Hodaxa was a town nestled in the wilderness some miles northeast of Kaldriva. Unlike the prior town, it was built primarily of wood, and had a higher percentage of serviles in its population and fewer humans.

The differences in the two towns was a point which Dolen considered thoughtfully upon their approach, a whirl of nebulous speculation all that he had to go on for the moment as he sought a space nearby to land.

Patches of open ground weren't too hard to come by out here, with clearings, roads, and farmland breaking the stretches of trees. Culago was a good deal more comfortable with this location and was even willing to accompany them into the town this time. Dolen's joy knew no bounds at finding that difference upon landing and rejoining the party.

Dolen nodded politely to Kalli, "Shall we then seek our lever?" It would be interesting to see first-hand the state of affairs within a domain not controlled by the Shapers, and he headed off in that direction.

Kalli, Culago, and the little fyora Spark headed off after him toward the town. The town was guarded by some servile guards with thorn batons at ready and a few turrets keeping a watch out for rogues and other enemies. They looked over to the group with interest, recognized Culago, and nodded to them to enter.

Having no specific destination or contact in mind, Dolen turned his attention to the town as a whole and set out to explore a bit and gain a better impression of the creatures that had till now been nothing save enemies. That potential was at least a viable option here, where gathering information in his universe of origin had been considerably more difficult.

There were a very distinctive difference in this town. Whereas in Kaldriva, the serviles were docile and hunched over, these serviles stood proud and tall (well, 5 feet tall at last) and worked diligently and happily. They had no fear or submissiveness toward the newcomers. The humans, fewer in number, also seemed to be a bit more relaxed overall. There were no Shapers around. There were no creations visible except the serviles.

Dolen didn't bother with the facade of chill aloofness he'd dredged from his origins for the benefit of the last town, instead observing the comings and goings with quiet interest and reacting with appropriately polite acknowledgements as needful. First impressions might certainly be deceptive, yet still he had the suspicion that this was a far more stable environment than the last they had visited.

Overall, they were openly a bit cautious about the strangers in their town, but also more open and friendly all in all. A fruit vendor called out to them to try to sell his wares to them. A couple of servile children watched them excitedly from behind a fence.

"Certainly a seeming haven of vitality and life itself," Dolen murmured, glancing aside toward the young serviles and offering a brief nod and faint smile before continuing onward. "The difference," he continued quietly, "is that of spectral quality and yet nonetheless clearly apparent. Such intangibles may only serve to strengthen supposition regarding the Shapers."

Kalli nodded in agreement. The serviles here were also not packed into crowded buildings with filthy pallets, but instead many of them had their own houses or apartments. Over toward one side of town there was a large building that looks to serve as a meeting hall or something of that nature.

The comparison reminded him of Iyanden after a fashion, the other town sterile and ultimately stagnant while this... life, an abundance and enjoyment of it, a concept worthy of pursuit and protection. He guided their path casually in the direction of the likely heart of the town, observations along the way that would remain when he might find one capable of speaking for the people here.

Inside there was a small lobby with a young female servile at a desk who glance up over a pile of scrolls when they entered. A doorway at the far side of the room led further into the building. Dolen didn't bypass the opportunity provided as he had in his designated role in the other town, instead approaching the servile and offering a courteous nod.

"Greetings," he said, "We are strangers to your town, having been given recommendation from another of your kind in Kaldriva. I would be grateful if one might prove available to enlighten us further regarding matters in the region."

"Welcome to Hodaxa," she said, "You should speak with Aller. She's the leader of the Awakened." The servile pointed casually toward the door behind her.

Tilting his head to the female, Dolen said, "Many thanks." The Awakened? he mused as he turned away and headed for the indicated doorway. A rival faction to the Shapers, doubtless, but their motives would needfully be learned from this Aller.

There was a corridor behind the lobby and he passed by a guard post where some heavily armed serviles were playing dice. They glanced at them and apparently decided they weren't hostile, gave a bit of a wave, and went back to their game. At the end of the hall was another door leading into a large, fairly ornate room with books and scrolls. An older servile woman was at a table reading here.

"Aller?" Dolen inquired simply, wishing no misidentification faux pas to lead into the encounter.

She looked up at them and squinted a bit. Her eyesight didn't appear to be too good and she was having to hold the scroll close to read it. "Ah, yes, I am Aller. Learned Aller, some would call me. Come in, come in."

Dolen drew nearer and offered a polite nod, "I am Dolen, and this is Kalli May," he gestured. "We are strangers in this land, though the third of our company Guardian Culago may or may not be known to you. Already have we traveled extensively, and heard of the grand visions and ambitions of Shaper Maledri, yet still do we seek other sources to speak of the situation in this region and were directed hence."

"Guardian Culago is a name which is known to me and a friend to my cause," Aller said, looking over in his general direction. "Although we do not always agree on certain points, we work in the same direction." She looked grim for a moment. "And Shaper Maledri..." She shook her head. "Slippery as a snake, that one, and ever eager for more power..."

"My assessment of Shaper Maledri," Dolen replied dryly, "is not wholly different of your own, though perhaps from a differing and long-distant perspective. Merely what has been open to view on the journey through your town has led to a more optimistic conclusion to this point as to the nature of your own ways."

"Maledri may be a traitor to the Shapers, but under his rule would serviles, downtrodden for generations, fare no better," Aller said sadly. "The Awakened believe that we should be equals with humans, and live in peace and harmony side by side with them."

"An admirable, if not always practical, goal," Dolen replied, "The difficulty often lies with those of power in varying factions who might control greater resources and sow discord thereby. Maledri strikes me as one such, though I have been given cause to wonder as to the Shapers as a whole. What, then, would you say of those overall?"

"One must always have an ideal to adhere to, even if it is not always practical given the current circumstances," she said, lifting a hand in a helpless gesture. "For now, the Takers and the Enlightened and the Shapers have been locked in a deadlock against one another, ignoring us, but should something happen to break the stalemate, one or another of them will gain the upper hand, and they will destroy us."

"The Takers and Shapers," Dolen said, "we have already encountered, the former finding themselves not wholly pleased with the resolution I am certain. What then of the Enlightened? This facet of the world is one not yet learned of."

"The Enlightened are the rebel Shapers who use the augmentation canisters to alter their bodies and make themselves more powerful, giving them incredible magical abilities that we would have difficulty combating should they turn their attention here..."

"Of the three," Dolen mused, "Which might you consider the lesser of evils, then? Such an option is often less than favorable in the longer term, but shorter goals may be achieved therein, if naught more than survival."

"The Shapers and the Enlightened would enslave us, but it is the Enlightened who would be the more cruel of it," Aller explained. "The Takers would settle down for the most part if their leaders were killed or their research labs destroyed. They have the right idea, but they take it a bit to an extreme..."

"The greater part of any threat," Dolen replied, "Relates to those who lead rather than those who may follow them. What fraction of the populace would you surmise were truly loyal to the cause of madness? A small one doubtless, as the greater part forever follow merely from comfort with established order or fear of change. Upset that dynamic, and those who seek to further corrupt this world will fall."

"The Takers were always mad, to one degree or another... but my agents report that recently the demonic powers that they had gained in the last months had vanished. This can only be a good thing for all concerned, as perhaps it will allow them to follow a calmer path now."

"I would not rely greatly upon that," Dolen cautioned. "Though the foulness of their allies may have been vanquished from afar, still shall those who are inclined continue so in their ways. It is perhaps more accurately supposed that some small measure of support may be gained from their lower ranks to other causes... and not necessarily ones which may be preferred."

"New leaders may rise, but without their foul magic they are marginally less of a threat now than the augmented Enlightened," Aller said. "The Shapers as a whole have their primary advantage against us in pure numbers and tradition, and not individual strength."

"Where then the source of that which the self-proclaimed 'Enlightened' prize so greatly?" Dolen asked. "These quasi-mystical canisters which have been mentioned must surely be created in places which might be targeted or, if they are of lost means to construct then the stores themselves."

"They are created in the laboratories of Karanen, many miles to the west from here," Aller said. "I have been unable to slip agents into the facility itself, as serviles are not allowed inside, and even humans are looked over thoroughly. None of the humans in Hodaxa bear the glow of heavy canister use that would allow them to walk in without question..."

"One might wish a ship capable of large-scale heavy kinetic bombardment," Dolen mused, glancing aside to Kalli with a faint grin. "Barring access to such, however, this facility may be something which enterprising individuals might find of interest in their journeys. Such endeavors are readily attended by those skilled and inclined to do so, while larger stirring of the hearts and minds of the native population must needfully be left to those more in position to do so." He nodded to Aller in indication of the last.

"While losing the source of the canisters will not disempower the ones who have already altered themselves to gain their powers, it will prevent any new ones from being created and the ones who exist now from becoming ever more powerful..."

Should it serve to unsettle the machinations of the dangerous madman Maledri, Dolen mused, then all to the better. "Something may be done in that regard," he offered with a thin smile, "Though information concerning the facility would surely be welcome if there is a font of knowledge bubbling such forth may be found within your domain."

"We know little of what is within, only that the foul canisters and perhaps even worse are being made there."

"Then we have consumed enough of your time this day, Learned Aller," Dolen said, offering a shallow but polite bow, "Perhaps in days to come may you hear of the workings which simple soldiers may attain when set to a purpose."

Aller nodded to him politely. "A good day to you as well, then, and I wish you success upon your journey, wherever it may lead you."

Dolen gestured to his companions and headed back out, thoughtfully considering the task ahead of him. There were limits to their options, but certainly not insurmountable ones were they to proceed with caution and cunning.

Kalli and Culago followed him out of the building. The guards waved to them on the way out and the secretary nodded to them as they left.

"I could say she sounded a good deal more sincerely friendly than Maledri, that's for sure," Kalli said.

"Call it a hunch," Dolen chuckled, "Yet would I be far more inclined to believe her words than those of Maledri. Look at the vitality of this town compared to that of Maledri's domain... it is truly the heart and soul which matters in the end." He continued on a general retracing of their inward route, though in no particular hurry.

There were some more ornks and vegetable gardens here as well. Some young serviles played with one another cheerfully. Shops and the like lined the streets, but they were tended by serviles for the most part, although there was one human merchant selling a variety of items.

Life, the simple pleasures and duties of it, with no flavor of tense watchful and wariness that had seemed prevalent elsewhere. This environment was one which Dolen could greatly appreciate and support, and it was such reminders of life which kept him firmly upon his Path.

"Let us return to orbit," Dolen said, passing the gates. "Then may we seek further detail regarding the next target of our fury."