Hugo’s heart beat a little faster as he walked through the gates into the city. For one thing HE WAS IN A FANTASY CITY. For another HE JUST CONFIRMED THERE WAS MAGIC. Hugo was still distressed at his whole situation, but right at this moment he decided that instead of being afraid he was going to embrace the wonder of it. It mostly worked. He only wanted to throw up a little. All around him, various types of beast and lizard people were walking to and fro. Nearby, he spotted what appeared to be a group of dwarves. He also spotted a duo of elves walking quickly away. He was fairly sure they were elves due to the ears. There were bear and rabbit beastmen. A few of the hyena like beast men walked about. The bear and lizard types were the most numerous, but there seemed to be quite a lot of diversity.

While gawking at the novelty of his new surroundings, one of the bear beast people bumped right into him.

“Watch out fairskin.” It said in a gruff voice, turning back around and walking away.

Hugo took that as a sign that he should continue moving. I really need to find the market asap. Hopefully one of the guards or some one on the street could point him in the right direction. Hugo began walking around the city square taking in the sights. There was a large fountain in the center, where two of the bear beastmen guards stood at attention. Both looked some what bored. All the buildings seemed to be one or two story affairs made mostly of wood. There were a few more ornate building, which were faced with stone. Those ones looked like store fronts to Hugo. They had pictographic signs on them with some more of the strange lettering that he couldn't read. One shop seemed to specialize in shoes, and had a picture of a boot on their sign. Another had a scissor and comb, which he assumed was some sort of barber shop..or grooming shop? Haha.

He didn’t notice it when he first entered, but the more he walked the more he began to smell the natural odor of the city. It was rank. It smelled something of urine, wet dog hair and something else that had a strong natural musk. To say that it was unpleasant was an understatement. Where there was more breeze it seemed to be less over whelming, but where ever the wind was blocked he noticed the stench’s bouquet became particularly pungent. Even with the smell, the city was at least relatively clean by appearances. Horses did not seem to exist in this city, and he did not see animal droppings along any of the streets. Perhaps they were just meticulous in some places about keeping the streets nice?

Hugo was careful to stick to the main streets of the town. There were more narrow streets that took turns in to alley ways, and he was mindful to stay away from those and keep in plain sight of the guards. He tried not to stare at what to him was a menagerie of strange and wondrous fantasy people, but some times it was hard to look away. There was so much to see. Some times his gaze would be fixed a moment to long and he would get a glare from whatever lizard man or beast person or whatever that he had irritated. After perhaps a little more than an hour of walking and sight seeing in the chilly morning air, Hugo found what looked to be an open market place. He hadn’t known what any of the signs had meant, and had just followed the flow of foot traffic to where ever seemed busiest and had gotten lucky.

The market was extraordinary. It was filled with a huge variety of shops and stalls. Hugo saw fruit sellers, stalls selling pottery, jeweler, fresh meat, cooked meat, a fabric merchants and so much more. The smells of food were stronger here and mostly over powered the usual animal musk of the city. The smell of meat cooking made Hugo hungry and his nose lead him to the side of the market that seemed to act as a sort of food court, minus the tables to sit and eat. Almost all the food being served were things that were easy to eat on the go. Food on sticks, or wrapped in a sort of flat bread were abundant. Not all the customers favored meat and some stands were offering vegetable skewers or salad served in thin clay bowls. Hugo noticed that those were mainly used by the rabbit beast men. To his surprise, Hugo saw a few more elves in the crowd. They were not stopping for food but he did catch them giving him glances, as if trying to identify him. They did not approach, but Hugo did think it was interesting to see a few non beast people among the beastmen majority. He did not see any humans in the crowd, not even one. He had seen elves, dwarves, and beast people of many shapes and sizes but no one that stood out as human.

Hugo approached one of the stalls selling meat skewers with what he presumed was this world’s version of onion added for flavor. The smell was enticing.

“Meat skewers! Fresh Skewers cooked hot. Tasty and filling, get them while you can!” The hyena beast woman was calling out from behind her grill. Hugo guessed she was female by her slimmer frame and the higher cadence of her still some what scratchy voice compared to the others he had observed.

“You, Elf, can I interest you with one of my fabulous skewers. Hot and juicy guige flesh made fresh!” She said to Hugo.

While Hugo didn’t know what a guige was, he didn’t question it. Also WHAT was up with people thinking he was an elf. Did they not see his ears. Sheesh. Hugo ignored that part though.

“How much is a skewer?” he asked

“Two coppers.”

“I’ll take one, if you can also point me in the direction of where I can buy some camping supplies. I need a tent and a cooking pot, oh and probably a knife.”

“Sure sure.” the stall owner said. “They sells those things at any one of the general stores in the district. My cousin runs a store just a block outside market square. Tell him Nerdher sent you.”

Hugo fished two pennies from his wallet and walked in the direction Nerdher had pointed. He chewed on the skewer while he walked and found it very palatable. The meat was soft and chewy. He guessed, hoped, that it was some kind of bird. He walked straight in the direction Nerdher had pointed. He passed many more shops and stalls that all seem to specialize in this commodity or that until he came to where the shop stalls seemed to end and the regular buildings began. About a block further on ahead he saw a store front that looked like it must be a general store. The sign outside had a scale and some more of the undecipherable letters. His best guess, this was the right place. Hugo walked up and pushed the door open.

“Welcome to Keno’s general goods, customer. How can I help you this fine day!” The flamboyant, grey haired hyena beast man greeted Hugo. His voice shared the same gruff cadence as his female counterpart selling the skewers, but was distinctly more masculine.

“Uh, hello. I’m looking for some supply's. I just need a minute to browse.” Hugo said, and began exploring the shop.

The wooden shelves were full of various dry goods, blankets, tools of various sizes, and building supplies. The menagerie of materials seemed almost random, more like a pawn shop than the modern and organized stores Hugo was used to shopping at. Hugo knew he had to be savvy. His plan so far was to buy things in order to make a sort of camp, and sleep outside the city to avoid paying for an inn. From their he just had to gather more intel and find some kind of work he was suited to. He had had no hostile encounters in the city so far other than a bit of rudeness, so he was hopeful that he might be able to make some kind of money here. Even if it all he could find was a job doing basic labor, it was a start to build relationships and find out more about the city. He was betting this shop keep would be a well spring of info if he played his cards right.

“Excuse me, shop keep. Maybe you could help me find some supplies for camping?”

“Ah, on an expedition? I have many goods and wares that might be just what you need.”

“Great. Is there any discount for recommended customers? Nerdher sent me this way.”

The shop keep raised one eye brow and gave a slight smile. “And how is my cousin doing. Is she working on feast street today?” He said, artfully dodging Hugo's question about a discount.

“Feast street? Is that what the street is called with all food stalls in market? I was just over that way and bought one of her grilled guige skewers. I don’t know what guige is but it was tasty.”

Shop keep Keno chuckled. “You’ve never seen a guige ha. Well it’s sort of a small fat bird that doesn’t fly. They are usually bright red for the males or brown for the hens. They’re delcious!”

“ooh oh, so sort of like a chicken?”

Keno frowned and look thoughtful. “No idea what a chicken is. You said you were looking for camping supplies? Tell me what you lack and I will supply you with whatever you need, for a fair exchange in coin of course."

“Well, hmm. I need a knife for sure. Do you carry tarps for making tents? I also need some sort of metal cup or pot if you have it."

“Ah, your in luck! I have all those things in stock. How much canvas do you need?”

“Just enough for one person. A small tent will do. I can make the poles, so just the tarp is fine.”

Hugo really wanted a hatchet but he really didn’t want to push his luck. He wasn’t even sure if the money he had was going to be able to cover what he was after, and he needed these things so he wouldn’t be miserable. Hugo almost did a double take, as he remembered that he would need something to make fire.

“Uh, also what do you have for starting a fire?”

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The merchant picked up a flat, palm sized stone from a pile in back of him. “Fire stone, just strike it with the edge of your knife and it will spark.”

Hugo thought it was probably flint, but was no expert on stones. He eyed it and nodded appreciatively. “I only need the most basic knife, and a modest size cup should do as long as its sturdy.”

The shop keep nodded, and walked over to a shelf that had various metal cooking pots and utensils disorderly strewn about. He reached and picked out what looked like a brass cup, and appreciated it turning it around in his paw like hand. He placed it on the counter next to the fire stone and went in back, apparently to fetch the other items. He came back with a sturdy canvas, a bit more than twice as large as his blanket and made of a thicker material. He also placed a dagger down that must have been about six inches long. It looked sharp, but was a very plane other wise, with a small guard and a leather bound handle. To Hugo it looked like every starting dagger he had seen in video games or on TV that featured medieval weaponry, and he smiled a little seeing it.

“You like it?” said Shop keep Keno with a small smile. “It’s a simple dagger, but its well crafted, and should keep its edge as long as you take care of the blade. I know the smith.”

“I like it. I’ll take it all if I can. How much do you need?”

“Hmm, lets see.” the shop keep said, resting his chin on his furry knuckle. “We have one measure of canvas, an brass cup, a dagger, one fire stone. Will that be everything?”

Hugo nodded.

“In that case I’d say 3 silver 10 coppers would be a fair price.” Shop keep keno said with what Hugo guessed was the Hyena mans equivalence of a poker face.

Hugo frowned and replied. “I only have two silvers and some copper right now. I’m new to the area and i need to find some work.”

The shop keep frowned back and replied. “hmm, for two silver and say, fifteen coppers, you could still get the canvas, stone, and dagger, if we remove the cup from the exchange.”

Hugo paused at that. Even if he removed the cup he was still short and he didn’t know if he could bargain down shop keeper. The exchange rates on coins were a mystery at present. Then in a moment of inspiration, he spoke.

“Um, what about a trade. I actually have a small magical item with me.”

The shop keeps eyes lit up, and his small smile returned. Hugo reached into his pocket and carefully extracted the white plastic ball point pen. He placed it on the counter in front of the shop keep.

“This is a magic pen, used in my homeland. It doesn’t have any special properties except that you don’t have to dip it into an ink well like you do with quill pen. Other wise you can just use it as a normal pen.”

The shop keep nodded at the explanation, clearly interested in the cheap plastic pen. “Interesting. Can I get a demonstration?” The shop keep asked.

“uhh..sure. Do you have a scrap of paper or something to write on?”

The shop keep fished out a small scrap of brown parchment, with a tear on one end, out from under the desk. Hugo picked up the pen and began to scribble some circles, and made a smiley face. He also drew a few letters, and the shop keep was satisfied. Hugo knew he had the beast mans interest now, but he wanted to think more long term and decided it would be best not to over sell the “magic” of this item in case he ever needed to shop here again.

“I have to warn you, the magic charge on this pen is limited and I don’t know the means of getting it recharged. I believe it’s probably still good for maybe a dozen and a half full parchment papers of writing though as long as you don’t write too small. You might be able to have a mage re charge it but I’m not at all certain.” It was only a slight lie on his part, for all he knew magic could recharge it. Maybe.

“hmm, very interesting. I’ll have to treat it like a consumable magical artifact based on your description and demonstration. I’ll certainly trade you a brass cup for it, though.”

“alright, can we say two silver and the magic pen for all of it, plus some twine to wrap the canvas into a bag?”

The shop keeper paused to think and scratched his furry head with and extended claw. “How do I know the magic won’t give out right away.”

Hugo gave a little sigh. “I guess I don’t really have any proof, other that what I told you. I know the pen has only had a little use but I would be lying if I told you I knew exactly how much longer it would last. I’ll say this, though, I’m new to the area and I want to build trust. You seem like a fair merchant. If you will take a small risk on me today, then perhaps we can do even more business in the future once I get established. I know it’s not much to go on but…

The merchant gave him a serious look, as if trying to read him. Then he nodded and spoke.

“You speak well. All right, we have a deal..I’ll take a risk on this pen and perhaps we can do trade more in the future. I hope you will remember my shop when you wish to conduct more business. May I ask your name and clan?

“Oh, my name is Hugo Harris, and my clan is..A-American.” He stuttered a bit on that last bit. Wow Hugo. American? Really!?

“I’m not familiar with that clan. Are you from one of the far distant eastern elven enclaves, if you don’t mind an inquisitive shop keep asking questions.”

Again with everyone assuming I’m an elf. Can they not see my ears are round. “I’m actually not an elf. I’m human.”

“Oh, forgive me. Forgive me. I hadn’t realized. It’s just your so tall, and I’ve never heard of a human with flaxen colored hair before, and its just humans are so rare these days..”

Hugo had to admit he was rather tall. Even at home his 6’2’’ frame stood out a bit. He wasn’t too gangling for his height either, having what he considered to be a decent amount of muscle. Even if it is covered up by a bit of a muffin top at the moment. He wouldn’t win any awards, but he felt he was a pretty good looking dude. Besides, most ladies liked tall guys.

“eh, that's alright. I’m not offended that easily. What do you mean by human’s being rare these days though? I’ve heard some one else say that too.”

The beast man scratched the back of his head and gave him an embarrassed look. “...eh. Don’t you know? I would have thought almost everyone knew. Then again I guess no one knows everything huh..well..to explain it. Ever since the northern continent was over run there haven’t been many humans ANY where that I know of. You see groups sometimes that travel from city to city. A few stay. I know for a fact we have at least a few family’s that stay in the city, but they keep mostly to their own group. I guess the population just never recovered in the fifty years since ‘The Blackening.’

Hugo paused, feeling a pit forming in his stomach at this new turn in the conversation. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but, what the hell is ‘The Blackening?’

“Humans lost there ancient struggle with the demonic beasts of the Northern Continent.” he said with a regretful shrug. “According to what I’ve heard recorded, they had been on the decline for the past two centuries. Eventually it came down to just two great strong holds and even those finally fell. Listen, I’m sorry. I only know the general details. If you want to know more you could probably go visit one of the city’s historians. I’m sure they have all the facts of the story written down in the city archives. That’s why you don’t see many humans though. As far as I know, there aren’t many human’s anywhere on the whole continent of Yen’gar.

Hugo just stared at the shop keep for a moment, unable to say anything at all. What do you even say to that? Sure they weren’t ‘Earth’ humans but they were still human. This whole thing was unprecedented. Humans were ALWAYS the most numerous in fantasy story's. It didn’t make any sense. Hugo felt a bit of dread he hadn’t felt before. He had thought that he was probably just in a beast man country, and by some coincidence there weren’t many humans. He had just naturally ASSUMED he’d be able to travel some where where there would be more humans just as soon as he figured out where he was and how to get there. It wasn’t all concrete in his head at the time but he had been formulating ideas. Now, not even a day in, he found out that he was doomed to be in an extreme minority group no matter how far he conceivably traveled on this continent. The one bright light was that was at least some humans left. Maybe I can find out more about them?

“..Again. I’m sorry. It’s odd you find some one that doesn’t know but I guess it happens. Let me help you wrap up your things. I’ll even throw in an old sheath for this dagger.” he said, as he began to work tying up the goods inside the canvas with some twine. The leather sheath he gave Hugo was very ragged and dried out , but it was serviceable.

Hugo fished out the two quarters from his wallet’s zipper pouch and pushed the pen forward from the parchment it had been sitting on. The shop keep placed the pen under the desk and then scrutinized the coins he had been given. His eyes went wide when he raised them to the light. He set one down and tried to scratch at the edges of the other with his claw. Then he bit into it and then held it up in front of his face again, mystified.

“The engraving on these silvers. I’ve never seen anything like this. Their both perfectly identical. Where do these come from? I can’t read the markings at all” The shop keep asked in wide eyed amazement at the artisanship of the coins.

Hugo pointed to the coin on the table, which had the head facing up. “This side read’s ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ and on the bottom is the calendar date.” The coin was dated for 2010, but Hugo hoped he wouldn’t ask about the coin dating. He doubted the system they used was the same. “The left side reads, ‘In God we Trust’.”

“Oh! Which god is their patron? Is it Om’Thlec? They must be very dedicated to commit so much attention to the engraving of even their silver pieces."

“Om’Thlec? Uh..no, uh. They have many gods I think, but most believe in just one..uh. Moving On.”

Keno the shop keep raised his eye brow at that but let him continue.

“This side has an eagle, our national bird. This reads, ‘e plurabus unum’, which means ‘out of many, one’. Fortunately Hugo remembered learning that bit of trivia from the history channel. He was by no means a scholar.

“E plurabus unum.” Keno said, as if tasting the words. “It sounds beautiful. What language is it?”

“It’s called Latin. A very old language where I’m from.”

“It describes our city, I think. Even if it is run mostly by hot headed drakonids and barear who snub their wet noses down on every one who isn’t apart of their clan.”

Shop keep Keno put the coins in one hand, and reached for a key in his pocket. He unlocked a counter drawer and gingerly put the coins, and the pen he had now retrieved from under the counter, in the locking drawer. The drawer closed with a click. “Thank you, human Hugo. These are interesting treasures I have traded for today. I hope my merchandise will serve you well, and that I see you again soon.”

Hugo nodded, taking that as his cue to leave the shop. He was actually quite satisfied with the trade. He didn’t believe he got swindled by the two silver price, but then again he hadn’t actually paid in silver. Just something that sort of looked like silver. He was also down a pen. He thought that was a pretty good trade too, considering he got a whole brass cup for it. It was at least, sorta an even trade to his thinking. Kinda. OK, he kinda swindled the guy on that one, but come on, he needed something to cook in if he was going to go camping and he really wanted that cup. Trading the phone was definitely not an option, and that left only the pen and maybe his wallet as a viable candidate. All and all that left him with ten pennies, three dollars in crunchy bills and a plastic debit. Also, his drivers license. He was fairly sure he wouldn’t be needing that here. Money was suddenly very tight.

Now its time to find a job.