World Building

To the voice that speaks within the mind

Have a care for I can hear that kind.

Be wary thoughts most unhidden

For they can come to mind unbidden

-detect thoughts

From across the thinning tree line, the city of Surama was what greeted our weary travelers. A city built on tradition and hope, hope for a better tomorrow even when all would turn against thee. A town for all who were willing to put in the work, regardless of race, nor alignment, so long as you would not hurt those within the town. Built with the hope that the fortune of the Koibra-gator would bring good luck for those weary of the hatred of this world.

Alv stepped forward, he didn't remember writing this town into existence when he was building the world. There is only so much he could write out and plan, and this was not one of them.

'I mostly focused on the towns where the DND sessions were happening' he thought to himself.

"Hopefully this town will accept us" he mutters tiredly and carefully to his traveling companion.

"Why would they not accept us?" she asked curious and wary of what was to come.

"I told you earlier how this world was in a constant state of aggression between two primary factions yeah?" he asks as they begin walking in the direction of the town.

"Yes, I was going to ask about that. Did you mean it like the faunus and the humans of my world?" she asked as the tall thatched houses that made up the outer ring of the city began to come into view.

"Not exactly. To put it simply we are in the age about a hundred years after the war of the gods. The servents of the heretical gods gave birth to a certain set of races. And the servants of the council gods did the same with another set. Each set still sees the other as inherently evil. And treat the other like little more than cattle. The capital isn't pretty for either side." he sighs tiredly

"Why did you write them like that?" she asks a little disgusted.

"I can't give you a clear answer. Part of me wants to say it's because the world is never black and white, the other is because history affects us all. This world just like mine is still wrapped in the cycle of hatred." he sighs tiredly.

"Should we even be approaching this town then?" she asks a little scared.

"I based the languages of both sides off of languages of my old world. I should be able to speak both." he sighs.

"At the very least I can stall long enough for you to getaway. This is your second chance at life, I would not have you waste it in what hell either side might subject you to." he continues a little ruefully, not noticing a small pair of eyes watching them from the shrubbery.

"Well, your here now right?" she asks a little carefully.

"Yeah, so?" he asks a tad confused.

"Can you not make this world better? Fix the mistake of building it as you did?" she asks with fervour. Remembering the plight of her friend blake from a previous life.

"Yeah, yeah I could. It would take a lot of work but maybe, I know where certain people are that could help but it would be a hell of a lot with maybe changing the world for the better but it would still be a far off goal," he answers her carefully.

"I didn't mean that it had to happen now, but maybe, it could be something of an end goal," she replies confidently.

"I mean we have to survive first, and maybe establish ourselves as people who can be counted on." she continues.

"Yeah but that would also include become a target for both factions, not to mention the demon problem" he answers as they finally reach the cobblestone road of the city.

"Long term goal it is." he smiles at her determinedly as she smiles back at him.

"HOY! Bakit kayo nadnito?" a small halfling shouts as they approach. The town her small short sword holstered on her hip.

"Uh, what did she say?" Pyrrha asks her hands up in an 'i'm not armed' gesture.

"She asked why were here in halfling." Alv answeres as he looks to her.

"Nawala kami, naghahanap lang kami ng pwesto na pwede kaming mag pahinga. Marunong ka ba mag Komon? Hundi marunong ang aking kasama mag Hapling." (we got lost, we were just trying to find a place to rest. Do you know how to speak common? My friend here doesn't speak halfling) he answers calmly.

"Yes, I do, how do you know how to speak halfling?" she looks at him in confusion.

"I grew up in the southern archipelago halfing was the common language we all spoke," he answers calmly, not revealing that he based the halfling language on Tagalog.

"Ahh, I see, My name is Samantha Daggerfoot! I'm captain of the local militia, and since you folks are unarmed and you don't look like you got spell components on you. I welcome you t' town! Now we got rules here alright? Y'help or y' leave, simple as that." she responds resolutely as several other halflings leave their hiding spots returning to their duties elsewhere.

"Understood, if you could direct us to the local magic goods merchant there are somethings we have to trade in exchange for some gold," he replies, a thankful tone in his voice.

"Just head towards the inner ring. It's the only building with Anpanja (Japanese) style architecture. Hard to miss" she grins as she waves them away, a small smile on her face.

"You have our thanks" Pyrrha smiles in thanks, as Alv nods along. When she noticed that they were far enough from the halfing captain. She turns to Alv.

"What are halflings?" she asks carefully.

"A nimble, but short race of kindhearted explorers. Always looking to either find contentment or adventure. Good people, and hospitable, but also the hardest fighting when their homes are threatened. They are often good at anything that requires stealth or strength of heart." he answeres thinking deeply about his knowledge of the world.

As he finishes speaking they finally break out of the thatched huts of the outer ring and reach the city proper. A city of stone and wood greets them, buildings of brick and rock surround what seems to be a building made of a single stone in the center of town. Sunlight glitters off of the glass windows of the nearby shops. Vendors hawk their goods from within large canopied stands. Food of all kinds, as well as baubles and goods are placed to show what have you to all passers-by.

"Huh, welcome to town Pyrrha." he smiles at her.

"Thank you Alv, for this and for the second chance." she smiles back at him.

"Well think nothing of it, I may have a surprise for you but we have to get set up first." he looks to her then to the large building with elegant ornamental designs wrapping the building.

"Oh?" she asks her eyebrow quirked.

"Yeah, for now, let's look to getting our goods traded," he answers smiling as he begins to walk towards the center of town.