Dane walked along the rough path. Distant tall peaks dotted the horizon. With the sun at his back lighting the rising valley. Sparse trees swayed as did the grass, the mountain air breezed past him. Dane smiled, his left hand resting on the short sword sheathed above his waist.
His half plate armor covered his vitals. Like his neck, chest, shoulders, forearms, and thighs. His joints are protected by a layer of leather and chainmail. As a swordsman it is vital to be able to move as easily as it is to be protected. At least that's what his mentor taught him.
Ahead he could see a carriage. The trot of its horses reached him well before either party spotted the other. "Good day sir!" An old trader waved, reigning the horse to slow to a stop. Dane smiled up at them. "Good day, say is Invidivia near?" He asked, drawing a raised eyebrow from the old trader.
"Yes sir, if you keep traveling up this road you'll hit a fork just take the wider path that should lead to the black city. You's traveling there this close to winter?" The trader said with some concern.
Dane smiled and nodded. "Yes, I thought it better for it. I could not set out earlier" he expressed. Earning a sign of the old trader knowing that pain enough. "Yous be careful son, keep yourself aware even if da winds blow quiet. Ain't know what's out there" the old trader said reigns flick as he starts moving his carriage again.
Dane nodded to the old trader. "I'll take those words to heart, sir, thank you!" He said and without another word kept on his travels. He had heard that bandits and exiles threaten the lesser traveled roads and sometimes the main road. During winter it is said leaving the city is a guarantee run in. Not that he plans to leave.
Dane's journey ends at the old city state. He sought it for one reason or another.
The Swords Of Sanquilius.
A faction renowned within Invidivia, and yet not so much beyond its walls. Where true swordsmen stand to cultivate the sword. The popularity of the sword elites was always present and yet strangely, the Masters Of swords. Sword saints were oddly lacking in public word.
Regardless he sought to join their ranks to one day become a master of the blade. A sword saints. For his name is renowned outside the old city, and yet he feels himself inadequate to such a faction. Hence joining, he hopes to better himself, to sharpen his skills against true elites of the sword.
Dane soon saw the first signs of Invidivia. Old ruined towers. An outpost most likely. Men in similar half plate to himself and yet bearing arms of Invidivia's banner. A sword inverted, a skull jagged, crooked with a white over deep scarlet, and the colors of their armor a dark grayish black. A wicked scheme of colors that bore weight to their imposing stance. A nice touch to the fact that Invidivia is a hard people.
They did little to pay attention to him. Dane certainly fit the traveler from another country. They seemed less focused on the living and more so checked clearly long dead bodies. Dane actually recalled another issue of Invidivia. Undead, yes walking corpses, the sort.
They are a major issue. Generally patrols from the city armed outpost with a dozen to deal with them locally. Bandits were another of their issues. But no bandit in their right mind would walk up to this outpost armed with a dozen guards. Regardless, Dane tried to make small talk. "Good evening-" he had attempted to start off, but had been promptly cut off. "Sorry sir, we are in no mood for a chat, move along." Dane, discouraged that his greeting had been rejected, could only sign and move on without another word.
But his soured mood did not stay too long. For a great sight greeted him. The Kingdom Of Invidivia! Tall blackstone walls rise from the rocky grounds. Their surface is pocketed by many scars of ancient sieges. While even taller pillars akin to monuments or monoliths built into the wall.
Of which nine were situated perfectly apart from each other across the full length of the wall. Their weathered conditions evident even some show far more damage.
Each one had large great tattered banners of the Invidivia Kingdoms symbols. Within four floating monoliths hung high in the skies. Of which one seemed shattered giving off a faint crackled light. He gave a gasping laugh as he had not expected such an ancient city to look beautiful despite its clear disrepair of its great wonders. He quickened his step as his eyes landed on the tall imposing gates of the city.
Finally, he has arrived!