Portraits of the Divine

The tannery quarter sat low on the southern side of Duskfen, a place of sloped rooftops and thick wooden beams blackened with age and smoke. The air here was heavier, sour with the sharp bite of oils and drying hides. Faint clouds of steam drifted from the vats that lined the pavilion, rising up between weathered boards and moss-choked gutters. Joren kept his scarf pulled higher over his mouth, doing little to block the sour scent. Beside him, Gus didn't seem bothered by the smell. Near the heart of the quarter, they found a rough notice board nailed between two old pillars posting about the 'southern quarter disturbance'. "Looks like we're in the right place," Gus said, adjusting the strap on his pack. 

From a doorway nearby, a broad-shouldered man with a greying beard and thick apron waved them over. "You two looking for some hides?" Gus shook his head. "Not today. We heard about the trouble out south." The man's sharp eyes flicked between them, reading their gear, the way they stood. "Then you're here for the bounty." "We are," Gus replied. "We were told by a local about it, he said Lothar would be able to help us." The man grunted. "That'd be me." He stepped out fully now, apron stained and arms folding across his chest. "Something's been prowling out there, bigger than the usual pests. Livestock's gone missing and now there is a bounty on it." Joren kept his tone even. "Any word on what it is?" "Could be a twisted beast," Lothar said. "Reported sightings said it has a deep and hearty growl, little clicking noise as well. Ten silver pieces for whoever clears it out. No questions, no paperwork." Joren exchanged a glance with Gus, then nodded. "We'll take it." 

Lothar looked them over once more, then gave a small grunt of approval. "You won't be the only ones out there, a few others have been poking around already. This young girl took up the offer only yesterday, said she would scout it out a little and see if any parties were open. She has ginger hair, so she should be easy to find." Gus raised his brow. "A young girl, doing a monster bounty?" With a short nod, Lothar turned back toward the darkened doorway, leaving Joren and Gus alone in the tannery quarter's haze. 

Late Afternoon – Market 

Joren followed Gus between the rows of gear stalls, eyes scanning the small clusters of shoppers and hunters. Coils of rope, climbing irons, lantern oil, and swamp boots filled the open shelves. Voices were low here, it was more business than chatter in Duskfen. Some vendors made mention of where she tends to shop, often near the gear market looking for materials. Near one of the corner stalls, a slim figure crouched by a stack of worn field kits fit the description: Ginger hair and without a party. 

"That her?" Gus murmured. "Must be," Joren replied. Before they could call out, the girl was arguing with a vendor, Joren sensing something about her. "Are you trying to rip me off? What kind of price is that?" she asked, voice getting a little mischievous. The woman lifted her other arm up, shifting subtly as her fingers stretching longer, joints bending in a way they shouldn't. With a lazy motion, the elongated, grotesque hand reached across the table as she attempted to touch the man's chin. "Ah... no trouble, miss, the price is fair now, fair now," he stammered, raising his palms in visible discomfort. Willow grinned, the hand snapping back to normal with an audible click. "Thought so." She turned, slipping the item into her pack after paying and immediately caught sight of Joren and Gus watching her from a few paces away. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, more curious than wary. Gus smiled lightly. "We heard you might be after the bounty, Lothar said you could use a party. Thought we'd say hello." She crossed her arms. "You don't need to." 

Joren blinked, taken slightly off guard by her bluntness. "We figured... more eyes might help." Willow gave a faint shrug, gaze steady. "I'm not here to split coin with anyone, but if we meet again maybe I'll consider" The noise of the market sounded faint creaks of boards, the soft clang of metal somewhere deeper in the stalls. "Could you at least help us find an Inn, we are new to the town." Joren piped up. 

Willow glanced at him, considering, taking a few moments before she spoke. "Plenty of places to sleep," she said. "Most of them not worth the coin." She adjusted the strap of her pack, eyes flicking between the two of them. "There's an old stilt-house near the east waterline. Locals call it The Root." Willow gave a faint nod as she turned. "Don't get yourselves caught out after dark." She said simply, turning to move through the thinning crowd, cloak trailing lightly behind her. Joren allowed a small smile. "She doesn't seem like she needs anyone." "No," Gus agreed. "You can tell she knows what she's doing." The late light filtered through the mist above the market, casting long shadows across the boards. Joren adjusted his satchel, glancing toward the east path. "We should find that place before dark." "Good idea," Gus said. "Then tomorrow, let's get a little more acquainted with the city." 

Morning – The Inn 

Joren and Gus found the Inn after their encounter with the lady, but her vague description made for a long hunt of the place. The Root turned out to be exactly what she'd promised; a weathered stilt-building rising above a sluggish canal, its old beams groaning softly with every shift of the water below. Inside, the place was dim and quiet, with low ceilings and a mix of mismatched tables and battered chairs. The owner, an older woman with sharp eyes and few words, had taken their coin without question and handed over a key to a small upper room. 

By morning, a pale grey light seeped through the warped shutters. Joren sat by the narrow window, sipping weak tea from his chicken mug as the two discussed what they wanted to do today. "Not the worst place I've slept," he said with a grin. "Though it creaks like an old boat." Joren managed a small smile. "At least no one tried to rob us." Gus chuckled. "Small victories." The two decided on browsing the markets to sell some of the dishes they brought along and find the library for Joren to explore. 

The streets were already stirring as they stepped out into the morning haze. A thin veil of mist drifted between the wooden walkways, softening the edges of the low buildings and hanging lanterns. Duskfen moved at its own rhythm, not hurried, but steady. Gus led the way toward the market quarter, a bundle of wrapped dishes slung over his shoulder. "Let's see if these catch any eyes," he said, voice light. Joren followed, eyes taking in the winding paths and crooked bridges, the faint scent of herbs and damp wood thick in the air. After the tension of their last days on the road, there was something oddly calming about the quiet flow of the city. 

The market quarter proved lively as they bargained for cash or other goods from other merchants, people bustling about everywhere. As they waited for trade, Gus nudged him lightly. "Once we've cleared these, we'll find that library of yours." Joren nodded, the thought already stirring a familiar sense of curiosity. "I want to see what records they keep here." After a while, Gus was able to accumulate a nice collection of some sort of powder he said 'Would make my work twice as strong'. "Don't breathe too much of that in," Joren said with a faint smirk. Gus laughed quietly. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." He tucked the sealed jars carefully into his pack, then clapped Joren on the shoulder. "All right, now lets go find that library of yours." 

It wasn't a grand building, at least not in the usual sense. The library here had grown across several old houses and stilt-halls, their upper floors joined by covered walkways and mossy beams. Faded banners hung above the door, their symbols worn with age. Inside, however, was a different story. The place was well maintained and shiny, a stark contrast to the outside look you could find of any building around the city. Lantern light glowed softly across polished wood and clean stone floors. Shelves lined every wall, tall and well-ordered, filled with rows of bound tomes, scroll tubes, and loose-leaf collections bundled in twine. Strange maps and old sketches framed the gaps between shelves, plenty of things for Joren to catch up on. Gus leaned in slightly toward Joren. "Fancy." Joren smiled faintly. "Not what I expected." 

Behind a broad desk near the center sat a lean, older man in a high-collared robe with thinning grey hair and round glasses perched upon his nose. "Looking for something?" the man asked, voice a soft and inviting tone. Joren gave a small nod. "We were looking to read up on some local books and check out some records." The librarian gave a small wave. "What you're looking for will be upstairs. Don't get lost." Joren gave a polite nod. "Thank you." Gus leaned closer as they moved toward the shelves. "Not often we find a place like this." "Not often we get the chance," Joren replied with a faint smile. 

The second-floor shelves were packed tightly, their contents carefully labeled with small handwritten tags. Joren scanned the sections, finding dated star maps, almanacs, a few of the previous Auspex ranking volumes, and regional history accounts. Gus decided to brush up on some of the Auspex books put out by the government, while Joren grabbed a few of the local accounts of wildlife and fauna. They settled at one of the long reading tables near the back wall, the soft creak of old wood beneath their chairs blending with the quiet rustle of pages. The dim light of the library seemed to invite stillness, the outside world fading into the hush of paper and ink. 

Joren flipped through the first volume, learning about many of the creature's native to the area. Entries seemed like old stories or exaggerations, but others were precise: mentions of creatures that could blend seamlessly with mossy waters, amphibians with translucent skin, and great scaly lizards the size of small boats that grab onto prey's limbs and drown them. He frowned slightly, tracing a line of faded script with his finger. They are known to be camouflaged, patient, and have deep growls and sharp clicking vocalizations. This description's size was far smaller than the monster locals described, but it does have some similarities to the rumors. Could this be what the bounty was for?