Fortress of the Fists

The crone smiled to the mountain, recognizing him from his descriptions, and walked over to him, as she reached him she stated: "Welcome, child, to the Fortress of the Fists. I'm excited to have you and your men here to help start our new enterprise. It'll be exciting to see what we can accomplish with the combined talents of the elements."

A grouping of about six ships came sailing through the soft sand somehow. They seemed to be moving on a flow of wind and static that carried it like a river would. Large paddles dug into the sand, adding a boost, as the massive sails also helped with propulsion. Sand blew in the air, leave a cloud that quickly settle.

As the ships neared the fortress, the would slow down. Moving beside the walls, they would begin connecting pieces of wood that would form a bridge from the ship to the fort. When done, supplies would begin to be unloaded by beings garbed in a red and gold outfits. They all seemed very large, standing seven feet in height.

"Rictzin is here! The Red Storm will cast the judgement of Amun Ra upon his enemies!" A man shouted before a bolt of lightning struck, stretching from a ship to Dak and Balaka.

"My dear Balaka! So many years since the Red Storm has seen you! Just as beautiful as ever!" Rictzin would say, carrying something like a Russian accent, "And who are you, my new friend?"

Dak nodded to the other with a pleasant grin. "As she said. I am Dak." He said, "Though she is wrong about the tribes men. They are no shaitan." He explained, obviously amused by the mistake but he tried not to insult her. "They are mostly human. We are kaja al rahil larraj,  The People of the Ghost Sands. It is an honor to meet you Rictzin." As he spoke he had began looking at the airship in earnest. "This is spectacular! Are you part djinni...?" He trailed off looking over the ship.

"Yes yes. Balaka, much to discuss." He agreed with her statement and once again stood by the two.

"Come in, children, and Rictzin, do keep your hands to yourself. If your men may be thinking dirty thoughts, I know you do as well" She joked, as she led the three to the fortress's map room. In it, there were many maps, not only of the Phoenix State, but of the other nations, the land between it (what was explored so far), and other ancient maps of rumored places. Even here, there was still an unfinished feel as two men unpacked even more map scrolls and stored them.

Balaaka opened a map of the roads between the State and the Free Plains. "I'm still waiting for more members to join us of other elements, but I've pinpointed a task that should be doable for us with out to much issue. I think our first deployment should be one that benefits both the State and ourselves. As such, I plan for us to go clean out any bandits, dangerous beasts and more that may be on the roads between here and the Free City, allowing for better trade and to see test ourselves in combat as a group. I already have the go ahead from the State for this."

"Beyond that, I want to here, from you, what you envision us doing. Are we to be a threat to those who would fight the state, a protector of the people, or simply a home for those skilled with the very building blocks of our world? We have a chance to build something new here, my children, and I respect both of you enough to know what you would have us make."

Dak nodded at her words while he took a moment to think. This also allowed Rictzin time to speak.

After his peer had finished Dak shook his head solemnly. "I agree with wise Balaka. We should clear the road of bandits, but not for us and not for fame. We should do it for the people who call the Phoenix State home. We should serve not as their sword, but their shield. By protecting the people of the Phoenix State and the interests of our home we will be unbreakable. A solid rock can weather the mightiest storm." He finished with another nod for effect.

"As always you show great wisdom." The large man spoke in simple tones. He looked over the maps and pondered where this new chapter of his life may lead him. Already he had come far from the Great Caravan, from the Ghost Sands themselves. Never had he been this far and his journey had just begun. His head swam with thoughts of possible futures and ends.

Focus. He thought to himself while picturing the oasis that was his sanctuary. There the boulders blocked the constant winds, there he had began this journey when he unlocked his fledgling powers. He had came a long way in distance and in strength, and he had a long way ahead, but this was good.

With a smile he nodded to Balaka. "Yes, please show me my new home."

"I haven't, my friend. They seem dangerous." He spoke a little warily of the ships. "What happenens if they hit a rock?"

"It is fine Balaka. Thank you." He entered the room and looked about for a moment. "Are there many rocks in the ocean for ships to hit? I have never been. I understood it to be like a desert, but of water and little else." He continued to contemplate this for a moment as he looked over the courtyard. He then turned and kept pace with them, enjoying their company and the tour.

Rictzin laughed at the question, "Would you really stay on the boat if you knew you were going to hit a rock? You jump into the sand!"

The ships, where they had their magical force below them, it acted like a bumper pad. Damage was still possible, but smooth stones were nothing more than the feeling you get from driving over a pothole in the road. The larger the ship, the larger the stones it can run over.

Rictzin peered into the room Dak would call his. He hmm'd and haa'd at it, as he hadn't seen an actual room in many years. He couldn't wait to find his.

"I imagine it will be a grand view! Over the desert and into the skies!" Rictzin spoke, as if a child getting the biggest room, but he didn't care, it was his and not on a boat.