Where Land And Myth Tread (Part Two)

“Wait, they named their space port which receives all incoming traffic be it trade or tourists or dignitaries,,, after the literal gate of their version of the afterlife?”

Ostia Haldus had confronted Dame Noémie Durand once the cruiser had docked into the expansive orbital station. The small convoy of cruisers and escort vessels had traversed through The Veil that enclosed the Kingdom of Midgård’s sectors, the experience of which made the first week of travel somewhat restless and anxiety inducing.

The convoy was docked safely within the berthing limbs, crew being transferred back and forth along with restocking food supplies and munition, while there was talk of some manner of,, priests? clergy? the translation of the native words aren’t perfect it seems. But they were going to supposedly inspect the Warp-core installed in the ships, for what Ostia could not phantom.

“Ostia,mon cher ami, it’s not named so crudely. Valgrind is the name of the first gate on the path to Vallhøl, the hall where all warriors come to rest when they fall in battle. There they drink, feast and train for the ‘War to end all Wars’, whatever that war is,, considering the current conflicts tearing up the Imperium.” Noémie sounding at first as she was reciting from some textbook, before dropping back into her more familiar weary tone.

Why was so many things named so strangely and why does nothing have a Low Gothic translation? Ostia has no interest in having to study for a decade just to ask for some recaff at some street market.

Though she does feel for Noémie and her temperament toward the Imperial bureaucracy. As someone who grew up with and was studying how it (sort-of) worked while still with House Haldus,, versus Noémie whom had to learn what had now become of the Golden Empire she and her people remember from ancient times,, it was a dance macabre. The backstabbing and backroom politics, the copious amounts of gelt and trade secrets being moved, how certain individuals could simply wave a hand and have removed entire continents or planets simply because they wanted to.

Ostia rubbed two digits into the bridge of her nose, trying to wrangle her mind back to the somewhat clear and present. “Fekking hells,, alright alright, Valgrind like a gate towards their heaven then. Now, why aren’t we staying on your cruiser? Aren’t we meant to head to their capital?”

“Oui Oui Oui, ons va ons va. Relax Ostia cheri, the timetable for events and meetings are flexible here in Midgård, and the station needs to ensure our vessels have been sanitized before we head deeper towards the core worlds. For now, we get to relax a little and take in some sights. I hear that the world here had just recently been planted, we may get to see something truly spectacular. It has been many years since I last saw one,,,”

Noémie waves nonchalantly at Ostia, one would think this Imperial never had any sort of get-away or respite in her years. As host to the Lady Haldus, it would be improper of the graying woman not to spoil her guest a little. It might be even good for her health, Ostia did look a little pale when Noémie first met the young woman. Hmmm, need more greens in the next dinner,, and perhaps some extra pillows.

Ostia clearly was not truly in the mood to be a tourist, but with the Grand Dame grabbing her by the wrist and tugging her off towards the closest observatory on this deck of the station, it appears the heir of Haldus has little choice in the matter.

“What is all the fuss about though, its just gotten seeds or grain sown right?” Ostia grumbles as Noemie gets the woman into the large observatory, numerous monitors and holo-screens set up for tourists and crew to look at the progress of the world below. Though it seemed that Ostia is being led to what looks like some manner of telescope, aimed down at one of the continents obscured by some cloud masses.

“Ostiacheri, just take a look down here,, and tell me if this is just some seeds being planted?”

The Haldus heiress glares a little at her host then back to the telescope, deciding just to get this ordeal over with so they could continue on their journey. Propping up her eye into the viewing reticle, letting the numerous lenses adjust to bring into focus the clou-

“What,, what is that? It looks like some giant tree or statue? Or,,”

The clouds full of rain had slowly drifted along the winds, to reveal a massive structure of some sort. It appears to be made from hewn rock and wood, twisted roots and branches clutching at its limbs. No, it was not some sort of natural formation or edifice by Midgård hands, it was a creature? a warp-born being? The being was slowly moving, striding across the muddy plains, its feet of roots and granite tearing up the wet earth while it walked, effectively tilling the soil with the rain and whatever spores and debris from its frame.

In the background Ostia faintly heard some manner of automated tourist guide talking over the vox-hailers, now speaking in Low-Gothic for those who were from the Imperium.

’This planet has been seeded with numerous plants and bacteria from a dozen different colonized realms, and with the aide of Mother Jørd, we help in breathing life back into the world. The giants you see migrating over the continents are Avatars of Jørd, children from the world itself. One can say that the land itself is walking!’

(Ostia Haldus as always belongs to @rowscara! Hope you get better soon!!)

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