The Arrival

Destrus arrived in the Pale City badly in need of food and drink. He had been travelling the barren landscape of the Pale for days, and his supplies had dwindled to nothing. Though he set out on horseback, his steed would carry him no further past the point where the horizon hid any sign of life; even a horse could sense this place's foreboding nature. Destrus completed most of his journey on foot. The sky was overcast and unchanging. The earth was flat, hard, and grey.

Destrus had nearly abandoned hope when the Pale City showed itself like a desert mirage. Great towers of black stone filled his view as he drew nearer. Destrus was awestruck by the immaculate buildings as he entered the city, and he soon began to feel that it was something like a jungle; tightly packed buildings cast long shadows over nearly every street and alley.

Destrus heard the denizens of this place before he saw them. By the rattling of chains and pounding of hoof on earth, he knew that the city must be well-inhabited: he had heard many legends of the immortal "Pale Folk." Voices shouted in the distance, though there were too many to pick out the qualities of one among the crowd.

The Pale Folk were soon visible as Destrus worked his was towards the voices. Strange beings of all shapes and sizes walked the streets; some on two legs, others on more than could be counted. He witnessed tall, hooded figures with long, grey arms; a family of what appeared to be bears wearing chainmail; short plump goblins with bone-white skin and black eyes. Almost instinctively, Destrus reached to touch the axe he carried on his back. He found it difficult to remain calm, though he expected sights such as these. If the legends hold true, the fabled market must also exist! Destrus’s stomach was screaming for nourishment, and he was just as excited to find food as he was to find magic to bring his son back.

Summoning his bravery, Destrus approached one of the hooded pedestrians. “Excuse me,” Destrus croaked, “can you show me to the market?” The figure flinched momentarily but otherwise showed no signs of having heard the request. This was the case again and again as Destrus tried unsuccessfully to ask directions from passers-by. While at first he thought they might not understand him, he gradually sensed that they were explicitly ignoring him. His pride threatened, Destrus huffed indignantly and wandered further into the city on weary legs.

It didn’t take long before he turned on a street corner and came face to face with a sight more impressive than most men ever witness. A great marketplace spanned miles, with stalls and shops packing both sides of a wide street. Where the rest of the city was bleak and monochrome, this market was overflowing with color. Brilliant lights shone from gemstones that lined shop racks; otherworldly creatures with bright plumage and fur rested in cages; shoppers in every manner of vibrant clothing packed the streets.

Destrus reached into his pack and pulled out a small crystalline cat statuette. His mother had told him once that it brought good luck, and he figured that—while unlikely—it might have value here. He found that the tendency of the market-goers to ignore him worked to his advantage: he was able to quickly slip across the bustling street while those around him kept their distance. Destrus had little luck selling his crystal cat. He would present his offering to a stall owner or shopkeeper and they would wordlessly shake their heads in disinterest. An optimist, he thought it was progress to see that they at least acknowledged his presence.

Finally, he came to a stall and offered his statuette to the proprietor, a large feminine being with cracked stone skin. Destrus was caught by surprise when she took the cat in her gravelly hands and inspected it carefully. He was more surprised when she threw it to the ground next to him in plain disgust, turning to the next customer even before it shattered on the street. Shocked and heartbroken, Destrus quietly crouched down to pick up what he could of his broken treasure.

As soon as he began, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Destrus turned around to see a short black-furred creature standing on its hind legs, arm outstretched to offer him a small paper-wrapped object. “Aye, sir, ye look like you could use this. It’s food, y’know.”

Destrus accepted the offering and hungrily unwrapped the morsel. It looked like a small piece of meat, and while he was skeptical that it would do much for his stomach he wasn’t about to complain. No sooner did he swallow the savory bite than he felt his hunger dissipate and strength return. He stuttered when he tried to speak, a million questions fighting to be the first from his mouth.

The creature laughed as its pointed ears perked up. “Aye, thank me later. Good, eh? Puts the fight right back into ye.” Destrus stared quizzically as the creature continued, “Been watchin’ ye for a minute. Ye won’t have much luck with most’a these folk... They can smell yer mortality. Dependin’ on what yer lookin' for, I can help ye out for a favor.”

Destrus nodded, and the creature clapped its paws together. “In that case, ye better follow me. The name’s Mulo, by the by. Yours?”

“Destrus.”

Mulo nodded and led the way as the pair quickly abandoned the market through a nearby alley. Forgotten by Destrus, a crystal statuette was left shattered on the cold ground.