The Watchtowers of the Khybris Pass
After such a feast of Thanksgiving at Kiktar Urb, I decided to traverse the Great Sea to the continent beyond - a journey which would take me several weeks at the very least. Long ago, in darker days, the two opposing cities that faced each other were at war with one another. For many centuries they had fought with great armadas to cross the vacant sea. Then, at some point many eons ago, the Great Coronal Khybris formed a plan to protect his people from the ravages of the oncoming ships that spelled disaster and ruin every year at high tide. A man of peace, he wished to end the conflict. But, try as he may, his proposals were all rebuked by the Kingdom of Salfanas who, at the time, was still ruled by an evil Vizier. Hence, the Coronal decided to wall off his kingdom as best as he may. The plan was simple: to make use of the natural cliffs of the archipelagos that surrounded his fair land, and make them a barrier that none could pass without invitation. Military forts were set along the way, and most of the inlets that were large enough for a ship were blocked with stone masonry so that no ship could pass. Setting this wall about the coast was no small task, and it ran deeply into the Royal Treasury. But the people paid willingly for this proposed protection with the hope that it would mean an end to the raids that terrorized the common folk and noble estates alike. All of them participated in this grand plan. Every able person sacrificed a full month out of every year for service to the cause - building the forts, blocking the inlets, cooking the food for the vast numbers of people that were continuously working through the seasons. Even the nobles participated in this endeavor, for the Coronal decreed that all people who would benefit of the protection would pay an equal share in labor. Indeed, there are many songs and tales told of how Khybris himself would walk the ramparts and patch up holes, or feed the tired with his own hand, or even how he would scale the walls of some newly built fort to inspect the quality of the work for himself. He was very much loved for these things, and all looked up to him as a natural leader who was fair in judgment towards all.
Leaving only one natural pass open for traffic to and from other cities, he set upon it's cliffs some watchtowers to be guarded and manned at all times. Various devices were suggested as how to warn the mainland of any hostile approach, but it was settled that smoke signals would be seen the best during the day, and the light of such fires were to be used at night to signal in the same manner. Here, all seagoing and coming traffic would be concentrated. And, of course, it did end the raids. In later years, the Vizier was overthrown and the kingdoms had a true and lasting peace. Now, these two great places stare at each other in a friendly way across the open sea, and no thought is given any longer to the terrible arts of war. The pass, however, is still used, and is still the only place of approach or departure, though the battlements of old have long since crumbled into the timeless history of forgetfulness. And now, the watchtowers stand as a beacon of light to other oncoming ships, guiding them across the dangerous waves towards a port of safekeeping. And, where once there were locking gates that prevented the pass of hostile armadas, there are now Hisheliu and Nika trees that grow in bright colors to adorn The Watchtowers of the Khybris Pass.