The gate to the city was wide open, guards stopping the carriages and inspecting them for suspicious goods. Unfortunately for us, we carried copious amounts of illegal substances, no doubt a great price for those pigs.

I was seriously considering doing a bit of a sudden race with the guards. Pull up to those bootlickers and scream in their faces:

“Hear me, you disgusting pigs! Cowards baboons! I’m gonna make these horses run like hell and none of you sissies are going to catch me. Go fuck yourself!”

Challenge those pigs on their home turf. Run up to them, with your horse panting and screaming like a madman with a bottle of something on one hand and my dick out. Crazy eyes and screeching nonsense, a truly dangerous madman reeking of alcohol and hallucinogen tendencies.

Here they come, getting closer… But I control myself. This is not a journey to end behind bars. This represents everything affirmative about the endless possibilities of the great kingdoms we live in. Love them or hate them, the elves have brought the rest of the races the greatest gift, vice. Because we love it, and any who says they don’t are lying.

The guards look into our carriage and only see a vaguely humanoid figure sobbing in a corner and a drake looking at the sky.

“Are they well?” A guard asks.

“Oh yes,” I answer, “a wild night of party and alcohol, you see. Nothing to worry about!” I try to put on my best smile, my face contorting in mysterious and terrifying ways.

They look at me with trepidation, but they decide we are not worth the trouble and give us the pass. Sal-Sagev, the city where all of your deep desires come true, one way or another.

I nudge the scaly bastard awake and remind him of our mission. “We must go to the inn and ask for the room. I think the essence is getting to me, we must be swift as the wind.”

It was true, for drugs are the most improbable things to analyze. Sometimes the morning essence doesn’t work for some time, which lets you wonder about how will you break the legs of that freak who sold it to you. And when it hits, because it does, it's in the most unfortunate times, usually after having consumed more substances.

While we made our way, I start to lose grip on reality. Buildings and faces, big and tall and ugly, all of them stare at me. Are those dwarves or are they children? Is that giant snake a fidget of my sick imagination or has some ungodly monster find its way into the city?

Nobody answers my questions. The city goes by in a flash, letting the drake take charge. If we don’t end in a ditch, we’ll get there. An indefinite number of hours later, which I later learned was only minutes, we reached the place we were looking for.

Solid structure, big stables for carts. Stairs go up to the entry, flanked by exotic trees and plants, moving in serpentine ways. A clerk, a man in a hideous yellow uniform comes over and exchanges some words with the magus. He signals me towards the elf, asking me to help him up. Does he expect a man high on drugs to help another man very high on drugs up some never-ending stairs towards an uncertain future?

He certainly does. So we go, three tumbling fools toward the door as the world judges. Valec barely reacts, being led as a sheep and muttering softly; the sign of a relaxed drunk.

As we arrive to the lobby, the reception is clearly for everyone to see. Carpets sporting bright colors and intricate chandeliers in the vicinity make my mind overreact. Analyzing my surrounding while searching for the assassins as I leave the passed-out elf in a chair. I make my way towards the reception as I look around and fail to see my drake friend. This means that I shall have to fight the demons alone.

It seems the terrible drug has had more of an effect on me that I initially thought. I kept thinking, “Don’t say anything, speak only when asked, name and reservation…”

There is no human way of explaining the absolute terror and despair I felt as the receptionist started to ask my name. The plans that were done fell swiftly as only babbling emerged from my throat:

“Aie… ama resserrvv…aatio… huegh, room ffur tue.” Get a hold of yourself, dammit! You seem like a fool, more than you already are!

The woman at the front looks at me with steely eyes, a gaze as cold as ice, asking the same question monotone.

“Can you repeat that, sir? I didn’t quite catch you.” She says with a barely disguised contempt grin. You want contempt, bitch? I’ll give you…

“My nnname is Duke…” I try to form coherent sentences as gulps and deep breaths help my fragile mind.

“We have a, ah, reservation. For one, but we are three, you see.” At this point, my legs are shaky and my lungs shout in protest; fortunately, I can’t hear them. “It is imperious we acquire the, eh, suite. You have it there? What’s left on the list?”

She looks at me like a stomped bug on the sidewalk and looks for something in some book.

“You will have to wait, sir. Your room is not ready yet.” She shot back, eager to make me suffer.

“What is this travesty!” I shouted, already hugging the table to prevent me from falling. “I paid for this room and I will have the room. Is it because of my friends, eh? So, you are a speciest? You racist pig?” By this point, securing the room seems improbable. This just crusade of mine will end the cruel oppression of the receptionist, at any cost!

A claw suddenly takes my head and shuts it with force.

“I’m sorry ma’am, my friend here is a little bit sick. But don’t worry, I have all the medicine he needs.” The drake claws suddenly glow with a certain touch of color, signaling magic is at work.

“We’ll wait in the inn. Prepare the room at once.” He says, as he carries me and the inexpressive elf to the bar.

“Shut up and drink.” He shoots me a furious glance as we sit in a table, the bar full around me. “Three ales, make it double!” he exclaims, going over to the server. I can focus on my surrounding at last. And what I see confirms all my fears.

Faces, old and young, men and women. Here you find the multicultural base of the city. Old humans drinking and smoking but young pretty drakes, with its distinctive makeup and strong scented perfume, made to enchant men and make them buy gold and riches.

There are also dwarfs, drinking merrily, which of itself is not a rare sight. Drinking with humans is. The power of alcohol is ever present here, along with the nauseating and oppressing smell of perfume, humanity and tobacco.

Which reminds me of my own cigars. After a quick search, only a few remain. Oh well, I will have to restock them. Not that there will be a problem in this city. But while I do smoke one, certain questions pop into my mind.

Who are these people? Are they aware of the base depravity that interracial relationships have done? For all the gods, its not even noon and there are dozens of drunkards and pig women here searching for the pleasures that only a night long alcohol frenzy can provide!

The faces turn and twist as more and more begin to look at me. Uncanny. Eventually I manage to understand that every single head in this room is looking at me. Bizarre, because their bodies are not, as they keep gesturing and moving as if they still were conversing.

“We see you, Duke.” All the heads say in unison. “Is this what your life has come to?” They don’t blink. Premonition and unspeakable fear hold tight my chest. I can say nothing, and I say nothing. The words die in my throat.

“What will you do, Duke?” Valec ask, his gaze staring deep into my soul.

“Decide, Duke, decide.” He says. The rest follow him. “Decide, decide, decide, decide, decide…” A chorus of infernal voices ring in my ears. I can’t take this abuse!

“No! Leave me! Back off!” I shout desperately as their faces start to contort. From their mouths a head emerges, destroying the face. And all the heads are the same, a certain drake, getting close as he snaps his mandibles at me.

“Duke! Duke! Duke!” He shouts.

“No! No!” I will not die here, and not to heads of a fucking drake. I refuse, I wo-

Something strikes my head. The pain is immediate and makes me slowly regain my lost sanity. Resabio looks down at me and shakes me by my shoulders violently.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Come back you drunk fuck!” I can see clearly now, the rest of the patrons are looking at me, probably because I have just started shouting without need. Was that one of those freakishly introspective nightmares…?

“The lizards, man” I respond, barely forming coherent thoughts, “they sting hard.”

“Whatever, let’s go to the room. You are freaking out the good patrons here, and the kid, for that matter.” It was true. The elf was looking at me with big eyes, the color from his face drained.

But now a new odyssey stands before me. To reach the room stairs and several potted plantsstood in my way, enemy of the drunk. Thankfully, the boy has cleared a bit and helps me through the maze that is the inn.

“You started shouting about drakes back there, man.” Mutters the elf, panting heavily. “You were scaring the others, and one employee asked Resabio to go to the room. They gave us a bigger one, just so they could get rid of you.” He explains dutifully.

“As long as they don’t call the guard, we are okay.” I say, while the mage looks around for our room. When we finally find it, the drake fumbles the key and almost breaks the door, but we manage to get in.

Spacious room, with ample capacity for rest and recovery against the frenzy that is about to come. We lay to rest briefly, catching our breath and planning our next move. The magus leaves the room to order some food delivered to the room. The payment comes through his message crystal, which our elf friend handsomely pays with little protest.

But the drug doesn’t end here. It has momentarily rescinded to allow me the clarity of mind necessary to reach the room, but it now comes back in full force. The lights start to shine as the worlds turns on itself. To try a control this terrible drug, I look out the window.

“There is a flying snake there.” I say, watching as said beast looks me through the window.

“Is there? I don’t see it.” Says the elf, looking lazily out the window.

“Shoot it down and eat it.” Suggest the mage, as helpful as ever.

The main problem of hallucinogen consumption in this world is the fact that you are never too sure of what’s real and what’s not. You’d be surprised of how many times a feral beast has snuck on an unsuspecting addict and eaten his face. Then again, sometimes the difference between a troll and a particularly ugly bastard is quite difficult to differentiate.

But the flying snake has vibrant colors, unlike anything I have seen before. It hisses, showing its sharp teeth, like knifes, menacingly striking at the air. After a while, it seems to grow bored and leaves flying from where it came.

“Gods, that was a magnificent beast.” I mutter slowly, tears coming forth from my eyes.

“We are down several bottles, and our eh, alchemist supplies are not so bad. We can go through some days, but we need to scavenge for booze.” The drake says after counting our supplies for the journey.

“And the cigars.” I say weakly.

“And the cigars.” He repeats.

The food arrives quickly after, a testament to the efficiency and level of the place. The fools back at the university have more money than they let go. The clerk, a young drake, comes with a tray full of the food we ordered. Three pies, apparently stuffed with a mishmash of tender meat and several vegetables, accompanied by numerous fried pieces of fish and a big salad. Of course, big loafs of bread and a bottle of rum and iced water to clear the palate.

“Put it on our tab, we’ll pay when we leave.” Said the magus while ushering the other drake outside. He started to protest, but he took a couple of golds and gave it to him, assuring him that if we need a good server, we would call for him. He left satisfied and with a grin on his face.

Before I can sit down and enjoy the food, Valec grabs me and brings me to the bath. I say nothing, waiting for the elf to consume his vengeance from the other day. I am not surprised when he takes my head and drowns me. I can feel that he is enjoying it, but it's probably better for the both of us.

With my head clearer and his petty revenge satisfied, we sit down and messily eat the feast before us. Little is spoken in the begging, while we feast greedily. When the initial drive of hunger subsides, Resabio opens the rum and the degeneracy start once again.

“Let’s make plans.” He says while drinking from a cup. “When will you see that guy you were looking for?”

“I don’t know exactly, but we have come early. Perhaps I’ll take a couple of days to enjoy the city.” I look over at the elf. “And show you what you have come to do.” He nods.

“I must say, we have done quite the journey. Certainly nothing I had imagined back in the kingdom.”

I laugh loudly. “You have seen nothing yet, kid.” I light a cigar and think about our next steps. The drake is already snorting some dust and a bright idea pops into my mind. The only thing a sensible traveler will do after weeks of tired journey is going to two places.

First, to the inn, to have a drink. And then, to the brothel, to relive the tensions. We have done one, and we need the other.

“I think it’s time we, eh, hit the brothel.” I say, watching my companions eat. The drake nods and the elf chokes.

“My friend, that is one of your greatest ideas yet.” Said the drake smiling, probably imagining all the possibilities. Valec, on the other hand, seems flustered and on edge.

“It seems like a great idea, yes.” He says, with no confidence in his voice. “I’m looking forward to it.” He gulps loudly and sweats lightly. His eyes dart from side to side, his lip trebling slightly.

“Is this your first time?” The drake asks, barely containing his laughter. “Has you little boy seen no action?”

“And with a whore, no less.” I mutter. “What a sad life. Then again, many do. It's not that unusual.”

“She will eat him alive...!” He finally exploded in uncontrolled laughter. I suspect he started snoring some of that dust again.

“Well, I would like that as well.” I responded as my arm braced the boy. “Don’t worry, today you’ll become a man.” The magus poured more rum on the cups.

“Liquid courage. Drink it. It will make your pecker work as it should.” He passed the dust to me, but I gave it back.

“Not anymore, can work properly high on the stuff.”

“Hah! You weak—tailed human!” He resorts loudly as he downs a green slime.

“You don’t understand the basic decency and virtue of the human race, you fool.” I turn towards the young elf. “And I hope you will understand it, soon. Better than this shithead here. Yes, he is my friend, and even though he is racially impaired he is very valuable to me. The stories we could tell… but not now, that’s for another day.” I lay back as we finish our meal and light another fag.

“Where are we going? The red?” Asked the magus, his gaze looking at something far beyond our mortal comprehension.

“Of course, I know Madame Velvet. She’ll treat us well.” I grin as we look at the elf, shrinking in place. He knows that today will be a day to remember.

Eventually we leave the inn. On the road there are a number of small carts made for city transportation. They are manned by a single poor soul, running the whole day with drunk fools behind him. Then again, they are very effective, those guys.

I give a couple of gold to some runner boy and we hop in, shouting to go to “the Red.” He starts running quickly as the city comes into view.

If someone who never visited Sal-Sagev before asked me how it is, I would respond by explaining the degeneracy that this city breeds. Its full of whores and drunkards, riches and misery, good and bad. It’s a port city, watching as merchants and visitors arrive daily and partake in all the sins the city has to offer.

All the races, except the elves, of course, find their way here, to enjoy as brothers the pleasures of the world that decent, hardworking folk resent. You can’t kick a stone at not find some whorehouse or a place to gamble all your money away. As such, there are combinations of them all, places where you can get drunk, gamble and fuck, although those are either very expensive or excessively degenerate.

The city gains at night, when the magical lights flow and creates another world, when there is no pain and the conflicts are all but forgotten. It also helps to mask the ugly of the city which everybody will face, one way or another.

In that note, dusk is falling as night approaches quickly. The lights sprung up, still some time before they all explode in an orgy of colors. The drunks are already out and about, locals full and coin flowing freely. The oppressiveness of the world fades as we move quickly through the streets, arriving soon after to our new favorite place.

The brothel has a flashy entrance, easily recognizable by numerous ladies on flashy and revealing clothes around it. The lights that surround the building are red, the color of passion. The building is rather nice, well maintained and clean, a sign of quality on these shores.

We arrive as the working ladies woo us while we enter. There is no need to convince when you already are, after all. The inside is clean, illuminated and welcoming, as any reception should be. I ask the girl on the counter for the madame. She makes us wait for a few minutes, time we spend in eager anticipation, enjoying the sights.

Eventually, a voluptuous woman appears from a room. Human and mature, she still holds some of that grace and sensuality of a woman that pleases for a living.

“Ah, mister Duke, is good to see you here. As well as yourself, Magus Resabio.” She says, her voice a melodic tone, enough to charm many men. Unfortunately, for men like us, that doesn’t mean much.

“Madame, an honor,” I say while I kiss her hand. “We are here to get the finest service that the city has to offer. But today is special, you see.” I get close to her and whisper. “The boy is an elf. He’s keen… and very new. Take care of him.”

“An elf? Sure, it can be arranged. Your preference, gentlemen?” She asks while receiving a generous pouch from the mage, previously owned by Valec.

“For me, a fine dirty whore. I like them meaty.” The disgusting drake is almost salivating as he is taken to the inside. Soon after, the elf also disappears.

“And you, my dear Duke?”

“You know me. Young and pretty, nice curves.”

“We have a few new faces. Take your pick.” She leads me to one inside room as a number of ladies’ step in. All of them young and beautiful. In the end, one of them picks my interest over the rest. A blonde, with a gaze that shatters the soul... big green eyes, like the waters in a clean lake. I’m being serious here. The eyes sold me the whore.

And so our afternoon went, in a whorehouse after days of drug-fueled road rage. The depravity carries on…