World's Over Journal XXIII Sun Pathways

Today, urged by Priscilla, the three of us ventured forth to Toki's village in the North, along the mountains in a small vale. Our journey started from the open glade where the sun shown the haze a bright green, which was almost yellow, making the dust particles seem like stars as they slowly fell from high up in the trees down upon us a most beautiful scene amidst the purple and lavender flowers upon the edge of the glade. In the centre of the meadow, of course, was the Obsidian Golem Rock which was warm to the touch as it had been sitting in the sun since it rose above the Western edge of the Ravine. The sun often penetrated deep down into the depths underneath the Redwood canopy and below that the Manzanita labyrinth to touch the forest floor.

In such a magical manner did the sun regularly find elusive path ways to brighten the depths of the valley, it made the days pass amidst a magical glow. Wherever we walked in the forest the sun seemed to follow us or be just ahead of us, yet never upon us directly. On the northern edge of the glade amidst the purple flowers we found a small firm trail of dirt, along each side around, about and above, grew the manzanita labyrinth. We travelled along the pathway for a few hours, we came across two more glades, though naked of a rock at their center, but the trail pushed us around the meadow, never through it.

At the north end of the last meadow we started down a slope, from the top of it we could see a small Brook off in the distance. The underbrush was thicker here than it ever was, down and around the bend we came to the stream. A knotted labyrinth of the magnificent Manzanita tree had formed a bridge for those who wished to pass over the brook. As we passed over the bridge we paused for a moment to look into the stream, the water was clear we could see to the bottom only a few feet below the surface. Amidst the rocks and green plants waving in the current we saw schools of, what looked to be, Trout, and below them, in hiding, were red exoskeleton creatures moving about, much like a lobster. It was odd that we had yet to see any critters upon our journey, though Toki was a hunter and we were none too quiet as we travelled, for we held no desire for secrecy. A beautiful forest in a magical valley, hard to believe this place was once the earth our concrete cities once held our minds captive in.

On the other side of the brook the labyrinth faded away and we began to go up hill again, in the distance we could see the mountain walls, we were getting close. The sun was setting as the forest opened up into a very large meadow before us, and there before us was the mountain hall of the Trolls. Their village is not as you would think, nothing like the native tribes pushed out of existence from our Continent so long ago. No, this was no mere village as Priscilla had translated from Toki, though I only ever heard her whisper into Priscilla's ears.

Before us, more than double an arrow shot from a long bow over an open meadow stood a mighty fortress, built into the side of the mountain. Near to the mountain the path split into two which lead up to the fortress' entrance points. On both sides the stone had been carved into a great round staircase which circled their way in a half crescent up to the main gates. The threshold held a great stone door which was beautiful to behold, for it was covered in the most intricate symbols. before the stone was a heavy set of bars which were covered in tiny spikes.

Above the gate were many windows, all of them black, no light exited out from the citadel of stone. All about the mountain side were spires which made up a great deal of the fortress' defences, all of them had multiple port holes to fire out from. Underneath these and strewn about the mountain side were terraces, which bore houses of timber and brick, built out of the side of the mountain. Before them in the terrace, I was told, were ponds and gardens, which I greatly desired to see.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane, Priscilla and Toki
Without Charles