The companions set out on the road to Igodomi, where Kuublus residence was situated, the road was wide and relatively well maintained with regular traffic of farmers transporting goods and other travellers.
Patrols of four shield bearers were a relatively common sight as they made they're way along the road, stopping for the night at villages or caravan camps.
Travel was peaceful and little of danger happened, the third day the road cut through a patch of thick forest and they could see at the roadside fresh machete marks as the jungle was regularly cut back from the roads edge.
It was as they settled in for the night at a merchants camp on the roadside with the thick forest to their back that an old woman span a tale;
“Centuries ago, Kalama and his ninety sons were driven by evil sorcery from their homelands in the north, and a curse placed upon them that they wander the land until they could find a great city built of of wood which touched both the sky and the ground and ruled over by a queen whose halls ran with liquid gold. After years of journeying, Lord Karvala saw a man harvesting honey from an enormous Muyovu tree. He thanked the gods for the sign and built a citadel around the tree where he and his sons ruled and many came to visit the great forest kingdom. At the last Kalama surrounded his home with a high wall to keep out attackers and enemies. Here he dwelt with his sons, and the sons of his sons."
“From the east there came a new people, our people, with new laws and new gods. Kalama took himself to his citadel and shut himself within, saying that he must ponder how to punish these newcomers. But the Great Bull of that age asked his witches to bewitch Kalama so that he fell into a deep sleep and could not trouble the Empires people. And they set wards about his tower, and locks of sorcery upon its doors, and slew his followers so that none might free him. Then they ruled this land until this day."
“But Kalamas gods were enraged that the one they had chosen to rule should be thus set aside. They sent storm and plague and earthquake to trouble the citadel, until the mighty walls that Karvala had built fell at last, and the jungle and the Sasabonsam krept in. Still Kalama did not wake, and in honour of him it was decreed that none should dwell in his citadel till he comes again to choose those most worthy.”
"This citadel lies within this forest, but none who seek it ever return."
Kuublu searches his memory and has heard the name Kalama before, usually as an evil ogre or witch in nursery tales he heard as a child but he had no idea the name had roots in history...if indeed the old woman is not just spinning a tale.
_________________ co-author Fury of the Deep co-author Friends or Foes co-author Dragon Warriors Players Guide co-author Cold Fury co-author Cadaver Draconis co-author Ordo Draconis 1 and 2.
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