City Gates - Please post your entry

[Anne]

A 15-foot high wall dropping down into a 20-foot deep a fifteen foot wide moat surround and fortify the city. The occasional bastion sticks out to allow archers to shoot at any opposing force. An interesting feature not far from the Southern gates is a huge boulder that forms part of the wall, the result of an arcanic defense and not far from the boulder is a large scar on the wall where acid etched its way into the stone. The main gates can be found to the north of the city, while smaller gates can be found on each of the other sides of the city. The 12-inch thick gates are made of solid Oak with steel reinforcements. A network of Pulleys and chains allow these massive gates to operate with great ease. This network also operates the Drawbridge that remains down during times of peace. The guards ever vigilant keep a watchful eye on the road leading toward the gates for travelers and tradesmen who might seek to enter the city to trade with the Dwarves.

[Coulter Minith]

Timestamp: The First Brightening, in the Month of Pontius, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

It was the middle of winter within the world of Aelyria; the brightenings were short and the nights long. It was a time of submission, when the goddess of nature showed all her might and grace upon the material plane with a fine blanket of snow that seem to permanently cover the Centripax Province of the Aelyrian Empire. It was a time when people, no matter their race or gender, should be shacked up in a tavern somewhere around a warm fire with a mug of ale and likable company to pass the time away.

These thoughts of warm fires and a decent mug, or three, of dwarfen ale was the only thing that kept Coulter Minith trudging along the snow covered road to the dwarfen city of Zerdargia. Travelling from the small city of Natura, the young dwarfen warrior, known to some as Coulter Minith, had been finishing some long overdue commitments in Natura for one of the Twenty, Clan Thunderthighs. The Twenty were the leaders of the dwarfen community within the borders of the Aelyrian Empire, and consisted of the twenty most powerful/influential dwarfen clans to be found within the Empire.

However as was the case with the majority of cities within the Empire, the City of Natura was too elfin, too centred of trees in nature to hold the attention of the four-foot tall dwarfen male for long. Therefore after fulfilling his obligations to Clan Thunderthighs, and wanting to find a tavern to pass the winter months with his own kinsmen the thoughts and memories of the wonders of Zerdargia, especially the ale, had started to roll around Coulter’s bearded head. Having nothing better to do and wanting to see, smell and hear the culture of his own race after spending so much time with non-dwarfs, the young dwarfen adventurer had decided to travel to the dwarfen City of Zerdargia with as much haste as was dwarfenly possible.

Finally after many brightenings of surprisingly peaceful travel through the countryside of the Centripax Province, the young bearded dwarf had finally reached the most heavily populated dwarfen city within the borders of the Aelyrian Empire on the first brightening of a new month. Reaching one of the smaller gates on the western wall facing the general direction of Natura, Coulter Minith would calmly show all the necessary items to gain entrance into a city of the Aelyrian Empire.

[Bobbity Thornberry]

The First Brightening, second cycle in the Month of Pontius, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

A 15-foot high wall dropping down into a 20-foot deep and fifteen foot wide moat makes no matter to Fae who feels that he can go anywhere, anytime. After the suns had set, the Sprite flew over the wall, far from any gate. His experience as an investigator and a self professed spy, taught him that it was best to be unobserved when either entering or leaving a place. Keeping in the shadows as much as possible was the key.

[Firebird]

Coulter Minth

The guards at the west gate saw a dwarfen male approach and request entry to the city. Hail Brother Dwarf, be you from the City. Upon closer scrutiny and the presenting of Coulter's visa, the Guard saluted, "Master Thane, we have not seen you here for many eras, please enter."

The massive gates were risen so that Coulter could enter Zerdargia.

Bobbity

The sprite was wrong. At that moment one of the archers who guarded the wall was relieving himself by the side of the wall when he saw the sprite fly over him.
Stop! He said raising his bow and nocking in an arrow. Stop or I will shoot!

[Bobbity Thornberry]

Hmmm, this was not going the way Bobbity had planned. All the other times he sneaked into a city, it was easy. The Sprite noticed a Guard was relieving himself by the side of the wall, how crude and unsanitary. The Fae wondered just what kind of a city Zerdargia was that there was not a latrine at the Gate. The Guard looked up, that was Bobbity's clue to fly away from the wall as fast as he could. Though this could well be a serious situation, Bobbity always managed to see a bit of humor in any situation and he wondered if the Guard wet all over his legs when he looked up. He certainly hoped that would be the case. Guards were not supposed to conduct aerial surveillance, especially while relieving themselves.

Then he heard the warning. There could not have been any greater motivation for trying to fly faster than his fastest. He had tangled with a giant Spider and another time with a Hawk but never before with an archer. With adrenaline putting him at as high a warp speed as possible, the Fae, putting as much distance between him and the Guard as possible, estimated how long it would take to nock an arrow or bolt and then dove toward the ground on a sinuous flight path. His intention being to level off just before reaching the ground and getting whatever trees or bushes were available, between him and the Guard, who hopefully had wet trousers to distract him.

[Tash Il'nishin]

Tash decided to turn away and go back home.

[Firebird]

The arrow flew through the air, towards the escaping sprite, but the sprite was too fast. When the sprite hit the ground, however, the dwarf forgetting his pants were around his legs started forward to run after him. Fortunately for the sprite, the guard tripped over his pants and fell flat on his face, but not before alerting some of the other guards who rushed forward into the bushes, but who couldn't find the sprite. Where is the wee thing, and why did he fly over the walls and not stop at the gate, said the Sgt.

By this time the guard had pulled up his pants and sheephishly replied. "Well, it beats me, unless he's a criminal, and if so, we'll soon enough find him in town. The Sgt. starting laughing at the sheepish gaurd who was still fastening his pants, and then yelled at the others. We'll find him soon enough in town and when we do we'll find out. He put out an all points bulletin to capture a male sprite, and find out what he was up to. Bobbity was able to steal away and hide without detection by the guards.

[Bobbity Thornberry]

The second Brightening, second cycle in the Month of Pontius, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

After he cleared the wall of the city Bobbity looked for a wooded area that seemed uninhabited. He flew down, found a shrub that looked comfortable and made his way into it. After finding an area that suited him, he curled up and rested until the suns were well over the treetops.

Now it was time to make his official entrance. The Fae flew toward the nearest Gate at about the height of a standing Dwarf. When he was near the Gate, the Fae slowed his flight and finally hovered when he got to a Guard. Bobbity took out his Visa and presented it to the Guard, saying, "Serale Captain, I request your permission to enter your city. I am here for a visit if you please."

[Firebird]

The guards stomach was growling, it had been 8 hours since he had a break. All he wanted was an ale, a steak, and a bed in that order. Stifling a yawn he closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them, he saw hoovering before him what he first thought was a bird. He almost swatted the bird, when he realized it was a tiny pixie, holding out an even tinier Visa. He had heard of a pixie who had escaped the guards yesterday and as he squinted trying to read the pixie's name he said, "Yer name's Bobbitty what? He squinted again. "Were you the pixie who breached the walls yesterday?"
He really didn't care about whether it was the one or not. How could a tiny thing like that do any damage. Then he remembered his grandmother telling him fairy tales about pixies and how mischevious they were. "So you thought it was funny flying over the walls without stopping. Yer not wanted for anything criminal are ye. If you try anything in town yer going to jail, err, at least gonna be put in a cage. But I'll let you go for now. He handed the visa back to the pixie and then waved him on. He could see his relief arriving at the guard shack. If Bobbitty got out of there very quickly maybe he wouldn't be noticed by the guard, the one he had caught with his pants down yesterday.

[Bobbity Thornberry]

Many questions were asked but there was hardly any time allowed for a reply before the next question was asked. It was as the Guard did not care. After all, what harm could a little Fae do to these big strong Dwarfs. He did reply, "The name is Thornberry, Bobbity Thornberry".

When he was finally told to pass, Bobbity did just that. He flew toward the center of the city. Another Dwarf was just entering the Guard Shack, making the Fae wonder if the Guard who had passed him or this Dwarf who just arrived might not have been the one who was nasty enough to threaten to fire an arrow at him. It was dark then and he was up in the air so the Fae did not have an opportunity to get a good look at the mean Guard but he was pretty sure that it was a Dwarf.

Off he flew, looking forward to whatever excitement Zerdargia had to offer.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Tenth Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Immanis in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

It was the first time Eyvind approached the city of Zerdargia. In his voyage to Mystique he had seen the mighty walls from afar but now he rode directly into them. Although he came here to trade, the Vagaran didn't bring any form of good aside of his will and sword, and the same did the dozen Imperial Legionnaires riding behind him. As they approached the gate the mighty red-haired warrior pulled the reigns to slow his black Carmelyn Warsteed. Arthalof, the horse, grunted but complained.

"Serale, I am Provost Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson of the Manjet Legion, Commander of the Black Shields and Supreme Commander of the Provincial Army of Sheria."

One thing he had learnt when dealing with Dwarves was to be honest and tell everything he could so there would not be misunderstandings. Actually with him rode a Dwarf, Drok a Senior Legionnaire in the Imperial Legions and he would be his guide in the city of Zerdargia.

"I come here to request an audience with His Excellency the King of Dargis, Ruler of the Dwarves and the Underlands."

[Joyau delaLune]

..........................................

[Firebird]

The soldiers on the walls had seen a small contingent of soldiers coming from afar, and as they approached the gate, the Sgt. major of the Dwarven Elite Corps. met them.
The small dwarven warrior looked up at the giant on a giant warhorse unintimidated. "Please dismount, sir, you and all your legionairres." When he had dismounted he checked Evyind's visa.
"What did you say your business is in Zerdargia. As you should know there is no royal family in residence here. As for Dargis, you may not enter the city, as it is only open to Dwarves and Halflings." He and his other guards finished checking the visas of his men.
"If you still wish to enter Zerdargia, you are welcome to, you and your men. You cannot mount your horses inside the city. Your men and your horses will be housed at the Veldar Barracks.
If you wish to see the civil authorities, I suggest you contact the Aedile of the City of Zerdargia."
The soldiers and guards stepped back then to allow Evyind and his men to enter the city on foot.

[Duncan Sythe]

Tenth Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Immanis in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

A figure who had been moved aside with a few others waiting to be seen by the guards to make way for the official looking party of soldiers glanced sideways at them intently. Something about the voice was familiar and the words were...interesting. Yes, the name rang bells now even though it was longer and with a more prestigious title than when he'd heard it last.

Not that Eyvind Redbeard would know the person watching him. Standing next to a horse well-provisioned for travel he was wrapped in a heavy grey raincloak and looked nothing like when Eyvind had last seen him.

But then he hadn't used his real name then either.

Kitsumi Valharl raised a slim hand to his ear and flicked back a loose strand of gray hair that had come out from the leather thong which held it back in a ponytail, slowly walking his horse towards the group of soldiers. The Kemite appeared to be in his late forties, perhaps even older and walked with grace that spoke of something akin to a dancer perhaps...

Beneath the Illusion Duncan studied Eyvind carefully; he'd come a long way indeed. Thus drawing attention to himself with a cough before the column could walk on he glanced at Eyvind pointedly then at the dwarves.

“Forgive an old scholar for interrupting but did I hear you say Dargis is closed to even one who wishes to chronicle its rise after the Battle of Zerdargia?”

He asked in an incredulous, worried tone.

“I did not realise you guarded your privacy so fiercely.”

There were a few other choice things he could have added but he had to word his intervention carefully. With no warning or authority in the guise he'd picked to enter the city he had precious little to play with except for it's appearance when it came to gaining Eyvind's attention or that of the guards in order to prevent the group moving too far into the city by the time he himself was let through.

Neither had he known about the Dargis situation before hand, although it seemed oddly reminicent of the Vysstichi undercity policy... Not that he dare mention that either, not if he wanted this to remain peaceful. There were of course a thousand ways he could get what he suddenly desired instead of simply entering the city to take a look around if he used his Arcane talents...but he had neither need or wish to as he waited for the planted seed to blossom.

A poor scholar who had travelled far by the look of him, worn of skin and keen of eye, he seemed on the edge of his toes to be told he had come all this way for nothing. Perhaps the Dwarves would offer him consolation or rudeness as to entering their private streets...and if so would the warrior Eyvind with his strange sense of honour leap to protect one such as the Kemite? Or would he do so regardless of the Dwarven response to the man of pen and paper.

Duncan dealt with the situation he'd been handed to try and make some kind of impact, he was if anything almost curious to see what occurred.

Why all this effort though? Well, he didn't often meet people more than once and the last time he'd seen Eyvind the man had met Serion D'rinishad... and he'd also been far cry from being a General.

Such men bore watching, especially in these times.

[Firebird]

Duncan

After the military men had gone through another traveler approached the guards. "I am sorry, sir, it is correct that no one other than a dwarf or a halfling may enter the City of Dargis." He did not tell the strangers that the entrance to Dargis had been moved assuming that this was information that was not important for them to know since they could not gain access. The guard checked Duncan's visa then waved him through. "Enjoy your stay in Zerdargia."