Of Winds, Seas and Sands (Semi-Closed; Gaeltacht)

[Veomo]

notes: This topic is mostly for the nations of Gaeltacht, but if you wishes to play a part in the story, send me a telegram, and we'll talk.

Background

The Fiefdom of Veomo, an archipelago nation in the midst of the Ocean of Ecion, is the last descendent of the great people of Paloa, natives of the shores of the Seas of Akroan. They were the best sailors of the region, and some might dare to say some of the best of their time. Their ships were of a unique design, and their charts the most complete.
But there was a small tribe among them, a tribe that hold a great secret, one chart that included a small archipelago, that no other chart had, a refugee kept secret and guarded by the Monuori; a secret that would be vital on the years to come.
The Paloani were a peaceful people, a nation of merchants, but their wealth soon attracted the attention of a large warrior nation, eager for lands and power; the Kardosians.
It was during the first month of spring that a might army left the limits of Kardosia, conquering lands, gathering vassals, pillaging kingdoms. So aggressive was the campaign that by the end of the fourth month most of the Paloan tribes were decimated.
It was on this precise moment that the ancient chart, so carefully guarded, and a small colony, secretly kept, would be the salvation of the Monuori culture.
The last ship to sail from those shores had an emblematic name, Rufa, which may be translated as Hope; and headed to the hidden island of Lokkun, the largest of the archipelago.
It was on that island that the Monuori settled, and later on met the Ikuani people, from the legendary island of beyond sea. This is the birth of Veomo, and on the archipelago they flourished untouched for many centuries.

On the22nd year of the reign of the Grand Duke Ondrav (circa. 1142)a shipwreck that arrived at the shores of Lokkun called the attention of the Veomese to the world outside the archipelago. But it was only a few years later, on the 1st year of the reign of the Grand Duke Iuln, that a small fleet set sail towards the continent. Here is where our story begins.

On board of the ship Ashfrurar, Captain Ononeos was holding a meeting with the captains of the other ships, the Kendar, and the Rasaorcrar. It was the beginning of the third week, and for a very long time no other soul was seen on the immensities of the Ecion.
But that day would be different, because, as the meeting was going on, a sailor knocked the door.

-Excuse me Captain, but you asked to be informed if anything happened. Well, the Kendar just informs us that they spotted a ship.

Both captains looked over to Ononeos, who said:

-Prepare the boats to take captains Orkrad and Kerdun to their ships. And prepare the crew; we don’t know if they are friends to be, or foes. – And addressing to Captain Orkrad – My friend, give orders to intercept and hail them as soon as you get on board of the Kendar, and let us know of their answer. We’ll be right after you.

The unknown ship was, by what he was told, of a very diferent design of that of the Veomese ships, and it was concerning Ononeos.

[The Knights of St Jhon]

The G.M.S. Victory sailed easily through the calm waters it had been an average day so far nothing of great importance had occurred as of yet. They were on a steady path back toward the port that they maintained within their priory after many days out hunting pirates who continuously harassed the shipping lanes. The G.M.S. Victory was a seventy four gun ship of the line measuring about 46 meters in length and was the pride of the Northern fleet. A cry was heard from the crows nest apparently one of the sailors had spotted something "Sir! Three ship off the port bow! They appear to be headed toward us!" "Keep our current course and slow let them come to us and we shall see what they desire of us. Raise our colors!" ordered Knight Captain Bernard. And so the Orders were followed through they slowed but kept their current course so as not to let on to the other ship that they were aware of their presence.

[Felimid MacFal]

Bruce Brannagh, one of the first Highlanders who joined the St. John priory in Anglesey, was a squire in the guard of Knight Captain Bernard. His sword had been bloodied in the battles fought against pirates, infidel and not, who harassed the trade lanes that lead from the port of Anglesey and the island headquarters of the Knights of St. John. He disdained the use of firearms that many of the knights and their men at arms employed, preferring instead to wield a broadsword that had proven to be so very lethal against the unarmored flesh of the pirates often fought on the open sea. And while normally he would be clad in heavy plate and mail, he knew better than to wear such heavy armor when surrounded by the blue of the ocean.

He heard when the order was given to raise the colors and he quickly climbed up some of the rigging to see what was coming from the deep sea. Being a Highlander by birth, Bruce and his people had very little interest in what lay too far beyond the rich fishing waters along the coast of their territory. His people had boats and ships, but they were mostly used to trade, fish or raid along the coastal waters or move inland up rivers. They cared little for what lay beyond their borders, and for all they knew the blue ocean was the limit of the world. Bruce had seen enough in his time aboard the G.M.S. Victory to know that wasn't true, but even the Knights didn't know what lay that far out in the ocean, so he knew in some small way he would be a part of history.

[Veomo]

As the formation leaded by the Kendar aproached the strange ship, it was clear it was crewed by veterans in those waters. The wind was favorable, and the manouvers were made swiftly and steady.

Leaving the other two ships a little behind, the Kendar placed itself at the starboard of the large ship. The Captain, in his full dress, stood at the Quarterdeck and addressing himself to his crew he said: Steady now, I want no misinterpretations of our intentions. But be ready if we have to engage battle or flee.

Then Standing in all his stature, he called the ship: Aliv maronluoris, zoumis um sim ku bax!(Ahoy sailors, we come in peace!) Meanwhile a white flag was beign raised at the mast, as they learned from the only survivor of the wreckage all those years ago. And every single soul on board waited the response from the ship.

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(obs. as at first I consider that you may or may not understand the Veomese language I'll write both what is said in the language and what it means. After either my people learn yours or some of your people learn ours, I'll be writting everything in english.(somewhat like what happened in the 13th warrior movie))

[The Knights of St Jhon]

"Captain they have raised a white flag! What do you command?" inquired one sailor "Maneuverer alongside we shall see what they want of us this day." Replied Knight Captain Bernard. Once more his commands were obeyed and the Victory moved up alongside the strange vessels "Ahoy there! State your business with us!" Shouted Bernard. All along the ship men prepared themselves for a fight should these strangers make a hostile movement.

[Veomo]

As a man, probably the captain of that ship for the authority in his voice, shouted something Orkrad didn't quite understood, but something on that language made him recall that of the survivor.

Orkrad makes a signal to his first mate to approach, and said: Bring here the young Fadar here, he lived a while with the Shipwreacker, and he might understand this fellows.

As the first mate went for Fadar, Orkrad shouted back: Aliv maronluoris, zoumis um sim ku bax!(Ahoy sailors, we come in peace!) raising his right hand with the palm facing the unknown ship, adding up this time:Simis uybfirakirus ka granku nacai ku Veomo! Nazugamis um bax, um pesca kis bizis ki cindonundu, inku ema zux nissis ancusdraos lapodaram.(We are explores of the great nation of Veomo. We sail in peace, looking for the peoples of the continent, where once our ancestors dwelt) Meanwhile the Rasaocrar and the Ashfrurar, align themselves with the Kendar. A small boat is lowered from the Ashfrurar, and heads to the Kendar. On board five men, including Lord Durras, appointed by the Grand Duke as diplomat for the mission. The wind over the sails, waving the colors of each ship, suddenly stopped, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breaths on that historical moment.

[Veomo]

The small boat arrives at the side of the Kendar, and four of the five men come on board, Lord Durras lead them. At that precise moment the first mate arrives at the quarter deck with the young Fadar whom after a small conversation with the captain shouts to the ship among tons of gesticulations hoping that those men could understand him.

- Ahoy we sail in peace!! we looking for our ancestors land!!

[Felimid MacFal]

The strange ships moved closer and from his vantage point on the rigging, Bruce saw a flurry of activity on the ships. One man in particular was making an effort to communicate over the constantly shrinking distance between the ships. He looked to be in charge, so Bruce assumed he was the captain of at least the vessel he was on, if not the whole group. Bruce leaned forward, as if a few inches less would make him better able to hear, but a slight gust of wind carried the voice of the strange man to him.

He couldn't be sure, but Bruce thought he recognized some of the words. He knew it should be impossible, but it sounded like the Old Tongue that was still spoken in the remote mountains of the Highlands by those who still painted themselves with woad and worshiped the old gods. By way of course he had learned some of the Old Tongue as a child, for many of the traditional ceremonies were still conducted in the Old Tongue, but almost all of the Highlands now used the new language adopted from further inland on the continent, an amalgamation of the different tongues spoken there.

But there it was again! Bruce heard the man's voice. He could only make out a few words but... yes, it was the Old Tongue.

"Captain!" shouted Bruce as he scrambled down from the rigging and rushed towards Knight Captain Bernard, "Captain, I... I understand some of what is being said! They come in peace!"

[Veomo]

There was still no response from the other ship, the silence was disburbing. Lord Durras, the diplomat was now at the quarter deck, he was a rather tall men, about half head taller than Captain Orkrad, and squared shoulders it was clear he had been a military before becoming diplomat. Now in his mid-thirdies some shades of grey already marked his hair.

-Good to see you again young master Fadar! - greeted the diplomat, and turning over to Orkrad - any response yet Captain?

The young Fadar, limited himself to nod, that tall men still impressed him every time he saw him. As to the captain he simply answered without taking his eyes from the supposed captain of the other ship:

-Not yet M'lord Durras.

[Veomo]

As the ships lined up were trying to comunicate with each other, a weather shift brought a huge storm above them. As the clouds gathered above the ships, the waves begun to rise. High walls of water struck the ships, as lightining and thunders crossed the skyes.

The wind shreaded the sail cloth of the Veomese ships. The panic reigned on board of the ship, sailors runned back and foward trying to secure the lines, and avoid crashing the ships against each others.

The small Veomese ships were shattered apart as the storm roared over the sinking sailors heads....