[HEADING=1]Chapter One: Exploring in a Child's Mind[/HEADING]
It wasn?t a day normally suited for a war to begin. This was not the place you would expect real war to erupt. There were skirmishes of course, minor battles between the Tribes of this land, but nothing ever to this extent. They say the Old World had wars like this one, millions would perish and the world would forget them in 100 years? time. This would not be forgotten though, this war; for it marked a new era in the world, the second Ascension would prove to be a true prophecy and the world would know the truth behind the Event. This was seen by the seers of the Northern Tribes, known for their strange magics and powers beyond the realm of our understanding.
This would not happen in the Northern Tribes though, as it was predicted but one of partial Northern blood would be in the thick of it. For thousands of years the Ruins had always been thought to be the source of the Event, for the Ascension that took away most of the population so long ago. There were few who explored these places though, few areas that had been mapped within the Ruins. It would seem though, that it would change as a group of men and women would find what they had questioned for so long. Whether or not it would be what they expected remained to be seen. Whether or not it would answer the problems that would arise would be answered.
The Ruins, according to the Elders, are something to be feared. These remnants of the Old lands were forbidden to be explored, but there were those who defied the orders of the Elders. They were always caught in time, always banished in spite of age, or position in the tribe standings. This deterred many who would have explored and discovered the secrets of these Ruins, but not this group. This group was led by one of Northern blood and the North is notorious for its stubborn nature.
It was by the Northern blood that the 2nd Ascension would be predicted and by Northern and Eastern blood that it would be fulfilled. So it is said by the Great Northern Seer ?Far Northern Flower? in the 2067th Year following the 1st Ascension and so it shall be recorded as truth in the books of the Elders. So it is.
These are words that would not be on the mind of Alexis as he moved through the Forest outside of the Eastern Tribe where he lived. His village laid at the edge of the explored world, the edge of the mapped world, where it was said that nothing lived anymore. It was also in this Forest where the Ruins of Turmoil existed, named for their twisted, jarring nature, the structures curled and twisted to the Clouds and expanse of miles of iron jungle laid before the people who dared to explore it. It was a marvel to behold, a dangerous gem within the rough of the Forest. The Forest itself reflected the mood of the Ruins as well, its roots growing through the entrance of the Ruins, as if reclaiming what the Old People had once created, its branches and roots gnarled and twisted, thick and unhealthy to touch the closer they got to the doomed cities of old.
These Ruins were a danger to any who entered; it appeared to be more than blind fear that prevented travellers from entering the Ruins. Rusted steel hidden by thousands of years of degradation impeded any who tried to cross with horse or wagon, one could only walk and tread carefully. Once one was cut by the rusted metal, survival was not guaranteed, there was no way to fight the infection that threatened anyone who injured themselves on the impure steel that supported the Ruins.
Alexis called to his cousin, who was close to his age, only a few months separating them, ?Come on, you?re almost there, slow as usual but you?re learning. At this pace we?ll only get to the Ruins by sundown and have to go straight home,? he laughed as he jibed his cousin playfully.
The two were headed over to Alexis?s favourite building for scavaging. It wasn?t purely for the resources that were to be had there, but rather the beauty of the structure that brought the twisted steel structures of the rest of the Ruins to shame. Its crumbled walls gave way to high points, degraded with age and rust, only a shadow of its former glory and yet Alexis loved it; he could only imagine what it would have looked like in its prime age; before the Ascension destroyed humanity.
Once Cael had finally struggled over the stone blocks that had impeded their path into the Ruins, Alexis pulled him onto the platform where the two sat for a second drinking in the dawn. Alexis had dragged his cousin out of bed early to head down to the Ruins before they could be put to work with chores; there was no classes today on account of the Elder?s reading today and so it was a great way to kill the day before sunrise when the tribe gathered in the Seven Halls to hear the Elders lecture. Exploring the Ruins could take a few moments or many hours if you found the right area and the right people to go with. Alexis hoped that after Cael got used to coming out here more, they?d explore more together, it was safer in groups and it meant that Alexis could drag more stuff home to barter with. It was also nice to just relax and sightsee with someone who hadn?t seen the whole Ruins yet, buildings were still something that Alexis avoided though, going inside one was dangerous, as he had once learned.
For now though, it was great just to see the sun rising and drink in the cool breeze, ?Alright you?ve had your break, c?mon its time to head to the Towers,? he said, tugging on Cael?s arm, ?Lets go.?
1 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.275054-Ruins-An-RP-Concept-in-the-Making-Closed?page=2#10966252]
2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.275054-Ruins-An-RP-Concept-in-the-Making-Closed?page=2#11121572]
2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.275054-Ruins-An-RP-Concept-in-the-Making-Closed?page=2#11121572]