31.8.16

Enyari travellers


The nomadic Enyari people are a lively and merry folk. Music, dancing, stealing, bragging and drinking contests are all an integral part of their culture. Because of the vast river network of their homeland, which is, basically, a one big delta, they have, since time immemorial, used a rather unusual means of transport for their nomadic lifestyle - a simple kayak. For Enyari, the kayak is a faithful steed, a home, a celebratory table and a deathbed.

But inevitably, progress had reached the Enyari people, in the form of voyagers and merchants, who have introduced the nomads to the art of lighter than air flight. The Enyari were faschinated, to say the least - their wanderlust burning as never before, for they have finally discovered the means to venture beyond all the too familiar waterways of their land.
But their long entrenched beliefs and tradition did not easily give way. Instead of constructing new, more adapted to flight vehicles from scratch, they went with the good old proven kayak. Only a flying one.

So, one day, hundreds and thousands of those vessels veered into the sky, and took heading to every corner of the world. Wherever foreigners see a visiting enyari craft, they cheer and wave, looking forward to the entertainment it promises.
But beware, look after your pockets!

20.8.16

Переходы и ключники

Принесено из Питера, приснившегося не в Питере.
Если из сонного Питера вам надо попасть в любой другой мир - ищите ключника или ключницу. Одна из них обретается в закрытом киоске 'Первой полосы' рядом с каким-то метро на сонной Петроградке. Там же находится переход - длинная стена кирпичного здания конца XIX - начала XX веков. У ключницы можно раздобыть ключ к двери в нужный вам мир - некоторым образом. Ключом может быть ключ, подходящий к одной из дверей в стене того здания, или гаечный ключ, подходящий к гайке на креплении водосточной трубы или спуске заземления, или просто кусок железа, совпадающий по форме с дыркой между кирпичей в стене. Добывайте ключ - и в путь. Или ищите в сонном Питере меня: как оказалось, у меня есть право потребовать и получить без оплаты любой ключ от любого мира у любого местного ключника при одном условии - что я беру ключ не для себя. Мне пока с сонной стороны Питера путь заказан. А вам счастливых дорог!

7.8.16

Eadknairese armor, Thrimas period.


Formidable sets of armor like this date back to the rule of Thrimas dynasty of Eadknair, spanning some two hundred years. Produced in quite large numbers, these sets shared most of the parts, with some variance in shape or decorations, depending on the owner's rank and role. They were highly practical, comfortable for the most part, and therefore not heavily adorned, but still had style.

This particular plate was used in Eadknair's campaign against the Centermages. That didn't go well. The centermages ended up with huge piles of steel-setar alloy junk (cleanly separated from it's vaporized owners), which they, being by and large the robed pricks, hardly had any use for. So they quickly made some of those suits into magically animated armor to guard whatever arcane treasures they deemed fit.

After several more decades, some clever bounty hunters came across one, and decided to capture the beast. After some careful preparation, they lured the walking tin (a stupid creature, if anything: no brain in an empty helmet of course!) into a pit filled with fresh liquid mortar. They poured some on top, and when the block was solid - simply dug it out. The plan was to sell the rarity to the highest bidder, but during transport, as the armor drew further away from the place of its enchantment, the magic wore off, and the scavengers were left with good quality, but absolutely mundane attire.

Over the following years the armor changed several hands until it ended up as a family heirloom in possession of one Mahk (a title, equivalent to sir) Boleere. The guy claims to have had ancestors connected to Thrimas house, and the artifact is just so handy to prove it.
Unexpectedly though, the armor fits him just right. And even seems to anticipate his movements at times. "Strange, is it? I should probably take it to a local sage, let 'im 'ave a glance..." thinks Boleere now and then.

How do I know all this, you ask? Oh, that's a long story... ;)