Reaching Samarqand part 2
As they pressed eastward, Pema, Liana, and Gwon journeyed through a landscape brutally transformed by the mass migration of people. The once verdant grasslands lay ravaged, a mere shadow of their former selves, trampled into barrenness. The air hung heavy with the scent of dust and despair.
Soon Pema's kevah tired out, collapsing to the ground, as it grew too exhausted.
"Will it make it?" Liana asked.
Pema looked around. All the grass had been trampled leaving behind a barren land.
"I will give it a quick release," Pema said
"What do you mean?"
Pema then broke the animal's neck, killing it fast, but taking it out of its misery.
Liana gasped a bit with Gwon asked?"Can I eat it then?"
Pema walked the rest of the way, as Liana and Gwon still rode on their mounts. For days they traveled, only finding water every odd day and game that wasn't already hunted down.
They then finally started to get closer to their destination. They heard drums, echoing in the distance, and horns blowing loud sounds. But they still traveled a days, not reaching the source of the sound, as the music was so loud.
As they got closer, they felt a rush of wind hit their backs. They looked high and saw birds flying. But after closer inspection, they were not birds, but large beasts, but they were just flying so high.
Tens to maybe even hundreds of Simurghs flew across the sky toward Samarqand. As they flew, they were dragging storm clouds, like they were wagons, floating in the sky.
They finally had made it to the city of Samarqand more like a huge nomadic campsite. Arguably many millions of Scethian sassan, along with other loyal worshippers subjects of Arslan, like the Aremanians from the mountains to the west, Great rulers and their semi-nomadic warriors of the Jurian cities, and even the most secluded of people the Yathians had come to support Arslan.
"Wow....so many," Gwon said and gasped.
"There are more people here than the entire imperial army at the battle where Emperor Ala was defeated," Liana said.
Soon the clouds started to form. Dark and heavy clouds circulated the expanse., The simurghs started to fly around avoiding the maelstrom.
A strong, powerful divine aura was felt. That of a god.
From the cloud, an immense simurgh flew out. It was huge and was covered in armor. It had even armor on its wings, and with pure strength was still able to fly.
On top of it, a massive Scethain sassan flew. He wore armor woven together from iron feathers, and it looked heavy and light at the same time, but undoubtedly durable. He had an enormous composite bow on his back and many large arrows tightly stuck to the side of the Simurgh.
The Simurgh let out a loud roar, that caused bolts of lightning to strike down. None hit the actual camp, but by sheer luck, one bolt struck only a few meters away from the trio. They had not been found, but it seemed like the Simurgh commanded the storms itself, and wherever it flew, storms followed.
"I suddenly do not want to keep going anymore," Gwon stated, clearly in a sheer state of fear.
They knew who that great sassan was. It was Arslan. The god of the Scethians.
They had to steal from a being stronger maybe even than Dalai, the god of the grey skins. At the same time, maybe millions of people, worshippers of said god were present, with the majority of them being warriors many either matching them or outright being stronger.
"This is suicidal....." Gwon said, not knowing what to do.
"We have our duty from Rufus," Pema uttered.
"I agree with Gwon," Liana said, "It feels like whatever we might try, it anyways will always fail."
"You think Rufus would care? As he ever cared?" Pema questioned, silencing any doubts.
No one questioned, but no one knew what to do now. The item that they needed was somewhere in Arslan's possession.
As they watched the enormous amount of sassans, they knew they had to somehow blend with the masses. But the question was how. Everyone down was a sassan and they were two grey skins and one human. They would stick out like a sore thumb.
They then spotted a group of three sassans, riding on top of kevahs coming back to the large encampment after finishing a hunt and bringing home a stag. The riders all had masks, hiding their faces.
~~
"I think you and Gwon should switch clothing," Liana said.
"I think this fits me perfectly..." Gwon said, while wearing the clothes of one of the scethain sassans that they had spotted earlier, the largest set of clothes, that looked like bed sheets on the small framed Gwon.
Pema looked and tried on his new clothes, which barely covered his grey skin, with the mask being the only thing that was of the right size.
The sassans, the original owners of the clothes, had been tied up. They were unconscious, but still very much alive.
Pema and Gwon switched clothes, Pema still looking like he had tight clothes, as grey skin was on average larger than a sassan.
"Alright, I guess we will just have to go now and see how things go. Through thick and thin," Liana said as they made their way into Samarqand.
Disguised as Scethian Sassans, Liana, Pema, and Gwon ventured cautiously into the sprawling campsite of Samarqand. The enormity of the gathering was overwhelming, with warriors, priests of Arslan, traders, and various followers of Arslan filling the area as far as the eye could see. The trio moved slowly, taking in the sights and sounds of the camp while trying to blend in as much as possible.
The city itself was more of a gathering place. A single destination, designated as the holiest place to those, who were ardent worshippers of Arslan. Great totems, such as skulls from great berserk warriors were placed in one place, and in another, totems stolen from the djinns themselves during the wars of conquest and creation of the sassan heaven.
As they navigated through the sea of tents and people, they were careful to keep their faces hidden, aware that their disguises were not foolproof. The mask that Pema wore only partially concealed his distinctive grey skin, and he had to frequently adjust it to maintain his cover.
"So now what?" Gwon whispered.
"Let's just first see what is and where," Liana whispered.
"Huh?"
"Locate Arslan," Liana said.
They walked around, trying not to garner attention. They felt a powerful aura was felt, close to the center. Before they could get there a scethain sassan yelled to them, "What are you loitering!"
A Scethain sassan, who had also covered his face with a mask yelled to them, "Come on now! We have been summoned! Come on."
It seemed like they were not recognized luckily, but were mistaken to be part of a particular sassan nation. They were pushed toward the center. A huge crowd had gathered with hundreds of thousands of people looking at something.
They found a large altar had been built in stone, with pillars around. Banners flapped in the wind. They had a depiction of a sassan male face on a brown background. The masked sassans had gathered around it, with warriors from the same nation surrounding this altar, to keep the masses at bay.
A large warrior walked forward. He had immense claws for a sassan, and his body resembled in many ways an animal more than an intellectual sassan. The masked warriors beat their shields as he walked up and the crowd was silent. Only the masked sassans cheered. He then released an immense aura, that could be felt in one core.
"Another one?" Gwon said in shock.
"Yes, there is another god here," Pema said.
The god looked up into the sky and yelled," FATHER! I YOUR SON HAVE ARRIVED. SHOW THYSELF TO YOUR PEOPLE AND ME, FOR WE CRAVE TO SEE THE ONE WHO IS ALL OF OUR FATHER IS SPIRIT!"
The cloud gathered and the constantly looming storm got more powerful. Thunder roared and people saw something great flying around the clouds.
"COME AND SHOW YOUR GREATNESS!" The god once more yelled.
The huge Simurgh flapped its wings so hard as it descended from the clouds, yurts collapsed from the pressure of the wind nearby and elderly people fell. The massive divine beast landed onto the altar, which was pushed down, from the massive weight of the monster.
The Simurgh stared at the god until its reigns were pushed by the rider. The monster lowered its head and wings, showing all who were riding this massive beast.
The great warrior came down, jumping onto the altar. All the people bowed down, went to all fours, and stared at the ground. No one dared to gaze upon this reverent person. Gwon, Liana, and Pema followed suit, but they also felt cold sweat flowing, knowing that this being could kill them in a heartbeat if he so wished.
Amid the awe-struck silence, the figure atop the Simurgh, the embodiment of divine power, stood tall and commanding. The majestic armor glinted in the dimming light, reflecting a solemn grace. This was Arslan, the god of the eternal blue skies, revered and feared in equal measure.
Arslan's gaze swept over the crowd, a penetrating look that seemed to pierce through the very soul of every individual present. His presence was overwhelming, almost suffocating, as if the air itself bowed to his will.
Then, in a voice that resonated like thunder, Arslan spoke, "My children, my people, my faithful, the time has come. Xerxes has decreed and shown what he wants, and we must answer. The war that brews will not just be a clash of you mortals, but a confrontation that will decide, who's culture shall remain. So it is us or them. We must stand united, for divided we shall fall to the whims of those who seek to usurp our heaven and plunge the world my father brought to life, into chaos."
His words stirred the crowd into a fervent zeal. Cries of loyalty and chants of war echoed through the camp, a chorus of devotion and readiness.
War was coming.
"Kormos, my son. We have not seen each other for a while," Arslan spoke to his son.
"I know father, but worry not. I am here for you, and always will ´be," Kormos said and then waved his hand, showcasing to his followers to bring forth something," I also have a surprise for you my father. Something that will be of great use to you I am sure of it."
Warriors of Kormos brought in chains, two humans, and one grey skin into the altar. One was a man, and the two others were young women. It was Rufus, Suomi and Amala.