Post by Jonok Coldfury on Dec 8, 2007 1:40:00 GMT -5
Jonok’s flight soon had him in the open sky, for the clouds had yet to reach the deserts of the east. Far to the south he could just make out the Circle of Sentinels. He lowered his head in respect for the honored dead. But his destination lay farther east, on the coast. His destination... was the great city of Wind.
Wind was the capital of the Flarii territory. (The territory’s boundary changed constantly.) It was situated on two cliff faces that faced one another. The two cliffs formed a canyon that came inland from the coast. Through the narrow channel, the ocean wind was funneled right through the city. In the city’s center was a massive windmill. Its blades nearly touched both sides of the canyon. This windmill powered most of the machines the Flarii used, including water pumps, forges, cranes, and other devices meant to make life easier. Many of the machines were comparable to dwarven machines, but Flarii prided themselves in taking from nature only what they needed, and replacing what they take whenever they can. So, instead of burning wood and coal to run their machines, Flarii harnessed a nearly unlimited power source, the wind.
Jonok landed a short distance away from the city, and guards immediately approached him. They had not recognized him at first, but when they got closer they saw who the visitor was. In their native tongue, one of them said (with a low bow),”Guardian Wolfman(1), how may we serve you?” Jonok replied in their language, though he was not perfect at speaking it, “I need to speak with your Chieftain.” The guard replied, “Yes, Guardian, of course, please follow. ” They all went into the city, the guards clearing a path. They took a lift up to one of the tallest levels of the city. The massive curtain that served for a door to the chieftains home was already pulled aside to let Jonok through by the time the lift stopped. The chieftain was waiting just inside. “Ah, Jonok, how wonderful of you to come and visit!”
“I wish I were here just for a visit, Yonar, but actually I need your help.”
“You need help, you say? Well what is wrong, Jonok?”
Jonok stepped closer to the chieftain and spoke softer to avoid anyone else but him hearing it. “ Balthazan has escaped again. We are gathering every force in Gorgraz capable of fighting and sending them to war. Can you help us?”
Yonar slowly turned away. “We are a peaceful people, Jonok, we do not wage war. I’m sorry, but I cannot aid you.”
Jonok grabbed Yonar and turned him back around to face him. Everyone else in the room gasped(2). “If you do not help us and the army of Gorgraz fails, he will come here and destroy all your people have built. I knew you were a peaceful people when I decided to come to you for aid. This is not a fight over boundaries or wealth, it is a fight for the right to live. Please, Yonar, send forces!”
Yonar stood rigid. “If you were any other, Jonok, I would have had you removed from our land… You are right, this fight is different… We will aid you, but consider us even.”
Jonok nodded his head, “More than even.” He gave Yonar all the information he needed to begin the preparations for war, then left him to his work. Jonok soon took to the skies with a full stomach of Flarii cuisine, headed back to Cornar. It was already late in the afternoon. It would be late in the night before he would arrive.
Foot notes
(1) – Jonok had visited the city of Wind before, and become nothing less than a legend, helping the Flarii out with some trouble they had. He had become known as Wolfman, or Guardian Wolfman.
(2) – It was rare for anyone to lay a hand on the Flarii chieftain, and never in all time had anyone forced the chieftain to do something through physical means. Also, during his previous stay in Wind, Jonok had shown great displays of power.
Wind was the capital of the Flarii territory. (The territory’s boundary changed constantly.) It was situated on two cliff faces that faced one another. The two cliffs formed a canyon that came inland from the coast. Through the narrow channel, the ocean wind was funneled right through the city. In the city’s center was a massive windmill. Its blades nearly touched both sides of the canyon. This windmill powered most of the machines the Flarii used, including water pumps, forges, cranes, and other devices meant to make life easier. Many of the machines were comparable to dwarven machines, but Flarii prided themselves in taking from nature only what they needed, and replacing what they take whenever they can. So, instead of burning wood and coal to run their machines, Flarii harnessed a nearly unlimited power source, the wind.
Jonok landed a short distance away from the city, and guards immediately approached him. They had not recognized him at first, but when they got closer they saw who the visitor was. In their native tongue, one of them said (with a low bow),”Guardian Wolfman(1), how may we serve you?” Jonok replied in their language, though he was not perfect at speaking it, “I need to speak with your Chieftain.” The guard replied, “Yes, Guardian, of course, please follow. ” They all went into the city, the guards clearing a path. They took a lift up to one of the tallest levels of the city. The massive curtain that served for a door to the chieftains home was already pulled aside to let Jonok through by the time the lift stopped. The chieftain was waiting just inside. “Ah, Jonok, how wonderful of you to come and visit!”
“I wish I were here just for a visit, Yonar, but actually I need your help.”
“You need help, you say? Well what is wrong, Jonok?”
Jonok stepped closer to the chieftain and spoke softer to avoid anyone else but him hearing it. “ Balthazan has escaped again. We are gathering every force in Gorgraz capable of fighting and sending them to war. Can you help us?”
Yonar slowly turned away. “We are a peaceful people, Jonok, we do not wage war. I’m sorry, but I cannot aid you.”
Jonok grabbed Yonar and turned him back around to face him. Everyone else in the room gasped(2). “If you do not help us and the army of Gorgraz fails, he will come here and destroy all your people have built. I knew you were a peaceful people when I decided to come to you for aid. This is not a fight over boundaries or wealth, it is a fight for the right to live. Please, Yonar, send forces!”
Yonar stood rigid. “If you were any other, Jonok, I would have had you removed from our land… You are right, this fight is different… We will aid you, but consider us even.”
Jonok nodded his head, “More than even.” He gave Yonar all the information he needed to begin the preparations for war, then left him to his work. Jonok soon took to the skies with a full stomach of Flarii cuisine, headed back to Cornar. It was already late in the afternoon. It would be late in the night before he would arrive.
Foot notes
(1) – Jonok had visited the city of Wind before, and become nothing less than a legend, helping the Flarii out with some trouble they had. He had become known as Wolfman, or Guardian Wolfman.
(2) – It was rare for anyone to lay a hand on the Flarii chieftain, and never in all time had anyone forced the chieftain to do something through physical means. Also, during his previous stay in Wind, Jonok had shown great displays of power.