New Hantra

By nightfall I finally reached the city. The sight I was given in the fading daylight was impressive. From my position from above the city I occupied the best watching spot imagineable. However due to the sheer size of New Hantra I still wasn't able to fully take in the city.

The whole town was build into a giant canyon with hundreds of metres of mountain at each side. Only the west side was relatively flat and used by all kinds of transportation vehicles to transfer many different goods.

Towering above the main city were numerous stonetowers that almost reached the height of skyscrapers from my previous life. I instantly guessed that this must be a feat only possible with the use of magic.

Even more fascinating however, were the canyonwalls. Due to the distance I hadn't realized it at first glance, but now it was even more amazing. Carved into the massive stone, were houses! Or caves? Mentally I had already marked this place for further exploration.

For the citizens to reach this strange kind of housing someone had hammered narrow stairs into the stone. To some of the more bustling "caves" they had even built a kind of primitive elevator.

Another thing I noticed was the lingering smell of smoke which was everpresent, even above the actual city. Most likely due to the terrible air circulation and the many smithys from which, even from up here, I could spot some.

New Hantra originally was a mining town after all! Although it clearly had long grown past it's former boundaries, mining and engineering were still among the citys driving economic forces.

Finally freeing myself from the captive sight I started making my way down to the actual city. To do that I used one of New Hantras most fascinating types of primitive technology. An elevator.

However despite my fascination for the elevator, my attention had been captured by something else. With me in the elevator were several groups of people. The first one evidently being miners. They had a sturdy build, bright but dirty skin and most importantly, they were each carrying a heavy looking pickaxe. Two of them were regular humans. The third however, was not.

Looking at me, was the extremly cliché figure of a dwarf in a miners outfit.

Disguising my inner shock, I wore my usual calm expression while I sized him up. He really was a comical figure. If not for his dark grey skin, he could have come straight out of middle earth. I supressed the irrational urge to jump up and scream something like 'Hey Thorin, how's smaug doing?'.

Apparently my pokerface wasn't as good as I had thought when he started speaking. "Hey kid, never seen a hobgoblin before?".

Determined to hide my moment of weakness I quickly replied, "As a matter of fact, I haven't." Without waiting for him to reply I slightly bowed my head, "If I should have of offended you in any way I greatly apologize".

Clearly captured by my performance, he let out a slight huff. "No need to be so polite lady. If I'd be offended by every kid staring at me I wouldn't have lived until now."

Noticing the resignated undertone in his voice I saw an opportunity.

Swiftly I sat down besides him. "Although I'm glad you're not offended, this is a sad thing to hear, when you think about it."

This time I got a slight smile. "You're very attentive for your age. "Dwarfs" as your kind calls us, generally aren't welcome in this kingdom. Only here, in New Hantra, is our kind truely valued. And even that is only true because of our exceptional senses for finding ores."

I didn't even have to fake pity in my expression. In my old world racism was a problem, that left its scar on almost every generation and epoch. Evidently human nature wasn't all that different here.

"I can't make up, or even apologize for what my race did but there is one thing I can do." With these words I gave him one of the remaining golden dubloons I had. I carefully made sure that no one else would notice our transaction. I have an aversion against robbers.

Except I'm the robber, of course.

As soon as he saw the coin his eyes went wide. "Lady I can't possibly accept this!", he whispered. "Do you have any idea how much money this is??"

"I do. And I want you to have it. You need it more than I do.", I said. Naturally, that wasn't the only reason I gave it to him. Don't get me wrong I honestly believe he deserved it, but I'm not charity. For me he was an investment. If I didn't misjudge him he was desperate enough to take the coin, but also honerable enough to at least try to give me something of equal value.

After a few moments of thinking he finally replied. "Don't take me for a fool lady. No one gives away that much money for nothing. I'm willing to be straight with you, if you will do the same." At this he took a deep breath. "What is this really for?"

Cheerfully I replied, "Oh you have seen through me. I don't want much. I'm new in the city, so what I desperately need is information." With a solemn expression I continued, "If you give me this information I will promise to not bother you with anything else!".

I could almost see the tiny machines behind his forehead. Thinking about what I'd said. Comparing the pros to the cons. I had to hold back a giggle. I knew he was itching to ask about the kind of information so I quickly adressed it.

"For now I only need two pieces of information. The first being a good inn to stay for a few days. Good situated, but not in one of the important districts. Also it shouldn't be too expensive. Surely you know several of these?"

As he still didn't respond I continued. "The second is a café/teahouse/bar as a place for us to meet and discuss our further partnership. If any of the terms I will be setting up then is not acceptable for you, you can always decline and walk away a doubloon richer. But remember, there is more where that came from."

There actually wasn't much more. But that wasn't his problem. That was mine.

Hearing my words he finally seemed to have reached a conclusion. "I accept. But only temporarly! If I'm not satisfied with whatever agreement you come up, I will decline. Is that clear?"

Got him. Controlling my voice I replied, "Perfectly clear. I will need to attend a few matters on the next two days. If this possible for you we can meet wednesday evening?"

"Work is till 7 o'clock. I can meet you at 7 thirty." he mumbled.

Being in a great mood I replied, "Excellent! Now can you answer my questions?"

Without hesitating he started talking. "I know a few good places to stay, but the only one meeting all your recquirements is the "Scarlett Lotus". If you don't mind living in a brothel for a few days I can bring you there as soon as we reach the ground floor! I promise apart from being a brothel, it is a very clean and orderly place."

Naturally I didn't mind at all. Fresh information and hot girls? Sign me up! Of course before indulging in such fantasies I had to find out about peoples perception on homosexuality. I really didn't want to be burned on some witchtrial bullshit.

After a short thinking pause he continued. "As for your second request I also have a very fitting place. On willford street 72 is a very good but quite exclusive café. Coincidentially the owner is a close friend of mine! Which makes it a perfect meeting place in discreet atmosphere!"

To make sure the place was suitable I quickly asked a few more questions, and was positively surprised. It was in one of the prominent canyon districts, and only accessible for people with an invitiation. The owner, a hobgoblin himself, clearly cared for the privacy of his customers. I also found out the name of my new aquaintance. He had the very ordinary and unfantasylike name "Johnson".

As finally we made it to the ground floor I was in an excellent mood. I was already anticipating the brothel.