A Libertine Looks Forward
A Libertine Looks Forward
Snow falls heavily on the cobblestone streets of Libertine in the newly created nation of Vulkano as furs in their colonial finest bustle about a clock tower whose face shows the witching hour fast approaching as a new year looms in the very near future. Just below the clock face is a mechanical stage where figures on rails race out from insides to do a performance upon the hour is striking with a different scene performing every time thanks to the wizard that calls the tower home. Below the stage and hanging from lamp posts all around town are banners depicting Vulkano's flag of a scarlet phoenix on an azure field surrounded by a small galaxy of 13 stars.
Around the clock tower are a trio of modest mansions connected to the tower via covered stone bridges that sport colored lanterns celebrating the Furstivus season as the mansions themselves are lit with furs in finery dancing waltzes in celebration of the very recent liberation of their nation from the Draconian Empire. All three mansions sport mortars on their roofs but only one has field pieces on the grounds and this building has high level members of the Vulkano military collected for tonight's festivities. Furs attending the all at the Armistice Palace are almost uniformly armed, mostly with rapiers but a few have basket hilted broadswords which rankles those with the rapiers who consider themselves to be gentlemen as well as officers.
The largest of these is a red furred wolf-bear in an outfit that is much like that subscribed to by Davey Crockett, sans coonskin cap, save for the color which is green. Black tiger stripes frame his face with a black raccoon's mask over his eyes. Many of the other officers look askance of the imposing lupursyn who was in charge of the army's rangers during the war and his attire shows it.
Major Kodyax von Fenryx looks out towards the clock tower on the second floor balcony which connects to the covered bridge leading to the clock tower with an expectant manner. The minute hand of the tower clicks off a measurement of time as a dark furred vixen approaches him from behind in a Gothic dress that just screams witch as she adjusts an amulet featuring the Tree of Life, an amulet Kodyax wears himself as part of his oaths to the Druid Council and serves as a badge of office within that organization. She has her attention on him to the exclusion of everything else around her as she hugs him tightly from behind.
"What are you up to, Kody?" She asks.
"Nothing much, Lady Aurora," Kodyax returns, "None of the other officers interests you?"
"I lost my title long ago," Aurora Storm states as her bangs her head lightly into his back. "And most of the officers here either too old and set in their ways against the old ways or young turks looking to convert me to this one god heresy. I'd rather be with you."
"I am at least a lesser priest of the same faith as yourself," Kodyax says as he looks up to the moon, "Full moon tonight, the Goddess is watching. We have much to do."
"We will be building a new nation," aurora says as she moves in front of and lets Kody hold her close. "Freedom of Faith is coming. The days of stat religions are in the past an to think they tried to use airships and walkers against us."
""We developed the magical machines to explore our world," Kody laughs, "And they turned them into weapon which they then turned on us to try and pacify our rebellion; forgetting the fact we created them and thus we knew how to take them apart. But still there are those that want to claim divine intervention."
"Because it fits their paradigm, "Aurora returns as the minute hand clicks one spot closer to midnight. "We know different and tour rangers know better. The truth is there for those who want to see. So what do you plan to do now that the war is over?"
"I have a few acres in the mountains," Kodyax admits, "including a mine of tin and iron among other metals so I have revenue coming in. Plus the hunting and trapping is good."
"So your personal smithy will stay in business?" Aurora remarks with a smirk.
"Yes, I'll finally have the time to do some blacksmithing and ironwork sculpture again." Kodyax says as he kisses Aurora on top of her head. "I'll still some alchemy and weaponsmithing of course but I'll no long need to oversee craftsmen to make massive amounts of material for the war efforts. What about you?"
"I'm going to need space to set up my own alchemy lab and observatory to support myself," Aurora intimates as she leans against him. "And maybe find a mate."
"Any candidates?" Kody asks as midnight arrives.
The mortars shoot fireworks into the sky as Aurora gives Kodyax a passionate kiss. The mechanical stage puts on a patriotic performance of a phoenix taking down a dragon as icons of faith, including the Tree of Life representing the pagans and the druid priests, orbit the phoenix as both weapons and shield as the flame of truth banishes the darkness of tyranny. Kodyax and Aurora nuzzle lovingly as the crowds below cheer for the new year as the officers behind them clap as the pair joins them and festivities bein anew in earnest.