i have been reading tolkien for the past several months. there are consequences.

[sanctumsys]

the below is pilgrimage to the windswept valley, a short story i wrote last night. enjoy.

Day broke over Windtown as a traveler stepped through the crowd, all with bleary eyes as they wakened from the sleep of mere minutes ago. The traveler, clad in a cloak with purple-dyed fringe, was weary; she was also aimless, for the moment. She had several more days to pass the time in the town before her porter would finish making ready for their shared journey, and the quarries of the Bladeswept Valley were many days' travel. Stumbling forth, she came upon a tavern, and swinging the doors open found it to be in an off-peak hour. Her tired vision lead her to an empty seat near the table, and she took it without hesitation, drawing her bag up to the table and clumsily rifling through it for her wallet.
The bartender enthusiastically stepped up to her. "Your face I have seen naught before, traveler. Welcome, and please stay as long as you may wish! The busy hours await long into the day." The tired traveler could muster only a weary "thank you" as she settled in and let her eyes fall on a large chalkboard, the script on it just slightly too small for her to read without squinting. Seeing her struggle, the bartender quickly handed her a paper copy, and from there the traveler easily chose a drink. The bartender asked what her name may be, to which she replied "I am called Alem"; with that, she was left alone, parted with the smile of someone with a long day of tolerable work ahead of them, with a heart put at ease by a kind customer.
"Hello, fair traveler. On what errand do you visit my beloved hometown?"
Startled, she looked to her left, where someone of great stature had somehow taken the seat unnoticed. They wore a cloak, but underneath were clad in bright-burnished armor inscribed with the circular emblem and script of the Zeu. An aura of importance and a command of respect surrounded them. Why was someone of this demeanor speaking with a lowly traveler? Alem drew her cloak in on herself, taking her bag back under it. The strong-statured person noticed, and quickly reassured her; "you need not fear around me, traveler. I care for all who pass through Windtown, short their stays may sometimes be. If you would tell, it would please me to learn of your errands here."
Alem considered for a moment, then flatly stated "I am here only for two days more, for my porter will arrive soon ere we set out on our harsh journey."
"A journey! I do hold a fondness for those who would make such plans deep in my heart. It seems all too infrequent that anyone should set out beyond the borders of our town in these times. My work is with the traders, and we have never been in want, not so long as I have captained the routes." With this they drew up to a boastful pose, sweeping their cloak to the side. "I am Zasta, the one who manages the balance on which this town rests!"
"And what does someone in the realm of business need with such prideful armor?" Alem was not particularly fond of people involved in business; it seemed a boring life to her, one filled with the love of money and items and material things, which overemphasized strategy and research to drain life of its discovery and wonder. She had never met a businessperson who could appreciate the sun glistering off the brink of a towering waterfall, or could sit still for a moment to take in the unsettling beauty of the lakes in Fara's Sward, a long-forgotten town from another age visible on clear days through its deep blue surface.
Zasta simply shrugged. "My pay affords me niceties, and I find the armor suits me well, uncomfortable as it may sometimes be."
With that, the bartender returned to Alem and slid a tall, bubbling glass across the table. Alem rifled through her bag again for her straw, which she mainly used ironically; she found the looks she received when drinking through the hollowed-out bone amusing, and it was more comfortable and sanitary anyway. Finding it, she placed it in the glass, and with a polite thank-you to the bartender sipped of the refreshing ale. Then she spoke.
"Zasta, you strike me differently from the other business-people I've seen in my travels. Most of them pay people like me no mind."
"Really? I supposed I hadn't noticed. I speak not for the other trademasters of this town, but for myself, I enjoy learning about those who pass by here just as much as I care for those I speak to upon every new morning." Zasta swiftly took a menu as they said this, before settling on ordering the same ale as Alem.
Alem fell silent for a moment again, then spoke. "I would tell more of my errand to you, if you would listen. My time in this town has been lonely, and I would rather like to make a friend before I go."
"I would be glad to listen to your tale," Zasta paused, "but I should know your name first. Forgive me for acquainting you with mine before asking for your own."
"I am called Alem", spoke Alem, "and I can surely tell you some more of my plans." She swung her arm around the chair's backrest, turning to the side, and began her long tale.
"I set out for the Bladeswept Valley a week ago, for I desire to look upon the quarries in which my parents worked. In my youth the Valley was attacked by the Peak-people, and old spoils from their crusade must still rest there. I seek the swords of my parents, which I remember the markings of from their visits to me when I was a child."
"Pause, Alem. You seek swords from the Valley?"
Alem stole another glance at Zasta's armor. "Indeed. The Empire of the Zeu from which your armor comes would buy its metal ores from the Rent, which is a story I'm certain you know from your time in trading." Zasta looked down at their armor's engravings with a sharp wonder, and immediately their commanding air inverted to one of mild guilt.
"As I was saying, it's possible those swords still lay there, though I predict looters have not been kind enough to leave everything in place. My journey will take me to the quarry, where I will remain for several days, searching the dark for those blades. I may not find them at all, but since my youth I had resolve to try, and I've finally made ready to carry out my long-planned pilgrimage."
"Alem, you may not need to look so far." Zasta spoke with a trembling voice, moved by Alem's unwavering spirit. "Years ago, my trade convoy seized some spoils from that terrible battle. It may be that your parents' swords lie within this very town."
Alem jumped up, hurting her knee on the table. "If you speak truly, please take me to the stores at once!"
With that, Zasta lead Alem to the warehouse within which was kept the spoils of the Bladeswept Valley quarries. With Zasta's assistance, Alem searched through hundreds of blades. Each blade's surface contained the script of the Zeu, coiling around itself in elegant patterns that would often draw near the edge of the blades. Suddenly, Alem cried out. "Zasta, look! I recognize these inscriptions, for this blade bears my father's favorite poem. Hope is with me that he cleaved at least the skin of the accursed Peak-people before they felled him." They both solemnly slid the blade into a sheath, one of three that Zasta had gifted Alem for safekeeping. In time, they found the blades of Alem's mother and stepfather as well, stowing them safely before opening the warehouse door to find that it was night.
"Thank you, Zasta." Alem spoke with deep gratitude. "With these, my errand is done, but I wish to visit the Valley anyway ere my porter arrives in Windtown."
This took Zasta by mild surprise. "Why travel to the valley now? I'd presume you would want to return home with your newfound prizes."
"They are not mere prizes to me, Zasta, but also excuses. I planned for adventure in the Valley, but I found it here with a new friend. Now I wish to find more adventure, and a journey to the Valley should prove an interesting detour, though my challenge be complete." With this, Alem turned back to Zasta. "Would my friend care to share in the journey?"
Zasta thought. Still moved by Alem's story, they desired to share more words and travels with her, but were still bound by thoughts of business. "Would it be right to leave my post at the trading center for a flight of such a trivial pursuit? I need not to see the quarry."
"Zasta, you misunderstand. I go not for a trivial reason; I go to seek the beauty of Fara's Sward that lies on the path, and to explore the place my parents would live their lives in, and to see what else I may find upon the path there and back. Is it not enough to seek a journey for a journey's sake? Never have I met a business-person who could see the beauty in such things, but in you I see the seeds of one who could appreciate some severance from the crushing pace of a business-minded life. You have an adventurer in you. Would you let them demonstrate the wonders of the unfamiliar to you?"
Zasta spoke quietly: "I will go, Alem."
Alem smiled. "I entered a tavern today looking to sate my thirst, and I find a friend to ease my heart. Thank you, Zasta, and may we have interesting travels."

[neen]

making friends in a place, who could imagine such a thing 

[RT-55J]

I am interested in this setting.

[sanctumsys]

may or may not expand the setting, will provide updates if so. i had a lot of the world in mind writing it and the time it takes place is pretty far divorced from the other things i've documented about it