Charlie, Sevilla, and I rush to the quarters to change into our garments following Alexandria’s mysterious whirlpool news, but we’re interrupted on our way by a rhythmic knock resounding off of our guild house’s towering metal door, directly behind Alexandria, who is still standing in the doorway between our lobby and dining hall, where the remaining five of us now stand dormantly.
The other four of us immediately spiral into an expression of panic, collectively turning our faces towards Alexandria.
“Alexandria, were you followed?” I mutter in a hushed tone, as to not be heard by whoever our unexpected guest is.
“I was raised by Voidwalkers, buffoon.” She whispers back, carefully tiptoeing her beige combat boots in the direction of our wide dining table.
Silence plagues the room; none of us want to face the maelstrom of terror that seems to be waiting on the other side of that metal heap.
Fed up by the lack of action, the sound of my footsteps breaks the silence. I walk in the direction of Antarc, eventually reaching his side. Shifting my body down towards his grossly inverted almost cauliflower-like ear. I attempt to whisper, but I'm immediately hit with his strong aroma of musk and lavender. My nose, agitated by the overwhelming smell, pinches momentarily.
“First off, Ant, I told you about the perfumes. My nose is sensitive, so knock it off. Second off, please go get the door, since you’re in such a playful mood this fine morning.” I spoke directly into his ear, looming nearly a foot and a half above the laughably short Canor. Charlie and Sevilla are still frozen in place, anxiously waiting for a brave soul. Charlie is clutching the spiked white stone lantern on his hip, and Sevilla gradually inching her hand down towards her chef’s knife in pure anticipation.
Antarc’s bushy eyebrows raise tauntingly
“Firthst Othf” Antarc whispers back, mocking my slight, barely noticeable lisp. My eyes harden, offended. He continues, standing up, his muscular frame beginning to stride in a facade of confidence towards the direction of the door. Alexandria steps aside, as I continue to loom over him, matching his pace, trailing close behind.
Antarc speaks with his usual air of confidence (or perhaps arrogance). “I told you, they aren’t perfumes, they’re musks. I know they didn’t have literacy exams in the legions, but gods below, Zadahn.” Charlie emits a foul look in Antarcs direction, hearing his mockery of the legions. Antarc giggles, as he walks down our short staircase to the lobby, passing the treasury room as well as the guild bar, and eventually reaching our door, as I follow close behind. Coming to our halt, sweat finally begins to form on his crudely wrinkled forehead, his smug smirk replaced with a look of focus, and his eyebrows lowering in acknowledgement of our predicament. He reluctantly pushes his focused right eye against our gold-lined peephole in the door.
The room is so deafeningly silent that the ticking of our clock sounds like a drum. My hand is just nearly grasping around my weapon, and I can feel my thunder attune as the tension reaches its peak, Antarc loudly and excitedly exclaims.
“There's nothing outside, guys! Must’ve been some bird.” A cheeky smile returns to his face, the tension leaving his body as he relaxes his shoulders.
The four of them let out a euphoric sigh of relief.
“We’re either going to starve to death, or be found and executed by Etrean Guards, if we don't pursue this whirlpool lead.” I say with gravitas, dispelling everyone’s moment of comfortability. “Just because we weren’t tracked down by guards now, doesn’t mean they won’t come when we’re kicked out of our hou-”
Knock, Knock, Knock.
That same tension is abruptly brought back, when all of a sudden, the knocking resumes. Same volume. Same cadence.
I inch my hand towards my back to grasp my halberd in preparation for the unknown as a surge of lightning flows through my veins in yellow flashes clearly visible through my pale, milky skin. Everyone’s eyes simultaneously widen, as Antarc, in a fit of irrationality, pushes the door abruptly. He clenches his iron-clad fists, his braids turning momentarily red, as the door creaks open to reveal a rather peculiar sight.
We all watch from a distance in shock, and relief, as Alexandria sprints back down the stairs. Before us is a shivering, dark-brown-skinned girl in soaked rags. How could such a little creature have produced such loud bangs I wonder fleetingly. As Antarc’s eyes make contact with the little Gremorian girl, his twists of hair shyly return to their former black hue, his tense hazel eyes softening, as if a fog had momentarily been lifted from his chaotic mind.
A look of genuine shock and confusion is etched into Alexandria’s flushed face, and her right eyebrow, lined in sweat, arches upwards, as her eyes widen.
“D-did you follow me all the way here?” She asks calmingly, kneeling in her jet-black gray and orange-lined Voidwalker uniform, in an attempt to soothe the shivering Gremorian girl.
“Alexandria, what were you doing at the antiquarian shop at this early hour?” Charlie asks, adjusting his spectacles that lay above his dark green birthmark, as he and Sevilla walk puzzled towards her and our new little horned friend.
Startling everyone, including the little girl, Alexandria slams her calloused fist into our dark brown concrete floor, leaving a cloud of dust and shattered rock in radius.
“We’re flat-out broke.” She uttered defeatedly, her golden eyes lowering. “Etris’s economy is deteriorating. Word on the streets is, Lord Regent is closing certain Eastern trade routes that involve any Central Authority originating resources, gutting the value of our notes and gold. I suppose that’s war.”
She brought her eyes up to me and resumed. “Zadahn, as much as I hate to admit this, this city you spoke of is our last hope for any form of living comfortably, even if it may be just some far-fetched childish fantasy.” Fear strikes the little girl’s round bug-like eyes, catching the attention of a guilt-stricken Alexandria.
“Oh, I'm so sorry little one! I didn't mean to scare you, please forgive me!”
Charlie audibly sighs.
Out of all the ways to die in Lumen, starvation? Nah. It's this whirlpool or suicide.
With the confidence of a true leader, I fix my posture and stand tall, pushing bass into my already imposing voice. “Everyone, Alexandria may not have returned empty-handed. This is a priceless lead. This whirlpool is our last ditch opportunity. We have to choose to believe this city exists somewhere, because if it doesn’t our only other option is to believe in death. Face these horrors with me!” I shout as I motion everyone to follow my lead, advancing towards the door, nearly salivating thinking of the showers of riches, and unexplored expanses of ruined drowned Celtorian city.
I’m rudely pulled back by the collar of my luxurious black and golden lined Stormchanter Raiment garments, by Sevilla, as she exudes an audible sigh of disappointment.
“They’re right.” Antarc says, in a monotone, but understanding voice. “We should help this little girl. Not like we have many better options anyway.” a defeated chuckle escaping his full lips.
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Charlie and Sevilla affectionately nod their heads in agreement, and also come down the stairs to comfort the little Navaen girl.
“I’m sure your dad is still out there, little one.” Sevilla said, extending her hand towards the girl's head, patting her head of deep brown hair.
I notice Antarc glancing at their interaction, his eyes flashing for the briefest moment with a prolific grief and nostalgia, and eyes avert down immediately. In an almost paternal manner, he kneels down to the little girl. “You have the same beautiful eyes, skin, and hair as my little girl did.” He chuckles, as pats her on her head, rustling her lengthy and thin hair, standing back up. Determination envelops Antarcs eyes. Hearing this interaction, the guild hall goes somber. A tender sadness engulfs everyone's face.
“Where is your daughter, mister?” Orbona inquired curiously.
“I’m not sure.”
Antarc takes a beat of silence, looking up towards the sky.
“But I'd like to believe this is some sort of divine signaling.” He remarks, maintaining a facade of composure.
Long before we formed our little guild, Antarc lived a far better life than any of us ever did. His family was being raised by his own two hands. A far-fetched dream encapsulated by a bright, welcoming, and almost sentient nostalgia etched into his mind. It’s a cold and painful sting when we’re reminded of it.
“Well, at least you're here now, safe with us.” Antarc said, his usual playfulness returning. Alexandria turns around, scratching her chin, eyes still widened with confusion.
“How did you get through the Etrean wilds, as well as most of the city on your own-” I interrupt her impatiently.
“Enough of the sentimentalities. We need to investigate the whirlpool. It’s the only prospect of a future in any of our lives right now, and here we are, wasting time as an opportunity is landing quite literally on our doorstep.”
The room stays silent following my statement.
“What, am I wrong?” I add.
“Read the room, Zadahn.” Sevilla says in an aggravated, disciplinary tone.
Charlie speaks up. “W-we should hurry though. This girl’s father could still be fighting for his life as we speak as far as we know.” The Gremorian girl’s hazel eyes light up.
“Alrighty then, you guys all know the layout of Etris. Let's head down there as fast as we can. Prepare yourselves, we have to pass through the wilds.”
She said as she grabbed a hanging black cloak, tossing it in the arms of the little girl.
“About damn time.” I say impatiently, pacing towards the door. I push it forward, and all of us greeted by the sunlight of the warm Etris morning.
The six of us sprint on a narrow cement path towards the Great Bridge Underpass that serves as the gateway to both the Etrean wilds and the city of Etris.
In contrast to the annoyingly and unusually hot weather, a chilling sensation envelops me, spreading delicately across my skin, As my mind wanders to the grandeurs of that which lies below, immersed underneath horrors beyond any creature’s comprehension. Could this be the lead we need? Excitement courses through me.
“What is your name, little girl?” I ask, trying to shake the thoughts. As I carry her tiny cloaked body, a quiet, quivering whisper escapes from her tiny chapped lips. “O-Orbona, s-s-sir.” She stuttered, wincing as I nearly tripped over a pebble in our path. The gas lanterns illuminate our path forward through towering guild houses and oak trees, each building and oak identical to each other in color and architecture; a true spectacle of Etrean ingenuity.
“Sorry, Orbona!” I chuckle.
“S-sir.. Please take this seriously! My dad could be drowning in a whirlpool right now, or eaten alive by sea monsters!!!” She yells at me with a facade of confidence, full of cracks showing her obvious nervousness.
She is barefoot, feet covered in splinters and what looks to be scratches from rough ground. Her skin is a deep tan, and her hair a complimentary brown. She has huge, round, hazel eyes, and a mole that slightly resembles a flower of sorts on her left cheek. Her deer-like horns signal that she’s a Gremor, a notably calm and well-mannered people. Guess she's an outlier.
“Honestly, Orbona, I don’t really care all that much for your dad, just point the way to the whirlpool-” My wonderful rebuttal is cut off by a pinching sensation on the back of my head, as a tiny pebble ricochets off my platinum blonde hair. I stop in my tracks, confused for a moment, but quickly realizing the culprit.
“Stop being an ass, Zadahn!” Alexandria angrily exclaimed towards me from a few meters further behind me in the path.
We’re approaching a massive wooden shrine with a roof constructed from blue concrete. Steel nails and supports can be seen here and there. It’s the last thing that separates a wary Pathfinder or Etrean citizen from the dangers of the Etrean Wilds.
Momentarily ignoring Alexandria’s remarks, I shift my shoulders slowly, Orbona still in my arms, observing the calmly empty morning streets of Etris.
Despite its large diversity of commodities and supposedly happy tourists, an incredibly potent feeling of dread coats the atmosphere of the space within its beige walls. While Etris is not a notably poor city, it is not as wealthy as one might presume at first glance. The recent change in power has left them in a gray area that nobody can quite put words to, but everyone can feel. It stands out amongst the other landmark cities in Lumen, but not in a good way.
Etris’s beautiful infrastructure sprawls across the towering, jagged peaks of the island. It is both a magnificent feat of architecture and an easy way to get rid of anyone they don’t like. The Etrean style of building is iconic; stone foundations, pale wooden walls, and their trademark blue concrete shingles.
Ancient, colossal wooden bridges with unmatched structural integrity connect the surfaces of each mountain island, varying in length. The longest and largest of these is the Great Bridge Underpass which connects the treacherous native Etrean wilds to the city of Etris. This singular entrance makes Etris an easy city to police and protect.
Soon we’ll have to go through the Etrean Wilds. These primitive forests and mountains existed long before any Etrean settlers, though. In these cryptic forests lies Orbona’s people, the Children of Navae. They’re a nomadic group who worship the Celestial Navae, a god said to control the very elements of Frost and Shadow. These groups are often described as merciless by those who have had the misfortune of encroaching on their land. That is, at least, what my fellow Legionnaires used to say during our stint in the Aratel. My eyes soften momentarily, a breeze of nostalgia drifting through my consciousness, thinking about my brief time in the Legions.
Lastly, we’ll have to emerge from the wilds and approach the shores of Etrea. At the very front of Etris, lie its docks. Though heavily guarded, it’s our only way off this island and towards this lead.
It’s a fine land to call home, but I’m never sad to be leaving. With the Old King dead and this ‘Lord Regent’ in power, I’m not sure how much longer Etris will be the place I’ve known it as. This place will be rubble soon eno-
“Guards should be resting for the next twenty minutes.” Alexandria interrupts my thoughts. A view of the Etrean forest is straight in front of us, as well as the mutually awe-invoking view of the city of Etris directly behind us. I stand, still admiring the contrasting natural and man-made beauty, and how they complement each other, Orbona still in my arms, who is covered by my massive frame.
“Zadahn, can you stop sight-seeing? Someone's life is in danger, you absolute moron.” Alexandria groaned.
“Yeah yeah, let's go find this whirlpool.” I replied. Antarc, visibly annoyed for whatever reason, speaks.
“The priority is the life of this little girl’s father, not your stupid made-up, whirlpool fantas-”
We all go silent, as we simultaneously hear the vague conversations of two Etrean guards strolling down the path we came from, yawning, their longswords sheathed in their dark green uniform belt.
“Guards should be resting for the next twenty minutes” I whispered in the direction of Alexandria in a mocking tone. “Lets take these grunts down silently, yeah?” I say to Orbona, effortlessly tossing her frail body into the arms of Antarc, who shoots me a look of anger, catching her delicately, holding her body as if her bones were made of Sevilla’s scones.
“Lightning Cloak.” That familiar electric sensation envelops my body, increasing in potency, empowered by my Stormchanter Raiment. The sparks fly around me. I imbue the song of thunder into my colossal halberd, as its cruel gray steel shines a hue of striking yellow, planting my left foot down as I maliciously lunge forward in a blitz of concentrated lightning, in the direction of the two clueless Guards. I am the storm itself.
I stopped suddenly, feeling the hand of Charlie tugging on my wrist.
“Not the axe, Zadahn. No need to kill them, they're guards with families of their own.”
He pleaded.
“Come on man, they’d totally kill us if they could, with the amount of times we’ve intercepted Etrean resource envoys!” I say back, but Charlie is unfaltering. He simply meets my gaze with a look that I can’t decipher.
“You’re so boring, Charlie.” I relent, sighing in acceptance. I return my halberd to the sheath on my back and continue my blitz of lightning. I plant the toes of my left foot forward, leading with my right fist, shifting my hips as I wind back my muscular, electricity coated arm. I begin to cast.
“Spark swap.” A Mantra I’m very familiar with. I focus on my Thundercall, concentrating all of its energy into the body of the guard on the right-hand side of the cobblestone path, right before that looming gate we need to pass. Charlie, standing next to me, also winds up his fist towards the direction of my face, in preparation for our iconic and timeless tag team move. In an instant, the Mantra is complete. A flurry of sparks envelope the guard and I, and our places swap faster than the eye could see.
“Yeah, and I was telling her- Lance?” The left-hand guard begins before realizing his unfortunate circumstances, reaching to unsheathe his longsword.
I unwind my devastating blow of electricity into the face of the unsuspecting, still confused Etrean guard, knocking him into a hill of logs. The other guard, now in my former place, is hit by Charlie’s strong, but not quite as strong blow. I wave back at them, from down the pathway.
Still somewhat cloaked in my thundercall, I jolt back in their direction, the rest of them already walking through the looming gate of the massive bridge, leading to the infamous and vast Etrean wilds.
