Note location: Mostly in the Jungle; a few in an abandoned airship tower in a remote part of Willful Machine Number available: Lots Conditions to receive from Iskierka: None
The Steppes are too vast to easily describe. You don't grasp it entirely on foot, standing hip-high in the grass that stretches horizon to horizon. You don't grasp it entirely in the cities of the Fringes, varied and bright-hued as they are, home to a hundred peoples of all the four principles. You don't grasp it entirely in Nirraz, looking down from their mountain as they drive their herds out to roam and forage for the summer. You don't grasp it entirely from above, where the Skilled soar the high vault of the sky above the teeming Verdant Sea.
Though I lose myself in nostalgia and sentiment, here--understanding the Steppes entire would require my Prince's years. Require having seen it all from the beginning. I did not. haven't, couldn't. We sold our years for children. They are worth eternity and now I have no regrets that he would be abandoned by the mayfly Court he had made. He shouldn't have preceded us it upset the order of the world.
The crossing from Tmutarakan to Shroudwood--the shortest way, due north--has two great risks now: the storms and the dryads.
Thundering's Court has turned the whole sky dark and windtorn--unnavigable to to an airship, proved by the half dozen you will find ground -wrecked on your way. Do not approach these, where they appear overgrown; the dryads have taken them, as they have taken most of the Steppes. I do not know why they've spread so far but that Locusts' ascension has maddened them--their only war on Nephele-that-is is with each other, and whatever wheat-field or orchard or garden was placed in their way. They didn't always kill animals who walked through their battlefields (as often tried to coerce them, to eat the other side)--but tore them swiftly apart, when they did kill, fuel for growth.
Here you will die smothered and clambered with vines, saved alive for weeks as they grow through. Better to cut your own throat before that, and lie down in the long grasses to give your blood to the soil. It will not appease them, but it may slow them down to drink and spare those who come after you.
LOCATION | Iron Steppes - 1A
Number available: Lots
Conditions to receive from Iskierka: None
The Steppes are too vast to easily describe. You don't grasp it entirely on foot, standing hip-high in the grass that stretches horizon to horizon. You don't grasp it entirely in the cities of the Fringes, varied and bright-hued as they are, home to a hundred peoples of all the four principles. You don't grasp it entirely in Nirraz, looking down from their mountain as they drive their herds out to roam and forage for the summer. You don't grasp it entirely from above, where the Skilled soar the high vault of the sky above the teeming Verdant Sea.
Though I lose myself in nostalgia and sentiment, here--understanding the Steppes entire would require my Prince's years. Require having seen it all from the beginning. I did not.
haven't, couldn't. We sold our years for children. They are worth eternity and now I have no regrets that he would be abandoned by the mayfly Court he had made. He shouldn't have preceded us it upset the order of the world.The crossing from Tmutarakan to Shroudwood--the shortest way, due north--has two great risks now: the storms and the dryads.
Thundering's Court has turned the whole sky dark and windtorn--unnavigable to to an airship, proved by the half dozen you will find ground -wrecked on your way. Do not approach these, where they appear overgrown; the dryads have taken them, as they have taken most of the Steppes. I do not know why they've spread so far but that Locusts' ascension has maddened them--their only war on Nephele-that-is is with each other, and whatever wheat-field or orchard or garden was placed in their way. They didn't always kill animals who walked through their battlefields (as often tried to coerce them, to eat the other side)--but tore them swiftly apart, when they did kill, fuel for growth.
Here you will die smothered and clambered with vines, saved alive for weeks as they grow through. Better to cut your own throat before that, and lie down in the long grasses to give your blood to the soil. It will not appease them, but it may slow them down to drink and spare those who come after you.