Under the Sun IV: Of Cragstone and King
Under the Sun IV: Of Cragstone and Kingdoms
Roland and his wife, Zia, sheltered under the overhang of a tree, hoping the rain would soon stop. The road was slick combination of moss and smooth stone, with treacherous cobbles attempting to break ankles seemingly on purpose.
Zia brushed her dark hair out of her face and grimaced. "Roland, remind me again why we left the Shelters."
Roland smiled in spite of the cold and rain and answered, "Dearest, if I could remember anything of our lives before stepping into that damnable portal I'd be glad to remind you of why we left them."
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Roland Esque and his wife, Zia Prosper, had been making their way in the world Under the Sun for some weeks, learning anew the skills and abilities that the portal amnesia had stripped from their minds. Roland had discovered an affinity for magics, and Zia showed great promise for archery. Crafting skills too came back to them slowly. Cloth work, metal work, and woodworking abilities slowly and painfully being developed by the pair though constant effort.
Roland was frustrated by his inability to recall how to craft items of a less military nature, but this seemed to bother Zia little. Of the two, Zia seemed more inclined to action and combat, Roland more suited to politics and building. The two made a good team, and had already gathered several members of their House together here in the new world, and had been joined by a couple of Tonks as well. All together, their House, called Desiderata, belonged to a larger Clan, ruled by Zia's older brother, John Prosper. House Desiderata struggled to explore New Dereth, to find resources, and relearn the crafting arts to benefit the Clan of John Prosper, and it was a long road indeed that Roland and Zia found themselves on.
For now, the couple travelled from Arwic, the town near the training islands, to the legendary capitol city of Isparians on Dereth, Cragstone. Stories of Cragstone had survived in some fragments in Roland's memories and they had heard that the Shrines to the Kingdoms of Dereth were still found within the grand ruins of the city. It was to visit these Shrines that brought them to this road and this rain-dripping tree in the middle of nowhere.
"Roland, what of that bridge we crossed a mile back? Who built it do you think?"
The bridge in question had saved the two a awful swim in cold rushing waters, but was odd in the extreme. The wood of the bridge was plain cut, nothing elaborate. It was obviously of recent construction, much newer than the old and ruined towns and falling houses they had seen along the roads. But the size of the thing was amazing! Handrails on these bridges towered over even tall Roland's head, even over the occasional Lugian traveling along the road. No Isparian, Tumerok, or Lugian would build such a bridge, not on such a scale, yet here they were.
Roland scowled at the mystery. "I know not, Zia. There are many mysteries in this world, more than I can believe. We find bridges that dwarf us yet are recently built. The buildings of Arwic are sealed away by mysterious fields of force and we cannot so much as enter them. The doors of those very buildings tower over our heads, we are as children in size compared to them, yet they were supposed to have housed our ancestors?" Roland shook his head to clear it, "I wish I knew Zia, I wish I knew."
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Weary, bedraggled, and aching from minor wounds sustained in skirmishes with the hostile wildlife along the road, Roland and Zia staggered up the road to the city of Cragstone. As they limped towards the crumpled walls other Isparians shouted out to them, asking what had happened.
"Drudges, along the road," replied Zia. "We traveled from Arwic and the roads were all but impassable because of those vile little creatures."
The few interested folk who had gathered to hear the story laughed. "You traveled from Arwic?" one asked. Pointing to the south he continued, "Why didn't you just take the portal?"
Zia gave Roland a flat look as he turned and headed into Cragstone without a word.
Walking through the immense ruins of Cragstone was difficult. The paving was broken badly and made travel slow, a constant struggle to keep moving forward. Passing towering buildings that seemed perfectly intact though dirty and in need of paint, Roland and Zia pressed on towards their goal, the courtyard of The Palace, or so it had been called by some.
The towers of the Shrines finally came into view, Roland and Zia's steps slowing as they approached. First into sight was the Shrine of the Dominion, the servants of the Virindi. This shrine was surrounded by Isparians, Lugians, and Tumeroks, all with a gleam of zeal in their eyes, a glow around them. Shuddering, Roland moved past this gathering and noticed the red glow of the Shrine of Shadow.
No group surrounded this pulsing tower. Instead, individuals crept up to the Shrine, furtive, as they touched its stone and swore to serve the dark powers represented there. Just as furtively, they departed, slinking away to cause untold harm.
The shining blue glow of the Shrine of Order caught Roland's eye as he turned from the evil of the Shadows. Grabbing Zia's hand, he ran up the stairs to the top of the tower, smiling at his wife when they reached the top.
Justice is achieved through wisdom tempered by compassion. Justice cannot exist in the absence of either.
It is better to strive to improve the world than to live a quiet life.
Keep true to your oaths. Your honor and reputation precede and follow you.
Reaching out, the couple touched the shrine and felt the presence of a power, an intelligence, that remained of the spirit of Asheron. Heeding his call, Roland and Zia sank to their knees and swore to serve the ideals of his Order.
Roland Esque
www.ClanProsper.org
