10 Years Later…
\Are you sure this is the right way?\ Vax asked, looking about the trees nervously. It might have seemed odd, for a member of the Lizardfolk to find themselves apprehensive in a strange place, but the group of 20 that were making their way through the jungle were not like most of their kind. They were hoping that their travels were soon to be over.
\Of course it is the right away!\ Acicha said, a rumble that for their kind meant amusement filling the air. \I am following the directions properly.\
\But how do we know they are correct? They came from that doppel!\
\He wasn't a doppel,\ Baxl said with a roll of their eyes. \He was human…\
\But he changed forms, I saw him!\
\That is why we can trust him,\ Acicha replied, ducking under a low branch. \All the whispers tell the same tale: if the shapeshifter gives the correct words then you merely have to follow their directions for find your way-\
Vax cut her off. \But can we be sure that the whispers are true? What if it's a trick? We shouldn't risk-\
\The trees are thinning!\ Baxl stated and the Lizardfolk picked up their pace, moving quickly along the well worn path until they burst out of the jungle and onto a grass plain. All around them were high mountains that rose up, nearly scraping the clouds, but it was the large town that lay before them in the distance that caught their eye. It was far bigger than they had expected, stretched out and filled with all manner of different buildings. There were older wooden houses that resembled the villages they had seen as they made their way towards the mountains, but around those were new structures, each of a different color of the rainbow, vibrate and bright. It was like a new town had bloomed from an old one and now hugged its founders tightly. Farm lands surrounded the large town and they could see many different groups tending the crops, from the standard corns and grains to exotic trees loaded with fruit. All of this was in the shadow of a truly massive mountain peak that looked like a horned skull, water pouring off of it. \See! There it is!\
\Told you,\ Acicha said before motioning for everyone to follow her. \Come on, let's see if we can find some directions… there must be a government official we can find-\
"Hello there," a voice worn from a lifetime of experience called out and the Lizardfolk turned to finally notice a small building, little bigger than a shack but quite well cared for, sitting just off the path. The speaker was sitting in a rocking chair, knitting needles in her hands and a blanket on her lap, but both of those she put away as she rose from her seat with surprising grace and speed. "Do you understand me?" she asked, speaking slowly yet also doing so in a way that wasn't insulting to their intelligence.
"We do," Acicha said, bowing her head. "Have… have we reached…"
"Encanto?" the old woman asked. "You have. Might I ask what brings you here?"
"We seek refuge."
"Hmmm… we have had Lizardfolk pass through before but they never stay, choosing instead to barter and then leave. You wish to settle here?"
"We have no choice," Baxl stated. "Our nesting grounds were attacked by slime creature and been utterly polluted… we cannot hope to lay our eggs there. We have attempted to settle elsewhere but each time…" They shut their eyes. "We are willing to pay any fee that might be required-"
The old woman chuckled at that. "No… no. There will be no need for that. Merely swearing a Pledge of Peace will be enough."
"A… pledge of peace?" Vax said, confused.
"We merely wish that everyone who dwells here to do so with respect for all others. Everyone who comes here abandons previous grudges. While fights do occur, of course, we aren't looking for everything to be torn apart." She paused. "If you can not do this I understand but I will have to ask you to leave."
"We'll… of course make the pledge," Acicha exclaimed, startled by the sole requirement. The group had been prepared to give up all their world possessions if it meant laying the eggs in a place where they would be safe. "But… why?"
The old woman smiled. "Because my husband made the Encanto to protect all those who simply wanted to live their lives in peace. We would not disgrace his memory by asking for payment." She walked up and patted Achicha on the back of her hand. "Of course you will need to help… we can't survive if we can not pay for what we need. But there are always those looking for extra help-"
"Whatever is needed," Acicha said quickly.
"Then let us get you looked over. Some of you are injured…" She looked towards the back, where Torun, the largest of their number, was clutching at his shoulder where he had been stung by a Giant Scorpion. Though he tried to hide it all of them could smell the poison that was eating away at his muscles.
"I… won't make it," Torun admitted. "But to get my people here-"
The old woman waved his off. "That won't do. DRYFT!"
Acicha frowned, wondering just who the old woman was calling for… only for Vax to gasp, eyes going wide as he stared past the town towards the great mountain. Acicha looked, wondering if whoever the old woman wanted was coming from there only for her heart to plummet to her knees when the mountain TURNED TOWARDS THEM.
The entire great stone edifice shifted and rose, water swirling around and the Lizardfolk stumbled back as they watched the mountain reveal itself to be a massive titan, made of stone and water, which took one great step over the village… and at once shrunk down into a flesh and blood capricorn.
"I didn't fall asleep, I promise!" the capricorn said.
"I know. But I needed you to cut your meditation short… we have guests in need of you."
At once the capricorn was moving about them, holding up his hands as water shot out of the ground and swirling around him. "Oh yes… mild exhaustion, scrapes and cuts… but those aren't what you needed me… oh." He looked at Torun and rubbed his chin. "I see."
"You can't help me," Torun said gruffly. "It's too late.
"Of course I can!" the capricorn replied. "I wouldn't be a God of Healing if I let something like this stop me."
"God?" Vax stammered.
"Of Healing, yes. Are you having auditory issues?" He moved towards Vax and began to look along the side of his head. "Hmmm… I don't see any blockage. Do you have any ringing? Do you hear the sounds but can't make out what people are saying?"
"He's a god?" Baxl asked, staring at the capricorn as he continued to examine Vax.
"Yes, he is," the old woman said with a slight smile before turning towards Dryft. "Focus on the one with the poisoning and the expecting mothers. You can do physicals later."
"Of course," Dryft replied. "Would you like to go get the rest of them settled, figure out where they might like to stay? This could take some time."
"Yes, I think I will. Let me just let Watchhouse know." With that the old woman walked over to the little house she'd been sitting in front of and patted its door. "I'll be back soon. You watch over things for me, okay?"
The Lizardfolk could only stare as the building's shutters opened and closed rapidly and the floor boards of the porch pushed the old woman closer to the door.
"Oh, I'll be right back baby, I promise," she said, giving the building a hug before ambling up to the Lizardfolk. "Now, come on, I will show you around a bit and then arrange for you to meet with an official to make your pledge."
"Just… like that?" Vax asked.
"Just like that," the old woman assured them.
The Lizardfolk grew quiet and merely followed after the old woman as she made her way down the well cared for lane that led to the outskirts of the town. A simple stone archway marked where the town truly began and it seemed to be very much out of place when they truly looked at the massive sprawling locale before them.
"You weren't surprised to see us," Acicha commented.
"Of course not," the old woman said. "I greet every traveler who comes to Encanto."
"You do?"
The old woman smiled sadly. "It is my penance."
Before the Lizardfolk could comment on that odd comment they entered the town proper and were swept up into the everyday chaos that came from living in such a place. Vendors called out what new goods they had to sell in their stalls, some quite commonplace others so strange and new even the nomadic Lizardfolk didn't recognize them. The same was true of the tailors, who promised they could outfit any race. Music came from a tavern that was serving breakfast, people streaming in and out.
"Come again, Sir Gomen!" a human woman said as a Leonine warrior stepped out of a house with a flag bearing some scissors on it.
"I will when I am next in the area, Senora," he promised before shaking his mane, causing a cloud of hair to come lose before he let out a throaty chuckle. The woman merely sighed and called for one of her helpers, a young girl hurrying out to sweep up the mess.
"Mummy! Mummy!" A young haregon cried out, tagging on his mother's sleeve, forcing the group to stop as she got in their way. "Look, look!"
"I see it," a Haregon female said before she pushed two of her children away from a shop selling little wooden figurines. "We don't have time to go in today. We have to get ready for the party."
"But mummy-" a second haregon pleaded.
"You know that Senora Madrigal will be giving out gifts so there is no need to buy something today." She looked at the old woman and sighed. "I am so sorry."
"Children will be children," the old woman assured her. "Oh, these are some new arrivals, Jebran."
"Welcome!" the haregon, Jebran, said in a delighted tone. "Oh, you have picked the most wonderful time to visit! Perhaps not the quietest time but the most festive to be sure!"
"Is Pell at his office?"
"No, I went down to settle some things for the party tonight and he wasn't there. I think he mentioned something about talking with Goliath."
"Ah, say no more. We'll go down there… our new residents might actually prefer that." The old woman waved goodbye to the haregon mother as she continued on with her children, the Lizardfolk led towards a side road. "We'll need to see Pell. He helps manage the new arrivals. Come along, please."
Passing by a small grassy lot with several trees and a pond they saw a Loxodon cleric talking to several sea elves that were lounging in the pool.
"I must admit I am pleased," the Loxodon stated in a deep calm voice. "I had feared that he would require convincing to take me on as a student."
"Prince Dryft is a kind benefactor," a sea elf said, smiling as she leaned more out of the water. "He believes that the more that are taught the safer the world is. Of course he won't be able to teach you directly to start-"
"Of course, he will be busy," the Loxodon stated. "I will accept any help I can get."
The old woman spoke up. "If you wish to see Prince Dryft perform his work then head out to the Watchhouse. There is a Lizardfolk who was poisoned…"
"Oh my!" the Loxodon exclaimed and he quickly got up, taking a moment to bow to the sea elves and then the old woman before hurrying off.
"The god… he is a prince?" Vax asked.
"His parents are war gods and were rulers of the great seas before they ascended," she told them. "They kept the titles and he held that before he was the God of Healing. Come along." The old woman waved to the sea elves who dove back into the pond. "We are almost there."
They entered another market place and the Lizardfolk all wondered if there was an enchantment that dulled the noises of the town because they couldn't believe they hadn't heard the sounds of hammers slamming into metal and woodcarvers attacking logs in a frenzy to create their pieces of art. Flames shot up while others tended to ice of all things, using chisels to turn them into fine pieces.
"Come now, it can't be that much," a Githzerai commented at a blacksmith's stall, shaking her head. "I have been to Capitals where the royal blacksmiths sold their wares and they didn't charge that much for an axe!" She looked down at the table, where a large two headed axe sat, cast from a purplish metal.
"I'm sorry," a dwarf said; he was young if his quieter tone and short beard were any indication. "I'm afraid that is as low as I can go. The Mistress was quite clear, even if you were to try and bundle it with something else, she does not wish to decrease the price on this. I can not go against her." He did… some gesture with his hands… and looking back towards the forge. "She will be returning today for the party but won't be working for a few days… if you wish to wait she'll produce more goods and perhaps one of them will be to your liking. Or I can show you some of the items I and my brothers have made…"
But the Githzerai shook her head. She wasn't yelling but rather was being firm in her convictions. "I just don't understand why it is priced so high."
"Because," the old woman said with a soft smile, walking over, "I'm afraid Mr. Shardthumb had made an error."
"I knew there must have been a mistake with the pricing."
But the old woman shook her head. "Not in the pricing… the description. This was forged by Forge Mistress Mirabel Madrigal … one of her special pieces."
"Her… special pieces?" the Githzerai said slowly, her eyes opening more and more as she mulled over those words. The Lizardfolk looked at each other, confused.
The old woman looked to Mr. Shardthumb who quickly nodded, lifting the axe up. He twisted the handle and suddenly the entire thing leapt from his hands, the blades splitting apart into eight different parts while the handle rotated around and then split. Where before there had been a weapon a metal scorpion chattered and looked about, clicking its pincers.
"…I'll pay extra for it right now," the Githzerai whispered in awe.
"Full price is fine-"
"Extra!" she declared. "It will make it more impressive when I tell people of it!"
The old woman shook her head and motioned for them to come along while the dwarf finalized the deal.
\We must return to that shop,\ Vax stated. \They can make living weapons!\
\We will,\ Acicha promised, her own mind swirling with thoughts about how useful such weapons would be. Something that at once could defend them while also serving as a protector of the eggs? If the old woman was right and they didn't have to pay to live here than they would be able to pool their resources and purchase an item or two eventfully that could shift like that…
The Lizardfolk continued on as the old woman led them to a small shack like building… except it soon became clear it was anything but as there was a constant steady stream of people moving in and out of it. She motioned for them to continue on following her and entering the shack they found it was in fact a stairwell that led down. Acicha could hear the rest of her group murmuring to themselves, growing more and more excited. Their kind did best with their eggs kept in dark cool spots and they'd been ready to have to dig a nest in whatever hovel they got… but that there was an underground-
They suddenly reached a small landing and the Lizardfolk could only stare in gaping shock.
An underground city. Encanto had an underground city! It stretched down around 4 or so stories with bridges made of dark wood spanning the darkness all over. It was illuminated by glowing mushrooms and was just as lively as the town above in the sun.
The old woman led them along a path and then over a bridge to a section of rock that looked a bit like part of a castle where a Warforged was talking with a large purple gargoyle and a human woman.
"The time dilation is what concerns me," the Warforged stated. "The island is said to have time move far slower… I am not sure if Bureau would be able to link to it."
"We are considering that and if Oberon is unable to assist we will find some other way," the gargoyle rumbled. He reached up and fiddled with a necklace in the shame of a crescent moon.
"Come on, big guy," the woman said with a slight smile. "You pleaded your cause now it's time to get home. I want to get ready for the party."
"Of course, Elisa," the large gargoyle stated before scooping her up in his arms before taking off.
The Warforged turned to the old woman and at once bowed. "First Spark."
"Pell, we've talked about this…"
"And it will not change the fact that you deserve to be honored, despite what you might think."
The old woman sighed and it was clear to the Lizardfolk this was an old argument. "These are some new arrivals. They need to give the Pledge of Peace and be settled."
"Of course," the Warforged said pleasantly. "Of course. I will see it done, First Spark."
The old woman merely shook her head. "I must return to my watch." With that she began to walk away.
"Who… who is she?" Vax finally asked.
"The reason we are all here," Pell stated. "That… is Alma Madrigal."