Thread:Travian Sackett/@comment-25344655-20160220040801

==Chapter 1: Tradition ==

A wooden cart creaked as it rolled along a cobblestone path. It’s driver, beard grey and eyes ancient, looked at the king’s eldest son, Bowen Sackett. He was a tall lad with tan skin and dark blue eyes, he had the stubble of a beard starting on his already scarred chin. Sacketts begin training at a young age, and don't stop until they are too old to be drafted, which is 65 years old. This sackett however, was his heir to the throne of the kingdom, and as such, doesn't train until ten. As a tradition, all Sackett heirs are to travel to Kheled-arnin and meet a man named Glosur Darloc. Legend is that Glosur is an immortal, and he helped Bowens great great grandfather defend the kingdom from being destroyed by raiders and larger kingdoms at the time. Since then they have been in debt to him, and make regular visits to his empire, which spans from mountain to mountain. He was entrusted to keeping the boy safe until they got to the citadel of silver and back, which he intended to do.

“Excuse me, but when should we arrive at this...Kheled-Arnin?” Asked the young sackett, still confused why he left his home in the first place.

“Soon, child, soon.” Responded the man, looking around for danger.

As if heard by the universe, towering White Mountains began coming into view, sheer unclimbable mountains even by goats. The sun fled under the mountains to hide from the rising moon. The cobblestone path began to go beneath the mountains into a tunnel lightened by the dim flicker of torches and the occasional shine of rats eyes in the darkness. Soon light was seen again as they entered a large green valley full of tall, ancient pine trees and deep green grass that made the place seem ancient. The cobblestone trail turned into a full on brick road. In the distance you saw the faint mountains surrounding the valley, distant watchtowers stood watch on the mountains, faint fires flickering in the dark sky. From the tunnel’s exit you could see the entire valley, and over the towering trees and hills was Kheled-Arnin itself, the Silver Citadel, Capital and home of the Union of the Silver Shield, the Freedom Star, its large gate dug into the mountain walls, it is one of the strongest places in the world. The sun seemed to set perfectly behind the gate, sending a dim red light over the valley, but making the gate itself in the dark, lit by torches.

“Sir? What is this place?” piped up a stunned Bowen.

“This, Bowen, is the capital of an empire. This is where you meet a god.”

With that, the cart pulled up to a checkpoint, where a guard  looked and said

<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ah. Welcome travellers! What brings you to the lands of Glosur?” Spoke the guard, as he searched the cart for anything banned.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I have the heir to the Sackett family line. We are here to see Glosur.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I see, continue onward. Go to the heart of the city, his palace is there.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The cart jolted forward, going past smaller cities in the shadow of Kheled-arnin, and some old ruins, obviously remnants of an earlier time. Soon the huge gate came into view again, the guards stared down at us as the large lumbering gates opened, and the cart walked in. As soon as the cart entered, the view was enormous, the entrance stood above the rest of the city, the place first opened as a large hallway, large enough for regular houses to be dwarfed by the walls, a few shops were carved into the walls, and there were guards manning ballistae just barely visible, giving off the impression the visible guards were not the only defenders of the city. As they continued on, the hallway began to split, one hallway went into the forgery, with carts of silver, gold and steel constantly coming out, some going to the small trade posts by the gate, others leaving to trade with other civilisations. The other hallway went deeper into the city. Gargantuan statues stared down at  the travellers, giving that impression of always being watched, but somehow it felt the statues weren’t giving the impression alone. The area suddenly opened to a huge carved out cave, the ceiling slowly climbing up until you couldn’t see it any longer. They rolled by children playing in a fountain, throwing the occasional gold piece in, before being called back into their homes. Every once and awhile, a compass was engraved onto the floor, pointing where you are headed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I suppose that says how big the city is...” Mumbled a still dazed Bowen.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Heh, yes I suppose so.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They rode by what seemed to be a Great Library, many citizens travelled in and out of it with books and tapestries in hand, the Library seemed to form into one of the pillars holding up the cave, withe library levels climbing up half the pillar. The cart seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the cavernous system, the lower they got, the richer everything started to feel. Buildings slowly went from stone, to granite, to marble, to starting to have gold and silver decorations. At one point they went through another large hallway. They arrived at another large gate, seeming to move past the civilian section, and into a more militaristic and guarded section in the middle of the city which the civilian section surrounded. The guards, with much restraint, opened the gates. Not before removing them of their cart for ‘security purposes.’ and the two now were walking down a path that seemed to be climbing down a flat wall, deeper and deeper into the earth. At the bottom of the path they saw a large walled fortress. The two were so far below they wondered how they hadn’t been burned alive. This new section was quiet, the only other people around were guards who gave suspicious looks to the outsiders. However it wasnt eerie, it was peaceful, the air was thick with age and wisdom. It felt as if nothing bad could happen here. Finally, after what seemed to be forever, they arrived at small, but clearly sturdy door of metal at the entrance to the palace- which was built into the wall and went so far up, it seemed to overlook the rest of the city. IT was truly stunning. Bowen had at this point lost will to speak. He didnt have too, for soon a voice called out.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Who approaches the palace of Glosur Darloc, Emperor of the United Empire and wisest of the world?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The cart driver was about to speak, but Bowen beat him too it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“W-We come to speak with G-Glosur, It’s been a tradition for two centuries now!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Hmph. Very well.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">For the third time, gates opened up to the palace, which was stunninly decorated with red, green, gold and especially silver. Banners of the Union hanged from the wall, showing off the silver star. The old man looked at the banners with a sad remembrance. Something quickly noticed by Bowen.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Why do you look at the banners like that?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Those banners hold much meaning, the Union may represent freedom and justice, but there is much blood and tears spent over upholding such a title.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Like what? What happened?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“It’s a long story, I could tell you of the Civil war, where brother turned on brother, I could speak of the horror of Blackfire volcano, a disaster still greatest in the hearts of these people. I should know, i was there.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“What do you mean?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“My name is Galmor Druin, I was a general in the civil war. I was the right hand of Glosur and by extension, the Union. I had to kill many of my own Kin for the freedom of many and to keep the Union whole. The civil war tore the hearts of many who had family in the NR, the New Republic as they called themselves. But most of all, it tore the heart of Glosur, who deeply cares for the well being of his citizens. After the war was over, I just couldn’t stay in the army, it was too painful. So I have taken Sackett heirs to see Glosur since. You all think of his immortality as something to revere and love. It most certainly is not. The most heartbreaking thing for Glosur was not the civil war itself, but who started it. See, Glosur has-had a son. Glorin, who had been under sway of more evil powers for years, became sick with greed and corruption. During the night, when Glosur was away, he snuck out to the Union’s southern colonies, in the mountains of Grimwire, he stirred up rebellions and fear of Glosur. When Glorin saw he was losing, he lashed out. Using his armies as cannon-fodder, swarming over the Union troops. Glosur, in the end, was the one who had to destroy him. Even with the Union united again, Glosur didn’t want to live with what he did, so he attempted suicide, three times. But he was immortal. He couldn’t die. This was fifty years ago now, while on the surface Glosur may seem joyous and happy. Remember his struggles, and how immortality is not a gift, whatsoever.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Just at this moment, hard leather boots hit the ground. Bowen looked behind him, and saw a somber Glosur staring back. He gave a sad smile as Bowen noticed the large scar going down the top right of his eye down to the bottom left of his face.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Aye. It’s all true. Galmor here is still one of my greatest friends. Despite me staying the age I am.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He was right, for despite a few gray hairs, he looked in his mid-twenties. He wore royal clothing, reds and silvers, but also was clearly defendable, with a shining blade attached to his left side, and a bow across his back.

<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'TimesNewRoman';color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:400;white-space:pre-wrap;">“So.” Glosur spoke. “Who are you?” <ac_metadata title="Story."> </ac_metadata>