GoCorral

Chapter 10 – Phoenix (Continued)

Tereman grunted in disagreement. “That’s not the same. A king or lord has the right to collect taxes to build and defend the city.”

Blendegad said, “And what has the city ever done to defend the villages they tax? I was the one hunting down wolves and monsters.”

“I told you before, your village could’ve asked Dalleer for help. We would’ve been happy to slay whatever beast was threatening you. And what would you have done against an army of orcs and goblins from the East? You would’ve needed the city then. The walls have space for all the villages to stay safe during an invasion.”

“So that’s what we’re paying our taxes for? A safe shelter to hide in while orcs or bandits burn our homes and farms to the ground?”

“Yes,” Tereman said. “You’d rather be alive than burned along with your property, wouldn’t you?”

Blendegad said, “I might but I’m not so sure about others from Densmith. I think all of us would rather be like Shalerton. Save our money to pay for mercenaries when we need them rather than a wall.”

Tereman said, “I’d imagine the people of Shalerton would rather switch places with the people of Densmith right now.”

Blendegad grunted in return.

Galandir said, “In Valor’s Forest we train everyone to fight. All of us can handle a weapon of some kind and knows a little magic. Maybe not enough magic to fight, but a little.”

Blendegad said, “We have the militia. One week a year the strong people of the village get together to practice with spears and drill formations for battle. I’ve never seen the militia used though.”

“I have,” said Tereman. “Not for a battle or a monster though. There was a murder in one of the villages around Dalleer. I forget which one. The militia caught the murderer and brought him to Dalleer for trial and execution.”

“The city always has its gallows,” said Blendegad.

The trio had been in Phoenix for seven days. Forgeus and Gallana made the impression that finding them within the city would be easy. As if hundreds of people across Cimmeria were coordinating against an endemic monstrous threat. Activity in the city presented a stark contrast to that idea. They had yet to speak to anyone with responsibility for defending the region from the adlishars.

Tereman, Blendegad, and Galandir were staying at the King’s Rest in Phoenix. The inn was a sprawling complex, more like an indoor estate than a single business. Spanning multiple city blocks and crossing over streets with rope bridges and covered walkways, the King’s Rest was massive. The trio booked a room with three simple beds with breakfast and dinner included at one of the inn’s restaurants. For the first few days, just finding the room within the structure was a challenge. Each of them had a key and the place seemed secure enough for them to leave their belongings there during the day.

Each day they split up to find any way of connecting with Forgeus and Gallana or anyone related to them. They had tried the Wizards Guild on their first day in the city. After waiting the whole day they were told that without guild representation, Forgeus could not meet with them. On their second day the process repeated with the Clerics Guild. Frustrated, the heroes spread across the city on their third day. They tried guild after guild to try and find someone who would talk to them. Over and over again they were turned away.

After wolfing down their dinner the three retired to their room to discuss the day’s events. Blendegad had the bed closest to the door on the left side of the room. Tereman’s was next to Blendegad’s by the window. Galandir had the bed opposite theirs. They always say on their beds facing each other to talk in the evenings.

Tereman said, “I went to the Thieves Guild today.”

Blendegad sarcastically said, “Ah! That must’ve been fun for you.”

“It… changed a few things. I talked with other people in the lobby. I think you were halfway right. The Thieves Guild is kind of like a government for Phoenix. They run everything. So many members from other guilds coming in and out, bringing money in or out for different services they said they’d done or needed doing. I don’t know why they’re called the Thieves Guild still, but…”

Galandir said, “Did you get to talk to anyone?”

“I did. They weren’t helpful. I told them what Forgeus and Gallana had said and that we had additional information about the adlishars appearing across Cimmeria. The clerk said I had to fill out form B-257 and wait a week to get a response.”

Galandir said, “A form?”

Tereman said, “Yeah. I filled it out and submitted it. Cost me six drachma too.”

Blendegad raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a Thieves Guild alright.”

Tereman tilted his head in acknowledgment. “It’s a lead at least. I can go back there in a week. I tried to stress the importance of acting as soon as possible, but all the quill dippers there have no sense of urgency. You’d think they’d never stepped out of the city or faced real danger.”

Blendegad said, “Maybe they haven’t.”

“True,” said Tereman. “How about you? How was your day?”

“I tried the Alchemists Guild. Flexing my mother’s trade. I know a little bit from watching her, but it wasn’t a real apprenticeship. She knew I hated that stuff.”

“And?” Tereman asked.

Blendegad said, “They said they’d help me if I proved I was an alchemist by making my own potion.”

Tereman said, “You know some. You were telling me that recipe for foot ulcers the other day.”

“Foot ulcers didn’t cut it. They wanted a potion that would suppress leprosy for a day. I did what I could, but…”

“Oh gods, you didn’t give someone leprosy by accident did you?”

“No! I turned a leper missing his left leg a light blue color though. Really made his day, I’m sure.”

Tereman and Galandir laughed at the thought. Blendegad covered his own smile before joining them.

Tereman slapped his thighs and said, “We’ll mark that one off as a dead-end.”

Blendegad said, “Yes, definitely. I tried the Bakers Guild next door too, just to check. They didn’t like me either.”

Tereman sighed, “Zeus willing we’ll get somewhere eventually. How about you, Galandir?”

Galandir said, “I might have something. I went to the Adventurers Guild.”

Tereman said, “There’s an Adventurers Guild here?”

“Yes. For quite a while too. Their guild hall is smaller because they don’t do any work in the city, obviously. I almost missed it while walking to the Farmers Guild. Inside, the clerk said they have the connections we’re looking for, with the Wizards and Clerics Guilds.”

Tereman excitedly said, “That’s great!”

Blendegad said, “I’m sensing a problem coming.”

Galandir said, “Yes. They know everything we’re looking for, but they won’t set up those connections for non-members. We’d have to join the guild.”

Blendegad said, “I knew that was coming. Every guild here only talks to the other guilds. And each guild only talks to its own.”

Galandir continued, “The good news is that all of us could qualify for the Adventurers Guild. They take anyone that slays monsters.”

Blendegad said, “And the bad news?”

“They need us to perform a mission before they’ll accept us in the guild.”

Tereman said, “What’s the mission?”

“They said something about recovering a relic of Artemis from a shrine in the wilderness. The priestess who tended the shrine died a few years back. Now it needs to be brought back or the goddess will be offended with its abandonment.”

“Simple enough,” said Tereman. “What did you tell them?”

“I said I’d talk to my companions and we’d come back tomorrow to accept.”

Tereman said, “Sounds like we’re going then.”

Blendegad said, “It’s a lead, just like you said.”

Tereman nodded. “Let’s hope it’s a good one.”

Chapter 11 – Shrine of Artemis

The adventurous trio crossed the Delain River by ferry. They passed through rolling hills of farmland that gave way to shepherds grazing areas. After two days of marching west they left all trace of civilization behind. The land was wild and untamed. It was Artemis’s land.

The shrine of Artemis was in the hills. Forests of ash, oak, alder, and beech grew thicker as they traveled westward. The trees towered over the sky, hiding any obvious landmarks. The clerk at the Adventurers Guild described the shrine’s location at the top of the tallest hill in the region with a babbling brook. Unfortunately, in the forest there were many tall hills and babbling brooks.

The group hiked to the top of a hill to discover if a shrine awaited them at the zenith. When it did not Galandir climbed a tall tree to survey the surrounding hills. The tree canopy made determining the relative height of nearby hills difficult. They narrowed their search down through trial and error rather than logical evaluation. If the shrine wasn’t at this hill? Try the next one.

Tereman had led the group in preparations for their journey. He served in the road patrol of Dalleer’s town guard for two years. His experience informed him of what they needed and what they didn’t. He also knew which luxuries he wanted to spend his drachmas on, a tent and a camping grill. The necessities they brought as well, jerky, biscuits, dried fruit, and extra waterskins.

After days of wandering from hill to hill Blendegad brought up his concern, “What if we run out of food before finding the shrine?”

Galandir said, “We’ve seen deer in the woods. Rabbits and birds too. Game is plentiful.”

Blendegad and Tereman shared a look. Tereman said, “These are Artemis’s woods. Hunting in her domain, risks her wrath.”

Galandir frowned. “Not if you offer her a prayer before you hunt.”

Tereman said, “What would we offer her? We have no fresh kill to offer the gods. That’s the very problem we’re discussing, getting meat.”

“Did no one teach you? You don’t offer a kill. You offer to tend the forest.”

Tereman said quizzically, “Tend the forest? What does that mean?”

Galandir said, “Help it grow! Help it to thrive! Take seeds and spread them. Help a creature find its meal. Unblock overgrown streams. You serve the woods and the woods will serve you.”

Blendegad and Tereman shared a look once again. Galandir said, “Had no one taught you this?”

Blendegad said, “No. Seems like an elf thing.”

“Hmm. I never thought of it that way, but maybe it is. We taught the same things to the rangers. They know the ways of the forest. I thought for sure they would’ve passed that knowledge on to the rest of humanity.”

“Apparently not,” said Tereman.