The Wastelands

The trek to the only village of Diarmid is never one made without a good reason.

Between the constant volcanic activity from the mountains of lava that covered the land, lack of water or nourishment, and enormous salamanders that preyed unchallenged only the stout of heart tread these treacherous barren lands....

Obsidian was the grass of that land, sulfur and metals the weeds, and smoke as the clouds, nothing grew here. 

From the only outpost that welcomed/warned the traveller of the perils ahead and provide a last chance to turn back or to stock up for the journey, it was a three day walk to the village of Diarmid and the string of skeletons along the trail emphasized the danger of this voyage...

She rode upon the back of Chema, the salamander now obedient to her touch. Her weapon was concealed between the sleeve of her hoodie, blue eyes constantly searching for any signs of danger. Of course, these were everywhere, but she had to check for any imminent ones.

But the ride so far was... Smooth? Annelise didn't know what else to expect.

From not far away, a growl was heard, and then a series of them...

Her breathing picked up pace. Heart hammering, she veers the salamander upwards, clutching her weapon to her chest now. She expected trouble, at any moment.

Down from one of the many obsidian slopes, a small pack of three wild salamanders got into their path, growling viciously as fire glowed in their mouths. 

It didn't help that Crema was yelling back aggressive growls.

"BACK OFF!" her usually level voice was laden with a power one can only harness from inside the core, one which had been refined to an art, and taken lots of practice. She was trying to ease the wild salamanders, whilst taming the aggressive nature of her own.

Her talisman was held intently above her heart, clutching to its combined power.

Ever salamander stopped. Their snarls mellowed to coos of curiosity.  The three that had blocked her path looked at each other as though inquiring what to do.

The ultimate decision became to walk back the way they came.

She slowly relinquished her hold on the talisman, as if her influence drained from her, for now. Not knowing what to expect, she sank with relief, maintaining the connection she had with Chema. Her muscles shook violently, but she could still cling to Chema's back, luckily. 

"Let's keep going, and hope no one saw."

Crema started to run back on their path...

Ooc I'll get a bit more elaborate when I'm on my computer

Ooc no problem, on my phone too

Ic Annelise continued their journey, her curious looks gazing along the wastelands. It was a series of destruction after destruction, a harsh reality that she was away from the safety of Kastanika, and the comfort the geyser brang.

She petted Chema lightly.

CRema kept making her way through the wasteland. To her this was nothing more than a tour of her homeland. 

However at one point she stopped, and brought her snout skyward.

Ooc if you want to bring someone in, go ahead

Ic "what is it?" She was reaching for her talisman again, sscanning her field of vision intently for any intruders. Why had Crema stopped?

The loud explosion behind them was all Crema needed to run even faster than before. A tower of smoke erupted from one of the cliffs and a sea of magma flower quickly behind them!

Ooc shiiiiit 

Ic She swore to herself, gripping Crema's back tightly. "I got nothing, we better speed up." She spoke softly to Crema, fully aware of the danger she was in.

The salamander rode quickly, staying well ahead of the lava at all times. She never stopped to look back, swiftly making her way to a massive gate.

It was embedded between two mountains and had a series of guards atop it. One looked out to see the incoming flow of magma and gestured for two of his men to start pulling up the drawbridge...

She clutched her talisman again, trying to amplify her voice. With smoke choking her lungs, she cried out "Stop!" Towards the two men, desperately hoping they could see or hear her.

This isn't good...

Upon hearing a cry from the distance, the captain looked out with a spyglass. Spotting the salamander all too familiar to them and a rider, "HALT!!" he ordered quickly.

The drawbridge stopped where it was, leaving enough room from Crema to climb upon the metal door and run down into the village of Diarmid itself...

OOC Welcome in!

The village astounded her. Only a simple drawbridge to protect its citizens? Maybe they were far stronger than the daywalkers she knew in Kastanika... Or maybe they weren't human at all. 

Upon seeing its view, she clung more tightly to Crema's back, unsure how to come with yet another new environment. Shed have to acclimatise to its customs, and rapidly so.

Crema began her descent, and she prepared to step away from the rugged salamander. How would she approach this realm...?

Politness does not appear to be a valuable virtue here. 

The guard who had lowered the drawbridge rushed to her side and pet Crema's snout to calm her. "Never seen a newcomer outrun the magma before. Your salamander riding might have earned you a place in the front line had you been born here..." 

The guard opened up another gate which led to the village itself, "We can take Crema to our stables if you want..."

She ran her fingers along Crema's back one more time, before nodding. "I'm honoured you think I would be deserving of a place in the army." Her voice was calm, letting her talisman sit on her chest again. "I have a way with animals; they helped me escape my attackers and tear their throats out."

Annelise said all of this without a hint of malice in her voice, as if she were telling a story that she wasn't involved with personally. "I'm from a place which hasnt opened its borders for 500 years, so its nice to see different places." Her curiosity was evident, but she was waiting to see what rules would be imposed on her.

"And you ventured through the wasteland to go sightseeing?" He laughed a bit, "I'm not sure if you have bravery or a death wish, but I respect it all just the same."

Crema was taken into their stables where a mass of meat was waiting for her. She more than happily began to feast, starving from her trip.

"Since you're new here, there's some things you ought to know. You have the basic laws from other realms against larceny and murder and the like. If you do somehow make a problem with someone, tell them to meet you in the arena and it'll get all set up. Furthermore, don't interrupt the instructors or bother the emperors."

"That aside, you may stay as you please..."

She nodded intently, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you. I came here for my own purposes, and for the intents of my people." Hearing the laws, she spoke again.

"You guys fight to resolve conflict? It's what some of our people do, back home." 

She put her hands in her pockets, fingers still curled around her talisman. "Do you have anyone that'll teach me about your creatures here?"

"Of course, fighting is the truest expression of conviction. The one with stronger conviction is in the right. Besides, it helps promote growth. The Watcher warns against stagnation."

"There isn't much to really say on the subject. There's only two types of creatures that can even survive here. Three if you're prone to believe legends..."

Maybe Fierre should've come here instead.


" I guess it stops your population getting so big as well." She saw the logic behind it, seeing how people lived outside the influence of a geyser. 

"Who's the watcher?"

The guards all snickered to themselves, as though she told a truly dated joke.

"Who's the Watcher? Do my ears deceive me?" The guard chuckled thunderously, "she's only the goddess of this world, lady of valor, queen of the valiant!" He spoke with unassailable fealty.