Dedicated to the sidehall kids’ kids.
May they have lives full of adventure, and always return home safe.
by J. T. Minor
v.2 - past in present
© 2017
Northwest
In a small village, not too far from the sea coast, a boy named Owen, by nature curious and brave, follows a bird of unusual plumage. As it flies from treetop to treetop, it seems to be waiting for him to catch up, until they end up together on a rocky beach, many hours from the boy’s home. There, Owen spots the glint of a green glass bottle among the pebbles. In the bottle is a note, which he extracts with some vigorous shaking. Being too young to read the note, he stashes it in his box of treasures, which he keeps hidden under the bed.
In a small village, not too far from the sea coast, a boy named Owen, by nature curious and brave, followed a bird of unusual plumage. Flying from treetop to treetop, seemingly waiting for him to catch up, until they ended up together on the rocky beach many hours walk from Owen’s home. There, on the beach, Owen spotted the glint of a green glass bottle among the pebbles. In the bottle was a note. Being too young to read it, he stashed it in his box of most precious treasures, which he kept hidden under his bed.
Many years later he is a squire, training to become a knight, but still unable to lift a broad sword. He is not turning out to be a good candidate for knighthood, though, because he spends his little free time roaming the hills near his village. Rather than practice sword and lancet, he prefers to be out alone in nature, tracking birds and fishing. During his studies he sees a scroll with the same type of writing as the message in a bottle. He retrieves the note, and asks his teacher to translate it. He discovers it is a cryptic series of dated verses, the first of which is in a few months. It reads ‘The Amber Squire passes to the Green Lordling in the West Hills’.
A few years older, he was now a squire, early in his training to become a knight, but still unable to lift a broad sword. He is not considered to be a good candidate for knighthood, though, because he spends his free time roaming. Rather than practice sword and lancet, or play dice with the other lads, he is out alone, tracking birds and fishing. During his training, he sees a tutor with a scroll in the same writing as the message in a bottle. Remembering the message, he brought it to the tutor to translate. He discovered it was a cryptic series of dated verses, the first of which is in a few months. The first verse starts ‘The Amber Squire passes the song to the Green Lordling lost in the West Hills’.
Convinced that this message is meant for him, on the appointed day, he sets off to wander in the nearby West Hills region, in search of whoever the Green Lordling is. He lives off the land wandering the back roads and foot paths. Along the way he meets many interesting people, locals about their business, but also fellow ramblers, and even a few people from distant lands. Eventually he comes across a young well dressed man resting, camping by a small pond. He quickly learns this is Lord Weston of Cole, a noble, lost in the hills and hoping to find his way back south to the Green Lands. Recognizing this from the note’s prophesy, Owen invites Weston to share an ale and hear about the message in a bottle.
Convinced that this message is referring to him, in the appointed month he set off to wander in the nearby West Hills region, in search of a lost green lordling. Living off the land, sleeping under the stars, he wandered the back roads and foot paths of the hill country. Along the way he met many people, mostly locals about their business, but also ramblers and vagabonds, gamblers, show folk, and even a few people from distant lands. Eventually he comes across a well dressed young man camped by a small pond. He learns he is Weston, a young lord, lost in the unfamiliar hills, and looking for the way back to the moors of Green Lands, and the ancient Stone Circles there. Recognizing this all from the message, he invites Weston to share an ale and hear about the message in a bottle.
After helping Weston, Owen’s taste for adventure is stoked. He returns home and tells his family he plans to travel north across the mountains, taking the old slow trails to the Amber Castle. Knowing there is nothing they could do to stop him, they throw him a farewell bash. Then off he sets, on his new adventure, walking north into the hills.
After helping Weston on his way, enjoying the outdoor life and meeting so many other interesting travelers, Owen’s taste for further adventures abroad was stoked. He returned home and told his family he planned to travel north across the mountains, taking the old mountain trails to the Amber Castle. Knowing there was nothing they could do to stop him, they threw him a farewell bash. Then off he set, on his next adventure, walking north into the hills.
He quickly learns he is ill equipped for life alone on the mountain roads. Unlike the healthy streams, nut trees and odd jobs which sustained him in the friendly hills, these mountains offer much less easy pickin’s. At night, he froze in his thin sleeping roll. After a few days, he meets a small group of ramblers. After helping to push their wagons over the peak of a pass, they invite him to join them. Making quick friends with two of the travelers, he quickly learns the essential tools and techniques for life lived outdoors, at high elevation. At the next crossroads, they part ways. Owen takes a job as a wash boy at the inn, saving to buy the gear he needs. Soon he is back on the trails, wondering at nature, and making friends.
He quickly learned he was ill equipped for life alone in the mountains. Unlike the plentiful streams, nut trees and friendly farmers which sustained him in the hills, the mountains offered much less easy pickins’. At night, he almost froze in his thin sleeping roll. After a few nights, he met a small group of travelers in a caravan. Joining in, he helped to push the wagons over the peak of a pass. In exchange they sheltered him as far as the next crossroads. Making quick friends with two of the travelers, he quickly learned the essential tools and techniques for life lived outdoors at high elevation. He took a job at the crossroads, working a stable, until he could buy the gear he would need. After a few months labor, he was back on the trails, better prepared, and ready to complete his journey north.
During this time in the mountains, he, from time-to-time, spends the evening at a public inn. On one such evening, at an inn he never before visited, full of lovely young ladies and a few old men, he notices the only young men were all keeping to themselves in a corner. After drinking the house cider he begins to feel woozy. Waking up the next day, he finds himself in irons, chained in the back of a covered wagon with three other men. When the wagon stops, the driver tells them they will all now be foot soldiers in the Great Army of the Amber Castle. The king is paying a bounty for young men, and they will all be sold to march east to the war.
During this time crossing the mountains, he would, from time-to-time, spend the evening at a public inn. On one such evening, he found himself in an inn full of lovely young ladies and a couple old men. He wasn’t complaining, but it was unusual for this kind of mountain tavern. After drinking the house cider he began to feel woozy. Waking up the next day, he found himself in irons, chained in the back of a covered wagon with three other men. When the wagon stopped, the driver told them they would all now be foot soldiers in the Great Army of the Amber Castle. The king was paying a bounty for young men for his army, and they would all be sold to march east to the war.
Unable to escape without risking certain death, Owen is marched east, joining a colossal army preparing to attack the Tower of the Owl. Although the Tower is known to be impenetrable and unconquerable, the King had been convinced to raise an army to take the Tower. Already a smaller army, sent to threaten and parley, had been slaughtered to the last man by the Masters of the Tower. Now a massive new battle got underway. In this chaos, Owen comes upon a legendary Amber Knight. A victorious champion of many tournaments, a man the squires Owen trained with admired as a living legend. Recognizing his banner, Owen comes to his aide. But too late, as the knight had taken on too many foes who had landed too many blows. Dying, he tells Owen a secret: that a group of scheming blacksmiths had provoked the war, to sell arms to both sides. He makes Owen swear to find their factories on the Volcano-at-the-Center, and expose their plot to the king. The Amber Knight gives Owen his famous blade, Eyestabber, and his black horse, Nightspeed, the fastest in the Amber Lands.
Unable to escape without risking certain death, Owen is marched east, joining a colossal army preparing to attack the Tower of the Owl. Although the Tower is known to be impenetrable and unconquerable, the King had been convinced to raise an army to take the Tower. Already a smaller force, sent to threaten and parley, had been slaughtered to the last man by the Masters of the Tower. Now a massive new siege was underway. In the chaos, Owen, assigned to field medic duty, came upon a legendary Amber Knight. A victorious champion of many tournaments, he was a man Owen and the squires back home admired as a living legend. Recognizing his banner, Owen went to his aide. But too late, as the knight had taken on too many foes, who had landed too many blows. Dying, he tells Owen a secret: that a group of scheming blacksmiths had provoked the war, to sell arms to both sides. He demanded Owen swear to find their factories, somewhere near the Volcano-at-the-Center, and expose their plot to the king and populace. With his last breath, the Amber Knight bequeathed Owen his famous blade, Eyestabber, and his black horse, Nightspeed, the fastest in the Amber Lands.
Determined, now, to stop the war and reveal the truth of its origins, Owen rides Nightspeed east in the dark, away from the armies and anyone who might identify him, or his famous horse. During the days he sleeps and trains, learning to use Eyestabber by practicing the sword drills he recalled from his squire days. Eventually reaching the River Sap, he began to turn south towards the Volcano-at-the-Center. By now, he is far from the fighting, far from the Amber Lands and the reach their law. He might have returned to traveling by day, but he can’t sleep, and so he still rides through the dark.
Determined, now, to stop the war and reveal the truth of its origins, Owen rides Nightspeed east in the dark, away from the armies and anyone who might identify him, or his famous horse. He rode only at night and didn’t speak to those he passed on the road. During the days he slept and trained, practicing the sword drills he recalled from his squire days with Eyestabbber. When he reached the River Sap, he turned south towards the Volcano-at-the-Center. By now, he was far from the fighting, and far from the reach of the king of the Amber Castle or his slave army. He could have returned to traveling by day. But he couldn’t sleep, and still often rode through the dark.
Just before the foothills of the mountains, the River Sap runs though a wide flat lowland. Carrying effluvia from the Volcano-at-the-Center makes the swamps noxious, with even the fumes able to kill grown men. Owen, not knowing the danger of the place, enters this bog riding Nightspeed. Choking from the smell and gasping for lack of air, he is only barely able to find his way back out of the swamp before passing out. After recovering, he begins to use the scouting skills learned on the high frontier to find a way though the swamp. As he makes slow progress in his exploration, he notes that Nightspeed will slow and flare his nostrils if they near the worst patches. Combining this with his skills as an outdoorsman, he is able to safely traverse the swamps and begins his ascent towards the Volcano-at-the-Center.
Just before the foothills of the mountains, the River Sap runs though a wide flat lowland. Carrying effluvia from the Volcano-at-the-Center, the swamps here are noxious, with minerals collecting in places, causing particularly toxic pools, with even the fumes able to kill grown men. Owen, not knowing the danger of the place, entered this bog riding Nightspeed. Choked from the smell and short for lack of air, he was barely able to find his way back out of the swamp before he passed out. Once recovered, he used the scouting and trailblazing skills he’d learned in his wandering days to plan a way though the swamp. As he began his exploration, he noted that Nightspeed would slow and flare his nostrils if he went too near the worst patches. Combining this with his skill as an outdoorsman, he was able to safely traverse the murderous swamp and began his ascent towards the Volcano-at-the-Center.
Cresting the last foothill below the volcano, he spots a faint road, crossing the valley floor and turning up the visible side of the Volcano-at-the-Center. Risking being spotted, he decides this will be his first line of exploration for the cabal’s hidden fortress and forges. Coming to a massive chasm with a wall and raised draw-bridge on the other side, he knows he has found the place. After securing Nightspeed out of sight from the road, he begins to climb. Although the volcanic rock tears at his hands and feet, the rocky surface also made it easy to climb up and over. Crossing above the chasm’s end, he descends down, quietly entering the fortress from above. At the center of the compound is an ornate red tower. Sneaking in late at night, he is able to find the library and accounting rooms, collecting key pages from the cabal’s record books. He climbs up and over back to Nightspeed and quickly down the volcano, badly hurt, drained from his long and arduous travels, and longing for home. Worrying he might be recognized or captured as a deserter, he finds a squire, gives him Eyestabber and the records, and tells him to take these to the King as proofs of the true motives of the war.
Cresting the last foothill below the volcano, he spotted a faint road, crossing the valley floor and turning up the visible side of the Volcano-at-the-Center. He decided this would be his first line of exploration for the cabal’s hidden fortress and forges. Coming to a massive chasm with a raised draw-bridge on the other side, he feared his journey might be at a dead end. But after securing Nightspeed out of sight from the road, he began to climb. Although the volcanic rock tore at his hands and feed, the rocky surface also made it easy to climb up and in. Crossing above the chasm’s end, he descended down, quietly entering the fortress from above. At the center of the compound was an ornate red brick tower. Sneaking in late at night, he is able to find the library and accounting rooms, and collected key pages from the cabal’s record books. He climbed up and over again in the dark, back to Nightspeed and quickly down the volcano. Badly hurt, drained from his long and arduous travels, and longing for home, he decides he has had enough adventure. He found a squire in the first town he visits, gave him Eyestabber and the records, and told him to take these to the King as proofs of the true motives of the war.
Riding Nightspeed west without stopping, he eventually returns home. There his parents care for him, and never press him on where he has been, or what he has suffered. Weeks later, with his recovery nearly complete, news arrives in the village that the great and bloody war to the east is over, and that the burdensome extra taxes paid by the village will come to an end. In the proclamation, the deceased old Amber Knight is credited with bringing the war to its end, and exposing a group of traitors and war profiteers. Not wanting attention, and thinking no one will believe him anyway, he celebrates this alongside everyone else, as though it is all news to him. Although he comes close a few times in old age, Owen never claims credit for his heroism, or explains where he had gone on his travels in the Amber Lands.
Riding Nightspeed west without stopping, he finally returned home, torn and weathered from years of rambling and war. There his parents cared for him, and never pressed him on where he had been, or what he had done. Weeks later, with his recovery nearly completed, news arrived in the village that the great and bloody war against the Tower of the Owl is over, and that the burdensome extra war tax paid by the village would come to an end. In the proclamation, the deceased old Amber Knight is credited with bringing the war to its end, and exposing a group of traitors and war profiteers. Not wanting to take attention away from , and thinking no one would believe him anyway, he celebrated this alongside everyone else, as though this was all news to him. Although he came close a few times in old age, Owen never claimed credit for his heroism, or explained where he had gone when he went traveling in the Amber Lands.
Southwest
Lord Weston of Cole was born the first child of minor provincial nobility in the highlands above the Darkwoods. His family being leaders in that county for many generations their connection to the land ran deep. Part of that heritage was not just land in the highlands, but the duty of care for a set of ancient and half-collapsed stone circles in the moors, far to the west. To fulfill this largely ceremonial tradition, the eldest son would spend his adolescence in residence at a small tower on the moors.
Lord Weston of Cole was born the first child of minor provincial nobility in the highlands above the Darkwoods. His family being leaders in that county for many generations, their connection to the land ran deep. By a quirk of history, part of that heritage was not just land in the highlands, but the duty of care for a set of ancient and half-collapsed stone circles far to the west on the the moors that border the Amber Lands. To fulfill this largely ceremonial tradition, the eldest son would spend late adolescence in residence at a small tower on the moors.
Young Lord Weston, though, is an independent sort, even as a toddler. He chafes at the elaborate, and in his view, pointless, ceremonies of his home life, and dreads his noble duties. As he grows, and learns of his future: mostly alone for months at a stretch, sitting in a lookout, defending a bunch of silent old stones from no real danger. He is determined to avoid his appointed fate. Conspiring with some friends he ran away to the city of Kurn, on the delta of the Great River. As they make their escape along the river road, though, they encounter a tiger. Taken as an ill omen by his companions, the party quickly vanishes, leaving Weston to fend for himself. Suddenly thrown to the ground by his spooked horse, he faces the tiger alone.
Young Lord Weston, though, was an independent sort, even as a toddler. He chafed at the elaborate, and, in his view, pointless, ceremonies of his home life, and dreaded his noble duties. As he grew, and learned of his future: mostly alone for months at a stretch, sitting in a lookout, defending a bunch of silent old stones from no real danger. He determined to avoid that awful appointed fate. He conspired with some friends to run away to the city of Kurn, on the delta of the Great River. There he would blend in, as just another migrant to the big city. As they make their escape to the River Road, though, they encountered a tiger pacing on the road. His spooked companions quickly vanished, leaving Weston, thrown to the ground by his spooked horse, facing the tiger alone.
Expecting to be mauled, Weston screams at the tiger, hoping to scare him away. Instead, the tiger opens his mouth, and rather than a roar Weston hears a human voice say, ‘So rude!’ Shocked, he watches the tiger pace before him, silent and swinging its tail like a friendly house cat. ‘What?’ Weston eventually asks in quiet confusion. The tiger again speaks, this time explaining that the circles are in real peril. Soon, the tiger warns, a great earthquake will happen, and cause the circles to fall completely. If that happens, the Volcano-at-the-Center will erupt, devastating not just the County of Cole, but reigning ash to the four corners of the world. The tiger roars that Weston must go home, take up his duty, and save the circles.
Expecting to be mauled, Weston screamed at the tiger, hoping to scare him away. When the tiger opened his mouth, rather than a roar Weston heard a human voice say, ‘So rude!’. Shocked, he watched the tiger pace before him, silent and swinging its tail like a friendly house cat. ‘What?’, Weston eventually asks in quiet confusion. The tiger again speaks, but this time he explains that the stone circles are in peril. Soon, the tiger warns, a great earthquake will happen, and cause the circles to fall completely. If that happens, the Volcano-at-the-Center will erupt, devastating not just his homeland of Cole, but will reign ash to the four corners of the world. The tiger roars that Weston must go save the circles. Shock overcame him and Weston collapsed, unconscious.
Late that night, Weston wakes up lying in the road alone, no tiger in sight. Although unsure if what happened was real, he decides to return home. There, his father forgives him, and tells him that the circles have long been rumored to be protecting the world from the Volcano-at-the-Center’s eruption. The family has always thought it was just an old superstition. Hearing this, which he had only heard before from the tiger, he knew what the tiger said must have been true. He sets out for the circles, unsure how to prevent their ultimate destruction, but determined to do so.
Late that night, Weston woke up lying in the road alone, no tiger in sight. Although unsure if what had happened was real, he decided to return home. After hearing Weston’s story, his father forgave him for running away. He also revealed that the circles had long been rumored to be protecting the world from an eruption of the Volcano-at-the-Center. The family always thought it was a superstition, or old legend. When Weston herd this he knew the tiger must have been real. He set out for the circles, unsure how to prevent their destruction, but determined to do so.
Riding alone along the Old North Road, winding west towards the moors, Weston suffers a bandit attack. Although he’s able to fight them off, he sustains a concussion, and after passing out, awakes alone with no memory of the last few months. Lost in the roads of the northlands, he is unsure why he is there. Is he running away from home? Tying to find his way back? Then, that night he dreams of the tiger. Although he doesn’t talk, he runs away to the northwest. Weston begins to head that direction, feeling that was his destination.
Riding alone along the Old North Road, winding towards the moors, Weston was attacked by bandits. Although he fought them off, he sustained a concussion. After passing out, he awoke, alone, and with no memory of the last few months. Lost in the roads of the northlands, he was unsure how he got there. Is he running away from home or on his way there? That night he dreamt of the tiger. Although the big cat doesn’t talk, he rouses Weston, then runs away to the northwest. Weston set out in that direction.
After a fortnight lost in the borders of the Amber Lands, he decides to make camp at a small lonely pond to rest and recover more of his memory, before following a vague feeling any further. After a few days, he feels better, but still cannot remember the details of his recent past. One day, a young traveler happens on his camp. After a brief conversation about the area, the adolescent discovers Lord Weston is the man he is looking for. Over a shared ale he learns this young squire, named Owen, has received a strange message in a bottle. Owen tells him the basic content of the note, which jogs Weston’s memory. With Weston’s noble education, he is able to read the foreign script, which is from the Silver Shores, and the prophesy it contains.
After a fortnight wandering on the borders of the Amber Lands, he decided to make camp at a small lonely pond, to rest and try to recover more of his memory. After a few days, he did feel better, but still could not remember the details of his recent past. Then a young traveler happened on his camp. After a brief conversation about the area, the adolescent told Lord Weston he was the man the traveler had been looking for. Over a shared ale he learned this young squire, named Owen, had received a strange message in a bottle. Owen tells him about the dated verses, and the threat of the volcano.
The note is a series of verses, each with a month next to it. Although the poem is symbolic in its language, Weston immediately comprehends the events it describes. He learns he has been given a uniquely powerful choice: to replace a broken crystal high atop the Tower of the Angels or leave it be. Replacing the crystal will calm the veins of the world, stop the quake, and so prevent toppling of the circles. The next step is to travel to the lonely island of Sentibu, where the tower stands on the island’s highest point. Overjoyed at the revelation, and energized to finally have his memory back, his mission is made clear. He thanks Owen, and heads to the coast to find passage on a ship to Sentibu.
With Weston’s noble education, he was able to read the foreign script of the Silver Shores. The note was a series of verses, each with a month next to it. Although symbolic in its language, his memory was instantly jogged, and he immediately comprehended its import. He gathered that he had been given a uniquely powerful choice: to replace a broken crystal high atop the Tower of the Angels, calming the veins of the earth, or leave it to crack, allowing the volcano to reset the world. His first task was to travel to the lonely island of Sentibu, where the tower stands on its highest point. Overjoyed at the revelation, and energized to finally have his memory back, and his whole mission made clear, he heads to the coast to arrange passage on a ship to Sentibu.
Weston arranges transport on a whaling ship. Although the seas further south were well protected and at peace, the West Equatorial Seas were unprotected, and notoriously dangerous for merchant ships. Slavers were known to capture boats and and sell the passengers in far away lands. One such cruel ship sets upon Weston’s transport, and despite a valiant fight, the whaling crew and Weston are taken as slaves. After a few days in the hold as captives, Weston and the whalers hear a commotion on deck. Realizing the ship is under attack, they are able to arm themselves, and escape to deck. There, they find themselves in a standoff with the slavers and a crew of pirates from the far away Fjords of Tame. But, before a massacre could ensue, a young, handsome, and charismatic pirate persuades the mobs to let each other go, with the whalers freed to go with the pirate crew.
Weston arranged transport on a whaling ship. Although the seas further south were well protected and at peace, the West Equatorial Seas were unprotected, and notoriously dangerous for merchant ships. Slavers were known to capture boats and and sell the passengers in other lands. One such cruel ship fell upon Weston’s transport, and despite a valiant fight, the whaling crew and Weston taken as slaves. After a few days in the hold as captives, Weston and the whalers heard a commotion on deck. Realizing the ship is under attack, they are able to arm themselves, and escape to deck. There, they found themselves in a standoff with the slavers and a crew of pirates from the far away Fjords of Tame. But, before a massacre could ensue, a young, handsome, and charismatic pirate persuaded the mobs to let each other go, with the whalers freed to go with the pirate crew.
The young pirate is soon revealed to be a young woman in disguise, known in legend as the adventurer Maya, Bright and Fair. Eventually Weston and the whalers aide Maya in a mutiny of the pirates, and the crew are free to disembark at Castle Green. There, Weston is able to call on his family’s name and nobility to arrange a naval escort to Sentibu. He also buys a hammer and green crystal, which he finds at the bazaar of the Castle. When he finally makes it to the island, he finds the road to the Tower of the Angels is abandoned. The paths are weathered away. The stairs and bridges used to reach the summit have been washed out in a long ago landslide. With the appointed month for the quake coming to an end, he has no choice but to climb the mountain. Getting help from local boys who play on the slope, then following the paths of mountain goats, he grapples his way to the base of the tower. With the last of his strength, he climbs up it’s crumbling circular stone facade until he finds an opening, granting him access to the stairs inside.
The young pirate was later revealed to be a young woman in disguise, renown in legend as the adventurer Maya, Bright and Fair. Eventually Weston and the whalers aide Maya in a mutiny, and the crew are freed to disembark at Castle Green. There, Weston was able to call on his family’s name and nobility to arrange a proper naval escort to Sentibu. At the bazaar he also acquired a hammer and green crystal. Having finally made it to the island he found the road to the Tower of the Angels abandoned, the paths weathered away. The stairs and bridges used to reach the summit had been washed out in a long ago landslide. With the appointed month for the quake near its end, he had no choice but to climb the mountain. He sought help from local boys, then followed the paths of mountain goats. Finally he grappled his way to the base of the tower. With the last of his strength, he climbed its crumbling circular stone facade, until he found an opening, granting access to the stairs inside.
At the end of the prophetic song, the last month is given two verses:
At the end of the note he received from Owen, the last month had two verses:
and the choice is his
to crack the crystal
hammer out the found
then put in the new
or leave all as is
to see the circles
tumbling to the ground
old world gone from view
At the top of the tower he found a chamber, roof caved in, with a window looking to the Northeast, where his far away home, and the circles, lay. In the chamber’s center a small stone pillar holds a gem atop a metal tripod. A cut and polished light green gem, very different from his rough stone, and he wonders if it is not as prepared as it needs to be. But he has come all this way. Looking at the gem on the pedestal, he sees it is actually cracked, with a massive flaw forking like lightning from a single surface spot. He strikes the spot with his hammer; the gem crumbles instantly. As he is sets the replacement in the tripod, the earth begins to rumble. Fearing he has failed, or even caused the quake, he falls to his knees, crying. But after a few moments of light shaking, the quake passes, and the gem remains. In shock, he stands, wipes his eyes, and realizes the job was done.
At the top of the tower he found a chamber. Its roof was caved in, and a single window opened to the Northeast He could only see ocean, but that was where his far away home, and the circles, lay. In the chamber’s center a small stone pillar held a gem atop a metal tripod. A stunning cut and polished light green gem, very different than the rough stone he had brought. He wondered if he was not as prepared as he needed to be. But he had come all that way. It felt like a lifetime since the tiger talked. He looked at the gem on the pedestal, this time noticing a massive flaw forking like lightning from a single crack. He strikes that spot with a hammer and the gem crumbles instantly into chunks. As he set the replacement gem in the tripod, the earth began to rumble, and the tower began to shake. He thought he had failed, or even caused the quake, and fell to his knees, crying. After a few moments of light shaking the quake passed, while the new gem remained in place. In shock, he stood, wiped his eyes, and realized his job was done.
The quake came and went without catastrophe. First, Weston returns to Castle Green. With his prophetic note, crystal shards, and noble name, his story quickly becomes a sensation in the city. The King makes him a royal knight, and raises his family’s nobility to a higher order, bestowing new lands and titles on them. This means Weston has to create and register a coat of arms for his family. Without hesitation, he choses a shield with tigre proper rampant affronté. And under this new sigil he returns, finally, home, having done his duty as Protector of the Sacred Circles.
The quake had come and gone without catastrophe. First he returned to Castle Green. With his prophetic note, crystal shards, and noble name, his story quickly becomes a sensation in the city. The King made him a royal knight, and raised his family’s nobility to a higher order, bestowing new lands and titles on them. This meant Weston had to create and register a coat of arms for his family. Without hesitation he chose a shield with tigre proper rampant affronté. And under this new sigil he returned finally home, having done his duty as protector of the Sacred Circles.
Southeast
In a small village in the Palm Lands, far up the river Sudolynn, a young girl named Sierra lives with her parents and siblings. One day, walking home alone from the neighboring village, she sees two men at a distance, standing in the road over a crouching figure. Wary of the strange scene, she hides in the irrigation channel next to the road, peeking over to watch. What she sees is an old woman with two young men standing over her. She can hear the woman’s cries as the bandits attack, but as a small girl, there is nothing she can do. She hides until they take off, then she runs, crying, home.
In a small village in the Palm Lands far up the river Sudolynn, a young girl named Sierra lived with her parents and siblings. One day, walking home alone from the neighboring village, she saw two men at a distance, standing in the road over a crouching figure. Wary of the strange scene she hid in the irrigation channel next to the road, peeking over to watch. What she saw was an old woman with two young men towering over her. She could hear the woman’s cries and pleas, but as a small girl, there is nothing she can do. She hid until the men ran off, and she ran, crying, home.
From that sad day on, Sierra withdraws from the world, keeping to herself. A pretty girl, she particularly avoids boys’ attentions, preferring to make friends with the small creatures of the village. When not in school, or doing her chores, she spends her time in the town’s small library. She soon completes the entire collection and begins to re-read and even memorize her favorites, particularly stories of far off lands. She spends so much time in the little library she is known around town as ‘the girl from the library.’ The one exception to her solitude is the annual festival. Each fall the town holds a harvest gathering, celebrating its arts and crafts, and the children compete in a contest of rhetoric. And each year Sierra wins.
From that sad day on, Sierra withdrew from the world, focused on books and learning. She was a pretty girl, but avoided boys attentions and kept friends mostly with the small creatures of the village. The one exception is the annual library festival. Each fall the town celebrated its free library, and the children compete in a contest of rhetoric. And every year Sierra won.
Near the end of her schooling, Sierra begins to experience something strange. At first, it sounded like a whistle. Then it became the sound of a little bird chirping in her right ear. Within a few weeks it becomes a indecipherable low whisper, coming a few times a day in either ear. Then it stops, and she assumes it was an illness in her ears. But then, one day just before her graduation, she hears a quiet whisper. A benevolent female voice in her ears. The voice quietly gives her good advice, helping her with her graduation exams and encouraging her to make friends. She keeps this to herself, worried she will be shunned, or thought ill.
Near the end of her schooling, Sierra began to experience something strange. At first, it sounded like a little bird chirping in her right ear. Within a few weeks it had become a whisper, a rush, coming a few times a day in either ear. Then it stopped, and she assumed it was an illness in her ears. But just before her graduation, she heard a quiet whisper. A benevolent female voice in her ears give her advice, helping her with school. She kept this to herself, though, worried she will be shunned, or thought ill.
Soon after her graduation from the village school, she tells her family she wants to go south to the city at the mouth of the Sudolynn, to enroll in the famous Flower College. She tells her family she wanted to advance her knowledge in rhetoric, and to become a teacher. But secretly she wants to learn about the quiet voice, which by then had again gone silent. Was it an illness? It was so kind and helpful. Was it a spirit? Why didn’t it identify itself, or answer her questions? She hopes to learn the answers in the concrete cloisters of the Flower College.
Soon after her graduation from the village school, she told her family she wanted to go south to the city at the mouth of the Sudolynn, to enroll in the famous Flower College. She wanted to advance her knowledge in rhetoric to become a teacher. Secretly she also hoped to learn about the quiet voice, which by then had again gone silent. Was it an illness? It was so kind and helpful. Was it a spirit? Why didn’t it identify itself, or answer her questions? She hoped to learn the answers in the concrete cloisters of the Flower College.
At college she thrives, immersing herself in study and meeting many people from all over the Palm Lands, and as far away as Tame and the Silver Coast. After a year in college, the voice returns. Now, mixed with bits of advice, is a song. Every day the voice sings the song. The song tells the story of a Lord from the Green Lands, and each verse begins with a date. Instead of the comforting kindness, now the voice sings with insistence. Finally she writes down the whole song, and with that the voice stops, and she collapses.
At College she thrived, immersing herself in study and meeting many people from all over the Palm Lands and even the Silver Coast. But, after a bit more than a year of college, the voice returned. This time, mixed with bits of advice about school and her dorm mates, is a song. Every day the voice sang the song. And then it would tell the verses as a story, each month a new event described. Instead of the comforting kindness of before, now the voice sang with insistence. Upon finally dictating all she was hearing, the voice stopped, and she collapses.
After three days in a coma, she awakes. Her housemates urge her to return home, to recover from this illness that attacked her. But the voice was still there. It said to go to the Silver Castle with the message. Fearing her professors and friends will think her mad, she skips out at night, finding her way to the docks. There, the voice tells her which ship to sneak aboard to sail to the Silver Castle. Once stowed away the voice again leaves her. Now sailing the Great Bay as a stowaway, she suddenly panics. She really must be mad! To leave school, and safety, because of a voice in her head! She throws the message overboard in a bottle, deciding once and for all to be done with it. While doing this, she is discovered on deck. Unfortunately for her, the ship’s gross old captain takes a liking to her. It saves her life, but now she is a kept woman with no means of escape.
After a week in a coma she awoke. Her housemates urged her to return home, to recover from this illness that attacked her. But the voice said to go to the Silver Castle with the message. And fearing her professors and friends will think her mad, she skips out one night, and found her way to the docks. There, the voice told her which ship to sneak aboard to sail to the Silver Castle. Once stowed away and under way, the voice again left her. She was afloat on the Great Bay as a stowaway; she suddenly panicked. She really was mad. To leave school and safety because of a voice in her head! She throws the message overboard in a bottle, deciding once and for all to be done with it. While doing this, she is discovered on deck. Unfortunately for her, the ship’s gross old captain takes a liking to her. It saves her life, but now she is a kept woman with no means of escape.
Days later, off the notorious northern side of the Silver Coast, the ship rams a reef in a fog. Using the chaos of a listing ship, she escapes overboard. Using an empty barrel she escapes, eventually washing up on shore. She is discovered by some locals, people of a different race, whom the people of the Palm Lands regard as backwards and evil. They are rumored to practice cannibalism. In reality, she discovers, they live off the shellfish and pine nuts, and are kind, knowledgeable about nature, and able to nurse her back to health. Quickly learning their language, she comes to appreciate their culture and its unique way of seeing things. After hearing of other women in the village who hear ‘the gracious voice’ she confesses how she came to their shore, and her own experience with this voice. Rather than shun her, or treat her as ill, they teach her how to keep it from causing fugues, like the one that brought her to their shore. And she learns to cherish it, to be true to it, and to listen.
Just days later, off the notorious northern side of the Silver Peninsula, the ship rammed a reef in dense fog. Using the chaos of a listing ship, Sierra escaped overboard. She eventually washed up on shore, exhausted but alive. Discovered by local tribespeople, she is, at first, deeply afraid. These are people she was taught to regard as backwards and wild, prone to cannibalism. In reality, she discovered, they live off the shellfish and pine nuts. Knowledgeable about local nature, they use plants and teas to quickly nurse her back to health. During her recovery she learned the basics of their language. She also came to appreciate their culture, and its unique way of seeing things. One day, she heard some women in the village talking about people who hear ‘the gracious voice’. She confessed to them how she came to be on the boat, and her own experience with the voice. Rather than shun her, or treat her as ill, they taught her to embrace it as a gift. And they taught her how to keep it from causing fugues, like the one that brought her to their shore. She learned to cherish it, to be true to it, and to listen.
Although Sierra was not aware of it, she is not the only survivor of the wreck. The Captain and his officers also survive. Landing up the coast, they fear the locals, building a fortified camp to protect them from the imagined savages. Soon they decide they must strike first. A local scout, however, sees them reconnoitering the camp, and alerts the tribe. As the sailors approach, the women of the camp put a special mixture in the camp fires, and soon the locals are cloaked in a black fog. Lost in a this miasma, the sailors fear they are the target of witchcraft and run in panic, never to be seen by the locals, or Sierra, again.
During these weeks, she was not aware that she is not the only survivor of the wreck. The Captain and his officers also survived. Landing up the coast, they feared the locals deeply, and built a fortified camp to protect them from the imagined savages. Soon they decided they must strike first, take the locals camp by force, and enslave them until they can be rescued. A local, however, saw them reconnoitering the camp, and alerted everyone. As the sailors approached, the women of the camp put a special mixture in the camp’s fires. Soon the local camp was cloaked in a black fog. Lost in a thick miasma, the sailors fear what they think is witchcraft, and run in panic, never to be seen by the locals, or Sierra, again.
Now healed, Sierra determines to return home, carrying what she has learned about the voice. She learns the best path is to head over the mountains to the Silver Castle. There it will be easy to get a ship to take her home. Although the mountain journey goes easily, immediately on arriving in the outer slums of the city, she learns all is not well in the Silver Lands. A greedy, corrupt, group of thugs has take control of the Castle and other towns on the Silver Peninsula. Calling themselves The Wildmen, they have ginned up fear of pirates and foreigners to raise huge new navy. This has brought unruly new sailors, gangs of toughs and other rough types to the city. She finds many of the regular folk have been run out of their homes by this soft invasion. Her first night in the city, after walking through camps of evicted locals, and watching thugs proudly walk the streets, she has a nightmare. She sees the city filled with the old woman she saw from the ditch as a girl. She bolts up, and hears the voice, now full throated, and with the tone of a mature woman: You can help. You must.
Once fully healed, Sierra determined to return home, carrying back what she had learned about her voice. Taking the road over the mountains to the Silver Castle, she went to find a ship to take her home. Immediately on arriving in the outer slums of the city, she learned all was not well. A greedy and corrupt group of thugs had taken control of the Castle city and its surroundings. Calling themselves the Wildmen, they ginned up fear of pirates and foreigners to raise huge new navy. This brought unruly young sailors, gangs of toughs and other rough types into the city. She found regular folk had been run out of their homes by this soft invasion. Her first night in the city, after watching thugs proudly walk the streets, she had a nightmare. She sees the city, full and lively, but all the people look like the old woman she saw attacked as a girl. She bolted upright, awake, and the voice, now full throated, and with the tone of a mature woman spoke: You can help. You must.
Immediately the voice begins dictating an oration. A plea and condemnation, an appeal and rebuke. More glorious than any of her work in the Library competitions, a speech to make even The Wildmen take stock. To tell them regular folks outnumber them. To make them scared, but also ashamed. To get them to see the humanity in the people they exploit. To extort them to turn on the sociopaths among them who can’t be persuaded, and to remove them from high office to put them in a low dungeon. On a day of great public feasting, surrounded almost entirely by Wildmen, she stands on the Heart Stairs, a place of oratory near the Castle, and delivers the sermon the voice had dictated. And it works. The regular folk come to see they could band together and fight back, and the Wildmen come to see their greedy vile masters were better shunned than elevated. Within days the Silver Castle was back to its normal peace.
Immediately the voice began dictating an oration. A plea and condemnation, an appeal and rebuke. More glorious than any of her work in the Library debate competitions, a speech to make even the Wildmen take stock. To tell them regular folks outnumber them. To make them scared, but also ashamed. To get them to see the humanity in the people they exploit. To extort them to turn on the sociopaths among them who can’t be persuaded, and to remove them from high office to put them in a low dungeon. On a day of great public feasting, surrounded almost entirely by Wildmen, she stood on the Heart Stairs, a place of oratory near the Castle, and delivered the sermon the voice had dictated. And it worked. The regular folk were reminded they could band together and fight back, and the Wildmen came to see their greedy masters were better shunned than elevated. Within days the Silver Castle was back to its normal peace. It was a miracle of words.
The sermon is immediately memorized and transcribed, spreading along the Silver Coast, around the Great Bay and deep into the Palm Lands. Finally, now able to get free passage, she sails back to the Flower College. She discovers her sermon is being preached there too. Her old housemates welcome her enthusiastically, telling her that the city is a better place because of her words and ideals. After a short stay at the College, bidding school and friends goodbye, she finally returns home, now a hero and esteemed wise woman. She is named the head librarian of the Palm Lands, and settles into a life of learning; never hearing the voice again, but occasionally catching a little chirp in her right ear.
The sermon was immediately memorized and transcribed, spread along the Silver Coast, and around the Great Bay, even deep into the Palm Lands. Finally, now able to get free passage, she sailed back to the Flower College, in the city on the mouth of the Sudolynn. She discovered her sermon is being preached there. Her old dorm mates welcomed her enthusiastically, telling her that the city is a better place because of her words and ideals. After a short stay at the College, bidding school and friends goodbye, she finally returned home, now a hero and esteemed wise woman. Named the head librarian of the Palm Lands, Sierra settles into a life of learning and teaching; never hearing the voice again, but occasionally catching a little chirp in her right ear.
Northeast
Now known in legend as Maya, Bright and Fair, she starts as just Maya, a small girl born into a family of acrobats. Her extended family tours the free cities of the Fjords of Tame as The Flying Pudding Birds. She is the only child of a pair of tumblers, born just after her parents have retired from the act, due to an injury to her father’s leg. Even with the shortened careers of her parents, she is encouraged by her mom to learn tumbling. But, despite a natural dexterity, and unlike her eager cousins, she never likes the attention and pressure of the act, and shows no interest in joining on tours.
Now known in legend as Captain Maya, Bright and Fair, she started as just Maya, a small girl born to a family of performers. Her extended family toured the free cities of the Fjords of Tame as the Flying Pudding Birds. She was the only child of a pair of tumblers, born just after her parents had retired from the act, due to an injury to her father’s leg. Even with the shortened career of her father, her mom encouraged her to learn the family business. But despite a natural dexterity, and unlike her eager cousins, she never took to the public attention and pressure of the act, and refuses to join the touring show.
Although she enjoyed practicing her tumbling, she stays with her parent’s in their small hill town into young adulthood. She attends the village school for girls, and learns the arts of language and the home expected of middle class wives in those regions of Tame. Near the end of her schooling, she decides to settle in the same town, to stay close with to her ailing father, and because she had grown to value its cozy ways and creature comforts. She begins to get courted for marriage by two young men, one a farmer and the other a shoe maker’s apprentice.
Unlike the members of her family, as a young girl Maya was very shy. Although she enjoyed practicing her tumbling, she grew to young adulthood, never leaving her parent’s small hill town. She attended the village school for girls, and learned the arts of language and the home expected of middle class wives in those regions of Tame. Near the end of her schooling, she decided to settle in the same town, to stay close with to her ailing father, and because she had grown to value its cozy ways and creature comforts. She began to get courted for marriage by two young men, one a farmer and the other a shoe maker’s apprentice.
As she is considering who she will settle down with between her suitors, she begins to have a series of vivid dreams. Almost nightmares in their intensity, but ecstatic in their emotion, they begin as her standing in a mask before a cheering crowd in a performing tent. She assumes these are lingering thoughts of joining the family business. But the dreams begin to change over successive weeks. The tent becomes a ship. The crowd becomes a crew of seamen. Then the ship changes into a castle parapet. The crowd morphs into an adoring rabble, chanting her name in victory. Then back in the performing tent, but now the crowd is only her family and friends. Each time she wakes and thinks, ‘this will be the last time, my nights will go back to normal now.’ But within a few nights she is standing somewhere new, looking out at a sea of new faces, all smiling and cheering.
After she finished her education and, as she is thinking of who she will settle down with between her suitors, she begins to have a series of vivid dreams. Almost nightmares in their intensity, but ecstatic in their emotion, they begin as her standing in a mask before a cheering crowd in a performing tent. After a few nights of this, she assumed these are lingering thoughts of joining the family business. But the visions began to develop over successive weeks. The tent became a ship. The crowd became seamen. Then the ship changed into a castle parapet. The crowd morphed into an adoring mob, chanting her name. Then back in the performing tent, but now the crowd is her family and friends. Each time she woke and thought, ‘that will be the last time, my nights can go back to normal now.’ But within a few nights she found herself standing somewhere new, looking out at a sea of new faces, all smiling and cheering.
A year after the dreams first begin, Maya’s mother trades places with her favorite aunt, rejoining the act as a coach and caretaker. Maya’s aunt stays with Maya and her dad, doing housework, helping Maya around the home and garden. As they work together, she learns of all the places the show travels on its circuit. She hears of the different foods, and all the handsome men you meet. During this time, her dreams also become more intense and frequent. One day while cleaning the house, she asks her aunt if she can join the next tour without having to perform. Her aunt agrees to take her on next year’s tour as an apprentice coach and stage hand. Maya’s dreams disappear, and despite her anxiety, she has no doubt she has made the right decision.
A year after the dreams began, Maya’s mother traded places with a favorite aunt in the family show. Maya’s mother rejoins the act as a coach and caretaker, and the aunt stays with Maya and her dad, doing housework and generally helping Maya around the home and garden. As they work together, Maya learns of all the places the show traveled on its circuit. She heard of the different foods and all the handsome men the aunt had met. During this time her dreams also became more intense and frequent. One day, she asked her aunt if she can join the next tour without having to perform. Her aunt agreed to take her along on next year’s tour, as an apprentice coach and stage hand. Maya’s dreams disappeared, and despite her anxiety, she now had no doubt she had made the right decision.
The next season, Maya learns what it is to live life in a traveling show. The family is joined in this tour by a troupe of freaks, a pair of twin fire jugglers, a magician and his young son, and a man with big cats. Traveling with the The Cabinet of Awe, as the group is known, she spends her afternoons helping to set up for the show, and the evenings helping with dinner and chores. Her mornings are free. Despite her shyness, she gradually makes friends with her fellow travelers. From them she learns skills that will serve her well, such as makeup and disguise, sleight of hand, lock picking, voice projection and showmanship. With the support of the family, and the other acts, she begins to perform short solo interstitial acts of her own, combining her skills, while hiding behind a magnificent masked costume to help with her stage fright.
The next year, Maya learned what it is to live life in a traveling show. The family was joined in this tour by a troupe of freaks, a pair of twin fire jugglers, a magician and his young son, and a man with big cats. Traveling with this ‘The Cabinet of Awe’ (as the group was known), she spent her afternoons helping to set up for the show and her evenings helping with the camp dinner and chores. Her mornings were free, and despite her shyness she gradually made friends with her fellow travelers. From them she learned skills that will serve her well, such as makeup and disguise, sleight of hand, lock picking, voice control and showmanship. With the support of her family and the other acts she began to perform short solo interstitial acts, combining these skills, while hiding behind a magnificent masked costume, to help with her stage fright.
After a second year of touring, the Cabinet of Awe breaks up, and the Flying Pudding Birds accept an invitation to bring their high wire act to the great port of Flodenworl at the far northeast of Fjords. Retuning to stagehand duties, Maya joins them on the road. On their way to the great port, one evening walking alone, outside a small village, a group of young men stop her. They accuse her of being a woman from a nearby town, wanted there for murdering her family. Despite all her protests, they take her kicking and screaming to that town. The town magistrate, desperate to calm the townsfolk and claim victory, pays them the reward and puts her in custody.
After the second year of touring, the Cabinet of Awe broke up, and the Flying Pudding Birds accept an invitation to bring their high wire act to the great port of Flodenworl, at the far northeast of Fjords. Retuned to stagehand duties, Maya joined them on the tour. One evening walking alone outside a small village, a group of young men stop her. They accuse her of being a woman from a nearby town, wanted there for murdering her family. Despite her protests, they took her kicking and screaming to the town magistrate. He was desperate to calm the townsfolk and claim victory, so he accepted the mistake, and paid them the reward, slapping Maya in chains.
Unable to find her, the show moves on, with a strict schedule of shows to keep and no hands to spare. Off the path of the show, Maya sits in a tiny town jail for more than a year, unsure what to do. Although she is confident she could escape, she fears a life on the run. So she waits in hope that justice will come soon and she will be freed. Finally, she is told her day has come: she is to be brought before the town council to be sentenced and executed. Summoning all she had learned about persuasion and showmanship, she pleads her case to the assembled elders. Her powerful oratory makes them quickly realize the magistrate’s terrible mistake, and she is immediately freed. She saves a cord of rope that had been used to bind her hands, wearing it as a belt and reminder to grateful for her freedom the rest of her days.
Unable to find her, the tour had to move on, with a strict schedule of shows to keep and no hands to spare. Off the path of the show, Maya sat in a tiny town jail for more than a year, in shock, unsure what to do. Although she was confident she could escape, she waited in hope that justice would come soon and she would be cleared. Finally she is told the day had come for her to appear before the town council, to be sentenced and executed. Summoning all she had learned about persuasion and showmanship, she pleaded her case to the assembled elders and onlookers. Her powerful oratory made them quickly realize the terrible mistake and they freed her immediately. She saved the cord of rope that had been used to bind her hands, wearing it as a belt and reminder to grateful for her freedom.
Now penniless, and alone, she decides to finish the short journey to Flodenworl, in hopes to get free passage home, or temporary employment there to save up for the journey. At this time, though, the great port is in an economic depression, from recent cold winters hurting crops and slowing trade in the fjords. With no options for legitimate work, Maya disguises herself as a boy, and signs up to be a seaman in order to get free transport home. After a day’s sail, she realizes that she has joined up with a crew of grey market mercenaries. Mixing legitimate shipping with piracy, extortion and smuggling, they make their way west along the coast to the Amber Lands, where bloody wars have left the coastal cities vulnerable to plunder.
Now penniless and alone, she decided to finish the short journey to Flodenworl, to get a passage home, or temporary employment, there. At that time, though, the great port was in an economic depression, resulting from recent cold winters, which slowed trade in the fjords. With no options for legitimate work, Maya disguised herself as a boy and signed up to be a seaman. She hoped to make her way towards home by working on the cargo boats that travel the fjords. After they set sail, though, she realized that she had joined up with a crew of grey market mercenaries. Mixing legitimate shipping with piracy, extortion and smuggling, they made their way west along the coast towards the Amber Lands, whose bloody war had left their coastal cities vulnerable to plunder.
Now far from the fjords, Maya, living as a boy, becomes a popular officer on the ship. Eventually she gets the key job of distributing the rations. She commands respect for a no-nonsense, incorruptible approach to the job, alongside a personal kindness. She also proves herself in raids, using her training to plunder while minimizing the risks of direct violence. While sailing between the Sunset Island and the Amber Lands the captain decides to board a small slave ship sailing unprotected nearby. Usually they raid these ships for cargo, shred their sails and set them adrift. But the slaves of this ship use the raid as an opportunity to escape. Meeting on the deck, three armed groups come to a standoff. Again summoning her skills and charisma, Maya convinces the groups that the best way to resolve the situation is not to kill each other, but to allow the slaves to join the pirate crew, while both would leave the slave ships crew alive and with their other cargo. The mobs grumblingly agree to the compromise, and the two ships set sail with opposite headings.
Now far from the fjords, Maya, living as a boy, had become a popular officer on the ship. He commanding respect for his no-nonsense way of working mixed with personal kindness, in addition to an impressive dexterity. While sailing between the Sunset Island and the Amber Lands the captain decided to board a slave ship sailing unprotected nearby. Usually they raided ships for cargo and set them adrift, avoiding the hassle of slaves. And indeed the slaves of this ship used the raid as an opportunity to escape. Meeting on the deck, three armed groups came to a standoff: the pirates, the slavers, and the escaped slaves. Again summoning her powers of persuasion Maya convinced the groups that the best way to resolve the situation was not to kill each other, but to allow the slaves to join the pirate crew, while both would leave the slave ships crew alive and with their other cargo. The mobs grumblingly agreed to the compromise and the two ships set sail with opposite headings.
Continuing south, the crew keeps up its ways, but in the seas off Castle Green the pickin’s are slim, as the coast is better defended. Maya is approached by the slaves, and some crew, suggesting a mutiny. The old captain and old habits are failing to provide, and they should return to more legitimate work in these new seas. They want her to be the captain. She agrees and they easily take the vessel. Her first order is to let all those who wish to leave do so at Castle Green. Those who wish to stay will head east around the Silver Coast and on to home, by sailing around the world. Unknown to her, the Silver Castle has a large new naval fleet, and soon after entering their waters the suspect ship is forced into port at the Silver Castle. There, Lady Sierra has just given the Sermon of the Heart Stairs. Maya takes advantage of the tolerant sentiment in the city, and likely end to their sailing to reveal her real identity. Every member of the crew stands by her.
The ship continued south, the crew keeping up its ways, heading south. But in the western lowlands and the lands of Castle Green the pickings were slim, and coastal routes better defended. Maya was approached by the freed slaves and some crewmen. They wanted to mutiny, and make her the new captain. She agrees and the old Captain quickly resigns. Maya’s first order was to let all those who wish to leave, disembark at Castle Green. Those who wish to stay will head east to the Silver Coast, and eventually return home by sailing around the world. Unknown to her, the Silver Castle had a large naval fleet, and soon after entering their waters the suspect ship is forced into port at the Silver Castle. There, Lady Sierra had just given the Sermon of the Heart Stairs. Maya used the tolerant sentiment in the city to win the ships freedom, and also to reveal her real identity as a young woman. Despite their shock, the crew pledged to follow her.
Realizing the potential of the tale of a young woman who nearly circumnavigated the world as a secret pirate captain. Spending evenings in taverns telling stories of adventure: close escapes, strange places and even throwing in a mermaid or two. She and her crew quickly become popular heroes. The Admirals return her ship, and even give it an escort around through the archipelago to the Great Bay. Word of the ship, and Maya, the girl captain Bright and Fair, precedes them back to the fjord lands. As they sail back into the great port of Flodenworl<, they are hailed as heroes. Given pardons, they are allowed to keep their booty. The crew decide to go their separate ways, to enjoy their new celebrity and wealth. Maya retires to home, still just a shy girl in her way, but now more famous and well travelled than any person in all the Fjords of Tame.
After telling her story to the people of the Silver Castle, they were amazed this small young woman had nearly circumnavigated the world, as captain of pirates and rescuer of the slaves. After days spent telling stories of adventure and close escapes, strange places and even throwing in a mermaid or two, she and her crew became popular heroes. Word of the ship, and Captain Maya, Bright and Fair, preceded them back to the fjord lands. And as they sailed back into the great port of Flodenworl they were hailed as heroes. Allowed to keep their booty, and given pardons, the crew decided to go their separate ways to enjoy their new celebrity and wealth. Maya returned to home, still that shy young lady, but now the most well travelled and famous adventurer in the Fjords of Tame.