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x-reader-theater · 4 years ago

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My Days Are Numbered, but so Are Yours {10}

Relationship: Geralt of Rivia X Male!Disabled!Reader

Summary: Endings are bittersweet, but the sweet outweighs the bitter.

Warnings: Cursing, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Endings

Word Count: 2995 words

A/N: Last chapter. What a wild ride this has been. I was supposed to upload this last night but I ended up spending time with my family, and playing The Last of Us Part II until like, one in the morning because I’m trying to platinum it. Also I may or may not have started writing something for Joel. (I have, but I don’t know if I’ll ever finish it loll). I want to thank my amazing editor, @mystic-writes for everything she’s been doing for me. Please donate to my ko-fi if you can. It really helps me continue writing. Please like, comment, and reblog. My work gets nowhere without reblogs. Now, without further ado, My Days Are Numbered, but so Are Yours chapter 10.

Take a Chance for the Nights are Short (Book 1) [1]

Hold me Tight for the Days are Long (Book 2) [2]

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Chapter 10: The Final Battle

You look out the window from your bedroom as Ciri and Triss talk. Even from this distance, you can see they're on edge.

You take off your tunic, setting it aside as you open the chest at the foot of your bed. Your old studded leather armour sits neatly folded at the bottom of the chest, staring back at you, unthinking, unmoving. You almost expected it to have just been a hallucination you had conjured up over the years. But, there it lay. Quiet, covered in a layer of dust.

You hear footsteps walking toward your bedroom, and a voice starts to call out, but their feet stop, and so do their vocal chords. Turning around you see Geralt, standing in your doorway, staring at your chest.

He starts walking over slowly. You stand still. Geralt's cat-like eyes glance up and down the length of your torso. He reaches a hand out and places a few fingers on the scars set in your skin. You shiver under his touch, his fingers cold. He pulls away for a moment, but you grab his wrist, placing his hand flush against your chest. His fingers splay over your chest and you let go, watching as he reaches up with his other hand.

"All those arrows we found… the blood…" Geralt pulls away, his hands coming to rest at his sides.

You shake your head. "Those were the arrows that missed me."

"There's three scars here. From Arrows. And one…" Geralt turns you slightly, his fingers resting on your shoulder. "A scar. From a dagger." He leans in to inspect it, And you half expect him to kiss it, like so many have kissed his scars. You remember him grumbling about it years ago. You still haven’t forgotten that night. Not yet, at least. "You didn't follow your own advice. Could have used that poultice you said I should have used."

You laugh and grab your under-tunic for your armour, slipping it over your head. "Yes well. I didn't really have a choice. Triss was the one to find me, take care of me." You start strapping your armour on, buckling the chest piece in place first. "Ciri mentioned some songs Jaskier wrote after I died…"

Geralt sighs with a small smile on his face. "Yes, yes. It was a well of inspiration for him."

You smile as you don the rest of your armour. "What does the song sound like?"

"You want me to sing?"

You shrug. "Think of it as a battle song. Something to wish me luck."

Geralt sighs, but he sings anyway.

"Near the town of Jana A silver Jackal lay Respected at night by fauna And flora during day. He lay on on a bed of Wolfsbane Was clothed in Celandine. Our silver Jackal slain The end to his bloodline. And so our story ends Our song comes to a close, So listen close my friends To this tale of grandiose. Our silver Jackal may lay dead somewhere in the woods, But you’d do best to remember friends, he is nothing short of good."

It's rough, and he definitely doesn't hit the right notes, but there's something about Geralt's voice. It's not Jaskier's, not by a long shot. But it's rough, like Geralt.

You smile as you strap your swords to your belt. "That was beautiful," you say, placing your hand on Geralt's shoulder. "Thank you for that."

Geralt nods, and you walk out of your room, leaving the Witcher alone.

You make your way outside where Ciri and Triss are waiting, Ciri with her sword ready, and Triss with her arms outstretched, ready to cast when necessary.

As you walk up, Ciri looks over at you, from over Triss' shoulder. "Lookin' good," Ciri says, and you nod.

Triss looks over and smiles delicately, sadness and nostalgia in her eye. "I haven't seen you in that armour in years…"

You roll your shoulders and the plate mail clinks against the chains underneath. "I don't quite fit it anymore it seems. A bit tight in the armpits…" Ciri and Triss giggle, and you feel compelled to laugh along with them. It's like old friends meeting up again for the first time in years. "So. Today's the day, huh?"

Ciri stops laughing as you say that and frowns. Triss follows soon after and says, "It may not be today."

"Then what did I put my armour on for?" You ask.

Triss married her eyes at you. "Because, it could be today. It could also not be. We don't know."

You frown. "Well, at least they gave us enough time to prepare. A little convenient, don't you think?"

"Don't take anything for granted. If you do, you could lose your chance," Geralt says, walking up to your little group.

You look over at him and say at the same time as Ciri, "Vesemir."

Geralt nods and stands next to Ciri, placing a hand unconsciously on his silver sword. You have your own sword in your hand, prepared for anything. The glade falls silent as your party stands, waiting, listening for something, anything to happen. Wind whips through the tall grasses, and it sends a shiver up your spine. The air around you makes the hair on your arms stand on end, and you watch your breath cloud from your mouth. Looking to the forest, you see a few winter wolves stepping out, the fading sun glinting off their crystal forms. Behind them, is a large man in grey armor, riding an equally armored horse. Frost mists off them as they walk toward your group. As they fully emerge into the clearing, you see five wolves walking alongside their silvery rider. They unsheath an axe, pointing it at your group of fighters. The wolves growl and bound forward. You and Geralt step off to the right while Triss and Ciri walk to the left. Three leap toward Triss and Ciri, while only two rush up to you and Geralt.

One leaps for your throat and you bring your sword up, blocking it while turning out of the way, sharp claws miss your throat by mere centimeters. If your left arm were still there, perhaps it would have dug into it. But it's not there.

You ready yourself again as Geralt lashes out, slamming his blade into the crystalline armour of the beast. It screeches in pain as the other comes up around you. You take one, and Geralt takes the other. You slash and dodge, rolling out of the way of claws and maws, and you come to Geralt's side, taking a defensive stance. You look over to him, and he nods. You nod back, and the two of your deftly switch animals. You block an incoming strike and move away from Geralt, pirouetting out of the way, getting the wolf alone. You lash out and pierce the wolf’s shoulder with the tip of your blade, driving it in and twisting it around. It howls and falls to the ground. You wrench your sword from the wolf’s shoulder and swing your sword into the air and drive it down into the creature’s heart. The wolven creature gives one last pathetic whine before dying. Almost instantly, as if by magic, the ice melts away leaving only the crystal and rock of its hide to fall to the ground.

You turn and see Geralt still battling it out with his Wild, and you call out with a smirk, "Take your time, old man."

He rolls his eyes, but you see a small smile form on his lips. He looks like he's about to retort, but his eyes grow wide, and he instead shouts out, "Behind you!"

You roll out of the way just in time as a large mace lands next to you in the mud. Looking up, you see a helmet covered head, with a skull where the face should be. A chill runs up your spine as you look up at the being, but before you can do anything, you're knocked to the ground by a heavy blow. The wind rushes out of your lungs and stars fill your vision. You gasp in a breath as your vision comes back to you, and you see the growling face of a wolf in front of you. Its exhale comes out in a cold cloud, and you try and push it off, but its claws dig into your arm and shoulders. You scream out in pain as you reach up with your sword and bat weakly at the stone hide.

Suddenly, a blast of fire hits the wolf in the face, an inch away from your face.

You scramble away from it as the creature falls to the ground with a yelp, and you watch as Triss comes over and offers you a hand.

"Where's Ciri?" You ask as Triss fires another fireblast at the wolf.

"Helping Geralt with the big dude," she says, tilting her head in their direction.

The wolf finds the courage to bound up, and you swing down at it, lodging your blade in the middle of it's back. "You killed your wolves already?"

Triss walks up and blasts fire right through the neck of the wolf. "Of course I did. They weren't that hard. You're just getting slow, old man."

"I may be slower, but I can still kick your ass," you grumble to yourself as Triss turns to face Geralt and Ciri who are fighting with the man who was on the horse. He has since dismounted and is now swinging his maul about.

Wolves come tearing across the clearing at you and Triss, and while she sets them ablaze with her fire, you lop off their heads one by one. One of the wolves jumps for your left, but you dodge out of the way and smack it with the flat of your blade, sending it to the ground with nary more than a whine before stabbing down with your sword into where the heart would be. It melts into the grass, the armoured plates scattering on the ground. You and Triss fight your way over to Geralt and Ciri who are fighting with the large man. Ciri rolls out of the way and pirouettes as she dodges a swing. Geralt goes in for a swing with his blade, the armoured fighter holds up an arm and Geralt's blade glances off. The two work like a well oiled machine, using moves both of them knew. But watching, you can tell some key differences between them. Geralt's moves are practiced, perfect, like he's run them over and over again, both in his head and with either a dummy or a monster. While Ciri on the other hand… well… her moves are less than perfect. But, she makes them work. She ducks and dodges for every part Geralt makes, and that works for them. Ciri's quick. Geralt's strong.

You and Triss bound over, you stabbing with your sword up between the plate armour, but the… the thing doesn't so much as cry out. It doesn't even flinch. It just looks back at you and lashes out with a fist, sending you flying into the grass. You grunt as you get up, your head still spinning from your previous altercation with him. Triss and Ciri and Geralt are all battling him at the same time, and when he thrusts his maul into the air to strike down, you see it. Underneath the plate mail, right above the kidneys, a weak spot.

Bingo.

You lunge over, piercing into the cold, blue skin showing underneath. You hear him grunt in pain, clearly striking some large nerve as he falls to the ground with a growl. Ciri walks up and rips the helmet off his head revealing a very blue, frostbitten elf. She grabs his hair and he grunts again as your sword starts to cut him open more.

She smirks as she tightens her grip on his disgusting grease covered hair. "You want my blood?" She wipes a trickle of blood away from her mouth with the hand holding her sword and looks down at the bright red against her pale flesh. The elf eyes it in interest, before she drives her sword into his throat, cutting off anything else he could have possibly said. "Well, you can't have it."

You let go of your sword and the man falls to the ground, clutching his throat as his lungs fill with liquid and he starts to choke on his own blood.

You look up at Ciri and nod, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Good work kid. I'm proud of you."

She's panting, but she's smiling. You look up at Geralt and see he's watching you.

He's always been watching you.

You watch as Geralt packs his bag inside the bedroom, his pack being filled with food and water, a dagger, a few extra shirts, and a box. You don’t see what’s in the box, but you watch him open it, looking inside, before stuffing it into his pack. You smile at him as you lean on the doorframe, and he turns around, almost shocked that he didn’t hear you until now.

“You’re leaving, huh?” You didn’t want that to come out of your mouth, but it did. It’s too late to take it back now.

Geralt takes a step towards you, but there’s still a horse length of space between the two of you still. “We’re leaving. To go back on the road. Find some new jobs.” You nod as he says this, pushing off from the door frame, stepping slightly closer. "You could come with us?" You tilt your head at Geralt's offer. "I-I mean, you could come. With us. It would be nice to have someone else around."

You smile and shake your head. "No. I have too many responsibilities here. I have Jaime to look after. I have my cottage, my garden. What more could I ask for?" You pose this as a question, but it's more of a statement. You can't ask for anything more. But your voice wavered, because there's something else you want.

Geralt moves forward again, reaching a hand out, and you watch as it falls back to his side, limp. Lifeless. Hanging with purpose, like he has to force it down.

"I'll miss you," you say quietly, your voice only barely above a whisper. Geralt walks up to you, reaching a hand out to place it on your cheek. You lean into his rough hand, smiling sadly as you do so. Geralt leans in and presses a kiss to your forehead, and you have to close your eyes. You don't want him to see how much this hurts you.

He pulls away, but you don't open your eyes. "Thank you [Y/N]. For everything."

You nod as you hear Geralt's footsteps walk back toward the bed, and then out past you, his shoulder brushing yours as he leaves without so much as a goodbye. You have to force yourself not to cry. You listen as two footsteps leave your small cottage, and close the door behind them.

You don't move for several minutes, just staring at the floor in your bedroom. So much time passes that you forget how to stand, and your shoulder slumps against the doorframe. That's when you shake your head to clear the thoughts you're having.

And you move to the kitchen where a full mug of ale is waiting for you. You look around in thanks, knowing that Triss was the one to leave it for you. You watch through the kitchen window as Geralt and Ciri walk into the forest, leaving you alone, once again. You down the rest of your mug, before it fills up again. You stare at the floor, contemplating what you're going to do next.

You suppose you can plant some more flowers, tend to those. You could also learn to cook more, maybe raise a couple of animals. Maybe you could get a dog. That would certainly make things less lonely in between the times when Triss came to visit. Maybe you could even-

Your thoughts are cut short when the door next to you opens, and when you look up, you see the bright white hair of Geralt staring down at you. Your eyes light up as he steps in and takes a seat in front of you, and grabs the mug that just appeared there, or that you didn't notice before.

"You're staying?"

"I'm staying."

You lean over the table and grab his face in your hands, kissing him.

You don't care that you just knocked over your mug, don't care that the ale is now dripping between the cracks in the wood onto your shoes. You can always make new ones. With Geralt.

Epilogue

Ciri stands next to Jaime, a flower in each of their hands. In Ciri's, a white lily. In Jaime's, a stick of grey pussy willow. They stand in the cleaning, now filled with wildflowers and tall grass. It hasn't been upkept. There's no one to take care of it anymore.

Ciri and Jaime stand in front of two, grey stoned graves, each with a name.

One that reads;

"Geralt of Rivia. The White Wolf."

And the other that says in unflinching letters;

"[Y/N] [L/N] The Silver Jackal."

And both of them say;

"Apart in Life Together in Death And with the edge of a knife They take final breaths. But after they die Their story's not over yet Because like the trill of a Magpie In death, they will be together yet."

Ciri pulls Jaime close to her side, and kisses them on the head, and they watch the sun set behind the glade. It sets on your story, it sets on your lives, but with night, new creatures come out to play.

And the cabin in the glade is dark, and nothing stirs inside.

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therealvagabird · 4 years ago

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The Days of Clay - Pt. 1: Lands and Oceans

Another setting concept! This one for a paleo/neolithic world. I’ve had the urge to make this kind of thing for a while now, but I finally got done with the editing.

You can read the full setting rundown all at once on my WordPress. But I will also be posting it in separate parts here on Tumblr depending on your viewing preferences.

Feel free to a leave a comment, and share!

The world is vast, yet humanity is small. Wilds stretch all about, dwarfing even the largest stone houses of Man. It is a primordial era, when the thinking folk knew not the strength of metal, nor the heights of civilization. Most are born and die knowing but a fraction of all the world about them, or if not, braving seas and lands filled with ravenous monsters of a forgotten age. These are the first days, the longest days, the eternal waking dream of those who first knew what it was to tell stories.

In the Days of Clay, humanity exists scattered across many continents and isles in a world of vast seas and dangerous wilds. Great beasts of ages past hunt humans like vermin, and the elements are often the most dangerous foe of all. Fine resources which would allow for technological advancement are rare. Copper and tin are like gold and jewels, though in turn tribals may make extensive use of saurian bones, the carapaces of giant insects, and other exotic materials. Most tribes live confined to tiny fractions of their homeland or hop from island to island in endless seas with nothing but the stars as their guide. Yet others may roam far and wide, or travel from land to land should they be so brave. Though advanced metallurgy and the heights of empire are yet unknown, humanity is not always so “primitive”. In many places there can be found great cities of stone, or gathering places of many tribes, leveraging the power of cooperation. Likewise some crafters may do things with rock and wood and leather that would put even iron-based technologies to shame. Magic is absent, but spirituality is everywhere. The Days of Clay are a time of diversity, danger, and possibilities.

The Thirteen Lands and the Seven Seas

Continents:

Ancient Land of Sakha

Within the waters of Asra, the Great Blood Sea, the old continent of Sakha stands as it has since time immemorial. Not the largest landmass, it nonetheless has many arable river-lands hidden deep within its interior clefts, and numerous peninsulas and nearby islets which have made the coasts a boon for seafaring tribes. The Sakhan peoples are among the most diverse of any continent, having mastered mountain-climbing, boat craft, basic riverside agriculture, and even the domestication of certain beasts of burden. It is the claim of the Sakhan shamans that their land is the oldest in the world, and the birthplace of Manu and Manya – the first humans created by the gods.

Sakha’s climate is very hot, with mountain ranges erupting from broad highland deserts. Within the gaps of these mountains, however, can be found riverways which give rise to flourishing green sanctuaries. Out to the ocean, the bounty of the Blood Sea is abundant, and many tribes stake their claims upon nearby islands, pursuing dangerous seacraft to trade goods between the Sakhan mainland and the outer isles – sometimes even to the far neighbors of the Blood Sea.

Native flora of Sakha includes varieties of desert palms, coniferous trees, and hearty broad-leaf shrubs. Low-lying vegetation is common, and hundreds of varieties of grains, fruits, and aromatic herbs either have their origin in Sakha or were brought there through gradual trade across Asra. Fauna includes many mammalian varieties, including large goats, camels, some pygmy horses, and cattle. Big cats and jackals constitute predator species, and although there are not many saurians to be found upon Sakha, there are a great many enormous snakes and arthropods both in the deserts and along the coasts. Ape-Men are also prominent in the south and east, though not all of their tribes are hostile.

The peoples of Sakha tend to be darker-skinned due to the harsh sun of their home, though are sharp of feature and their hair is less kinky than tribes to the south. Sakhan peoples are as a whole regarded to be more “civilized” than most of their neighbors, having pioneered trends of building, copper-craft, boat building, and other technologies throughout their history. There are hundreds of gods in Sakha, though many of the shamans and priests seem to give reverence to the same higher concepts of “light” and “shadow”. Battles between entire tribes over supposed disputes between their gods are not uncommon. The Sakhans are also noted traders and travelers, sometimes being found on entire other continents after long and adventurous sea-voyages most in their right mind would never consider.

Batyr, Land of Wolves

To the northeast of the Blood Sea there juts a prominent chain of mountainous isles, stretching further and further east all the way into the deeps of the frozen north. The coastlines of Batyr are treacherous to sailors who do not know their secrets, but they hide a hidden boon. Just about the tip of the Land of Wolves there can be found its broad steppelands, which though culminating in snowy barrens at their furthest reaches are some of the most bountiful wilds in all the world. Vast forests and open plains filled with game, if one can just brave the harshness of the winters. To the south, the mountain ranges are less prominent, meaning that those who wish to reach Batyr from outside must know their way about the island-jumps, and the coastal tribes of Batyr are themselves more disposed toward heading south into the Ocean of Tiham than the western Blood Sea.

Though temperate for most of the year, the winters of Batyr are biting cold and can freeze unguarded humans where they stand. Most of the flora that isn’t woody steppe-shrubs are tall and mighty growths of oak and pine which have endured countless years beyond the memories of the oldest shamans. Saurians are unheard of, along with most great reptiles, and any cold-blooded beasts must seek refuge deep underground. Batyr’s greatest wealth and greatest danger, therefor, is held within its name. Massive mammals can be found all throughout the far country’s wilds, from towering mammoths, to great god-birds, and the fearsome dire wolves. There is nary a beast of fur and fang anywhere across the thirteen continents that cannot be found in a larger and more terrible form within Batyr.

Batyrian folk tend to be pale of skin and hairy of body, though darker tribes may also be found, either from ancient mixings with wayward natives of other lands across the Blood Sea, or from tribes out in the distant east. Hair colors come in many ranges, and beards are as popular as anywhere to keep back the chilling winds. Furs are worn in absence of less durable fabrics. Though many are happy to trade, Batyrians have a fearsome reputation, as they are also known to be raiders, and many of the wilder tribes maintain gruesome practices stemming from a single-minded desire for survival. The hunting of large game has bred a people who are not to be trifled with, channeling the unstoppable spirit of the mighty wolf.

Darkest Ar-Nung

Far to the south, beyond the furthest expanse of the Ocean of Tiham, there lies a hidden land where few have journeyed. Though in ancient times humanity did in fact reach those far shores, not but a paltry handful have ever come in or out ever again. South of the very tip of the Hinterlands of Siral’ik, Darkest Ar-Nung dwells across the stormy seas. It is a desert land of great peril, where all must struggle to survive. Though known for its searing and mind-baking heat, to the very south the mountains of Ar-Nung connect to the great ice which blocks off the shadowed reaches of the frozen lands. Travel to Ar-Nung in near impossible save for the savviest of seafarers from Siral’ik who know the way to hop across the island chains of Tiham to eventually reach Ar-Nung’s stormy northern shores. Though there are said to be lands in the frozen wastes beyond Ar-Nung’s most southern mountain ranges, those reaches go unnamed save for being considered to be part of Ar-Nung, as no human has ever journeyed so far into that icy hell and lived.

Within Darkest Ar-Nung there are many perils. It is not just the unforgiving climate and ferocious predatory monsters one must be wary of in the broad deserts, but also the numerous subtle ways one might be killed. Tiny arthropods and reptiles hold enough venom to kill even their titanic cousins in a single bite, while flora of the most beautiful hues – some even resembling their useful or edible counterparts – may likewise inflict a horrid and agonizing death on any who even touch them. Places where water might be found are no less dangerous, as great crocodiles and sharks lurk within the rivers and along the coasts, fit to swallow a grown warrior whole. Meanwhile, to the south, the frozen mountains which lead into the uncharted ice-lands hold untold horrors none have ever braved, from fabled frost-wights and storm-dragons to unnamed, hungering things deep within the mountain caves.

Despite this, the peoples of Ar-Nung are regarded to be rather intelligent and unaggressive, having mastered the delicate art of survival in such a country over many generations, and averse to undue risk and conflict when there is already such peril in their home wilds. They are a dark-skinned folk, even so dark as natives to lands like distant Noba Rugna, though their features do not in any way resemble those of their neighbors, possessing weather-worn faces and bristling hair. The Ar-Nung tribes may be found all about their continent, even within the mountains of the south, and those few who have ever managed to journey to Ar-Nung and back have told stories of those strange and silent folk who engage in all manner of bizarre rituals to ward off misfortune and evil. It is the necessity of the Ar-Nung tribes to know the spirit of every plant and animal upon their country, as to harbor uncertainty is to be subject to a sudden death.

Etlen Rugna

The land known as Etlen Rugna is in fact a jagged and mountainous continent divided up into many smaller regions by prominent inland seas along with numerous lakes and rivers. It dominates the western reaches of the Blood Sea, with its north coming close to the outer isles of Fjallgarth, while its south is likewise not too far by island-hopping from Sakha. Numerous tribes have made the diverse climes of Etlen Rugna their home for long ages, warring and trading in equal measure, enjoying the bounty of what some would call the most plentiful of all mankind’s lands. To the west of Etlen Rugna is the Etlen Udra – the Etlen Sea, which few have ever dared to cross. A quite skilled shipmaster might be able to make it to Frozen Nunaat by way of Fjallgarth, though many upon Etlen Rugna’s shores know nothing of the cousin-continent with which their share a name – Guarana Rugna.

The northern reaches of Etlen are vibrant, seasonal, and rich with many landscapes from soaring mountains to gentle prairies. Rivers, lakes, and inland seas are all commonplace, as well as deep and temperate forests. To the south, weather becomes hotter, culminating in biting deserts to the far south, dotted with oases of palms and other tropical flora. Animals upon Etlen are as diverse as the landscapes or the people, though most are not so large or intimidating as those that might be found upon other continents more suited to their climes – smaller breeds of mammoth are relegated to the furthest northern tundra, for instance, whereas saurian are found upon the outer isles and peninsulas of the far south. Within certain reaches, ape-men might even be encountered in not inconsiderable gatherings. Etlen Rugna is a vast land, though crossing its many wilds is no easy task, dwarfing neighbors like Sakha. Even trade within Etlen’s borders is not always so commonplace.

Just as with their homeland, the peoples of Etlen are varied in appearance and practice. To the north, they become more fair of complexion, whereas to the south their skin and hair becomes darker and rougher, as with each river-gap and mountain pass their roaming territories become more like the harsh deserts and jungle isles across the sea. It’s in the south and east that tribes tend more towards basic practices of agriculture and weaving, while in the north their industries are more inclined towards fishing, hunting, and raiding. There are hundreds of gods and spirits worshipped across Etlen Rugna, and in times of scarcity some of the greatest and most unforgiving bloodlettings have occurred, as tribes turn upon any outside of their immediate kin. The diversity of Etlen fosters as much xenophobia and hatred as it does cooperation and understanding, and even travelers from lands as schismatic as Sakha have remarked on the pains every Etleni takes to distinguish their tribal identity from all others, as confusing one Etleni folk with another is often a grave offense.

Far Anpe and the Islands of Fire

Across many of the far seas to the west, across the Etlen Udra, and the K’aino Udra, and the Devil Sea of Xulub, there is a distant country at the furthest reaches of the world’s shores. This is Far Anpe, a hidden range of mountain isles crowned with fire and watered with mystery. Formed of a grand chain of volcanoes, Far Anpe is most treacherous about its northern and southern tips, where the peaks are still young, and new mounts are prime to be born from the boiling waters of Xulub and the polar ice. Separated from the jungles of its sister-continent Guarana Rugna by the K’aino Udra – the K’aino Sea – Far Anpe is composed of tall mountains in its near entirety. Those places not defined by colossal peaks are fertile beyond compare thanks to the rich black soil, and on the sloping foothills leading out to the sea house numerous tribes who have built civilizations to rival the stonework citadels of distant Sakha. Save for trade with Guarana or the south tip of Dziil, the Anpean peoples go unknown to the rest of the world.

It is said in the ancient stories that the first Anpean tribals were among the most adventurous and daring of all folk in the world, until they came to the Islands of Fire from beyond the northern sea. Their heroic chieftains claimed that these peaks were in fact the gates of hell, and that just beyond – should they be so bold – the promised land of paradise awaited them. Finding the mountains and green slopes of Anpe, the tribes settled there at last, content that they had found their promised land. Most of the Anpean tribes control fortified encampments placed within the mountain clefts, which they use as communal shelters when not engaging in nomadic herding and foraging. Dangerous beasts like snow-jaguars and giant snakes might be found in the clefts, but for the most part the deadlier saurian are relegated to neighboring Guarana Rugna. Long-necked camels provide wealth to the herder tribes, whose wool they trade with the fisher-folk and mountain-dwellers. In certain hidden valleys, large mammals such as the lumbering shellbacks and giant sloths may provide adequate challenge for hunters, and to the south, the very earth heaves with fiery hunger. Apeans tend to have dark skin and hair, do not often grow beards, and have sharp features. Though small in stature, the Anpean people are fair of face and enduring of body and soul, descended from great warriors and grown even stronger off the bounty of their sacred homeland.

Fjallgarth

Northernmost of those continents that border Asra, the Great Blood Sea, the very name Fjallgarth inspires fear in the hearts of those folk who set their tents upon Etlen Rugna’s coldest shores. To the more distant Sakhan, should they be versed enough in stories brought from traveling tongues, it is a name that belongs to a strange land, where the people are white as the snow they wade through. The homeland of the fabled giants. Some stories are more fantastical than others, but save for Frozen Nunaat or other climes within the cold wastes of the icy Skathon Sea, no continents are as frigid and brutal as Fjallgarth.

Mountains, icebergs, fjords, and sharp valleys mark most of Fjallgarth’s landscape. Its coasts are near all intractable to outside sailors, no matter how fine-built their canoes or rafts are built. Sea-serpents dwell in the waves, along with kraken, sharks, and whales of colossal size. Yet this does not deter the brave natives from fishing within the rich yet chilling waters. Inland, there are reaches which can be found which are not so rocky and hard, and indeed many wild stretches where the sun is warm in summer and no sight of snow is to be had in the hot months save for crowning the distant peaks. Yet in the distant north, where both Fjallgarth and Batyr meet the icesheets of the Skathon Sea, even the great mammoth and dire bear struggle to stave off the cold. It is told in the fables that hairy men who feast on human flesh, along with giants who can command the powers of blizzards and wildfires can be found in those treacherous wastes beyond where even the most fearless raider chief might travel.

The folk of Fjallgarth are similar to those of northern Etlen, being fair of skin and hair, though yet moreso than their more temperate southern cousins. They grow to prodigious sizes and are fond of wearing enough furs to match their own hirsute appearances, and engaging in a warrior lifestyle which puts most other folk of Asra to shame. Fjallgarthan tribes are also known to be skilled seafarers, having constructed boats capable of reliable island-hopping. While the Fjallgarthan raiders might build no great temples or broad gathering-grounds – at least not as the southeasterners do – the northmen have been spotted in as far-away lands as Sakha and Noba Rugna.

Frozen Nunaat

Few have traveled to Frozen Nunaat since the ancient days of its settling by humankind. Even the ape-tribes have little to do with the vast wasteland, but for those who dare the gnashing ice, it can be a country of great plenty. From the more temperate volcanic isles in the south rich with fir trees and good fishing, to the prime whaling shores of the icy north, there is more to Frozen Nunaat than its name suggests. Laying beyond the reaches of Asra, in the depths of the cold Skathon Sea, Nunaat is said by some to be the home of frost giants or other mythical beasts.

Most of the continent consists of broad tundra, hence its name, though this is not the totality of its landscape. Along the south shores there is some resemblance to Fjallgarth in terms of the wilds consisting of a blend of pine forests, fjords, and warmer volcanic wastelands and outlying isles. It is here that settlers from Fjallgarth wage intermittent battles with the native folk, though trade of furs and other goods is also common. Fish and game birds are in plenty, and in many ways the southern parts of Nunaat are not so lesser in wealth nor hospitality than places like Etlen Rugna. The winters are harsh, indeed, but any who settle there are well accustomed to them save for the worst of years. Northward, where the distinctions between land and sea become blurred by virtue of the all-encompassing ice, things are less endurable. Most of the interior is considered a hellish desert to all but the most determined of overland travelers, devoid of oases and cold the whole year round. Even in the warmer months, when one might not have to contend with blizzards and endless night, that is the time when the wolves and bears begin their migrations, hungry after the dark months. Yet in the north there is still bounty to be found. Great whales, seals, and penguins migrate along the north shores, and the native Nunaatun peoples display a skill for harpooning that outstrips even the barbaric Fjallgarthans.

Nunaatun tribals, separate from the Fjallgarthan outcasts who have since made semi-permanent encampments upon the south shores, tend to be short of stature and thick of bone. They grow abundant hair, though beards are less common, and their skin tends to be dark from the constant sun-glare off the snow. In many ways they resemble the folk of distant Anpe or Siral’ik, though to see any of those human strains in one place would be a rare sight indeed. Though overall a peaceful people more focused on survival than grander designs of migration or war, they are among the few folk who the Fjallgarthans will speak with reverence of, as it is said by them that when the nights grow dark and the winds cold, nothing will stop a Nunaatun from doing what they must to survive.

Guarana Rugna

East of Anpe, surrounded on three sides by the seas of Xulub, K’aino, and Etlen Udra, the jungles of Guarana Rugna are as deep and green as any abyssal waters. From the highest peak to the lowest river-valley – of which there are hundreds upon hundreds – the verdant plant life of Guarana coats the entire breadth of the continent. Hot, humid, and lush with a diverse menagerie of flora and fauna, the many tribes of Guarana have all they need to survive and more – and even more ways to meet an unfortunate end. Survival-craft is a necessity, even by typical human standards, and river-canoeing is a popular method of navigating the otherwise intractable jungles.

Not all of Guarana is composed of forest – there are also wetlands, grassy plains, and a few small deserts, but for the most part, jungled sprawl coats the majority of the land. Were the trees to be stripped away, it would be seen that Guarana Rugna has a landscape as varied in altitude and natural wonder as any, though this can be hard to tell when trekking through boundless jungle reaches, shrouded by trees which look mountainous in their own right. Saurians are plentiful, and larger mammalians are scarce. Humans, apes, and other warm-bloods must be quick and observant to avoid being snatched up by a stalking pterosaur or raptor, and even great carnosaurs may camouflage themselves within the sheer density of the foliage. Great serpent-leeches and rope-spinners can snatch a whole human up from above or below, yet that is not all. Beautiful flowers and insects as small as a fingernail can deliver agonizing death before an unlucky creature has had time to realize what their lack of awareness has brought upon them. Guarana Rugna is a land of a thousand beauties, and a thousand dooms.

Yet the tribes of Guarana love their home and the bounty it brings, having had their senses honed to obsidian sharpness over long generations, learning from their surroundings so that even the mighty devilsaurs may not tear down their tree-houses, and the quetzal-boa would prove no greater threat than a songbird – when met with a dart coated in harvested manchineel poison. Guaranan folk tend to be short of stature and dark of hair, though their skin tones are very diverse, as some may spend most of their lives shrouded by the heavy foliage, and others baked to a deep brown beneath the coastal sun. Dense body and facial hair is uncommon due to the humidity and heat, though the Guaranans are fond of body paint for many purposes – clan identification, imitation of poisonous creatures, religious use, or camouflage. Though quite skilled at the building and utilizing of river-canoes, as well as high-altitude construction, the Guaranans have never been inclined towards trade beyond the waters, save for a few ambitious peoples who ply the island chains between their northern shores and the south coasts of the Leghen Alps, and a few others who dare cross the K’aino sea to trade with the affluent Anpean peoples.

Himaleh Vistra

East of the Ancient Lands of Sankha, north of the Ocean of Tiham, there is a strange and jagged land considered quite intractable despite its location at a crossroads of several continents. Himaleh Vistra is named for its great mountains, larger than any in all the myriad ranges which dot the shattered lands across the seven seas. To the north of the Vistran range lays little but desert and tundra steppe, yet to the south the river-broken coasts are lush with jungles. It is an overall misshapen land, carved up by peaks and ravines, rivers and gulfs, which have made it notorious as a confusing hinterland for any who dare make the journey to its shores. Yet many have made that journey, for not unlike those peoples who huddle around the Blood Sea, Himaleh Vistra’s central location in the world means that its beaches may oft be landed upon by visitors from far Siral’ik, from Sakha, and even Noba Rugna. If one dares make the trip to Himaleh Vistra in search of rarities not to be found on their home continent, they will be rewarded by seeing more diversity and exotic beauties than most humans would ever bear witness to in their simple lives.

The Vistra range is Himaleh Vistra’s namesake and most prominent feature, composed of a meandering chain of colossal mountains which stretch from east to west, between the closest gaps of Siral’ik and Sakha. A diverse country, most of those hills north of the Vistra range are composed of steppe and tundra, much like the nearby reaches of Batyr and Siral’ik. These other northern steppe-lands are separated from Himaleh Vistra by little more than the straits of the Skathon Sea, and during the coldest winters vast stretches of that ocean may freeze over, allowing mammoths and their hunters to cross should they be so ambitious. To the south, Himaleh Vistra is much more hospitable, lush with deep jungles and fertile riverlands where many tribes make their homes. Saurians might be found, along with ape-tribes as can be encountered across the entire breadth of that continent. Giant snakes are also a common threat and are worshipped by some tribal sects as living gods. Himaleh Vistra is noted as having some of the greatest diversity of flora and fauna of any continent the world over.

Those people who call Himaleh Vistra their home appear quite like the denizens of Sakha in many ways, though they tend to be darker of skin overall. Among the peaks and to the northern steppes, these Vistrans can be seen to have lighter skin, and some with features more like their neighbors in Siral’ik. The divide between the different regions of Vistra is quite pronounced, with the dwellers of the coasts and foothills considering the jungle-tribes to be more primitive than them, while both the southern cultures regard those who live north of the Vistran range as being little more than barbarians. Despite this, the Vistrans are noted to be quite accepting of outsiders, as they have gathered much wealth by aiding enterprising seafarers in finding safe harbor on their jagged shores. The Vistrans have the privilege of being some of the few people to realize that the scope of the world far exceeds the borders of their homeland, and in turn their trade of rare goods has let other tribes realize this truth as well. To find an artifact crafted in far Siral’ik while one is bartering in an Etleni encampment can be attributed to a Vistran trader somewhere down the line.

Hinterlands of Siral’ik

To the furthest north and east, across numerous islands and twisted stretches of land between the Ocean of Tiham and the Skathon Sea, there are the Hinterlands of Siral’ik. Though few journey there, the cultures of that distant country rival even great Sakha in what they have accomplished since their first settling. While goods from Himaleh Vistra are valued in their own right, for a western trader to find an item from Siral’ik is the best of luck, so lauded is the craftsmanship of the mysterious peoples of that mysterious land. Jungle, highlands, forest, desert – all climes may be found in Siral’ik, across the Hinterland’s many offshoot peninsulas and winding reaches. The very borders of the country can be hard to define, for in the north the continent merges with the bitter Skathon ice, and to the south a hundred-thousand islands disperse across the Oceans of Tiham and mysterious Kaiwa.

Giant apes, ape-men, saurians, huge snakes, devil-crabs – these are just a small selection of the species that can be found throughout the many disparate climates of Siral’ik. Much like Etlen Rugna, Siral’ik is a jagged continent which contains within itself climates suitable to near any species that might be found upon the world. Travel within Siral’ik comprises an epic journey in and of itself, to say nothing of travel beyond its shores. Though most of the land is within the frozen north, its winding peninsulas and island-chains venture quite far south, meaning that the distinct appearance of Siralese folk can be found throughout a significant range.

Siralese tribals – sometimes referred to as Siral’iki – tend towards shorter statures, paler skin, dark hair, and almond eyes. Beards are less common than in lands like Batyr, though not rare, and within the south stretches or in the high tundra where the snow-glare is bright, dark skin is also quite normal. Though many of the Siralese peoples live simple lives as nomadic hunters or clan-based fishers and farmers, the adventurousness of the Siralese is well known. Not content with spreading out across the entire breadth of their own homeland, the Siralese are some of the best seafarers in the world, having mastered island-hopping to reach lands as far as Batyr and Himaleh Vistra. Though none ever returned, it was also the case that in the distant past Siralese seafarers managed to reach even Darkest Ar-Nung, as well as cross about the curve of the world upon the waves of the Kaiwa Ocean. While none of the numerous islanders who dwell within the mysterious reaches of Kaiwa would consider themselves “Siralese” – if they have even heard such a word – their appearance attests to a shared blood with both those intrepid tribes and their cousins all the way across Kaiwa in reaches like Dziil.

Leghen Alps

Surrounded by the Sea of Gami to its west and the seas of Xulub and Etlen Udra to the east, the Leghen Alps are an isolated land little-explored from the western reaches. Instead, the tribes of Leghen hold more in common with their neighbors in Dziil or even Guarana and Anpe. Defined by its prime mountain range, the Leghen Alps are great peaks which rise above vast forests, swamps, and other green reaches all along the eastern coast. Across their heights, brief prairies give way to the expanse of the Sea of Gami, whose treacherous waters are all that separate the nomadic Legheni peoples of that region from their counterparts in Dziil. Save for a few fearsome creatures like great bears or the rare ape-tribe, the Leghen Alps are noted as a peaceful place, assuming one does not allow themselves to get lost in the deepest of its forested clefts.

Saurians are quite rare in Leghen save for the southernmost swamps bordering Xulub, with most of the wildlife being composed of smaller mammalians, and the flora being quite typical and not often dangerous. Still, while there are many pleasant climes for settlement, the Legheni know not to dally too long when crossing the passes of the Alps. Strange creatures dwell in those shadowy clefts, and in the wrong season it can be the case that entire tribes would meet a terrible end trapped by vicious snows. Still, so long as one stays in the more explored forests, or along the coasts, there is much plenty. Even the dangerous oceans of Gami and Etlen Udra – prolific homes to some of the most horrifying sea-beasts – are not so treacherous so long as one sticks to the ancestral routes.

Legheni are quite similar in stature and appearance to their neighbors in Dziil, being strong of body and face, if not the tallest in all the lands, with sun-toned skin and dark hair, which they are fond of decorating. Form the forests to the prairies, Legheni tribes are quite adept at surviving the perils of their homeland and then some, having made trips to Dziil and Guarana Rugna in the past in the name of trade – something their neighbors would not otherwise be inclined to do. Hunting, fishing, farming, herding – all are known to the Legheni, and where lumber is good and the call of the open sky is not so pressing, they will even build quite impressive villages among the trees. Yet the Legheni are creatures of habit. They will not venture into waters they don’t know, and they will not tarry in the mountains. The ancestors of the Legheni are, after all, just those individuals who were not so foolish as to get lost in those horrible reaches.

Noba Rugna

Below Etlen Rugna, and forming a great chain between the rifts of the Etlen Udra and the Caraka Sea, Noba Rugna is the southernmost of those continents within the “Asra Bounds” – the area by which seafaring tribes from the various lands about the Blood Sea prefer to travel and trade. At its north, Noba Rugna is a hot but fertile land marked by its bountiful coasts, yet to the south it contains as many mysteries as distant countries like Ar-Nung. Across vast mountains, badlands, deserts, the arid reaches at last give way to jungles of primordial age and depth, at last culminating in the far south shores where sweeping grasslands roll out to the temperate Caraka Sea.

At its northernmost extent, Noba Rugna is not too dissimilar from nearby Sakha, being arid but not the most brutal of climes, with its rocky deserts crossed by numerous rivers about which humans and beasts alike are able to seek succor. Seacraft is common there, and the waters are not so treacherous as those to the south. Some saurians prowl the wastes, but for the most part the land is manageable to those acclimated to the heat. South of the very harshest stretches of the desert expanse, however, there can be found some of the deepest and most lush jungles in all the world – and certainly nearest to Asra. Creatures of every type may be found there, from the smallest pygmy ape-man to the largest and most terrifying saurian. South of those forests, temperate grasslands and savannah proceed out to the south ocean, home to most of the larger mammalian species upon Noba Rugna, as the lizards and great arthropods prefer the damp of the northern jungles.

Noba Rugna’s people are hearty and strong, suited to survival in heats even more unforgiving than summer in Sakha. Along the north shores, they tend to resemble the Sakhan folk a great deal, though perhaps with darker tones to their skin. Within the jungles and grasslands where few northerners have dared tread, the tribals can reach hues as black as night, with rough hair and many diverse features and body types adapted to different climes. Those within the jungles tend towards shorter, lither builds, while within the grasslands endurance and strength is favored for long hunting journeys. Though the northern Noba Rugnans sometimes think of their southern counterparts of primitive, any who have made it past the dangers of the southlands and laid eyes upon the great works and daring feats of those folk would know better.

Wide Lands of Dziil

Far, far to the west, past the reaches of the Leghen Alps, and the great Sea of Gami, there is a land of cruel extremes which extends from the furthest north to its southern twin of Anpe. This is Dziil, the highlands. A series of mountains which cleave their way out from between Gami and the great Ocean of Kaiwa, to the west those grand peaks descend into temperate rainforests up to the far ice, while to the east the foothills roll into broad badlands which meet their end in the waters of Gami. Wild and seldom visited by any save for intrepid seafarers from Leghen, there can nonetheless be found some appealing stretches within Dziil’s borders – though those that claim them as their home must be prepared to defend them from the various tribes of the outer wastes.

Dziil is a mountainous country whose namesake range split the length of the continent down the center. To the furthest north the peaks extend all the way into the great ice-sheets, while to the south they taper off into many of the volcanic islands which define the roiling Sea of Xulub. West of the Dziil range the climate is more temperate, so long as one remains in the middle regions, lush with warm tropics and cool rainforests. East of the peaks, things are not quite so lush, defined by broad prairies at best and searing flatland deserts at the worst, though these mercifully abate at the shores of the Sea of Gami, among the reedy wetlands where the fisher-tribes dwell. Ape-men and saurian are both in abundance out in the west, while enormous bison, aurochs, and other large mammals reserve the eastern plains to themselves, being hunted by the nomadic tribes there. Despite its relative shallow depth, the Sea of Gami is also full of life, including opportunistic super-predators who sailors must be wary of if they wish to journey across the full breadth of the ocean.

Tribal folk of Dziil tend towards dark or tanned skin, though with considerable variation, having strong and beautiful features much like their neighbors, though standing the tallest of all the folk in those lands surrounding the seas of Xulub and K’aino. They are survivalists and hunters, managing to stake out prominent territories throughout their rugged homeland, facing any foes with bravery in their hearts. Though fierce, they are not often ones to war with each other, though when they do it is most common among the eastern tribes. Out in the deserts and plains, many of the nomadic folk see an easy opportunity in raiding their neighbors rather than risking their own starvation. Those who have made it so far as Dziil from other lands – a feat in and of itself – have remarked upon the brutality with which the Dzillai greet intruders.

Seas:

Asra, the Great Blood Sea

One of the most important and well-traveled of the Seven Seas, and perhaps the most storied. It is Asra whose waters border the lands of Etlen Rugna, Fjallgarth, and the Ancient Lands of Sakha. These three lands conduct the most frequent wanderings over the Great Blood Sea, but the mingling waters of Asra also reach as far as the western shores of Batyr, and other lands besides. The Sakhan peoples named the great expanse “Asra” after the rich hue of the setting sun over its waves – it was only later that it became known for the numerous battles which took place across its waters. Though dotted with many islands and host to much travel between its three neighboring lands, the human tribes have also shed much blood upon the waves and lost even more to the jaws of hungering leviathans.

Caraka Sea

The Caraka is a jagged ocean which cuts the land of Noba Rugna from its northern sister of Etlen Rugna. Filtering into the southernmost waters of the Etlen Sea, as well as the western stretches of the Ocean of Tiham, it is a little-explored waterway save for a few of the daring coastal tribes of Noba Rugna. Its waters are warm, but its coasts are treacherous, and one may find themselves stranded on any number of islands if they cannot navigate the inlets of Noba Rugna, or worse – be swept out into the daunting expanse of Tiham.

Etlen Udra / Etlen Sea

To the west of Etlen Rugna lies is sister sea, Etlen Udra. Descending from the southern tip of Nunaat, across the fjords of Fjallgarth and down to the nameless ice at the bottom of the world, Etlen Udra is a stormy ocean of mystery and danger. Unknown to all but a few of the most legendary sailors to have ever journeyed out from the west, Etlen Udra is the path to the Leghen Alps, and even perhaps Dziil, Guarana Rugna, and Far Anpe besides. The Etlen Sea forms the great barrier between these lands and the continents about Asra. Yet within the very oldest stories of humankind does some inkling remain of this truth. Within Etlen Rugna, Guarana Rugna, and Noba Rugna are told stories of the Breaking, when once the fields and mountains stretched unbounded before the elder gods cleaved the Etlen Udra into the wilds, shattering the earth in twain. To the shaman-storytellers of Noba Rugna and Etlen Rugna, it is assumed the western lands sunk into the sea, while the peoples of Guarana Rugna likewise consider the east to be a distant myth.

Great Ocean of Kaiwa

The largest ocean in all the world, so massive that no human has ever comprehended its scale. None have ever crossed its breadth through sheer skill alone. The seafaring clans of the great ocean may journey about its many islands, but even they cannot say where all Kaiwa’s bounds lay. Likewise, unknown to even the wisest shamans, in elder times some hunter tribes of Siral’ik even managed to make the trek across the shattered ice to the north peaks of Dziil, but that way has long since been forgotten. Between Ar-Nung, Siral’ik, Dziil, and Anpe, and speckled with as many islands as there are stars in the sky, the mysteries of Kaiwa are as endless as its blue horizons and abyssal depths.

K’aino Udra / K’aino Sea

Descending down from the Sea of Xulub, the K’aino Udra separates Guarana Rugna from Anpe, and Anpe from Dziil. It is a warm ocean, though quite harsh, and brimming with dangerous creatures. Thick with life, it provides an endless bounty to those who fish along its shores, though crossing its expanse is no easy feat. Even if one avoids death by one of thousands of ravenous beasts large and small which prowl its waters, the many islands within the green waves are said to house hostile tribes of humans, lizardmen, and ape-men. Though all types of predators may be encountered amidst the waves of K’aino, the sea-serpents are the most renowned of all.

Ocean of Tiham

The largest of the eastern oceans, rolling over a great expanse between the south shores of Himaleh Vistra and Batyr, and the far and darkened beaches of Ar-Nung, as well as flanking the eastern edge of Noba Rugna. Tiham is host to many islands, most near to the coasts of its bordering continents. It is rather warm, though prone to storms, yet that has not stopped many seafaring tribes from taking advantage of its riches. Great leviathans may be found in its waters, as with many of the seas, though they are more prevalent about its interior where the abyss descends with sudden rapidity away from the shallow waters near to the broken, isle-flecked coasts. The very name of Tiham comes from the mythical ur-dragon said to dwell within its very deepest waters.

Sea of Gami

Splitting the great plains of western Leghen and eastern Dziil clean down the middle, there is the mighty interior seaway known as Gami, stretching from the ice-flats of the north down to drain at last into the Sea of Xulub. Shallow for the most part, it is not free of perils. Within its teeming waters are as many dangers as there are resources. Still, that has not stopped the native tribes upon both sides of the sea of making the most of it, and some peoples spend near their entire lives upon the waters. So long as one is well-versed in the craft of the waves and keeps a sharp eye out for anything bigger than a saltwater alligator or giant gar, it can be an outright pleasant life exploring Gami’s waters and all its tributaries.

Sea of Xulub / Devil Sea

One of the most terrifying yet enticing of all the world’s great waters, the Sea of Xulub, also known as the Devil Sea, lies where the Sea of Gami filters out between the Leghen Alps and Guarana Rugna, forming a hub between the waters of Gami, K’aino, and the Etlen Udra. It is a warm and tempestuous sea, with many reefs about its edges and many islands that dot its waves. Yet the center of Xulub is unfathomably deep, perhaps as deep as such abysses that can be found in Tiham and Kaiwa. Horrifying beasts lurk below the black waves, and none but the most skilled of seafaring tribes may brave its central waters. Still, the reefs and island chains which wreath the Devil Sea are among the most bountiful to be found, more colorful than Gami and fresher than K’aino, rich with valuable coral and mollusks and tropical fish. It is not uncommon for the tribesfolk of that region to make war over the valuable islands, and battles are far more frequent than among the other island-hopping tribes of reaches like Kaiwa.

Skathon Sea

The northern sea, the name given to all those waters beyond the reaches of Nunaat, Batyr, Siral’ik and the like where the great ice-flows crash together and icebergs roam like mammoth god-beasts. It is not the coldest ocean – the waters beneath Ar-Nung and off the southern tip of Anpe have that honor, but unlike those darkened waves, many people have actually explored the reaches of Skathon. Most of all the shipbuilders of Fjallgarth and Nunaat, who whale and raid among the icy flows just as much as traverse them on foot. Cold-blooded leviathans are predictably rare within Skathon, yet the whales and pinnipeds are more than titanic enough in size to still provide dangerous sport. Yet it is always the gnashing ice and frigid waters that make for the greatest danger of any who seek to traverse the Skathon reaches.

#worldbuilding #paleolithic #neolithic #rpg #fantasy

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funis-infinite · 4 years ago

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@the-nekcmancer

It was nothing new, nothing he hadn’t experienced before, yet now it was more intense. Claws scraping over the surface of the Phantom Ruby, eyes wild, the jackal stalked through the darkened city. Within his mind was a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions, all battling for dominance and control. A puppet that’s strings were all being pulled in different directions. Nausea worked its way into his very being, burning a path up his throat and forcing the jackal to freeze. Body shaking, he found himself on his knees, unmasked and violently retching onto the concrete below.

The familiar sting of tears gathering in his eyes only made the storm in his mind rage harder. Thrashing against the walls of his sanity in a desperate plea to bring vengeance down on the world around. Like a heartbeat, the gemstone grafted to his very being pulsed with red light. Illuminating the alley he’d managed to stumble his way into. A beacon that he couldn’t gather the mental strength to stop. Claws digging into the concrete and tail curling close to his body, the canine could feel it. Self loathing and anger. A desire to destroy, maim,

mutilate,

murder, consume,

infect, kill,

kill,

kill —

Shaken from his thoughts by approaching footsteps, a dangerous red glow suffused the surrounding area. With nary a word, phantom energy grabbed the advancing figure and shunted them into the wall dead ahead. Their features visible in the blood colored light. Right where Infinite wanted them. At his mercy. Fangs bared and tail lashing.

Something’s life ended with him.

#TheNekcmancer #∞|| The Sharpest of Blades; IC ||∞#**I HOPE THIS IS OKAY #It got away from me a bit in violence so uh #hope you like playing with fire ajfbahs**

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naryrising · 5 years ago

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I was tagged by @riptidemonzarc - thank you!

I’ll tag @kyrstin @corancoranthemagicalman @asennnaa @measured-words @solosvejs @saltwife @jillchipher @sarking and/or anyone else who wants to do it :)

Ao3 name: Nary

Fandoms: Too many to list. Like hundreds, over the course of decades? I like variety and I don’t usually get absorbed too deeply in a single fandom. Currently I’m enjoying The Witcher, Castlevania, Dragon Prince, Yuri on Ice, the new She-Ra, I just finished watching Black Sails and Picard (Star Trek is a long term love), but there are so many more.

Number of fics: 553

Fic you spent the most time on: I have no idea. I suppose I have fics that I've started, then let sit for a long time, and then finished later, but that doesn't really count as spending time on them so much as letting other things take priority. I don't often write multi-chapter fics and my average writing length is certainly under 10,000 words so mostly they don't take extremely long to write. A few days or weeks, unless I have to leave them to sit for a while and think about what they've done.

Fic you spent the least time on: Probably a drabble, but I have no idea which one. With a good prompt or idea I can write a drabble in under 10 minutes.

Longest fic: To the Champion Go the Rewards, which I might still finish someday, who knows. 22,650 words unfinished.

Shortest fic: The Gravedigger, which due to word count discrepancies between Word and AO3 comes in at 99 words instead of a proper 100 and therefore is shortest by technicality.

Most hits: The Secret Room, 46,882 hits. It's had a lot of time to get them.

Most kudos: Slip A Dick To Your Witcher, 1455 kudos, in an unexpectedly short period of time.

Most comment threads: To the Champion, but as it has many chapters I feel a fairer candidate is The Aunt and the Ankh, which as a single-chapter standalone work has 62 comment threads (most ported over from the old Yuletide site, may it rest in peace.)

Fave fic you wrote: When you have 553 it gets hard to pick, but here are a few that I'm quite proud of:

None Other (Lion in Winter, 5k words, rated Explict, complicated relationships) From Rome to Brundisium, With Stops (Rome, 4800 words, rated Mature, post-canon development of a minor character) On Lightning, Which Occasionally Strikes Twice (Gentlemen of the Road, 7700 words, rated Mature, post-canon adventure) Brother Wolf, Sister Jackal (Brotherhood of the Wolf, 3700 words, rated Teen, fix-it fic and post-canon adventure) Escargots (Benjamin January Mysteries, 9400 words, rated General, murder mystery starring side characters) Ferda Bis (Letterkenny, 1600 words, rated Mature, utter nonsense that I had to research hockey slang for)

Fic you want to rewrite/expand on: I don't rewrite, but I have a few I could expand on. Many of my Lion in Winter stories are in the same post-canon setting, and if/when I write more, it will probably continue to follow that train of thought. I could, as mentioned above, someday finish To the Champion, if I get off my ass. I have half-promised a follow-up story to None Of Us Are Whole, which would be a weird experience if I can pull it off. I have a sequel in mind to On Lightning, Which Occasionally Strikes Twice. And I have some vague further ideas for Requested to Attend, which might or might not materialize into anything.

Share a bit of your WIP or share a story idea that you’re planning: I can't share some of them because they're for exchanges and I don't want to give away the surprise, but here's a snippet from something else I'm working on:

Dianthea floated, a passenger in her own body. She could feel her form and the world around her, but at a slight remove. The spirit of Ulkash, a long-dead warrior of the Kai do Arat, was in control - more or less. Dianthea knew that, if push came to shove, she could probably end the possession and take back what was hers, but she had granted Ulkash the use of her physical form until the night was over. The ghost had taken full advantage of the opportunity to once again savour some physical pleasures - eating, drinking, fighting. Now she had decided to move on to the next experience: fucking.

Laris had been somewhat apprehensive, although game to give it a try once it was clear Dianthea was willing as well. Go easy on him, Dianthea told her current inhabitant. She could talk to Ulkash privately with a bit of effort, although it was easier to speak to her out loud with their shared voice. He's worried about whether he'll be able to please you.

He's a man, Ulkash replied. He already pleases me. She was busy checking out Laris' thighs and backside as she followed him up the stairs to the master bedroom. Doesn't he please you? He's handsome.

Yes, but... his handsomeness isn't what pleases me most, Dianthea thought. She wasn't sure how to explain the details of her marriage to Ulkash. She settled for, I like that he's thoughtful. Sometimes he thinks too much, though, and then he gets anxious.

So you're saying I shouldn't let him think too much. I understand.

#ask meme #writing #nary speaks

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bigtinyworldtravel · 5 years ago

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After six days in Etosha National Park, we failed to spot any big cats – and this was what I had dreamt about when envisioning an African safari! Therefore, we took matters into our own hands and went to the one place we could guarantee a sighting of these magnificent creatures: Okonjima Nature Reserve.

The Dilemma

For years, I’ve always wanted to go to Africa. I’d seen pictures of magical sunsets, vast open plains, and some of the most unique wildlife on the planet. Above all, I wanted to see the big cats. Lions, cheetahs, leopards. And not just in a zoo. I wanted to see them in the wild – soaking in the desert sun, hunting, playing. I’d seen videos and pictures where a couple of cheetahs jumped on top of the hoods of safari vehicles and took a nap. I wanted to be in one of those vehicles!

So I was naturally ecstatic to finally have an opportunity to travel to Namibia, where we would spend three entire weeks – one of which in a wildlife-dense national park – and have ample opportunity to finally observe these beautiful predators.

Etosha National Park

After a few days in Etosha National Park, we still hadn’t seen any cats, but I wasn’t too dismayed; we’d seen so much other wildlife, and we still had time. Then we learned when best to find them (at sunrise or sunset) and where best to find them (on the west end of the park). And it worked! We saw our first cats!

See the lions? They blend in so well…

…but they were waaaaaaaaayy in the distance. These lions were wonderful to watch through our binoculars, but they weren’t anywhere near close enough to get decent photographs (and that’s torture for a photographer such as myself). However, now that we knew the secret, I trusted we’d get another chance.

But we didn’t.

Another three days of busting down the gates at sunrise and 10 hours of driving and parking at watering holes yielded us everything but cats. We saw nary a whisker for the rest of our time there.

I was so disappointed.

Along the road

But there was still a modicum of hope. We might yet see one along our many other drives throughout the country (though the highest concentration – thus the greatest chances – were back in the park).

After another few days of camping feline-free, we were scheduled to keep driving yet farther away from any potential sightings. So I turned to good ‘ole Google, and I discovered the Okonjima Nature Reserve.

We made a quick decision to backtrack four hours to visit the reserve, nixing a few of our other plans. I was going to see African cats, darn it!

About Okonjima

The Okonjima Nature Reserve is a 200 square kilometer haven for predators, originally established in 1986 as a guest farm.

Much of Namibian land is actually used for cattle farming, and farmers don’t much enjoy having their livestock hunted by local felines. Therefore, these amazing animals are often shot to preserve their livelihood.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t actually address the underlying problem. Cats are territorial, and when one leaves an area, another is quick to take its place. Killing one of these felines only encourages another to come instead.

AfriCat

The AfriCat Foundation was created in 1993 to address this growing issue, originally serving simply as a reserve for leopards and cheetahs rescued from farmlands. The foundation’s mission now is to educate local farmers on alternate means to protecting their herds (like fences and grazing schedules), and it has since expanded to accommodate leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, and other large carnivore populations.

Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, and every day, they strive to stop the hunting of these animals, relocate those in danger, and research and track populations to better understand their behaviors. At the reserve, they also welcome guests to experience safaris to see these gorgeous predators, spread awareness of the project, and raise funds for the research and care.

About the cats

Cats on the reserve come from several kinds of situations. Some were relocated from farms where they might have otherwise been killed by frustrated farmers. Some were rejects after someone’s “pet” grew too large for the care they could provide. And some were cubs orphaned when their mother hunted too close to a homestead.

Now, Okonjima is home to around 35 leopards and at least a dozen cheetahs. Though both once shared the reserve, they have since been separated. Being larger, leopards can easily injure or kill any cheetahs they encounter, and being territorial, they all too often did. The cheetahs at Okonjima haven’t grown up in the wild, so they’ve never learned how to kill quickly or when to run from other predators. For their own safety, they are now relegated to their own segment of the reserve. They will sadly never survive in the wild.

Sustainable travel

This display was in the main lodge. It features carnivores from all around the world and is accompanied by the statement, “In the year 2050, most carnivores will survive only where people choose to tolerate them.”

There are many animal encounters around the world geared toward tourists with only one goal in mind: profits. Want to ride an elephant? Want to pet a lion? Want to pose for a photograph with a cheetah? You can find establishments that will provide these, but we elect to not support them (and encourage others to do the same). While they claim the money goes toward caring for and maybe even rehabilitating the animals, they are motivated to retain (or gather more) animals to continue to provide this service. And training an animal to interact with humans is taming it; it will be unable to return to the wild.

Okonjima has a strict no-interaction policy. Cats won’t look up at you as you approach, because vehicles don’t mean mealtime. You can’t pet these felines; they are very much wild animals. They have been conditioned to not view safari trucks as a threat (though they’ll run from any white vans, as those contain veterinarians!), but they still hunt on their own and could potentially be released into safer lands.

The education they provide is a sustainable approach to an ongoing problem, and we hope to see these carnivores no longer threatened by humans in the future. If you like the sound of their mission as much as we do, you can donate to their cause here.

The lodge

As this was an unplanned detour, we didn’t have many options as far as where we slept. Okonjima does have a few campsites, but these were full when we arrived. That meant we had to pay for a (rather expensive) room. We still got the least expensive room available (a Garden Room in the Plains Camp), but it blew the budget for that day, for sure.

We also considered staying at a campsite just outside the park. However, safaris are only available to those who stay on the reserve. I was there for cats, so we bit the bullet.

With the steep price tag comes a luxurious accommodation. For the first time in weeks, we had our own private bathroom with hot running water and fresh towels, and we had a real bed. Note that we had been camping on top of our truck until this point. Even our room key was in the shape of a sprinting cheetah!

The night’s stay also came with a three-course dinner and a fully-equipped breakfast the next morning. For dinner, we were treated to a carpaccio atop fresh greens, an oryx steak with rice (tasted very much like a top-quality beef steak), and a fried pudding for dessert. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! In the morning, we each ordered custom omelettes in addition to our buffet of fruits and cold cuts.

We barely spent any time in our room, but it was a great relief to have that place to truly freshen up. And the meals were heavenly – far better than the cans of Koo Chakalaka over rice that we’d been consuming every day thus far.

The cats

But I was there for the CATS! I could have slept on rocks and I’d still be happy if I got to see some big cats!

Excursions are an additional cost beyond the rooms. Each would run us about $100 for the two of us, but we knew that going in, and we weren’t about to turn back now! Not knowing whether we’d have better luck at sightings in the evening or morning, we weren’t sure which to choose. We finally elected to go on a leopard safari (“nature game drive, looking for leopard”) that evening, with an option to see the cheetahs (“AfriCat Carnivore Care and Information Center”) the next morning.

The leopards

We set out with our guide, Gideon, where we would track Lila. Each of the resident leopards have radio collars. This allows the researchers with AfriCat to monitor the cats and their movements, behaviors, and established territories. Unfortunately, these only have a range of 2km.

When we first set out, we couldn’t get a signal on Lila. She holds a vast territory in the park, so we had some searching to do. We drove over the rugged terrain, and Gideon stopped periodically to hold up the ancient receiver, hoping for a faint blip. Nothing.

Vamos

Gideon changed frequencies to check for one of her (older) cubs: Vamos. Still nothing.

We wandered the area for a while without luck (though we saw other animals – like jackals and warthogs), and I was beginning to fear we’d strike out. Gideon kept trying for both leopards to see if we could catch a trace of either one.

Finally, we got something – Vamos. Driving through the thick brush, we found her hiding spot. One of our safarimates exclaimed, “there she is!” but I couldn’t see her. Aaron spotted a paw, and I saw a hint of movement – no clear sighting. Gideon moved the truck around for a better view, but by then she was moving away and out of our reach.

Rats.

Lila

So we resumed our pursuit of Lila. Just as we were about to give up on her, we finally got a signal – on the far edge of her territory. Following the beeps, we pulled up alongside her… at least where we assumed she was. No roads led toward the signal, and no matter how we positioned the vehicle, we just couldn’t see Lila anywhere. She could see us, I’m sure. And I have no doubt she was laughing at us. But we wouldn’t see her that day; she made sure of it.

Strike two.

The evening was getting late, and we were nearing the end of our allotted time. Even after so many days of trying, after going to a dedicated cat reserve and paying for a safari.. I still wouldn’t see a cat??

Amali

Gideon could hear the chatter of the other trucks out that night, and one of the others had located the leopard they were tracking: Amali. So as a last-ditch effort, we’d go to their location to see if we could see her.

Please let me see a leopard. Please let me see a leopard…

And then there she was. Just sitting right in the middle of the road! No more tracking, no brief half-glimpses through the vegetation, no fleeting tail tip.

There she was. Amali. In all her splendor.

I had my camera on her immediately. The other truck was still there, watching her from the side as we approached. They soon left, leaving us alone with this beautiful, beautiful creature.

I couldn’t get enough of her. And she couldn’t care less about us.

She walked right next to our truck. She scratched at some bushes and marked her territory. She pooped in the middle of the road. She lounged on the side and silently regarded us.

All the while, my shutter clicked. I took well over 200 photos of her.

I finally got my African cat. I was on cloud nine. It was exactly what I wanted, and I couldn’t be happier. I was sad to leave her.

Sundowner

Though we were late in leaving Amali, we still stopped for our “sundowner” – cocktails meant to be enjoyed while watching the sunset (we missed it – for a very good reason!). We watched the stars start to come out in the darkness left behind the one that had just departed while we got to know each other a little bit.

The desert gets chilly really quickly, but Gideon had some blankets on-hand for the dark and rough drive back. Though he searched the brush with a red light for more wildlife, we didn’t see anything more. I didn’t need to.

I learned later that two of the eight vehicles that went out that night didn’t see anything. One other was with us with Amali, but I’m not sure how much the other four saw. I think we lucked out with the best encounter. I was (and still am) very grateful for how things worked out.

AfriCat

The next morning, we regrouped with our same companions and guide to visit AfriCat, learn more about their mission, and see the cheetahs. We had kept the cheetahs as a backup option in case we didn’t see any leopards, as this was (pretty much) a guarantee. For their protection, the cheetahs are kept in captivity, so there was no need to track them this time. Though we were successful in spotting leopards (see what I did there?) the night before, I wasn’t going to refuse an opportunity for more big cats.

I’d heard of AfriCat before, it was interesting to hear about their history and work. We saw the facilities they use for veterinary work (there’s a full-time vet on-site) and full-sized models of the most common African animals (used in their education programs). We learned they use trap boxes and tranquilizer darts to check up on and collar the cats, and that they use radio collars because GPS is simply too expensive. It was all quite informative.

Then we got to see the cheetahs!

The cheetahs

Their enclosure is still large enough to drive into, so we weren’t just browsing cages, as I had initially feared. We were able to get close to them, admire them, and laugh at their antics.

Sam, a young male cheetah, was playing with a phantom when we first arrived. Pouncing and dashing in crazy circles, he looked just like a house cat. Imagine a big wild cat acting just like a kitten! In fact, he was so focused on something no one else could see that we inadvertently spooked him when we drove closer. He dashed right up a tree!

When we were done laughing at Sam, we admired a few of the others lounging about. In particular, I took a fancy to Tuck. I couldn’t get over the fact that he had his paws crossed, a position our kitty Mochi particularly loves!

Was it worth it?

So we drove 8 hours out of our way to get to Okonjima, and we spent five times our daily budget for less than 24 hours there. Was it worth it?

YES!

I finally saw my cats! Granted, we had some luck on our side. We could have been one of those two trucks who struck out, and perhaps I’d be singing a different tune now. But given our experience – the room; the food; the enlightening visit to AfriCat; and above all, the cats – it’s sitting right up there among my favorite experiences from Namibia.

I only wish we had looked into it sooner so we didn’t have to backtrack quite so much, and if only we could have afforded to stay longer.

Do you have aspirations of visiting Africa? Have you already been? What’s the one African animal you’d most want to see?

Note: We were not sponsored in any way by either Okonjima or AfriCat. We legitimately had an amazing experience, believe in their mission, and encourage others to support them by visiting or donating to their cause.

If you like this post, please help us grow by liking it and sharing it on social media. We also welcome your comments below – we would love to hear from you!

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In search of big cats in #Africa, we made our way to the #OkonjimaNatureReserve. Read all about our experience here! #bigcats #africansafari #travel After six days in Etosha National Park, we failed to spot any big cats - and this was what I had dreamt about when envisioning an African safari!

#Africa #cats #cheetahs #leopards #Namibia #safari #Travel #travel couple #Wildlife

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theopenroadbeforeme-blog · 6 years ago

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My interest in Namibia began with nature documentaries. For some reason, deserts fascinated me — I think it was the utter foreignness of it. I’d never seen a place that was seemingly so barren, so devoid of life. But I quickly learned that these dry places that seem so desolate on the surface can be home to a whole host of life, hidden beneath the sands. Perhaps my favorite desert to read about was the Namib.

Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on Earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths?” — Brian Jackman

I loved learning about the Namib dwarf sand adders, tiny buggers with highly toxic venom. I was fascinated by the way they burrow down into the sand to lie in wait for prey, with only their eyes and tail tip peeking above the sand. The odd-looking antlions, neither ant nor lion, but rather an insect whose larvae digs sand traps to catch other insects on which to feed…

Needless to say, when the opportunity to go to Namibia and explore the Namib — as well as places like Etosha National Park — with Acacia Africa came up, I couldn’t say no.

Day One: Arrival

We arrived in Etosha after a brief stopover in Windhoek, the country’s capital. A large national park in the north of the country, Etosha is characterized by a massive salt pan in its center, covering an area of 4,760 square kilometers. Despite the arid nature of the area, a number of water holes (one of which is directly next to Okaukuejo Camp, where we stayed) sustain the diverse population of wildlife which calls the region home.

Perhaps the most common species — at least of larger fauna — to see is the springbok, South Africa’s national animal and a denizen of my dinner plate the night before. It was midday and stiflingly hot, so the ones we saw were clustered under small trees and bushes, making use of whatever shade they could find.

We got our first up-close and non-rushed look at an ostrich as well, pausing to watch one strut away from us while fanning its plumage. Far from useless, an ostrich’s wings help it balance while it runs and are also used in courtship rituals and other displays. Now either this ostrich had something for one of those springboks, or its display was one from the ‘other displays’ category.

By the time we saw the giraffes, I was beginning to get a really good feeling about our time in Etosha National Park. Seeing several of the ‘dainty dorks’ — as my sister so eloquently calls them — feeding on the trees was awesome, as we’d mostly just seen them far off in the distance while exploring the Okavango Delta and during our river cruise in Chobe National Park.

A little closer to camp, we found one last surprise: a herd of zebra, first crossing a side road, then paralleling the main road as we drove slowly past. Several young foals regarded us warily, while more inured adults seemed barely to notice us.

We rolled into Okaukuejo Camp, at last, setting up our tents over several spots and making camp. Then it was off to the watering hole at the edge of the grounds, where we’d heard we could almost always see some sort of wildlife. There were some elephants there, but I’m going to save my pictures from the watering hole for a little later. 😉

Day One: Evening Game Drive

We left the confines of Okaukuejo and set off into the depths of the park, keeping our eyes open for wildlife. We spotted a few familiar species — kudu, oryx, and the like — but nothing much of note until Khumbu swerved off the main road and along a dusty path towards a cloud of dust in the distance. It was a trio of elephants in the middle of a dust bath.

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We managed to peel ourselves away from the elephants (despite seeing so many at Elephant Sands, we still weren’t sick of them) and had only just made it back along the main road when Pili Pili’s keen eyes spotted something in the grass.

“Lions, look!”

We did, and there were — three of them passed out in the middle of the open plain with nary a care in the world. A black-backed jackal lingered daringly close, digging, scratching and doing other jackal-y things while the alpha predators behind him slumbered.

We saw another jackal further on at the first of several watering holes maintained by park authorities. Zebra and springbok jostled for water as the jackal trotted through their midst. Some of the animals seemed ambivalent to its presence, but others started and bounded away in alarm.

Jackals aside, the coolest sighting of the night was our first close-up rhino sighting. It was coming towards us through the brush, plodding unhurriedly along. An oryx loitered a short distance away, content to let the bigger animal pass. That feeling wasn’t shared, however, and the rhino mock-charged the oryx, sending it fleeing through the shrubs.

Rhinos are not to be trifled with. Noted and remembered!

The drive had one final surprise for us as dusk drew near and the threat of the gates getting closed on us became more and more real. “Hyena!” someone shouted, and there one was, just to the side of the road in all its awkwardness. Hyenas have a bad rap (thanks, Disney), but they’re really interesting animals and don’t always feed on carrion. They hunt as well and are known to bring down zebras, wildebeest, and more. And, despite their stubby little back legs, they can actually move quickly — up to 60 kilometers per hour!

Just as we were about to pull away, our presence unnerved the lone hyena, and it trotted on across the road with its derpy lope, and I had my squee moment for the day.

We made it back to the compound just in time, as the gates were about half-closed already. A weary cheer sounded in the bus as we rolled through and into camp.

Day One: Around the Watering Hole

But the advent of dusk is by no means the end of a day of game watching in Africa, and we made our way to the watering hole after dinner. The atmosphere there was muted; the tension level, high. The whole viewing area was filled with tourists waiting with bated breath for animals to come for a drink. Anything uttered at more than a whisper was shushed immediately, and all you could hear was the click, click of camera shutters and the hissing of whispers when something drew near.

There were already some giraffes around the pool, but we didn’t have to wait long for something else to join them — a female rhinoceros and her calf materialized out of the gathering darkness and made their way to the pool’s edge.

Watering holes are like the United Nations of the savanna. Species of all kinds gather in one spot, for one purpose, though they are often at odds elsewhere. There is a fragile peace that exists there, balancing on a knife’s edge, the threat of violence constant.

There was none that night, but the following night would see two rhinos — normally solitary animals — dueling at the pool’s edge.

We were just about to leave when one of the giraffes — which until then had been lingering some distance away from the pool — approached, looking as if it wanted some of the luscious liquid in the pool. “C’mon, c’mon, go for it!” we whispered, urging it onward until, at last, it splayed its legs out and stooped down to sip out of the pool.

Dainty dorks, indeed.

Day Two: Morning Game Drive

Our second day in Etosha National Park was to be a long one, with a 4-5 hour game drive in the morning and a 2-3 hour drive in the evening hours before dusk. Little did we know that, despite the awesome sightings from the previous day, our second day in the park would have some of the best individual moments of the entire trip…

One of these was a huge rhino we saw moving through the brush just off a side-road. Khumbu got ahead of it and stopped the vehicle, allowing the beast to lumber past us, then cross the road just ahead.

Just epic.

Once the rhino wandered off, we made our way back towards a watering hole, only to be delayed by a herd of zebras filing past in single file. There were several lions lounging in the bushes nearby, and a few of the zebras stopped to — presumably — stare them to death. By the time we made it to the watering hole some minutes later, the staring zebras hadn’t moved.

But then, neither had the lions, so… mission accomplished?

The morning drive was long and seemed to drag on forever, I couldn’t even guess how much ground we covered over the course of five hours. After a seemingly endless stretch of barren landscape as far as the eyes could see, we came upon a grove of withered and dry trees. Behind them, something moved, its patchwork markings making its body difficult to make out behind the branches.

This camouflage was spoiled, however, by the giraffe’s neck and head jutting up above the tree like a watchtower as it silently regarded the humans it was definitely fooling with its top-notch concealment.

Shortly after, we experienced another one of those trip-defining moments. It started innocuously enough, with Pili Pili calling out, “Oh hey, look, some dik-diks!” Sure enough, two of the little antelopes were standing in the shade of a nearby tree as we came to a stop. “Dik-diks are very unique because when they mate, they mate for life,” Pili told us. “Very romantic.”

As if to lend credence to his words (or disprove them entirely, take your pick!), this happened…

Very romantic, indeed!

Another long drive took us to the edge of the Etosha Salt Pan, which looked for all the world like a sheet of ice stretching to the horizon. Near its edge, a herd of wildebeest grazed — our first up-close sighting of these animals.

We’d finally reached the end point of the drive, and turned back towards Okaukuejo along the long, dusty road, stopping at another watering hole on the way. There, a zebra and oryx scuffled as some springbok and ostrich scurried to get out of the way.

Watering holes really do seem like the UN, sometimes…

Day Two: Evening Game Drive

Our evening drive was just with Khumbu, as Pili Pili stayed behind to work on dinner. The drive was mercifully short compared to the beast of a drive we’d done earlier, but we spotted a pride of lions napping by the roadside, so that was okay.

At first, it seemed to be only a couple of lionesses with their accompanying cubs. One of them got up and plodded languidly in our direction before flopping down in the dust and grass for another nap. A different lioness seemed to have an uncontrollable bout of yawning and bared her fangs for us on multiple occasions.

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But then someone spotted the male, a few meters removed from his pride and under the cover of some brambles. He stirred, seemed about to rise, then did so. Injured, he limped out from his lair and proceeded to defecate in plain view of us. The yawn which occurred during the proceedings was photo gold, though I like to think it was a roar of effort.

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder after taking a picture.

When we arrived back at camp, Pili Pili had a braai nearly ready. Soon, the meat was crackling and spitting over red coals, and the smell of it was enough to set our bellies to rumbling.

Day Three: Departure

When we left Etosha National Park the next day, we squeezed in just one more game drive — a short affair that consisted of a small loop on our way back out of the confines of the park. It was sad to be leaving — we’d seen so much wildlife over the previous two days, it had been insane. But more adventures lay ahead, and Pili Pili assured us that the place we were headed is one of his favorite places in all of Africa…

How about you? Have you ever done a game drive in Etosha or elsewhere? What were some of the animals you encountered on the way? Did you get any awesome or hilarious photos? Share your stories in the comments below!

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Game Drives in Etosha National Park with Acacia Africa My interest in Namibia began with nature documentaries. For some reason, deserts fascinated me -- I think it was the utter foreignness of it.

#desert #endangered species #epic #great view #lake #namibia #national park #tour

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