Under the Streets of Ashagor

The stench surged from behind the door and formed an invisible wall infront of him that could have just as well been made of boulders. Aburning torch in one hand and a worn saber in the other, Kaden Rakhelglanced at the people standing in a semicircle around him, strange people he did not know. They were all waiting for him to step into that gaping mouth of death and decay, possibly never to return.

"Claim your prize! Claim your freedom!" They chanted loudly, for he was a lowly orphan, an outcast. Enslaved byRajah Ziraj at the age of eleven, when he was caught stealing in the streets of Ashagor, he was placed to serve at the palace for the restof his short life, for slaves rarely made it far in the southern kingdoms. It was either life as a slave or death as a thief, no other options were given, but life has a strange way of twisting even themost inevitable fate. Kaden quickly made name for himself by demonstrating his incredibly nimble fingers and excellent sense of balance, and after a few years of practice he was appointed as anentertainer. Working with daggers and sabers, he presented skill thatwas admired even by the padishah of Saladur, the high emperor of thegreat southern empire. The Ziraj family was one of the most renown jewellery producers in the entire Aradea, and to maintain this status of wealth and splendour, even the slave entertainers wore silk and gems.

With all this attention and admiration, Kaden became a little too proud, a little too arrogant, and it was soon noticed by Rajah himself, the feared head of the family. At the same time, there was a large outbreak of redspot fever in the city. This dreadful disease was carried by the vicious black rats that came from thesewers, and the rumor said that somewhere in the depths of the vast underground labyrinth there was a monstrosity called the rat king.The story goes that it was nothing that resembled a regular rat, but looked more like a blob of rats grown together with entangled tails and mutated bodies. The rat king was unable to move, but it was likely hidden somewhere in the deepest, darkest part of the sewer network, and it had hundreds of black rats protecting it. That was the source of the disease, and there was a prize set for a successful hunt - either freedom for a slave brave enough to test their courage, or ten gold coins for a fearless adventurer willing to risk their life. Only one signed up, and with this false signature, Kaden's days seemed numbered once again.

The boy's constantly growing cocky behavior and bold advancements toward the ladies of the palace, who found his strongand agile appearance very desirable company, had angered more thanone of the masters, and so, without anyone bothering to inform himabout it, Kaden's name had mysteriously appeared as a volunteer inthe papers of the city watch. As a slave, he had no right to deny theonce promised attempt to save the city, which in itself was very honorable and gallant effort. But he was never given the choice tospeak for himself as one of the masters had given out his name inpure malice, and now he had to do his best in the sewers or die bythe blade of a watchman.

One of the closest girls he had in the palace, Majha, daughter of Krifar Ziraj, was there to witness him entering the endless tunnels filled with filth of the city. The entire situation was outrageous. Majha was engaged to Darum Arub, the grand master of the goldsmith's guild, and together with Ziraj's endless supply of valuable metals, they were planning to expand down to Galandria and conquer a sizeable share of the market there as well. But there she was, following Kaden's descend into the darkness with her deep brown eyes full of sadness and longing, openly rebelling against her family.

The golden and silvery domes, the narrow alleyways and bustling bazaars all shrunk down in front of the black doorway.Distant squealing echoed from the mouth of doom, blending into silent gurgle of water. The crowd had ceased chanting, and stared at the scared boy, who now approached the unknown with the saber in his hand slightly shivering. No one ever went into the sewers, no one dared. All the wild rumors and stories of what lived under the streets of Ashagor had reached the heights of legends, but there was no manbrave enough to see what was the truth behind tales - no man until now. It was perfect situation for the Ziraj, for the only loser in this plot was the slave. If he indeed got lucky, found the rat kingand slew it, the family would gain a lot of fame and respect in thecity. If he failed, there was no harm done to any party that mattered, and Darum would get rid of his absurd rival in love.