Owl’s Head, New Britannia (PaxLair Times) – December 14, 2014 – by Ashlynn – Today I found myself waking from a deep slumber – not the absinthe induced kind I am accustomed to but something far more fantastical. A vivid dream of another world I had not before visited but that felt strangely familiar regardless.
The first thing I remember is waking on a dirt road clad in sturdy leather armour. Not my first choice of attire but I have been draped in worse in a dream. It was a bright and warm day and ahead of me I could see a village or town surrounded by a wooden pallisade.
Coming to my senses and putting the abnormal choice of attire out of my mind I headed for a bridge and what looked like the town gate only to find myself challenged by a guard in thick steel plate. Though not being the most friendly fellow he was at least forthcoming with some information. I quickly learned from guardsman Micheal that I was outside the town of Owl’s Head ruled by one Lord Enmar. The town was a settlement founded upon the principle of personal freedom located in what they called “the vale” and they were generally suspicious of outlanders.
Which would be me.
Still I managed to convince the guard I wasn’t a brigand or worse, and he allowed me through.
I must confess that at first glance Owl’s Head looked like any town I might see elsewhere. Cove, Jhelom, perhaps even the dream I had of a town called Seyda Neen. But as I made my way across the bridge and through the gate I spotted a large tower topped with a huge metal orb. Lightning seemed to coalesce around the construction and it emitted a low, humming sound. It was quite disconcerting.
Still I have a curious nature and in this dreamworld it seemed I retained free will and I went exploring. I found the usual crafts and services I’d expect in any town. Merchants, bladesmiths, and a public house named the Fire Lotus Tavern. I found what I can only call a temple which contained a stone ankh with which we are all so familiar. I even found a stable and though for some bizarre reason I expected to find a dismembered corpse within, it held only a single horse of curious demeanor.
I learned that a man named Bentham was responsible for overseeing what he called the “tesla guard tower”. The construction apparently hurled lightning magic at those who were not appropriately attuned or branded and this also included animals. The surrounding deer seemed immune and it didn’t seemed too concerned with the presence of rabbits. Bentham was also surprised it didn’t harm me but upon learning of the tower’s function, I was only thankful.
I soon found the residence of Lord Enmar, an obviously martially inclined man with a knight’s bearing. He was clad head to toe in steel plate much like his guards and I did wonder how a small town could afford such well equipped guardsman. I know that Cove struggles for soldiers vestments and most of the watch make do with a bit of old maile or an inherited splint vambrace. Perhaps Lord Enmar led or was part of a knightly order?
If he was then he was not forthcoming with such information and so I parted his company, making haste out a door as a nearby guardsman howled in pain for a reason I still don’t know. I returned to exploring, being caught up in the petty rivalry of two merchants and learning more about the people of the vale.
As I went about my travels wondering if I was in a dream or not I discovered I could alter the appearance of many town buildings at will. I could turn houses into towers and empty burgher plots into dwellings fit for a Duke. I pictured one half of Owl’s Head as a miller’s paradise dominated by several windmills and it was so. And I could cast down buildings I found undesirable at a glance.
But the fantasy was not to last and all dreamers must eventually awake. The world faded, cast into the unmapped labyrinth I call my memory and I opened my eyes once more. Perhaps I will return there one day if the gods allow it. Should that be the case then I pray the reception of the vale folk will be a little warmer for this outlander.