Blighted Town

"Is this it?" Azael asked as they walked down the road

Ahead of them, in the distance, they saw what looked like massive towers that ran across a black pit. Even from a distance, far away, the Hightowers were a prominent sight. The main road that the group was on ran towards the entrance of the Bridge, which was a massive black wall. In front of it, there was what looked like a town, with dark buildings. 

There was a strange mist that emerged from the pit; the Death's Gullet, a Valley that ran across the edge of Drahan. The mist covered part of the town, making it an ominous sight to behold from afar. 

Daemon nodded, "Yea." He said pointing at the town, "We have to go through the town. They call it the Blighted Town. Apparently it's because the rowdiest of mercenaries and assholes that wish to get hired to defend the Hightowers stay there." 

Invidia looked at him, "That's a bridge?" She said, "There's no way. Those towers are massive, a bridge shouldn't be able to hold those kinds of structures." 

"Well, a bridge in theory, I guess." Daemon said, "Years after Drahan survived the Great Wars and genocide, the Drunken King ordered the construction of the Hightowers. It took them almost 20 years to complete, hundreds, no....thousands of lives lost during its construction." 

"What?" Azael said, "How dangerous was the construction?" 

"Very." Daemon said, "They said that they started by building a massive and thick wall from the bottom of the Valley, to act as the base for the bridge. Then, they started building the top of it after, adding towers and massive reinforcements to the 'bridge'. It's more of a wall meant to divide the Valley." 

"Divide it?" Lydia asked, "Why?" 

"Two reasons." Daemon said, "The Shadowlands and the Death's Gullet. The wall acts as a way to keep Drow forces from passing over to Drahan via the bottom of the Valley. Stories say that it's how the Drow invaded Drahan at the beginning of the Wars." 

"And the Death's Gullet?" Zaphira asked

"They wanna keep the monsters at the bottom of the valley on the side of the Shadowlands." Daemon said as he pointed at the towers, "If you could tell from here, the bridge doesn't run straight across, it goes diagonally and cuts a bit further to the left. This side of the bridge is only guarded by the Royal Army and is a bit lax. The other side, the side of the Shadowlands...that's where all the heavy stuff is at. For hundreds of years, the Hightowers has been the top defensive point in keeping the Shadowlands away." 

"They take shit seriously, huh?" Zaphira asked

"The Drunken King, while welcoming of all races all over Otia, was very cautious...." Daemon said, "He didn't want another War to break out. It worked....at a cost...The Hightowers cost Drahan a heavy price to build." 

"Hm..." Invidia said as she rubbed her wrist, "Shall we continue?" 

Daemon nodded as he took a step forward, "It won't be so easy...." He started as he pulled out a folded paper, "Just walking up to the gate and have them open up. First we go and speak to the mayor of the Town and give her this form; proof that we are Dragon's Fate members approved for the Job. Have your tags ready, too." 

They proceeded to keep walking, making their way down the road.

"Okay..." Lydia said, "I have a bad feeling about the Town..." 

"Relax." Daemon said with assurance, "Keep close and they won't bother you. If they do, stand your ground. Most of them are all talk. There's a strict rule not to fight or kill otherwise, the Lord of The Hightowers will execute you." 

"Who? General Rickard?" Zaphira asked

"No." Daemon said, "Someone else. Rickard is only here at the order of the King. He's not actually in charge of the Hightowers....well, he is....but only this half of it. The other half is occupied by the Lord. Hopefully, he's not there when we meet with Rickard and the Teo'varna Noble." 

"Why?" Azael asked

"He's...." Daemon started, "Well, let's just say he's...intense..." 

"I see." Azael said, "A man that even Daemon is wary of.....how intimidating." 

"He's not a man." Daemon said, "I don't know what he is....." 

"He's something else."

*************************************************

"The Black Dragon, huh?" the mayor said as she sat on her desk, "Never thought you'd start a party....I guess this job is quite alluring, huh? That Elf has spent months bitching and moaning about how nobody has stepped up." 

She was a tall and slim woman, wearing a long black dress and had her dark hair tied in a pony-tail, her hands covered by leather gloves as she looked at the form. 

Daemon stood in front of the desk with the others behind him. They had made their way to the Mayor's office with no issues, only a couple of shouts and arguments between Zaphira and the thugs from the town.

"If I may ask..." Invidia said, "Do you know of what House that Noble is from?" 

The Mayor shrugged, "Hell if I know." She said, "You think I'm versed in Teo'varna nobility? Please, I barely pay attention to Drahan nobility. Only thing I should care about is the Royal Family, that's all." 

"W-What crest does he wear?" Invidia asked

"Hm..." the mayor said as she set the form down, "Hm...i think it was a golden eagle atop an olive branch...maybe, I don't know..." 

Invidia let out a slight gasp, "H-House Thoron..." She whispered to Daemon, "One of the 5 Great Houses.....highest of all Nobility, only Daermathor's blood is above them...." 

Daemon nodded, "Quite the bigshot, huh?" He said as he looked at the mayor, "So, Anastasia, you gonna let us through?" 

"I am....but the bad news is that you'll have to wait till tomorrow morning." She said, "General Rickard has a strict policy that the Gates should only be opened twice a day; once in the morning and once in noon. There are several caravans that are guarded by Royal Soldiers that are waiting. So you'll have to wait for them." 

"Damn." Daemon muttered, "I guess...." 

"I will send him the form via pigeon, so he knows ahead of time that Adventurers have finally arrived for the job." She said with a smile, "That Elf can finally shut up." 

Daemon nodded, "Thanks." he said

"You can stay at the tavern next to the office." Anastasia said, "Nobody should bother you there. And well, if they do, don't fight back, just subdue them. We'll use Lord Glavius to scare the shit out of them." 

"Alright then." Daemon said as he turned around and faced his party, "Let's go get some rest then." 

"Tomorrow's the big day."