Eril's Story

Day 15

Finding breakfast was the first real task of the day, heading out into the streets to find a shop serving the morning crowd. One small coin later and I was happily tearing into a freshly baked pastry. To take on the mountain today was my real mission - now bathed in sunrise colors, accentuating the clefts and crags, melding together with the architecture built upon it. One of the gateways at the far end of the town would lead me to the city, awaiting in the depths of the peak.

The road winding up the mountainside was quite grand, no expense had been spared in the building of this gem of a city. Walkways that were crafted of well dressed stone, bearing the precise craftsmanship that all the structures along the way possessed, spoke of riches and immense skill housed here. One of the finest examples of this opulence that I passed, were enormous statues in the likeness of the founders, each prominently displayed on high places along the route - serious looking people with noble features and kind eyes, which were set as precious stones, catching and reflecting the light.

There were multiple ways to enter the city, and after a brief moment I decided to go with the most scenic and straight forward, the road switching back and forth up the side of the mountain. It weaved its way ever higher, through tunnels and canyons, always at a steady and gentle incline, making the accent relatively easy. Most of the people that took this route opted to pay for a ride by cart, which was always for a very reasonable fare - that was not my plan though. The carts were pulled by pairs of sturdy mountain yaks, putting their heads down and dragging their occupants with ease. There were paths specifically designated for them, and the number of carts passing by created a dull rumble of background noise.

Those that wished to travel on foot, avoiding the slough of carts, were treated to a wide path alongside. Walking along, there was a series of switchbacks, each bringing me to higher elevations, the temperature cooling rapidly the further I went. When I reached the top, I was at a break in the mountain side, revealing a sprawling valley indented from steep mountain faces surrounding me. For how barren and rocky the mountainside had proved to be on my walk up, the valley by contrast was lush and thriving, with wild and cultivated vegetation rampant. Steam came up from a plethora of cracks in the rock, mixing with the air and creating a slightly damp haze that lingered in the basin. The sun looked absolutely magical cutting through it, each ray illuminated before me.

I had to stop for a moment, taking it all in, it was more than breathtaking. The sides of the valley were terraced, each row producing its own crop, stored snow melt flowing gently through carved channels in the ground. There were only a few buildings scattered about and were unobtrusive in nature, which meant that I was able to see across the entire area with no obstructions, from where I was standing, across to the far side, on which stood a monumental slab of rock, guarding the cleft that led into the city.

Savoring every moment of my walk across the valley, I was thankful that my first time to this city was exceeding all the thoughts and hopes I had in mind for this moment. Adura had been established well before my time, and while I was serving in battles, it was little more than a town, mostly miners and traders. It was only in recent times, as of about two hundred years ago, that it had exploded in population and diversity of people choosing to call it home. Now it was one of the most splendid cities in all of Pangaea.

Walking through the gate was to behold the greatest of all that mankind had been able to achieve in its infancy on Earth. The architecture was exquisite, amenities abounded, and there was a rich culture tied to the mountain and the treasures found within. Above the city itself, there was a great expanse of rock and ice, stretching miles, and encompassing within it all the places people had decided to build lives. Ring within ring, each dipping down from the last, the homes and shops of inhabitants were set. In the center was the lowest disk, reserved for official business and running of the city - there were additional large public spaces that were available on this level, being for public gatherings and important events.

The grandest buildings were those that were nearest the center, made seamless from stone and towering over the surroundings, some even almost reaching the height of the overhead ice. Above, the roof of the cavern stood, a solid sheet of ice, tendrils of rock branching out from the sides of the crater. it was debatable if you could even call the space it a cavern because of the enormous size, it felt more like being outdoors than under the Earth. Imposing icicles hung down over the city, some the size of a small house. I wondered how many accidents there had been in the city's history. I caught myself looking up nervously many times during my stay.

The air throughout the city was very humid. Springs of water that had bored through the ice dome many years ago cascaded down in magnificent free flowing waterfalls throughout the city. Because of this many crystal clear pools had formed throughout, adding both functionality and beauty simultaneously.

I was also surprised by the warmth, for being in a place enclosed by ice, I did not find myself needing any additional layers. The ice seemed to agree, and occasionally a drop would fall off an icicle landing abruptly with a large splash.

I was planning on being here for a while, so the first order of business was to find a place to keep my things, picking a good spot to return to after an excursion. There was a tavern I was able to find on the outer ring that was suitable for my needs. With a meal in my stomach I took to chatting with some fellow travelers and locals who had gathered for the evening, finding out what was worth seeing and doing during my stay. Within a couple of hours I was stuffed with ideas and suggestions, having a pretty good idea of what I could do over the next few days.

Being a bit of an anomaly to how cities were built and located, Adura attracted a very unique population, and there seemed to be a daunting amount of different things to try. I thanked everyone for their company and input and retired to my room to plan. There was a lot in store for me here.