Castles and Fields (Part 1

CASTLES AND FIELDS

Villandi is an ancient world, plucked out of time like an old story. Be assured, some of this story is very, very old, as it concerns creatures created hundreds of years ago. But to properly understand it, one must place themselves in a similarly distant situation. Imagine, if you will, a world of giants. Villandi was host to many creatures of such bounty, giants, trolls, and men not excluded. All were under the watchful rule of Ofleti, a king rightfully addressed as a god for his wisdom, creativity, and indomitable strength in battle. Ofleti was the first being cast unto the world, and therefore believes the world is his to control. Under his rule, Villandi was slowly sculptured into the image he desired. Every animal and plant; all the seasons and diseases; even the light of the sun and moon spawns directly from Ofleti’s imagination some millennia ago. Despite his immense power, Ofleti suffered from the most severe gluttony. Discontent to live among the lesser beings, he came upon the idea of an enormous structure. So large he wished it that he could wander its vast halls and chambers for all eternity and never grow bored. But just as Ofleti was glutenous, so was he impatient; to build such a castle would take an immeasurable amount of time, and how could he be surprised if he knew the contents of every room? From this, Ofleti designed the giants. Giants looked very much like ordinary people; some were beautiful, others were grotesque and often mistaken for the despicable trolls; some had brown hair, and depending on the season, may even have blonde hair. The very old giants with white and grey hair sometimes, if the spot for a bit of fun, would sit very still and could be easily confused for a snow-capped mountain. This particular story involves Hallra, the tallest of all giants. So tall he was, the regular-size men had no measure to judge his height, for he was taller than everything else. Over ten seasons, the giants dug trenches and hurled stones from the great mountains. The ingenuity of man was used to create the interiors the rooms. To this day, many men still devise new ways to please Ofleti in his palace. Hallra was not involved in the building of the massive castle – this was long before his time – but the legend had passed the lineage, so he knew the story just as well as his ancestors. The giants, their work completed, dispersed across Villandi. Some ventured to the mountains to build their own structures; others became constructors for the men, and they often lived in agreement of one another. Ofleti remained extremely pleased with his castle for a long time, and never grew bored again. It is hard to tell exactly how long he had been in this castle, but one room in particular struck him with new purpose. The room was small and sparse, save for a lonely window opposite the door. It was curved (like the interior of a ball), situated to the eastern side of castle and the rising sun. It was also the highest room of the castle, and Ofleti took great joy in watching the world he’d moulded from the best vantage. Although, upon first gazing out the window, Ofleti realized he in fact did not have the best vantage. This privilege belonged to Hallra. For the first time, something akin to jealousy bubbled inside him. From this room, Ofleti could see the incalculable size of Hallra’s steadings. His wheatfield grew into a dense forest; the vineyard stretched past the horizon; and the lodgings – though not as wide as Ofleti’s – rose deep into the heavens. Over time, his unchecked jealousy became too much to endure. He summoned a council of his most trusted friends. “This farm to the east,” said Ofleti. “Tended by the giant, I should like it very much.” “And what do you propose?” asked Bardaga, the kings battle-master. “A compromise,” said Ofleti. “Something to satisfy both parties. Surely the giant, Hallra you say, shall want for more than a plot of land.” “Such a compromise must be substantial,” said Skynsa, the wise-man. “For giants seldom desire more than the space to be themselves.” Ofleti nodded in agreement. “Yes, but surely there is something he would want, and there is nothing I cannot grant him.” TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 3