Alaris rides up beside Shiva, and Zadkiel nuzzles Shiva's mount. "Why so glum, chum?" they ask in a ridiculously bright and chipper tone, then grinning and apologizing. "I just hate seeing you so dejected."

Shiva smiles at Alaris, her eyes filled with well-meaning warmth and an exhaustion that has soaked down to the bone. "Sorry. I should probably be trying to get the most out of every second that I can right now. But...I'm tired. Part of me would be glad to finally rest, but I feel I'd be leaving so much behind."

She looks out again at the passing countryside as she continues. "There's so much that I'd be able to do if I became a vampire. I could think on the scale of hundreds of cycles, not just the next few weeks. I could teach others to fight, even start an order that protects those who aren't protected or even hunted for being what they are."

Turning back to Ari, her eyes light with faint determination. "I could've died a thousand different ways over my life, but now that an inescapable end is knocking on the door, I find that I wish I had taken the time to build something. Something that could keep the next little Shivala from suffering like I have."  

Alaris rides beside Shiva for several long seconds, silver eyes gazing at their friend without judgment. "I do not understand self-pity... Since the night the flames consumed my family, I have known that death pursued me." They reach out their hand, to let the sunlight play over their rough, scarred fingers. "To become darkness and death out of desire to defeat death? I do not understand it. I am a simple creature, Shiva. I love Light and Life. I will defend them to my last breath and, hopefully, beyond. I will defend YOUR life, from anyone who would take it. That is who we are - family."

Shiva scoffs at her friend. "That high and mighty shit may work on civilians, but I know  you, Ari. We both lost our parents, and there's no shame in self-pity when everything you know about the world is suddenly ripped from you. Shame lives in suffering, don't turn away from it. Forgetting that will separate us from our humanity." She takes a deep breath, feeling for the demon within her. Its gaze turns to her, and they share a moment of awareness of one another. "I am a child of death and darkness. As you are a child of light and life. For both of us to embrace that, it will carry us further from what makes us human. 

"We are a family, and I love you, Ari. So I will ask you to truly accept that our natures are, at once, complementary in the cosmic order and fundamentally enemies to one another."

"I seek not to defeat death. I resign myself to becoming it."

Alaris' eyes flash with quickened anger. "Who told you you are a child of death and darkness? The vile, twisted ones who used you for sport? I would sear their flesh from their bones for what they did." They fall silent, fingers twisting Zadkiel's reins until she tosses her head in annoyance.

"Would you have me come with you?"

Shiva is surprised by the moment of intense anger, and she reaches out to lay a hand on Alaris's shoulder. 

"They've been punished. Some by my own hand, others by the foulness of their own lives. My nature tells me that it's true, Ari. The things that I've felt, the things that I've wanted to do to people and the joy that the acts would bring me. The fact that I am utterly disappointed that I can't consume the souls of those I've killed should be telling enough."

She sighs, then continues. "I know that you want to protect me, but I would never ask you to come with me where I must go. If I survive, I trust you to know my motives and the lines that I will not cross."

"**** nature. Nature is the excuse those who hurt you would use to justify themselves. 'It was unnatural and we treated it that way. We did what came naturally.' Right? Isn't that what they said?

No. Everything in this world, by its nature, extinguishes light and life unless we choose to stand against darkness and death and decay. I don't love you because it is in my nature to love. And children of death and darkness do not love. Whatever your nature is... you are full of life and love. Just give me these few days to remind you of it."

The aasimar nudges Zadkiel's ribs and she steps into a canter, moving back towards Astrid and Caio.

Shiva is left silent, finding no retort to what her friend has said. As Zadkiel trots away, she feels reassured and murmurs under her breath.

"There is love in darkness too..."

The bustling clamour of crowds and creaking wheels slowly fades away as the Septem Mortale depart Paragon. Soon, the only sounds to be heard are those of horse hooves, peacefully rustling leaves and birds chirping in the trees and fields. One last look back at the city offers the onlooker a striking panoramic view of the grandiose architecture and towering spires that loom over the rundown slums and seedy taverns. Despite only spending a brief day in Paragon — just enough time to rest and replenish supplies — the city has made its impression on the four travellers.

The road east cuts through the heart of a broad plain littered with patchwork fields of wheat and corn, along with the occasional farm or homestead. The route is regularly frequented by merchants and other folk travelling back and forth between the two cities, most keen to exchange pleasantries and stories.

The third day of the journey brings a quaint little town nestled against the forest to the south, where the air is filled with laughter, chatter and the smells of fresh bread and roasted meats. It's a sunny afternoon and the forest looms large in the distance behind a group of hunters bringing in their newest catch: a young buck. The locals are friendly, but reserved and despite some curiosity seem used to travellers passing by.

The day after passing another village along the road, the faint outline of Five Towers comes into view in the distance. The city is perched atop a series of rolling hills and the walls can be seen glistening in the sun as the travellers draw nearer. The namesake towers of Littlewood's capital reach up to touch the sky, resplendent in red, black, blue, green and white. They seem impossibly large and some even include floating turrets that are obviously kept aloft by magic. An enormous set of tubes pointed at the sky protrude from the domed top of the green tower.

As Five Towers comes into view, the corners of Caio’s mouth turn downward, not in a frown but in an expression of genuinely being impressed. “This puts Beschadik to shame. I fear that finding this Six in such a metropolis will prove difficult though.”

    "Wow! That sure is a sight, huh!? I've heard the stories of the Dragon Towers, but the view alone is better than anything I've ever heard." Astrid pulls Bluebell to a halt next to Caio and muses at ranger's assessment. "Well, we seem relatively safe here... I could try to reach out to this Jonathon. I think I remember him from that night in the tavern below Pitrograd."

    The dwarf pulls a copper spring from a pouch and begins to chant in dwarvish. After a moment she brings the spring to her mouth and begins to speak softly.

Uh... Hello there, Mr. Jonathon. My name is Astrid. We have a common friend in Ling and were looking into the problem you're having. My friends and I are here in Five Towers to look for Six. Do you have any advice in finding them in this city?

Quote from Sphynxyy >>

As Five Towers comes into view, the corners of Caio’s mouth turn downward, not in a frown but in an expression of genuinely being impressed. “This puts Beschadik to shame. I fear that finding this Six in such a metropolis will prove difficult though.”

Alaris grins at the strange and wonderful skyline. "I can see if I have any contacts here. Bastions of freedom always have room for folk who mean to misbehave."

As the towers of the city come into view, Shiva finds herself sincerely speechless. While the others begin to talk about points of contact within the city and how to locate Six, all she can do is stare at the arcane marvel of it all. She had read books about mystical cities and fantastical hideaways during her youth, but to see the metal and stone of such a place herself makes her feel blessedly small in a world more grand than she would ever understand. And she feels a pang of hope, a desire to live as a small part of such a majestic world. 

"Holy shit. It's like New York got a Tolkien makeover." 

"None of what you just said makes any sense to me, but this is ******* amazing. I never imagined that a place like this actually existed."

Quote from Saute_Monkey >>

    "Wow! That sure is a sight, huh!? I've heard the stories of the Dragon Towers, but the view alone is better than anything I've ever heard." Astrid pulls Bluebell to a halt next to Caio and muses at ranger's assessment. "Well, we seem relatively safe here... I could try to reach out to this Jonathon. I think I remember him from that night in the tavern below Pitrograd."

    The dwarf pulls a copper spring from a pouch and begins to chant in dwarvish. After a moment she brings the spring to her mouth and begins to speak softly.

Uh... Hello there, Mr. Jonathon. My name is Astrid. We have a common friend in Ling and were looking into the problem you're having. My friends and I are here in Five Towers to look for Six. Do you have any advice in finding them in this city?

 
Jonathan's response comes quickly to Astrid's mind.

"Astrid? You're with the Trio Infernale? Look for 'SWORDS! For Everyone!' in the red quarter and ask Maeve. Tell her that Brandon sent you."

    "Thank you," Astrid speaks lightly into the wire again and gives a nod as the reply fades. 

    "So, I think I have a little more to help us find this Six... Jonathon said to find Maeve in the red quarter, and mention that Brandon sent us." The dwarf eyes the red tower in the distance. "Oh and something about looking for 'swords for everyone'."

With a drastically lightened mood that borders on peaceful, Shiva smiles. "Swords for everyone sounds like my kind of time. Let's go."

Upon approach, it becomes apparent that the walls are easily twice the height of those in Paragon. The gates themselves are grandiose with intricate carvings of warriors and beasts adorning their surfaces. After a brief inspection by the stern, but professional guards, the Septem Mortale is granted entry into the city. The streets of Five Towers are bustling with activity, alive with energy and excitement. Merchants call out their wares, performers juggle and dance in the streets and the smells of exotic spices and savoury foods waft through the air.

Caio’s quiet awe only grows as the slayers enter the magnificent city.  His neck remains on a swivel, black eyes taking in every detail they find. Ghoul soars overhead, keeping watch on his own while Caio occasionally opts in to his aerial vision. Using this perspective and his own keen sight, Caio begins to lead the group in the direction of the indomitable red tower.

The red quarter is alive with mercenaries, smiths, taverns and street food stalls. A group of tiny halfling children blow past the Septem Mortale as they walk, screaming about what must be some kind of imaginary monster. Across the square, a group of musicians are performing a twelve-bar blues song outside a nearby tavern. A few moments later, a gnome stumbles out of the building, so drunk that he doubles over and vomits on the street. A fat cylindrical post is plastered with various garish advertisements, among them one for "SWORDS! For Everyone!"

Caio turns his attention to the red tower itself, the elf's enchanted goggles enabling him to pick out tiny details that others might miss from this distance. The building appears to be constructed of some kind of red stone. Unlike the other towers, the architecture is that of a typical martial keep, albeit colossal in size. However, on closer inspection, what makes the construction unique is that there are no joints in the architecture and the natural grain of the stone runs all the way up the walls. The tower looks as though it was carved from a single massive hunk of rock.

"There." Caio says, leading the Septem over to the signpost and indicating the address they require. "I assume you also wish to take note of the address of the closest brothel, Shiva?" He jokes, already turning to look for streets signs that will lead them to the advertised address. He sighs, "I wouldn't say no to a proper bath myself. After we find Six."