Huld wakes up with the dawn as do the merchants and they set off for New Orleans. Within four hours they see the city as well as many other travelers. These travelers seem to be from all races and types. The head merchant of the group following Huld and Tom is a goblin. He has an orc guard, and Native American shaman protecting his caravan. Along the way Tom even sees a group myconids or mushroom people ambling towards the city.
As they arrive there's no walls and they just drive the caravan in. The streets are wide and paved with cobblestone. The main roads buildings are 4-5 stories high generally and very close to one another. They look just like what Tom saw in old pictures of American cities from his past life.
Looking into the distance he sees a couple factories spewing black smoke out along the coast line. Surrounding them he sees residential areas with a large variety of housing. The housing is clearly divided into rich and poor even from a distance.
Huld slaps Tom on the head. "Keep your wits about you boy, this city may look calm on the surface but wars are raging underneath this facade of peace."
"You mean gangs are rampant here?" Tom questions.
"Gangs, Gods, Devils, the rich and poor, they're all trying to get a hold of the massive amount of wealth this city creates." Huld laughs.
The merchant group waves goodbye to the two of them and they part ways. Huld steers towards the residential area talking.. Or preaching as they drive.
"Listen to me boy, you never, and I mean NEVER trust a damn soul in this city. We're all sinners here. Even the priests. This is the third richest city in America and unlike long established countries, no god or group of gods own it."
Tom swallows, "Then how are we going to stay safe in a place like this?"
Huld grins, "My mentor of course, the queen of Voodoo."
"And who is that?" Tom asks.
"Marie Laveau!" Huld replies with a grin.
"Never heard of her." Tom mutters under his breath.
"Did you say something?" Huld's grin seems to become a little more sinister at this moment.
"Ah? Nothing..." Rubbing his neck Tom feels a little fear.
They drive for a while pretty slowly, allowing Tom to take in the sights. The buildings are colorful, the residents diverse and strange, their interactions filled with a strange beauty yet the occasional hint of evil passes its way through.
Like the pickpocket making his way through the crowd that Tom notices at this moment. With every minute his wallet count increases by at least two. Yet the pickpockets luck doesn't last and he's stopped by a tortle, a turtle man. The pickpocket makes a run for it and the tortle chases making for quite the comedic scene of a rapidly disappearing man and the tortle following behind slowly wheezing for air.
Tom idly watches the city as they drive slowly towards this Marie Laveau's residence. The strange thing he notices is as they get closer to the destination there seems to be significantly less crime, until finally on the last three streets not a sign of evil remains and most residents in this neighborhood seem much more relaxed than those in adjacent neighborhoods.
"You've noticed haven't you?" Huld asks Tom.
"Yeah I'm a little surprised no crime is happening on these few streets it's almost weird, especially since we're in the poorer part of town." Tom looks around curiously.
"It's because of Marie Laveau, while she's the voodoo queen of New Orleans she's also a devout catholic. Nobody wants to risk offending her for a wallet or protection money." Huld seems proud.
"Voodoo and a devout catholic? How do those not conflict? To my knowledge there are voodoo gods as well." Tom is especially confused at this.
The wagon parks outside an unassuming two story building, Huld leads his horse and wagon into the stable attached to the house before replying, "I'm not too sure honestly but my best guess would be that the woman is too damn talented to turn away."
Huld leads Tom into the building. The first thing Tom notices is that the inside of the building is much larger than the outside. The second thing he notices are the vast amount of herbs, minerals, and materials stacked up in a wooden cabinet that takes up a whole wall.
The place is otherwise rather homey with a living area around a fireplace, a few different quirky persons sit around in that area. There is a nice workshop in front of a window that has a burner, beakers and many tools for concocting potions and other magic things. Finally there is a counter near the front for receiving guests. Behind it sits a normal looking young creole woman in common clothing.
"Where's Marie?" Tom whispers to Huld.
Huld motions towards the woman behind the counter, "That's her."
Tom's eyes widen, "But she looks like she's twenty—"
"Don't let appearances fool you that woman is over 150 years old." Huld chuckles.
The woman stands up from the counter and walks over towards the two, she appears calm as she's heading over but as she arrives she moves her hand at an ungodly speed snatching up Huld's ear, "Don't you know not to talk about a woman's age my dear apprentice?"
"Ow ow ow! Let me go please! I'm sorry!" Huld pleas for mercy.
Marie ignores him and smiles at Tom, "Who are you dear? Huld's zombie? I hope he's been treating you alright."
Seeing Marie smile while manhandling Huld, Tom gets a chill that runs down his back as he replies, "He's been rather nice ma'am. Even taught me simple concoctions to do with basic herbs and materials lately."
"Ooh?" Marie releases Huld and turns to him, "Why are you here Huld? It's been fifteen years and you haven't sent so much as a letter and now you show up?"
Huld laughs nervously, "Can we talk about this in private Teacher? I'm being chased by the catholic church right now."
"We certainly can, come with me." Thus the two head off to the stairs on the other side of the room heading up to the next floor leaving Tom alone.
He glances at the other three in the living area two of them seem to be playing chess while the other is reading a book. Deciding not to the bother the three he sits down on a stool and twiddles his thumbs patiently.
After ten or so minutes Huld and Marie head back downstairs. They come up to Tom. Huld says,"Tom I'm going to transfer your contract to Mrs. Laveau here. You'll be in her service now."
Furrowing his brows Tom asks, "But why? I can't imagine I'm a valuable zombie I only know a little martial arts and what you taught me."
"She has her reasons Tom now we'll begin the transfer." Huld then moves his hand with the rune on it towards Marie and he chants a few words of an unknown language. As he finishes the black rune wriggles it's way off his hand onto Marie's.
Marie smiles at Huld then says to Tom, "Now show us your true appearance fae."
Tom flusters, "I-I-I don't know what you're talking about Marie." He can't believe he was found out literally the day after he got this bloodline.
The rune on Marie's hand and Tom's chest flash with green light and she repeats herself as an order, "Show us your true appearance."
Compelled to do as she says Tom is forced to shapeshifting back into the fae body with perfect proportions, horns, deer ears, and wavy purple hair. Huld seems gobsmacked at this moment. Tom feels angry at this situation yet Marie's eyes glow.
"Don't worry it's safe here, no preying eyes can enter this building and everyone here is trustworthy. Besides if anyone saw you they would only think you're a normal fae."
"How did you know?" Tom asks.
"A certain helpful Loa whispered into my ear about your race. Voodoo gods per se. Even your transformation can't fool the gods."
"Well then... You know my main ability is useless without a supply of blood. I'm a zombie right now. Soooo." Tom is still feeling rather anxious remembering the Fae's struggle in life a thousand years ago.
"Oh I can fix that. It's somewhat costly but worth it." Marie smiles.
Huld at this point is very confused and finally comes to from his surprise, "Wait what the hell are you Tom?"
Marie at this point interjects, "He's a very rare Herbal Fae. So rare in fact they haven't been seen in almost a thousand years and were thought to be completely eradicated due to hunting."
"So what? I feel like I've been cheated somehow." Hold mutters.
"You have, his wounds can produce very rare or even extinct herbs. But you needed my help and this is your payment." Marie replies.
Marie waves her hand and out of thin air a table and three chairs appear. Huld recognizes this as her spatial equipment and is rather jealous. Especially after finding out about Tom. Marie prepares some tea and biscuits for the two before she heads over to the cabinets on the side of the one wall.
She arrives at the farthest right cabinet and uses a key to unlock it. She grabs many herb and material jars from it before closing it and locking it again. She then moves these jars to the workspace over near the window and heads back for more seemingly less valuable herbs inside unlocked cabinets.
Eventually she seems to have everything she needs and waves her hand again producing a cauldron and placing it in the fireplace at the workshop. Marie then snaps her fingers and begins throwing in herbs into the cauldron. Each throw seems rash but Huld explains to Tom that every move by Marie is calculated from the number of leaves of herbs to the temperature of the flame constantly changing. She's a master voodoo priestess.
Tom takes this opportunity to explore the differences in power between individuals and how it's classified with Huld.