Aderun
A colossal cityscape stands in the nearly-desertified savannah. Flat-topped buildings of sandstone fill the space tightly, with walkways decorated by strange trees you have never seen before (Baobabs). These residential areas also act as economic and industrial areas, with individual craftsmen and craftswomen preparing their goods within their own homes, in separate workplaces, or just outside. The majority of the area is such, but there are almost as many outliers:
- In the four cardinal directions of the town, and in the very center, stand the largest buildings you have ever seen, to the point you doubt your own eyes. Ziggurats, they are called, and they seem to pierce the sky, casting shadows over the entire land when the sun moves past them, as though they act as a sundial for real and true gods that walk the earth. Around these five megastructures, there are massive gardens, decorated with pristine fountains and numerous excellently-carves statues.
- A large cross-shaped section rests at the south end of the city, where eightfold-wide walkways are line on either side by bleached stalls, and a number of pack animals and rare products. Old crones can be seen beading fabulous works of art, while grungy middle aged men can be seen yelling at their oxen. Children run around, and occasionally get caught pickpocketing merchants, before getting slapped around rather cruelly.
- In a vast crescent to the north (from northwest to northeast), a vast space of land has been prepared for agricultural purposes. It is hard to grow much in this arid land, yet these people seem to have found a way. Rubber trees, acacia trees (for gum arabic), flax and barley
- Dotted around the city proper, numerous estates exist, built mainly of limestone and rosewood (rather than sandstone and baobab), and decorated in emerald, sapphire, gold, textiles (linen or wool) and ivory. Some of them have sparkling pools, clear as crystal, while others have entire gates built of well-polished copper.
- The western edge of the is protected by a continuous palisades, most of which is currently under construction. Sweating men with bronzed skin, from ages 10 to 60, can be seen carrying rods of lumber, large rocks, or even the bones of beasts. The work is tireless and neverending, with the men taking just one water break every four hours, during which they can be seen nearly-drowning themselves until their bellies swell painfully.
Among this palaside, are a number of spiked, sandstone watchtowers, where a number of men laze about in thick leathers, fanning themselves or playing cards, or both. There are even a couple giant braziers made of copper, smoldering with the extinguished embers of a coal flame.
- There are also several pockmarks in the city where residential/economic areas make way for open-spaces filled with gardens, parks, lounges and... larger buildings which seem to be some sort of academic facility. How intriguing.
Yet, the most breathtaking feature of the whole city of Aderun.... the Supreme Temple
It stands in the perfect center of the city, and casts a massive shadow. It is taller than the other four temples by a large amount, and it is many times wider and more massive. The temple is incredibly strange, with massive hallways piercing into it from the four cardinal directions, which are entirely lined in golden scripture. The peak of the temple is beveled, distinct from the rest, and is covered in sparkling flowers and streams, that fall down the sides of the whole building in carefully-maintained funnels.
On the east and west of the temple, two tremendous sculptures face outwards, each of them eighty feet high. The first sculpture is of a hand with two palms, split at the wrist, holding a glorious scimitar and a majestic segmented wheel depicting carvings of priceless treasures, while the other is a similar dual-hand holding an ornate goblet, tipped over to the point of overflowing and a scroll of law, burning and surrounded by mystical figures.
Something within the Supreme Temple gives off a heavy and dignified aura, that reaches to the edges of the great city.
You have now arrived at Aderun, "The Heart of The World".
"Ah, I feel so much better returning home. The weariness is leaving me already!" Balshad basks in the glaring sunlight and the scorching air of these arid lands. Even some other merchants you can now recognize as Sedorian look at him strangely. Perhaps Balshad is a true patriot, or just that relieved to have finished his journey without incident.
As you all depart your carriages, a mind-boggling sight can be seen not far away.
The people in the city are strange to Li Hua as well, as most men, and many women, are topless. The garments they do wear are wrappings of linen or wool, with the wealthy signifying themselves through strips of dyed cloth or jeweled ornamentations. Piercings are very common, strangely especially amongst the priesthood, who have symbols emblazoned on their clothing, and some of them are even completely covered head-to-foot, which must be truly awful in this sweltering heat. Young children from poor families are the strangest of all, many of them run around wearing nothing, but nobody seems to mind.
The people in this town work strangely; they are either always doing something, or taking long midday breaks. In fact, it seems at several times throughout the day, people will collectively gather and relax in public lounges, resting, communing over food or game, smoking strange substances, or collectively bathing.
All in all, the atmosphere is ripe with layered emotions, from ascetic calmness to sorrowful/raging madness, both burning desperation and blazing hope and gratitude are present. The city is vast, ancient, and changing.
Countless scents drift through the air, but underneath them all is the pleasant, soothing smell of lavender, which seems to be burned constantly by massive sticks of incense, which mark the perimeter of all five temple grounds
Truly, a mythical place.
Within the center of the Supreme Temple, something not fully visible glints.... just gazing at it gives off a feeling of weight and dignity, possibly the centerpiece of an entire emperor... yet, it is not easily seen from outside the temple...
---
You notice, in that moment, that every person in the caravan other than you has prostrated themselves completely before the gates in front of you, but they are not bowing to the guards, rather, they are bowing to the Supreme Temple. Your studies in Sedoric have gone well, so you can make out most of what they mumble to themselves.
Following their lead, you kowtow along with them - this practice of paying respects familiar to you, and ingrained deeply in your own culture.
Afterwards, seven guards emerge and witness this scene. They briefly scan your body, noting you are a foreigner, but they don't react negatively.
The guards speak to each other before they nod an bow back to the Caravan Members. Then, one of the guards has his face go pale as he looks at something behind you all... and he immediately retreats into the city. The others stay stock still, and time flows by.
Eventually, a huge man with nearly-perfect features emerges, covered head to toe in intricate, heavy bronze armor, carrying two curved blades that are as long as some people.
As he arrives, he nods to Balshad, and simply says, "Welcome back, Balshad the Merchant." and then he turns and lowers his head to the back of the group. "The city greets you, Adversaries of the Forbidden."
With that, a number of presences explode within the group. Li Hua had likely already sussed out that the reason for their ""extra special"" reception, and maybe she had even been keeping an eye on them. It is the Legonites, of course.
However, despite her constant attention, Li Hua had never been able to fully track how many Legonites there were. However, certainly, she never saw more than seven. They had always stood at a fair distance from the merchants and Li Hua.
In this moment, though, dozens of presences reveal themselves. They are among the main group, not separate, but assimilated so completely that they had stayed totally hidden for the entire month-long journey from Mazan.
The merchants shiver at this realization, while Balshad just hangs his head and lets out a deep sigh. Clearly, he had been the only one in the know about the true extent of the Legonites presence.
The group begins to split up, with the merchants other than Balshad leaving first, almost fleeing into the city with their goods, and their measly gains (there were few stops along the way, so most their goods just sat there).
The Legonites move away from the group, signifying them distancing themselves from their mission, and seem to be ready to head towards the temple of their dark god.
Some more words are exchanged, and Balshad looks at you, "I must return to the temple of the Legonites, where I can finally wrap up this... stressful... business. You are free to join me, or we can say our goodbyes here. Regardless, I have enjoyed our time together, and I wish you the most golden of opportunities in your future, Young Misstress." Balshad goes in to shake your hand, if you accept it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:13, Mon 29 Jan.