Welcome to Gaia! ::

As you travel by boat to the great pass to the south of the water clan, you notice the great mountains that almost completely surrounded the earth clans region. They are the largest clan, but usually stays out of everything. This is the point where you must get off your boat, and start to walk to the tunnel pass to the earth clan.

The gate is sealed with a large boulder, and almost looks like it was abandoned. No guards could be seen near the shear cliff like entrance into their territory. You could see a small guard outpost above the cliff, and a single guard standing way up there.

(More gaurds are in front of the gate, but you can't see them.)

There appears to be no reaction, at least untill you get closer. From the shrubs and other hidden places, guards appear. They all hold long spears up to you. "What is your business here. This is the lands the belong to the Earth clan. State your purpose or leave." The guard says, very precisely. He is crisp and to the point.

The leader of the guards actually walks forwards, looking at the letters seal. "It appears to be the seal of the water elders. Let her through." He dismisses the whole thing that simply and easily. He moves his hands around a bit and a group of guards walks to your sides. "Open the gates!" He yells. You can see the people in the high watchtower move, and then the earth moves. The bolder slowly moves forward, then rolls to the side. The other side looked like a forest. It was a sudden change, almost seeming to be the works of the earth clan.

"While in the earth clan lands, you will be kept under guard. This is for your own protection." The captains actually says to you, adding that last part almost as though to make it sound true. You could tell it was more of a threat to you.

The guards proceed to walk into the forest, not intimidated at all when the large stone rolled back, blocking the light once more. They don't even say a word, and yet all move together, leading you farther into the forest.

One of the guards actually respond. "Usually we feed them to the wild bears that live in these parts." Another guard breaks formation to bat the speaking guard in the ear. He then moves back into formation, without a single word being spoken.

After a short while, you are lead to a rope. "Pull the rope." Each of the guards grab a rope, and the lead on shows you what to do by grabbing a rope and pulling it. He ends up soaring into the air, and through the trees, disappearing into the forest above.

You feet hit the wood soundly, if you don't tumble from the sudden jolt of the stop that is. The other guards land shortly behind you. They had all pulled the rope only seconds behind you.

From your vantage point up here in the treetops, you can see the mountain pass that you traveled through, along with many other tree houses. The houses seem to be partly build on the tree, and partly inside the trees. If it wasn't for the healthy shine of the leaves, you would have thought that the trees would be dead from the houses.

"The person you wish to speak to is over here. Follow and show them your respect." The lead guard says, and the others raise their wooden spears (with stone tips) into a parade stance. They could still pull them out at a moments notice, but they were out of harms way at the moment.

You see some of them talking to animals that are living in the trees. Others cook on an open flame, with stone around it to keep the wood trees from burning. They are all dressed in basic cloth. None seem to be dressed in anything fancy.

The guards stop by a door. "Our Clan elder is in there. Show your respect." The head guard pushes aside a cloth door, releveling a very dark room inside a tree.