[Forum Game] The World at Dawn!

[Polycarp]

A message conveyed to Numenas has been passed on to the Dragonlord Gregor by his agents in the outpost.

[ic=Tuvan Jalay, Bashkyr of Xukhia, to the Prince of Numenas]
My ancestors greet your ancestors, river-prince -
The scouts of my riding tell me of you, a people from the land of the Auri who do not speak their language.  You clothe yourselves in plants like Teschans, but are not from the South.  The scouts tell me you have great wealth of the earth, but hoard it away at the edge of the world, and that you travel like lilies on the water but fear to ride a horse.

My ancestors ask that you send me a hostage to explain yourselves and serve as a guarantor of your amicable intentions.  One can never be too careful with neighbors, friendly though they may be, as even friends may covet another's grazing land.[/ic]

[Wensleydale]

[ic=The Machta]The Machta storms to his map table. "The possessions of my fathers lost! For what? For some puny northern scum who depends on a near-unexpendable force of men, hoping one will be competent! Well, we will show them."[/ic]

[ic=Orders]The Machta proclaims that all people of the Machta require jewelry, and beautiful things to show their superiority over those of Inveran. He proclaims an isles-wide search for valuable natural resources that can be used in trade.
In a more military fashion, the Machta opens a brand new shipyard, for the purposes of beginning to rebuild the galleys. He makes a plea to the scholars of his isles to come together and produce the most powerful ships on the sea, for the glory of all the Machta's people - effectively a copy of those seen during the Inveran conflict.
He also openly encourages the revival of the Raider lifestyle - living at home during the harvest, then becoming what are essentially pirates when they are not needed at home. Due to the recent Inveranian victories, many young men desire greatly to taste their northern 'cousins'' blood. [/ic]

[Atlantis]

Player: Atlantis

Name: Artash

Government: Monarchy, determined by relations to the throne, the next male in line that is old enough. Ruler is titled the Pharaoh.

Religion: Worship of the denizens of the heavens(the groups of stars that look like animals such as in this world, Orion). Each is associated with a domain, suchas hunting or fire. After death, people are always mummyfied.(other egyptian religious rituals).

Culture: Ziggurats, tombs, and many grand buildings. Jewelry is common, even among men. In war, we use war masks, war paint. Gladiatorial matches with lions, etc.

Location: Northwest of Beitar, just east of the hills.
 
[ooc]iS there giant elephants in my area? if so, i use them like Mumakils in Lord of the rings. if its just regular elephants, we use spearmen and archers(only about three people per elephant).[/ooc]

[Wensleydale]

[ooc]I don't think there're any elephants where you are. I'm pretty sure they're only in the sort of 'Indian' areas in the far east of the map.[/ooc]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Reply to Tuvan Jalay]
Esteemed Bashkyr,

We greet you as a friend and potential trading partner, not as rivals or enemies. We are confused by your demand of a hostage, as your great and awesome might eclipses our own like that of an Elephant to an ant. What have you to fear from us, a small trading nation to the far West?

Dragonlord Gregor
[/ic]

[ic=Proclamation of the Dragonlord]
Be it known,

The Machta-In has been a thron in the side of the great people of Inveran for too long. The recent victories over their fleets are a sign from the Dragon Saints that now is the time to take the whole of the Inverness, our rightful inheritance.

All men and captains who volunteer to undertake this challenge will be richly rewarded, for it is the Dragon Saints' will that this come to pass.[/ic]

[ic=Letter to the Auri]
Revered Agah,

Many moons ago, you made me a promise that if we aided you in the taking of Nargaq, you would assist us in claiming the lands of the Machta. Nargaq stands as yours, their last rulers entombed in their own citadel, our side of the bargain is complete.

The Machta-In now lies like a Lamb for the slaughter, her navy in pieces and only her army keeping us out. We request soldiers of the Auri to aid us in the taking of these final islands, as you promised us.
[/ic]
[ic=Letter to Avardera]
King Meas,

The Auri, our allies, promised us land west of Nargaq in return for our aid. We realize that your people may already be looking in that direction as well. In the interests of maintaining peace, we humbly request that a border there be agreed upon, so that none are overstepping their boundaries.

Dragonlord Aristo[/ic]
[ic=Letter to Numenas and the Lost Lands Colony]
Sirs,

Your lands and people, though once from the great islands themselves, are now far flung from Inveran and living amongst foreigners. I write to ask you how you are keeping the laws and customs of Inveran, and whether or not I can count upon you to do your duty to Inveran, to pay your taxes and to answer the call to war.

Dragonlord Gregor[/ic]

[Wensleydale]

[ic=The Proclamation of the Machta]"Friends and peoples of the Machta-In! You know that, in recent years, the weakling northerners have fought and fooled and stood before the might of our people! No longer! We have suffered setbacks due to some quirk of fate granting them a competent general!" He pauses.

"The elders amongst you may remember the days and tales of raiding upon other islands, when weaker Machtas held the Machta-In. Now, though, is the time to turn our ire on our more northern neighbours. I suggest that any man who IS a man return to this lifestyle, take to his fast-boats with any others who wish to join him, and fall upon Inveran like a hammer of the sea! The Triunes are with us, and we shall PERSONALLY supply any man with weapons who needs them!"[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ooc]iS there giant elephants in my area? if so, i use them like Mumakils in Lord of the rings. if its just regular elephants, we use spearmen and archers(only about three people per elephant).[/ooc]

Currently, only the far eastern nations (Murrhat, Cyrenehan, Dekkah) have elephants.

[Polycarp]

[ic=Tuvan Jalay to Dragonlord Gregor]You mistake the intentions of my ancestors.  A notable hostage would also be your emissary to me, who might instruct me as to your traditions and maintain contact between the Bashkyrs and your Principality.  You shame my ancestors by implying that "fear" has anything to do with it.  On the contrary, it is you who should fear the Bashkyrs - but we are also munificent and gracious, and a people properly conducted among us need fear no injustice.[/ic]

[ic=Khozun, Agah of All the Auri, to Dragonlord Gregor]I do not share the curious preoccupation of my father with your lands of the west - but I will not be accused of failing to honor the obligations of my predecessors.  You will be provided with foot archers and auxiliaries at your request, though another war on the steppes may force me to delay assistance.[/ic]

[ic=Dragonlord's Messenger to Gregor]My Lord,
I have arrived in Numenas and am at a loss as to who I should convey your message to.  There is no single leader of this city, and no council or any such enterprise.  One of the Lords of Xukhia, called a "Bashkyr," patrols the region and seems to be the sole check on banditry.  The post itself is home to several Xuk, Auri, and Triple Alliance mercenary bands, employed by various local merchants for security, who often fight amongst each other and control various petty sections of the town.  I witnessed a street battle here when I first arrived; this is a lawless and divided place.  My Lord's colony seems to be keeping no law or traditions I am aware of, and certainly no taxes are being collected here.[/ic]

[Atlantis]

[ooc]are there any giant animals in the area? or just animals of larger stature like rhinos?[/ooc]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Gregor to Tuvan Jalay]
I see.

Misunderstandings of this sort have happened before to our traders. I apologize for any insult you may have perceived from out letter, none was intended.

The bearer of this message and his entourage should be considered a suitable emissary. May we ask that your people reciprocate, and send us an emissary to our capital in exchange? [/ic]  
[ic=Gregor to Messenger to Jalay]
You and your entourage will be staying in Xuk. Among you are several artists, priests, and and mathematicians. Learn and exchange all you can.[/ic]  

[ic=Gregor to the Agah]
We thank your grace for the promise of support. We require as much aid as you can muster as soon as you can provide it, to bring a quick end to this war.[/ic]
[ic=Gregor to the Messenger]
Accompanying this letter is a legion of spearmen, the carrier of this letter is the commander of the company. His forces remain hidden in the wilderness outside the city. Below is a list of all of Inveran's agents within the city.

You have been appointed Drakka of Numenas. Congratulations on your promotion.

Your orders are to go to the merchants most loyal to Inveran, and offer them protection, which will be provided by our spearmen, acting as mercenaries. Fight the other mercenaries at every turn, decrease their numbers, make them wish to leave the city. Once you are protecting the majority of the merchants, declare yourself Drakka, and show them my letter of appointment, which I will send later.

Make this a lawful city in the name of the Dragon Saints.[/ic]

[amikaligula]

Andos' blue-flamed messenger-designating torches are once more aflame at the prows of their vessels.
[ic=Strava Hyslyade to King Maes V]More than a decade ago, a crime was committed, as you well know.  The Ryvan-Holme, in the absence of a Great-Mother or any other official appointed by us, accordingly acted most foolishly and, indeed, in a treasonous manner.  They did not have the right to wage war on you without being led by a Great-Mother.  Indeed, it is questionable at best whether or not the very notion of warring with your shepherd folk was justified.  But leave that to be examined by our Inquisitors.

I hope that the death of the Andosen warriors who trespassed on your territory and knowledge we are about to impart on you will be enough for you to feel like justice has been met, as it surely has been.  If you feel otherwise, you may ask for some other form of reparation, but I warn you that I cannot see what else I can do for you, so it will most likely be refused.

That said, I have led the Ryvalnya and the forces of Stravam to take justice.  I am happy to report that all twenty-one Vrenas who resided over that treasonous council which decided to war with you have been executed.  You may send travelers to the Grycham Rocks to see for themselves and report back to you of this, if you so desire.  Be warned, however, that strange Demons from the Land of the Dead have been seen on ships trying to attack our ships on the west coast.  They were no doubt roused by some explorers who ventured into the western lands against my peoples' advising against it, not believing it was the Land of the Dead.  We have no reason to blame you, however.

Also, getting back to the meeting of justice, in addition to the twenty-one executions of the Vrenas, at least three of the Geethouses that supported the war have dissolved in shame.  One, Ovaytyes, is even extinct.  Of course there are rumors spoken by the Wytches that this is not the case, but suffice to say I listen to my own agents more than heretics.  It was Ovaytyes who convinced the rest of the foolish Ryvan-Holme to attack you, speaking of some betrayal and vows to the Nargacya [Andosen word for Nargaq].  Thus, justice has been met, and I declare the conflict officialy over.  If you dispute this, send an emissary through the necessary channels in Stravam and I shall judge your requests.

~Strava Hyslyade, Judicator of Rylodyn's Way, Protector of the Realm of Andos, and Master of the Ryvalnya.[/ic]

[amikaligula]

[ic=Ryvan-Holme representatives to the Sorghedai]We hear that you fight the Auri.  We do, as well, from the west.  So, enemy-of-our-enemy, could you perhaps be an ally?

They will be persistent in making contact as they understand that the tongue and ways of this strange folk will be not of their ways, but of "more divine" ways.  Also, they will take pains to keep the location of Andos hidden, taking pains that they are not followed north between the mountains[/ic]

[ic=To the Ivrusk]An outrigger canoe ornately engraved and set with amber is left on a beach known to be in Ivrusk territory one evening.  A few observers lie hidden in the cliffs above the beach to report back to a ship of the Ivrusk's reactions when a ship comes back another night, almost a week later.[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ooc]are there any giant animals in the area? or just animals of larger stature like rhinos?[/ooc]

Well, they have lions, but I wouldn't count on being able to ride those.  That land is on the Whale Sea, so whales and giant sea turtles are probably around - it's off that coast that the League first spotted them, I believe.

[ic=Tuvan Jalay to Gregor]You are of course forgiven by my ancestors for any ill-placed words.  Your hostage is acceptable, and I intend to reciprocate.  One of my recordspeakers shall be dispatched to your land, but I would prefer that she remain in your eastern lands rather than your faraway homeland, as our learned women are sacred to us and important to our people.[/ic]

[ic=Company commander to Gregor]Your orders shall be swiftly carried out, my Lord.  Should I seek to retain any of these mercenaries as our allies, or treat them all as enemies of my Lord?[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ic=In the camp of the Ghehesh]A solitary horn blew in the mountains, echoing down the slopes and reaching Seven Springs, the northernmost camp of the Sorghedai.  Here, the steppe ended and gave way to the dark woods of the north, where grazing was scarce and chariots could not go '" land forbidden to the Sorghedai.

The people of the camp were busy with the tasks of the morning.  Young boys washed and groomed the steppe ponies, tying tassles in their manes.  The men were already awake '" some were just coming into camp from the night watch over their flocks, while others sharpened their bronze spears or carved new arrow-shafts for the day's hunt.  The smell of boiling fat and herbs rose thickly over the camp; the day's stew had already been set on the previous day's embers before the sun rose.  Now, the girls of the camp sat in a circle under a sun-shelter of stitched hides, hearing the recitations of the recordspeaker, the oldest woman of the camp.  It was they who were imparted with the knowledge of the ancestors, charged with carrying down the ancestral lore that maintained the sacred honor and traditions of the tribe '" indeed, the whole Confederation.

At the sound of the horn, all looked to the mountains, and then northwards to the shadowy edge of the forest.  Out of the largest, most colorful tent strode the Beshwur, the riding-chief.  It was he who had received the charge from the Confederation to defend these lands, and now he would have to see what had issued forth from them.

The Beshwur had a fairly good idea, this time.  The horn had caught him by surprise two months ago, for he had been in this land five years and never heard the horn more than twice.  Since the black-footed people from the west had first walked obliviously into his riding, they had returned every week, eager to talk with him '" and oddly enough, his people's recordspeaker.  He had been curious at first, but Beshwur Eghke was growing a bit tired of their strange babbling.  Nevertheless, they did not seem dangerous, and these meetings were a welcome diversion from the sour news from the south of lands lost to the Auri and Chalun.

It was only an hour later that, at the edge of the woods and under the shadow of the mountains, the three chariots of Eghke and his retainers reached the small group of Andosen.

Leaping down from his chariot, Eghke brushed the dust off his coat of bronze discs over tanned hide, and looked intently at his visitors.  Perhaps their grasp of Axuk had improved by now '" he had not met with them personally in some time, but his retainers told him that the foreigners had begun asking questions about 'alliances' and 'enemies' and the Auri.

The Beshwur nooded and touched his fist to his forehead.  'My ancestors greet you.  What is the purpose of your journey to my riding?'[/ic]

[ic=On the Ivruskan shores]The Andosen observers watched as a dozen men approach the canoe.  They were clothed in hides and carried bronze hand axes and spears; some had amber brooches or copper jewelry, and a few had pointed copper helmets as well.  There were no women with them, but there were what appeared to be three wolves '" animals never seen by the Andosen before, save for wild packs in the eastern forests '" who traveled with the Ivruskan men and did not fear them.

The group stopped at the canoe and investigated, having a heated (and untranslatable) discussion.  The men then searched the area, letting their wolves sniff the boat, and attempted to track its occupants.  They came quite close to the observers, but did not discover them.  After finding nobody about, the men departed.

Two days later, a slightly larger group returned to the site, bearing oars and a large ceramic pot filled with earth.  After searching the area again, the men pushed the boat into the shallows, and set the pot in its place.  The Ivruskans rowed the boat northwards into the distance.

The Andosen scouts found that the pot full of earth, in fact, had a tiny sapling growing in it.[/ic]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Gregor to Tuvan Jalay]
Our outpost there, I have recently discovered, is in rather a deplorable state. I hold little true sway there, and in that condition I would be unable to protect or even reliably contact your emissary.

She must come with us to our capital, as ours is prepared to go to yours. She will be safer and better cared for here, and treated as well as I am sure you will treat our emissary.
[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Cmdr]
You may use your discretion in the matter. Certainly not those who are actively stirring up trouble and lawlessness, but those willing to bend to Inveran's governance can be allowed to stay.[/ic]