in its residents' misery.
Rodents were more prevalent than the populous in this… slum, and people coughed up their lungs before taking the first steps out of their houses, if you could call them that.
I observed for quite a while before concluding that no elf had set foot in here in over a decade at the least. And what I had admitted to myself was true, everything was a lie. Nowhere is safe or good for people like me.
So what am I to do? I could ask around for work. Maybe I could find a place to sell the half of the fox hide I skinned earlier?
Panic was beginning to settle on my face
Okay, I should get to doing that at least.
I moved forward towards the market, the foul odor of depression clouded the air, although it was relatively warm in comparison to outside the walls.
Getting used to this was going to be challenging.
More challenging would be living here without anyone discovering my pointed ears and then commenting on my lack of green eyes. A clear marker of me being a half-elf.
I moved further into the crowded market, I almost slipped on something whilst moving, but caught myself before I fell into three very intimidating and scarred hooded men, who were giving me problematic glances as if to say try us.
I approached the nearest stall.
A small human woman managed it; she had a withered face, but lively eyes.
-" hello love, what do you want then?"
I stumbled past my words, still in shock after not speaking to a single soul for the past week, and the other various circumstances of my travel here.
-"uhhh, h..hi yes, yes can I sell this to you please?"
She glanced down at the shoddily carved fox hide I had presented to her. It didn't seem to bother her. Then she looked back up to me, as if trying to get a handle on who I was.
I don't blame her particularly.
I'm incredibly dirty-looking from all the crawling, wearing a cloak covering my head, which is not particularly off-putting in this market, but it certainly says something about one's character.
And combine that with the dirty blood stains on my shirt,
and residue on my face
im surprised she's even speaking to me.
-" well love, I don't trade in that here. I sell magical trinkets, like the kind that keep you warm in the night, or cool when the sun is blazing, and the kind that shine very brightly to illuminate the future."
I kind of gathered that maybe she was a bit mad from her reaction but I think this is what sold me on it.
I wanted to say to her, if you sell real magical items, why aren't you working for a high-end noble instead of being here? But she cut me off.
-" If you're looking to sell something like that youll have to go to see that man down there."
She pointed at a very scary-looking goliath of a man, who was in the middle of whacking down on a live rabbit with his bare hand,
It let out a squeak, and I stared at him in horror
As he lifted his fist up and wiped the blood from his hand onto his apron, he started butchering and skinning it methodically. Like it was as normal as lighting the stove in the morning, for this evening's stew.
I thanked the old human lady and moved on to approach the man.
-"Hello"
I whispered, as lightly as I could, I felt as though a good first impression would be preferable for this man.
He snarled as he spat something out of his teeth onto the floor beside him, then he turned and looked me up and down.
- "You're certainly not from around here, are you, sweetheart"
He laughed heartily.
For some reason, his laugh was more unsettling than his appearance.
I met his eyes, finally managing to settle my nerves.
-" No, sir, ive just gotten here from a village called Sarca. I doubt you've heard of it."
-" I've been to lots of places, dont think Im daft girly."
He shot back, leaning his body weight on the wet butcher's table in front of him.
-" Anyway, what you bothering me for then?"
-" I was wondering… I..if youd be interested in buying this fox hide from me."
He ripped the hide from my hands and inspected it closely,
-"Not too bad of a job, fox hide I think, dont see too much of that around here, mostly just rats and rabbits.
It's not the full thing, though, is it? I suspect the full thing would be worth four copper, but you've brought me half, so I can give you two."
He stopped before he continued speaking.
I saw his expression change from disinterest to curiosity as he asked me his next question.
-"Out of interest, what could be under that cloak, I wonder? I do think I have an eye for beauty myself, girly"
What is wrong with this man? He's unappealing, pushy, you'd think hed be trying to run off customers rather than draw any in. I suppose this is the norm in this place.
After realising that my other options were scarce, I reluctantly pulled down my hood, taking care so that nobody else in the market could see me.
-" Oh, you're a half-elf?"
I thought I saw a flash of something in his eyes, before he continued
"Knew I had an eye for beauty, me, dont you worry Ill give you the right fitty discount love, and your secrets safe with me. Four coppers and not a coin less."
I dismissed my concerns and went to take the money.
My hand missed his by a centimetre when he pulled his away and said something quite fortunately unexpected to me.
-"You know what, sweetheart, you have quite the talent for small game dont you?...
Now that I think about it, this is great work.
I think you should be on this full-time…
If you're looking for work, that is?
You being new and all to the city im thinking, hmm, maybe go see my boss. Fella by the name of Regnald got mismatched eyes.
You'll know him when you see him, love."
He gave me another toothy grin. I wished he would stop doing that, but I also got the feeling that saying no to this man would probably be a good way to lose a few coin.
So I smiled back as hard as I could at him and took the coin.
-" Yes ill be sure to do that mr?..."
-" Cook. And you are?"
-" Sariel"
We shook hands.
And I left to go get something proper down my throat. That was exhausting, and he was unsettling, I thought.
Probably better to have money than a lack of it, however.
April 19th: Kargos Capital, High Temple
The sun had settled slightly, and it was midday in Kargos capital.
An immensely large ancient building, half the size of the Royal Spire itself, built from white bricks over 1000 years old and placed between the keep and the city.
It was casting a very dark shadow upon the slums and commoners' houses that surrounded it.
The High Temple was a bastion. The last stand of ancient elven religion. And its walls still remembered when it was only elves who maintained this kingdom's standing.
Its leader, Pontiff Svaland, was currently finishing a sermon to the people of Kargos, peasant and elven alike.
-" Men and Women, of the fallen angel. Your faith is paramount, and we are grateful… let the bounty of the beings' fruit be plentiful. And let our lord ensure that the foul plague upon this earth stays far away from our every holy, ever guided, and ever faithful city. Elves may have built this Kingdom, but it is the people who keep the demons at bay.
The people who keep the rats from carrying our children to pasture. And the people who make up our brilliant clergy."
Young clergy members then began to flow down from the pulpit, holding collection bowls, for spare silver.
They fanned out as the pontiff finished his speech.
"Do not dismay my children, for the fallen angels' light is ever present."
A flash of light radiated across the room, emanating from the pontiff's pendant.
"Be fruitful, and dignified"
The pontiff was a rather old elven man, dressed in full white, wearing extremely wealthy, silken garb.
He glided away from the pulpit sensibly and made his way further into the church.
He moved gracefully through the hallways, an escort of elven mystic knights bearing the angel's seal, followed him closely. Reaching his destination, the knights opened up the well-lit, spacious room, where the high clergy were already waiting. It was an exquisite elven masterpiece, rivalling even the throne room of the king when it came to wealth and taste.
-" Pontiff"
They all said in unison
Pontiff Svaland sat down in the only white seat in the room. A large, well-decorated table was between the clergy and him. It depicted the events of the last thousand years, and it was the exclusive right of the clergy to view it.
They all gave him a respectful nod before listing off the agenda of the day.
High Priest Corvos spoke first.
-" The king has ordered you to double the sermons concerning demons. And insisted that they are to be spoken in the peasant districts, Your Holiness"
The pontiff nodded
-" Oh yes, certainly we should most certainly do that, Corvos, we have to keep his majesty happy, I should think."
Then it was the High Priest Zarwik.
"We have been receiving quite sizable donations, your holiness. We may yet be able to afford that new ritual room you asked for.
"Splendid work, Zarwik"
The high priest practically jumped out of his seat, clapping briefly. Before realising he was acting in a manner slightly ubesuited of a man of his stature.
He sat back down.
Then High Priest Felton spoke.
-" Your Holiness, I dislike bringing this up again. But did any crows come with news on my daughters warabouts?"
The pontiff looked up at Felton with a sorrowful gaze. Truly, he couldn't care less about Felton's issues; they were of little matter to him, and besides that, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
-" I am sorry felton, we have had some of our best knights and clergy searching for her whereabouts. She has been away from the temple's reach for quite a time now, and it is concerning me more than any.
God knows what someone would do if they got a hold of her; she is an unparalleled paragon when it comes to healing the ill and shielding the weak with her magic. If the demons were to get a hold of her, I shudder just thinking about it."
The pontiff's neck let out an audible crack as he attempted to lower his head. And he recoiled slightly before giving up on looking as though he cared entirely.
-"You may leave now."
He briefly gestured his clergy away.
Before the room shut, the pontiff pulled out some of the spare communion wine from the cabinet.
He popped off the cork and lay back in his chair, the candlelight illuminating his twisted features, as he sipped pleasantly on a glass of the finest wine; the metallic aftertaste was not overshadowed by the punch of the aged vintage, he thought to himself. The fruit of the angel truly is best enjoyed when distilled.
High Preist Felton: April 19th: Kargos Capital, Plainview Church
I can't stand that old fool; he sits there lamenting, whilst the demon threat is ever encroaching. My darling is still missing, and he is taking this as though it's a pleasant dream that she will ever return.
I have no doubt that now is the time to strengthen our grip on the accursed arts and strike back; the demons are getting too bold as of late.
My crows are reporting more and more rats seeping into the city as of late. It is more than an affront; it's a declaration.
During a meeting with my own clergy, we discussed the solution to getting my daughter back healthy and safe. Over a week she has been gone, and whoever has done this may pray they do not meet my wrath. For I know it certainly was not a demon.
Sariel: April 19th: Kargos Capital, slum district
I decided upon a nearby tavern to enjoy the first real meal I could enjoy since coming here.
I think it might have been a mistake as sitting here in this rowdy place, the food placed in front of me looks like green sludge more than food.
I gulped down the soup and enjoyed some apple juice to make it go down better.
It wasn't as good as the fruit from that merchant wagon, but it would do for now, I suppose. Was it worth the cost? Asking me would be admitting I have a spending problem. It's not my fault that Ive never had a chance to deal with money, alright.
Ive been thinking about what that disturbing man Cook had told me earlier, and it actually seems like quite a good proposition.
If anything its the only thing I've learned how to do definitively, hunting and skinning.
I finished up my meal and walked out of the place. I got a few dirty looks, but im used to them by now. -"Hood back up then", i muttered to myself.
Walking through the town this late was quite an experience. It was still crowded, but less so than before. And I felt like I blended into the scenery quite well. I felt like I fit in here. If everyone's miserable, why cry? I suppose.
After asking a human guardsman for directions on how to get to this Regnald's place, he smiled at me and pointed past the inns and market to a more remote location, away from most houses and near a mine, where I assumed the warehouses would be.
After walking for about ten minutes through the freezing night air, it dawned on me that my clothes were less than suitable for anybody. Even the people living in the slum had better clothes than I, since theirs didn't have nearly as many holes from crawling down the fucking road.
An even worse situation was that of my housing, or lack thereof.
Was I going to have to sleep in the street?
With the rapers, robbers, and drunkards.
Guardsmen looking for any excuse to kick a halfbreed.
Just as worry was about to set in to ruin the last parts of my dwindling mental fortitude. I realised I was at the location.
It was a warehouse, a very worn down one at that, which is really saying something considering the state of this place. Bricks littered the floor around the place, and it was very dark already, so I think the gravity of my situation was setting in, and my emotions were about to catch up with me.
In a swift motion, the door swung open, and one of Reginald's associates was gesturing for me to come in.
I took a long breath and wandered in like a lost dog.
There was a desk, and a seat for me to sit down in.
On the opposite end was a human man with one eye blue and one brown. He was tall and was wearing some Ill-fitted but expensive merchant's clothes, which was deeply unusual.
-" Im Sariel, Cook sent me, he said you have work for me, I can hunt and skin things well, he told this one."
As I sat down, the man replied back to me in a slow but light-hearted tone.
-"Of course, I am always in need of… rat catchers, we have quite big shoes to fill as there are just so many. These days. Let's say you bring me five carcases a day, I'll pay you a full silver then, is that acceptable?"
His emphasis was quite odd, and he looked the part if he was trying to be intimidating. I knew he was playing me. If what Cook had said was right, then a single fox hide was worth the copper equivalent of a silver.
-" One more thing, sir, if this girl might be so bold as to ask, since you are employing me for my skills, I was thinking you would be so kind as to give me a place to stay?"
He stopped dead in his tracks. I could feel his eyes burrowing over every part of me. He glanced at me as though I were a piece of meat for a split second, and I knew that my genius play was dying in the water at right this moment.
He leaned forward with a perverted grin on his face
-"If you're going to be asking for that much, girl!... you must have some way to pay it back, then mustn't you?"
I sensed the direction this was going, and it was repulsive. His eyes landed on my chest, and I stood up and almost shouted at the man.
-"Yes, I can get you double that, for the same price then."
His grin faded, and he looked significantly less interested.
-" Those are acceptable terms, if you can live up to them."
The man who let me in pulled my arm out towards a different part of the slum, an equally faulted building, but in this one, there were a lot of mixed-breed elves my age.
He carelessly pushed me inside, and I was like a science experiment to all of them.
-"Oh its a new girl", one of the boys shouted
-"You look a bit thin to be doing this", another one said
-"I doubt she'll last long", an older girl glanced at me with disinterest before going back to playing naughts and crosses with a different half-elf girl who looked to be quite bruised.
-"New girl, you're pretty", a younger half-elf boy said to me.
I was overwhelmed, and basically just froze for a bit before stumbling out with a quick
-"haha thank you"
And rushing to the nearest mattress, it was hard, and there were no blankets, but sleep came for me nonetheless.