Chapter 2: A New Dawn

As the light got closer and closer Alexander started to hear a muffled cry of pain. Then moans, inconsistent screeching, and growls of anger. And, although he did not know the language, what sounded like cruel insults made in desperation that were targeted at other camly toned voices.

Calm masculine voice: (Common) "You're ok ma'am, it'll all be over soon."

Angry voice: "Stop breathing your incessant hot breath on me!"

Calm feminine voice: "Relax, here comes a contraction, now push."

Angry voice: "What the hell did I just say!? Are you perhaps deaf!? Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!"

With that final push, Alexander took his first breath in this new playground of a world. He then became occupied with gazing around at his surroundings, as much as he can without the strength to turn his head. The room that he was in had walls with deep green wallpaper with silver embroidery. The furniture had the appearance of wealth such as having gilded metals, a fine mirror, and a plush bed. Yet, the gilding has just started to chip ever so slightly, the mirror has started to dull and fog, and the bed is really... really broken in. Looking towards the window, he finds it tented and stained to a light grey to emulate silver.

Glancing straight up he realizes that he is in the arms of a short yet stocky woman, her facial features such as her jawline are strong and defined. With her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun to keep it from her eyes, and an apron on the front of her blouse Alexander assumed that this woman was most likely a dwarf and the midwife. Straining his gaze so far to the right that his eyes felt as if they'd pop from his skull. He spotted an elven woman with sunken eyes and drenched in sweat. With silver hair that even now glistened like the sail of a marlin on a calm ocean moonlit night, and eyes of a rich emerald green, she was undoubtedly his mother. Scoping the room as well as he could, Alexander could not find the source of the third voice as of yet.

The dwarven woman with chocolate eyes continued to examine Alexander with a look of worry.

Dwarf: "Um, miss, I think something might be wrong with your son. He isn't making a sound and his eyes keep darting around giving off the sense of intelligence."

A deep voice then chimes in, and a well built man with green skin, sharp yellow eyes, and short bottom tusks protruding from his mouth walked up. Dressed in rather plain clothes with a dagger at his side, he gives off the appearance of a worn warrior that is now a bouncer or cheap guard.

Half-orc: "How peculiar. Since he hasn't cried yet, give him a pinch, that should put those lungs to work."

As the Dwarven woman began to give Alexander a pinch he finally noticed the looks of worry and confusion on the faces of those in the room. Catching on to the desired response for those with him due to his lack of vocalization, he acted. With the most pathetic look he could muster, and using the fleshy smell of his mothers discharged placenta bringing a tear to his eye.

Alexander: "Uh, Umm… Waa?"

The midwife dwarf and the half-orc then look at each other completely befuddled. Finally after all this time Alexander's mother pipes up.

Elf: "It doesn't matter if he's healthy or not. His destination is the same." As she pulls herself up to a better sitting position the elf continues with an uncaring tone. "Too many children are born in this line of work and too many die from a lack of attention. Take him to the orphanage at the temple of Cognitios as soon as you clean him."

Dwarf: "Are you not going to name him? Why not give him one, there shouldn't be any harm in doing so."

Elf: "No, he will either die soon or live to choose a name he prefers. Now leave me, I'll need to wash up and rest to prepare for some more backbreaking work tomorrow."

The dwarf nods, and with the baby and half-orc leaves the room. While passing through a long hallway Alexander took in his surroundings to learn about his birthplace. Every door in the hallway had its own individual styling and had lanterns on them. Some emitted light with the hue of red, while others were dimmed. As he was carried past those doors with unlit lanterns he could hear moans of pleasure, the creaking of beds, and the smell of colitas rising up in the air. At realizing what kind of establishment he was born in, the face he made could only be described as the face of someone who just ate a Vegemite, skunk gland sandwich with a dash of lemon zest.

Eventually, getting towards the end of the hallway the dwarf carrying Alexander enters a room without a lantern on it. Inside is a rather bland decor without any of the gaudy furniture from the previous room. In the back corners there are two troughs filled with water, and as they move through the threshold on a stool to the right of the door are a couple of drying cloths.

The dwarf brought Alexander towards the trough preparing to bathe him with recently procured cloth. In a completely new tongue that he had yet to hear she spoke to Alexander. And, although the tone was meant to be soft and gentle. The language uttered had too much of a gruff rustic dialect to be considered soothing.

Dwarf: (Dwarven) "Young one, I feel quite sorry for you to be born in your situation. It won't be easy for a half-breed to grow up in an orphanage. You will be bullied and many will look to capture a young child with your blood to sell as a slave."

As Alexander could see the pity for him in the eyes of this dwarf he began to give a small smirk towards her. That was until a cold cloth that gave him a chill to his bones was used to clean him. And, for all of his lackluster struggling, there was no escape from the freezing cloth. Once finished, the dwarf created a makeshift diaper putting it on Alexander then she wrapped him in one of the cloths from the stool.

Dwarf: "Alright let's get you to the temple child."

With those words the dwarf carried Alexander to the end of the hall and down a flight of stairs reaching the lobby. As soon as they cross into the open room a sickeningly sweet scent of overly strong perfume permeates the air. Lavish couches are strewn across the room with courtesans approaching and entertaining clients. The floors are made of a glossed ebony, walls of ruby red wallpaper, and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. After passing through the open lobby the duo reach a set of double doors, the sounds of a busy, bustling open market can be heard just beyond. The heartbeat of a new and thriving city calls to Alexander as the doors open.