Morning all. can you hear that? It’s me breathing normally, with only a slight cough. Yeah! The weekend of sloth did me a world of good and now I feel 98% better. So let us leave the mostly empty tissue box behind and proceed forward. So, ready for the writing prompt? Excellent. Timers at the ready and go.
Hmm. This was mostly setting. Which is not a bad thing, just odd for me in a morning prompt. But I like it. I don’t know what story I would like to set in this place, but I like the background information. Most of this would never make it into a written piece, but it would be how I think of a site before I set a story in it so it is still quite helpful. I like helpful. its a good way to kick off a Monday.
Monday, August 15th: The north flowing stream was of the highest quality.
The north flowing stream was of the highest quality. The water flowed through the limestone, all impurities filtered out. The water was cool regardless of the time of year and it tasted sweet and pure. Tasting it, the decision was made for the town’s location. A well house was erected near the stream and channels were carved out of the stony ground before any actual building commenced.
With the channels created, the water could flow through the town under the ground. It would be kept cool and pure, the stone surrounds and the buildings placed on top of them keeping the water from evaporating in the desert air. In its channels under the town, not only did the people have access to it, but the water could be led to the fields, irrigating them and turning the once barren landscape into a lush paradise.
The town was a marvel. The caravans would wind through the desert passage ways making their way over land from oasis to oasis with many miles of dusty roadbeds. When they arrived at the newly established town they often believed their sight and senses failed them, so unexpected was the vision. Many people believed they found paradise and had a difficult time in believing they had not in fact died somewhere on the trail. Visitors marveled at the crops waving in the breeze, and the lush fruit hanging from the trees. Since the water was hidden below, kept safe from the desert heat in cool stone channels, few knew how this marvel of a city was created.
They saw only green where no green should be, life where only dry sands once stood. The illusion of a miraculous city was one its rulers used to their advantage. They used the awe others held of their achievements to strike advantageous deals and trade agreements. Those that settled the town came looking for peace. They escaped a never ending war and thought they found a paradise of peace.
They sought to sustain themselves and to better their lives, trading with all and taking no part in the greater politics of the region. For a time they looked blessed by the gods, perhaps even being the favored of one of them. While this kept them safe for a while, as no one wanted to anger whatever god might be protecting them, it was not long before envious eyes were turned their way and others saw the merits of being viewed as the beloved of the gods.
How much more impressive would their reign look if they could add this miraculous jewel of a town to their domain? But as much as the people of the miraculous town in the desert wished for peace, it was a land of war they escaped. Their peaceful wishes did not mean they neglected their defenses. The defenses were maintained and forty six years after their founding, the people of the town sensed a change in their trading partners, set aside their wish for peace and began preparing for war.
Ten til Midnight 