Integration of the Ice Giants

Some gardens call it cryptozoology. In our garden we have little use for the term, because we've been able to sufficiently prove the existence, either current or historical of such creatures. I've often talked about adventuring through jungle climates, but its also possible to adventure on the rocks.

As trying as the hot humid conditions as found in the jungles are, its a completely different thing to scale the snow-peaked rock hills of the eastern Garden regions. As the height increases the air thins, the temperature drops ever further. Lungs become stiff in the cold, straining to draw what life sustaining breath they can from the air. Extremeties become increasingly numb, making it ever harder to find purchase in the increasingly slippery hand and footholds in the rock. Snow coverings and snowstorms make it harder and harder to see the sheer drops down which if a man should fall, there is little hope that he should survive.

But that was where I had to trek, to make contact with the giants of the ice. And a trek it was, weeks of travel, four companions came with me, only two reached the snow tribes and only one made it back to the established regions. But what a journey! For all its hardships to open talks with the tribe, the Yetii, was an honour worth sacrifice. They are magnificant to behold, 8 foot tall on average, as broad as three stout men, covered head to toe in white fur. They do not wear clothing, for they see it as unnecessary, but it would be foolish to mistake this for savagery. They are a highly intelligent people, and though their tech differs vastly from our own, it is not far shy of ours in terms of advancement. In fact, had they been in open outside trade for the same time as the currently established regions of the Garden, I would imagine their technology would by now rival our own. Though they are a fierce warrior race in their own right, little of their tech is devoted to war, and instead mainly favours farming and entertainment.

Talks being what they were, I had to prove myself physically first, and while minor concessions were made for my relative stature and lack of fur and claws, I had to track and fight a snowgator single handed. Snowgators are strange creatures indeed, in appearance much like an albino aligator, only covered in fur, and with stronger legs, feet better adapted for climbing frozen peaks, and a spiney protrusion running down their backs. The concessions I was allowed were one of my skins used for warmth during my trek, and my trusted knife, unsheathed of course, for the last thing I wanted was to come into contact with a snowgator only to find it was frozen in its sheath. In all honesty, the battle was less than epic, the snowgator that I found was barely out of its teens, and not too canny. In its haste to attack it slipped thirty feet down a ravine, snapping three of its legs. Never one to let a golden opportunity pass, I climbed down after the little blighter and finished it off with barely a struggle.

Once back to the tribe, they were so impressed by my achievement, as it goes without saying that I embelished the whole affair a little, that not ony did they open some basic trade talks with established regions, but also made me an honorary tribesman, which holds great promise for establishing the snowtribes as official members of the council.

Cryptozoology. The Yeti. Do they exist? Techinically, I am one.

Sea Legs

Accomplished adventurer though I am, I'm no sailor. I know nothing about it and in all honesty, have no great desire to, in spite of a strong naval tradition in my family. I mean sure, I've chartered the odd boat on this expedition and that, but the control of the vessel has always been left to those more experienced, and in this regard, capable than myself.

Its the leviathans you see, I've never liked being in their vicinity, especially in an element where their motion is swift, agile and natural, while ours is sluggish at best. And the sharks. Fascinating creatures from a distance, efficient, deadly, and rather intelligent, as fish go. Doesn't mean I want to get up close and personal with them though.

I prefer flying, I know that a failure in the vessel is far more likely to resut in death, but at least the garden doesn't have too many flying monsters. Leastways, none that pose any significant danger to a flight vessel.

Vindication

I have a theory that I've been working on. Its a kind of meaning of life sort of a thing. People often wonder what it is that people want. Some believe that we are here simply to reproduce, to keep their genes alive, but why? People want something within their lives to keep them going while they're here. Many believe that essentially, people want to be happy. But I don't believe that. No, too many thrive on misery, both their own and others. I believe that the answer to what we seek, to what keeps us going, is vindication.

Yes, justification of your own set of beliefs. That's why those of us who strive for happiness want to believe everone wants to be happy. But observe those who thrive on misery. Social conditioning leads them to claim they wish for happiness, but in truth, what they really seek is proof that their way is the true way, that the world and society, when stripped bare is built on misery. That's why they jump on other's misery with glee. They see it as proof that others dwell in misery, hiding it with a thin veil of smiles. Thus, they feel vindicated, and can go on in their mindset.

So what does each person want? Well, its different for everyone, some need to be good enough. For whom? Good question. Others want to have and raise a successful family, finding vindication in the well being of their offspring.

Well, I'm running late for a conference with the regional council, so I'll leave it at that somewhat rushed conclusion for now. But maybe it gives you something to think on.