The astrologers issued their report. In consequence, the gates closed, the citizens took their positions in reinforced halls, and the city rose as thaumaturgical engineers oversaw the abstruse processes which enabled the migration.
The people of Invarn thrived to such a degree that they no longer accepted seasons as something merely to be endured bur rather as a problem which must admit a solution provided they bent themselves to finding it. They had not misjudged their capacity. The city floated with practiced ease and had already accomplished three landings. What could prevent a fourth?
The dastards of Rellen-Bollat! Their agents had stolen the knowledge, nor did the king blush to imitate his rival in every particular. The two cities spotted each other and raced to the ideal position, above which they bumped against each other over and over till both were forced to land in order to effect repairs. The nomads of Tutsuna arrived in the meantime to claim the spot, though the Kauneggi tribe, displaced from its homeland, arrived to contest that pretension.
Seeing that, Invarn rose again, but nowhere was there unclaimed land. The population had grown too great. The city's sages started to plan.
Finis
Showing posts with label season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label season. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2026
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Speaking of Names
Spring is the worst-named season, right? That word means too many things. Fall has the same problem, but we can fall back on autumn there. Ver isn't as effective since it may not be registered as a word when we try to popularize it. I think we're gonna have to go French on this one, fellas.
Monday, March 9, 2026
A Ceremony Often Practiced but Never Rehearsed
When people groaned the deepest at their subjection to Tyrant Winter, then arrived resplendent Youthful Spring who with one blow from his gleaming brand laid low the dreadful season.
"Rejoice, for again the time—"
"Watch out," the trembling people warned, and with reason. Tyrant Winter rose and shook himself as if checking for thorns stuck in his clothing.
"This sometimes happens," Youthful Spring assured them. He turned and with one smack from the ivy-wrapped hilt dropped the stubborn foe. "Now rejoice, for again—"
Again indeed, as screams from the people alerted him, but a roundhouse solved the problem, once. Then a knee to the stomach, and a throw, and soon Spring and Winter were locked in a grapple, the former demanding that the latter give up already, had he looked at a calendar? The people marveled to see the contest. From that they invented the sport of wrestling and the art of professional wrestling.
Finis
"Rejoice, for again the time—"
"Watch out," the trembling people warned, and with reason. Tyrant Winter rose and shook himself as if checking for thorns stuck in his clothing.
"This sometimes happens," Youthful Spring assured them. He turned and with one smack from the ivy-wrapped hilt dropped the stubborn foe. "Now rejoice, for again—"
Again indeed, as screams from the people alerted him, but a roundhouse solved the problem, once. Then a knee to the stomach, and a throw, and soon Spring and Winter were locked in a grapple, the former demanding that the latter give up already, had he looked at a calendar? The people marveled to see the contest. From that they invented the sport of wrestling and the art of professional wrestling.
Finis
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Addendum
Deciduous tree monsters look like warriors in summer and wizards in winter, but they're actually rogues. They're just limited in their opportunities.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Proposal: Halloween 2
Halloween is fine for autumn-type horror, but what about the spring-summer type? Voracious sharks, rainstorms which force you to take refuge in a spooky house, and being shipwrecked on a remote island on which people hunt you for sport? April, May, and June don't have a whole lot going on.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Challenge of Spring
The year-round theft! The criminal bold enough to flout the laws ought to exhibit daring in his targets as well, but few did. At last a heroic burglar declared his intention to steal the entire year and acted accordingly. The Jewel of Summer, the Jewel of Winter, and the Jewel of Autumn were in his little pocket.
"Oh, it's terrible!" What else could the gallery owner say? The Jewel of Spring was his responsibility but not his to sell, which he would have done just to sleep again. The police were sweating too. They had failed three times.
Around the gate they were posted, around the rear entrance, the side entrance, the balcony, and the equivalent entrances of every adjacent building. Disguised inspectors walked up and down the street as if pondering a purchase while custodes mingled with the visitors.
"But it's up here that it's best to wait, Falgunus!" Inspector Iagius told his custos.
"What makes you say so, sir?"
"The oath I took when I became an inspector to use my wits instead of sticking to rote procedure and claiming it's the fault of the regulations when I fail, Falgunus." What a striking figure he was on the roof across the street, watching over the gallery like a sympathetic god!
Suddenly, the alarm. Policemen scrambled all over the ground level, the second level, and the third and fourth, but the thief was ahead of them. He jumped up the first flight of stairs, leapt up the second, and so on, until he hopped up to the gallery roof and then crossed the street with a single superhuman bound. Right into the waiting arms of Custos Falgunus! The malefactor's panicked struggles availed nothing against the brawny limbs of the law.
"You see, Falgunus? The wizard-crafter made this seasonal jewel to absorb the very power of spring. The lesson is to look into the qualities of what you're guarding and not just the price."
Another triumph for Inspector Iagius!
Finis
"Oh, it's terrible!" What else could the gallery owner say? The Jewel of Spring was his responsibility but not his to sell, which he would have done just to sleep again. The police were sweating too. They had failed three times.
Around the gate they were posted, around the rear entrance, the side entrance, the balcony, and the equivalent entrances of every adjacent building. Disguised inspectors walked up and down the street as if pondering a purchase while custodes mingled with the visitors.
"But it's up here that it's best to wait, Falgunus!" Inspector Iagius told his custos.
"What makes you say so, sir?"
"The oath I took when I became an inspector to use my wits instead of sticking to rote procedure and claiming it's the fault of the regulations when I fail, Falgunus." What a striking figure he was on the roof across the street, watching over the gallery like a sympathetic god!
Suddenly, the alarm. Policemen scrambled all over the ground level, the second level, and the third and fourth, but the thief was ahead of them. He jumped up the first flight of stairs, leapt up the second, and so on, until he hopped up to the gallery roof and then crossed the street with a single superhuman bound. Right into the waiting arms of Custos Falgunus! The malefactor's panicked struggles availed nothing against the brawny limbs of the law.
"You see, Falgunus? The wizard-crafter made this seasonal jewel to absorb the very power of spring. The lesson is to look into the qualities of what you're guarding and not just the price."
Another triumph for Inspector Iagius!
Finis
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Wheel of Time Wish Corner
Does anyone else wish it could somehow be arranged for the Wheel of Time TV show to release a season finale every week? I just can't get enough of those things. I don't even have to watch them.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Addender
Every year, the space colonies have big debates about whether to alter the climate for Christmas. Boy, will those get nasty.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Spring Is Almost Here
But don't set your story then. It isn't nearly an edgy enough season. Summer and winter are the good ones. Fall is for babies and talking about your feelings.
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Like the Seasons, the Trends Are Ever Changing
Trash: Main character has a butler
Smash: Counting down
Smash: Counting down
Saturday, January 28, 2023
I've Got a Feeling
It's going to be a minotaur spring this year. There's something in the air. Milk maybe.
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