Travelogue – Velcapampia

Crossing the vast steppes that run from the dry deserts to the west and to the easterly
mountains you approach, you soon come upon the practically legendary city of Velcapampia.
Situated upon a green, flat valley overseen by the peaks of snow-capped mountains, the city
finds itself almost hidden from the rest of civilization, engaging in little trade with world
beyond rocky masses, aside from neighbouring villages. For you see, the city practices self-
sufficiency through its farms perched on the bases of the mountains, sheep and goats bleat,
cows are milked, llamas domesticated and sheered for their wool, sugar cane grown and
procured, herbs harvested, spices cultivated, water drawn from wells, and fresh fruit and
vegetables are gathered on the sunniest of days.

Yet the farms are not what will catch your eyes at first for the city is spoken among travellers
for its architecture and lush designs. You gaze upon the colourful expanse of buildings,
juxtaposed against the greenery of the vegetation; vibrant yellows, oranges, blues, reds,
purples and brighter greens group together to form a bouquet of flowers made from the
mahogany of durable branches, wood from the tall trees of the expansive forest. Elegantly
intertwined figures, appearing as distorted, hazy mountains of wood, painted with an array
of hues of an obscure land. The supports jut out with their fashionable tones, curving and
bending around the main body of twisting branches and knotted twigs. The only other
structures that are composed of a material not from the confines of the forest is the stone
statues of the city’s gods. Age -old, they have weathered the worst of the elements and the
humidity of the grand landscape. The people of Velcapampia are a rather reclusive group, for
you see, they venture only as far as the mountains and plateaus to the east, fearful of what
lies beyond.

The city’s most important building is a marvellous structure, towering and overseeing the city
with its intertwined coloured branches, the Grand Nest as it’s called. Built by the founders of
the city in an age long past, older than even any of the statues of stone. It is maintained and
kept well from the passing time, the rain of a hundred storms and the fires of stray lightning
strike. Those who wish to pursue spirituality or administration purposes within the city may
seek this exotic craftmanship of such scale.

Among the days of harvest, ceremony and traditional, there are days of haggling. While
Velcapampia experiences little trading outside of its mountainous domain, you are by good
chance to come upon and participate in the market where goods stored, brought and
consumed and bargaining is at the behest of the merchants, shopkeepers and customers.
From pots of copper, clay and gold, to jewellery encrusted with diverse gems and markings,
to barbecued pork and roasted lamb dosed with herbs and spices permitting the most
gracious aroma to cultural and spiritual texts. The merchants who travel from faraway lands,
from across the great, harsh desert of west and the dense forests of the east, are considered
to bare the most worthwhile treasures. To the people of Velcapampia they are strange,
unusual relics.

The denizens of Velcapampia are interesting and exotic people; according to their religious
texts they are descended from an even more strange and distant race created by a primal god
whom some of the pious kind believe will return and bring an end to all, including the newer
gods. Indeed you happen upon statues of the city’s various deities scattered across the city,
soft dolls sold at stands and shops, walls and wool tapestries are bespectacled with all manner
mythic beasts and monsters, tales of heroes hunting them, pushing through cursed lands,
leading mighty armies, and some demi-gods. The one god that is most spoken of and
celebrated the most is the eagle-serpent god, who majestic visage also graces its banner.
Among the more peculiar folklore of the city and neighbouring villages, there is legend of a
fierce and dark creature, a malicious entity that lurks within the tallest mountain among the
range.

Appearance-wise the Velcapampians mostly dress themselves in all manner of colours.

Powerful tones that connote emotions and sometimes designate their occupation and role in
society – regular civilians wear a multitude of colours, although you notice that they are plain
compared to the complex and intricate designs of higher citizenry. The priests where clothes
with décor depicting animals and mythical beings and occasionally furs; covered in the most
dazzling patterns and crowns with lengthy, protruding feathers from a plethora of birds. The
guardsmen of the city wear furs and various armour – leather, iron with varying levels of
detail; armed with spears, swords, axes and spangled shields they defend the city from
potential invaders or even worse. Those who go on pilgrimages are required to wear clothing
plumed but simple headwear and robes dominated by more mute colours contrasted by more
flamboyant patterns and an array of scattered across shapes. In terms of language the tongue
spoken in the city and neighbouring villages is one that has words that some of which people
from the surrounding lands may sound familiar, but for the most part is an archaic and
otherworldly language.

Among the pilgrimages that occur over the years the most important one is where you are
required to go beyond the farms and trees that lie across the base of the mountains, travel
through jagged and aeons-old rock formations and chilling weather and proceed to a temple
located within a deep cave. With a lit torch, you enter the cave and proceed to lead a doll
effigy or an urn containing the ashes of beloved one to an altar where the gods are said to
take the souls of those who perished in the mortal realm and ascend them, or if discordant
will send them down to the lowest levels of hell. Those who place a doll effigy are said to
bestowed good luck meaning they have shown your respect to the gods and their grace. Once
you are done you are required to tie a piece of coloured yarn to show you have been on
pilgrimage, though priests do oversee the process.