Stormrider Achievement Unlocked! You didn’t die in the storm! Reward? Airship Parking Pass (1 week).

Transmuter Achievement Unlocked! You have used an item to temporarily change your symbiotic familiar! Reward? Dice Pouch of Holding.

Nate pulled out the purple leather pouch and found that the opening was small enough to fit the die and a finger or two to retrieve said die. ‘Nate’ was etched in fancy lettering across the front. “Neat!”

“Do you mean ‘Nate’?” Fuzzball said, looking over his shoulder, laughing before Nate could retort. Nate gave a sidelong glance and continued cycling through his handful of messages.

Quest: Gathering Information

Objective: Explore the Undercroft for clues concerning Captain Luma and crew.

Reward: Vial of Acid.

Accept? Yes No.

Nate accepted the new quest as the airship’s hull groaned under the strain of the emergency landing, and pieces continued to fall off of the severely damaged vessel. The once-shifting sands of the Sand Sea now loomed beneath them, and Aezrith sprawled before their eyes.

As they all began to disembark, the bustling activity of the Floating City greeted them, despite the storm that was already waning in the skies above. Cranes overhead moved cargo from airships to dock and vice versa. Workers moved smaller crates or drove magically powered forklift-like heavy machinery. The smoke that usually permeated the Docklands, temporarily muted by the heavy rains, began rolling back in as the rainfall lessened.

A stout Kappan figure approached them, his uniform crisp over his shell despite the chaos of the storm, his wide brimmed hat strapped around his leathery face. His name tag read Harold, the dock manager of Aezrith. His eyes, sharp and calculating, took in the group before him.

“Welcome to Aezrith,” Harold greeted, extending a hand. “I saw your emergency landing. You must be quite shaken. Do any of you need medical attention?”

Nate shook his hand firmly. “Luckily, no, though rest would be good. We could use some directions.”

Harold nodded, his gaze lingering on the damaged airship. “You’ll need a parking pass while your ship is being repaired.”

“I’ll repair it later,” Nate said as he withdrew his airship parking pass.

“Ah, of course. Thank you.”

“How much is it normally to park here?”

“One gold piece per week,” Harold said as he shook water from his hat.

Nate pulled three gold pieces from his inventory, “We’ll go ahead and prepay for the month.”

“Excellent! Here,” he handed Nate a sleek, metallic card, “this will grant you access to the Docklands.”

“Appreciate it,” Nate replied, tucking the pass into his pocket. “Ellie, where should we go first?”

She pointed towards the bustling heart of the Undercroft. “The nearest tavern is the Gilded Coin, in the Sand Markets. It’s a good place to gather information, meet locals, and find work if we need it.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Which we do,” Spring Jack said.

“Slow up on the ‘we’, rabbit man,” Fuzzball said. “You’re a good pilot, but the trust isn’t there for ‘we’ just yet.”

Spring Jack almost retorted, thought better of it, and nodded silently.

Zeff pulled his toolbox out of his pack, “I’m going to stay here and assess the damages.”

“The front fell off,” Nate said, “I think we can mark it as substantial.”

“I need to check the core,” Zeff doubled down.

“I’ll stay with him and make sure the Carrot Crew folks don’t bother him,” Fuzzball said, pointedly looking at Spring Jack.

“I’ve given strict orders that you are all to be considered one of the crew,” Spring Jack said.

“Sure thing, buddy,” Fuzzball said as he followed Zeff back toward the ship.

With directions in hand, Nate, Krypdyr, Ellie, and Spring Jack set off towards the Sand Markets. The Undercarft’s lower decks buzzed with life. Narrow alleyways lined with vibrant stalls sold everything from enchanted trinkets to rare spices harvested from the desert. The air was thick with the sounds of haggling, laughter, and the occasional clink of metal from smiths at work.

As they navigated through the maze of stalls, Krypdyr used his shadowstep ability to scout ahead, ensuring their path was clear of any lingering threats. Ellie kept a watchful eye on their surroundings as Spring Jack sidled up to Nate.

“So, Nate, I noticed you keep a terrifying monster inside you.”

“You mean Terry?”

“You named that thing Terry?”

“He’s a good boy, and I’ll ask you to treat him with the respect he’s more than earned.”

“He eats lightning!”

“He eats anything, actually. Everything? I’m not sure what he can’t eat.”

Spring Jack fell back a step in surprise. “I’ve never seen anything quite like… him?... before.”

“I think technically Terry has no gender, but given his form and shape, he presents more masculine and I’m not going to just call him Terry all the time. That would sound odd.”

“So it would,” Spring Jack agreed.

Finally, they reached the Gilded Coin Tavern, a large, inviting establishment with golden banners fluttering in the breeze and the sound of lively music spilling out into the street. The tavern’s exterior was adorned with intricate carvings and stained glass windows that reflected the vibrant hues of the Sand Markets.

“We use pieces of different metals for currency here, what do they use coins for?” Nate asked.

“Stamped coins are usually for guild identifications and rank,” Ellie said.

“Iron coins for lowest rank, platinum for highest?”

“Yep,” Spring Jack said. “Speaking of, if you want to join the Carrot Crew, I have a few extra coins on hand.”

“Not the time,” Nate said as they stepped inside.

Inside, the tavern was a cacophony of noise and color. Patrons of all races mingled, sharing stories over mugs of frothy ale and plates of steaming delicacies. The centerpiece was a massive fireplace, around which groups gathered to converse and enjoy performances from wandering bards.

Nate led the group to a corner table, where Krypdyr coiled up around his seat and Ellie called out for drinks.

“Let’s see what we can find out here,” Spring Jack suggested, his eyes scanning the room for any promising leads.

As they settled in, a cloaked figure at the bar caught Nate’s attention. The figure’s presence was subtle, yet there was something about them that suggested they were listening in on nearby conversations. Nate motioned to Krypdyr to keep an eye on the figure while he and the others began to observe the tavern’s patrons.

Ellie nudged Nate. “Over there,” she whispered, nodding to a group of rough-looking Chimerans huddled near the fireplace, their voices low but urgent.

Nate nodded, downed the rest of his drink, and stood, moving toward the bathroom. He stepped out looking like a jackal Chimeran, and stumbled toward the whispering folks. Words like “Captain Luma,” and “Interface Podium” floated through the air, each phrase sending a chill down his spine.

“...heard they’re holed up in the Smokestacks,” one of them said, a hulking ram-headed Chimeran speaking with a guttural accent. “They won’t stand a chance. Heard Wort and Codrus took the contract.” Low whistles spread across the group.

Quest: Gathering Information complete. Reward has been added to your inventory.

Nate leaned closer, his eyes wide with concern. “Spring Jack, have you heard of Wort or Codrus?”

Spring Jack sat up straighter in his chair, suddenly much more alert, “Are they here?”