The encroach was short, but his awe did not stutter because of this. The Kingdom Of Invidivia isn't just beautiful from afar. It held its beauty up close too. Ancient as the city was, so were its dilapidated Wonders. Of which it was not short of. The old city had a long story of which he was not privy to as he had not studied too far into its bowls. Yet he figured that within he may find libraries that held that knowledge so he did not much mind the mystery of it all.
At the gates a tall imposing black gatehouse, its porticullis open. Welcomed him. Beyond that old iron doors depicting a time when perhaps the inscriptings meant something. And there stood guards in that same gear amongst them heavy plate figures. Halberts resting on their shoulders. The city didn't have much of a line with winter on the horizon; not many came to the city or left its great walls. So when he neared it they only motioned for him to pay the fine. A single copper. A simple fee he was all too happy to fork over with a light toss.
Within a large street opened up to a second wall, this one shorter. Less pronounced. He supposed it was just a buffer wall between the city itself and the walls of which the cities military operated within this buffer zone. Not that he needed to make a hard guess as beyond it the streets opened up to buildings, shops, from gear, to potions, and other services. Mostly blacksmith, weapon smiths armor smith's he took note there was a generally higher level of smiths. He did falter in step. A short realization. Invidivia is massive. The city supports a large populace and he cant even see the whole city. And he, new to this ancient city. Didn't know where he was meant to go. Where would he find the guild halls of The Swords of Sanquilius?
"Well it seems I have some work to do" he muttered to himself.
Invidivia has five districts. Each of the cardinal direction; North, East, South, West. The final is the inner city where the royal family, nobles, high end figures, businesses and the ancient wizards of all reside. Anybody can traverse the districts. Even the inner city. As long as those in the inner city have coin to use.
There was more though, the city was guarded by a huge high black stone wall layered in arcane scripts, with a pillar akin to the rising blade of a sword. Those were pillar banners. Each one seemed to have larger arcane scripts, held the tattered banners of the great kingdom and seemed to have some other function.
He couldnt see them all but the ones he saw were old and worn down. His own surprise was that of the pillars he saw a two severely damaged ones. Where as one had several deep visible cracks leaking visible arcane energy and the other seemingly snapped off. Further more.
There were four floating monoliths. Each over one district. They were huge. Looking even more dilapidated than even the walls. Their jagged forms a shadow of the past former glory of the great kingdom. Curiously. The eastern one was shattered? Its jagged pieces floating akin to an explosion caught in a time freeze. Dense whitish blue energy arced between the pieces ominously.
A great deal of Invidivia used back stone, granite and a sort of white diorite look. Their paths were cobbled streets and bricked side walks. Cracked, even potted in some places. This place.. feels.. ancient. Even if lived in its clear that certain arts of repair have been lost.
In his exploration he discovered places like the north district having several old ruins. From some avalanche an era ago. He also noted there were a lot of swordsmen about. But a strange.. lack of magic. There were also famous duel between these swordsmen and he found it is a rather popular sport. However he never saw any level of sword masters. Like they were absent.
As an outsider. Rumors of Invidivia are as old as time. A place of wonders, the pinnacle of magic, of swords, of stubborn will. A majesty that no other place could hope to compare. A city that has rarely if ever in all this time been breached. A city that never changed hands. It was exhilarating, but…
Now that he is here, he can't help but pick up on a trend of decay. As if the city is in a stay of once was, not currently is.
This left him feeling strangely lethargic. Like being nostalgic about a memory and yet realizing those good times have passed and how much you miss those times.
Dane took to a tavern. There are many in this city but he figured this one would do. Glancing at the sign of the tavern it read "White Beard Tavern" what a name. Stepping in he was greeted by the smell of cheap beer, sweat and that leathery smell. Then the smell of food hit him and he realized he was quite hungry.
Suppose he could use a bite to eat.