The Find 10.

Autumn.

The City Of Ruins. Early in the morning. Before dawn.
"Why are we up so early?" asks Lisell Maera the scout who yawns as they walk to the nearby ramp that leads down to The City of Ruins.
"And why are we searching down at this end of the pit?" adds the attractive looking young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, who continues with "Since we're not going to find them down at this end".
After Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, mutters "Hope i don't fall into the pit in this darkness".
Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy says "Information that's why" followed by "If we find the whereabouts of them, then we can either eliminate the northern half of the city, or the countryside to the north of the pit" he then adds "Then we can concentrate on either one or the other".
Lis who is in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque grunts, as she knows all this.
What she is wanting to know, is why they're setting off so early. Just a short while later, she finds out why.
"Hell, it's busy already" murmurs the scout Maera as she and the elven spy approach the ramp that's goes down into the giant hole in the ground.
The elven spy, who is from the principality of Alínlae, where he served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, nods his hooded head in agreement.
As people are already heading down into the pit, and it's still no where near dawn.
Lisell Maera and Dalinvardèl Tanith, both of whom are in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
Are heading down this ramp to the east of the town of Hilsons Point. While others in the group are going down some of the other ramps, here at the southern edge of the giant hole in the ground.
Within which, is the ancient city of Dalphene, or The City of Ruins as it's more commonly known as.
"Head down the edge on this side, looks to be way quicker, and there's far less people there" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin, as more often than not, he's called by those who know him well.
"And fall off?" says the attractive looking young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, who then adds "Hell no".
As there doesn't seem to be that many torches lit down the edges of this ramp.
Say compared to the one, over to the west of the town of Hilsons Point.
"You're not going to fall off" dryly says the elven spy who holds the rank of captain in the armies of Farque, and is a company commander in the scouts and rangers division.
"I'll walk near the edge, you on the inside of me, it'll be fine" adds Dalin, who gestures at those heading down the ramp and says "Beats getting in line behind all this lot going down the middle of the ramp".
Lisell Maera nods, then yawns again as she follows the elven company commander in the armies of Farque.
The two of them get onto the nearly a hundred and fifty foot wide stone ramp that goes down into the giant hole in the ground.
The attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury can't imagine the effort it took to build the ramp. Which is one of many dotted along the south side of The City of Ruins. And this isn't even one of the largest ones.
But she sees that Dalin is right, as there's very few people walking along the right edge of the ramp.
A ramp that goes almost five hundred feet down into the massive hole in the ground, within which is the ancient city of Dalphene.
A city originally from the otherside of the world. That was brought here by the Greater Dragon Kor.
Who quickly forgot about it, as the transfer here, destroyed a lot of the city. Killing most of it's inhabitants.
Since then, it's been the home of the largest treasure hunt in the Southlands.
Where people from right across the Southlands, and beyond. Come to seek the treasure that's hidden here in the ancient city of Dalphene.
And over a couple of millennia, more and more of the ancient city is dug up, revealing more of it's hidden treasures.
Both Lis and Dalin have been warned what to expect down in the pit. Here at the southern end, where villages and towns have been built to accommodate those who come down into The City of Ruins.
Particularly the towns and villages built near the base of the ramps.
Things are more or less civilized. Mirroring what's happening up on the edge of the pit. In towns such as Hilsons Point and Peacesmith.
It's once you start heading further north in the pit, the more volatile things become.
Where running battles between large mercenary companies isn't uncommon.
And though towards the middle of The City of Ruins, there's a so called neutral zone.
Though the scout Maera and the spy Tanith have been warned it's pretty much just as dangerous as other places in the pit.
While at the northern end of the giant hole in the ground. Is the most dangerous place of all in the pit.
As that's the least dug up place in The City of Ruins. Where more than likely there's a lot of hidden treasure that's yet to be found.
Only the brave and fool hardy are found up there.
And both Lisell Maera and Dalinvardèl Tanith suspect their's and rest of the group's search for the person they're looking for.
Will lead them to the dangerous northern end of the giant hole in the ground.
Within which is the ancient city of Dalphene, or as it's more commonly called, The City of Ruins.
The scout originally from the coast of the Southlands. Whose mother was a prostitute on the poorer streets of Brattonbury.
And whose father, a man she never knew, or for that matter, met. Was a sailor, who plied his trade upon the Great Western Ocean.
Is now rather glad there isn't too many torches lighting the way down the ramp.
For the simple reason, every so often they pass one of the lit torches. Lis is able to glance down, and see how high they're up. And how far down The City of Ruins is.
Lis is just glad her vision isn't as good as Dalin, who know doubt, with his naturally enhanced eyesight.
Is able to see down into the pit through the darkness. And see the ancient city of Dalphene below.
Though for all that, Lisell Maera is glad they've gone this way down the right edge of the ramp.
As she wouldn't have to shuffle along with all of those heading down the middle of the stone ramp.
Where you're likely step on some kind of animal shit as you head down the ramp.
As there's just about as many livestock, along with horses and donkeys hauling carts and wagons.
That are heading down with all the people making their way into the pit at this early time of the morning, before dawn.
There's very few people coming up the ramp at this time of the morning. As most who come up from the pit, do so late in the afternoon, or during the evening.
The scout Maera keeps to the inside of the spy Tanith, who walks fairly quickly down the ramp.
"Not as cold down here" quietly says Lisell Maera, who follows that with "Cool, but not cold like up top".
Dalinvardèl Tanith nods his hooded head in agreement, then quietly says "Helps being down in this hole i guess".
Gesturing northwards, the spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland, the elven principality of Alínlae, adds "I guess the further north you go, the more the weather from up top takes an effect".
The company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque, then adds "Especially at the very northern end of the pit".
Lis nods at that, as she's been told the pit isn't particularly deep at that end.
You can easily walk up in places, as at the northern end, where The City of Ruins is still being dug up.
Unlike here, ten miles south. Where digging hasn't occurred all that much in centuries.
And the only time it is done, is to build and expand the towns and villages that's popped up down here, at the base of the ramps, here at the very south of the gigantic hole in the hole in the ground.
Once they're down off the ramp, the attractive young woman from the city-state of Brattonbury looks up into the sky and sees the darkness is starting to lighten up.
As false dawn approaches, just before dawn breaks upon this part of the very north, of the central regions of the Southlands.
"That town to the right, is the one we're starting with" says Dalinvardèl Tanith who then quietly adds "Keep alert, for even though they say this part of the pit is pretty civilized, I've already spotted a few unsavory sorts eyeing us both up".
The scout Maera nods, and once again she's glad she's been teamed up with the quick thinking, and highly observant elven spy from the principality of Alínlae.
The fact he can see and hear a hell of a lot better than any human can possibly hope to, has a lot to do with it as well.
Lis follows Dalin into town, which at this time of the morning, just before dawn, is a bustling place.
With a lot of people out on the streets, starting off their day, here in The City of Ruins.
The attractive, tall, lithe and athletic, young woman from the coast of the Southlands.
Sees that there's as many trades people and workers, as there are adventurers in town.
Which isn't surprising, as mercenaries, adventurers and treasure hunters.
All need places to live, get things fixed, and other things made. As well as food prepared and cooked for them.
No wonder it's so busy here before dawn, Lisell Maera thinks to herself, as she realises most of the treasure seekers and the like.
Are about to head north, deeper into the ancient city. To find anything of wealth that could be hidden in the ruins of Dalphene.
The scout in the armies of Farque quietly asks the spy Tanith "Where to first?"
"Chandlers and supply shops" is the quiet reply from the company commander in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
"You do all the talking" quietly adds the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alínlae.
"Me?" says Lisell Maera in a tone of surprise as they cross a busy street, when Dalin spots a chandlers across on the otherside, and further down it.
"You" says the spy Tanith, who continues with "Most of the people here are human" followed by "And you've got a pretty face, so".
The elven spy leaves it unsaid at what he thinks.
And Lis sourly smiles, as she knows exactly what he's referring to.
"Well, a pretty face for a human" adds Dalinvardèl Tanith with a twist of his lips to stop himself from grinning, as he looks sideways and down at the Farqian army scout walking beside him.
"Jerk" mutters the scout Maera, who can't help it, but grins as she sees that the company commander in the armies of Farque is teasing her.
Dalin gestures at the shop, with it's side sliding doors open, where a couple of workers are unloading a wagon.
As the sky above The City of Ruins, slowly gets lighter with dawn taking effect, as the sun starts to come up over the horizon to the east.
"Common" murmurs the spy Tanith to the scout Maera as he leads the way through the front door of the chandlers shop.
A shop that already has a handful of customers in it at this time of the morning.
Both Dalin and Lis pick them to be new arrivals to the ancient city of Dalphene.
And wonders how long they'll last. They both suspect some of them won't even last their first day here in The City of Ruins.
As the spy Tanith wanders through the chandlers, pretending to look at the supplies.
But actually watching the people in the shop, both customers, and those that work in here.
The attractive young woman from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, who is now in the scouts and rangers division of the armies of Farque.
Goes up to the counter after one of the customers pays for his goods, then exits the shop.
"I was wondering if you could help me" says Lisell Maera in the common language, switching from the elven that she and Dalin have been conversing in.
"Of course" says the chandler, who continues with "That's what we're here for" he then adds "What are you looking to buy?".
Lis remembering what the spy Tanith said out on the street as they approached the shop, flashes a smile of gratitude to the shopkeeper, a man in his early forties.
Who stands a little taller behind the counter, and puffs his chest out, when the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury smiles at him.
"Why thank you" says the scout Maera, who takes out a folded piece of parchment from an inner pocket of her cloak, as she adds "Well, I'm not looking for something to buy, more like I'm looking for someone".
Lis opens up the piece of parchment paper, and puts it down on the counter top, and says to the chandler "You wouldn't of happened to seen this person have you?".
The chandler looks quickly at the piece of parchment in the lamp light, and shakes his head, and thinks about telling the attractive young woman, to stop wasting his time. Either buy something, or leave his shop.
But he decides not to, as she smiles at him again, and points at the piece of parchment paper on the counter top.
A piece of parchment that has a life like drawing of a face of the person, the young woman says she's looking for.
"I can't say that i have" says the chandler, who briefly pauses, before adding "I could ask the lads if they have".
"I'd appreciate that" says Lisell Maera the scout, who once again flashes a smile in gratitude for the benefit of the shopkeeper.
Who starts calling over his workers, to see if they know, or have seen the person illustrated on the piece of parchment paper.
As Lis and Dalin, begin their, and the rest of the group's search down here in The City of Ruins. For the person they've traveled here to find . . . . . .