Feyhaven

A Call to the West

         Atlas wakes up to the pounding of rain on the thin roof outside of the inn. Clearly, it hadn't let up throught he night, but he was just fine with that. The streets are far more alive now, with carriages, horses, and people from all over interact and pass by. He sits up against the barrel and inspects himself for a second. None of his important tools are items are gone, but he does see a thin, paperlike protrusion in his worn jacket. Upon grabbing it, he realizes it's a letter, but made of an odd, delicate material. There's a seal adorning the front of it that looks royally made. Atlas stands up, causing Loch to, still sleeping, slowly slide down the barrel and slightly into where Atlas had been sitting. He retrieves his things before entering the inn and taking in the view.

           The breakfast hours are lively, people of all races uniting for the best meal of the day. Atlas finds one of the open spots at the bar and lays the letter in front of him. He orders a light drink before peeling the wax seal back and opening the parchment. The neatness is very apparent, and the words are clearly written by a scholarly person, but with a twinge of royal flourishes. As he skims the letter, he notices something odd: It is signed by some sort of queen.

                    Dear Atlas Mori,

          Your services are requested to the Palace of Feyhaven as soon as possible, as I do believe that your skillset and magical prowess precedes your reputation. If you are willing, I have a team here that runs expeditions and quests at my behest, and I personally think you would make a fine addition. The more the merrier as they say. If you choose to answer this call, please take some time to think over the benefits of this, as well as the downsides. There will be extensive rewards if you can prove your worth to me and my court, but that requires you get the job done and come back in one piece. This is dangerous work, as it is a dangerous world we live in, but as stated before, you will be rewarded upon completion, and I will make it worth it.

           I await your arrival with great interest, young exorcist.

                  Her Majesty, The Queen of Feyhaven

         He takes a deep, shocked breath and clenches his teeth. Any kind of royalty is a bit of a stranger to him, so he just stares at the note for a brief minute. The barkeep takes notice and approaches where Atlas rests.

          The human barkeep cautiously speaks up, "Are you alright, sir?"

      Atlas looks up at him, still shocked, "Yes sir I am, just got some strange news from an even stranger place. Think I might need to keep going West. Got any idea how to get to a place called Feyhaven?"

         The barkeep lowers his guard, happy to know he wasn't speaking with a lunatic.

         "Well, we have carriages in and out throughout the seasons on their way there. If coin isn't a problem, I'm sure you could hire a private journey there. That being said, carriages tend to be a bit cheaper."

         "I don't think I'm on any major time schedules, but I am apparently called there."

         The two men get quiet for a moment, and the barkeep goes back to wiping down the counter. After a minute he speaks.

         "Well, good on ya for knowing what to do next. Too many run around with no direction, but I'm guessing," he prods the letter, "you got it written out for you."

         "You aren't wrong, my good man. I reckon I should take my leave."

         Just as Atlas turns around, Loch stumbles in through the door, clearly having just woken up. The barkeep notices and immediately steps out from the bar.

         "Look man, I don't know how many times we gotta tell you. We don't offer free food, we don't offer free rooms, and that comment about my wife was far more disrespectful than anything I've heard in the past few seasons! Get out before I take you out!"

         Atlas grabs the barkeep's shoulder as he passes by, "Look, I'm actually thinking about trying to help this man. If I pay for his food and drink, can we stay for an hour or so? I don't want to be a burden, but I told him I'd buy. He's got some sort of memory loss and it makes him a little off, as you've already found out. I'm trying to learn what he does know."

          The barkeep's face keeps the anger on it, but his voice is noticably calmer.

        "I suppose that if you are paying, and you two don't intend to cause problems. You can stay for a brief while. But if he acts up, he's getting thrown out."

         "Understood, sir."

          Atlas motions over to Loch and the water genasi takes a seat next to Atlas at the bar.

         "I apologize for not waking you, I reckon I'm not used to having company."

          "It's fine, but what do they have to eat here? I'm starving."

          "I'll just get you what I usually get. Barkeep!"

         The two get plates of eggs, bacon, and grits, and Atlas slides a couple silver to the keep. Atlas begins casually eating, and Loch stuffs his mouth as if he hadn't seen food in years. Eventually, Atlas turns to him and speaks.

         "So, as far as I know, our kind doesn't hail from anywhere but Mausil."

         "Mausil, Mausil. That sounds familiar, but I don't believe I was born there."

         Atlas thinks for a moment, "You do know what you are, right?"

         Loch genuinely has to think,  "I figured I was a genasi, judging from what people tell me, and the mirror doesn't help because I don't know what they look like. What are you?"

         "I am an earth genasi, or half-genie." 

       Atlas unwraps his dust scarf more and reveals a face with weathered, tanned skin. His eyes are a golden yellow, and his unique horns become more visible as he uncovers them. A reddish orange crown of horns encircles his head, peering out from his hair which falls into a strawberry blonde ponytail at the end.

       Loch looks on, confused, "I thought there was only one type of genasi, though?"

        Atlas chuckles a little, "Originally, there was, but over time more elemental types arose. You, my friend are what I believe is a water genasi. Somewhere in your lineage was a water genie, and in mine was a earth genie. What great fathers, am I right?"

      "Regardless, Loch. I have a proposition for you. How would you feel about travelling West with me? If you pull your weight we can live a lot better than I'm sure we both have."

       Loch practically doesn't even hesitate, "Yes. I want to see more of the world, but things are hard when your mind wont let you remember practically any of the past. Any direct ideas on where to go?"

        Atlas picks up the letter and stuffs it into his inner jacket pocket. The two begin to walk towards the door. 

       "Feyhaven seems like a nice place to start again."