Towards Kassini

"So begins the reign of the Three Kingdoms," said Astra.

"Yes, indeed," said Fred.

Thesamar looked past the standard saying, "One of three rulers, one of three lands..."

Fred, who felt the responsibility to guide the two Aqualarian foreigners within these lands, continued. "This is Stormgarde. The people here are strange. They do not believe in frivolty, and to them almost all things are frivolous."

"No wine, no dice, no men of pleasure..." interrupted Thesamar.

"Correct. As I told you both, these people hold to a very strict martial life. Theirs is a history of war, of gain and loss. And perseverance."

"There is honor in that," said Astra. "But the other two are less so?"

"As I tried to explain in the desert," sighed Fred. "The Three Kingdoms is made of Stormgarde, Daelin, and Luthor. This is the land of warriors, the other two are not less but different in kind. They are lands of merchants and of prophets, respectively. In the Aegwyn Wars this whole region was in turmoil. The lords of these lands made a pact. It served to bring their peoples together, it defended them, made them stronger. It still holds today."

"Yet," said Astra. "You do not come from this world. Perhaps this land is not as you believe it is."

"My time in the Black Tower was spent reading the many books about these lands and their inhabitants. It is true that not all is the same as in my world, but many things are."

"It would also seem..." added Astra. "...prudent to acquire servants here, comrades-in-arms. Our journey shall last nigh a whole year. We know nothing of what we shall find in the Desolation."

"But too many bodies can slow a man down," said Fred.

"There shall be other lands, other opportunities before we reach the Desolation," added Thesamar.

"So be it," said Astra.

1. Strong-handed Guards at the Gate to Kassini...

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