Azurith Port

After days of relentless wandering in the blistering desert heat, the port city of Azurith began to emerge on the distant horizon—a shimmering beacon of hope for the weary travelers. 

The sight of the city's towering spires and bustling harbor was a welcome relief, a promise that our arduous journey was finally drawing to a close. 

The caravan's collective excitement was palpable, as they could sense that their long and perilous odyssey was nearing its end.

Every step taken was infused with newfound energy, each stride bringing us closer to our coveted destination. 

The sun, sinking below the horizon, bathed the city's silhouette in a warm, golden hue, making it all the more inviting.

Oswin, walking beside me, couldn't contain his smile. "We're almost there," he said with a tone of both relief and enthusiasm. "Once we reach Azurith Port, our mission will be complete."

I nodded, sharing in his excitement. "It's been a challenging journey, but we've come this far," I replied, my gaze fixed on the city ahead. "And now, we're on the verge of success."

After walking for several more hours, we reached the top of a small rise and paused to catch our breaths. 

In the distance, I could see the outline of a cliff, jutting out from the landscape like a massive, looming shadow. Without a second thought, I set off towards it, eager to see what secrets it might hold.

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I peered over the edge, taking in the stunning view before me. The endless expanse of blue sky and sea stretched out as far as the eye could see.

The city was built on a promontory with sea inlets to the north and the south. The city's location made it master of the maritime trade in the region. 

All ships crossing the sea had to pass between a giant island controlled by the kingdom and the coast where the port city was built, affording it great power and influence over the sea. 

Two large harbors were built within the city, one for harboring the city's prodigious navy of 330 warships and the other for mercantile trade. Four walled towers overlooked both harbors. The city had massive walls, tens of kilometers long. 

Most of the walls were on the shore and so could be less impressive, as the Kingdom's control of the sea made attacks from that direction difficult. The 10 km of wall on the isthmus to the west were truly massive and were never penetrated.

Marvelous buildings, gateways, cobbled ways, and din of wagons occurred across the city. There the workers were hard at work, laying courses for walls, rolling up stones to build the citadel, while others picked out building sites and plowed a boundary furrow. 

Here men were dredging harbors, there they laid the deep foundations of a theatre, and quarried massive pillars.

This is what the port city looked like a few years ago. Finally, however, the whole city stood still. No more vessels sailed into the harbors let alone would leave them except for the occasional fisherman fishing not far from the coast. 

Even the landlines had remained untouched by humans for the past few weeks, if not for a month, contaminated by monsters like the seas and mountains. 

The mountain range south-west of Azurith Port should have been easily accessible at this time of year and so iron mining should be easy. On the contrary, the mountains were plagued by violent storms that hade only grown in size the last weeks. 

Meter thick layers of snow covered the ground and it didn't seem like it would stop snowing anytime soon. This is what made the mountain range known as the Stormbringer mountains. 

The mountain ranged struck by a phenomenon that shouldn't exist - a static snowstorm in a blazing hot region.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my back on the cliff and began to make my way down the path that led to the city.

As we drew nearer to the city, the desert sands began to give way to a more fertile landscape. Scrubby vegetation and hardy desert flora dotted the terrain, hinting at the verdant beauty that awaited us within Azurith's walls. 

The temperature seemed to drop slightly, a welcome reprieve from the scorching days of the desert. 

Though something felt off, as if I had forgotten something. A sense of malevolence lingered in the air, unsettling me.

But the caravan's travelers chatted animatedly amongst themselves, sharing stories of their past visits to Azurith Port and the bountiful trade it offered.

The promise of resupplies and the opportunity to finally unload their cargo weighed heavily on their minds, their excitement building with each passing moment.

As we approached the port city, the first thing I noticed was the massive walls that surrounded it. The walls were high and made of sturdy stone, and I could see guards stationed on top of them, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area.

As the city's gates drew nearer, our caravan's formation became more orderly, soldiers taking their positions with a newfound sense of purpose. 

The guards stationed at the city's entrance watched our approach, their faces revealing a mixture of curiosity and vigilance.

As we drew nearer to the city gates of Azurith Port, the once orderly approach began to devolve into a chaotic scene of desperation. 

The walls that encircled the city were overrun with people, their faces etched with fear and anxiety, all frantically trying to gain entry into the safety of the city.

Men, women, and children of all ages jostled and pushed against one another, their belongings clutched tightly to their chests. 

Mothers held crying infants close, their eyes filled with worry, while fathers and older siblings fought to maintain their place in the throng. The atmosphere was thick with the stench of sweat and desperation.

The guards stationed atop the walls shouted orders, trying to maintain some semblance of order, but it was a futile endeavor. 

The situation outside the city was dire, and the people were willing to do whatever it took to escape the encroaching menace of the monsters.

Our caravan, having journeyed through the treacherous desert and survived harrowing encounters, had finally reached the city gates. 

The sheer volume of people clamoring for entry made our approach a slow and arduous one. 

Oswin, ever the composed leader, stepped forward as the representative of our group, and I followed closely behind, ready to provide assistance if necessary.

The guards, dressed in resplendent armor that gleamed in the sunlight, were clearly on edge. One of them, a stern figure with a commanding presence, demanded, "State your business in Azurith Port."

Oswin's voice rang out with confidence. "We come as travelers and traders," he declared, his gaze unwavering. "Our caravan bears supplies for the city, much-needed resources to aid in its defense against the encroaching monsters."

The guards exchanged a glance, their expressions softening slightly as they weighed the importance of our mission. The lead guard nodded in approval, his tone less brusque than before. "Very well," he conceded, "you may enter Azurith Port. Welcome, travelers, and thank you for your assistance."

As the gates slowly creaked open to admit us, there was a palpable sense of relief among our group. We had made it past the final obstacle of our journey, and the prospect of safety and respite within the city walls filled us with hope.

However, as we passed through the gates, the desperate crowd outside made a desperate bid to enter with us. People surged forward, their voices pleading and their hands outstretched. 

Some tried to slip past the guards, while others clung to the sides of our caravan, hoping to find refuge within the city.

Oswin, always quick to assess a situation, called for the guards to maintain order and allow only our caravan entry. It was a difficult decision, but one made out of necessity to prevent the city from being overwhelmed.

The scene outside the gates was a stark reminder of the harsh reality faced by those who had not found safety within the city's walls. 

As our caravan made its way further into Azurith Port, I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility and determination to make a difference in the face of the encroaching monster threat that had driven so many to desperation.

I turned towards the leader of the caravan. The leader turned to me, his expression one of concern. "Are you sure you don't want to accompany us to the ports?" he asked. "We could use your help with unloading the supplies."

I shook my head, a smile playing at the corners of my lips. "Thank you for the offer, but I prefer to travel alone from here on out. I plan on surveying the surrounding areas before venturing deeper into the city."

The caravan leader nodded slowly. "I see. Mumei," he paused "on behalf of the caravan, I cannot express enough gratitude for your invaluable assistance during our journey. Without you, we could not have made it here," he said sincerely and gratefully.

As Oswin spoke, several soldiers nearby also expressed their heartfelt thanks. They thanked me for my bravery, unwavering protection, and tireless efforts throughout the journey.

I waved off their thanks, feeling slightly embarrassed but grateful for their acknowledgment.

The caravan leader smiled warmly and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We are deeply grateful for all you have done for us, and we would be honored to assist you in any way we can."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Over the course of the journey, I had grown to trust and respect the caravan leader, and it was a comfort to know that I could count on their support if needed. "Thank you," I replied, returning his smile.

With a final nod of farewell, the caravan began to pack up and depart towards the city. I stood at the edge of the road, watching the caravan as it receded into the distance, slowly disappearing from view. 

It felt strange to see them go, after spending our last few days together on the road. I had grown accustomed to their company, and it was bittersweet to see them leave.