Changing Winds

After repeated attempts at intervention and warnings High King Killian had no choice. The land was already beginning to show signs of suffering, and the water pollution was beginning to spread. He had given the order to Orphen at first light that morning. " Their noxious fumes and runoff continues to billow and flow, we've given them plenty of time to change their cancerous existence. You know what must be done". Killian simply stood atop Forias Cassealian looking to the south east, He could already feel the wind beginning to change.

Orphen and over 100 air Spriggan and 100 water Spriggan stood gathered at the boarders of the great forest facing the Polluted and barren lands of the Fundament. Orphen's eyes glowing a deep blue, the wind Spriggan a whisplike white, and the water Spriggan a gentle pale blue as the ritual began to end. The air currents slowly began changing as did the currents of the oceans bordering the Fundament lands. The wind and the air encompassing the Fundament would become thick and heavy at its boarder and in a large dome reaching many many miles into the air.The water as well would change, at 13 miles away from their shores the waters would actively begin opposing itself. In and of itself this wouldn't do anything, you could still walk or swim normally simply feeling the difference when passing the thin threshold. What it DID DO however, was it encapsulated the pollution that The Fundament gave off like a black plague. The smog from their factories and mines would no longer blow out across the rest of continent, the sludge and waste pouring into the ocean would no longer flow past their own borders.

Once it was done the Orphen and 99 each of the water and air Spriggan would blink their eye's returned to normal. 1 of each Spriggan type did not wake though, they would remain in a trance like state. They were layed down and brought back to Forias Cassealian and brought down far beneath the tree to a giant cavernous room, a solemn procession led by Orphen and High King Killian, Where the 2 Spriggan were placed in comfortable lotus positions and raised by air Spriggans and set in empty alcoves lining the giant hall. In the center a large raised ring that bordered a giant seemingly endless pit within it, a brilliant gout of blue flame. This was the Heart of the Spero, the Heart of magik in the world, this was the well of blue fire. The procession left as did Orphen. Killian stayed for awhile speaking softly to himself, or perhaps to those who know would not ever leave the hall. " This was the only choice left to us, Your sacrifices will never be forgotten" He turned and left,as the door closed the only light in the cavern came from the Blue Flame itself, and the several dozen sets of glowing eyes of Spriggan who made the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice of their lives to uphold a permanent ritual. Sustained by the Blue fire till their time was over and another would take their place.

The Fundament did not release an official statement, but anti-drui sentiment in the empire sky rocketed, the Fundament government obviously spun a story tot heir citizens making this sound like an attack to terrorize and frighten the people of their glorious empire, and of course the sheeple of The Fundament ate it up.

Within a few weeks all the air filtration devices for industrial and personal usage were all upgraded and beefed up, made to withstand the new concentration of air pollution. Gigantic water filtration towers were erected along the coasts and major reservoirs of The Fundament, and towers of similar size were under construction to make sure that the air quality didn't deteriorate further, but it wouldn't improve the air quality, not if industry kept going the way it was.

This actually encourage the development of industry and jobs centered around the construction, maintenance and running of these large towers, along with the re purposing and recycling of the particulate blocks from the air and water filtration towers.

Though Drui was angered by the Fundaments continued disregard for the world and their very people, they were not uncaring. Killian had at the same time he ordered the ritual done, ordered a village erected in what was considered a demilitarized zone between the 2 close to the border of Fundament. The village freely offered medical assistance, food and clean water to any people from Fundament that needed it. Spriggan andf other Drui people also spoke to the people trying to show them the harm their country was doing to the world around them showing them what was in the air they breathed, what the noxious runoff did to the ground, plants and animals. Any people who decided to leave the Fundament's cities where welcomed in the village and could be relocated if they wished it. Drui above all wanted people to live in harmony with the world while pursuing their dreams and desires

Most of the people who would come, and there were few who would, were Variant Gears, the non conformists, those set aside and experimented on by the Fundament's Court. Many of them would come for the medical assistance and food and water, but wouldn't leave and be relocated. While being different, these people were still so indoctrinated, that leaving was terrifying to them. The Fundamental and his court were bordering on divinity to these lowly members of Fundament society, disobeying them meant death and ruin for their friends and family.

One day a man would walk into that village later in the day, he was wearing clothes that were obviously for a military commander, but they were ratty, old, and torn. This man was called '37' in the Court, he was the leader of the Variant Vectors, the highly trained military unit of the Fundament made up of those who did not fit in with the rest of their society, those who did not conform. The reason he had come so late was to keep away from the prying eyes of the rest of the court.

A young Drui women and went up to him. "I haven't seen you or anyone dressed quite like you before. What can I do for you? I'm Neara by the way, whats your name?" She ushered him into the village and sat him down in a courtyard area, the sun was setting and the only people left where the Drui who lived there. the rest of the fundament people had already returned home.

He sighed and allowed her to direct him "I'm a Variant Vector, I don't have a name, I have a number. I'm 37...specifically the leader of the Variant Vectors...a member of the court of the fundament. I wanted to ask someone about the promise of relocation? My little brother, he's sick, he can't join the Vectors and you must have an idea of how the court treats the Variant Gears."

Neara nodded and frowned. What is he sick with? we can certainly relocate him if he is willing, he can live here in this village so he's still close to you and other family or we can move him further away. What ever you and he like. Would you like some water or fruit or something? we were going to sit down to eat shortly.

"He was born with asthma, which in most nations is not immediately threatening...But you can see how in The Fundament it can be a problem. He also has early on set degenerative arthritis in both of his knees. The only place for him there is as a Variant Gear, even if he did conform, which he refuses to. They'll do horrible things to him if he doesn't get far away from here. As much as I would love to see him...it's too dangerous for him to be so close. He seems me rarely as is anyway, and our parents are long dead. He just needs a clean slate and a new start." He thought for a moment about the food and water and he nodded hesitantly "I can stay to eat, yes. If it isn't too much to ask of you, I would like to stay the night...unless housing a Fundament General is something you'd rather not do. I'd understand."

"Oh don't be silly, its absolutely fine for you to spend the night, come come" she ushered him fromn the court to a larger building adjacent to it and sat him at a table and sat across from him. around them there were other Drui buzzing around and finishing cooking the large communnal meal. " When do you think you can have your brother arrive? If you think it may be dangerous we should have a Spriggan meet and escort him. What types of things does your brother enjoy? scenery wise and what type of work does he wish he could do? We want to make sure we bring him somewhere that he'll atleast enjoy and be motivated to rehabilitate his knee's.

He nodded, though he felt rather awkward being so welcomed in this place, a place that any other day he wouldn't be anywhere near...a place that would be the first to burn if Drui and his nation ever went into a real wartime situation. Seeing these people and seeing their kindness first hand almost made him think that if that were to ever happen, he wouldn't be able to go through with it. Almost. He was a weapon and a machine, his brother was the only thing making him act human.

"My brother can be brought here within the next couple of days if that is alright, and if you could send a spriggan to wait for him just beyond the border that would be very helpful..." He had to think for a few seconds about the next answers "I think he is interested in medical practices though my position keeps me away from him, I'm not entirely sure. Scenary wise he has never seen anything outside of the Variant Gear mega block. A tree is like a legend to him. Anywhere in Drui would be a paradise."

She smiled and had a sad and pitied look in her eye's watching him talk. " We'll make sure he's safe and make sure that he can do and learn anything he wants.

"Thank you very much..." He said with an awkward attempt at a smile.

Food and water was brought over and the young Drui woman ate with him and tried to make conversation to ease the man.