h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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Omens of Oblivion: Chorrol

Chorrol was much closer than Freya had expected, she spotted the city gates as soon as she had gotten up the hill. Once inside, she was talking to one of the guards about the various businesses in Chorrol, when she overheard a conversation about the chapel attack - in Anvil! The monk had not included the name of the city when he told her about it, she had just assumed that it was Chorrol as that was the city closest to the priory.

Thanking the guard for the information she had received, Freya hurried towards the chapel. The sooner she could have her wound attended to, the better. She entered the chapel and had a look around, but the place looked empty. When she finally found someone to ask, she was a bit surprised to find a female Orc working in the chapel, she was fairly certain she had never seen that before. The Orc informed her that the chapel healer was out, but was expected back later that afternoon. Freya thanked her and stepped out into the street, looking for a way to spend the next few hours.

She settled down comfortably on one of the benches beneath the great oak, the symbol of Chorrol that was depicted on the cuirasses of the town guard. There were quite a lot of people around and, while Freya sat there grinding herbs for potion mixing, several of them stopped to talk to her.

Besides the upsetting news about the assassination and the Anvil chapel attack, people were also happy to share some of the local gossip with her. This way, Freya learnt about how the town drunkard never greeted his neighbours when they came across him in Cheydinhal, how the father of the Odiil brothers was sick with worry after the had left the city, that there were odd noises coming from the Belette house at night and that one of the innkeepers and the guard captain 'would be a nice couple'.

The chapel healer should be back by now, so Freya gathered her things, got up, and headed for the chapel. Once inside, she soon located the Dunmer healer and approached him. After a brief discussion, he asked to see her wound.

'Hmmm... yes, a wolf you say? Most likely Helljoint then, please sit down while I get my ointments.

After cleaning her wound and applying the ointment, Gureryne instructed Freya to stay in bed over the next two or three days, as the ointment would cause a fever that would burn away the infection. Taking in her worn, ill-fitting and mismatched pieces of leather armour, he smiled and added kindly:

'But why pay for a bed, when you can get one for free by joining one of the local guilds?'

As Freya left the chapel, she decided to take the healer's advice. She tried the Mages Guild first, since it was nearest. She got a friendly enough welcome, but she did not feel quite at ease among all the robes. Still, she signed up, receiving a key to the premises as well as a copy of the guild charter. She learnt that in order to gain access to the Arcane University, located in the Imperial City, she'd need a recommendation from each of the local guild leaders. To gain her first one, she was asked to find out what Earana, a former guild member, wanted. Obviously, she had been stalking Teekeus, the guild leader, for several days.

Leaving the guild hall, sure enough, Freya saw a woman who looked very much like a mage. However, since it was already getting dark, Freya decided to pay the Fighters Guild a visit before approaching her.

Upon entering, Freya at once felt at home among the fighters. This was much more up her alley. The first person she turned to, the guild blacksmith, confirmed that they were indeed looking for new members and would be happy to have her. All she had to do was talk to the guild leader Vilena. Sabine pointed her out to Freya. Her? Freya had expected the leader to be male, but felt silly for assuming so, for no apparent reason.

Once Freya had signed up, she was informed that things were rather quiet in Chorrol and that she should instead head for the guild hall in either Anvil or Cheydinhal for assignments. It seemed no guild charter was needed, as long as you kept your nose clean. Freya excused herself, intending to go bed early. The journey on foot from the Imperial City had taxed her more than she had expected it would.

Once she lay in bed, Freya thought about what Vilena had said. Both city names rang a bell. Ah yes, the town drunkard and the chapel attack. Trying to recall everything that had transpired during the last 24 hours, Freya found that her head started to ache again. Better leave the thinking until tomorrow. It didn't take long for Freya to fall into a deep, yet restless, sleep.

[-B4-]