{"sf1_id":697078,"sf2_id":"XekvMrQ1","title":"Empire of Sand","author":"ShingetsuMoon","words":440,"posted_at":"2014-04-25T02:22:00.000Z","tags":["Desert","Dinosaur","Dragon","Poem","Poetry","empire"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/697078-empire-of-sand","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/XekvMrQ1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/10/bd/10bd45c1-57cd-4a41-b65a-ff274ca56442","description":"#24 of National Poetry Writing Month\n\nPoem number 24 for the month is a return to fantasy! This poem is about the fictional world in my novel Reign of Ice. That fantasy world is primarily ruled over by dragon empires although there are some nations ruled by humans or other species.\nThis poem is about the nation of Khval a large desert nation that occupies a the largest portion of the southern continent. They wield tremendous influence on the surrounding countries and the emperor is one of the rare and powerful supreme dragons.\nThe country of Khval also has dinosaur tribes that live throughout the desert constantly fighting. Who doesn't love dinosaurs?\nI'm hoping to make a full length story or a short novella entitled Empire of Sand featuring the empire of Khval but that will have to wait if it happens at all.\nHope you enjoyed it!","content":"* * *\n\nAnd endless expanse  \nof ever shifting sands.  \nA wasteland that tests  \nthe endurance of even  \nthe mightiest warriors.\n\nGreat sand dunes that  \nstretch up into the sky  \nlike great mountains  \nmarking the way for   \nthose foolish enough  \nto wander the great  \ndesert roads.\n\nAncient monsters of  \nold roam the desert  \nhighways. Their fangs  \nand scales flashing a  \ndire warning to any  \nwho would dare to  \ncross their path.\n\nSlaves bow under whips  \nand claws of masters   \nwho know nothing of  \nmercy or kindness.\n\nPeace has no place in  \nthe sandy stretches of  \nKhval. For here only  \nthe strong survive while  \nthe weak live as slaves  \nunderneath the oppressive  \nweight of their pride and   \narrogance.\n\nOne of the greatest  \nempire's in the world rises  \nup from the sandy dunes  \nof the great desert.\n\nIt gleams like the finest  \ngold but underneath it  \nlies the strength of diamonds.\n\nIt is the greatest jewel of the   \ndesert and home to only the  \nfiercest of creatures.\n\nFrom those who sit atop as  \nmasters to those who slave  \naway as servants.\n\nEvery corner hides a secret  \nand ever secret whispered  \nin your ears could quickly   \nbe followed by the taste   \nof a blade against your skin.\n\nBut all the great reptiles of  \nold and all the pompous rulers  \npale in comparison to the king.\n\nAn emperor with scales that   \ngleam like golden honey.   \nRainbows dance across his hide  \nas the shifting sands play in the  \nbeauty of his face.\n\nElegance proceeds his every  \nword and every footstep he makes.  \nSuch rare perfection that hides  \nthe most wicked of hearts.\n\nDo not be fooled by the great  \nemperor who keeps the jewel  \nof the desert under his claws.\n\nDo not be swayed by the silken  \nwords that fall from his tongue  \nlike the sweetest fruit.\n\nDo not be taken in by eyes  \nthat stare into the depths of   \nyour soul.\n\nFor the finest beauty among  \nall the dragons is countered   \nby a wickedness that knows  \nno bounds.\n\nWith a simple wave of his  \nclaws the sand shifts in  \nwhatever direction he   \ndesires.\n\nHis silver tongue spills  \nforth only evil and hate.  \nHis eyes lust only for  \npower.\n\nScales that gleam like  \njewels hide poison that  \nburns like acid.\n\nHe is more then just  \nthe ruler of the desert.  \nHe is the desert itself.  \nHe is the sand shifting  \nin the wind. The towering  \nmountains looming like  \nmighty towers over barren  \nwasteland roads.\n\nHe is a shape-shifter  \nof sand who can take  \non the appearance of any  \ndragon he so desires.\n\nHe is one of the supreme  \nand his is the Empire of  \nSand.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"National Poetry Writing Month","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/696615-passion.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/697433-boy-or-girl.json"}}