Novels

Being a natural phenomenon that stretches over twenty leagues, transit to the Upside-down Storm is accessible from multiple towns, cities, and locations across Chikurry. The most commonly visited location, and therefore the best equipped to handle large numbers of tourists, is Fulldin’s Point, a small bay that extends into the storm along its south-eastern edge. There are regular bus services to Fulldin’s Point from both nearby Klendin and Redgar’s Falls.

Travel from Klendin will take anywhere from three to four hours and will cost about 30 stone. A round-trip ticket from Redgar’s Falls will take an hour both ways by bus, and can be purchased for as little as 10 stone. Some locals offer horse-drawn carriage rides to Fulldin’s Point, which is well worth the 50 stone price-tag, if you have a half-day to spare.

If you want to longwalk to Fulldin’s Point, I’d suggest starting from Redgar’s Falls, though if you have a few days-worth of hiking in you, Klendin is not a terrible option.

Trep Haenny lies on the western coast of Chikurry and is easily accessible by bus or longwalk from nearby Kurgilchin. Getting to Kurgilchin is also simple; bus service from central Urdahl is expensive at 20 stone for a round-trip ticket; a cheaper method is to take a carriage or longwalk to Loggden, and then purchase a seat to Trep Haenny on one of the more unique methods of transit in our fantastical world: the beetlehopper.

The Mule Beetle is a fascinating breed of insect, related to the yellow mealworm beetle. Commonly measuring between three to five feet in length and two to three feet in height, mule beetles are incredibly docile, mostly surviving on fruit and decaying plant-matter. They are sometimes ridden as pets by young children, and are common around the Loggden region.

In 1863, Renly Longfinger built the first mechanical beetlehopper, a vehicle designed after the mule beetle’s swimming-like method of locomotion. Intended as a recreation and novelty, the beetlehopper was soon used for evening rides and casual commuting around Loggden and between the nearby towns. While the beetlehopper doesn’t, in fact, hop; its shuffling movement causes a gentle back-and-forth rocking that can certainly give the illusion of hopping to the passengers. If you are easily sea-sick, perhaps give the beetlehopper a pass.

Porra is the largest province in Chikurry, dominating the eastern portion of the country. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to find a flight from a major airline hub, but the more reliable method to reach Porra is to take a long-ferry to the Shoreden town docks in Lush, and take a buss to Porra from there. You can make the whole trip for less than 200 stone during the busy season.

Once you reach Porra, it’s almost impossible to not visit the Mushroom Palace. Roads, bus services, caravans, and even the gentle slope of the hills and valleys all seemed designed to guide you to the palace and its surrounding town, Stone’s Throw; some historians assert the topography was altered to make this happen. The nearby towns of Longfoot, Quillden, and Valleybottom all have easy roads and regular bus services to Stone’s Throw, though if you have the time, I heartily recommend taking a longwalk from Quillden. This road has some of the most beautiful sights in all of Porra, with pastoral fields and gentle hills giving you regularly amazing vistas. All told, the walk should only take you two days.

Gnatted Hollow resides on the northern edge of the Forest of Pich, the largest forest in Chikurry. Your usual methods of transit apply, including chartering a Beetlehopper, sharing space on a carriage, or joining in the fine Chikurry tradition of longwalking.

My favorite method of transit is purchasing a ticket for the Longgaff Ferry out of Braghest. The price should range only from 20 to 30 lap, with round ticket prices being around 40. The journey takes about twelve hours, with food and drink available for purchase. The Longgaff ferry takes after the Gaff sense of hospitality, and there will be plenty of relatively comfortable bunks for travelers to rest in.

People travel for all sorts of reasons, and one of the best reasons I’ve found to visit Chikurry is for relaxation.

I want to make clear; relaxing doesn’t mean boring. Yes, Chikurry occupies a quiet and humble place in the world, but if you seek excitement, don’t count this region out. When I say “relaxing,” what I mean is a place ideally suited for recharging your batteries. A place where you can relax on the beach, go out dancing, or take part in a music festival as you see fit. Chikurry is a pastoral place of some of the best scenery in the world, and is ideal for vacationers who want to experience more of the natural world.

Now, it is not my place to argue whether or not the beauty of our finest constructions compares to that of the natural world. I myself find the two are different enough that finding beauty in one is no barrier to finding beauty in the other, and the beauty of nature is astounding. From the Shimmering Falls of Elgire to the Ice Sword of Kiggian range, our world is full of remarkable beauty and uncompromising majesty.

There are several companies that provide Mirrored Clouds cruises. The differences are significant, so I won’t bother detailing each, save to give you some options:

If you’re on a budget, consider the Royal Vizier Cruise or Whitesky Tours. Both are quite reasonably priced, and provide comfortable accommodations and amenities. Whitesky Tours manages to keep costs low by reducing the number of stops on the cruise, making it much shorter than most other tours, while still making sure you see the most spectacular parts of the Mirrored Clouds. I personally prefer Royal Vizier, as they keep costs low by cutting back on luxuries such as on-board entertainment and high-end meals. This makes a Royal Vizier cruise much less ostentatious than other cruises, and more like a train service.

The Ushkagoosh Valley is located just outside Esseck town, on the south-eastern edge of Mustain province. In walkable distance from the town, access includes regular shuttle services, taxis, and carriages.

Reaching Esseck is slightly more difficult, as train services reach only as far as Dorsden. Busses from Dorsden depart twice daily, and cost around 2N a ticket. The ride itself will take about an hour, so make sure you bring along a book to read. I highly recommend a history of the Everburning Torch, as its full history is quite interesting.

The Ushkagoosh Valley is located just outside Esseck town, on the south-eastern edge of Mustain province. In walkable distance from the town, access includes regular shuttle services, taxis, and carriages.

Reaching Esseck is slightly more difficult, as train services reach only as far as Dorsden. Busses from Dorsden depart twice daily, and cost around 2N a ticket. The ride itself will take about an hour, so make sure you bring along a book to read. I highly recommend a history of the Everburning Torch, as its full history is quite interesting.

Travel to Belliboos is limited, as the region is largely surrounded by mountains. The most reliable method is travel by hot-air balloon, though there is a train line that cuts through the mountains. It is perhaps a more direct route, but certainly has less in the way of impressive views.

The Red Morning Balloon Ferry is probably the best option for most travelers, as they also include several minor convenience services, such as a currency exchange and purchasable guide-books and maps.

Travel by balloon will take anywhere from two to three hours, depending on the wind, while the train will only take one and a half hours. There are no meals on the train, however, while most balloon ferries provide at least a small snack and drink for purchase.

Once a towering empire that spanned countless kingdoms and continents, the Old Kingdom has since dwindled in strength and prestige to the polished museum piece it is now. Countless ancient legends have their origins in the Old Kingdom, with historical mores and cultural tropes spreading through the ages. It is suggested by some historians that the world culture that exists today is largely a byproduct of the Old Kingdom. I, of couese, don’t know any facts of the matter. What I do know is that the Old Kingdom is a place of deep historical significance.

Personally, I have an awkward relationship to the historical. I am a person who tries to concern themselves with the present. While I do not dispute the importance of history, much less its impact on current events, I find myself somewhat ambivalent when standing in front of ancient artifacts or visiting the locations of important historical events.