April sunlight, the warmth of spring and flowers in full bloom. The Cloud Serpent Fortress stood tall and majestic among the mountains, overlooking the Tlaxcala Valley that stretched for tens of miles. Amidst this fertile valley, the black smoke from slash-and-burn agriculture could be seen, heralding the arrival of spring farming on the highlands.
Xiulote, dressed in a complex Chief Priest ritual robe, met with the Legion Commander of the Eagle Noble Battle Group, Giant Bear Stanley, who had come from the capital city to the main temple of the Chief Divine in the Cloud Serpent Fortress. This valiant general of the royal family was not only the most trusted family general of Avit but also a renowned warrior. He wore a long copper armor lined with cloth weighing forty pounds, yet moved swiftly and ran like a bear, kneeling respectfully on one knee to greet Xiulote.
