The Labyrinth

Written for WA Summer Camp 2021 - Prompt 7
Location: Describe an area or geographical landmark wrapped in myth, legend or superstition.

Located at the edge of [Rukbat] spreading into the [Shams Desert], the humongous, imposing walls of the Labyrinth stand tall. The only visible entrance, a portal accessible through the city almost mocking in its simplicity and welcoming inscription on a plaque over it. Although indeed a Labyrinth, its magical properties make it seem more like a maze. The Labyrinth's constant change of walls and pathways make it arduous to follow the correct way to its centre. To this date, there are no records of anyone ever reaching the centre and stories emerged of what is inside and what happened to those who tried to truly explore it. On another note, despite the severity of the conditions inside the Labyrinth and the low rate of survivability of explores, many made it their home. In an egregious financial situation, and with nowhere else available for them to live, people flocked to the Labyrinth and learned to navigate it enough to establish themselves there. The Labyrinth is still recognized as part of [Rukbat] and its inhabitants as proper citizens, but acceptance by the rest of the city's population is still a difficult subject. They are usually treated as the lowest of the low, sometimes as pariahs that even those leaving in the poorest parts of the city disdain. The labyrinth became a land with its own set of rules and rulers besides that which rules all of Rukbat.

Geography

Some paths are well paved with stones while others are made of dirty soil or sand. The ginormous walls are made of large piled stones secured onto each other by linking [ramz]. The whole surface of the stones is inscribed with symbols reminiscent of [ramz] and [mithal]. The area closer to the labyrinth was ruled off-limits to any constructions as the Labyrinth sometimes changes expanding itself there. Some more stable walls are secure enough to build by as they hardly change, however it is more usual that the inhabitants build linked to the surface or inside the thicker walls.

Related Myths