“Is everything alright?” A voice so clear and crisp… Krys turned and found himself looking into large grey eyes. There was a lot of depth to them, more than you would expect from a human. Taking in more features he realized he was looking at a beautiful woman. She had black hair loosely braided over her shoulder. Her cloak appeared to be black, maybe a dark blue over a tunic of dark grey, further down dark blue leather pants and matching boots. She appeared to have a long dirk sheathed at her waist. She raised an eyebrow which reminded him that she had asked a question. “Oh… right. Yes, yes, everything is fine. Thank you. Ha ha.” He rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed he quickly came up with more to say. “Big news, I wasn’t expecting it.” He said.
She watched him silently for a moment before offering him a nod, she seemed to dismiss him then, looking just passed him as she began to walk. “Very well, good day.” She said. “Clee-clee.” Zoomi bounced on his shoulder, turning to watch the pretty lady go by. Absentmindedly raising a hand to pat the furcubi, Krys just mumbled under his breath. “I know… she is… beautiful.” He couldn’t help but notice her form and her sway… she was what he called, *way out of my league.* Just then the alluring stranger stopped by the front door and stepping out from behind the stairs was none other than the croc-man from before. They seemed to share some quiet words and then he nodded at her. Krys blinked. It looked like the big guy was taking orders from her. Then she nodded and turned and went outside. Meanwhile the croc-man disappeared behind the wall once more.
Unable to help himself, Krys found himself walking towards that way, quickly. He passed the stairwell and turned around the corner, following behind that same wall and saw it was indeed a back hallway, with more rooms, by all appearances. The croc-man was probably staying right here in this inn. “What ta fret, that. News o’ death like that, in these parts, in this City…” Turning around, it was the barmaid girl, with her blonde hair. She was wiping down a table but no one else was around so Krys realized she was either talking to herself, or she was talking to him. “Right. It’s a big deal I bet. I can bet the crowd got worked up from hearing about it.” He offered. “Do you know who the big scaly man is? The one that passed through here with the reddish robes?” he asked. This had the girl pausing and looking up at him. “Ya mean Threx the Skron?”
Krys didn’t know what a ‘Skron’ was and his confusion was evident because the barmaid tried to clarify. “The crosk people… tall and with them longer faces? Threx is his name… nev’ heard of the Skron a’fore? He rents a room down that hall. He prefers stayin’ close to the ground, I reckon’. He can be a grump so if you’s have business with him, be on yer guard, yeah?” This was sufficient information now. Krys smiled and nodded. “Oh yes. I ran into him a little bit ago, I didn’t approve of the way he treated the little guy that took my plates back to the kitchen.”
“Oh! That was you?” Just about to resume wiping the table she paused again, eyeing Krys up and down as if with new eyes. “I dun’ know what you did exactly but me brother was mighty warmed by it. So, thank you.” She curtsied with practiced ease. A little lower than seemed quite natural which meant she might have been offering a bit more respect than one normally would. “Oh, no no. Please don’t thank me for just having a sense of decency. People should be kinder to one another all the time, I say.” She smiled wide at this. “Cute and humble… ya might wanna watch yerself ‘ere in the City o’ Roads, day or night.” With that, she offered him a quick friendly wink and then went back to her job.
It didn’t seem like he would be able to catch Threx at this point so he looked around unsure of his next move for a second before he remembered that he wanted to see Gerdt and ask her some questions. He made his way outside, the hour soon to reach late morning. He looked left and right to get a feel for the traffic, besides the horse-drawn coaches there were plenty of people moving around on foot. Some were pulling or pushing hand carts as well, with different things such as crafts for sale and produce to trade. He let his Sense of Direction help him make the right turns and he arrived at the shop door in no time. As he pushed open the shop door, a tingling sensation of anticipation coursed through his veins.
Gerdt was there at the counter facing someone who had their hooded cloak up. “No no. No. That’ll be all. I can’t help ye more than I already ‘ave traveler. So shoo. Shoo now. Get.” She said, waving the other person off. Krys suspected and sure enough as the cloaked figure turned around to the door, he found another pretty face, she had white hair, or was it just very light blonde? Her eyes were sky blue and her complexion was very fair… but in a healthy way. She seemed frustrated and then disappointed but as her eyes caught sight of him she seemed indifferent, except for the gleam in her eyes that said otherwise. She offered a small smile and nod as she passed him and then she exited the building. “And if it isn’t my mystery man. Come back for another trade with Gerdt, huh?” Blinking his eyes, Krys focused on the older woman who was giving him a crooked smile. “Um… actually no, not yet ma’am. I wanted to know if you could help answer some questions for me? I am from far away and I feel a bit lost with so many unknowns around me.” He said, instead.
The old woman frowned before pursing her lips as if considering something. She eyed him up and down which caused him to gulp and almost started to assume she was trying to imply something before she spoke up. “Answer for answer then. You’ve got questions and so do I. How does that sound for an even trade?”
He didn’t even know where to start, or how to start. Was Gerdt going to judge him for not knowing any of this, was she going to grow suspicious? Before he could think himself into a mental hole however he took a deep breath. “How’s about I go first fello’. ‘Cause I’ve nev’ heard o’ an angel a’fore. That’s yer class. I saw it when ye first came to me shop, hmm. I’ve been appraisin’ for a long time. Longer than most, and its not somethin’ I’ve seen or heard o’ a’fore. So, ye tell ol’ Gerdt abou’ that first.” She rapped her knuckles down on the wooden counter and looked at him expectantly. “Oh, well, where I come from they are found in stories. They are like messengers between mortals and well… Heaven. Or actually, mostly messengers from Heaven. I guess they are considered powerful, supernatural beings?” He said.
She blinked a few times and then narrowed her eyes as if trying to read the fine print at the end of a contract. “Hmm, hmm… alright, what’s yer question, then?” “What are the different races around here?”
She nodded, as if not surprised in the least. “Humans mostly. Though the next closest city is run by them Feran’s. Some say the river leads to an Aquan settlement, but that’s speculation fo’ now. The City o’ Roads sees all the races of Ulom from time to time, though, haven’t seen Elves or Draconians the longest. The Gnomes disappeared a few years back. Technically them Draconians live in the next continent over but that never stopped their ships from sailing this way in the past. Oh and the sky-dwellers, no one ever knows where they are with their floatin’ spires.” Krys had to mentally digest for a second… “Ferans and Aquans?” He voiced almost shyly. Gerdt simply nodded some more. “Yeah, them Ferans are here in Elestria. The ones with furry ears and different tails.” This reminded Krys of the white eared person with the rabbit tail. “Oh. The ani- I mean… yes, I think I have seen some.” Gerdt turned around and pulled a book off of a shelf before returning to the counter. She opened the book to a chapter on races and showed pictures of Feran’s to him. “These are them. Five different subtypes, but they all see themselves as one. The cotton-tails have the circular tails and the oval shaped ears. The ring-tails are known for them long hairless things that always have unique ring-like designs on them. They tend to be around the same height as yer average Human, unlike the cotton-tailer’s who’ve generally been a bit short. The next tallest are called long-tails, not ‘cause their tails are long but because their torso’s are. They’ve straight short furry tails but… well when ye see one you’ll know.” The picture depicted a male and female with short legs and arms and long torso’s, though they otherwise appeared Human, they had small round furry ears and the straight tail that Gerdt had mentioned. The proportions of their limbs mixed with their long curvy torso’s made them seem ferret-like. “After them are the twin-tails, they always have red, or brownish-red fur and hair with triangular ears, and their double tails are bushier than any other o’ their kin. Last but not least are the armor-tails. They ‘ave natural armor plates, or ridges along a lot o’ their skin and they have very long, wide flat tails that they can curve around themselves and their allies as livin’ shields. They tend to be tall and muscular and always with those plates instead o’ hair.” Krys didn’t say it out loud, but by the picture, the armor-tails were armadillo-like, and bald looking. The twin-tails were reminiscent of foxes but with two tails instead of one. The ring-tails looked almost completely human except for their tail which was mouse-like or maybe… opossum-like. *Rabbits, Opossum, Stoats, Fox and Armadillo?*
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Gerdt quickly turned a few pages, showing a watery background with another male and female form. These were definitely aquatic with fins, tentacles, scales and/or bioluminescent appendages. They were humanoid in shape but much more similar in appearance to fish. As Gerdt turned the page again it showed other possible variations. Some were more octopus, some resembled jelly fish, some even shared traits to sharks. Most of them had some sort of natural skirt however, male or female, long or short. Some were dull in color and some were quite vibrant and bright. “Most o’ the exotic and eye-catchin’ ones are seawater Aquans, in comparison to their freshwater cousins.” She explained. “Now, I have another question.”
Again, before Krys could bat an eyelid she closed the book and asked her question. “What is yer actual level?” Silence. Krys just stared at her. “Oh… tight-lipped hmm?” She prodded. Shaking his head he finally found his words. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t understand your question. You stated my level when you met me. I’m level 2.” He said. “But it canno’ be true, ‘cause ye have parts o’ yer status that is hidden from me. Must be higher level than me appraisal. But… I can’t understand why’d you’d come way out here if that were the case.” She retorted. Another surprise. “I promise you I am level 2. I have no idea why my status would be hidden.”
Gerdt eyed him with the utmost scrutiny as if she would catch him in a lie. But after a few moments she relaxed and shrugged. “Then that’s the mystery for the both of us. I’ll need to make a trip to Hakkari and do some research at the Library of Yu. Might you be willin’ to tag along?” She said.
# Quest: The Road to Discovery
:: Librarian Gerdt has requested you travel with her to the nearest Library of Yu in search of more answers to the mystery surrounding your status. [Rewards: +2.0 EXP, +5 gold, and possible class upgrades/insight] ::
“Oh.” He blinked and gulped quickly as he eyed the quest and then looked back at Gerdt. “I am interested, but first I wanted to see if I could help get answers about the murders they were announcing earlier.” He said. “That was one of my questions actually… who should I go see if I want to help find the murderer?” He asked. The old crone blinked rapidly and then smiled like a mischievous feline. “Well, ye are a sight for sore eyes indeed… not many who wanna help with such things, hmm, especially in far away places like ol’ Elestria. Yer in luck though… ye need a guild or league token before you can request the city guard to deputize ye, hmm, hmm. And I happen to be able to offer ye one, seein’ as the Librarians of Yore are one of the oldest o’ the extant Orders in all o’ Ulom.”
“What does the token represent?” He asked instead.
“They are adventurer tokens. It means ye ‘ave privilege to execute posted quests and bounties. The guard o’ towns and cities won’t see ye as some regular fragile civilians. Ye get more respect and yet, more is expected o’ you’s as well.” She answered with another big smile.
# Quest: Give me the Badge
:: Permission to hunt the hunter plaguing Elestria isn’t easy to come by but one of the guilds is offering you an adventurer’s token so that you can gain access to the investigation. Accept the token and become a recognized adventurer, then find the Guard Captain to become deputized. [Rewards: Acquire Adventurer Ranks. Become a Deputy Investigator for Elestria;+0.5 EXP, +50 silver, possible insight into the “Night Stalker” investigation.] ::
“Okay, I’ll do it. Sign me up.”
Gerdt slammed a hand down on the counter, there Krys saw a square coin, it appeared to be made of copper, like a shiny penny. It had a triangle cut in its center. He picked it up to take a better look at it, noticing small markings and symbols along the edges.
[Acquired Copper Guild Token, Rank One]
“A beginner token for a beginner adventurer, though I ‘ave a feelin’ you’ll graduate soon enough. Get over to the Guard House and get to it. When you catch the slime covered bastard, we can get on the road to Hakkari.” She said, turning around and heading into the back of the shop. She was mumbling all the way. “Hmm… hmm… ‘aven’t been to the sandy place in years…. Oh I’ll have to bring these and that too…. Hmm.”
Feeling thoroughly dismissed, Krys turned around and left the shop, he walked around for a good 15 minutes before he started getting helpful directions and after a good size walk he found himself at a small tower and door built into the side of one of the walls surrounding the city. He stepped in and found a short counter with a uniformed guard standing there. He was wearing pretty much the same as the two guards that had first greeted him out on the road. Though, this one didn’t have a weapon or shield equipped. “What can I do you for?” He asked, looking at Krys from behind busy eyebrows, he was wiping at his rather bushy mustache as well. He sounded different from most of the others he had spoken with so far here, this one’s accent made him think of home for some reason. Maybe it was slightly, British sounding? “Oh, hello, sir. I’m trying to see the Guard Captain so I may be deputized for the murder investigations. I want to help catch the guy, or guys responsible.”
“Oh do ya now?” Said someone else, a voice was coming from the dark doorway behind the guard at the counter. A woman stepped into view. She had long, thick somewhat wild dark curly hair. Her skin was darker than what most had around here. She might’ve been a tad bit tanner than Krys even. She was fairly tall as well, probably just an itch or two lower than Krys was. She had a pointy heart shaped curve in the area of her lips just beneath her nose. Her eyes narrowed. “Sorry kid, ya seem a bit scrawny for my liking.” She said, crossing her arms under her noticeable bust. Krys pulled out his newly acquired token and showed it up in the light. “Does this help?” Her eyes widened, as did the eyes of the other guard. “Where did you get that?” She asked, almost too stunned. Before he could answer though she blinked and snapped a finger. Her voice lowered menacingly. “It doesn’t matter… yer a right proper adventurer with that. Me apologies.” She practically growled. “Consider yourself deputized. Now I want ye to go check out the crime scenes. One body was found inside a room at the Gilded Docks Tavern, and the other was outside the old Temple ruins, in the back.”
# Quest Complete: Give me the Badge
:: You have been formally recognized as both a bona-fide adventurer and a deputy investigator for the Elestria City Guard by Captain Sweszer. [+0.5 EXP] ::
# Quest: Two Bodies, One Crime
:: You’ve been told where to look for more information about the recent murders.
- Check the Gilded Dock Tavern for clues.
- Check the old Temple ruins for clues.
[Rewards: +0.5 EXP, a stronger lead into the “Night Stalker”, others vary on results] ::
“Here, take this as payment from the city, the Governess hopes it helps uncover the culprit or culprits.” The Guard Captain placed a bag on the counter. “It’s half a gold.” She added. “Will do.” Krys grabbed the small bag and attached it to his belt loop before turning around and heading towards the first crime scene.