I'm still standing

[xorte]

I have been away for a little while - I guess just under 2 months, and for various reasons home and work related.

so Monday and Tuesday I spent 2 full days just wandering around Ryzom exploring again. It was fantastic !

I packed up my heavy armour and changed into my best shiny high quality casters gear as I prepared for my journey. Being a Zorai I found myself in zora, the capital - it was quiet, but that was to be expected at 5am.

I noticed it had just turned half light and the ground was still covered in a light snow, but mostly I could feel the onset of Spring and the promise of the warmth to come.

Satisfied that I had packed everything I needed in my bag I made my way to the stables to lead out Salvio my mount and journey companion. After banging on the stable door for a few minutes a tired looking stable boy appeared and somewhat rudely enquired to what all the hammering on the door was about.

I was in too good a mood to be affected and payed for 2 bails of hay without further conversation.

Salvio looked happy to see me and pawed the ground and snorted in his unique yet familiar way. I installed the bails of hay in his saddle bags and mounted up.

Together we rode out of the main Zora gates towards the Haven of Purity excited and with a glint of adventure in my eye.

I skirted past the thicker undergrowth and past a small band of kovans who were roasting ragus meat on their campfire and making crude jokes.

As their laughter faded into the distance it was again quiet, just the gentle swaying of the trees and the trickle of a nearby stream.

I rode up through Haven of Purity towards the Void carefully making my way past fields of grazing Tamari and packs of ragus. None of the wildlife seemed interested in me though as I galloped past the odd Kincher or Najab.

Just as I climbed up the hill to the north of the Haven of Purity I reached the foot of a mountain ridge leading up into the mist. The sun was just emerging still and the early morning mist was slowly vapourizing.

Shortly I had ridden to the highest peak of the mountain and far below lay the Lost Valley still shrouded in half light and shadows. Fields of purple goo stretched away behind me as far as the eye could see and as I had hoped I was just in time for the full sunrise.

As the Sun rose higher, now a little above the line of the tree tops the sky was streaked with awesome purple, gold and red colours, like jena herself had driven her paint brush across the sky making bold strokes of colour with her divine hand.

A gentle breeze stirred the Rapacious Cratchas that seemed to breathe in the morning air and the roaming Ploderous grunted as they moved slowly across the mountainside.

Now the sun had burned away the mists and the view was breathtaking. I could clearly see the hawkers camp far below to the North East of the Valley, and packs of Gubani restlessly pacing the landscape below.

I truly felt humbled to witness such beauty, I dismounted and patted Salvio gently as I stepped into the first moves of my Warriors Tai Chi all the time breathing in the sweet air..........

Xorte

[borg9]

Welcome Back Xorte, good to see you.

(Captured the atmosphere perfectly, Zoria is a beautiful place and has special memories for me.)

[xorte]

Thanks for the nice comments

[kildarin]

I believe I met you in Zorai a long time ago.
you're a real gentleman
Welcome back!

[ilthor]

Welcome back Xorte, may your line grow and prosper!

[vaynen]

Very nice Xorte, very nice!
Where is that /tai-chi emote, dev-team??

[kibsword]

Welcome back Xorte, great to have you around again. Nice come back story, loved it

-kibsywibsy

[jarko]

welcome back matie1!!

[glipe]

Good to have you back man. Nice story too.

[kostika]

XORTE!! Its so nice to see you again! You have been missed.