Moving down the busy streets of Dark City was something to be taken with precaution. We moved as a group making sure we were not split up. It was a little difficult telling one road from another while the towers cast long shadows over the rest of the city. My initial impression of the city was one that I couldn't quite explain as we passed the first Casino. There was nothing wrong with them in the daylight, even with the long shadows, and it made me wonder what we read about in the elven library.
I couldn't help but think that this city would change at night and things would become much different. If that was true, then we needed either to work during the day or at night when it came to questing, and from my understanding, it was the virtual world that went by our time zone. That would mean that if we wanted to play during the night in Dark City, we would need to be changing our current schedule.
We walked the streets with silence only broken by each of us looking for the right road. Eventually, we reached a large structure with what looked like a history. The stone masonry clashed with some of the other buildings that were nearby in a variety of different architecture that was so famed in Dark City. Four peaks at the corner of each tower that the building had a green flame lighting the outside subtly. The Citadel itself had a stone dome between those four towers in a design I didn't quite get.
Naughty Bunny smiled as she walked up the steps, "Ah, here we are," She told us with much less busy streets here, she didn't need to speak up, "Interesting how all of these churches or citadels have different architecture." Naughty said, looking it over as we went up to the door.
As we reached the door, which was eight feet tall and solid stone, both doors opened slightly. "I see a daughter of the hellfire has come from a monastery." An aged voice said solemnly. "Bringing interesting guests as well," He continued a second later.
"Yes, I have come here from the Hellfire Monastery after a journey. They told me that Dark City needed the Hellfire to burn more in this city." Naughty replied while we watched.
"Well," The aged voice replied, "We certainly need more Hellfire burning at all times. Come in, child; bring your friends along so we may speak without the ears of others listening in."
We followed Naughty into the Citidel, and my first impression was one of green. Everything had a green glow, almost like we were back in the Elven Forest in the underbrush. It was a different green as the light it gave off was much more substantial. It was hard to describe, but the reason was easy to spot. We entered a large hallway that led to a larger room inside the door. There were smaller doors on the way to that large room seen in the distance, but between here and there, there were six wooden doors on each side that were normal-sized with green hellfire torches on the way down.
We followed Naughty down the center of the hallway and quickly found ourselves in a large room with six tables. Each table had seats for sitting and seven chairs along the length facing a stage. On the stage, there was a large pulpit. Behind that, there was another matching table with no chairs. An elderly man bearing a hellfire torch in his hand was at that table now.
"Ah, Come up here, child. We can talk freely here with the young women you brought." The elderly man said.
We moved up to him, and I looked him over. This Elder was old, to say the least. Inside the large room, he also seemed weak, like the final watcher of the Citidel. Taking care of the place as the final caretaker. "Child," He began as we stepped up onto the stage, "The hellfire church here has weakened significantly. I am but one of the final five here who worship the ever-burning Hellfire. With you, we now have six as your friends are not part of your faith." The Elder said, his voice deeply sad, "Many young seek other gods here in Dark City. Lady luck priests have substantially grown, so it is not that this city is a Godless one." The Elder continued with a powerful tone. "The monastery elder must have known we are having troubles here as the Hellfire is growing weaker with a lack of Faith from those around it."
"What can I do to help, Elder?" Naughty said solemnly.
"We are in a dark time with the light with their misguided teachings, thinking they are the world's only light. They have been attacking those who believe that the Hellfire can also shine in this Dark City. The other Elders and I are requesting that you help us, Naughty Bunny. As a Paladin, we need you to act as our sword in these dark times in the city and help us illuminate those with the comforting Hellfire. Will you help us and follow our order?" The Elder finished.
We all sat watching as Naughty received a faction quest, and I thought that this was for the best. Although the Hellfire Citidel was weak at this moment, there was more than just this Elder here. I wondered what else they had hidden as clearly their enemies didn't feel like they could attack them inside the church itself.
"I will follow the Hellfire Elder and work to illuminate those with the comforting glow of the Hellfire." Naughty replied after looking over the quest.
"Perfect!" The Elder exclaimed, "First, we need to find out those who seek to harm us before growing the Hellfire's congregation child. We must seek them without attacking them at this point. We cannot tip our hands early, letting them know that we are seeking revenge. Instead, we will wait before feeding them to the flames to fuel the glow of the Hellfire in the future. For now, leave with the young ladies you brought and seek information on the specific churches that seek to end the illumination we bring to Dark City."
"Yes, Elder, we shall depart and seek answers. Is there anywhere you think we should begin?" Naughty Bunny asked seriously.
"Everything began inside the slums as we sought to enlighten those with the least. Maybe you should begin there. Or the churches of the Holy light of Holy Justice. They are traditional enemies of the Hellfire." The Elder replied, "Be careful not to be caught though, as they will seek to cut all roads to our recovery. Even now The elders and I cannot leave the Citadel without being attacked. Please take this," He handed something to Naughty that I couldn't see. "It has ten more uses left and it will obscure yourselves entering this place. It lasts for an hour after each use. When in the church you can recharge it with worship to the Hellfire for it obscures your bodies with the smoke of our enemies."
I turned to the other ladies and we nodded and Naughty used the thing a dark smoke covered us and we moved quickly to leave. I hoped nobody saw us entering at this point. We had just gotten ourselves in a faction war with the light as our first quest here. I sighed as I realized we just got on a path we couldn't leave without leaving the city. Maybe not even then.
"To an Inn," I told everyone just as we reached the Citadel doors. "No talking until we are in a room with some wards."
No one replied but we left the Citadel behind us.