Editing The Journal of Veksvale
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | == | + | ==The View of the Seas== |
I stepped up to the ledge. Looking down was twenty thousand feet to a raging sea crashing waves up a thousand feet. In the history of this world this wall must have been the rock of death to mariners. Waves started hundreds of miles out to sea to splash that high. There was a reason the East Seas were only crossed by the boldest of Sailors and rarely within five hundred miles of the Split Rock. | I stepped up to the ledge. Looking down was twenty thousand feet to a raging sea crashing waves up a thousand feet. In the history of this world this wall must have been the rock of death to mariners. Waves started hundreds of miles out to sea to splash that high. There was a reason the East Seas were only crossed by the boldest of Sailors and rarely within five hundred miles of the Split Rock. | ||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
Three thousand miles Downhill to the west was the sea. Beaches, cities, highways, and a horse and wagon culture. Humans, mostly, though as a traveler I could tell that some time in the past, Orcs, dwarves, and elves had interbred with the natives. So far back that their histories were barely fairy tales and folklore. | Three thousand miles Downhill to the west was the sea. Beaches, cities, highways, and a horse and wagon culture. Humans, mostly, though as a traveler I could tell that some time in the past, Orcs, dwarves, and elves had interbred with the natives. So far back that their histories were barely fairy tales and folklore. | ||
− | I had spent a month in the region known as | + | I had spent a month in the region known as Hinterhigh. East of it was five hundred miles of some of the ruggedest, most beautiful wilderness I'd run across this side of chaos. At the far end was a thousand mile long edge cutting into the sea that only dropped below sixteen thousand when it reached down to a lower lands on the north and south. The region was rich with wildlife and game. |
Below the eight thousand mark was large spread out community of people who live in trade off the mountain hunters, gatherers, artisans, adventurers. Its as peaceful a place I was looking for and I found it, for the most part. They had a tavern of course, with rooms available. Paka would sit on my lap while I played the harp or the flute. I tuned instruments if they were brought me and i taught songs other liked. | Below the eight thousand mark was large spread out community of people who live in trade off the mountain hunters, gatherers, artisans, adventurers. Its as peaceful a place I was looking for and I found it, for the most part. They had a tavern of course, with rooms available. Paka would sit on my lap while I played the harp or the flute. I tuned instruments if they were brought me and i taught songs other liked. | ||
− | In the Village I might as well call | + | In the Village I might as well call Hinterhigh since the people there didn't call it anything, I was told that there was a band of desperate men in the hills. Had been for decades. Some kind of defunct warband turned brigands. They told me that those who chose to live in the deep woods occasionally had to deal with them. Sometimes they raided Hinterhigh. They told me to just cooperate with them and I wouldn't be too badly hurt. They didn't understand me when that made me laugh. At least when I went into the mountain I'd have something to look forward to. |
− | |||
− | |||
A few week into the mountains I found a nice vista. Good water; a fast moving stream, deep and wide, with a bulge before a flat somewhat wooded area. High rocky hills protecting from the cold breezes, heavy woodlands. Plentiful game. The views were spectacular. I set up my camp and did a few day trips. It was perfect. A great place to winter. Easy reach of the Wall of the World. Lot of nice rocks around for day climbs. | A few week into the mountains I found a nice vista. Good water; a fast moving stream, deep and wide, with a bulge before a flat somewhat wooded area. High rocky hills protecting from the cold breezes, heavy woodlands. Plentiful game. The views were spectacular. I set up my camp and did a few day trips. It was perfect. A great place to winter. Easy reach of the Wall of the World. Lot of nice rocks around for day climbs. | ||
Line 21: | Line 19: | ||
So I dragged out my iron kits. The cook set up was first. The large tripod and the big pot. A couple smaller sets. Three fires. Gonna need them. Setting the pans out. I hadn't unloaded the iron kits in this world yet. It meant I was staying here. Maybe a few years. A good cook area was needed first. Places for skinning, prepping, drying. I'd build a smoke house eventually, and a good still barn. A fish pond. A hot pool. | So I dragged out my iron kits. The cook set up was first. The large tripod and the big pot. A couple smaller sets. Three fires. Gonna need them. Setting the pans out. I hadn't unloaded the iron kits in this world yet. It meant I was staying here. Maybe a few years. A good cook area was needed first. Places for skinning, prepping, drying. I'd build a smoke house eventually, and a good still barn. A fish pond. A hot pool. | ||
− | But first would be a good sized single room cabin. Maybe three room. Plenty of wood. Paka and I could manage. | + | But first would be a good sized single room cabin. Maybe three room. Plenty of wood. Paka and I could manage. |
− | == | + | ==Home== |
Its been a few years since I wrote on the first page of this journal. I have two of course. One is for day to day things that I assure you would bore you to tears. My mind is that of a sorcerer but still, notes are a good thing. | Its been a few years since I wrote on the first page of this journal. I have two of course. One is for day to day things that I assure you would bore you to tears. My mind is that of a sorcerer but still, notes are a good thing. | ||
Line 29: | Line 27: | ||
For example: | For example: | ||
− | + | Month 1, Day 3, in Veksvale. | |
20 trees down, drawn, trimmed. Enough for the frame. Dressed two deer. One good set of antlers for toggles. Brew vats working, nothing ready. Conjured a keg of rum. | 20 trees down, drawn, trimmed. Enough for the frame. Dressed two deer. One good set of antlers for toggles. Brew vats working, nothing ready. Conjured a keg of rum. | ||
− | Paka has been gone for three days. | + | Paka has been gone for three days. |
− | + | Month 1, Day 3, in Veksvle. | |
Woke up beside the empty keg and the smoldering fire. Swam to clean up. | Woke up beside the empty keg and the smoldering fire. Swam to clean up. | ||
Paka not back. | Paka not back. | ||
Spent the Day working food, setting drying out. Did trim on the wood, chopped firewood for drying. Made trump for Veksvale. | Spent the Day working food, setting drying out. Did trim on the wood, chopped firewood for drying. Made trump for Veksvale. | ||
May visit Ang Ri for companionship and some gardening supplies. | May visit Ang Ri for companionship and some gardening supplies. | ||
− | Tomorrow, I start the frame no matter where Paka is. | + | Tomorrow, I start the frame no matter where Paka is. |
− | + | Month 1 day 6 | |
No Paka. The bitch. I'm sleeping in a tent instead of a comfy cabin because she wanted to wander. | No Paka. The bitch. I'm sleeping in a tent instead of a comfy cabin because she wanted to wander. | ||
− | Chose the spot for the water pond. Moved 12,198 rocks. Too lazy to move two more. Will start readying the foundation of the house later but lining the pool comes first. Rows of rocks, fitted. Smooth stone spells to lock them in place. This pond is the hot pool, at the low end of my stretch of river. 30'x 30' x 6'. I'll put a couple hot stones in it to keep it in the mid 100s. Another up stream will be the fish pond. | + | Chose the spot for the water pond. Moved 12,198 rocks. Too lazy to move two more. Will start readying the foundation of the house later but lining the pool comes first. Rows of rocks, fitted. Smooth stone spells to lock them in place. This pond is the hot pool, at the low end of my stretch of river. 30'x 30' x 6'. I'll put a couple hot stones in it to keep it in the mid 100s. Another up stream will be the fish pond. |
− | + | Month 1, day 7 | |
Since im staying awhile i laid out the garden. Not too much sun. Planted staples. | Since im staying awhile i laid out the garden. Not too much sun. Planted staples. | ||
− | Tempted to ''Summon'' Paka but that just tends to piss her off. | + | Tempted to ''Summon'' Paka but that just tends to piss her off. |
− | + | Month 1, day 12 | |
Foundation set and dry. Laid the first row around the three room. With all the wood cut and ready for stacking. | Foundation set and dry. Laid the first row around the three room. With all the wood cut and ready for stacking. | ||
− | Paka came back just in time to not do any of the stone work. She looked pretty smug. | + | Paka came back just in time to not do any of the stone work. She looked pretty smug. |
− | + | Month 1 day 23 | |
− | Cabin mostly done. Finishing touches. 3 rooms, not counting a closet privy. Porches all around and a deep thirty foot front porch to work on during the winter. I'm air drying several kills till the smoke house and the drying shed get done. | + | Cabin mostly done. Finishing touches. 3 rooms, not counting a closet privy. Porches all around and a deep thirty foot front porch to work on during the winter. I'm air drying several kills till the smoke house and the drying shed get done. To |
[[Veksvale Daily Journal]] | [[Veksvale Daily Journal]] | ||
Line 61: | Line 59: | ||
Over the first two winter Veksvale grew from a camp fire to a community. It hadn't been my intention. | Over the first two winter Veksvale grew from a camp fire to a community. It hadn't been my intention. | ||
− | I had finished my work. Mostly, such things are never really done. I had a three room cabin calked against the weather. I'd imported special | + | I had finished my work. Mostly, such things are never really done. I had a three room cabin calked against the weather. I'd imported special windows and covered the installations so as to not look too otherworldly. I had a hot pool at the south end of my land and a fish pond at the north. A smoke house and a distilling barn and a long low storage barn. A animal barn for goats, a few milk cows, a couple horses and a couple mules. A few cats had shown up, in some kind of state of worship for Paka. That was fine with me. Cats eat rats and I really don't. |
By this time I had met a lot of the locals, such as the mountains had. Loners for the most parts. Small families. I've got to to know the races, nations and peoples of the planet by hearing what happened “Downhill” that drove people “Uphill”. | By this time I had met a lot of the locals, such as the mountains had. Loners for the most parts. Small families. I've got to to know the races, nations and peoples of the planet by hearing what happened “Downhill” that drove people “Uphill”. | ||
Line 67: | Line 65: | ||
Call it 300 people withing 30 miles of my little place. | Call it 300 people withing 30 miles of my little place. | ||
− | I started running an informal tavern at first. | + | I started running an informal tavern at first... mainly trading what they made for booze. As much as a weekly campfire with booze and wilderness survival talks. |
− | Soon a trader came up and asked if he could build at the edge of my vale, across the stream, downhill from my side. I didn't have anything built on that side but he had manners. So I helped him build a trading post. He left and I thought I'd never see him again. | + | Soon a trader came up and asked if he could build at the edge of my vale, across the stream, downhill from my side. I didn't have anything built on that side but he had manners. So I helped him build a trading post. He left and I thought I'd never see him again. |
− | + | Grikoo brought up a mule train of dozen of the most complacent mules I ever saw packed to the brim with buckets and traps and knives and kegs.. | |
I had started making kegs early on and now making them was just an ongoing process. | I had started making kegs early on and now making them was just an ongoing process. | ||
Line 78: | Line 76: | ||
There is something about the people who come up hill. Resilient, self-reliant. Friendly when they need to be. Most had left the downhill world for good reasons. Its impolite to ask. Because its impoite to ask what drove them to the mountains, they never asked me where I came from and what brought me here. That kind of anonymity is a blessing to one like me. | There is something about the people who come up hill. Resilient, self-reliant. Friendly when they need to be. Most had left the downhill world for good reasons. Its impolite to ask. Because its impoite to ask what drove them to the mountains, they never asked me where I came from and what brought me here. That kind of anonymity is a blessing to one like me. | ||
− | + | Brigands | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
I came back after a month running deep, taking a look east to the sea. | I came back after a month running deep, taking a look east to the sea. | ||
Line 101: | Line 84: | ||
These people had raided my vale, harassed and killed my people, and had abused woman and girls. There was something in me that felt violated. Assaulted in my possessions and in my people. Insulted in my person. | These people had raided my vale, harassed and killed my people, and had abused woman and girls. There was something in me that felt violated. Assaulted in my possessions and in my people. Insulted in my person. | ||
− | One insults a Lord of Amber, even a minor one, at their peril. One insults a Lord of Chaos, and a Hendrake at that, to their utter | + | One insults a Lord of Amber, even a minor one, at their peril. One insults a Lord of Chaos, and a Hendrake at that, to their utter disaster. |
Flying to the ground a mile away I shed the avian form and took my bearded form again.. I'd let my look go native. Gather the mules and their furs and meats and horns, we walked into greet my visitors. | Flying to the ground a mile away I shed the avian form and took my bearded form again.. I'd let my look go native. Gather the mules and their furs and meats and horns, we walked into greet my visitors. | ||
Line 107: | Line 90: | ||
Within moments a few came to walk me in. They made mock of my age and the limp I effected. They grabbed the riens of my mules and I thought to stop them but it occurred to me that they were unlikely to harm them. There was plenty of meat around without butchering mule. | Within moments a few came to walk me in. They made mock of my age and the limp I effected. They grabbed the riens of my mules and I thought to stop them but it occurred to me that they were unlikely to harm them. There was plenty of meat around without butchering mule. | ||
− | As I was brought to the hetman of this gang of ruffians the people of the Vale watched me in silence and fear. I could hear someone in my cabin being abused.. I silently cast my sense into the room and found two ruffians and one of the young girls that lived in the vale.. The one inhorsed went to sleep as I cast Personal Paralysis. Having someone frozen on top of one is better then having them die. The other however got the full Lorgus powered Cardiac arrest that made his heart erupt | + | As I was brought to the hetman of this gang of ruffians the people of the Vale watched me in silence and fear. I could hear someone in my cabin being abused.. I silently cast my sense into the room and found two ruffians and one of the young girls that lived in the vale.. The one inhorsed went to sleep as the sleep spell as I cast Personal Paralysis. Having someone frozen on top of one is better then having them die. The other however got the full Lorgus powered Cardiac arrest that made his heart erupt like a paint filled balloon. |
The Hetman looked up at me, | The Hetman looked up at me, | ||
Line 124: | Line 107: | ||
Once the people were assembled the hetman stood and put his hand on by shoulder, a sword in his other hand. He slapped my back to start me. Some part of him may have wondered at the shoulders that did not feel frail. | Once the people were assembled the hetman stood and put his hand on by shoulder, a sword in his other hand. He slapped my back to start me. Some part of him may have wondered at the shoulders that did not feel frail. | ||
− | “People of Veksvale. I know, i've never liked that name. But it seems we have guests | + | “People of Veksvale. I know, i've never liked that name. But it seems we have guests. I intend to make them welcome.” |
− | Twisting my arm up and over the hand on my shoulder, turning, striking the hetman and twisting his head sideways with a horrifically crunching sound. Stepping away as the body falls like a cut marionette. Gripping his | + | Twisting my arm up and over the hand on my shoulder, turning, striking the hetman and twisting his head sideways with a horrifically crunching sound. Stepping away as the body falls like a cut marionette. Gripping his broad sword in the left hand, drawing it from the sheath as he fell away. . |
Stepping to the nearest brigand, the iron knife shifting to its Bowie knife form and dragging the broadsword against his cheek, sheering the top of his head clean off above the teeth. | Stepping to the nearest brigand, the iron knife shifting to its Bowie knife form and dragging the broadsword against his cheek, sheering the top of his head clean off above the teeth. | ||
− | Several steps more ended the brigands who had been on either side of the hetman, his boon companions, his lieutenants | + | Several steps more ended the brigands who had been on either side of the hetman, his boon companions, his lieutenants. |
− | Only a few moments had passed, | + | Only a few moments had passed, enough for the brigands to know death had come for them... They broke and ran. |
And the saying told in realms from Amber to Chaos was apparently true in this world too. Run, and you just die tired. | And the saying told in realms from Amber to Chaos was apparently true in this world too. Run, and you just die tired. | ||
− | I hunted them. They made no attempt to hide their trails and it probably didn't occur to them they needed. It wouldn't have mattered. I could track them by sign or Sigil | + | I hunted them. They made no attempt to hide their trails and it probably didn't occur to them they needed. It wouldn't have mattered. I could track them by sign or Sigil. |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | When I returned I had remembered to I found them cleaning the vale and stacking the dead. They had wandered down my trails and collected remains. They were building a bonfire. A merry blaze it would be. | |
− | + | As the fire burned the people of Veksvale finally asked me what I was? I tried telling them I was just a soldier, and one without a country. They were not convinced but they made me realize that while I had come here a stranger, a traveler, I had made a home for these people. So this scattering of homesteads needed a center. | |
− | |||
− | + | Fort Vek | |
+ | I told them to start collecting. Rocks. Any size. They did. For month they would come to the fire and drop a rock in the various piles. Small ones, medium ones, big ones.. | ||
− | + | Dowser | |
− | + | After Veksvale had been in place for 4 years a new visitor arrived that would change the place once again. |