Chapter Thirty-One New Day, New Plans

Arlie settled into her seat, as the local innkeeper entered the room balancing a tray. Unlike last night, she was actually dressed which gave Arlie a very different impression of the white haired young lady. She was pretty cute actually, maybe in her mid-twenties with a figure that would turn heads. The young woman set breakfast at the table, and said, “Today I have my house special to offer you, pan-roasted river fish served on a bed of Ukovan Rice. Seasoned with my favorite blend of local herbs, and these on the side are my famed roasted Folni Root.

Arlie thanked her and picked up her fork. She was familiar with the specific river fish the innkeeper had used, it had crossed her table more than a few times, usually when she visited Arcs, but sometimes salted and smoked varieties would be brought to Voros by merchants looking to sell seafood. Which usually sold well, since it was harder to get seafood when you were a couple of weeks travel inland.

Folni Root was a large bulbous vegetable often cut into strips and roasted. It wasn’t exactly her favorite, so she started eating it first. She always ate what she liked least first, so she could drown the taste in something better later.

She was just starting on her fish, when the twins joined her at the table. Rose leaned forward, “Hey Arlie, did you hear the fun moans last night?”

Arlie let out a breath, fork half raised to her mouth, “... I did.”

Rose grinned, “Someone was sure enjoying themselves. Wonder who found a lover.”

Lily groaned, “I just wish they’d been quieter.”

“Aw don’t be that way, you were sure in the mood last night.”

Lily blushed deeply.

Arlie blinked, “Wait!? Did I miss something fun? Why didn’t you invite me?”

Rose came around the table, and pulled her top down a little, showing off just a bit of boob, including the barest hint of her nipples. “Sounds fun! We could have a threesome tonight, maybe even get the boys hot!”

Arlie giggled, noting more people filing down the stairs. It was Polca and Hikari, as the two took seats, Arlie switched subjects, “Still female?”

Hikari shifted a bit, “Um, uh... well yes. I, uh...” she turned red, “hesitated to use my staff.”

Arlie chuckled, “You’re adorable!”

Polca pulled Hikari against her, “She sure is!”

Hikari’s face darkened, her blush deepening. It was pretty cute. The moment didn’t last though as the innkeeper came in, “Morning girls, ready for breakfast?”

Arlie didn’t reply seeing as she had her breakfast, but the others all responded in the positive. With answers in hand, she hurried back to the kitchen to prepare their meals, or more likely just cook them. The prep was likely already done.

It wasn’t long before the others filed in for breakfast, and the innkeeper brought their food out. 

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Sometime later, Arlie leaned back, “So Polca, where are you headed after this?”

“I planned to report to the guild, then find another quest, you?”

“Before this side trip, we were going to charter a boat and head west into Ukova.”

Hikari spoke up, “I’ve heard that name before, never been there. What’s Ukova like?”

Arlie shrugged, “I wouldn’t really know I’ve never been to Ukova before. All I know about it is what I’ve read in the family library.”

Polca said, “I’ve been as far as Eastern Ukova, but I can’t say I’ve really been there.”

Hikari looked around, “So what can you tell me about Ukova?”

Arlie sighed, “A fair bit from an academic perspective. Ukova isn’t as mountainous as Varixyies, and what forests are to be found are generally thinner. It makes travel across the region generally easier. Ukova is also pretty well known for its gentle year-round weather and numerous water features, and the most notable is the fertile soil. Much of Ukova is dominated by tamed farmland, it’s the breadbasket of the kingdom.”

“Sounds rather nice,” Hikari looked at Polca. “Think we could head out that way?”

Eren spoke up, “Might be fun.”

Polca answered, “Sure if we find a good quest in that direction.”

Hikari sighed, “I was thinking after that... Tree, we could go somewhere with less trees.”

Arlie stood up, “Well Soul Snatchers aren’t exclusive to Varixyies, supposedly they originated in the Infernal Realm and later migrated here to the mortal realm.” She opened a pack and pulled out a map, unrolling it onto the table. It depicted the continent, which looked more like a massive peninsula jutting from a large white region with the words Frozen Wastelands written in large bold letters scrawled across that area. Below that drawn in color was a vast northern mountain range, the Acuie Mountain range which ran across the entire northern border of the kingdom from the west coast of Ukova to the easternmost edge of Varixyies where it merged with the Drakian Range which ran south towards the Syrian mountain range which ran along the Southern border of the Varixyies region.

Varixyies was green, covered in forest with a few settlements marked on the map, most notable was Arcs, but there were a few other towns along the river marked. None of the villages, including Voros, were marked out. Ukova was also drawn out, marked by rivers with several forests and even a lake drawn on the map. A great wall was drawn on it, starting from the westernmost edge of the Syrian Range all the way to the coast. Several cities were prominently drawn. One was located just north of a large river, emptying out into the sea, its name marked in bold letters; Kamiria. That city was the current capital of the kingdom. 

The other prominent city on the coast was located about halfway between the northernmost river and the Acuie Mountains. That city was the largest military port of the Kingdom, Port Senli. It was centrally located on a large island in the middle of a great bay, a large stone bridge was the only way in and out of the great naval castle, where the battleships of the kingdom were moored and maintained.

Far to the east on the other side of the Drakian range, several large forts were drawn on the border of the wastelands and the kingdoms to the south. Somewhat south of that was a massive horseshoe-shaped lake with a large city drawn on the peninsula. That city was Dragia, a very prominent city among the Eastern Dragon Clans. Territories belonging to the eastern clans ran as far north as the barrier forts, and all the way to the eastern coast while going as far south as the Dragon’s Nest Mountains. Yet they didn’t go any further west than the Drakian range, and the Drona’s Teeth mountains. The two ranges ran down the spine of the continent with a gap around the middle. That large gap was called the Versa pass which was the only real route between the eastern and western halves of the Dragonsreach region. There were a few smaller passes but they weren’t safe for caravans or large enough for armies.

Western Dragonsreach was noted for large plains and a few forests. On the southern part of the Syrian mountains was a large structure, bold text proclaiming it the Great Mage’s Archive. South of there was a massive prominent lake, with a number of large cities on its shores.

The most prominently marked city in that part of the world was Draka, the court of kings. It was famed as the center of the clans, kings would come from all over to meet in a grand political event held every few years.

Then there was Southern Dragonsreach. It comprised everything south of the Dragon’s Nest mountains and was split in two by the Drona’s Teeth mountain range. West of the Drona’s teeth was a fertile region with three large rivers known in modern times as Lepharia, where the Kingdom of Lesha had stood once upon a time. East of the Drona’s Teeth was the Elven lands, the famed Elven Kingdom of Everglade. Notable features included a lake at the feet of the Dragon’s Nest Mountains, from which two major river branches spilled out towards the sea, one running south the other southeast. Marked prominently where the southern river met the sea was a single large city, the City of Everglade.

None of that however is what Arlie pointed out, she focused on three large islands west of Lepharia, “When talking about Soul Snatchers, the one place to avoid are the Islands of the Soulless. Recall that the Snatchers aren’t well studied? Well the mages of these islands tried to study the Snatchers on these isles, instead they fell to them. These days people steer clear, but those isles are overrun with husks.”

Hikari blanched, “You’re kidding right!?”

“Afraid not, not every story has a happy ending. Of course that doesn’t mean they can’t have a happy ending later. The Kingdom of Lesha is a good example of that.”

The twins took on sour looks, and Hikari looked around confused at the various expressions, “What’s special about Lesha?”

Polca spoke up, “It’s an old horror story about the dangers of leaving an Abyssal unchecked. Centuries ago there was a kingdom in modern-day Lepharia called Lesha. No one is entirely sure how it happened but an Abyssal appeared within the Royal Capital, supposedly inside the palace itself. Somehow it corrupted the royal family.”

Lily sighed, “We already heard the story.”

Arlie spoke up, “I may have given them the short version back in the Red Temple. I didn’t tell them all the stories.”

Rose blanched, “There are more stories about that monster?”

Hikari had to ask, “What kind of monster is an Abyssal?”

Arlie spoke up, “There are many kinds of Abyssal but all of them are evil, vile, twisted beings. Slavers that break your spirit and torture children, beings that brainwash people, mutilate them and turn them into livestock, monstrous creatures that harvest people for parts and create monsters, all of them twisted but there are far worse terrors hidden in the Abyss, beings we have no knowledge of for the gods sealed them away. Only the lesser ones escape to terrorize us mortals, only the gods know why.”

Hikari blanched, “They sound horrible. Torture children? Turn people into livestock? Harvest them for... their parts? What kind of monsters are they?”

“The kind gods lock into an extraplanar prison and throw away the key for.”

“Good thing, if they are that bad.”

Polca sighed, “We can talk about them later. Right now we should get packed, and moving.”

Hikari sighed, “Guess we should.”

Arlie responded, “It’s not goodbye just yet. Ferki doesn’t have a guildhall.”

Hikari frowned, “What about a branch office, most villages...”

“Have one? Yeah there is one, but they are a bit short handed at the moment. I don’t think they will be able to file a report for us,” said Polca, “Arlie’s right, we are heading the same way for a few more days.”

Hikari cocked her head, “Where are we going?”

Polca answered, “The town of Reshi. It’s just a few weeks’ travel south of here, not as big as Arcs but it does have a riverport, which is what Arlie is looking for.”

Arlie smiled, “Sounds good, I’d enjoy the company.”