The guild is located between the north and east gates. Take a right as you leave, and head straight until Gryphon Street. Take a left until you reach a small market area. Then a right, follow the road for a while, once you pass the temple of Artemis, next right after that. Then next left onto a main street. Keep going until you see the graveyards, then that’s the place.

The instructions Rohl had been given whilst not too complicated, were a lot to remember and with nothing to write them down upon, all Rohl could do was rehearse them whilst doing his best not to let any distractions wipe away his thoughts.

Such a task was easy enough to do within the halls of the guild, as long as he kept his eyes glued to the floor and ignored any voices he heard, it was easy to follow the guild's straightforward layout until he reached the closest exit.

It may have come across as rude to any witnessing his eyes down, avoid anyone and everything approach. Especially when he accidentally pushed open the exiting door with a lot more force than required. The sound of it slamming against its hinges surely brought more than a few eyes to the sound, but in Rohl’s defence, the two large wooden doors that formed the exit did look a lot heavier than they apparently were.

But despite Rohl’s success in exiting the guild with the directions still trapped within his mind, he could not rely on that strategy now he had breached Elmon’s streets. Any attempt to keep his eyes fixed on the ground as he walked, would surely leave him either trampled by oncoming passersby or missing a key turn.

I really should have taken more writing lessons. I suppose I could ask someone, if need be, not that I really like the idea of talking to and trusting random people.

Thinking anymore on the matter would likely be more a hindrance than help especially if his thoughts became fixated on his reason for visiting, that would surely be a distraction capable of dominating his entire mind.

And with his reason for being here constantly plaguing the edge of his mind, Rohl finally took his first step within the grand fortress city of Elmon.

Gods.

For someone who had grown up tucked within Shrewsborough and its outlying regions, just the sight of this bustling street was enough to make Rohl halt in his tracks and stare. Even with his mission edged onto his mind, the sight before him still demanded his attention.

It's so busy, so crowded, so alive.

Everywhere he looked there was life, from simple citizens making their way down the street, from traders peddling wares on hastily constructed market stands to craftsmen perfecting their wares in countless small workshops. No section of the street was idle or empty, it was bustling with life, just like the city that surrounded it. The countless houses, workshops and industry may have prevented Rohl from seeing much of the city, but it could not drown out the sound of a civilisation.

Whilst he may not have been able to see them, he could hear the sound of far-off temple bells, of a captain shouting orders at his guardsmen, of a blacksmith hammer striking hard metal.

If it wasn’t such a striking experience, then it surely would have been overwhelming, the city was a pot of countless new experiences, and Rohl could likely spend a lifetime simply trying to meet every one of its inhabitants.

If I can’t learn to survive or fight here, then I can’t anywhere.

A place as large as this would surely provide some kind of opportunity for Rohl to gain the skills he needed to slay the sacrilegious beast, but before he could set about exploring the rest of this city, he needed to peel his eyes away from the engrossing sight and finally reach Thanatos’ temple.

Take a right until you reach Gryphon Street.

After taking a moment to allow a young couple to pass, Rohl finally took a step forward and merged with the bustling crowds, it wasn’t so populated that he would have to fight his way through, but he did have to be extra mindful of his steps and be careful not to collide with someone as he crossed over to the other side of the street.

I assume there will be a street sign, if not I’ll ask whenever I reach a turning.

The left side of the street seemed to be more dominated with houses than tradesmen, which did make progressing much easier, especially given how eager many of the sellers seemed to be when it came to attracting people to their wares.

Is there not a designated market or can they not afford a stand in it? There's no way a city isn’t trying to control its commerce, if just to tax it.

Whatever the case, Rohl did his best to avoid making eye contact with anyone who even looked as if they might have anything to sell and instead simply kept as close as he could to the buildings whilst making sure to stay clear of any of the small alleyways that led between the buildings.

I can't afford to get lost.

Whilst there was nothing malicious about any of the offshoots that peeled away from the main road, Rohl couldn’t exactly avoid thinking of the many stories he had heard regarding the dangers of going off alone.

I can’t handle myself properly... yet.

Given the instructions he had received, there was little chance that any of these narrow alleys were Gryphon Street, placing a market at the end of a crowded path that was completely shadowed by the stone of the opposing houses made little sense to Rohl.

It may have been a decision based on logic, but the sight of a large crossroad ahead of him did confirm to Rohl that his instinct had been correct and that if he was lucky, the turning ahead would be Gryphon Street.

The guild master had indicated it was one of the main sections of road within the city and given its size, this street definitely fit the description. The footfall just at this small junction was already much greater than Rohl had seen so far, although that was a possibility due to the many inns and restaurants that littered the area. It was unclear how many of the locals used this area for travel or just to socialise and drink.

Follow Gryphon Street until I reach the market…I am finally getting close, please just wait for me. I know the ritual can’t be done until night, but I can't wait any longer.

With a greater determination in his steps, Rohl finally turned left and rushed to pick up the pace in his steps, a fact made easier as the street became ever so slightly less populated.

Instead of having to scoot his way in between passing shoppers or workers, all he had to do was keep to one side of the road and stay clear of any carriages that cleaved their way down the centre of the street.

Their presence seemed to show a distinct change in the wealth of this area, instead of streets filled with industry and hastily constructed stalls, this area seemed to contain a more distinctly wealthy class of shops, from alchemists, enchanters, tailors to even spice traders. It was not a change restricted to just the street but its people as well.

Does the wealth increase the further in you get? Makes sense, if the city was attacked, you’d want to be as close to the bastion as possible.

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The change was enough to make Rohl feel slightly out of place with his basic attire, but he was hardly the only one. Whilst the street was certainly of a higher class, there were still many travellers who seemed far closer to Rohl than anyone else.

Just like Shrewsborough, we had Tarquin and his family’s manor and our farm.

As much as Rohl couldn't help but compare the similarities between the city and his home, his sudden arrival at the market put an end to that.

This must be it.

There was little chance this was just some ramshackle collection of stalls; the sheer size and quality of its stands were enough to confirm that this was a true centre of trade. And as much as Rohl wanted to browse its many tents, wagons, and wares, he put that urge aside and hastily moved along its outskirts.

Now was not the time for him to spend hours simply staring at goods, no matter how tempting the weapon stands, foreign markets and food stands were.

Once you reach the market take the next right, then left, and you’ll see it shortly after.

From this point, it seemed the directions would be clear and difficult to get wrong, they did not require him to pick out a specific street but simply take the next available one.

Of course, given the scale of the city, the distance between the major streets wasn’t exactly small. It took a few minutes of concentrated walking for Rohl to finally reach his turning.

Gods know how many alleys and side streets I've passed; it would take days to explore the city.

Whilst Rohl’s own exploration of the city had been small in retrospect, that didn’t stop his body from protesting. The use of his blessing had definitely left him drained, and even the days of rest he had received in the guild weren’t enough to fully remedy that.

I don’t see why they couldn’t have left me in a panacea, they surely would have had potions for this.

Whatever the case, there was little point in dwelling on the past, especially as he traversed down his final turning and came upon what could only be Thanatos’ temple.

It was everything Rohl would have expected for a building dedicated to the God of Death. It was not ordained in valuable stones, gems, and ornaments, instead, its appearance was plain and seemed to prefer efficiency over anything.

There was no wasted space or fancy gardens, only sacred ground dedicated to the dead and those who came to mourn them. Even the central stone structure was bare with only a handful of windows and a singular wooden door scarring its outsides.

Despite its plain appearance, it was however no less massive or as well-kept as the other temples that surely littered the city. Every tombstone was clean and free of erosion, every strand of grass was neatly trimmed and every path clean and free of debris.

Thanatos may not value wealth or vane temples but only a fool wouldn’t treat his lands with great respect. Even without the directions, I would have recognised this place for what it was, this is where they have to be. I’m finally here.

With his family's resting place finally in sight, the storm of brewing emotions within him came ever closer to overwhelming him. Tears were already beginning to pool in the corner of his eyes, but in a place like this, such displays were clearly a common occurrence. None of the mourners or temple staff batted an eye, not even as Rohl slowly trod up the cobbled pathways and gently knocked upon the temple’s wooden door.

However, his knock wasn’t answered with the doors opening. Instead, all he was greeted with was a man’s gentle voice, spoken at just the correct volume for Rohl to hear and no one else.

“The Temple of Thanatos welcomes few living guests. Should you wish to report a passing, please speak to one of the initiates…”

“I’m sorry but I’m not here for that, I’m here for a Rite of Last Sorrow.”

“I am not aware of any scheduled rites; allow us a moment and I shall fetch a disciple to meet with you.”

With that said, the conversation had come to an end and all Rohl could make out was the soft sound of footsteps leading away from the door. It took a few minutes of solemn silence for the footsteps to return and with it, Rohl finally grew closer to speaking with his family again.

They must be waiting for me, have to, they can’t have passed on yet. I need to apologise; I need to hear them again.

After another moment of waiting, the door finally slid open and with it, a shadowed figure emerged in the darkened doorway.

“We shall lead you to the waiting chamber, but I must warn you, traversing the temple is challenging to those not initiated under our lord.” The voice that spoke, whilst still gentle was different to the one that had greeted him before. The owner of this voice was definitely feminine but given the doorways shadowed surroundings, Rohl could make out nothing of their appearance.

Even upon entering the temple and closing its door behind them, the nature of Rohl’s guides still remained hidden, the darkness seemed to follow them as they walked. If it wasn’t for the light scattering of candles fixed to the walls, then it was doubtful Rohl would have even been able to make out their outlines, never mind follow them out of the entrance and down the closest hallway.

The privacy afforded to death.

Just as Rohl might have expected of the temple's servant, the journey was done in silence, with no sound audible other than that of footsteps on stone. A sound Rohl was surprisingly grateful for, having to walk in almost pitch blackness was a rather uncomfortable sensory depriving experience and one Rohl was glad to see come to fruition as they finally reached the end of the hallway.

“Brother Asuan, please make sure no initiates disturb us.”

“Of course, sister.”

With the brief exchange between the two over, the male priest finally took a step to the side and allowed Rohl to pass ahead. But before the small journey could continue, the woman spoke once again.

“Ahead of us lies our sanctum, a holy consecrated place. Any disrespect will result in your expulsion.”

“I understand.”

“Then please follow me and let us discuss how our Lord Thanatos can assist you.” After allowing Rohl a second to process her words, the priestess finally opened the simple stone door before her and with a slow grace, entered the room.

She clearly holds this place in great honour.

Every act the woman took was done with the utmost care, from carefully opening the door, making quiet steps, to even holding it open and closing it behind Rohl without making any unnecessary noise. It was as if she truly hated the idea of disturbing the sanctity of this place and after only a quick glance, Rohl could certainly see why.

The place had what Rohl could only describe as a simple holiness to it. There were no lavish displays of wealth, holy icons or glorious statues, just a small simple garden where several flowers bloomed under the dimming sky. It was a small slice of nature and at its centre was a simple stone altar with a small scattering of ashes laid upon it.

“All our lords' temples have such sacred places, hallowed land where souls may find peace. Join me, those who stand in his presence, are often comforted by it.”

Despite her words being more of an offer and not an order, the priestess still took Rohl's hands in hers and upon finding no resistance led him onto the soil.

Almost immediately upon doing so, Rohl's walls broke, and his first true tears finally managed to flow freely down his cheeks.

“Our Lord cares not only for the deceased but those they left behind, he shares their grief and mourns as they did. Every soul he guides to the afterlife is one whose burdens he shares.”

Rohl had never had any intentions of hiding his reason for coming here, nor did he ever feel unsafe. But in this place, he felt all his vulnerabilities come to the surface and each be slowly vanquished by the presence around him. It was an almost unreal experience and one that made him almost timid in his actions.

So much so, that only once the woman's hand reached under his chin, did he finally look up from the sacred ground and gaze at the one who seemed to care for him as much as she did the dead.

Her skin was pale but not so much that Rohl would have described it as deathly. However, the look was likely worsened as her curled neck-length black hair stood in stark contrast to her skin. Combined with her soft brown eyes and angular features, her young appearance seemed to be comforting but able to turn harsh in an instant. Even the small black veil and robe she wore did little to detract away from her distinctive appearance.

It was clear from the woman's expression and continued gentle touches that she knew she had captured Rohl’s attention and had helped release whatever emotions he’d bottled up within him.

“My name is Rohl, my village, Shrewsborough was attacked by a sacrilegious beast. I got here as soon as I could and I need to perform the Right of Last Sorrow, I want to say goodbye, to apologise, I need to hear them again.” Rohl’s tears came far faster now, so much so that the woman went as far as to wipe away at his eyes with the sleeve of her robe.

“I remember learning of the attack, and I prepared many of the fallen myself. Their bodies had been scarred and corrupted by the attack. In order to allow their souls safe passage to the next life, their bodies were purified and cremated with holy oil. Our Lord will have personally carried their souls to the afterlife, but in doing so, there can be no Rite of Last Sorrow.”

I… No. I never had any chance. They're gone. No. It's not fair.

The news was enough to flood Rohl's mind with countless grief-filled thoughts. He had lost the last chance he had of ever speaking to his family again, of ever apologising to them, of ever telling them how much he loved them.

Even with the priest's comforting presence, Rohl's knees buckled under him, leaving him half collapsed on the ground with fresh tears pouring down his cheeks.

He had been holding in his grief, holding onto the chance he could say goodbye, and without it, the emotions he had held in for so long were finally unleashed. It was an overwhelming storm, one that Rohl could do little to stop. All he could do was grieve and find some semblance of comfort in the presence now hugging him, before finally succumbing to the darkness of sleep once again.