Chapter 1.1: The City of Blood and Gold

"Cibola was once the wealthiest city in the world," Xochitl said with a hint of pride in her voice, as she guided you through the ruins of the long-dead city. "Over a million of my people lived here, and it was considered the greatest of the Seven Cities of Gold."

You followed Xochitl in silence, sharing little of her enthusiasm for the treasures of the City of Gold, as there was an emptiness in your chest that no amount of gold could ever fill.

Unlike you, Xochitl was a native of this land, a free-spirited sixteen-year-old girl from a small village who was training as a healer. She had insisted on coming with you when she learned that you were searching for the ancient home of her ancestors, even though the elders of her village had tried their best to dissuade her from the adventure.

"Cibola was a city of magic and wonder," Xochitl continued in an excited voice, pointing at the moss-covered ruins of an ancient temple. "Great feasts were held here; there was singing, dancing–"

"And human sacrifices," Lian added with a yawn. She was the third member of your adventuring party, a beautiful but lazy witch with pale skin, silver hair, and strange red eyes, who claimed to have come from the mysterious land of Fusang in the Far East. Lian claimed to be a bit older than sixteen but yawned sleepily and evaded the question when someone asked her exact age.

Just like she evaded the question of what she sought to find in the lost city of Cibola or how she had found you.

Despite being wary of her motives, you were glad to have Lian with you because for some strange reason, you felt 'whole' when you were near her, even though there was a literal hole in your chest where your heart once was.

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Do your companions know that you are a Demonologist?

[] Yes, you have told Xochitl and Lian that you are a demonologist.
[] No, you are hiding the fact that you are a demonologist.
[] Write In.