Fort Adamant - Military District

Following the other two, Zvir, even despite its relatively fresh understanding of the world and social convention, couldn't help but be a little put-off by its reception. It wasn't for its own recognition, however, so much as it was the lack of reverence for its master's generosity. That flurry of doubt was gone as soon as it had begun, however, quickly regulated by a rune on its forehead that glowed ever-so-faintly. In the city proper now, the gargoyle glanced around, taking in the sights without expressing much itself. As Rune hopped around excitedly however, he turned his attention back to them.

It recognized the runes placed along the walls. Perhaps not their exact meaning, but most it could glean. It was covered in similar ones himself, after all.

"Are we to meet this Asora soon?" the beast asked, adding to Rune's question.

Rune looked around the city, frowning slightly at Rickents mention of the lack of comforts and luxuries, "Oh, well that's boring. At least we'll get to fight monsters."

He seemed a bit more relaxed now, coming down from his previous excitement, now looking around with a quiet curiosity. The buildings' appearance seemed fitting given their purpose, the architecture giving off a very utilitarian vibe to Rune. 

"Well, I hope we get to see her today, waiting around would be kinda boring. Do you think she'll test us or something? Maybe make us fight some beast to prove ourselves?"

"There will probably be a cursory examination, but practical skills aren't the reason for the interview. Some of our greatest soldiers have been cast out, for reasons other than their military aptitude."

There's a tone of sadness in his voice,

"Some of the things that come through don't demand physical strength to defeat. Their attacks are on the mind and soul. She will probably test you on these matters."

He leads them through the district, over wide, orderly streets, and further in toward the wall. At one point, they pass a group of men in dark brown robes, chanting as they channel blue light from the street. Before them, a building is slowly rising, fully formed from the earth. Another man is carefully carving runes into the bare stone as it rises before him.

"The brown robes are the uniform of the Artificers. Best to not disturb them, as their work keeps the walls standing. To answer your question, Zivir, we'll be ascending the second wall here shortly. From there, we should be able to see most of the City of Confinement, and probably most of Primus, too."

He glances up habitually at the glowing formation in the sky, and seems to notice something amidst its shifting patterns.

"Excellent!"

He points to a patch near the edge,

"If you look there, that's Asora's current location, and schedule. There was just a change. We're to meet her in two hour's time."

Well, having no mind or soul to speak of, Zvir was certain it should face no test that could overcome them. Satisfied with its conclusion, it noted Ricket's strange Morose attitude about the individuals who failed the test. Was it really so rigorous? It followed calmly behind the soldier, until quite suddenly they were delivered with pleasant news. It seems as if they would be getting their audience after all.

Lashing its tail with anticipation, it looked to Rune to piggyback their question.
"Where does Asora dwell?"

Rune also picked up pace, sprinting after Rickent, "Do you usually sprint around this place?!" he yelled at Rickent from behind as the man had gotten a fair bit of a headstart. 

Rune focused and caught up to him soon thereafter, running right behind the man then as if he had some speed to spare, which he did. 

Eventually, they approached Secundus, the massive walls growing seemingly bigger and bigger as they approached. The massive fortifications were of a scale Rune had never seen before, and he was certainly impressed. He looked forward to Rickent now, seeing where he would turn next, perhaps they would proceed up the ramps now?

Rickent flips in place, running backward, and gives a shout to Zvir

"Awesome! Stay low, though! The barrier is nasty, and you don't want to hit it!"

Flipping back around, he starts up the ramp, somehow going even faster. Cresting the peak, he comes to a screeching halt at the inner edge of the wall.

The top of the wall is huge, almost ten meters wide, with a small wooden wall on the outer edge, and thick stone crenelations on the other. A line of runes glow faintly and run down the center of the wall. Far more interesting than the wall is what lies within.

Almost a kilometer away, Primus looms, fully sixty meters tall. Oddly, there is a city between the walls. Its buildings, with a few exceptions, are even more utilitarian than the ones in the military district. Each one is a perfectly even block of stone, spaced at exactly the same distance from each other building. The streets are an ordered grid, and would probably be impossible to navigate, were it not for the walls rising above.

Seeming impossibly small, considering the size of the wall, a gate is set in Primus, just barely visible from their vantage.

At Rickent's warning, Zvir made certain to keep beneath where any shield would reasonably be placed and followed closely behind. As they headed up the ramp he began to gain ground on them, and angled to keep himself rising, rather than alighting his heavy body upon them. When they at last crested the wall, with a gustless flap of his stone wings he landed with a heavy thud next to them. He peered over the streets, delicately and precisely placed and tried to search for any signs of a larger rune in their placement. Perhaps the humans were toying with the idea of Macro Runes, or maybe they merely wanted to minimize damage in the event that an attack befell their city. The sight of the Artificers had reminded him that if this wall had been breached in the past, as unlikely as it had seemed, they could very well repair that damage.

"Why is our pace so quick?" he added, a slightly more immediate concern of his. "And if it need be so quick, why are we standing here?"

"Oh, wow..." Rune said, his words trailing off as he looked at the wall. He fell silent as he stared at the massive wall, wondering what sort of beast could be capable of destroying such an enormous structure, and also how strong Asora must be to have stopped that creature. Two thousand soldiers had died fighting only Ramuthra, he hoped he wouldn't be joining them as one of the casualties soon.

As Rickent spoke to Zvir, Rune would fall silent for the first time since he got to Fort Adamant, simply waiting for whatever ceremony Rickent was talking about earlier to start.

Rickent fingers a metal charm on his belt, and the runes running along the battlements glow brighter. Between two of the crenelations, the air warps, the view beyond blurring out of focus like a heat haze. Abruptly, it stabilizes into a greatly magnified view of the column below.

The men in the column are all older men, their hair grey, and their faces wizened. They march five abreast, and the column is almost fifty long. Scattered among them are soldiers bearing great banners, each with their own coat of arms on one side, and the emblem of Fort Adamant on the other. Each is wearing beautifully crafted ceremonial armor. A particularly aged man marches alone at the front, his feet steady, despite his age. 

The procession advances along the empty streets for a time, winding their way toward the great gate set in Primus. A single figure stands before it, clad in similar armor. She looks like a young girl, almost comical in her intricately worked armor. However, there is a certain intensity in her posture. The stiff feeling of something ancient, that will take no nonsense.

The column stops before the girl, and the man at its head says something. However, while the magic can act as a telescope, it cannot provide the sounds. The girl says something, anger apparent on her face, and raises one arm. As one, the soldiers reach to their chests, tearing free glittering brass decorations. There are many types apparent, from ones similar to the charm Rickent's hand rests upon, to much more intricate fare. They throw these badges to the side of the street, where they land in small piles of slowly corroding brass.

Asora's brow furrows further, and she shouts something this time. Those bearing the banners cast them to the ground at this. With an almost imperceptible lowering of her eyes, she steps aside and the gate opens. The soldiers march through into the shadow of the archway, the gate finally slamming behind them. This sound alone is audible. A low, echoing boom.