Arrival

“The first time I came to Jædð I smelled the City before it came into view through the evening haze. The sun was setting behind us as the galley-men rowed us into port, the sound of the oars soon fading into the sounds of the bustling docks. Ships with sails of all colors were moored there. Endless chains of men and beasts unloaded exotic wares from the ships and loaded cloth, casks, and crates back on board.

“As we drew closer the crew grew more nervous. This was the first truth that I learned of the City; visitors cannot wait to leave but natives remain relaxed and calm. A lethargy hangs over the City that crouches on the edge of the Dreamlands. Though the Temple of Sūdul stands abandoned in the Old Quarter her heavy presence is breathed with every step.

“The second thing I noticed about the City were the high vine shrouded stones. The Jædðàri call them pīlið, and they tower above all the buildings and wooden walkways like sentinels of Wōd. Many support spiraling walkways and over-reaching platform houses; most near the Sha’al neighborhoods others are left in their natural state. The Sha’al do however cover their bases with intricate reliefs, some of which are worn beyond recognition and older than the surrounding City.

“As our ship moved into the City through the Run Sùlūð delta I was struck by the variety of the people that mill through the streets, and the intermingled architectures borrowed from homelands far more distant than I’ve traveled. The piers were filled with the expressionless dull-violet Nūð, a slave-race found deep within the Dreamland jungles. All stopped for a moment to watch our ship pass, but were whipped back to duty. There was no outwardly obvious pain or recoiling from the whips, but they continued working just the same.

“Passing between the pier-lined shores, I watched the dweme pass slowly by. Their covered tables were packed with throngs of patrons, sipping tropical drinks and smoking from elaborate pipes and bowls. Some stared mindlessly into the turning brown river water, others into the hazy sunset clouds. Somewhere ahead, a torrū cried; I spent a minute or so scanning the docks for the “imperiled lady” before it was explained to me.

“I spent the next several minutes searching the water for sight of the fish. I could not find anything resembling the description, but did notice hundreds of little whirlpools and regions where the water bubbled furiously. One of the sailors pointed and explained which were springs, and which were radū. I could not tell the difference, but her identification indicated that the differences were “obvious”. It occurred to me that swimming might be unthinkably dangerous here.

“At the dock a tall man climbed on to the ship and spoke with the captain for several minutes. During this the sailors climbed the rigging and furled the large lanteen sail. I heard the anchor chain slide through a channel beneath the deck, and was surprised at how long it fed before stopping. The Run Sùlūð cuts a deep channel through Jædð. Waiting on the docks were five Nūðyr waiting for instruction.

“Finally, the tall man climbed back to the dock and after giving the slaves their orders walked down the shore to another pier, where a dark blue ship was mooring. The captain found me among the ensuing bustle and shook my hand. “Welcome to the Dreaming City” he said. “We’ll be leaving in the morning but your passage ends here so as long as you and your belongings are off-ship by dawn, our business is done. Good luck.” I thanked him for an uncomplicated journey and went below to gather my things.

“Soon I was stepping from the ship that had been my home these past couple months, unsure what to expect and hoping that I would meet my contacts before too long here, alone.

Lures of the Calàsba Ta

“Following your nose is a dangerous way to orient one’s self. No street names are painted on the buildings of Jædð and except for the occasional obelisk one street is very like another. For an hour or more I wandered in and out of streets and alleys, attracting curious and unwelcoming looks. I asked several people for directions, and although most seemed to know what I was saying, I could not begin to understand the answers. I had been warned about this before setting-out for Jædð, that the City was a mixing bowl of people, races, cultures, and languages. I admit to stopping and watching the strange Sha’al as they moved effortlessly and unconcerned among the Yrūn.”

Written: 20 Oct 2000