Snippet #2260426

Throin turned to Areth with an arched eyebrow, putting one massive hand on her shoulder to calm her excitement.

"Calm down girl, now is not the time. The battle is over yet there will be more. Come, you seek battle then follow me. I go after Leena, see what she can tell me of this evil."

His decision made Thorin followed after Leena on her way back to the tavern. The noble woman had almost made it out of the tree line, to the outskirts of the village before the big monster hunter caught up with her.

"Leena! Leena, hold a moment!... God's woman how is it you move so fast?"

Thorin asked as he paused to catch his breath. His hands on his knees he took a few well deserved deep breathes before continuing.

"You know more about this evil than you tell. I do not ask you to share your secrets. People keep their tales for their own reasons and I don't need you to tell yours. Yet I ask that you let me help you. My strength with yours we can beat back this darkness, whatever it is. In order to do that however you may need to start trusting me, even if it is just a bit."

Thorin's eyes locked onto Leena's and for a moment the warrior and the woman were one. They both understood that action needed to be taken and that together, they just may have a fighting chance. The beast in the forest fell but there was more blood to be shed. If Leena, Thorin and their allies did not stop this threat more innocents would die. It fell to them to stop this evil. Yet in this moment all that mattered is that Leena was willing to allow someone in enough to accept their help. Thorin gave her a reassuring smile and a firm nod as if to tell her he was ready to follow.

"What say you?"

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Ebar was split into five districts. The two top tier districts were Thessia, and Illium. Thessia was the seat of power for the nobility in Ebar and where most of the legislature took place. Illium was the private sector for the rich and the elite. Illium was full of sprawling mansions and luxuries abound. The middle district or merchant district was known as Palaven and is the largest district in the city. Here one could find merchants selling everything from brooms and brushes to explosive magical weaponry. Palaven was also the district in which the bulk of the middle class made their homes. Modest homes and apartments were found all over the large district. Then there was Omega, the home of the poor and every class of criminal imaginable. On the streets of Omega one could have their wildest dreams come true one minute and have them taken away at the edge of a knife the next. All the gangs that made their home in Ebar called Omega their base of operations and were almost always fighting for territory rights. The final district was not officially a district at all for it was not deemed livable. Tuchanka was named after the half orc foreman who commissioned the under works of the great city of Ebar. Constantly steaming with heat as massive cogs turned to power the city above. It was full of enormous pipes that funneled noxious fumes out of the city and water to the homes or sewage from them. It was also home to the most desperate citizens of Ebar. When you fall too low for Omega you end up in Tuchanka and make a living like the rats that scurry the streets. Many say that the denizens of Tuchanka are hardly men and women any more but twisted beings, shadows of their former selves. Truly theirs is the saddest tales.

All districts were strolled by the knight, every civilians willing to talk were canvased by Guyon for what felt like days. His shining armor was a comfort to some he passed, a target to others. Sir Guy was forced to deal with a few ruffians who foolishly thought the knight would be an easy mark. Their broken bones were proof of their naivety. Sir Guy walked unfettered through Omega now, searching for some clue the guard and the inquisitor might have missed. What he found in Omega was harsh stares and threatening looking scoundrels. Gangs of every type glared daggers at the knight as he strolled by. It was not until he passed a single solitary alleyway did Sir Guy pause as he noticed something amiss. He paused and knelt by the corner of the street and noticed something that caught his discerning eye. A small stain on the cobblestone. Deep brown in color, the hue often taken by blood long since dried. Yet what truly peeked Guy's interest was the smear pattern. The way it seemed that someones foot had been dragged through the blood. The heel of a foot to be precise. Sir Guyon rose his gaze to peer down the dark alley in his kneeling position. A bit of the dried blood on his index and middle finger which he rubbed against his thumb as his mind worked its wonders.

It was then that the clear clicking of heels caught the ear of the knight. He rose and turned to see something he did not expect in the bowls of the city's slums. A woman, beautiful and ravishing. She was adorned with valuable jewels and an expensive dress that was deep burgundy in color and looked as if it was made of the finest velvet.

"Now what could a lady like that be doing in a place like this?"

Sir Guy asked himself as he began his pursuit.