Entering through the bands of caravans… passing through the thick forest of Dolvadish. And there we enter TheEmpireofRoads, where merchants of different nations all gathered into one trade. At the capital of the empire lies the city of Virellum.
Situated at the great mountain of Xaramor, on the foothill, lies the capital city. Where merchants of many kingdoms thrive together. Behind the city, a road slowly winds its way up the mountain's slope, and many buildings are… temples.
Deep in the capital, a ruler was on a stroll, together with his advisor.
"Master Valkor, has that priestess finally arrived?" Emperor Reynfred II inquires.
"Yes, your majesty, I have reports that she arrived well and guarded."
The emperor groans. "Any diplomatic reports?"
"Not yet, your grace… but I assure you that my men will keep a close eye on her."
"Or better yet, make her stay as long as possible. Her presence annoys me." The emperor scoffs.
"I'll send men to try and stall her for the time being," Valkor answered.
"Hmm… what of my wife and my two daughters?"
"We still haven't found them… their doppelganger, however, still needs some refinement."
"And what of my son Zehdyr?"
Valkor expressed disappointment. "He is still in debauchery… shall we cut off his expenses?"
"Leave him, best to drown him in impiety, it diverts him from causing a ruckus… he'll have his use someday... more importantly, concentrate on the armies."
"It will be done, my lord." Valkor bows. "Shall I take my leave, your majesty?"
"Yes, you may take your leave." The emperor voiced and continues his strolls, leaving his loyal advisor behind.
There, the emperor then enters a peculiar room, where there are no guards to see. Quickly shutting the door, the emperor's presence was nowhere to be sensed.
Returning to the naissance of the adventurer's guild. Natalak was seen strolling back to the market, looking for the merchant who knows the ropes to what he is seeking.
"You want to know where to find that sulfur thing?"
"Yes," Natalak answered.
"Got any map of Endregar?"
"I ah…" Natalak looks at Riya. "Do you know any map sellers in this part?"
The merchant groans. "Head to the—"
"That's alright, sir." Riya intervenes. "I take him to the map store. We will be returning shortly."
Escorting Natalak, the two enter a large building, as indicated by the signs on the billboard. Again, it was in partnership with the adventurers' guild. Inside, the building was full of parchments, maps, books… anything related to paper. Many maps, maybe, but there is only one problem—
"I'm lost, I've got no idea what I'm looking at." Natalak stares at the complicated map. He was even too embarrassed to ask Riya to decipher the chart.
"Let us try sightseeing the place. The merchant can wait." Natalak reasons.
Pulling parchments, peering through books he doesn't have the least interest in. Scrolls full of translated languages from other nations and races. Many spellbooks lay waste on the floor.
"What is this writing?" Natalak shows one parchment towards Riya.
"That is a kobold's tongue," Riya answered, pulling the world map of Vashkeil. "Map of Endregar… this should be it." She adds, pulling the map that had the sigil of the EmpireofRoads.
Nothing to do and no peculiar items that interest his curiosity. Natalak followed Riya to the counter.
On the counter was an old gnome with glasses, busy passing maps and other wares to the servants. That is where he noticed ten cylindrical odd equipment cages in a glass, protected by magic.
"Say ah, what are those things displayed?" Natalak points at the ten items.
"Those are the MapsofAdra." The shopkeeper replied.
"Maps of Adra? What does it do?"
The gnome looks at Natalak, contemplating the man's word.
"Forgive my companion, sir shopkeeper. He is new to city life and those kinds of technologies." Riya intervenes.
"I'm surprised… this is the first time that a human asks me about Maps of Adra. From where are you, young man?" The gnome voiced out in a cold and measured tone.
"I'm from Earth."
"Earth? From where is that exactly?" The gnome blinked, pausing mid-motion. He didn't even raise his head, but his eyes.
"Why is this old little shit so fixated on where I came from? And why am I being insulted?"
"Pardon my friend. He doesn't like to talk about his home. If perhaps, would you kindly show him how the Map of Adra works?"
The shopkeeper looks at him one last time, hesitating until he finally agrees.
"Serin!" The gnome exclaimed—right away, a human, a man, came out quickly. "Educate this man about the Map of Adra. I've got more important things to do."
"As you wish." Serin immediately grabbed one of the items and then placed it on the counter. "Okay, where shall we start—"
"Is this desk the only table here?" The gnome scolded. "Don't use the till point, you dimwit, find a table. Some people are lining up to use it."
"Oh, forgive me." The assistant smiled, scratching his head.
Leading the two to an isolated table, Serin then begins his explanation.
"Pardon my master, he may be quick-tempered, but he is a good man." Serin then removed the cap of the tube.
What emerged was a parchment… its metal casing was fashioned from aged bronze and dulled gold, etched with curling filigree. At the centre of the device lies the lattice shaped like an eye. At its heart lies a gemstone— green and restless… its light not steady, but flowing, as though something within the device breathes.
It is no ordinary device, Natalak can tell.
Serin then runs his thumb through the surface of the eye. Pushing the eyelid, it gave a clicking sound, revealing the gemstone that fuels what the parchment needs. Pulling the device's inside… nothing interesting was revealed.
"Is it okay for me to touch the paper?" Natalak implores.
"Sure-sure, go ahead." Serin pushes the device closer to Natalak.
Pinching and rubbing, the paper didn't give Natalak the slightest spark of interest. There was no magic to be felt, no change to the paper. However, it looks rough and organic, more like skin than paper.
"So, how does it work?"
Serin smiled, perhaps to manage with Natalak's rustic side. "Well, unlike traditional maps…" The man plucks the tip of the parchment. "Try dropping a drop of your blood in here." He adds, revealing a hole.
Natalak peers through, and what he saw was a glowing crystal stone. He wanted to inquire more, but was too mortified to ask. He did as the Serin had instructed, and to his surprise… seconds after letting the device swallow his blood. The paper soon revealed a map, and in the centre lies a luminous golden spot. Additionally, a compass that revealed itself on the top corner of the chart.
It was then he thought of someone else—
"It's much the same as Sheila's doing."
Serin then turns the device's cap, which causes the map to zoom in on itself, revealing a detailed city map. For Natalak, he already understood the similarities of the device to his past world.
But when Serin taps the live compass, the device magically creates a 3D hologram floating above the paper chart. Natalak quickly slides his hands through the hologram, only to feel nothing. Yet it moves, rotates as his hands play with the air.
"Can it do multiple people?" He looks at Serin.
"Oh yes, it does, that's why high-ranking adventurers each have one of these items." He answered, adding his own blood from the device, which the map reveals as two glowing spots in the same place.
"If you don't mind me asking… how much does it cost?"
"A hundred and fifty silver Shar." Serin stares at Natalak for an answer.
Departing from the shop, the items they bought aren't the device that was introduced, but rather the more traditional map they hold. Riya glanced at Natalak—from the expression he gave, she could already tell there was a faint disappointment mixed with embarrassment.
"A gold and a half?! How in the world do I get that kind of money? Pickpocketing may be?"
"We should go." Expressed Natalak, pointing his fingers towards the open market.
And on they hasten their way towards the merchant. Placing the map on top of a crate, the old merchant then begins delivering where the sulfur is.
"The material that you seek lies at Dragon's Lake. Just south of Theves's Bridge." The merchant points his finger towards the map of Endregar. "And I suggest you bring some druid companions or certain items that will filter those toxic gases… and free advice if you don't want to see bloodshed along the way, there's a hidden path that the villagers know." The merchant continues, tracing his fingers through the map.
"Now, if there are any more questions you need, best to say it now, I've got customers to woo."
Comprehending the merchant's word, and once they are far from the people's ears. Natalak requests something—
"Sister." Implores Natalak. "I would like to ask you something… are there any other cheaper ways that are quite similar to that device called Adra's Map?"
"There are a few that I know, but it will cost you along the way."
"Ah, I see… Um, can you teach me how to read those complicated charts? I'm still quite new."
From his appeal, the two returned to the gnome's shop.
"Fuck me…" Natalak dumbfoundedly stares at the spree.
Elsewhere—
Back through the eerie dungeon, where cults linger. A place where Ariendal de Shilvia is held captive. Two men guard the nobleman in chains… two mages, so to speak. And they would occasionally glance at each other, perhaps relaying a message of thoughts.
"Don't do anything stupid, Haran." Haran's guard companion frowned. "If we are to be found out, I won't be there for you."
"Relax, a little spell won't do any harm." Haran smiled, flicking a spark of electricity on the tip of his finger. "I just want to have a little fun with this noble guy. I'm quite tired of lingering in this place for months without any action to take."
Yet as Haran sends a spark of lightning bolts right through Ariendal, a person quickly disrupts his spell. Extinguishing the lightning before it could hit Ariendal.
"M-master Tharan." Haran's companion stammers. "I was going to—"
"Hush, if you do not want to end up like him." Tharan scoffs, placing an abyssal curse on Haran.
Tharan's hand plunged through the man's flesh, piercing not his flesh but his soul as Haran's scream would echo through the corridors. The cultist who heard his shriek stops in silence, their face gave no expression, only fear and dread.
Lifting the man without any effort, Haran's body was consumed by red smoke. His flesh gave shimmering spots. And once Tharan pulls his hand, the cultist falls on the ground, its body contorts, gasping for air.
"This will teach you some manners." Tharan then flicks his hand as if shaking what's left of the man's soul. "Perhaps your soul may be worth it when I need it for… emergencies," Tharan adds, treading through the shadows until his presence felt no more.