Empire 6: The Great Fire (SOL Event, Turn 12)

[Jade_Tarem]

The Clans have known brick laying for many years, but have never built a walled city nor a fortress. There was no need. Nestled in the mountains to the southwest, the climbing terrain provided better cover than one brick stacked atop another, and however many hidden deadfalls lie about is known only to the hunters. As a result, the path to Star's Landing, the first holy center of Clann Solais, has many a scenic view but little in the way of impressive stops. Even Edge's Embrace, the Dream Speaker tavern that serves as the most impressive single structure the Solais have built yet, is far away upon the Silver Plains.

Still, civilization is spreading throughout the range. Forty winters of growth have seen villages appear where none existed before, and towns grow from what had come before. The way to the Great Fire is met with friendly, curious, or wary faces, until suddenly it isn't. Higher in the range still, construction stops. The local guides assure any comers that they are on the right path, but where the Star Watch actually lives remains elusive.

Star's Landing itself is a place of incredible beauty. While it is not set to begin until all have arrived, lodgings have been made available for all the guests who responded. Showing some acknowledgement for the political reality of the land, they have been placed with differing creeds far apart, and clear paths to the lake itself. By day it is merely picturesque, and when the wind is still the lake reflects the heights of the range beyond in greens and whites, with the majesty of the Red King, the tree that will not die, painted across it. At night, though... at night, it is a different story. The stars shine above in infinite number, and gazing into the water reveals that they have settled into the lake itself, landing beneath the glassy surface.

For countless generations, this was where the Clans had gathered to decide who would lead them. Why they did so here and not at Star's End or the more populous Lake Airgid had been long since lost to time, but Menolly of the Feather had her own theory - that seeing the heavens reflected above and below made the scale of their world brutally and abundantly clear. By day, the sky was easily ignored, even in the forested highlands, but there, on that lake, one could not possibly consider themselves the lord of all creation.

In theory. Of course, the Great Fire was not a place for humility. The fire made the stars harder to see. The smoke blotted out the sky. And the festivities and competition left little time for introspection. Still, before it was lit, it was natural to take one moment to feel small.

[Elemental]

Despite objections from the more overly cautious members of the Moot, the decision was made that a single volunteer would travel to the Great Fire upon the invitation of the Thanes of the Clans. The newly appointed Aranin would remain behind such that the Great Host would be at the ready in the very unlikely case of treachery.

As such a single Viskari rider had arrived at the event on a black horse bearing a black banner. He gave his name as Kallisthan Terridan, Sarak and Warchief, as he accepted the welcome of his hosts before politely withdrawing to his lodgings to prepare for the Fire. He spoke with few people and emerged only for meals and to pray in the moonlight.

On the night of the Fire he emerged from his lodgings clad in black armour covered with a long black hooded cloak edged in the feathers of ravens. He was on the cusp of middle age and his long, braided hair was streaked with but a few strands of silver and around his neck he wore a silver talisman engraved with the image of a wolf. He says nothing, not wanting to interfere with the rituals of Clann Solais.