Things were tense as a group of twenty people walked down a mountain trail, silhouetted against the mountain slope the trail hugged against, in the raking sunlight. They were still far off when it became clear that it was a scouting party followed by twelve Nemi Rangers. I was standing next to Elida when it became, to my eyes before his, clear that we were about to meet the Nemi. Elida retreated to his tent, which had been set up by a few guards while he went to hear the reports of the scouts and the meeting place. One of those guards camp out spreading his orders that none approach the incoming group, that together we would all await them at the meeting point.
When they arrived, our whole crew was assembled, and at the front stood Elida, Dald, and Trul. It was Grand's group which had gone to witness the Southern pass.
Grand stopped before the three, his scouts behind him and the Nemi Ranger standing silently and proudly behind them. "I witnessed their battlements along the pass, and saw clearly that the only way through it was with the permission of the Nemi. Our group requested passage, hoping to scout the far side for you, but we were delayed slightly when they questioned our purposes. Um... they would not grant passage to our group, but offered to come speak to the whole group, to negotiate."
Grand bowed out, and a man who did not offer his name came to the front. Tall and strong and wearing a kind of plate armor uniform of a material unlike any I have ever assayed. This is what he said
"You seek to cross our territory on a mission of war against a neighbor of the Nemi. We would be with in our rights to let you waste yourselves against our citadels, but your peoples and ours don't need war, and your scouts have petitioned in your favor, and speak of the danger of the darkest enemies of our shared ancestry. I am willing to escort you to Moft where we can receive your army as guests, and discuss certain misunderstandings that are at the base of your mission."
"Misunderstandings?" started Dald "Star's Reach has been found, as long as it exists it is a danger to all the worlds lands! What if the old war is brought back? We must go there, and ensure that the danger is settled!"
"I have heard about your mission, and your courage and character have been recounted to me as well. Still, you come from a place distant and there is much news you should learn at Moft before waging war, I am willing to advocate that the group from Towalk may be granted a visit to Star's Reach, that you can return to your families will reassurances based on your own experience and not hearsay. Those who now control Star's Reach have since finding in sent emissaries of peace, and have been active in reassuring those very same fears in my peoples hearts. I am surprised that these emissaries haven't connected with Sky Prairie."
Elida hissed "Haven't you considered that you could have been deceived, we cannot hazard being stopped in your capital, for offers that amount to being taken to the Greys in chains. And, I gather that your capital will not let us cross."
Grand guess the violent intent that two tongued Elida was about to loose, and screamed warning. I ducked down as warriors all around me flashed to fire guns. To me the battle was a chaos of guns and screams. Many many Sky Prairie shots did I hear 'toooof, toooof, toooof' of the air rifles and much more horrific power as powder guns and the Nemi blunder busses went off. I laid on the ground, shaking until the last shot, a execution shot, powder rifle had long since stopped echoing and a bleeding young mad of the Begorn turned me over to check me for life.
Even as I was sitting up I could hear Elida barking orders, trying to get our mission together to rush the Southern Gates. Countless voices were yelling depute. Smoke of powder guns slowly drifting up the mountain side Grand and the seven with him were dead among the twelve Nemi they stood with. Dald was being helped up, his right arm mangled by a shot gun blast. Tral was on the ground, bleeding out.
Nemi shotguns only got off nine shots, compared to a hundred rounds they received. Though their armor deflected some air bullets, the limited coverage was no help against a concentrated barrage. The last of them, who had tried to crawl away, had been shot close by a Canyoner.
It was almost dark as we had recovered from the disorder. Elida was in a frantic and pointless rush, preparing us to make all haste to the Southern Gate at the first hint of light in the morning. Meanwhile Dald, was passed out from pain, his arm having been amputated. With Trul dead the Canyoners were leaderless, five bands had each lost at least one life. In a daze we made a mess of a camp for the night, resigned to a forced march at first light for what we imagined to be an almost certain death.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Scout's Report
No one wanted more speeches, for there were enough physical dangers as we made headway into the high lands. Kindee had been busy since her demotion out of the Guard, seven groups she had put together to scout ahead and meet with the main group at the fork of two passes in three days. No guards volunteered for the mission, for their task was to guard the armaments. And I of course did not join here group, staying with the main group, and we did not see any scouts until we reached the Fork, but we did hear of them as we went. It was good we were now above the worst of the dust storms, and here a little more vegetation held the lands together and kept the sands in check, though on the second day of the journey leg we suffered from bad winds, they were at our back and not so thick with sand to be crippling, indeed the Canyoners who remained with the group behaved as though oblivious to it completely.
For each of the three days that we marched we can across welcomes along the trail, families from the Begorn herders. Our advance was heralded and nomads who had been in hiding before our march now came down to meet us, bringing what fine gifts they had to offer to our march. By the second day this way we had to start turning down donations of food and even water for our carts were becoming too heavy to manage in the steepening lands, and our pace suffered, adding two days to the journey. And recruits we had as well, several families sent their sons, usually the second son, to march with us. So twenty seven strong herdsmen joined our quest, and I suspect that more than a few foreign born children of Sky Prairie were conceived among the herds people in those days, or more accurately nights. For each time we camped several family groups of Begorn had built around us like an enterage, and wanted to feast us and celebrate, though there was little dancing in the dark, because no fires were allowed by the Towalk, but at least there was much music, which did not frighten the Towalk at all.
The accounts of the Begorns suggested the scouts were hurrying ahead of us at a fantastic rate. When we reached the Fork and meeting point, after five days marching, we found only five of the scouting parties, waiting contentedly for us. I was walking behind Dald and Elida as they hailed these scouts. Elida was agitated, and he asked for a report from the scouts, and to be told why the group Kindee went with and the group Grand went with were missing. This is the report we received.
"They made it here three day's ago, and headed on down both forks, to observe the conditions and see what state the Nemi were in. We got here a day later, Kindee told our group to herald your advent to the Begorn herders, so we could find more support and friends for the journey. Our five groups braided the lands, announcing the mission to Star's Reach as we could. Most we spoke were were supportive, and promised goods to our provisions, some even offered recruits to be ready to join your assemblies. We learned from the Begone that the northern route to the Nemi spine is a further journey from here than the Southern, and for many families we took warnings not to rush their Southern commander."
Elida asked "And, can you tell me, does Kindee intend to herald us all the way to the Nemi?"
The reporter, a Volunteer whose name was Para, didn't know. But from the southern trail came a group who would.
For each of the three days that we marched we can across welcomes along the trail, families from the Begorn herders. Our advance was heralded and nomads who had been in hiding before our march now came down to meet us, bringing what fine gifts they had to offer to our march. By the second day this way we had to start turning down donations of food and even water for our carts were becoming too heavy to manage in the steepening lands, and our pace suffered, adding two days to the journey. And recruits we had as well, several families sent their sons, usually the second son, to march with us. So twenty seven strong herdsmen joined our quest, and I suspect that more than a few foreign born children of Sky Prairie were conceived among the herds people in those days, or more accurately nights. For each time we camped several family groups of Begorn had built around us like an enterage, and wanted to feast us and celebrate, though there was little dancing in the dark, because no fires were allowed by the Towalk, but at least there was much music, which did not frighten the Towalk at all.
The accounts of the Begorns suggested the scouts were hurrying ahead of us at a fantastic rate. When we reached the Fork and meeting point, after five days marching, we found only five of the scouting parties, waiting contentedly for us. I was walking behind Dald and Elida as they hailed these scouts. Elida was agitated, and he asked for a report from the scouts, and to be told why the group Kindee went with and the group Grand went with were missing. This is the report we received.
"They made it here three day's ago, and headed on down both forks, to observe the conditions and see what state the Nemi were in. We got here a day later, Kindee told our group to herald your advent to the Begorn herders, so we could find more support and friends for the journey. Our five groups braided the lands, announcing the mission to Star's Reach as we could. Most we spoke were were supportive, and promised goods to our provisions, some even offered recruits to be ready to join your assemblies. We learned from the Begone that the northern route to the Nemi spine is a further journey from here than the Southern, and for many families we took warnings not to rush their Southern commander."
Elida asked "And, can you tell me, does Kindee intend to herald us all the way to the Nemi?"
The reporter, a Volunteer whose name was Para, didn't know. But from the southern trail came a group who would.
Preparing for the Fork.
Late into the night many stayed up celebrating that this threat of premature conflict was averted. I however slept early and soundly, in the valley. There was some tension over the Canyoner fire, as the Towalk feared their fire might draw down birds of slay upon them, though it was recounted to me that at moon rise it was extinguished and the Canyoners, Towalk, the Volunteers, and the Guards caroused in the moon light.
In the morning I arose to find few awake, excepting some Canyoners who had foregone sleep altogether the night before, as their people do more commonly than our own. It was a late start before the new confederation began to make head way toward the high mountains we sought to cross. Yet even with the bonds of friendship germinating between the diverse crew new tensions emerged, the Canyoners are very different in habit of how they move through these lands, and traveling more lightly than those from Sky Prairie or the Towalk pushing the provisions we had gifted them they tended to get ahead of the group and spread our lines thin. Elida was tormented by this new element of chaos in the group, and by Trul who argued with him as the walked about routes. That evening, Trul gathered his bands to give a speech and the rest of our coalition gathered to hear him,I recorded it as such:
"Between us and Star's Reach is long journey, some of you might live to see sands upon sands for days and days if we make it that far, but another issue is between us and there. The Nemi Rangers, the highlanders of all highlanders, even Sky Prairie they would look down upon were they neighbors. A long long line is the ridge of these mountains, between us and Star's Reach, and it is the spine of the Nemi Rangers. They guard jealously the orchards feed by that ridges streams, and a long trail connects their range along the long length. The trail is the cord of their spine, and not something that any people is welcome to walk on. Now we march toward the greatest Southern pass of that trail, Loven. But I say we march North, to the Nemi Capital of Moft. They are weak in Loven, and our great band may frighten them to fight us; in their ca. But even where they are weak it would take nearly a siege to force the battlements of their passes, a siege we could ill afford. Even if we forced them in short order their reinforcement would swarm down their cord trail, and dog us into the sands.
"Today I have dried my throat, can you hear is crack? trying to convince Elida the stubborn and Dald the silent of the Northern route, but they will not commit to it. So do I speak out of turn now? We have three days until the forked road forces an outcome. I have now said the Northern pass is the better pass, and told you who know less of our path why it is. I invite Elida or Dald to speak now if they have another view."
The Canyoners whooped, needing little encouragement to tease, and adoring Trul as their leader. Uncomfortable and seemingly very comfortable was the respective quiets of the Sky Prairie and Towalk peoples. All eyes gathered on Elida as he made his way to stand beside Trul, he paused, waiting paitently for the Canyoners to still before giving his speech.
"Yesterday we meet each other and you Canyoners gave our expedition a test, if we were war like or quick to quarrel, today we march as allies, as new friends. Maybe something like that is fated with the Nemi, or maybe something new to us. They rule their mountain ridge and are jealous, and in their capital their nobility is most jealous, listen to a man raised in courts himself, I should know! But consider the ribbing and the teasing I received for being stunned to silence by the amazing commitment of our common people, of the Volunteers of Sky Prairie. It is not the nobility who warm to such missions, there are too many nobles and too many plots for that. No it is the commoner who is moved to a mission like ours. Thirty guards were sent by to Nobles of Sky Prairie, and only a few of us from the nobility, but there were fifty sent by the passions of the land.
"This is my argument for us taking the southern route, the rural route. Our group is of rural people and has received the best aid from among the rural peoples. Better to meet the Nemi there, than to meet them in their castles where they feel secure against any threat, even the evils of the Sky Lords, of the Greys, of a second rise of the Federalists. They feel safe, I can attest to the safety felt by those raised in castles, Sky Prairies need to be woken by the Towalk proves it, and in their safely even 'death from above' and 'birds of slay' are but dim myths to them, and they don't feel the danger, feel the treat, that forces us to take this dangerous mission. We should stay way from their Capital and its people that are only like the part in me that you all tease, and not at all like the part of me that learned from our journey and fist warmed to the friendship between the long crossed Canyoners and my people, our people, the Sky Prairie."
This speech brought great cheers from many, but most especially among the Guards. Trul was ashen faced and grim, and though invited to speak quietly declined to comment from his place among his compatriots. Trul stood as large as he could and retorted with a great annoyance in his voice.
"You are a good entertainer, Elida! So you speak to our vanity, and it is good to hear you tease yourself, today I was starting to think such a thing was impossible. But, if you tease yourself you should first learn humility! Much you may know about your noble ways and maybe you know how to kiss up to we savages, for kissing up is the best skill of a noble. But you are ignorant, I am sorry to speak thus to you friend. The nobility of the Nemi is not in a castle, a hard skull of rulers! No they are swifter than that, more war like, the whole cord and spine is their nobility, and there is no going around it. Better to face their Capital strength to its face like to Towalk did before your gates, and only my people know the dangers of both the Sky Prairie and the Nemi gates, truly camping under YOUR gates takes more courage!
"Nemi nobles mix and move through their orcharders and their cistern diggers, and their whole people. The rural, you call it as only one who does not travel might, south is as noble as their capital, or maybe more so. But your kind who rule from on high, do not like my kind who sneak around, and where their armor and their guard is weak in the south is also where their hot blood is, it is foolish to drive an army of hundreds against their most insecure point, it is a declaration of war."
Elida turned toward Trul, with hate filled gase, and looked as though he might be about to undo the peace of the previous day, when in a great bound Dald landed between the quarreling leaders, resting his big hands or each mans shoulders. "Don't waste yourselves on each other! Not until the job is through." then addressing the gathered crowd which itself had many people considering deeds which would themselves undo the peace "My people are just trying to make our way to Star's Reach, and we cannot tell if so many followers are a curse! But we do not know the way through these mountains, and must trust our guides, and all who would join, even those who would fight each other, are our guides. You both may be guides and less ignorant than I am, but you are following my quest, joining my mission. Don't tell me of this Nemi enemy, because I am not here to fight the Nemi, won't someone tell me a better path than destroying ourselves before I even meet a Nemi, or destroy Star's Reach?"
And Kindee stood up in the crowd yelling back to Dald "I have a way through our first danger, each other! Let some of my people and some of the Canyoners join in small bands, to scout ahead. That we may learn more what truly is on our paths, rather than walking blind. That we may cultivate more friendships, to stitch together these rifts. That the Towalk may have fewer CHILDREN to tend with the core of our host, and be able to keep the peace that way. Spread and streteched are our nerves, like our lines today. Maybe they must break? Let us choose the breaks, and make with them scouts and heralds!"
At this point I saw in Elida's face a look of horror, more distorted than his rage at Trul, but he was speechless while Dald said this. "It's good to hear someone speak some sense, after listening to these two bickering all day. I would like it if you could put together some few folks to do this scouting."
Little else of import was said at that gathering, though in the next morning I crossed Kindee's path, and was nearly shoved over by her gaze, but when I asked her of her fury she did not speak. Later I learned that Elida had cast her from the Guards, though of course her esteem was still great with many, who cared not.
In the morning I arose to find few awake, excepting some Canyoners who had foregone sleep altogether the night before, as their people do more commonly than our own. It was a late start before the new confederation began to make head way toward the high mountains we sought to cross. Yet even with the bonds of friendship germinating between the diverse crew new tensions emerged, the Canyoners are very different in habit of how they move through these lands, and traveling more lightly than those from Sky Prairie or the Towalk pushing the provisions we had gifted them they tended to get ahead of the group and spread our lines thin. Elida was tormented by this new element of chaos in the group, and by Trul who argued with him as the walked about routes. That evening, Trul gathered his bands to give a speech and the rest of our coalition gathered to hear him,I recorded it as such:
"Between us and Star's Reach is long journey, some of you might live to see sands upon sands for days and days if we make it that far, but another issue is between us and there. The Nemi Rangers, the highlanders of all highlanders, even Sky Prairie they would look down upon were they neighbors. A long long line is the ridge of these mountains, between us and Star's Reach, and it is the spine of the Nemi Rangers. They guard jealously the orchards feed by that ridges streams, and a long trail connects their range along the long length. The trail is the cord of their spine, and not something that any people is welcome to walk on. Now we march toward the greatest Southern pass of that trail, Loven. But I say we march North, to the Nemi Capital of Moft. They are weak in Loven, and our great band may frighten them to fight us; in their ca. But even where they are weak it would take nearly a siege to force the battlements of their passes, a siege we could ill afford. Even if we forced them in short order their reinforcement would swarm down their cord trail, and dog us into the sands.
"Today I have dried my throat, can you hear is crack? trying to convince Elida the stubborn and Dald the silent of the Northern route, but they will not commit to it. So do I speak out of turn now? We have three days until the forked road forces an outcome. I have now said the Northern pass is the better pass, and told you who know less of our path why it is. I invite Elida or Dald to speak now if they have another view."
The Canyoners whooped, needing little encouragement to tease, and adoring Trul as their leader. Uncomfortable and seemingly very comfortable was the respective quiets of the Sky Prairie and Towalk peoples. All eyes gathered on Elida as he made his way to stand beside Trul, he paused, waiting paitently for the Canyoners to still before giving his speech.
"Yesterday we meet each other and you Canyoners gave our expedition a test, if we were war like or quick to quarrel, today we march as allies, as new friends. Maybe something like that is fated with the Nemi, or maybe something new to us. They rule their mountain ridge and are jealous, and in their capital their nobility is most jealous, listen to a man raised in courts himself, I should know! But consider the ribbing and the teasing I received for being stunned to silence by the amazing commitment of our common people, of the Volunteers of Sky Prairie. It is not the nobility who warm to such missions, there are too many nobles and too many plots for that. No it is the commoner who is moved to a mission like ours. Thirty guards were sent by to Nobles of Sky Prairie, and only a few of us from the nobility, but there were fifty sent by the passions of the land.
"This is my argument for us taking the southern route, the rural route. Our group is of rural people and has received the best aid from among the rural peoples. Better to meet the Nemi there, than to meet them in their castles where they feel secure against any threat, even the evils of the Sky Lords, of the Greys, of a second rise of the Federalists. They feel safe, I can attest to the safety felt by those raised in castles, Sky Prairies need to be woken by the Towalk proves it, and in their safely even 'death from above' and 'birds of slay' are but dim myths to them, and they don't feel the danger, feel the treat, that forces us to take this dangerous mission. We should stay way from their Capital and its people that are only like the part in me that you all tease, and not at all like the part of me that learned from our journey and fist warmed to the friendship between the long crossed Canyoners and my people, our people, the Sky Prairie."
This speech brought great cheers from many, but most especially among the Guards. Trul was ashen faced and grim, and though invited to speak quietly declined to comment from his place among his compatriots. Trul stood as large as he could and retorted with a great annoyance in his voice.
"You are a good entertainer, Elida! So you speak to our vanity, and it is good to hear you tease yourself, today I was starting to think such a thing was impossible. But, if you tease yourself you should first learn humility! Much you may know about your noble ways and maybe you know how to kiss up to we savages, for kissing up is the best skill of a noble. But you are ignorant, I am sorry to speak thus to you friend. The nobility of the Nemi is not in a castle, a hard skull of rulers! No they are swifter than that, more war like, the whole cord and spine is their nobility, and there is no going around it. Better to face their Capital strength to its face like to Towalk did before your gates, and only my people know the dangers of both the Sky Prairie and the Nemi gates, truly camping under YOUR gates takes more courage!
"Nemi nobles mix and move through their orcharders and their cistern diggers, and their whole people. The rural, you call it as only one who does not travel might, south is as noble as their capital, or maybe more so. But your kind who rule from on high, do not like my kind who sneak around, and where their armor and their guard is weak in the south is also where their hot blood is, it is foolish to drive an army of hundreds against their most insecure point, it is a declaration of war."
Elida turned toward Trul, with hate filled gase, and looked as though he might be about to undo the peace of the previous day, when in a great bound Dald landed between the quarreling leaders, resting his big hands or each mans shoulders. "Don't waste yourselves on each other! Not until the job is through." then addressing the gathered crowd which itself had many people considering deeds which would themselves undo the peace "My people are just trying to make our way to Star's Reach, and we cannot tell if so many followers are a curse! But we do not know the way through these mountains, and must trust our guides, and all who would join, even those who would fight each other, are our guides. You both may be guides and less ignorant than I am, but you are following my quest, joining my mission. Don't tell me of this Nemi enemy, because I am not here to fight the Nemi, won't someone tell me a better path than destroying ourselves before I even meet a Nemi, or destroy Star's Reach?"
And Kindee stood up in the crowd yelling back to Dald "I have a way through our first danger, each other! Let some of my people and some of the Canyoners join in small bands, to scout ahead. That we may learn more what truly is on our paths, rather than walking blind. That we may cultivate more friendships, to stitch together these rifts. That the Towalk may have fewer CHILDREN to tend with the core of our host, and be able to keep the peace that way. Spread and streteched are our nerves, like our lines today. Maybe they must break? Let us choose the breaks, and make with them scouts and heralds!"
At this point I saw in Elida's face a look of horror, more distorted than his rage at Trul, but he was speechless while Dald said this. "It's good to hear someone speak some sense, after listening to these two bickering all day. I would like it if you could put together some few folks to do this scouting."
Little else of import was said at that gathering, though in the next morning I crossed Kindee's path, and was nearly shoved over by her gaze, but when I asked her of her fury she did not speak. Later I learned that Elida had cast her from the Guards, though of course her esteem was still great with many, who cared not.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Incipt Trul
In the west the Sun was sinking when the sands started to calm. Dald and Elida had briefed the whole party that we would be meeting with Canyoners to possibly join the mission. Understandably many from Sky Prairie were concerned and upset. Most only knew of Canyoners are raiders on the salvage of Junktown or as traders who were quick to deceive. Even their request to join was typical, starting with an ambush, and finishing amid threats. Kindee was sitting with a circle of volunteers and guards listening to their concerns. These lines are representative, though more clear than most of the frustrated confusion of our time waiting for a dying wind.
"Elida was about help from us, but he would march with Canyoners!" spat Grand in frustration.
"All of the Land's children are free to join out mission, the depth of the calling grants a deeper trust." Wane said, trying to call for calm.
"Avoiding their ambush is a necessity," Kindee started, trying to maintain calm "and as we are here for the Towalk, who welcome all who would join their mission, accepting the Canyoners is fated. Though..." Kindee paused, weighing her words slowly "I am very glad to have my comrades, the Volunteers, here in case our friends prove more dangerous than we all hope them to be."
Conversation like this filled the canyon, and Bald was busy, reassuring volunteer and guard about the coming alliance. Elida was not to be seen, he was alone in his tent during this time.
At dusk Elida and Bald lead us all to a large valley where the main train ran through, from Silt to Red Canyon. There was a fire burning, and around it a dozen Canyoners stood waiting for us to join them. We were still surrounded another fifty Canyoners were crouching behind cover in the twilight.
Trul fiercely embraced Dald and then Elida, laughing as he released Elida. "Welcome to our fire! My new allies." Dald accepted his greeting on all our behalf. It was still tense like a cocked gun, which there were many of, both sides aware that battle was not a distant possibility, when Trul was given space to speak to out group, I recorded his words thus:
"It was Ral, my very cousin, who told the Towalk of Star's Reaches discovery. My family has traded with the Towalk since our grandparents were children. And before he knew of Star's Reach I knew of it, for I am the one who told Ral! Many nights have been filled with songs we Canyoners sing of the treasures of Star's Reach, fables of lucky yottes who found it, and when we heard it was discovered we wanted to see and to take for ourselves. But, even my group is not numerous enough to march in against what ever guards the Merigans or maybe even the Greys have at that place. But word of the Towalk crusade reached my ears before Dald's men reached the gates of Sky Prairie. And with that news I have been busy! See five bands of Canyoners who have joined me at hearing this news, ready to take the spoils of the Grey or to die in spite of them.
"Hmmm. I know that the Sky Prairie's citizens do not trust us sandy landers. Least of all your sharp shooting guards, your faces are bleak even now. But we will be family for this trip, for we all must offer what we can against the Greys. Everyone here is ready to die to stop the Greys, what matters it if we bring strife amongst ourselves to be settled after they are defeated, better to risk death in victory that death in defeat."
Trul was a flat bodied man, wide from shoulder to shoulder, but very thin from navel to spine, it favored him with a very dynamic and swift changing silhouette that he used the flames to cast. By the time of his speech many had warmed to the Canyoners joining, and after hearing it, and feeling the strength of tone in Trul's voice I believe that there was even much enthusiam for traveling with the Cantoners. All by now felt this was "a barbaric quest, and what better than barbarians as companions", as was said in fellowship and jest many times by Canyoners and Sky Landers.
"Elida was about help from us, but he would march with Canyoners!" spat Grand in frustration.
"All of the Land's children are free to join out mission, the depth of the calling grants a deeper trust." Wane said, trying to call for calm.
"Avoiding their ambush is a necessity," Kindee started, trying to maintain calm "and as we are here for the Towalk, who welcome all who would join their mission, accepting the Canyoners is fated. Though..." Kindee paused, weighing her words slowly "I am very glad to have my comrades, the Volunteers, here in case our friends prove more dangerous than we all hope them to be."
Conversation like this filled the canyon, and Bald was busy, reassuring volunteer and guard about the coming alliance. Elida was not to be seen, he was alone in his tent during this time.
At dusk Elida and Bald lead us all to a large valley where the main train ran through, from Silt to Red Canyon. There was a fire burning, and around it a dozen Canyoners stood waiting for us to join them. We were still surrounded another fifty Canyoners were crouching behind cover in the twilight.
Trul fiercely embraced Dald and then Elida, laughing as he released Elida. "Welcome to our fire! My new allies." Dald accepted his greeting on all our behalf. It was still tense like a cocked gun, which there were many of, both sides aware that battle was not a distant possibility, when Trul was given space to speak to out group, I recorded his words thus:
"It was Ral, my very cousin, who told the Towalk of Star's Reaches discovery. My family has traded with the Towalk since our grandparents were children. And before he knew of Star's Reach I knew of it, for I am the one who told Ral! Many nights have been filled with songs we Canyoners sing of the treasures of Star's Reach, fables of lucky yottes who found it, and when we heard it was discovered we wanted to see and to take for ourselves. But, even my group is not numerous enough to march in against what ever guards the Merigans or maybe even the Greys have at that place. But word of the Towalk crusade reached my ears before Dald's men reached the gates of Sky Prairie. And with that news I have been busy! See five bands of Canyoners who have joined me at hearing this news, ready to take the spoils of the Grey or to die in spite of them.
"Hmmm. I know that the Sky Prairie's citizens do not trust us sandy landers. Least of all your sharp shooting guards, your faces are bleak even now. But we will be family for this trip, for we all must offer what we can against the Greys. Everyone here is ready to die to stop the Greys, what matters it if we bring strife amongst ourselves to be settled after they are defeated, better to risk death in victory that death in defeat."
Trul was a flat bodied man, wide from shoulder to shoulder, but very thin from navel to spine, it favored him with a very dynamic and swift changing silhouette that he used the flames to cast. By the time of his speech many had warmed to the Canyoners joining, and after hearing it, and feeling the strength of tone in Trul's voice I believe that there was even much enthusiam for traveling with the Cantoners. All by now felt this was "a barbaric quest, and what better than barbarians as companions", as was said in fellowship and jest many times by Canyoners and Sky Landers.
Shifting Sands.
The first three days of marching were especially grueling. Elida pushed hard for us to cover a good distance each day, which the Guards in their training were well adapted towards, unlike the volunteers, many of whom were terracers, pruners, or orchariders, so not accustomed to the heat of the low lands or to covering great distances. But, I must admit some of my bitterness came from this, as an Assayer and an old hermit I was least accustomed to the grueling miles, and though I might have imagined it in my pains, I did feel a great toxicity from Elida toward me; punishment it seemed for my cowing to Kindee the usurper at the gates I Imagined it to be. I was fortunate though as I was given better than an equal share of rest from pulling a trail cart by Kindee, who took my cart during her breaks from halling. The true mercy for me was Dald, who was mindful of the endurance limits and would insist on the goodness of camp sites which Elida wished to have marched past.
Dropping down from Sky Prairie all trails follow the sandy lands for a great ways, and though their are mountains of relief from the heat, they are not where the trail lies. Rust orange was the color of all the lands along the long trail we marched those first three days, and barren were the wide sandy valleys, excepting desert shrubs growing in the drainages.
And toward the end of the fourth day the journey all was made still more harsh as a bitter sand storm nipped at our heels. We were high enough into the mountains now not to fear being burred by the sand like a salvage crew in Junktown, but still it stung and cut, and wearied the eyes, and polluted the nose. A narrow canyon near the main trail offered us some shelter from the winds and sand, as we set up a camp early, to wait for a respite from the sand. It was a very tight fit for hundred and forty five people to camp together in the canyon, but while tarps were being spread to discourage wind and sand and I was questioning folks for updates on the water rations I heard an argument in the distance.
Suddenly confused shouting and barking orders and warnings came from all sides, and the canyon became a kicked bee hive of confused activity, until Kindee's voice called for arms as she squeezed through the crowded canyon toward the mouth of the canyon. Dald and his older brother, the seer Wane, followed in her wake advising camps that we had become surrounded. The guard and the Towalk took up their rifles, but the volunteers had not been issued rifles, for the main armament was still locked, saved for Star's Reach, though some had smoking guns, and the rest had good hunting bows, neither was good in so cramped a canyon.
A parched drawl screamed "We have come to join your expedition, or to end it." from the sands, and several powder gunshots echoed all around.
"State who you are, and your reasons for wishing to join." yelled Elida in a voice that amazed this old cynic with its confidence.
"I am Trul, voice for five bands of Canoyners, we are here to stop those greys from coming back, and to claim the ruins for their spoils. More are better for a raid, but if you want the loot, you should be asking how many warriors surround you, you should maybe be asking what sort of warriors you are to be surrounded so easy also!"
"Our purpose is only to stop the greys, my people have ruins enough beneath our own sands, but you should ask the Towalk too, if they would accept ruffians, it is a foul turn, ambushing us seeking to join us." yelled Elida, seemingly with such guile as I had never thought him capable.
Dald walked toward the voice from the sand storms as he passed Elida he said "I am Dald for the Towalk, I come to see you, to see if I trust you or not, don't kill me or there will be a fight but no trust."
I do not know what happened between Dald and Trul in the blowing sands, but in a while Dald returned with this to say "These people I trust, they are like the low landers who bring our people trade and news, news even of Star's Reach, rough and spit fire, but they are strong. All the peoples, no matter how rough, must come together in this, must come to crush Star's Reach."
Elida bowed to Dald in this matter, and called for our group to stand down. We waited for the end of the storm, in the evening, to finally meet these Canyoners.
Dropping down from Sky Prairie all trails follow the sandy lands for a great ways, and though their are mountains of relief from the heat, they are not where the trail lies. Rust orange was the color of all the lands along the long trail we marched those first three days, and barren were the wide sandy valleys, excepting desert shrubs growing in the drainages.
And toward the end of the fourth day the journey all was made still more harsh as a bitter sand storm nipped at our heels. We were high enough into the mountains now not to fear being burred by the sand like a salvage crew in Junktown, but still it stung and cut, and wearied the eyes, and polluted the nose. A narrow canyon near the main trail offered us some shelter from the winds and sand, as we set up a camp early, to wait for a respite from the sand. It was a very tight fit for hundred and forty five people to camp together in the canyon, but while tarps were being spread to discourage wind and sand and I was questioning folks for updates on the water rations I heard an argument in the distance.
Suddenly confused shouting and barking orders and warnings came from all sides, and the canyon became a kicked bee hive of confused activity, until Kindee's voice called for arms as she squeezed through the crowded canyon toward the mouth of the canyon. Dald and his older brother, the seer Wane, followed in her wake advising camps that we had become surrounded. The guard and the Towalk took up their rifles, but the volunteers had not been issued rifles, for the main armament was still locked, saved for Star's Reach, though some had smoking guns, and the rest had good hunting bows, neither was good in so cramped a canyon.
A parched drawl screamed "We have come to join your expedition, or to end it." from the sands, and several powder gunshots echoed all around.
"State who you are, and your reasons for wishing to join." yelled Elida in a voice that amazed this old cynic with its confidence.
"I am Trul, voice for five bands of Canoyners, we are here to stop those greys from coming back, and to claim the ruins for their spoils. More are better for a raid, but if you want the loot, you should be asking how many warriors surround you, you should maybe be asking what sort of warriors you are to be surrounded so easy also!"
"Our purpose is only to stop the greys, my people have ruins enough beneath our own sands, but you should ask the Towalk too, if they would accept ruffians, it is a foul turn, ambushing us seeking to join us." yelled Elida, seemingly with such guile as I had never thought him capable.
Dald walked toward the voice from the sand storms as he passed Elida he said "I am Dald for the Towalk, I come to see you, to see if I trust you or not, don't kill me or there will be a fight but no trust."
I do not know what happened between Dald and Trul in the blowing sands, but in a while Dald returned with this to say "These people I trust, they are like the low landers who bring our people trade and news, news even of Star's Reach, rough and spit fire, but they are strong. All the peoples, no matter how rough, must come together in this, must come to crush Star's Reach."
Elida bowed to Dald in this matter, and called for our group to stand down. We waited for the end of the storm, in the evening, to finally meet these Canyoners.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Kindee's Gambit.
The morning after the speeches the combined forces of the Towalk and the Guard of the Host made way for the North gate of Sky Prairie, and at the gate there were forty volunteers waiting to join the mission, standing with there own provisions begged and borrowed from kith and kin. Dald was ecstatic to see these unannounced supporters, many of whom he recognized as friends from his people's stay in Sky Prairie, and he rushed forward to greet them. But Elida stopped in his tracks so suddenly that I nearly walked into the cart he was pulling, a great tension was in him
The volunteers were lead by a proud and good hearted young man named Grand, who presented himself to Elida while I watched. "Forty stout fighters to stand against the occupiers of Star's Reach offer ourselves to your command." said Grand to Elida.
But Elida responded with a tone of annoyance "Do you mean to suggest that the Guard of the Host in not equal to this mission? The journey is very far, and the larger a group is, it is much more difficult to support, and it is also more difficult to, find passage for through other lands."
"We are self sufficient, and with our numbers combined raiders and herders would not question us, besides wouldn't you say many along the way will want to join the cause? It would be a shame if our people offered the fewest fighters to this cause!" Grand responded with out the slightest sign of concern for Elida's reproach.
Elida paused and I do not know what response he was formulating. for here Kindee made her move into the heart of matters. She stepped out of line, leaving her cart behind, "Grand! It is a joy that you have organized such a fine group, and taken precaution for our good leader's concerns." She then indicated to me "This is our manifest keeper, won't you go over your supplies with him, so that he can determine whether your provisions are sufficient to the journey."
I was put very much on the spot by this, and I might be incriminating myself in these matters, for I sensed the tension in Elida, and knew him to be fumbling for another way to reject the volunteers, but seeing Grand's enthusiasm and not hearing a counter from Elida I chose, not out of disloyalty so much as from nerviousness, to hurry off to check his supplies. An inventory seemed a much more comfortable place to be than between the clashing egos of Elida and Kindee.
But while Grant lead me to the gate house where his crew was gathered I heard indistinctly Elida's shrill tone with Kindee for stepping out of line so. Little do the words matter, because little about Elida ever mattered, he was a servile young noble, and though he could reprimand Kindee, and threaten many things against her, she had already won, diverting him from the instant where he might still have prevented the joining of the volunteers, as I am certain was his hope.
From the gate house where I busied myself with the inventory I could see them arguing. Elida reprimanding Kindee, turning to come to the gate house to address the volunteers, only to be dragged back into reprimanding Kindee further as she would bait him with a remark. Three times I saw the cycle turn, and by the time Elida made it to the gate their were smirks and whispers against his authority mostly from the volunteers. The one remark that I remember by words was "This little prince does not fancy the common man."
Grand spoke to Dald, who nodded to word's I couldn't hear and went to speak to Elida, what they spoke of I do not know, but only briefly afterwards they the whole mission, with the volunteers, march beyond the gate house, for Star's Reach.
The volunteers were lead by a proud and good hearted young man named Grand, who presented himself to Elida while I watched. "Forty stout fighters to stand against the occupiers of Star's Reach offer ourselves to your command." said Grand to Elida.
But Elida responded with a tone of annoyance "Do you mean to suggest that the Guard of the Host in not equal to this mission? The journey is very far, and the larger a group is, it is much more difficult to support, and it is also more difficult to, find passage for through other lands."
"We are self sufficient, and with our numbers combined raiders and herders would not question us, besides wouldn't you say many along the way will want to join the cause? It would be a shame if our people offered the fewest fighters to this cause!" Grand responded with out the slightest sign of concern for Elida's reproach.
Elida paused and I do not know what response he was formulating. for here Kindee made her move into the heart of matters. She stepped out of line, leaving her cart behind, "Grand! It is a joy that you have organized such a fine group, and taken precaution for our good leader's concerns." She then indicated to me "This is our manifest keeper, won't you go over your supplies with him, so that he can determine whether your provisions are sufficient to the journey."
I was put very much on the spot by this, and I might be incriminating myself in these matters, for I sensed the tension in Elida, and knew him to be fumbling for another way to reject the volunteers, but seeing Grand's enthusiasm and not hearing a counter from Elida I chose, not out of disloyalty so much as from nerviousness, to hurry off to check his supplies. An inventory seemed a much more comfortable place to be than between the clashing egos of Elida and Kindee.
But while Grant lead me to the gate house where his crew was gathered I heard indistinctly Elida's shrill tone with Kindee for stepping out of line so. Little do the words matter, because little about Elida ever mattered, he was a servile young noble, and though he could reprimand Kindee, and threaten many things against her, she had already won, diverting him from the instant where he might still have prevented the joining of the volunteers, as I am certain was his hope.
From the gate house where I busied myself with the inventory I could see them arguing. Elida reprimanding Kindee, turning to come to the gate house to address the volunteers, only to be dragged back into reprimanding Kindee further as she would bait him with a remark. Three times I saw the cycle turn, and by the time Elida made it to the gate their were smirks and whispers against his authority mostly from the volunteers. The one remark that I remember by words was "This little prince does not fancy the common man."
Grand spoke to Dald, who nodded to word's I couldn't hear and went to speak to Elida, what they spoke of I do not know, but only briefly afterwards they the whole mission, with the volunteers, march beyond the gate house, for Star's Reach.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
The Speeches.
Korada, the Exaulted leader of the Host of Savlation stood in the cave of sanctuary, on the balcony which was lovingly carved from the living rock many generations ago. Before her was assembles the great nobility of Sky Prairie, waiting to hear her words on the issue of Star's Reach with the travelers from Towalk had preached about to since receiving shelter and rest with in the battlements of Sky Prairie three moons ago. Kindee stood among the assembled guards whose mission with the Towalk was to be announced. Older than the guards, I was there to as a manifest keeper for what goods and supplies were being donated. Beside Korada stood Dald, leader of the Towalk honored stranger from the unknown South and Elida the original leader of the guard. Silent the gathered nobility grew waiting for the word of Korada. These are the words of Korada's speech that announced our part in the mission to Star's Reach.
"My Fellows, we have come to know the Towalk in recent months, and have learned of the spirit of friendship they bring to our people. We have also heard their desprite mission they bare for all peoples who are true to the Earth. News reached them, as it had reached us, of the recent discovery of Star's Reach by the Merigan nation who live to the East of the Kanzi desert. But the Towalk, better than ourselves, realized the danger this poses. For more vividly than our albums does their lore remember the times of warfare waged by our common ancestors against the Sky Lords for the mercy of the Earth. Before the Federal War these lands were ruled by a people beholdened and worshiping the Sky Lords. The Towalk have even shown us records from that era of the alliance between the Federalists and the Sky Lords. How they shared deadly sciences and visited 'death from above' on the warriors we share as ancestors. How they held the Earth captive to the Consumers... And now, the heirs of the Federalists, the Merigans, seek to reestablish contact to their former patrions. They have found Star's Reach, the last fortress of the Federalists, the last bridge to the Sky Lords, and they inhabit it again!
"Only in the Host's darkest terrors and most melancholic conversations had the possibility of the Sky Lords return been considered, with damp cheeks I confess we were too comfortable and proud to see this danger clearly. Clearly as the Towalk saw it upon their first hearing of the finding of Star's Reach. So, hear now from someone whose instincts for danger are clear and sharp, for his people are wild and wary, hear now from Dald of the Towalk, and know that his heart is one with the will of the Host in the matter of Star's Reach"
At this point there was a murmur among the nobility, fear their kind had forgotten how to feel behind the great battlements of Sky Prairie moved through the crowd, and standing among the guard who already knew the mission to be announces there hearts moved in response with pride.
Dald leaned forward, and gave his speech in the archaic thick accent of his people.
"My kin in the far South call ourselves the Towalk, after the mountain we live on, sticking out of the wind blown sands. When we heard that Star's Reach had been found, we were scared, for the stories from the Federal War are still told each dark night among our people, and to this day we use no fire at night, as our ancestors did during the war, lest 'death from above' find them. That custom's how we did so well to recall these things.
"During the war a leader from near Towalk uncovered that the Federalists were getting support and weapons, there 'death from about', from the Sky Lords. He uncovered the Federalists and the Sky Lords had ruled most of the world for a hundred years before the Federalist War broke their power and freed their people. But the Sky Lords ruined the rains and the 'snow' with their power before they abandoned the Federalists to their defeat. Your people and ours were still one, fighting the Federalists, but as the sands grew peoples shrunk and lost touch with each other, becoming the Towalk and the Sky Prairie, and the other mountain peoples too.
"Our people is a smaller group than your big place here on the Sky Prairie. I did not know there was such a big place left until we found your tall and proud cliff top walls. We only have news from traveling Canyon folk and never guesses that seventy hundreds of folk might still live as a single people. Towalk is much smaller, the fifty and five that marched to your lands are the best part of our able aged men folk. My whole people would have gone, but we had to leave enough folks to endure the Sky Lords if the mission failed, so our memories could be saved.
"We seek to take Star's Reach, and break any tie to the Sky Lords that remains there. We didn't know how it would be done, and left trusting that the Land would provide a way. At your battlements, which around your whole Land, we found the first real hope for success.
"Thank you for your welcome. Thank you for your shelter. Thank you for hearing our cause. And thank you for your aid. Korada of the Host has talked with us and been our friend. We had no means to attack Star's Reach except the slings that my people are master of, but she send us, in your name, a great arsenal of repeating rifles, and has trained my men in their use. She sends thirty of her own guards as guides to Star's Reach, and to protect this arsenal from robbers along the way. She sends forty tail carts with us, loaded with supplies. Also we have learned the way to Star's Reach. Thank you Sky Prairie for your friendship, we will break this tie to the Sky Lords forever."
Those are the speeches that launched the mission to Star's Reach. Elida also gave a speech, for at the time Kindee was one soldier among many, and if not for her valor so she would have remained. His was a trite acceptance of duties, though I need not discredit the dead I believe he has a hidden mission. Still these were the vows of duty he gave, I recall them so that you can consider how well Kindee in fact carried through these duties. "I accept the duty and privaledge of leading the Guard of the Host's mission in search of Star's Reach; pledging to protect the arsenal from entering into enemy hands; and to guide the Towalk on their mission to protect the Earth from the dangers at Star's Reach." By rising to the events around her, Kindee upset plans that have been kept dearly private, for that the Host now attacks her.
"My Fellows, we have come to know the Towalk in recent months, and have learned of the spirit of friendship they bring to our people. We have also heard their desprite mission they bare for all peoples who are true to the Earth. News reached them, as it had reached us, of the recent discovery of Star's Reach by the Merigan nation who live to the East of the Kanzi desert. But the Towalk, better than ourselves, realized the danger this poses. For more vividly than our albums does their lore remember the times of warfare waged by our common ancestors against the Sky Lords for the mercy of the Earth. Before the Federal War these lands were ruled by a people beholdened and worshiping the Sky Lords. The Towalk have even shown us records from that era of the alliance between the Federalists and the Sky Lords. How they shared deadly sciences and visited 'death from above' on the warriors we share as ancestors. How they held the Earth captive to the Consumers... And now, the heirs of the Federalists, the Merigans, seek to reestablish contact to their former patrions. They have found Star's Reach, the last fortress of the Federalists, the last bridge to the Sky Lords, and they inhabit it again!
"Only in the Host's darkest terrors and most melancholic conversations had the possibility of the Sky Lords return been considered, with damp cheeks I confess we were too comfortable and proud to see this danger clearly. Clearly as the Towalk saw it upon their first hearing of the finding of Star's Reach. So, hear now from someone whose instincts for danger are clear and sharp, for his people are wild and wary, hear now from Dald of the Towalk, and know that his heart is one with the will of the Host in the matter of Star's Reach"
At this point there was a murmur among the nobility, fear their kind had forgotten how to feel behind the great battlements of Sky Prairie moved through the crowd, and standing among the guard who already knew the mission to be announces there hearts moved in response with pride.
Dald leaned forward, and gave his speech in the archaic thick accent of his people.
"My kin in the far South call ourselves the Towalk, after the mountain we live on, sticking out of the wind blown sands. When we heard that Star's Reach had been found, we were scared, for the stories from the Federal War are still told each dark night among our people, and to this day we use no fire at night, as our ancestors did during the war, lest 'death from above' find them. That custom's how we did so well to recall these things.
"During the war a leader from near Towalk uncovered that the Federalists were getting support and weapons, there 'death from about', from the Sky Lords. He uncovered the Federalists and the Sky Lords had ruled most of the world for a hundred years before the Federalist War broke their power and freed their people. But the Sky Lords ruined the rains and the 'snow' with their power before they abandoned the Federalists to their defeat. Your people and ours were still one, fighting the Federalists, but as the sands grew peoples shrunk and lost touch with each other, becoming the Towalk and the Sky Prairie, and the other mountain peoples too.
"Our people is a smaller group than your big place here on the Sky Prairie. I did not know there was such a big place left until we found your tall and proud cliff top walls. We only have news from traveling Canyon folk and never guesses that seventy hundreds of folk might still live as a single people. Towalk is much smaller, the fifty and five that marched to your lands are the best part of our able aged men folk. My whole people would have gone, but we had to leave enough folks to endure the Sky Lords if the mission failed, so our memories could be saved.
"We seek to take Star's Reach, and break any tie to the Sky Lords that remains there. We didn't know how it would be done, and left trusting that the Land would provide a way. At your battlements, which around your whole Land, we found the first real hope for success.
"Thank you for your welcome. Thank you for your shelter. Thank you for hearing our cause. And thank you for your aid. Korada of the Host has talked with us and been our friend. We had no means to attack Star's Reach except the slings that my people are master of, but she send us, in your name, a great arsenal of repeating rifles, and has trained my men in their use. She sends thirty of her own guards as guides to Star's Reach, and to protect this arsenal from robbers along the way. She sends forty tail carts with us, loaded with supplies. Also we have learned the way to Star's Reach. Thank you Sky Prairie for your friendship, we will break this tie to the Sky Lords forever."
Those are the speeches that launched the mission to Star's Reach. Elida also gave a speech, for at the time Kindee was one soldier among many, and if not for her valor so she would have remained. His was a trite acceptance of duties, though I need not discredit the dead I believe he has a hidden mission. Still these were the vows of duty he gave, I recall them so that you can consider how well Kindee in fact carried through these duties. "I accept the duty and privaledge of leading the Guard of the Host's mission in search of Star's Reach; pledging to protect the arsenal from entering into enemy hands; and to guide the Towalk on their mission to protect the Earth from the dangers at Star's Reach." By rising to the events around her, Kindee upset plans that have been kept dearly private, for that the Host now attacks her.
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