[HQ Ignorance] Scene 108: The Entrance to Black Iron Fort

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 108: The Entrance to Black Iron Fort

With the agreement of the colourful General Ho-Ki, who doubtless hopes
to become the new leader of Lei Tabor, the rump Fellowship formed quite
a force. With the dragonnewt leading, flanked by King Azhur to his right
and the gaudily clothed rebel leader to the left, a somewhat motely and
disparate crew followed, although one could not help but notice the
disparity between Ho-Ki's men and those of the Fellowship. Despite
numerous misadventures, the latter were clearly better clothed, armoured
and carried superior weaponry. Rikku clothing in particular compared
quite well to the stage dramatics of General Ho-Ki.

Approaching the gap in the Shan Shan mountains, a magnificant view of
the eleven iron forts became possible. General Ho-Ki, who seemed to have
some knowledge of these, explained in detail how each were cast from a
single piece of iron with elegant bridges connecting exactly thirty-two
guard posts with the four roofed towers to a central keep. Each fort has
a large gateway with portcullis.   

"They say that magic does not function within the Iron Forts", Ho-Ki
explains, "but I have never tried it myself. They also say that that the
castles were built by Luy Wi, who founded the city of Lokow, which is
many leagues away, but there people there apparently deny it. I have no
idea why. They are magnificant."

As the group approached the Iron Fort, they noticed a band of two score
men leaving from the main entrance. Armoured in scale and carrying
longspears with red ribbons they marched at double-pace, with one on
horseback. At a distance of some fifty metres, retaining their
marvellous formation, the Kralorelans came to a sudden halt and one let
out a burst from a horn.

The apparent leader of the force, the wind beating roughly around all,
made his announcement. "We welcome you, oh great Dragonman with Crested
Head and wish to provide you lodgings within the Black Fort for your
exceedingly important journey, if you so wish."

"The men that you travel with however we humbly express our greatest
concerns. Some are known bandits. Some are foreigners. Which is to say
the latter is the same is the former. All are armed. According to the
wisdom and the laws of the ancients, such people have no permission to
enter upon the Sacred Land of Kralorela."