You are passing beneath the watchful gate-house of Mercinae.
Beyond the East Gate of Mercinae.
About you all is bathed in light. Standing on the northern walls of the
ancient city-port Mercinae you are greeted with a startling panorama. The
labyrinthine streets of the old town rise into wooden hillside on the western
bank, beyond the shimmering path of the river Leithe. On either side of the
gateway runs a low wall, over which you glimpse the pastoral metropolis of
the east bank dipping to caress the azure plateau of the western ocean. The
great highway to Parrius cuts a swathe through the temperate landscape of
forests and rolling hills that stretch into the far distance north and east.
Southeast a patchy copse of forest climbs into the scraggy hillside of
Sapience peak. A flag bearing the emblem of a snow-white swan has been raised
proudly here. A sign stands here, reading "what happens to a dream deferred,
does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?".
The Mercinae flag, that of a snow-white swan, flies here. You notice exits
east, south, and west.
970h, 970m defvx(-) e
Sulan, Walker of the Waves intones, "In the name of Proteus, god of the sea,
stay away from the ocean. Get away from the docks!".
An omnious rumble shakes the earth and you have a hard time keeping your feet.
The waters of the sea recede quickly revealing fish flopping on the muddy sea
bottom.
Curious people move out to grab the easily caught fish.
The color drains from their faces and they run around screaming warnings.
A gigantic wave appears looming off the coast of Parrius.
The wave slams into the Parrian docks and floods into the streets.
[By this time, I had brewed some atigax and was heading to the south of Mercinae to see what was going on. This goes to show that my character is a very different person than me.]
The wave moves toward Mercinae slamming into the sea walls guarding the city.
People run screaming through the streets afraid to be caught in the torrent.
Road by the seafront.
About you all is bathed in light. You are walking along the seafront, on a
road on the north side of a wall and jagged rocks which lead down to the wine
dark sea. Spray from the sea crashing against the rocks wets your hair and
you look up, half expecting cloud bearing rain to be visible. Lying near and
on top of the rocks are the remains of many sailing vessels which met their
untimely ends upon the merciless coastline. The remains of the cargoes of
many ships float about on the surface and doubtless much more has sunk to the
bottom.
You put some atigax algae into a glass bowl.
You tip a glass bowl towards your mouth hopefully.
You take a short sip of riverwater, slaking your thirst.
You feel your lungs expand and contract within your chest.
You dismount a white dragon.
The churning waters rush down the street toward you.
Before you can think to run, you are caught up in the rushing waters.
Algernon is caught up by the torrent and swept away through the streets.
Your rune-bug picks up words; Brekahn tells Mage Algernon, "You ok?".
Bounced and jostled around by the waters, you barely miss crashing into the
side of a building. It is becoming harder to hold your breath and you wonder
if any will find your body.
A shimmering portal appears before you, bearing the image of Brekahn in its
swirling mists.
Just before your breath gives out, the wave surges and deposits you on a
rooftop.
You are divinely moved, by the fathomless will of Sulan.
Upon the roof tops.
About you all is bathed in light. The tiles and thatch of the roofs around you
have been lovingly created with protection from the elements a prime concern.
The red baked clay made in the finest kilns of the city. Your vantage point
gives you a wondrous view of the city and you can spy many of the local
landmarks amongst the tops of all the less impressive buildings. You peer
round the stacks of the chimney next to you scanning the surrounding roofs
wondering what hides amongst their low walls and sloping sides. You adjust
your feet to more secure places on the thin roofing tiles and scan the area
again.
You tell Brekahn, "Ha ha!".
You tell Brekahn, "I'm on a rooftop!".
Though much weakened, the wave moves inevitably toward Thakria.
Your rune-bug picks up words; Druidess Tazlilly tells Mage Algernon, "You
alright".
You tell Druidess Tazlilly, "Yeah, I think so.".
[Only now, looking down, did I realize I had been washed all the way to Parrius.]
You take a long look.
The Mariner's Highway by Merchant Street.
About you all is bathed in light. It is along the east-west highway that you
tread, now flanked by alder trees of a bark that is russet-brown in colour.
The hive of shops that exist up and down the rest of the street has
dissipated somewhat as you have arrived at a T-junction, a small alley
sneaking southwards, hidden by the shade of some trees. A sturdy legion of
Parrians stands fifty in number in the west of the location, facing east. A
covert figure lurks about nearby. His face is obscured.
Seeing the destruction wrought upon their neighbors, the Thakrians move to the
tops of their famed towers.
For some it is too late though and they are caught in the power of the oceanic
might.
Someone utters a deep, rumbling laugh.
Someone surveys his surroundings scrupulously.
You see, in your mind, Count Trakea, Kohen HaGadol shrouded in a cloak of
invisibility.
Someone cries aloud, "I do not believe!".
A golden eagle picks up its head and gallops away.
A golden eagle strides into view and lifts Count Trakea onto its back.
Someone draws himself up to his full height.
You conjure up a magical pentacle of protection about you.
Your rune-bug picks up words; Warlock Zamphere tells Count Trakea, "Damn moved
me all the way to parrius in one shot".
Your rune-bug picks up words; Warlock Zamphere tells Count Trakea, "Im
trapped!".
You tell Count Trakea, "You know what's going on?".
Someone shakes his head.
Your rune-bug picks up words; Count Trakea says, "Trying to figure it out".
Your rune-bug picks up words; Count Trakea says, "It's cool, whatever it is".
You nod your head emphatically.
The waters begin to recede from the streets of Parrius, Mercinae and Thakria
but much of the cities' waterfront remains flooded.
A mansion off Providence Way groans and collapses into a pile of rubble.
