Chapter 6: Centennial Festives and Knowing Neighbors,
City-State of P'kunk,
January 1, 2900BC
P'kunk, the City of Voodoo and the Paradise on the Crest. It had been three years since Bob led the Inocrypto beyond the Serengeti and the reach of the Imperium. It was a long 15 years working for the Imperial Eyes and doing the things he did. He regret what he did and working for the autocrat. He attended the Brittany Uprising, fought on both sides of the Ego Civil War and through down Christianity as it served as a weapon by the Imperium to wipe out primitive tribes and sell their people a gilded cage. To Bob, the Imperium was the largest cult in humanity, not as violent as the other Immortal-driven nations, but more dangerous.
Even with all that Bob disdain his paymasters and the Hegemon, he had to thank him. It was the Imperium that set up his people, made him act his "final heist", learned the abilities of an Immortal, and turn away from autocracy and absolute power. For him, P'kunk will be the capital for a nation that will serve as one of, if not the only, example of republicanism and democracy in Africa and the world. This to him was the only way to have peace as a state and with Voodoo serving as the guiding light to reform and connect the nomadic tribes of Tanzania and the Nubians who are in the outposts that settled around Lake Victoria.
Bob got out of bed as he dreamed of everything he had to go through, it was painful to remember the past. For him, he gave his life to Bondye to be his Emissary and the Inocrypto's Executive to P'kunk and maintain the daily grind as being an immortal leader of a newly created city-state. He knew that he would have his work cut out for him but this was nothing he had expected. He had done what he could to make the law and government but of course those need improvements, not to mention the request the Upper Council wishes for him to approve or veto such as infrastructure, tax code updates, and of course tribal alchemists wanting to craft gunpowder.
He wanted to get back in bed but a certain heavy knock on the door that made him sigh.
" Who is it?" He said to the door.
" Who do you think it is?" The door bellowed.
" Bittertooth please not today, can you handle the meetings?" Bob said as he tried to cover himself in the sheets.
" Don't tell me you forgot about the festival?" Bittertooth questioned.
Bob looked at the door for a second and threw the sheets off and flipped through the vellum calendar. It was based of the Julian calendar since that was the one that was the most accurate that he could come up with ever since he managed to accurately know the year he was trapped in. If anything, he had the Somalians to thank for domesticating the Ship of the Desert. He grabbed his glasses off the table and adjust his sight to read the Un-hai Script as it started to translate to English.
" Oh damn it!" He yelled at the realization," it's the centennial festival."
" Not just that, our neighbors will be coming and we need help setting up for the trial." Bittertooth responded.
It took a while for him to get his clothing on and get his gris-gris around his neck. He opened the door with him breathing a bit. The former Imperial looked good for himself as Bob saw that he was getting lighter and gray 15 years ago.
" You know I envy you Uluhuk." Bittertooth half-smiled.
" Why, you at least have the blessing of still looking strong and gray. I have to make sure the people of the world know of Bondye and must live on without time effecting me." Bob said chuckling.
Bittertooth shrugged," that maybe true, but don't forget that your also a man despite being the Emissary for Bondye."
Bob nodded as they walked out of the Executive's hall. The people were gathering to the temple center to do community prayer and worship. Bob and Bittertooth walked in as Bittertooth sat with his wife and 15 year old girl. They prayed as Bob kept his head down as he heard the creation stories that he had told the other Witch-Priest that attend to keeping the faith and discussing such matters of the spirit. After prayer and ritual, the Witch-Priest had wish for their Emissary to say a few words for their Centennial Festival.
Bob walked up to the stone podium and he gave a deep breath before he spoke.
" It has been three years since we have made our city. We have came far from the gilded chains of the Imperium and beyond the Serengeti to this city. We have faced death, starvation, and the loss of resources. However we rose above the challenge and Bondye has blessed us with good land for our camels and animal, have been able to craft arts and our family tapestries, and maintained our weapons against those test our strength.
Now we live at the start of the new century, our farms are plentiful and our industry is starting to bloom with the making of iron and bronze. This is time for celebration and the start of a new tradition in honor of our travel companions from the Horn. It will be a test of speed and skill of the bow for our young riders, the glory of riding and the winner will be given a boon from myself and to eat alongside the other riders who skill is ever tested against those who wish to plunder our city.
It will also show the glory of the Inocrypto to our more peaceful neighbors that we've invited and the Nubians who we trade with. So for everyone, be on your best behavior and remember common law is for everyone that walks through our walls. Now let us end in prayer for the Creator God to bless this celebration and send his Loa to watch the safety of our nomadic neighbors."
Bob led ending prayer and the tribe left the large temple to prepare for the festival. Food and goods were being brought from outlaying farms and artisans who forged in the collective bloomeries and jewelers that forged iron and bronze gris-gris with gems that were commonly found around Africa in spades. The bank and hospital were in full force with guards making sure that the tribes and Nubians coming to visit as they didn't trust outsiders so much and running security detail when doing community events was hard because they had to take note of the potential braves that could try their hand.
All tribes and Nubians had to get prior noticed to be entered during the events and relinquish their weapons while keeping a pass with them at all times. Tribal delegation or Nubian outpost leaders had diplomatic immunity to all but the most heinous of crimes as that's common law for all man. Camels and people were painted in intrigue designs as they dressed in colorful robes and carried their family tapestry on the backs of their camels.
The visitors saw the rumored one humped beasts that can travel long than any beast that they hunted in the plains and steppes of Tanzania. Many chieftains brought gifts to the Emissary of the Inocrypto that were of good meat and some jewelry made of bone that they crafted. Bob and Bittertooth reciprocated the gifts in return as a sign of friendship. The Nubians gave customary bows and gifts of bronze swords from the leaders to signify warrior spirit.
Bob gave back iron spears though the Nubians wanted their crossbows but Bittertooth refused it, knowing that Nubia was close to Egypt and they were roped into the Imperial sphere of influence. Besides they less the Imperials knew about them, the better and Bob secretly didn't want a stronger Nubia as long their outposts are around Lake Victoria. Still, they honored the Voodooists as they respected the martial powerss.
Bob and Bittertooth knew that the Nubian leaders in the outpost would get bold one of these days if they see profit but knowing that their forces are centered around raiding around the Nile and fighting Thebes, they can't spare the manpower. Bob knew this as the Nubians weren't exerting as much influence as they did from trading in the Indian Sea and around the Arabian Peninsula. They only gathered resources and those that he made secret contact with had give him the notion that the outpost were expensive to travel down the Nile to gather the mineral wealth and good meat.
They also are more decentralized and the outposts at on more or less their own as long they pay tribute to those up north in the Nile. These crucial pieces of information gave Bob a sense of comfort and fueled his spark of ambition. It's a reason why he invited the leaders of tribes and Nubians, to give influence and start getting them to think of joining the Inocrypto or become allied with one another that can lead to statehood.
One chieftain brought his family and was truly infatuated about the camels and Bob offered to take his family on a tour. Bob knew the chieftain well enough that he would be delighted to take the Emissary up on his offer. Bob and Bittertooth's wife got on their camels with an armed escort as they took them around to the trial area, it was here the chieftain asked questions about the camels and the Inocrypto, mostly since he's tribe was the first to get a trade deal after the failed raid from their rivals, the Agutu.
The Agutu were among those who are known as Ash Stalkers, known for cremating their own dead and putting ash on their bodies. It was supposed to be a mystical enhancement to their combat but many of their warriors were killed by bolt fire and a cavalry charge with spears that caused them to flee. The tribe then came with making the first trade deal between P'kunk and her neighbors, which was a year ago. The Agutu still raided the tribe and Bob has noticed that they even tried to raid Inocrypto hunting parties, which only get pushed backed by recurve bows.
At the stop from the finish line which was painted in purple. The chieftain noticed the targets were painted in white, blue, black, and red. The Emissary talked about targets and how their constructed for their archers to hit the center. It improved accuracy and when your riding you need the most concentration one can muster. The chieftain was amazed at the training but he then asked the question.
" I wish for you to marry one of my daughters." He said.
" I'm sorry Enrikuu, my people don't follow the ways of chieftain bloodlines." Bob said.
" What do you mean? You said your tribe value family in high regards." Enrikuu noted.
" Yes, but remember how we did the trade deal? The same rule applies for making an alliance or going to war against numerous tribes like the Ash Stalkers." The Emissary pleaded.
" But they will crush many of us. They will enslave and take my wives if they fight against us. Your people are strong but are only few in number." Enrikuu started to get angry.
Bob held his hands up to try and calm down the rising temper. He knew that the Ash Stalkers can field their warriors in the hundreds as P'kunk could only field fifty at most and its a blow to the tribe as a whole as they could lose one who is knowledgeable in steel, gunpowder, or medicine. However, Bob had put an Untouchable agent in one of the Ash Stalker tribe ever since the Augtu tried to raid them. It was a good idea when he wanted to fight them.
" Enrikuu, bring this up with the Upper Council and I will support you as best I can. I may not have complete say but my influence could be enough to tip the scale of an alliance in your favor and we can see about the Ash Stalkers."
To the chieftain, that was better than nothing and Bob knew that his ideas of federalism were still too foreign in the eyes of absolute control by the chieftain or wise woman. The idea of being unified by something that's not define by family blood is something that Bob would have to introduce to those who want it.
After setting up the targets and riding back to the city as the festives start. Musical instruments like drums and wooden flutes that they learned while in the Imperium to play songs to give praise to their history and strife. There was dancing and flames turned different colors as they threw mixtures in the pit as they amaze the people.
The second part of the festival was the mock battles were the warriors used wooden weapons and used wrestling to pin one another. The more military-minded followers cheered them on and even gambled wages to see who would win. There was a win and a loss that day but Bob honored both young men for their skill.
The final part of the night was when Bob and other more musically inclined sang
Circle of Life in Un-Hai. It had the use of the native tribal tongue that Bob had to keep as a foundation for the language. One thing it had was more of a Bantu background but the Bantus didn't exist or won't be down here for another 1900 years. However, the visitors understood the Inocrypto anthem as musical instruments and brass bells were used to help the chorus.
As people clapped, Bob was at least happy to know that his tribe could be a large troupe of entertainers in the Imperium if they would've stayed. Though the Hegemon would've spotted a Disney Movie and Graycloaks would be upon them. Though he would've been able to leverage his service to the Imperium for the Eyes to shelter him, but then he would never been able to leave and forge the Inocrypto. As the festival died down, the visitors went to their camps.
Bob stayed up late talking with the majority leaders of the Upper Council for next month to try and get into regional politics. It was something they have been trying to avoid while building up the city's infrastructure so that could recreate steel and platemail or build barges to get access to the Congo for the major surplus of lumber. Bob knew that people were happy within the walls but they needed more manpower, more recruits, and more help that can make things like building trip hammers and future factories for the sake of industrializing a future republic.
They gave their word that they call a Council vote and invite Erinkuu to the hearing and the Upper Councilors know Erinkuu's tribal tongue in varying degrees. After which Bob prayed to Bondye for insight on the idea of making a pro-Inocrypto stance and have a stronger hand in the region to eventually unify it to form the Republic.
January 2
The second day of the festival was the one everyone was ready for, the trial. Young archers from all over the city got on the war camels that they were allowed to borrow the few war camels that they have and were trained to run a good distance with an archer on their back. The contestants had to wear scale armor and were given a quiver on the saddle and a recurve bow. The people from the city and the visitors gathered around as the young riders had started to get on their camels.
Among them were the daughter of the Vice-Excutive, Bittertooth, who saw his 15 year daughter have trouble getting her camel up as it flapped its lips and made a sound like a rumbling car.
Bob had to come around and try to help but she refused, saying that it would" dishonor the glory of her family". Eventually she got it up but it had a glare of red eye before she managed to calm it down.
Bob had to tell everyone that camel were very smart and were quick to anger unless properly soothed. As the racers got up to the starting line, Bob got on his camel and gave the rules for the race. It was simple as the iron arrows that they have were marked with colors corrisponding to their color on their saddle. They must race down to the finish line pass but also score as many points as they can from being accurate.
In this case, there can be two winners for the trial for one who is the fastest and who is the most accurate. As the sound of trumpets blew as the camels moved with surprising speed as some of the young archers were surprised at the power that the camel can have, washing away any notions that they may had of them being angry and lazy.
Bittertooth's daughter was among those that had a slow start but she was able to hurry along. The camels raced with the speed lower than horses but fast enough to make them test their skill as they shot their arrows and try to hit their mark.
Some hit their mark in varying degrees while others got close or are too wide. Bob looked at speeds of the camels and the riders. The young riders needed more control under saddle.
One of the riders had passed the finish line but he fell off the camel as the speed got to him. Bittertooth's daughter was third place but her arrows were the most true and accurate.
Bob congratulated the riders and announced the winners and they brought great honor to their families. A boon was given onto them and a feast was held in their honor among the other camel archers who defend the city-state and those who use the crossbows who aim at the enemies with amazing proficiency.
As the second day of the festival ended, the tribes and Nubians went away to hunt or to their outposts as the city became only Inocrypto and the city returned to normal.
The tribe made a lot of profit and that could be used for helping the winter and started building a windmill to make trip hammers for making better iron plates and industry.