by Idran1701 » Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:18 am
Plane of Air - Homespire
Descending the ladder, the party heads into the city of Homespire itself. It's strange for Theller, quiet; he can't ever recall a time where there wasn't at least a lookout or two in the outposts, a few raptoran there to greet travelers as they arrive. Inside, they emerge into a wide open chamber, with doorways and ladders leading further out or into the city. Doors hang open or lie bashed on fragments on the floor, and here and there can be seen blood stains and scorch marks, both looking to be days old, and the slight scent of smoke and sulfur still hangs in the air. It's hauntingly quiet here, without any of the chatter of activity Theller always associated with his home city.
Eletta leads them down deeper into the city, doing her best to hide her discomfort. "Others this way." It's quite a vast structure inside, stretching throughout the island's mass almost like a giant honeycomb. Wide chambers interconnected by short paths, with now-empty buildings standing here and there off these main areas, the doorways plus-shaped to accommodate the wings of the natives. The chambers themselves hold dozens of small alcoves in the walls, their outer edges lined with Auran inscriptions, holding sculptures in both abstract and realistic styles; small figurines of wood or clay, or colorful pieces of glasswork, though many have been damaged or destroyed from the carnage that struck the city. In one, a glass piece Theller's eldest brother spent weeks on when he was but 8, now nothing but shards. In another, a wooden piece of five kneeling raptoran he had been told was brought with their flock from the days before Homespire, half-burnt to ash.
Eventually, Eletta leads them to a building Theller remembers as the school house. Within can be heard the first others they've heard this entire trip, the collective children of Homespire gathered together for their own safety, led by a small number of the eldest of the village, those too weak to be brought along with whoever struck here. None of the children look to be older than 15, and many look scared, but they seem to lighten as Theller steps in. He remembers many of them from before he left on his Walk, and he and his friends all find themselves barraged with greetings and questions; he was well-missed, and they're very curious about these guests he's brought in this quest, asking them all about who they are, where they're from, if they're going to help save everyone, and a dozen other sorts of questions you could expect from young children. Those watching over the children just sit quietly for now, waiting for the children to calm, not begrudging them this bit of excitement.