The Gunpowder Wizard - Avangard: Falling Into Orbit

A cloudless sky stretched across the golden hills; a slight wind brought minor comfort from the burning sun. Kirazi walked with a purpose. An intensity in his steel grey eyes. Each step kicked dust up behind him on the long, lonesome road. Sweat dripped from his brow, and he could feel his dry lips cracking in the dry climate. He reached for his waterskin and drank deeply. The lukewarm liquid slid down his gullet, bringing some relief. He adjusted his bag on his aching shoulder, releasing a grunt of pain. He’d been walking for a day. Part of him thought the tall tale about a portal to another world might have been just that. A tale. 

He raised his eyes from the dirt road, squinting at the distant horizon. He expected to see more of the endless road and the waves of heat rising from them. But he raised his tired eyebrows as he sees the ancient stones he was told of. The kick in his step was restored, and he made it to the unassuming, ruin-like structure. Kirazi crossed into the ruin with anticipation and excitement. He took his hat off as he kneeled before a large stone archway with etchings of clouds in the stone. He dusted his hand across the ground before it. A stone tablet is revealed in the dust. He lets out a tired but satisfied chuckle. He always wanted to do this. He pressed his old, weathered hand against it. A rune upon it glowed a dark blue as it clicked into place. 

Magic swirled around the portal, and a breeze picked up, causing Kirazi’s coat to flutter as he placed his hat back onto his head. The archway hummed to life. Before long, the etched clouds on the archway changed to a dark blue, and the space became engrossed with magical energy. From the portal, a cool, strong wind blew through. It was a great invitation for a hot day like today. Kirazi stood back up, dusting the dirt off his knee. He let out a sigh before he walked through the portal. 

It was like stepping off a cliff. Kirazi was blinded for a moment, But the wind rushing through his ears and gravity pulling him down stirred him into action. As his vision was restored, he could see the never-ending skyscape of Avangard, The World of Skies before him. The airships floating in the distance. But there wasn’t time to sit and admire them. It was just Kirazi’s luck that the portal opened into a freefall. Kirazi was panicking and thrashed against gravity, meagrely attempting to slow the drop. He swore with fear as he broke through one of the clouds, and below him was a massive airship that was getting closer by the second. He wondered if he could avoid it. Measuring the distance, plus his speed, it was too late. He needed to tap into his element. He focused. He’d made objects and other people fly, but never himself. He channelled the energy, putting every ounce of will into the magic. Whispering over and over under his breath. 
 
“Please stop, please stop, please stop.” 

The wind seems to surround him like a whirlwind as he began to slow his fall, pushing himself upright in defiance of gravity. He slows increasingly, letting out a yell of fervour as he stopped a mere 20 feet above the airship. He looks at what he’s done with pride, shouting celebratorily with a fist. 

“Hey!” someone on the deck of the ship below yelled out to him. 
 
“Hey yourself!” he responded, putting his hands on his hips with a smile. 
 
“You’re in the way!” He yelled, pointing to Kirazi’s left. 

“In the way of wh-” As Kirazi looks, his eyes went wide as he was suddenly met with a speeding airship that kindly introduced its windshield to his face. The wind was immediately knocked out of Kirazi as he stuck to the windshield like a bug. Pain radiated through his body. The pilot, a frog-like person, started yelling at the stunned Kirazi angrily, shaking his fist at him. Kirazi could do nothing but groan in shock and pain. The pilot rolled his eyes and pulled a lever which activated his wipers, along with a washing fluid. Kirazi was battered to the side by the wiper and soaked by the fluid, knocking his hat off his head, which became lodged in one of the divots in the ship’s chassis. The wiper hooked onto Kirazi’s coat, and it ripped him back across the windscreen with a yelp. The amphibian pilot cursed in his strange language. Kirazi looked pleadingly at the frog pilot. 
 
“For the. Love of. God. Stop this. Thing. Before I. Hurl.” he begs somewhat passive aggressively with each sway of the wiper. 

The pilot finally turned off the wiper, looking at Kirazi with a devious grin, pulling another lever, as the windscreen flipped upwards before quickly reclosing, launching Kirazi off the ship back into the air. The amphibian chortled with delight as Kirazi screamed in anger and fear. Kirazi flew backwards, though this time, he could see what was coming, as he dodged out of the way of another airship and then another before he finally couldn’t avoid one in time, instead opting to land on the back of the ship. Kirazi reached for his hat to tighten it, only to find it missing. He swore, remembering the amphibian’s ship has it. The pilot of the ship he landed on, an elf-like him, began to yell at him. 
 
“What are you doing!? Get off my ride! You’re slowing me down!” 
 
“Why are you going so fast anyways!?” Kirazi asked frustratedly. 
 
“What are you, dense!? This is a race, N’wah!” He responded. 

“A race, eh...? Listen-” Kirazi responded as the ship made a tight turn, and he had to hang on. 
 
“Listen! I can help you win! That frog in the front took something of mine, and I want it back! I can give you some serious speed, can you handle that?” He ended the last part a bit cheekily, almost challenging the pilot. 
 
“What? Oh, I’m more than ready for anything you can give, old man,” he responded backhandedly. 
 
“Outstanding,” Kirazi said as he focuses all his elemental energy into the ship, and as though on cue, the ship blasted off with intense speed.  

The pilot was pushed back in his chair from the acceleration, as Kirazi remained standing on both feet, the wind parting around him, though blowing against his long coat. The ship doubled, tripled, and quadrupled in speed. The pilot let out a yell of excitement, as they passed the other competitors, who looked on in bewilderment at the cowboy standing the top of the airship moving at such incredible speed. Eventually, they made it next to the amphibian’s ship. The frog looked to his right at the airship and does a double take in surprise. Kirazi gave him a two-finger salute, as he channelled his element to blow his hand back into his hands, catching it, and planting it on his head. He looked down at the pilot, barely sitting in his chair. 
 

“Let's finish this race, boy!” he said with a chuckle. 
 
“Hell yeah, old man!” He said as he punched the throttle, and Kirazi pushed his powers even further. They left behind a streak of light as the amphibian cursed in anger.  

After some expert turns, weaves, and stretches of race through the skies of Avangard, they reached the finish line, winning first place in the race. The pilot got out and greeted Kirazi after claiming his prize, a big bag of money. They stood face to face. 
 
“I don’t know where the hell you came from, cowboy. But that was one hell of a show.” He said, holding out a hand for a high five. 
 
“Weren’t nothing, boy,” he said, slapping his hand. 
 
“Well, wherever you came from, you can tell me over a drink. I know a place where the wine flows like a river, and hey, you deserve a portion of the winnings.” he squealed excitedly. 
 
“Sounds good. Maybe you could tell me more about Avangard, too,” he said with curiosity. 
 
“Whatever, man! Let's go! You can sit in the passenger seat this time if you want.” 
 
Kirazi happily gets into the ship. What a strange, yet awesome beginning to this adventure. He remembered the old horse races. He thought they were fast. This, this was a whole new level. And as they blasted off back into the skies, he couldn’t wait to see what would come next.