-The Gods: 5 Foester, The God of Knowledge, In his human days he was a learned scholar whose massive mind kept records of everything he had ever seen. He was regarded as the most learned man ever. In his later days, his ability to perfectly remember everything tormented him, as memories of his life could never be gotten rid of. The good was equal to the bad in his ability to remember every detail. Now he is worshiped as a reminder to be a good scholar but not abuse knowledge.-
Erust, Rennish, and Ashra had found lodgings in the port city of Ark-City. The city was older than the Glass Capital in terms of constant habitation but the buildings had been torn down and reused multiple times. This gave the city a hodgepodge of different styles and architectural techniques. Homes would have grand columns, salvaged from parts of the bay attached to a house made of wood and clay. Occasionally you would find layers of marble bricks among common limestone.
Rennish thought that the mismatch in architecture fit the city. You could tell that lifetimes had been committed to keeping this place alive. It was the largest port town this far south before you got to the mountains. And seeing that their objective was in the mountains, this was their last time to rest and restock before they needed a guide to get the rest of the way.
The power of the false god was also strong in this part of the world. Portions of the city were home to adventurers and pirates. The area wasn't lawless, more like law flexible.
And these people were anti-establishment through and through. The idea that new gods could be born in this day and age was right up their alley. Bring on the new god who was giving the finger to the old gods. And when the new divine being would put a blessing on a boat, or a pack of merchants, they always made it home on time.
Rennish had insisted that he handle all the business of making travel arrangements. This town could house any kind of violent criminals or rogues. And there was no real way to measure what the feeling was towards Erust. Assassination was a very large problem in this part of the world, especially for someone who proclaimed to be the prophet of unpopular gods.
Erust and Ashra had found an Inn on the very outskirts of town that they had bedded down in. Normally it would have been safer to be in town, especially when you considered that hoodlums found it easier to exploit the weak when the city guards weren't looking.
In this instance though, Erust and Ashra were both capable fighters, and the fewer people that knew he was here, the easier their lives became. Also, they had been driving and were very much looking forward to the rewards of a comfortable bed and uninterrupted sleep.
Rennish brushed out the fur of their lloras in the stable and formulated a plan. The two animals had been worked harder than intended. The trip through the forest took way longer than it should have by nearly a month. That coupled with the theft it was lucky that these two animals were even still able to stand. He planned to leave them alone with the biggest bags of feed he could find and let them eat and sleep their fill as well. They had done more to earn a reward more than any of the occupants of the carriage.
When Rennish walked into town he used the magical cloaks that Ed had pulled before their brush with the oracle and walked silently through the main streets. Rennish had figured out that the cloaks also gave humans characteristics of demi-humans. This made them stand out less and confused anyone watching. Each viewer of the magic saw a different person. It was probably the best thing Ed had pulled before they headed south.
Rennish sighed and thought back to the days of arguing with Ed. Erust was okay but he missed the crotchety old Ed, always looking for trouble but being blissfully optimistic at times.
Rennish refused to drink because it required removing his hood, and that act seemed to clear the glamour from his body.
First, he looked for a guild of guide but he couldn't find one. This was the biggest town in the area and boats were a dime a dozen. If you wanted to sail south of the mountains that could be purchased easily enough for the right price. A larger fare guaranteed that you wouldn't be sold into a life of slavery.
Rennish braved his way through the city center. He stopped at what passed for a town hall. The cities name was Ark. Legend had it that the city had been the landing site of the first boat from the fabled lands beyond the sea. Sailors now knew that the lands existed but they were a harsh brutal place where things lived unrestricted and even the gods knew well enough to stay away.
Rennish was shot down everywhere he went. He had been shown a map by one shop keeper of the area and he had bartered to buy it but the price was out of his reach without dipping into the gold that Erust kept stashed away. Rennish had considered trading a musical instrument but he had a new sensation when he thought about it, guilt.
Guilt wasn't something the bard normally felt. He was mostly remorseful because he still didn't see humans as his equals due to his years working with the spirits. The longer he stayed in this land the more he began to feel for them, and guilt over cheating one with an instrument that would just disappear as soon as Rennish left town was something he wasn't prepared to live with yet.
His first solid lead came when Rennish visited a tavern near the docks. Word of his efforts was slowly circulating through town. People were hungry and an entrepreneurial spirit was essential to not starving to death. So a man approached him while he sat in a dark back corner eating a plate of lukewarm fish that was supposed to be the days special.
"I hear you need to head into the mountains..." A voice croaked, breaking Rennish free of his thoughts.
Rennish stopped his fork midway to his mouth and put it back on the plate. "Yeah, I'm searching for someone and need a guide or just a good map and instructions."
The voice morphed into the body of a man who had spent years on the ocean. His skin was wrinkled and tanned from the sun and hardened from a life exposed to saltwater. His face looked it might have been made from actual leather until it smiled. He had close-cropped salt and pepper hair and bright ocean blue eyes. "My name is Hector, second mate of The Croix, but I have a man on my crew who can get you where you need to go. For a finders fee of course."
Rennish knew the smile that crossed his face. It was the look of someone who thought they were exploiting someone. Rennish figured this person was probably going to take them halfway, run off with their valuables in the night, and leave them stranded someplace where getting back alive was unlikely. The robbery was best when there were no witnesses or victims.
"And what makes you think I'd take the word of a sailor about going inland?" Rennish said, his lack of patience leaking into his voice.
"Calm down boy," Hector said putting up his hands. "Honestly, Chester has family that way. We were going to ship him off the boat for being annoying and useless. But at least this way I can get something out of him. His contract with us is two years. He has six months left and we want him off the boat. The kids great overland but he vomits at the mere sighting of a wave."
Rennish was shocked by the sudden change of tone in Hector's voice. "So really its a delivery mission for me and you get paid for getting him off your hands."
Hector smiled. "More or less... you see I heard about this and it helps me out. The captain of the fleet wants him gone. And normally death is the only way out of a contract... if you get where I am going with this."
Rennish understood. The old man was trying to save the kids life. "Small mercies..." Rennish muttered softly.
"Come softly through the night to those that need them most." Hector finished the old saying nodding that Rennish now understood.
"Can I meet him?" Rennish asked. Hector nodded and waved a hand out into the air. Chester walked into view from around a corner. He was a strapping young man loaded with muscles from years of heavy labor in mountain terrain. However, he still looked green from his last voyage and Rennish could tell that this was his only way out.
Rennish shook his head and sighed. "I only have 4 gold on me at current. Will that be enough?"
Hector put his hand out and held up 2 fingers. "Two will do."
Rennish put the coins in his hand. "Chester, can I pay you along the way in food and lodging with a promise of payment when we return?"
Chester crossed his arms trying to look cool and defiant. Hector noticed and slapped the kid on the back of the head hard enough to throw his head forward. "Yes, he will absolutely take payment upon safe completion. Two golds will do for the rate also if you are providing food and lodging." Hector was looking out for him again. What would this kid be like without the old man protecting him?
Chester smiled weakly and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, that's fine. I do want to see my family again. Hector are you sure of this? Won't my contract be done while I'm out doing this?"
Hector smiled, "Shake hands on this job first."
Rennish and Chester shook on the deal. As soon as the men released hands Hector reached into a pocket and pulled out a sack about the size of small grapefruit and put it on the table so fast it might have been on fire. "That's your wages boy. Everything you would be paid between now and the end of your contract. Don't show back up at the docks. This is the last thing I can do for. If the fleet captain finds out what I have done for you I will have to finish it myself."
Chester finally understood and grabbed the sack of bronze and copper coins. "Thank you, Hector," he replied while nodding vigorously, wiping a tear from the edge of his eyes.
Rennish sighed. "Well, looks like your with me tonight..."
Chester smiled reluctantly. "Yes sir, I guess I am."