#the greatest queue

[pluttskutt]

~

A city built in image of Ko'ta; a spirit who symbolized hope for even after burning to ashes he would be reborn. It was this spirit who burnt the city down.

Stone alike colour of sand rose high in towers with round rooftops coloured as bright fire. Golden linings adorned the city, enchanted signposts lit up with golden letters to show visitors the way; though most of them came for the market.

It was a place filled with loud voices when they sought the best deal. Exoctic goods from other worlds were desired; habitants of the golden city didn't voyage but a longing within them coexed them to bargain.

On the other side of the city the ruler had ordered a large building for their collection to be built. Anyone could visit to look, donate, and possibly browse the books if the guards allowed. This was the only one of its' kind in all known worlds where knowledge was collected in one place for everyone to see.

Legends have been shared through generations to answer how the golden city could come to such a fate but no one knew exactly what had happened. The great war had brought so much destruction no one wanted to talk about it and the truth died with those who kept their tongue.

In a temple that had been forgotten hid the keeper of history; a benevolent spirit guarded by the forgotten ones after the great war. The temple entrance was a cave that led underground. A waterfall poured through the biggest room; around grew tall plants with edible fruit planted long before the elves found the temple.

A family of long tailed tits flew around the temple using secret tunnels high up the tall walls. Birds of all colours had lived around the temple before the wilderness dried out. The underground waterfall would also dry out; the forgotten ones would have to leave and the keeper would be alone again.

[pluttskutt]

~

The wonders of what else was out there drove the elves to build their vessels and befriend dragons to take them across the stars. It had been the moon spirit who sent the dragons to them so their lack of wings would not stop their exploration of other worlds.

On their biggest vessel in the Captain's quarters hung a star map. It showed that to the south-east was the ruins of the city Ko'ta had burnt down. Many worlds around it had burnt down too and the fire burnt still as a threat to any daring to voyage near.

Down south where the worlds of old; magical creatures of the woods roamed these worlds. Driven further south because of the destruction of their homes they became secluded as they protected the earth mother Jornga'ta as she recovered.

They resembled elves but their ears were longer, skin rougher and striped to blend into the wilderness, shorter because of their smaller torsos. Deep within the woods they cared for an unhatched egg together with the children of Jornga'ta; with bodies of undulates and torsos of an elf with majestic horns on their heads, they were larger than many but warm and kind.

In north lay the frozen worlds. Before the great war they had been full of mischievous frost pixies throwing snowballs at voyagers, a tree with fruit that tasted as the one who took a bite wished, snowstorms that brought the ancient wolf spirit who would make anything and anyone survive the cold, and magic stardust that danced and showed the way to anyone lost.

After the great war, those worlds had turned into a frozen wasteland. With the moon spirit gone no light had reached the worlds and they had been overrun by darkness and horrors.

So it was to the west the elves voyaged. Not that they would ever question the dragons.

[pluttskutt]

Moon Spirit

In Ethen there were spirits. They depended on the life around them and cared for all living creatures. Each one had their own stories of the spirits, some didn't venture up from water, other never landed on ground, and others were legends.

The moon spirit was the one who guided voyagers in the dark with stars and dancing light. They went under many names and shone strongest over the ice castle in Nors. When the great war broke out they vanished from sight; darkness overtook Nors and the dancing light was never seen again.

Many creatures hid in the safety of their worlds never to be seen again–like the dancing lights.

The only ones who didn't hide were the voyagers, determined to once again find the spirit who gave them all they needed to voyage the worlds out of reach with no wings.

Ni'noR was the spirit's name. They were light in the dark, hope, a promise that something waited after the storm, tenacity, and cared much for the ones who voyaged in the dark.

Legends told that long ago a young inexperienced Captain had led their crew to a devastating faith and Ni'noR made it so their spirits would make sure no other voyager would suffer their faith, becoming vessels that would never succumb to the raging storms of any sea, and that is how the dragons came to be.

The spirit of the Captain was tormented by their decision that led to the death of their crew. This self-hatred twisted them and they ran away. In their rage the former Captain destroyed a world, and with it themselves, and from its' ashes rose a new creature to roam Ethen.

[pluttskutt]

~

High waves rose above the cliffs. Wind tore at branches and flung them out to sea. A storm brew but it wasn't strong enough for the vessels to lift. Strong ropes tied them to the docks still as the Captain hadn't given order to set sail. Waves powerful enough to knock them off the vessel hit them but they still waited for the order from the Captain.

"Hold them!" she roared to be heard over the storm. Above them the sky rumbled and lit up. She turned around; barely dodged high waves as she ran to the other side of the vessel. "Hold them!" she roared once again, as the ropes were slipping out of their hands. She had just made it to the edge of her vessel when a distant roar called out to her. "Now!"

At once they all reacted and dropped the ropes. Wind grabbed their vessels and pulled them forward. "Be ready!" Her voice could barely be heard over the roaring. Now that all vessels followed her she ran back to the head of hers. Securing a rope around her waist she climbed down on the small wooden steps under water to the head.

Cold water chilled her to her bones; also making it impossible to see anything she missed a step but found a scale to hold onto instead. She climbed upwards and felt with her hands on the rough surface to locate the iron ring she would tie her rope to.

A strong force under water swung her to the side just as she caught it. They were ready to depart and she'd have to make do. High pressure pushed her down the water as they rose above water. Roars of cheers erupted behind her from the other vessels as they headed for the stars. She bent down and secured her seat on the head.

"Take us away," she said, and leant back. A faint trail led the way but the dragons saw it better than her. Below them the smaller vessels spread out their wings and set flight. These dragons had been with them for many generations but only the pathfinder had seen the great war. Old scars adorned her as proof but she never spoke of it. All she said was that there were more out there. More of what? She hadn't said.

The Captain smiled and breathed in the sea air one last time. "Take us home."