12th of Frost 4622
The journey had been long and arduous, many miles had been trodden by two pairs of tired feet and the braying of a mule. They had crossed from the Northernmost part of Daravin to its very South, with the environment being ever-changing around them. Great cobbled roads had been used but also wet and muddy roads that spanned the land like a thousand strands connected to a single interconnected web. But after all of this time, the final stretch of the journey had arrived. Thus it was that two men and a mule began to trod down a road that was now actually quite busy. There was a trail of people, primarily human but also Gnomish going in and out of the city. Most of them were merchants or travellers coming and going from Dagrun for one purpose or another. These people also generally watched Hugo and Bertrand with a wary eye. This was due to the fact that for one thing, both of them had not always had access to good taverns or inns and had on occasion be forced to sleep under hedges or find other natural shelters. They could have had the option of spending the nights at the house of different Veirs and lesser nobility but that would have taken too much time and would have been far too risky. As such Hugo and Bertrand, both looked to be quite tired and dirty. However, what was probably a greater cause of concern for travellers was the fact that both Bertrand and Hugo were armed and armoured. With both of these men possessing armour of some kind which could protect them from danger, with Hugo wearing a gambeson with some chainmail over it whilst Bertrand used a set of hardened leather.
The final mile before the arrival of Dagrun was surrounded by a forested area, with leafless trees sticking out from the earth like pale fingers. The earth itself was brown with hints of snow being seen on the peaks of nearby mountains. Mountains which were the primary cause of attention, as huge peaks of stone towered unto the heavens. At points the crags and peaks would dominate a man's entire vision and could be seen to be surrounding you on nearly all sides. Yet the cobbled road on which many travelled did not lead to the mountains, but into it. And so it was that Hugo and Bertrand would see a great stone archway serving as an entry into the mountain. The width of the archway was so great that four carts could pass through it at the same time whilst the height of it was such that ten men could have been placed on top of each other and still not reach the top of the archway. Attached to this archway were metal plates with many illustrations and text present in them, most of them seem to portray Gnomish tales of some kind. With inscriptions saying such things as 'De saga van Morgred de sluwe ', which seemed to portray a set of tales of some Gnomish figure interacting with taller figures. Often with that figure having a smug or cunning expression, or as close to it as one could get with metal carvings.
Hugo could not help but let a daunted and impressed expression appear on his features as he came closer to this great archway and could begin to see the scale and detail that it possessed. But as he got closer he could see another odd sight, he could see a small crowd that was gathered in front of some location. As Hugo got closer to this location he could see an odd thing, the road continued into the mountain but seemed to stop at some kind of elevated platform. Next to this elevated platform, roughly 20cm lower, was a collection of cobblestone and other pebbles strewn in a straight path. However, on top of these cobblestones was an odd repeating pattern of metal and wood which stretched out into the city. It did not look to be a road, especially as many merchants were not using this 'road' but it seemed to have a purpose. Intrigued by this construction Hugo leaned closer, trying to inspect it from a closer distance. As he did it much of the crowd gave him odd glances and one of the gnomes laughed. "HAH, kijk eens naar die idioot. Waarschijnlijk is het een van die domme buitenlanders die niet eens weet wat een Golem is. Dadelijk wordt hij nog aangereden door de trein." Hugo frowned as he sensed the various expressions and as he heard the cajoling from one of the gnomes. Though he could not understand the language he could guess from the tone of voice that the gnome was mocking him in some form. Even as the aforementioned gnome got a few odd looks himself Hugo took a few steps back, deciding to leave some inspections for later and instead deciding to follow the example of the various gnomes and other people that were present here on this odd platform.
Then in the distance, Hugo could see the faint sight of something approaching. Rattling over this road seemed to be some great bellowing monster of metal which was approaching them. Steam bellowed from it whilst the sound of screeching metal came closer to the platform. Hugo's first instinct was to begin channelling Branded ether, but he stopped himself from doing so as he saw how the crowd around him seemed to remain calm at the approaching sound of this monster. Thus Hugo took all of his decorum as a Veir and remained calm even as the contraption neared the platform. Though he took some slight pleasure in seeing Bertrand being frozen between drawing his sword or running away, and instead remain frozen in place. Then eventually the contraption reached the platform and quickly stopped. Now he could see how the contraption was filled with gnomes which exited the construction as the doors were somehow opened. Quickly filing out of the metal machine and beginning to go towards the main road. Then as the last people exited the contraption, Hugo could see how others were beginning to enter. So it seemed that this creation was not some monster of some kind, instead, it seemed to perhaps be.... a method of transport? It seemed that some force was pushing it forward in order to bring it to location as if dozens of invisible beasts were attached in front of this construction and pulling it forward. Yes, it had to be something like that. A hundred invisible horses or some other hidden mechanism pushing this creation forward.
Thus it was with great reluctance that Hugo stepped onto the metal contraption, though he was the last one to do so and had to push Bertrand forward. As he went into the metal construction Hugo tightly held onto the metal bar that was conveniently placed near the entrance. As he did so he tried to ignore the amused expressions of gnomes as they saw him trying to use this contraption. This grip grew even tighter as the doors somehow closed behind him and the contraption began to move of its own volition. However, this tight grip grew looser as time passed on and it seemed that Hugo and his companions were only surrounded by dark tunnels. Then after another 5-10 minutes the surroundings went from a dark tunnel to a large and open cave of some sort. Yet instead of a normal, empty cave the huge cavernous structure was filled with hundreds upon hundreds of buildings. Warm and dry air instantly entered the construction and Hugo could smell and taste something that felt like smelly iron or some other metal that entered his nose. Hugo also had to hold his head for a moment as he felt how the pressure quickly changed and how it had an odd effect on his body. Then roughly a minute later Hugo had collected his wits and was staring in amazement at the city that spread out around him. There were so many engines, steam that rose from nearly all buildings and who knew what else scattered around his place ? He could not even begin to comprehend how all of these things worked or what they represented. Thus he gazed in amazement until, before he knew it, the metal contraption stopped once more. The doors of the contraption opened of its own accords and Hugo could see a small crowd of gnomes in front of him. Then he felt a slight push behind him and Hugo, feeling the pressure, quickly exited the metal contraption and into the street of this extremely odd city.
Thus he was pushed out and pushed forward until he could finally duck away from the crowd and take a moment to quickly breathe and rest. Beside him, he could see how Bertrand was breathing very quickly and taking quite a lot of time to recenter himself. The Gentavese soldier not being sure how to cope with these surroundings that were so alien to him. And now that he was standing still, that he was no longer moving and being pushed around. Hugo could feel something, a sensation rising in his body as he was surrounded by the heat and the bitter smells. It called to him. It called to him TO GO TO THE NEAREST WASTE BIN.
Being driven by a great bodily need, Hugo ducked further into a nearby alley and saw a waste container of some kind. Then he curled up a little and began bawling disgusting, translucent liquid into what seemed to be a waste pile or container of some kind. Bad ether was quickly being expelled from Hugo's body and leaving him feeling exhausted. Whilst this feeling passed through him, Hugo could feel a patting on the back by Bertrand. "Are you alright there ?" At this comment, Hugo gave a quick nod and wiped away some remnants of translucent bile with the back of his hand. "Yes Bertrand, it is quite alright, I was just, BERTRAND LOOK OUT !!!" Hugo then began devising a magical sword when he saw a construct that looked like a man but was not a man, enter the alley. He raised his blue-glowing blade towards it and stepped backwards. Then he saw how the great and looming figure went to the trash can, picked it up and................ did not throw it at Hugo ? No, instead the construction raised the waste container over its head and put the waste unto some compartment on its back. Then it placed the waste container back down and walked back along the main street.
Hugo and Bertrand watched in shock and confusion as it just trampled away, leaving them alone in this alley. All of these odd emotions caused Hugo to lean against a stone wall and try to recenter himself. "Gevurah and Shayle oh mighty Achra, please allow me to comprehend with my mind what my eyes see. Show me the touch of mighty Ulen that binds all of these creations together and please bring me and my vassal clarity in this hour." As he said this, Hugo could feel a harsher pat on the back by Bertrand. It seemed that the impromptu praying had knocked Bertrand out of his own stupor. "There is no need to go praying to the Achra yet Hugo. You just need to take your time and make a plan, something you are often good at."
Hugo saw the truth in Bertrand's voice and did so. Taking his time to take deep and long breaths, trying to centre himself for a second time before he raised himself up again. "Alright, it is important for us to find lodgings for the night so that we do not have to sleep on these streets-" Then there was a loud rumble from Hugo's stomach "and we should find some place to eat. That is also important"
With those objectives set, Hugo focused himself around those goals and exited the alley. As he did so he talked to a few human travellers who were on the road. One of them looked somewhat hostile at Hugo but the third person pointed him in the direction of some Daravic part of the city where he could perhaps rest. Thus it was that Hugo sought for some time and eventually upon Little Levarin, an odd bit of Daravin away from Daravin. Here he and Bertrand managed to find lodgings at a local inn, at least for the night and got a good familiar meal. And after that, both of them had quite a few drinks before going to sleep for the night.
Thus it was that Hugo's first day in Dagrun passed. Not with business, but with the most basic act of trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.
