Category: A Closer Look

A Closer Look

A Closer Look: The Great Tower of Radix (Silvia’s Tower)

KC J. Hutchins

Built to spite her jealous husband, Madame Silvia Muffet created the building using her shaman magic. Twisting vines, roots, branches, and thorns weave together to form this grand tower to the very top room where a single window looks out on the land of Fabulum. To most beings, there is no door to enter this place. It only appears if one passes the test of the tower.

Two vines will spring forth from the tower; one having an allspice flower at the end of it that will wrap its petals around a person’s chest. The second has the jaws of a Venus fly trap, the tips of its teeth teasing the flesh all around one’s head. After a few minutes of suspense, the vines will retreat to the tower and form an archway; revealing a large round door made of Maple tree wood. That is only if one passes. On the other hand, if the person does not pass the fly trap gets brains for dinner. The only way to pass this test is to have enough compassion in your heart to care others more than yourself. Once one does get inside, they see the true wonder of this place.

Flowers light up the walls with a variety of vibrant colors that rival the splendor of a rainbow. Creatures of all shapes and sizes roam the tower, neither prey or predator seeking any hostility toward one another. If one makes their way down the steps and underground they can her the very tower breathe. The roots under the building are curled around a green glowing gem that keeps the structure standing. One must be careful approaching the sight for if they do not, giant moles will come up and smack intruders.

Going back upstairs, one would climb the spiraling staircase of Silvia’ tower. Each step is made of thick oak branches that run along the walls, From the ceiling trickles vines with radiant flowers that light the very tower. Finally, at the very top of the stairs it opens to a large circular room. A corner of the room contains two large tables side by side. One is obviously a work bench with tools scattered about and wood shavings covering the table top. The other seems strange to the most people. On it are several vials, tubes, and bottles that are kept neatly in rows against the back wall. Above them are shelves of powders, glowing liquids, and ingredients that are used for potions. In the center of this table is a small cauldron that is usually boiling. Like most of the tower, flowers of magnificent colors decorate the pointed ceiling. Branches stick out from the roof as most of the time Silvia’s owls perch upon them, except for Vitro, Silvia’s closest owl, who has his own perch next to her work bench. A single window lets the light in with a flat bay bottom and a coned shaped top. Across from this is a huge book case aligned with tomes of magic and guides to plants. A humble wood carved bed stands next to this with faded linens. The wooden plank floor is decorated in the center with a finishing of an owl in flight.

A Closer Look

A Closer Look: The Muffet Clan

KC J. Hutchins

The Muffet family crest was based on the founding members’ animals. At the top of the symbol were an eagle’s wings spread on the outside while the middle has a bat’s. The lower half was in the jaws of a crocodile with its toothy smile. Located in the middle of the crest was a curved elephant’s trunk next to a bear’s paw.

During the Graecian Expansion, Cyclops from Graecia attempted to invade the land of Fabulum. The five founding members of the Muffet clan rose up to stop them led by Ellie Muffet thus where the name comes from. Battle after battle they fought, making the cyclops more and more fearful of their reputation. Eventually, they surrendered, begging to be spared their lives and from returning to Graecia. The founders graciously allowed them to stay, forming an alliance with their homeland in the process.

Since then, they have served as the protectors of Fabulum. Whether it be fighting trolls, wolves, or giants; they have been a reliable and formidable force. Notable members include Gruff Muffet whose duel tactics ended the Troll conflict. He is deviously clever man who chose a particularly large breed of goats to train. This is an ode to his mother Bo Peep who trained sheep. Gruff’s wife, Silvia was an owl trainer and discovered she was a shaman. Her skills soon outshone her husband’s and gave her much respect among anyone she met.

Both of the couple’s sons were gifted as well. One became the head of the clan while training ravens. His name was John and took the characteristics of his father. On the other hand, his brother with his wife was able to train the dreaded pack. Unfortunately, he was struck down by Mallupo’s handiwork. However, this gave rise to the greatness of their daughter, Red Muffet. With the gone, she now had the responsibility of leading the wolf pack, despite the land rejecting her for being a werewolf. Her renown cousins live in the Muffet Manor. Goldilocks is a celebrated warrior warrior riding atop of her three bears, while her sister Luda (though she prefers Miss Muffet) ensnares her opponents with her trained giant spiders.

The only famous member not directly related to the family is a man by the name of Serlep. He is a talented warrior who is enlisted under a special strike force for Gruff as an orphan. The first to train snakes, he showed amazing skills even before he trained his adoptive deceased brothers’ animals after their deaths at the hands of Red. Though there may just be more than skill involved with his feats.

A Closer Look, Scales Series

A Closer Look: Mount Storia

KC J. Hutchins

Home of the Raccontos is located in the land of Petram in the Northern mountain range. A single road winds from the top of the mountain to the bottom and onto the Plain of Nocciolo, This cobblestone path is used for an attack strategy where the Racconto roll down at high speeds and flatten anyone who dares threaten their home. Along it are their home and businesses, carved modestly into the mountainside. Each dragon has a small den which usually includes a bed of rocks, book shelf, and a fireplace to cook meals. This continues on and up to the summit. Here stands the great Pietrateca, the great library of the Racconto. A brown brick library that stands at the top of the great hill. Walls enclose the top of the mountain and have several lookout towers that watch the plains. The library stands above all with a tower pointed above with a tin top. The tower has a spiral of brown, gray, black, and white stones that lead to the uppermost part of the building. Below the tower, the main part of the library has white marble pillars that stand tall with ornamentation influenced of Ionian, Corinthian, and Doric scattered every other. The grand doors are made of Redwood before entering the inner part of the library. Inside are shelves upon shelves of books that curve all along the walls of the library, making a maze of information. The ceiling has further carvings of stories of the past. At the middle of the place, is a desk that is circular with an attendant standing by. On the second floor, is an array of artifacts pulled from different parts of Magitotum history. Among them include but not limited to; a robotic arm from the Tech War, the treaty of the Conflict of Elemental and Metaphysical Forces, and a ring that Merlin wore during the Wizard’s War. In a far-off corner behind one glass container, is a small medallion of a cat’s face with elongated ears known as the Amulet of Tawala. It is considered one of the most dangerous items kept by the Racconto. A large stone spiral staircase that goes from the middle of the second floor among the artifacts to the upper tower. If one looks out to see they could see the mountains that are topped with snow. After many steps, one would arrive at the top floor. Inside of this tower, usually sits the dean on a seat made of blue topaz. The leader of their people, they are found with a book in their hand or looking over important documents retaining the the welfare of their land.

A Closer Look, Scales Series

A Closer Look: Skapejuvel

KC J. Hutchins

The underground kingdom lies in the Eastern mountain range that borders Epoca in the land of Petram. For many years, the dwarves have carved their home into the mineral rich ground. To the common eye, it would seem like a complete maze, but to the dwarves they have a unique system. Each cave route is marked with a certain gem that tells the traveler where it leads. Major caverns within the kingdom include the banquet hall, throne room, Smi, and Badimanskinn. The banquet hall has hanging from the ceiling, stalactites that glowed like fire above the tables. The walls are aligned with torches that light up the room further and show off the dwarves’ craftsmanship of stones. Three long wood tables are in the hall with many seats on either side. Each have thrones that stand at the ends of each table. These change in appearance with each new king. The huge throne room is a cavern that had pillars leading to the throne. Each pillar is made of a different gem, six in total. The gems are ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst, and peridot. The walls have lines of gold, diamond, and silver that run down to the throne which is made of the blue gem of lapis lazuli with a pink Thulite gem carved out into the emblem of the dwarves, a hammer on the top of the great seat. Found in one of the caverns is the magnificent Smi. A gigantic forge containing a rare item known as Inti, found only in two other forges in all of Magitotum. It burns brighter than any other and can make even the famous Uknustal malleable. Finally there is Badimanskinn, or the cavern bathed in moonlight. A simple room flooded with moonlight, it is a common place for lovers to spend holding each other tight. All around on the cavern room floors and walls are moonstones that reflect the pale light of the moon that pours in from a hole in the ceiling. It is arguable one of the most beautiful sights in all of Petram.