The Test of Time (IC)

[Photana]

OOC
The Test of Time

The year is 10,000 5000 BCE, and the world has been changed forever. One intelligent species, Homo sapiens sapiens - modern man, has spread out and dominated the globe, assimilating and annihilating his rivals. Man's spread, however, may be short lived. The world still remains in the depths of an Ice Age, much of the land is buried under miles of ice, and the land that remains unbarren is filled with deadly predators and dangerous prey. In this dangerous world, the seeds of something bigger than isolated tribalism are being planted. The dangers of this world force humans to co-operate, speak to each other, learn from each other. The dangers of this world force humans to move frequently, to use whatever they can to survive. This dangerous world kills many, and this high mortality rate has brought about ceremonies to honor the dead and prepare them for the next life.

But this dangerous world is changing. Slowly but surely, this world is changing. The snows come a bit later, the summer stays for longer and melts more of the ice and snow. As the world changes, so does humanity. This slow warming will not just provide more ways of gathering food, or expand hunting lands, the slow warming of the globe will start a revolution - Agriculture - that will allow humanity to settle, grow from village to town to city all the while expanding their minds as well. The slow warming of the globe will allow humanity to progress beyond simple tribes and start testing their ideas, but the true test - the Test of Time - has already begun, and though many groups will fail this test and be forgotten, some lucky few will pass this test, and lead humanity not only across this globe, but across the stars.

---

Azkainite Tale One: Kazos and the Farmers

One day, Great Aztan Kazos was travelling his island.

As he traveled, he happened upon a group of men, cutting trees.

Kazos spoke to them, "Men, why do you clear these trees? You are far from your village and have no use for clear land."

"Great Aztan", spoke back one of the men, "we labor to clear these trees so we can plant where they once stood. The our plants can grow, and we can feed our people"

After speaking to the men, the Aztan continued through the land of his people. The next village he came upon was surrounded by fields of grains. He traveled through the fields into the village.

In this village, he saw prosperity. Children played in the streets, being well fed, men and women talked in the village center, occasionally biting from loaves and drinking grape juices.

Kazos continued his trek, and came across one final village. The grains were dead, dying, briwn, and covered in locusts. He traveled to the village.

Here, starved children sat outside their houses, too hungry to play. Men and women were wandering, starved and angry at each other.

The Azatn asked a villager, "Why do you starve?"

The villager responded, "The souls of the grains were not pleased with us, and invited the locusts and blight. We starve because of our hubris, we starve because we though we owned the earth."

The Aztan completed his trip around the island, and when he returned to his village, he spoke thus: " If man must plant, he will grow strong. But when he forgets his place, he will grow weak. Man must be balanced!"

[The Orson Empire]

Korum, Mesopotamia
5,000 BCE

Korum was a large village consisting of 3,000 people who were referred to as the Koruma. The city was located in the fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia (RL Babylon). The village consisted of many mudbrick and reed houses. There were also numerous farms in the village, as the Koruma had been practicing intense subsistence agriculture ever since they gave up their hunter-gatherer ways centuries ago. The farms depended on irrigation canals, a recent invention that had been made by the Koruma, so that they could be watered, as there was little water in the surrounding deserts. The village was a chiefdom, meaning that it was led by a chieftain who was chosen at birth to lead the village by the senior members of the most powerful families in the village; the current chieftain was Vulara. The shift to a chiefdom had created a much more complex society in Korum then was ever present before, marked by increased social stratification and declining egalitarianism (equality among everyone in the village). For the first time, instead of everyone being treated equally, those in the elite class enjoyed more privileges then the commoners.

Around the village was a large city wall made out of bricks, along with two gates. The walls were meant to protect Korum from attacks by other villages in the area, most notably a village the Koruma referred to as "Ugor". Ugor and Korum were two of the most powerful villages in the area, and they had been arch-enemies for decades. There has been frequent small scale combat between the two, but a full scale war has yet to erupt.

[Abrahammia]

In Confuse, people are beginning to make farms, as they see it as a more reliant source of food then hunting and gathering. Chief Confucius came up with the idea, but now has more plans. He instructs people to sacrifice animals near the farms. This way, the sun will be pleased by their offerings and grant them good harvest. To sacrifice an animal, people must kill it somehow, take it near a farm, and burn it. By burning it, you release its soul, which is the smoke. The smoke from the fire goes up to the sun and the animal disintegrates, showing that the sun is receiving the animal spirit.

[The Emerald Dragon]

Changdi, Okinawa


Changdi. The one word that all the tribes in central Okinawa feared; it stood for brutal efficiency and the power of will. Tales of the adult male populace of Changdi, numbering just 150 defeating the larger forces of hostile tribesmen against the odds had become legendary. Their martial prowess having beaten back and decimated their enemies over the years, however, today all was quiet. The entire populace of the Taigami people lived in this settlement, protected by large mounds of mud that had been turned into a defensive embankment. Protected by this embarkment - the 'heartland' of the Taigami, the women and children who are destined to be mothers, warriors and living legends among the tribe in future generations. When they unify the Ryukyu Islands, then they will move onto the large and mysterious landmass to the West and use the island to the Southwest as a steeping stone. But for now, preparations for the annual warrior games among the younger generations take precedence over this mysteriously tempting pipe dreams. Getting caught up in these dreams will prove deadly, as they'll be unable to achieve them if they spend too much time fantasising and not enough fishing, farming and growing their community.

WIP

[Stormwrath]

Ethiopian highland
Circa 5000 BC

"So this is our new home."

Akkwecis was climbing up the mountain to get a good view of the Awash River. With a rod in hand, the young man trudged on to the top. A hawk flew overhead as he climbed, flying towards the sun, the manifestation of Wesama. Certainly he wouldn't get tired, for the highlands provided cooler weather than their former home near the coast. Yamwiga, god of the night, was guiding his people with the stars; Wesama was guiding them by day. The gods have brought them here to live out the rest of their lives. And it was good. The banks of the Awash had fertile soil, albeit not as much as the Fertile Crescent; but still it could allow for them to build villages, followed by towns, and finally glorious cities.

He had made it to the top of the mountain, and he went over to stand on the cliff. He looked down towards the Awash River basin, where he could see a few towns begin to develop, surrounded by farm plots. This was only the beginning. The story of the Hamisa people. Hopefully Wesama and Yamwiga will continually be visible above their heads as they look to the sky.

[Jeremy Beaver]

Brittany, Modern Day France
5,000 BCE

The Sha sits down for a moment reflecting the Events of today and asking for Guidance from Jusha the Deity of the Sha Bragenia. Jusha asks that the Village grow more than it has ever before. The Sha Immediately goes to the 2 Elders who then spread the news to the Village. The villagers start to draw plans for the Village on the ground, Squares and Rectangles represent Buildings and Sharp lines represent Roads. The Sha Aproves of the plans and immediately the Village goes into gathering Recources for the Immense work they must do. All of this for there one True Deity.

[The United Lands of Ash]

Popper Coast, Modern Day French Riviera
5000 BC

The tiny villages have grown. By now most of what was a few villages with fields in between has grown into what could barely be called a city built of mud and clay surrounded by orchards and fields of grain.

Atlas smiled on his domain of sorts from the high hill giving him an entire vantage point of the "city." His forefathers, all named Atlas for the recorded history, would have been proud of the Flakian people's accomplishments. Just recently the "wheel" was discovered by a group of farmers to make carts for transporting grain and fruits. Atlas began to walk down the hill back into the city. He couldn't keep lollygagging like this.

"Atlas!" Cried a bearded man as Atlas reached the city center.
"Yes, Big?"
"I believe I have discovered this material much stronger than wood!"
"Do tell, Big"
"It's amazing! Heat it up enough and it melts and then it becomes stronger and-"
"Big, I don't think the farmers want their tools to melt" Atlas said cutting him off.
"Yes, but you super-heat it!"
"Alright... Tell me about it later. I have work to do right now"
"Of course, Atlas" He muttered disappointed.

[Senkaku]

North China Plain
Xiushe Settlement
c. 5,000 BCE

---

"The people of Zhugeh settlement wish for their representative to express their frustration. While we understand the utility of the new sericulture farm and the mulberry trees on it, the settlement is concerned that an overfocus on silk production could potentially impact our production of grain and increase the risk of starvation come winter." The representative of Zhugeh, an elderly man, was wearing simple clothes, not the silk that a few of the representatives from the largest settlements wore. "Additionally, if we do go ahead with such mass silk production, we would request the Council find some way to supply us with surplus grain, to ensure that we can produce silk for all and still be fed."
The Chancellor, Dejin of Lanhe, frowned. "This seems like a reasonable request. At our last meeting, after we discussed our successful expedition against the villages to the southeast, Representative Yu of Rulu reported a significant grain surplus, some of which could go to waste. For this year, perhaps part of this surplus could be devoted to Zhugeh's granary."
The Representative of Xiushe, Kang of Xiushe, who was the head priest at the Xiushe temple (the largest temple in the land), frowned, but said nothing.
Dejin noted this frown, but also said nothing.

---

"I must tell you, I suspect Priest Kang disapproves of our action regarding Zhugeh and the new sericulture establishment there."
Dejin acted surprised. "Oh? Why do you say that?"
"He spoke to me, and later some of the priests, saying we should not allow them to complain and request such assistance. He believes they should be left to themselves to figure out how they may serve the state without being a burden."
The Chancelor frowned. "I will deal with our dear High Priest."

---

Xiushe Temple

---

The Xiushe Temple sat on a hill just above the village, with its clay and mud-brick bulk extending the hill and giving the building a forbidding sense of power and an air of majesty. Around it, lesser towers were arranged as well, and they flew banners of fine silk to praise the gods.

A troop of soldiers, equipped with padded fabric armor and spears, was making their way up the hill as the sun rose. One was an officer of the Council, carrying a heavy stone tablet etched with writing, in the primitive characters of the People.
It was a sentence for the arrest of Representative Kang, on charges of corrupting the minds of the people.

A few hours later, the temple's halls were stained with blood, and the power of the priests among the Ren had been broken forever.

---

POST SUMMARY:

-The Ren are beginning to master sericulture and have a semi-organized militia, which has allowed them to expand slightly against other, smaller, less organized villages.
-The priests have lost much of their influence.

[Jeremy Beaver]

The Sha Bragenia Modern day Brittany
5000 BCE

The Sha's order to Expand the Village was fulfilled buildings were under construction and many of the villages Women were pregnant to have Baby's to grow the Village even more. The Farms outside of the Village were increasing there Field size to accommodate for the population increase. The expected population after this growth is expected to be around the 800's

Sha's House in the Village.

"I Want to create another Village outside of this one. Another Village if you will my freinds" the Sha said to the 2 Elders. "I believe we may be able to do so with 150 people. It will start small but I think the profits out of this will be great." The other elder beside him says "Perhaps we should send a scout to find a suitable area. Maybe a 5 or 6 man Party?" The Sha Nodded "Let it be so. Find a suitable area. This new Settlement will be called Sha Gruna"

It meant Paradise.

[The Orson Empire]

Korum
5,000 BCE

Chieftain Vulara had been working to negotiate an end to the constant warfare between Korum and their rival Ugor, in hopes that they might one day become friends and defend each other from other villages in the area. The Ugorians were not cooperating. However, the Ugorians had recently stopped their normal raids, which was very strange. Vulara saw this as an opportunity to talk to the Ugorian chieftain. In soft clay, Vulara used a sharp tool to etch in symbols (as a form of proto-writing) that represented Vulara's peace terms. It was perhaps one of, if not the world's first peace treaty every created. After the clay hardened into a tablet, Vulara took the tablet and 5 guards wielding spears and bows with him on a journey to Ugor.

Once arriving, Vulara attempted to enter the city, and saying to the city guards that he was here to make peace. The Ugorian chieftain himself let Vulara and his guards in. Vulara showed the Ugorian chieftain the tablet. The chieftain then took the tablet and smashed it on the ground, and ordered his guards to apprehend Vulara and the 5 guards he brought along. Everything happened so quickly that Vulara could not respond in time. However, two of the guards managed to escape, but the Ugorians did not give chase. Vulara was then personally beheaded by the Ugorian chieftain with an axe, while the other 3 guards were impaled with spears.

The 2 guards that escaped made it back to Korum and informed the village of what had happened. The village was outraged, and the village leaders immediately ordered a force of 500 men to be assembled in order to destroy Ugor once and for all.

A full scale war was now imminent.

[Chrysaor]

Mekong Delta - 5000 BCE

Smoke filled his eyes as the cries grew louder, the sobs of orphans and the wailing of a widow. Elder An Yang looks on as the body of the young man who drowned that morning was carried to his resting place. Bouquets of grass and flowers were placed around the grave and burned, an offering to Hanu. "May your soul travel safely through the Darklands to join Hanu and your elders" An Yang declared. "May your dreams and hopes become Him so when we pray we know that you listen." Han Sa died young but he was brave and smart, the smartest in the tribe. He would be exactly what Hanu want and need. Most of all he was idealistic, he had an idea to help his people and though he failed, it almost worked.

The Anams were nomads, but they had not moved in almost a year now since The Great River blocked their path. The river was red and brown and ran to beyond where the eyes could see. Anams had never saw a body of water they could not walk past except the sea. And even the sea opened up for them when they decided the old lands had nothing left for the people. The elder rubbed his head, he was tired. He smiled when he remembered that at least it was not hopeless. Some younger ones found that the red soft dirt around the river worked miracles. When you plant certain things there, they grow and they grow quickly. Some of these crops were even edible! This new practice could well change everything that is Anam, no longer do the people have to rely what the trees were willing to give. They could plant what they need themselves! But An Yang had let other elders oversaw that project, for he was more interested in Han Sa's idea. The young man said he had found a way to cross The Great River. He crafted a wooden thing which he called it a raft. The raft mimics how animals would ride leaves over streams but this one could carry people. The first test ride was this morning but when a sudden wave crashed his raft, Han Sa's ideas died with him.

As the elder returned to his tent that evening, he felt only weariness and disappointment. What would now happen to his people? They wouldn't starve but they couldn't move and continue their lives either. An Yang prayed to Hanu that night before he went to sleep. Then in his sleep, the God himself bestowed upon him a vision. He saw where empty lands once stood were massive rice paddies and fields of vegetables. He saw where once only groups of traveling tents were now dotted by small houses. Finally, he saw that the river could no longer stopped them. Men and women rode things like rafts and travel between riverbanks with ease. It was a sight most marvelous!

When elder An Yang woke, he was sure Han Sa himself as Hanu must have showed him this dream. Though a few things about it puzzled the man. Even after they could, why did the people stayed in this land? Was it because now they have things worth staying for like rice fields and houses? Was this to be their future? The Elder mulled over his dream and questions for a long while. Before he knew, it was evening again and the tribe was again gathering around the campfire. An Yang walked out, he was going to announce to his people that they were no longer nomads. This land was now their home.

Summary:
-Anam people settled down and started developing agriculture and basic sailing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4990BCE - Mekong Delta

An Rang looked down from the hill and admired her grandfather's work. Rice paddies now covered one side of the river and little villages could be spotted both near and far from where she stood, marked by the steady streams of smokes rising from their campfires. It had been merely a decade since An Yang decided that the Anam would take root and already their lives have changed so much. Food were in abundance from both the field and the river. Their dwellings were safe and because winter had never been harsh in the new land, fewer children died every year. They were happy. Though even as the sedentary life was good, in their blood the Anam were still travelers. This was especially true for An Rang for she was always an adventurous child. She was already an accomplished scout for the tribe by then and now she would lead the first group of settler to the other side of the river. The Anam would expand further in-land.

The final boat carrying her people should return to shore for her anytime now. An Rang took the chance to visit the temple one last time. The mud temple dedicated to Hanu had been grandfather's last grand project. In his last years, he figured out how to shape and create from the miracle soil they had plant on. Now to honor his immeasurable contribution to the people, the Anams placed An Yang at the center of the temple surrounded by the bones of every elders after him. The remains were on and around a large stone centerpiece carved from a big boulder which sat on the hill, a totem of the God of Death. The temple itself was built around it. Though it did not resemble much anything, to the people it was Hanu himself.

An Rang silently prayed for guidance from grandfather and Hanu. "May I lead our people with the same wisdom you had." She had both hopes and fears. They would learn so much, as they already had. This land had taught them to command the plants, to ride the waters and to shape the earth. Yet Anam's peaceful ways did not prepare them for enemies. Contact was made to strange tribes occupying the mainlands a few short weeks ago and already there had been trouble. For the first time, Anam's hunters were learning to use their tool against men.

An Rang worried. But for now she sailed the river to the other side.

[Reatra]

"Ainpi!" Dan called.
"Yes, Dan?" Ainpi Rei asked.
"Rentau has blessed us, for as the floods have not destroyed our fields this year. The same cannot be said of the Xian to the west, and it seems that they are starving. Their Ku is having trouble feeding his warriors, whose fields have been destroyed or trampled by fleeing beasts. Ainpi, this is the time to steal their fields and forests, if there ever was one." Dan said.
"Really, Dan? Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
"Then we truly are blessed by Rentau, and he favors us over the Xian... Go tell the Chiefs that I need their warriors... And I'll raise mine from their fields, bring them to Rainaut and we will subjugate their villages. Go, go!" Re ordered.

---

The sound of a hundred horses beating the earth rang throughout the countryside. They'd been riding for three hours, and finally they had come to the furthest east of the Xian villages. The chief there, after about thirty seconds of negotiation, the chief refused to surrender and swear a oath of loyalty to Ainpi Rei. Then came the cavalry charge. Horse archers and lancers armed with spears stormed onto the village. The battle lasted only a few minutes, and the Warriors from that village were nowhere near enough to fight off the Rainaut horsemen. Then, after the chief was killed and another one appointed, who just so happened to be a rather high-ranked warrior of Rei's, Rei rode on to the next village. Seeing the horde of cavalry scared the next four villages into submission, and the lack of resistance due to starvation made the conquest of most of Xian rather easy. In fact, this was the first of a series of conflicts that would take place over the next few centuries officially named "The Rainaut Wars of Unification", or, by most others, as "The Millennia Long War".

After the conquest of the weakened Xian, Ainpi Rei moved on to the not comparatively weaker tribe of the Songou, lived further inland along the Auktiu River. Then the Uanpu fell into submission too, soon, by roughly 4700 BCE, the Yangtze was conquered up to OTL Anhui province in China. Ainpi Rei didn't plan on stopping there, and he would continue to dominate Auktiu tribes for another thousand years.

[Jeremy Beaver]

Village of Sha Bragenia Modern day Brittany, France

"The Sha sends word that 6 Able Bodied men must go beyond the Village to look for Another place to Settle. Who among you Brave men will go beyond and continue our Legacy?" 2 Men step forward after 1 minute, 3 more step forward. "May Jusha give you the Strength to go on this journey, Good luck." The 5 Men gather supplies and tools such as Stone Sharpened Knives and Axes and continue on there way East.

Later in A Farm out side of the Village

A Farmer notices that a Wolf is Injured outside of his House in the Field. At first he wants to kill it for Food but he changes his mind out of Mercy for the Wolf. He nurses it to Health and let's it stay in his House for a while to get Better.

[Paketo]

Village of Bleu Wolf, Modern day Munich area, Germany
5000 BC

Bleuge crept silently through the forest with two other Carolia Hunter and his trusty hound. They were looking for a good prize of a deer for the village to partake of. The moved for another few minutes until they spotted two deer within the the trees. Bleuge grunted to the other men and the quickly notched arrows in their bows as Bleuge readied his spear. The two men released their arrows at the two deer and one flew straight and true right through the big buck's heart. The other arrow struck the smaller deer and the leg and it began to flee but Bleuge's hound quickly gave chase followed by the three hunters. The dog sunk his teeth into the deers leg taking it down to the ground before Bleuge ran up and finished it with his spear. It was a successful hunting trip for the group taking two large deer back to the village. Though the village did raise animals like cows and pigs for their meat and other things, supplementing meat from the forest was always welcome in the tribe.

The group of hunters had almost finished their trip but one last thing must be done before they could go home. They gathered the two deer together and quickly spoke a prayer to the two wolves as was the custom when you killed a animal. "Great blue wolves who lead us to our home, take these to animals into your eternal embrace and we thank the, for their gift to us in giving their lives to feed us" spoke Bleu before grabbing a deer and slinging it over his shoulders to carry.

The village was rather quiet as the hunting party returned. It was large holding 950 people but they lived a very peaceful lives with few other people ever coming to the village, in peace or war. Built up earthen mounds with sharpened sticks at the top were the only real defense of the village with men being posted their to keep watch every day. The inside of the village was mostly just large wooden shacks next to fields and animal pens. The center of the village was the one difference to this rule though as at the center stood the meeting hall, a great hall that the entire village built together, and the storehouse where the food and other items were stored.

The store house was of course where Bleuge and the two others were going needing to drop off the two fresh kills. Their meat would be a valued addition to the regular diet of the Carolins.

[Alleniana]

Jaza

"Look, there's nothing here. The fish are dying in the rivers, the locals are kidnapping our children... why must you keep us here?"

The bearded chieftain turned around and roared.

"For the last damn time, there's nothing wrong with the land! I've said, it's bears! Why the bloody hell would the locals kidnap our children? Do they eat brains or something?"

A few of those around the village, hearing the uproar and the words spoken, nearly agreed. The people around here, despite their similarities in habit were... nasty. Who knew if they ate brains or not? They wouldn't even put it beyond them to have poisoned the rivers to kill the fish. There was no lost love, despite the chieftain's insistence on staying.

Many had still wanted to leave, though, to continue to pursue their wandering tribal lifestyle, until this point. Rarely did their leader lose his temper thus, and rarely so passionately. Perhaps, with this abruptness, he was right. Though in the beginning, he had been one of few to want to settle down, more and more came over, simply by the force and mass of his personality. He stamped off, leaving a half-impressed half-fearful gathering of people, sorting berries and scratching around in the dirt for forage.

Soon, a light drizzle began as the patriarch made his way to a stream, washing his grimy face and looking into it, kneeling. He, unknowing of the effects he caused, instead began to doubt himself. Was it right to go off like that? Though many might have been convinced, that woman he'd yelled at... once, she had been his friend. Once, a partner, a confidante. Now... he was the leader, she a subject.

How hateful it was.

And perhaps, as if reading his mind, the gods spoke, and spat. The rain slowly increased, sending him looking for cover and standing up, furs lightly shuffling in the wind, and then a crack, a force of god, witnessed by most even through the increasingly strong rain.

Lightning.

A few seconds passed before anyone looked, all shocked by its violent sound and blinding light, and there he was, black and yellow and falling into the stream, eyes glazed over and flesh roasted, cooled in both the rain from the heavens, the water flowing upon the earth and his family running over, crying, tears dripping. And then another strike, somewhere in the distance, bringing everyone back to the soaked present, and all were sent scattering.

The heavens had spoken loud and clear, their ancestors having expired into the air via ashes returned with the opposite of their method of departure to guide them. The tribe began packing up the next morning and was gone, to the locals' relief, by the night after.

The dawn after saw only a charred body, caught on a branch in a dried river, torn apart by bears. Bears with teeth stained by human children. How curious. But none saw but the heavens.

[Jeremy Beaver]

Brittany Modern Day France

The Scouts returned with great news. Lush Plains and forests awaited them outside of this Village The Sha Immediately sent Settlers there with Carts of Building supplies and Food aswell as Farming tools and Seeds 165 Men and Women were on there way to a bright Future.

But there was a catch. The food was expected to last Weeks. But they only had enough room for 5 days. They had to move quickly. Water wasn't a problem as they were expected to find a river to cross and drink from, as reported by the Scouts.

In a Farm house outside the Village the Farmer has Tended too and released the Injured Wolf. How ever the Wolf does not leave. He sits outside the door and waits for the Farmer to wake up in the Morning and Tend the Farm and watch. Eventually the Farmer Adopted this Wolf as one of his own.

[Abrahammia]

Confuse

In medical science, the people have realized that people that live or work closely with sick people often get sick themselves. Chief Confucius learns of this and creates a new rule: people that are stricken with illness cannot work with healthy people. They will instead work in a separate hole, where they will make spears and bows for hunters.
The hunters in Confuse have recently encountered other tribes towards the east. The hunters see that the people there pray to the sun and the moon as gods, not as God and devil. The people of Confuse are enraged by their ignorance and demand something be done about them. In order to stop them, Chief Confucius orders the sick ones to migrate there, posing as nomads that are in need of shelter and community. Their real goal is to infect them, to weaken their society, to make them less powerful than Confuse so that they may be crushed by our people.

[The United Lands of Ash]

Popper Coast, The Flakian City
Three years after the discover of "bronze"

Atlas watched the new militia of 40 train with their newly made weapons cast from bronze. Big was right all along. Whatever he had found it was great! Farmers could plow the fields much easier, a bit of decoration for homes could be made, and, of course, weapons. For a good year now some local barbarians had been pestering the city. They were primitive and stupid to say the least. With this new militia they will easily be taken care of.

Atlas looked up at the sky. It was about time for the farmers to give thanks to Macka. Maybe he'd join them today?

[The Jonathanian States]

Na Albidor^{Year twenty and four of Gerold}
As the young man passed into the room of his father, the old chief, he stood silent. Mavet, Aspect of death, had taken his dues. With no sound to be heard, he slowly stepped to the bed holding his the body of Chief Gerold. Kneeling down, he solemnly said his prayers to Mavet-Leben, the aspects of death and life, to guide his father to safety in the afterlife, so that Gerold may see what all Albi wish to see, the knowledge of all and ancient homelands.
Noticing the continuous silence finally a slave approached the room, waiting outside until Eul signaled him to enter. "Let him be carried out and prepared.", Eul told the man. As he stood up, the new Chief motioned a circle in front of himself, and the slave replied.

Nedipunk^{Year one of Eul}
The small boat halted at the dock. Carrying the body of the deceased were four slaves, marching in unison through the village. Following them was Eul, son of Gerold, flanked by the priests who had come to the last ceremony of their previous chief.
As the procession walked through the village, people would stop and pay a last homage to the dead chief by kneeling as the procession approached and rising solely when it had passed.
Finally they had passed the village and reached their location. Here his father's remains would rest. The slaves lowered the corpse into the hole that had been dug as the priests chanted prayers and said words. As son and new chief Eul too had to do so when his turn came, and he did. After they had finished, one of the priests stepped to Eul and whispered to him "The stone of record is in the makings, worry not, chief". And then he too walked away, leaving behind Eul with his sorrow.
From ashes we come and to ashes we go.

[Cymrea]

Accompanying music.

Seretan Henge, east of Caeramor
4750 BCE

In the end, the Klakamas Bloodlord’s own men had done the despot in. A knife in the back, so it was said.

Ever thus for terrestrials, it was also said.

Orwyn - the barrel-chested chief of Caeramor - had finally secured the rival village, though the fighting was long and grueling and bloody. But never so bloody as when the Serran archers advanced on the primitive fortifications of the village green. Smoke hung heavily in the air, obscuring sight and choking lungs. As the Celestial Warriors moved forward, the Klakamas fighters waved a sodden and filthy tunic that might once have been white.

In an apparent act of contrition, the surrendering men hung the Bloodlord’s body from the totem pole of the village, with more emerging from the redoubts with arms raised. Some cast their weapons to the ground and stood sullenly; others fell to their knees and wept. Still more attempted to bargain with the Serrans for their lives, shouting over one another in their haste to lay blame at the feet of some other tribesman or, more often, the Bloodlord himself. All were taken prisoner and kept in the same longhall they had so recently abandoned.

That was five days past, and the restoration of Klakamas was already well underway; with the new dawn, the village would be named Gwynamor. Orwyn had already dispatched couriers home to his palisaded city of Caeramor and to the Solar Court in Caer Serra. The locals were wary and understandably hesitant to cooperate fully with the Serrans. But when they saw Orwyn, bare chested and helping to re-secure the smashed defences, the people of Klakamas warmed slightly. They even voiced disappointment at learning that Orwyn was likely not to be their new chief, but instead a temporary governor.

Klakamas was to become a minor Serran fort and a prominent Astran would be invested as chief and steward for the Sun King. Orwyn knew of a few potential candidates, but was not so well informed of the current court intrigues to wager more than speculation.

The next day was to be the sixth since capturing the village and its belligerents. Sixth days were for judgment and justice. Orwyn was unsure how the people of Klakamas would react upon witnessing Serran justice being meted out. But the Celestial Code was clear and Orwyn was a devout follower of the faith.

As the sun descended on the sixth day, the prisoners were brought out one at a time and lashed to stout pillars of blackthorn in the centre of a henge carved and constructed from the local stone. Ninety-nine prisoners in all - an auspicious number, claimed Orwyn's druid advisor. The Star Kings would be most pleased. The astral faith held that blackthorn was used for purification and protection, ridding the atmosphere of negative energy; aided in combating fear, depression and anger. It represented the strong action of fate and outside influences that must be obeyed.

Long shadows pierced the orange light of dusk as the druids prepared the pillars with holy oils, chanting in Old Serran. Finally, all was ready as the last light of the day fled the sky. The (now) thralls of Klakamas waited in the dark for the chief’s pronouncement.

“You have committed fell acts against your own people," he stated in the Klakamas tongue, his baritone carrying on the evening breeze, "abusing them where you should protect; assaulting them where you should defend; and robbing where you should serve. Your deeds are an affront to those who watch this world, and preside over it. For those deeds, we hold you responsible. And for those deeds you will make restitution with your lives. If the ancestors see fit to grant you mercy and forgiveness, it will be on the other side of the Great Black Sea.”

Orwyn nodded to the men holding the torches. “In the name of the ancestors and the Astrans and King Bren Winterborn, and for the people of Serra, I execute your sentence in the ancient Serran fashion: death by purifying fire.”

The torches were touched to the oil-soaked pillars of blackthorn. Immediately they caught and burned vigourously. The screams of the captives were terrible, and all but the most vengeful people soon looked away.

The flames leaped high, licking at the emerging stars, waving joyfully at the home worlds. Wood smoke and human souls intermingled as they ascended to the heavens on roaring red-gold wings.

[Chrysaor]

4750 BCE- Mekong Delta

The runner made it back to the village shortly before nightfall, he was wounded. Instead of finding help, he went straight to the largest stilt house in the village which belonged the An clan. Though the Council of Elders was still respected in matters daily, it was a time of crisis in which the people would rather follow the leadership of the An clan, An Nam’s most respected family. His presence hadn't escape the notice of villagers and soon a crowd was clamoring behind the bleeding man. An Ma, descendant of An Yang and the best warrior in the tribe was sparring with her nephew when the panicked mass reached their yard.

"Big sister, it is most dire" the runner gasped, barely standing now. "The...Shanni attacked. West Village overrun. They killed our people, took our livestock and burned our fields. It is Hanu blessings that I made it back to you. You must..."

He fainted before he could finish his plea but An Ma knew exactly what she had to do. The crowd was hysterical now. Shouts and cries filled the village attracting even more people to the clanhouse. Many were wailing, some bewildered but most of them were just angry. The Shanni had been their rival for many generations. They clung on every scrap of territory this side of the river, fighting An Nams at every step. An Ma was surprised but at the same time she was not. Surprised that Shannis would resorted to this even as she knew the day was inevitable.

While tensions had been high since first contact hundreds of years ago, until now both sides had avoided open conflicts and even occasionally maintained a relationship, albeit a difficult one. Their previous chieftain, Shali the Wise, was a most reasonable man. He detested bloodshed as much as An Nams and his dealings with the Council of Elders and her father almost made them allies. She was most fond Kai, his younger son as well. An Ma still remembered that day years ago when her father asked her and An Linh, her sister, whether they would married Shanli’s sons to ensure peace for both their people. The very next day the chieftain was murdered by Ago, his eldest son and a noted brute. Ago instantly became chieftain and since then An Nams had suffered endless sabotages and raids. But to destroy an entire village? An Ma was angry at herself that she did not think Ago capable of this. Though the West Village was new it was already thriving with vast fields, bountiful fish farms and more and more people each day. All lost. An Ma calmed her pleading their patience and went inside to An Linh.

“Is it already time, sister?” her big sister asked from where she sat breastfeeding her youngest “Is it time for vengeance?”

“Should we, sister? The way of An Nams is the way of peace. I would not send more of us, and theirs, to Hanu before their time.” Though she was also angry, An Ma pitied the Shanni as well.

“What choice do we have? They have already killed our people, my husband! Or do you not remember sister?” An Linh was consumed by grief. Her husband was just one of the many lost to Ago’s many raids. Unlike her sister, after her father's plans fell through An Ma remained unmarried.

“Perhaps not so many need to die? Ago is our problem, not the Shanni. Do you remember Shanli’s younger son? I know Kai yet lives and if he is half as much like he was when we were friends then there might be peace for our people.”

“What’s your plan then?” she said nothing yet but already her sister was skeptical.

“Kai once told me of Shanni's traditions. If we were to challenge his honor, he would have no choice to duel our champion. If we win, Kai would be chieftain”

"And who would be our champion"

"I would be"

An Linh was quiet, then she laughed.

Two days after the attack, Ago had accepted their challenged and they were to meet by an open field by the river. At dawn of the third day, the An sisters embarked from their village with 100 warriors, a few elders as witnesses and a priest of Hanu lest their champion fell in combat. Neither Ago nor her entourage, except her sister, knew An Ma herself was to be their champion. An Linh walked beside her in grave silence, she still thought this plan foolish.

When they arrived it was already noon and opposite them, on the far side of the field, were the warriors of Shanni, and Ago their Chieftain at the center with Kai next to him. An Ma thought it was the strangest thing in the world to look upon him, a man like any other man, and think that one of us presently would kill the other. Ago was a tall and lean man with black hair and thick beard. He was thin yet somehow bloated, with pouting lips; a very unpleasant looking person. Then he and An Ma came close and each had to rub salt on their hands then wiped it on each other’s cheek , an ancient Shannian oath on behalf of both peoples that all the agreements would be kept. Now the people on both sides had to be pressed back with the butt-ends of stone spears, and the field cleared. Hushed whispers traveled across both side in agitated silence.

"Now, Annam," said Ago suddenly, "let us begin. Where is your champion?" An Ma flung off her cloak, drew her spear, and stepped out onto the open land. The Shanni men roared with laughter. The Anam mob gasped. "Heh. A woman fighting" Ago sneered "What manners of joke will you vermins come up with next I wonder". They were within ten paces of each other, then five; then they were at it.

She was quick on her feet and soon she felt sure he could not kill her. But An Ma was less sure that she could kill him either. She was afraid the thing should last too long and his greater strength would grind her down. But Ago was not a good warrior. He came to power through petty plots and tricks instead of through strength like his predecessors. A few more minutes of harmless sparring past and then a cloud came over his face. This she would later understand as the face of a man who began to believe this is their death. It was then when he made his first bad mistake, and An Ma missed her chance. It seemed a long time but it was a few minutes before he made it again. That time she was ready for it. An Ma gave a straight thrust and then, all in one motion, wheeled her spear round and cut him deeply in the inner leg where no healer could stop the bleeding. She jumped back of course, lest his fall should bear down on her. She was scarcely out of breath even; most of my bouts with her warriors had been far longer. Why this man, a weakling and a brute, became a chieftain in the first place she did not understand. People ran to him, but there was no possibility of saving his life. The shouting of the mob deafen her.

"Strangers," said An Ma, "you have seen Chieftain Ago killed in clean combat. And now his brother Kai would be chief. Is there any more debate concerning this succession?"

About half a dozen of them, who had no doubt been Ago's chief partisans, made no other answer than to ran off. The rest all raised their their spears and axes and shouted for Annam and for peace. Kai, now Chieftain Kai approach her with a sad look on his face. An Ma was worried what this would mean.

"I shall mourn him as my brother but I will not miss him as a chieftain. I had fear he would our people to doom, challenging Annam a tribe so much larger than ours." he explained "Blessed the sky and the earth that you lead your people with such wisdom and mercy...old friend. Now that you have justice, I wish we could restore our clans' friendship, the one my brother so foolishly destroyed."

An Ma made no effort to hid her relief and smiled.

"Now, my lady," said Kai in her ear, "it's an absolute necessity that you should bid some of our notables to a feast at the village. We must discuss the terms of our alliance further"

In the end there were five and twenty of them who rode back from that field back to Shanni. The Chieftain was at An Ma's side, saying all manner of fine things about her as indeed he had some reason. Both were happy for peace between their people and kept up the courteous banter. An Ma was happy, as she was long ago before Ago became chieftain and the start of all their troubles. The feast were sudden and thus humble but the occasion was a joyous one, a generations long conflict was finally ended. Shanni would return all they had robbed and pillaged to the Annam and they would repay for their crimes by becoming one with the Annam tribes.. That night the chieftain met An Ma in her guest room and they reconciled their romance. Before that summer ended they were married, ensuring an alliance between Shanni and Anam. Now for both people, a new world very bright world seemed to be opening.

[The Jonathanian States]

Ready thy axe and thy bow for Mavet is calling
-Book of Da, late pre-canonical

Na Albidor^{Year One of Eul}
"Eul now finally has found peace!" The speaker stopped to motion the circle, which was answered by most of the attending, and then continued. "But as he did before me I shall ensure the disaster doesn't happen again. Never again.".
Words of approval were murmured, especially the last sentence, an almost traditional catchphrase on the scourge. "We have been blessed to survive as guardians of wisdom, but our blessing has turned us to the path of war. And then if war is the divine will, then who are we to resist. As my father did before me, his father did before him, and his father's father did before, we shall advance. For we are in hostile lands brought here by divine will. In the name of Eul, in the name of Mavet, in my name of Gerold, let us prepare now, my sons and daughters. Let us prepare now for war".
And so they did. For it had been the will of God in all his aspects that led them from their land and it had been in his will that they landed in these hostile lands. In his will they became warriors and in his name they shall have conquered.
For it had been him - Mavet - who collected them and their enemies - and it had been him - Da - who had foreseen.

In his name thou shallst kill for it is in his name thou exists
- Book of Grand Priests, Jager

Norolm, upstream of Na Albidor^{Year One of Eul}
Slowly the boats advanced, their black sails slowly streaming through the night. On the first of the boats stood Eul, watching, almost glaring, with a fervor that none had known in him before, towards the lighted village ahead of them.
As he heard silent footsteps from behind the chief turned around. It was the Priest. "What do you want, Jager", he spoke, somewhat spiteful, while refocusing on his targets. The priest sighed "To see my chief one additional time before he does something we all might regret.". "I already told you that what has been said has been said. I will not overturn my decision. They are a thread to our dor. They are a threat to our region. They are a threat to our people. Never again.".
"Never again, Eul. Never again. But is causing a war and bringing deaths upon your house the right way to ensure the people's safety?". Eul merely shrugged. His mind had been made up, his decision had fallen. "Very well, my chief, then I shall have one last prayer with the fighters".
As they slowly came closer finally the event Eul had awaited happened. One of the positions close to the river seems to have noticed their advance. With a single hand-signal half of the fighters, men and women alike, threw their weapons at the shore and jumped off, while the boats continued straight along the river. And as the first half carefully sneaked towards the town, the rest made sure to keep the enemy aware of the boats until they arrived. And then the battle begun. The enemy has had time enough to hide woman, children and the few old in the holdfast, while the men had rushed out to the shore to catch the invaders before they could land.
As the boats floated by Norolm the first blood was spilled. Hit by an arrow the first Norolmian fell. He would not be the last, but none would fall for so cheap. The combat rang on for what seemed like hours, men of both sides falling. Merely two Norolms for every three Albian, when finally Eul sighed a relief. The first party, lead by his younger brother, had managed to push their way to the shore. For a short while still the Norolmians fought on until the first dropped his weapons and like the spread of a wildfire rapidly the remaining did so as well. Only three last Norolmian warriors, brothers by blood and arms, held their weapons in hands. Aware of the Albian corpses around them Jager finally gave them an offer. The brothers would be guaranteed their freedom, including to leave, but with a single weapon for each, and in recognition of the brethren's bravery the Norolmian people would live. They accepted, and left within that same night, heading north overland.

Taketh as I giveth you, for it is mine
- Creations, 6:8

Norolm, land of the Albi^{Year One of Eul}
"Have you searched the whole village, Rollo?", Eul had had a seat from the Chief's holdfast brought outside for him to view the gathering of captives. "I have, brother. These are all. I already had the weapons be gathered and placed under guard together with their food.". "Thank you, brother mine, I shall remember this.". The Albian Chief stepped forward, glancing upon the group. Mostly wives and children, but some men still stood there amongst them. "Move them apart", he called upon the soldiers. As they had finished doing so, he pointed at three of the younger women, "She, She, and She. Those are mine. He," he pointed at one of the older men, the one who had been the first to surrender," shall be of the thinkers.".
Eul sat down, glancing at his brother,"Then you fought well, now you may choose well.". And after Rollo came the other ranked fighters. Following them came the regulars, each receiving less choice.
And as all but the priest had taken their due, the Albian ruler rose once again and spoke, to all, but mostly to his priest, "And the remains shall be yours, Jager, to be released as you see fit, whence you consider them ready to be true Albi.".
And as evening fell plans were made for partitioning the property, with the lion's share going to Rollo, who was intended to be the new master of this village in his brother's name. Preparations were also made for the partial departure two days later, once all had been organized and secured.

[Abrahammia]

Confuse

The people of Confuse work to create weapons to annihilate the heretics to the east. The idea of spreading plague to their tribes (stated in previous post) would definitely help, as sick fighters were no good, though they needed more. The people needed new weapons, and so they began thinking and working.

Recently, someone has been seen being bitten in the hand by a venomous snake. This person died shortly after, but the witness to this incident has noted the color and pattern of the snake. After drawing this picture for the chief, the chief ordered the hunters to find and bring back the heads of snakes like that so that their venomous teeth may be extracted to be used as arrowheads. They would then wait a fortnight to let the plague spread before raiding their tribe. This tribe is known to the people of Confuse as AnPeeSee (NPC).

[The Orson Empire]

Chiefdom of Korum
4750 BCE

Ugor had long fallen to Korum domination. 250 years ago, their chieftain had made a fatal mistake by killing Vulara. The Koruma struck back fiercely, and in just a single battle, they quickly overwhelmed the defending Ugorians. The Koruman militiamen dug tunnels underneath the city walls of Ugor and streamed into the city, slaughtering defending Ugorian militiamen and civilians alike. After the bloody fight ended, the Ugorian chieftain was captured and was killed in the same way Vulara was killed- decapitation. The chieftain's head was placed on the tip of a spear, and the spear was displayed outside the city. It was a warning to anyone who attacked the Koruma, because if they did, the same fate would happen to them. The rest of the village surrendered.

Celebrations were held back in the village of Korum, and the people drank beer (which had been discovered centuries earlier) and began to make animal sacrifices to their ancestors as a ways of thanking them for guiding the Koruma during this struggle.

However, the celebrations did not last for too long, as Korum's militiamen would have to regroup in preparation for any sort of retaliation from other villages that sympathized with or were allied with Ugor. And thus, centuries of warfare had now begun.

Korum made an alliance with another village known as Yoruk, which had also been frequently attacked by the Ugorians. The villages combined their forces of militiamen and began a series of military campaigns to the south, towards the Persian Gulf. Dugout boats began to sail down the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and deploy militiamen in some of the first amphibious invasions in history, as well as for transporting supplies supplies. Dozens of villages were engaged, with many of them being defeated and falling under Koruman and Yorukan rule. They were now two of the most powerful chiefdoms in Mesopotamia.

[The Jonathanian States]

And sons shall be be unto the tyrant and the true
-Creations, 4:10

Na Albidor^{Year three of Eul}
A hunting party returned to the village. As the lead rider crossed the defenses and into the town a man came running to him. "My chief", the slave took a second to breath,"My chief, your wife, she has born you a son but...".
"How is he?", asked the chief. "He is alive and seems to be well. That is not it. It is your wife". "What is it with her?", asked the now nerved rider. "She is dead, Eul. You left your wife to birth you a son and she died while doing so without you. Shall so an Albi chief behave?" The reply was that of Born the Norolmian. One of the Norolmians given to Jager, the one who had proven most open to assimilation and integration, and so had earned his freedom.
It was only the arrival of the hunting companions that prevented Eul from killing him on the spot. And in that same night Born together with his wife and newborn child left Na Albidor, going river up on foot.
Days and maybe weeks passed with nothing new.

Just shall flock with just against those unfaithful to his path
-Addendums, Jovanes

Norolm-Albiis^{Year four of Eul}
And it had been after the incident of the wife of Eul that the Norolmian Born and those of his had left Na Albidor and it had been in the third year of Eul that he came upon Norolm-Albiis the town of Rollo son of Gerold.
Half a year had passed since then, and the Norolmian had been integrated into the new society of the city he once had been part of, in a different time, a different age. It was a different place. Stepping out of his house in which he had been in prayer for the birth of his second son, sided by his friend Rollo, he saw a messenger from far Na Albidor come to him. The messenger upon confirming that he was in fact Born the Norolmian, he who had left Na Albidor in the third year of Eul, told him as such "It is by decree of chief Eul of the Albi that you are hereby summoned to Na Albidor to receive your sentence of justice for the crimes of murder and curse upon Eul son of Gerold and those of his.". To show the seriousness of the matter to armed guards who had come with the messenger revealed their weapons at ready.
Yet Rollo would not hold such accusations against his friend, and it was not long as he too pulled his weapon, motioned for Born to do so to, and called for a guard of his own. With loyalty to Rollo being high, and Born having integrated well into his knew home, the three armed men standing in front of the messenger rapidly turned into a crowd of armed men and women surrounding the three Na Albidorians. It was only then that Rollo spoke a second time, and with a booming voice declared, in clear recognition of the messenger's declaration,"It is by decree of myself, Rollo son of Gerold, brother of Eul, that these three men who have entered Norolm-Albiis under arms with the intent of harming a true Albian are to be disarmed and arrested to face trial before the Albi on the charges of attempted murder". It was with a rousing cheer that the crowd erupted forward and took hold of the three men.

But he who is unjust shall stumble and find rock
-Book of Grand Priests, Jager

Norolm-Albiis^{Year one of Rollo}
Aware of his action Rollo called up other lords of the area, first and foremost of the conquests of the west and south, followed by the old lords of the west, and some others.
In an obvious kangaroo court Born was convened upon by the the lords of Rollo and was found innocent of all charges. Together they formed a coalition against the tyranny of Eul and would unite their forces to topple him.
After a bloody conflict the coalition had pushed back Eul's loyalists to Na Albidor and Na Albidor alone. When Rollo offered his older brother to cease his rule peacefully in return for being granted permission to continue living as his status would award him the tyrant declined. Instead what he offered his younger brother was a duel. One against each other, under a flag of truce above the cliffs of Nedipunk. With Rollo's agreement that indeed happened.

Once there, both brothers prepared and finally stepped upon the pre-maked area. A battle of brothers, to be fought to the death. And whatever blood was split, 'twas the same. Eul tried first, using his greater strength as prime advantage, hacking forward with his axe. Rollo carefully jumped back, forth, and to the sides. Slashes started to exchange and parries were made. It was only as the sun's position already had moved that it happened. Lunging at his brother's flank Rollo slipped and fell. As Eul raised his axe for a devastating strike he took a step forward. And his footing uneven he fell as well, close enough for Rollo to rise, and stab his spear through the back of the tyrant until it reached out on the other side, carving into the stone.

And with the ascension of the Rolloid house came a first golden age upon the Albi. Under Rollo came the Great Albian Law. That all true Albians shan't be killed but before a trial of the law of the land, priests, and men. And under his sons and their sons came an era of technology, conquest, and assimilation of the conquered.