I... you... here... you have seen that wall haven't you? Schildkrote responds hat do you mean 'what wall?' The
very big wall straight ahead! Schildkrote replies. I don't care if it's crumbling, it's solid enough. Schildkrote!
Shildkrote! WHOOSH! Ha ha ha! You scoundrel! Pulled up at the very last whisker! I told
you she was a rebel, didn't I? She just did that to put the squidgy-widgies up me. And
it worked. What's that? Yeah the squidgy-widgies, you know, a bit of a fright. Gives you a crinkled winkle Schildkrote snorts
That wall, the one we almost careened straight into, has its own name. It's called
Spite and it was made by the Bao. Remember them? Those Ayelfs from the Amber City what
was shooting at us earlier? Let's get a better look. Bring us round a bit. See the walkway
and the little forts? Imagine being a Bao guard and marching up and down up there all
day. Wouldn't you be knackered? It stretches right across Ikiga, you know. Goes right
through the swamp and all the way up to the north coast. The Bao loved their walls. Built
several, they did. Most of them are just rubbly lines now. What I never figured out was: were
they building them to keep people in... or keep them out? No one seems very clear about it.
What I do know is just like every story, there's two sides to every wall. And I tell you what,
this wall looks a lot less higgled and piggled from the western side, don't it? Wanna know
why? Well, they're in shadow but if you squint a bit you'll see something. Spotted them?
Those people up on the ladders, with their buckets and pulleys and chisels. Fixing the wall, they
are from dawn till dusk. You'd think it was their wall wouldn't you? It isn't. I don't
know why they've taken on the job. They're clearly not enjoying it. These are the Reakk.
You know them from their hairless heads, bushy eyebrows and round, mousy ears. Look at that
one. Ain't he got a face like a toad that's been left out in the sun? He must have found
himself in the wrong trade. What a sorrowful fate - it's a punishment back in the swamp.
Back home, the ones that love doing a thing are the ones that do it, see. If there's no one
around who loves building, well, you just make do, don't you? And maybe your house falls down
but no one spends their day with a face like that. ...The horizon is smoky blue and gold look.
Those are trees in the distance and lots of them. The Bright Forest. One of the treasures
of Ikiga. From a distance the trees could be a bed of reeds. Up and up and up they go.
Golden and sighing. It's said those thin straight trunks reach for the moon and the canopy forms
only where the moonlight is close. That's when they'll send out their singing branches.
Welcome to many of the most ancient creatures of Meraki and some of the strongest, purest
magic too. That's where the great canopy turtles make their home. Along with many other beings
of blood, sap and spore. The Snerwin and the Hemelkin. It's not unlike the swamp in some
ways. Ancient and elemental. But instead of murk and mud it's a bright and dappled place.
And half the time the trees grow sideways in the swamp not straight up. And it's not
half as muddy. Oh, and when the fairies bite you it doesn't bring you out in bumplings.
So in many ways it's not like the swamp at all, is it? It's just... what I'm trying to say...
is not all things are in the LOOK. It's in the thinginess of them. You know? Oh, never mind...
Schildkrote, take us in and I'll show you what I mean. You can make up
your own minds. What's that? Ah, she says she can't take us because her folks will ground
her and roll her on her back. That sounds a bit harsh. Shildkrote replies Ah ha ha. Alright. Yeah. Well
I'm staying out of it then. Shame though. I guess we'll just have to visit at another
time. Come back in a month and see if this one needs rolling back over.
Here, do you feel that prickling on the back of your neck? Like you've got a new mushroom
coming through. That's the signal, that is. The Above and Beyond is calling us back. There's
no arguing with the Above and Beyond. Take us up, Schildkrote. No storms in these clouds.
All blushing pink and orange look. Wyverns all fast asleep. We're getting the last of the
sun. We've covered a lot of ground, all told. Still, there's so much more we could see.
I haven't got to show you the orcs marvellous airships. The bustle of the Burr Docks or
the excitement of Port Pang. Nothing of the island of Kadriq with its kobalds and dragon
country. And of course the muddiest jewel in Meraki's crown, my homeland. The glorious
swamp. I'd love to take you there. Introduce you to Old Nan and Elder Jhon Boi. Tuck into
a steaming bowl of Hooty-Grooty. It's good stuff is Hooty-Grooty. It's like a stew but
like nothing you've ever had before, I bet. Put it this way: it don't just steam cause
it's hot! Ah, good times. Here, why don't we do this again? What do you say? Next time
you sneak away, Schildkrote, come and get us from the Above and Beyond. Pick up where
we left off. Schildkrote replies That's true. She says it's up to the Above and Beyond, really. You can't
stick pins in its ways. And maybe Meraki has its own stories that it wants to tell. Who
knows if we're in them? But the Above and Beyond likes us, I think. And we're in Coherence
too, so if you ever wanted to, you'll be able to find me again, and I you. Just might take
a bit of looking. Through the clouds and back into the inky blue. Strange to think there's
so much going on below us. It feels more like we're being lifted now. Ready for the whoosh
of stars again, eh? Here they come! ...Sprinkled everywhere. Rinsing us off it feels like.
I think some of these are your stars and some are mine maybe. All dancing together in the
Above and Beyond. Beautiful. It's been a fine adventure sharing this tale with you and a
true pleasure to show you some of the wonders of Meraki. I've never seen some of them before
myself and I bet I won't remember them when I wake up. But somehow that seems all as it
should be. I do promise though I will remember you. Ha ha ha yeah and you too, gal! How can
I forget you? Let's look out for each other in the trails and trials ahead yeah? Well met
travellers. Until next time we meet... laters.