Another week passed, and Asfi Al Andromeda learned so much in such a short time. After meeting Sidorovich, a rough pot-bellied old man, she learned the rules and culture of the town from him. Sidorovich, who was rough was very patient. Sidorovich was what this town called a "fixer" Fixers are guild advisors in charge of giving out quests. Sidorovich is the "Hunter's Guild" fixer. Asfi learned a lot from the old man. Sidorovich even gave her an allowance and the townfolk's taxes paid it, and she could only give thanks to him and the people here.
Asfi is currently writing things in her journal, to keep track of all the wonderful and scary things in this town.
Next, she was given two escorts around the town, one was, of course, Owl, and a man named "Marked One". Marked One is the quiet veteran of the Hunter's Guild. Doesn't speak much unless it's important.
Asfi learned about many things and even bought books about steam technology, machinery, alchemy, and books about rituals that Owl recommended. The rules here are also very direct, and Asfi learned why every rule here must be followed thoroughly.
Right now, she's staying at a dormitory provided by the lord of the town. The dormitory is where all the surviving adventurers were gathered by the town.
'Oh damn the first night. That damned first night.'
The first night was a nightmare, in short, this town became hell during the night. In detail, she learned why you shouldn't open your window if something knocks on at night, an adventurer couldn't take it anymore and opened his windows, the next day, his entire body was sucked out of blood. Another adventurous adventurer decided to go out at night. He was never heard from again, his friend asked about him, and the dormitory guards only replied "He is lost to the fog."
There are many rules in this town, especially at night, such as "If you hear a woman crying, ignore it." "If you see a shadow outside your windows, ignore it." "I know the slithering sounds on your ceiling are terrifying, but ignore it." "If you hear wolves howling on your roof, call for the nearest guard." The last one was particularly horrifying for Asfi after what she experienced.
A lucky adventurer who encountered such a beast was rescued by the guard on time. He opened his window at the loud howling to confront the wolf, but only to see a beast with human legs and the body of a wolf. Luckily, as he was running for his dear life, he encountered the elite guards known as "nighthawks" and was saved.
Although the night in Silent Hill is filled with horrors, the day is filled with wonders. She learned that not only has this town been around for thousands of years and developed a long history and culture, but it's also very diverse in races. Races she had never seen or heard of before. She had met a warm and welcoming Giant named Groselle, he was 13 ft tall! There are also elves here, but they are like the elves in orario, very distant and cold. Dwarves are also here, but they are very different from the dwarves she had met. Mermaids or "Sirens" are another race she had never heard of before, Asfi thought they were monsters at first, but apparently, they were "sanctioned" by the lord, and allowed to mingle with humans. Unlike the vampires! Or Sanguine, they like to suck human blood, she had never seen one, but she was sure that man from before was one! All the "dark and cursed creatures" live at the Manor Of Madness.
"It's raining again." Asfi looked outside the window.
Asfi closed her eyes to think. When suddenly her thought was interrupted.
"GOOOOOD MORNING, SILENT HILL! Yesterday's body count lottery rounded out to a solid 'N' sturdy thirty! Ten out of Darkwood - thanks to unabated beyonder fights! One "Tallboy" down, so I guess you're all screwed! Cause the Nighthawks will NOT let that go! God another round of assassination. The Sisterhood is at it again, poking holes at people! While the Red Cross cannibalized out of control beyonder's materials off the pavement. And The Manor Of Madness... Well, The Manor of Madness is still The Manor Of Madness. This has been your man, Stan! Join me for another day in our town of fog!"
It was the box called "radio". Another novel invention. She still hasn't figured out how this thing worked. Sadly, the mechanical guild, which was supposed to help her understand the things around this town, was still closed. Of all the things she wanted to learn from, it was the only one closed.
"I guess I'll go talk to the other adventurers." Asfi sighed.
She finally got a breather, and might as well talk to the other survivors, she needed their input anyway in part of her investigation. She left her room and went to the lounge. There are dozens of adventurer in the open hall, forming their cliques and circles, but everyone seems to be doing the same thing. Playing "Gwent". A popular card game and pastime in this town.
She approached the uncrowned champion of Gwent cards of the dormitory. Welf Crozzo. According to the other adventurers, he had never lost a match and won plenty of denars. He was the first adventurer according to the others to come to this town.
"You wanna play missy?"
"I heard you know a lot about this town, why don't you tell me your experience." Asfi cut right to the point.
"Hah! Straight to the point missy? Well, I'll tell you anything you play with me. No one wants to play with me anymore! Do you know the rules?" Welf said smugly.
Asfi nodded curtly. The rules of Gwent are simple, you just need to have the most points on the field in 3 rounds. And so they played while Crozo explained his experience in the town.
"How did you come to this town?" Asfi Asked.
"I was adventuring with a couple of others, we decided to separate after getting in here. By the way, is it true you're going to represent us at the council meeting?" Welf Crozzo said nonchalantly.
Asfi nodded, because she was the highest leveled adventurer present, and as a survivor like them, she was chosen to represent them at the town council. So she was tasked with gathering the survivor's stories and experience, she had no time to do it until now. She will represent them as a witness. She returned to asking him questions, and Welf answered everything she needed to know.
"Ah! I lost! You're damn good missy!"
"I still don't get it, why would an aspiring blacksmith find himself in a dangerous place?" Asfi asked, it was a casual question, but Welf's Answer shocked her greatly.
Welf grinned ear to ear at the question.
"Oh, that, I was invited here! I gotta go, see you missy!"
"What do you mean invited?"
Such an answer blew her mind, he was invited? But how? and by whom? But it looks like Welf is unwilling to answer this question, as he escapes away. But before Asfi could follow she was stopped by Marked One.
"Lady Andromeda, the Council is beginning soon, please prepare and follow me to the council chamber as soon as possible."
She could only see Welf run away leave the dormitory and disappear from her sight.
--- Line Break ---
Meanwhile in Orario
The gods are on fire and in a state of excitement. A week earlier, they all had mysteriously received a letter of invitation to a dubious town and nation called "Silent Hill" and "United Kingdom Of Man". They chalk it up as a prank, they have never heard of such a place. What they didn't expect was for their host to graciously arrive at their doorstep to invite them.
They had arrived with gifts and unique toys. All were carefully picked to match the gods. Then there were "cars", a new way of transportation that enticed the gods to try them out. Of course, the Gods readily agreed no matter who they were. It's been so long since Orario had a special event. They might as well play along with these weird people from "The United Kingdom Of Man. Of course, these Gods came with their familia.
Right now, all the gods of Orario are being gathered in the Beyonder Saloon east of Orario. The Saloon, after a week of preparation had been turned into a military outpost. Some gods were offended by such aggressive action. But the commander of the newly made fort could only alleviate their concern by saying it was temporary.
Their escorts, who were all armed with various "guns" were the soldiers of their kingdom, they wore all grey winter coats with bandoliers, had breathing masks that covered their faces, and an iron spiked hats that protected their heads.
The gods were complaining that they had to stay at a shabby place, but the escorts could only say it was only temporary, the train would arrive soon, the gods asked what was a "train", and the military escorts explained they were cars but bigger. So the gods got excited again and calmed down.
Hephaestus and her blacksmiths and the other forge experts as well were excitedly running around asking questions. Meanwhile, Hephaestus notices men with complex and intricate black and gold armor walking around and doing something in the distance. They seem to be praying and marking the rails with water.
"Who are those men and what are they doing?" Hephaestus asked her designated guide.
"Those are the Mechanicus Guild, Your Highness. They are in charge of blessing the rails, The one in the center with the golden mask is Commander Rimanah, and the one next to him with the silver mask is known as the mentor. The Mechanicus is also known as the Mechanical Guild, they are in charge of machine creation and blessing the machine spirits. If Your Highness is interested in machinery, you could talk to them, but not right now, as they are conducting the blessing litany and rituals. They are particularly irked by anyone who disturbs their rituals"
"So they're the ones who invented this vehicle? fascinating bunch, can you introduce them to me?" Hephaestus asked again.
"Of course your Highness, I will personally make an appointment for you." Her escort replied.
"What is that!?" Someone suddenly exclaimed
Everyone looked at the commotion, in the distance a thick smoke was rising. They could see in the distance a giant iron beast was approaching very fast. Every god and adventurer was shocked.
*Choo Choo*
"My god, what is that?"
"It's like a giant iron snake!"
"Amazing!"
The train has arrived. The council meeting is approaching soon.
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Chapter end.
Thanks For Reading
AN: I made a mistake in calculating the right population, I changed the town to have a population of 50,000 and added one saint(sequence 3). thanks.