[HQ Ignorance] Scene 65: The Free City of Khorst

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 65: The Free City of Khorst

Under the skillful direction of the Godlearner Rikku,
"The Acindina" hugs the coastline towards the beacon
that marks out the harbour city of Khorst. His mind is
full of the knowledge that this region was once a
Godlearner stronghold in the second age which he
visited many times, with many great cities like
Eelnor, the great base of the Godlearner navy and the
island-city of Veakmal, a haven for sailors like
himself and of course Thanor, the provincial capital,
famed for the Villbane College, dedicated in the
studies of the pagan deities even if they did call it
the "City of Tricksters". Ha! Even the most trivial
mental gymnastics were beyond them!

It was also the lands where the Godlearner's engaged
in the disasterious 'Goddess switch', an example of
their ability, albeit with catastrophic effects. By
HeroQuesting they first introduced the grain goddesses
of Wenelia and Slontos togther in the same story,
turning them into sisters, and then traded husbands.
First, the crops failed. Then in 930 ST, the Closing
effected trade and travel. Finally, in 1050 ST the
regional Goddess Slontos rolled over, and much of the
landscape fell beneath the waves. Still, the knowledge
gained was still worth the results, Rikku mused. The
Gods can be changed, and they can be manipulated by
human powers.

He looked around the rest of his party with only a
modicum of contempt. Icthya was playing with fishes
again, a rather charming and delightful act of
child-like behaviour. The Mostal was with the
engineers down below. Well, at least they realised
they were machines, he mused. On board, Karala and
Knarl were in conversation about the latter's planned
departure, and the ever pious King Anzhur was engaged
in a fine theological discussion with Jareena the
Healer.

Taking the boat within the harbour and finding portage
was simple enough. It was a fairly busy place, quite
clearly a popular trading location. The harbour and
mooring fee was particularly exhorbitant, with only
King Anzhur and the Mostal Kalen carrying any
particular quantity of funds. Rikku couldn't resist
the opportunity to throw in a couple of golden
Godlearner coins from the second age into the mix.
Apparently the fee also came with an armed escort out
beyond the reach of the pirates, although - according
to the harbourmaster - such activity had increased
significantly with the raids of the Wolf Pirates in
recent years. Now apparently there were new forces;
waetargi and the mermen were systematically attacking
ships. The elder sea races were rising, and it seemed
that they wanted to remove land-based creatures from
their territory.

Khorst was a friendly, surprisingly well-organised
city, operated by a syndicate of merchant guilds.
Whilst the holy mantra of supply and demand and free
trade were rich here, it did not necessarily apply
this to human cargo. Whilst travelling among the main
market street as the various hawkers attempted to sell
their wares, the Fellowship could not help but notice
a slave auction, managed by a less than savoury
character. Legitimate captives from pirate ships, the
slaveowner claimed. "They declared war on the fine
people of Khorst, and thus they pay the consequences".

Riku stopped suddenly and stared at an Esrolian woman.
Her build was muscular, her skin olive and her
piercing blue eyes stood out from a mop of black hair.
But it was not the physical features that had
attracted Riku's attention. Through the Godlearner
secret of Runesight, he could see the Power within
her. Water, Movement and Infinity! The signs of an a
person who has the magics to open sea! Not only that,
but Air *and* Water? This is a person who breathe
beneath the waves as well as she could above them.
Riku grabbed King Anzhur by the sleeve. "We must buy her!"