WeaverofWorlds
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2016
- Posts
- 419
To many, the rocky and treacherous terrain of the Iron Mountains, and to a lesser extent its surroundings, were an unwelcome environment. Compared to the rolling hills, lush forests and tranquil farmlands of the Southlands, anywhere else might seem uninviting. As it was, the brisk autumn chill that bit at travelers along the road to the only city that mattered in the region would no doubt make anyone not born and raised here despise it all the more. For a ranger of the Iron Lord, however, it was home, and a twitch of satisfaction could be seen on his lips even as he ranged ahead of the those he escorted. Truthfully, he was only really escorting one, but they had managed to find passage with a small caravan headed to their destination, which was a welcome respite. A woman from the Southlands was ill suited to traveling in conditions such as this. He'd expected to have returned far sooner, but the King, in his infinite wisdom, had put off selecting someone for far longer than the ranger would have liked. Clearly, the south had little concern for the affairs of the north.
The ranger quickly shook the thoughts from his head, however, as he crested a ridge. Now, his eyes shone with joy and a smile found its way to his lips. The sight before his was the only thing that could have truly made him feel at home. The great fortress-city had long had its name lost to time, except perhaps from the memories of the Iron Lord himself, but no other sight could be grander to the ranger. Spires of stone and metal rose high into the air, atop each ballistas and catapults manned without fail around the clock. The great wall could just be seen passed them, ever defiant towards any that would attempt to assault the city. The ranger knew within toiled miners and craftsmen, all working great forges and bringing up ever more metal, all to repair the arms and armor of the soldiers that stood watch, ever vigilant in their duties. Even from this far out, the ring of steel could be heard, a combination of the pounding of blacksmiths and the constant training of the soldiers who were not otherwise occupied. Not even a year gone, and the ranger had missed this sight far more than any other. Even the capital, with its white marble buildings and cultured atmosphere, could not compare in his eyes.
And all around it, surrounding it on almost all sides and extending off as far as the eye could see, were the Iron Mountains. Impassable, and impossibly high, it was said by all who lived here that no man had ever reached the peak of its tallest, the mountain in question, the great Sky's Edge, jutting ever upwards and seemingly disappearing into the clouds above. Forests of evergreens, so different from the multitudes of more lush and colorful greenery in the south, covered the more untamed regions of this harsh place, and it was the same forests that provided for the ever hungry war machine that was the fortress-city. Feral wildlife still stalked the region as well, all to ready to descend upon unwary travelers. It was just as well the caravan had encountered little of that on this journey, as that would have delayed them even further.
Turning back towards the caravan, the ranger spied the woman he had brought back with him. For a moment he considered not drawing her attention to the sight that would be before her as the caravan crested the ridge, but in the end, he supposed it would be good for her to see it sooner rather than later. After all, she would be the Iron Lady soon, and would be spending likely her entire life here.
"My lady. There... the Fortress-City... your new home."
The ranger quickly shook the thoughts from his head, however, as he crested a ridge. Now, his eyes shone with joy and a smile found its way to his lips. The sight before his was the only thing that could have truly made him feel at home. The great fortress-city had long had its name lost to time, except perhaps from the memories of the Iron Lord himself, but no other sight could be grander to the ranger. Spires of stone and metal rose high into the air, atop each ballistas and catapults manned without fail around the clock. The great wall could just be seen passed them, ever defiant towards any that would attempt to assault the city. The ranger knew within toiled miners and craftsmen, all working great forges and bringing up ever more metal, all to repair the arms and armor of the soldiers that stood watch, ever vigilant in their duties. Even from this far out, the ring of steel could be heard, a combination of the pounding of blacksmiths and the constant training of the soldiers who were not otherwise occupied. Not even a year gone, and the ranger had missed this sight far more than any other. Even the capital, with its white marble buildings and cultured atmosphere, could not compare in his eyes.
And all around it, surrounding it on almost all sides and extending off as far as the eye could see, were the Iron Mountains. Impassable, and impossibly high, it was said by all who lived here that no man had ever reached the peak of its tallest, the mountain in question, the great Sky's Edge, jutting ever upwards and seemingly disappearing into the clouds above. Forests of evergreens, so different from the multitudes of more lush and colorful greenery in the south, covered the more untamed regions of this harsh place, and it was the same forests that provided for the ever hungry war machine that was the fortress-city. Feral wildlife still stalked the region as well, all to ready to descend upon unwary travelers. It was just as well the caravan had encountered little of that on this journey, as that would have delayed them even further.
Turning back towards the caravan, the ranger spied the woman he had brought back with him. For a moment he considered not drawing her attention to the sight that would be before her as the caravan crested the ridge, but in the end, he supposed it would be good for her to see it sooner rather than later. After all, she would be the Iron Lady soon, and would be spending likely her entire life here.
"My lady. There... the Fortress-City... your new home."
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