The Fowls of the Air

There, at the far northern side of Dead Gardens, lies a magnificent sight I would never have expected to see in my life. Everything Dominion spoke about this place was correct and so much more. If I were still living under Firmament's decadent spell, I would have never believed anyone who would speak of this world. My old noble self would have dismissed words about this scenery as nothing but a fairy tale sung by ne'er-do-well bards to swoon the starry-eyed maidens in cheap taverns. But the peaks are real, and their points are pale, sharp, like the bared fangs of wild wolves. Nothing could have ever disproved this splendor, but even as I gaze at it with wobbling feet, I am still inclined to see this as nothing but a dream, and none could ever convince me otherwise.

Skystead Keep. Truly, magnificent structures befitting of praise, grandiose pillars that boast of the local's excellent architectural and engineering skills.

Before me stand a range of steep mountains touching the horizon. They loom above my still awed figure, looking sharper than what I would have imagined or how ancient artists illustrated it in paintings from a distant yore. They're tall and slender, jagged and unrefined, like the tip of pencils sharpened by a dull knife. Layers of snow blankets their peaks, but the familiar dark soil still desecrates their foothills.

On these icy peaks nestle countless venerable stone towers perched at the coldest areas of the range, some looming closer onto the sides like monolithic polearms sliding off the mountaintops. Slithering walls of stone connect one tower to another like a bridge tethering every summit together in this sprawling gray aurora-like structure. And as I marvel at its magnificence with a dropped jaw, the cyclopean serpentine mountain edifice glares gloriously from its unforgiving perch above the blackened moor. Though opulent and imperial, a shadowed sickness from those snow-capped peaks still plagues my heart whenever I gaze at those cobbled structures. Who knows what sort of damnable transcendent terrors await my advent upon the Keep's writhing path? But there's one thing I know for sure. There will be no fanfare for Dominion's return.

'This is your home?'

<Yes. And those are my people.>

Around the stone pillars, I saw countless flying entities orbiting the peaks like flies hovering around a lamppost.

'Are those Vyurbornes?'

<Obviously. Who else would fly around here other than them?>

'Hey, you'll never know! Firmament had already created their steam-powered airships!'

<Do those flying people look like airships to you?>

I stared closely at the gliding entities around Skystead Keep with squinted eyes.

'Nah. They're definitely not airships.'

<Use that 200 INT stat before you speak next time, won't you?.>

'They're quite fast, aren't they? Looks like they're enjoying their wings a little bit too much.'

<Hmm... You're right. I'm not sure yet since we're still far from the Keep, but it looks like the Vyurs are in a bit of a panic.>

'What do you mean? Do they not always fly around their towers?'

<Oh, no. Don't get me wrong! The Vyurs LOVE flying all over the place, especially around the walls; they have wings, after all. No one would be able to stop them from soaring into the skies. But their movement had a twinge of franticness in it. It resembled what I would have wanted to see in the Keep if war is brewing.>

'It does look like a battle is about to happen soon.'

<What makes you say so?>

'Look at the foot of the mountains. Smokes. Dozens of them. All rising into the thick clouds like gray trunks. It doesn't take a genius to know that something's going on out there, and from what you said, there might actually be a war brewing soon.'

<Hmm... That's odd. If my memory serves me right, that place is where the kapre's stronghold, Kalayaan, should stand. The Vyurs and kapres all answer to me as their sovereign god, so they might be preparing together to defend against a large-scale invasion.>

'Should we be worried?'

<Of course, but I am not particularly surprised if the Keep really is under siege. Such is the norm around here. It became the greatest stronghold in Dead Gardens under my care, and the other wannabe-empires would definitely take advantage of my long absence. I'm sure the Keep had already endured enough attacks from foreign invaders, but the fact that it still stands means my people had done a great job defending it in my name.>

'That's all fine and dandy, but we also have another problem. Should we be worried about that heretic god the kapres had been worshipping?'

<I'm not sure yet, but if the kapres had something to do with this attack, which is highly unlikely, mind you, they would suffer a crushing defeat against the Vyurs and the human city near the river beside Kalayaan stronghold. The kapres stood in the middle of two powerful states. They need to wise up if they plan to revolt. But I'm sure the heretic god is nothing for us to worry about. If things go well, we'd have a loyal general with the power of an amateur god. When the opposite happens, then we'll just have to kill a treacherous try-hard.>

'You seem awfully confident, Dominion. Well, it's not like you to run out of pride anyway.'

<Hah! You're right, Aleph. But this time, I'm not just proud of myself. I am also proud of the man I assigned to rule my three states.>

'Tell me about him.'

<Well, that man has a colorful past, but it's definitely a crimson-filled life; where the hell should I start?>

'How about starting on his name?'