Tag: #Exploration

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.

Exploring New Lands

Exploring New Lands: Fabulum

KC J. Hutchins

A land of meadows and mostly small villages, this place has stayed out of most wars that plagued Magitotum except the Graecian Expansion. At that time, the Cyclops looked to escape the gods and goddesses of Olympus. When they saw the meadows of Fabulum, they were eager to take what they wanted. They were surprised when the people did not only fight back but completely defeat them. This was impart due to the formation of the Muffet clan; a group of animal trainers that have incredible fighting ability. At the conclusion of the fighting, the founders made a treaty with the Cyclops for them to live above them in the clouds and calling it Reus. In return, the one eyed creatures taught the land how to shepherd their flocks. For many years this relationship stayed in tact, until the Giants, descendants of the mixture of Cyclops and humans, came to start war once again. They were only stopped when the brave farmer Jack killed the leader of the kingdom of Reus. Peace once again settled but only for a short while. A short conflict followed when the Trolls of Conflictus fled from their homeland. They attempted to settle in the rivers of Magitotum by building great bridges and a fortress. Led by the Muffets, they were quickly thwarted and were forced to serve the kingdom of Fabulum. They was no pause from the fighting as a new threat came.

It came to pass that the werewolf Mallupo, who was thought to be dead, plagued Fabulum. Through scores and scores of men and women he killed, but the children he did something worse. He turned the children of his victims into Lunalpha werewolves like himself. With that control, he was able to bring Fabulum to its knees. Not feeling he had enough power, he headed to the forest found in the Southern part of Fabulum. There inside was a pack of large wolves that had occasionally caused trouble for the people of the land. They were now calmed by a members of the head Muffet family who took it upon themselves to train the wolves. Unfortunately, when Mallupo showed up that training meant nothing as he turned the wolves on their friends. With more of an army to take over the land, he headed straight to royal castle. He was stopped by a man in a full suit of shining silver armor. That day he was stopped with his arm chopped off by the blade of the mysterious assailant. Peace was again settled in this land, or so it was thought.

The place itself has three distinct places known by most. In the South is a grand forest where no one dares to venture. There inside the twisting branches and crawling roots the pack of wolves hunts for food, only straying off if there are very little left. To the North is the Muffet Estate. This stretches from to the edge of the mountain range that surrounds Pruina to a few miles from the royal city near the Northeast side of the land of Magitotum. A small forest can be found within this estate where many creatures wander and one can even see the tower made from thorns and vines that was created by Silvia Muffet behind the main household. The royal city is where the king sits on his throne and governs the land. His people live outside his castle walls in two different sections that have caused a conflict within his nearby home. It seems that the cutoff land of Fabulum may just need some outside assistance after all.

Exploring New Lands, Scales Series

Exploring New Lands: Spiegel

KC J. Hutchins

The twinkling land of Spiegel was once a land inhabited by scientifically advanced humans. An unknown cataclysm caused their city to be in ruins and their land turned to sand. It was left untouched for many years, until the Betrachs needed a new home. With the help of the Matahari, they turned most of the land into smooth slopes of glass. Of course, this attracted the doppelgangers as they found a parallel home within the reverse world. Still the Betrachs rebuilt the city left by the humans, adding mirrors to the outside of the skyscrapers despite the risk of attack. Sand roads lead travelers through this reflective land where eyes are constantly watching their every move.

Exploring New Lands, Scales Series

Exploring New Lands: Staude

KC J. Hutchins

The land is a vast forest with trunks much larger than a person. Two types of tree grow here; glowing black bark Weeping Willows with purple shining leaves and vines that shower down to the ground and radiant white barked Ash trees whose leaves outshine their counterparts. At one time, these grew on two separate sides of each other. When Elfriede and Gundisalv joined together their people with the help of Pelzgrauen, the forest became intermingled with a large center hybrid tree known as Verbin. Here the new king and queen built the royal palace. As for other landmarks, there are none left. The constant civil wars of the elves have destroyed any places sacred to both sides.

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.