Update Soundtrack:
Loser by Beck
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In the small village of Paranaa, at the feet of the mighty Himalayas there lived a man named Aesau, no ordinary man, but a maker of wheels.
It was because of Aesau, and no other, that the village boasted a Chariot among their army which was rightly feared by the Barbarians of that area.
But Aesau was also a father to two sons, twin boys who Aesau was greatly proud of and he instructed them from their early youth that he required a task from them in their lives.
For Aesau was proud of his wheels, he knew that they would allow people to travel farther than ever before. But he spent his life making wheels, not seeing the lands he wished to see. So he set one son out to the West, to learn what he could there, and he sent the other to the East to see what could be seen. And they would discover these things and return to tell their father.
Hap was sent to the West, and he was a man of agile mind who decided to travel as far to the West as he could, so that he could get the most recent information on the way back, when he had reached the Nule he turned South, hearing tales of Sudan and their wealth in spices. In Zull Hap took up with a group of Caravaneers who had secured safe passage through the land. They travelled up the Nule in search of this land, and they travelled through the land of Satura but when they reached the border they found Saturan guards who warned them not to pass on the way to Sudan, since some of the more violent separatists have been raiding traders and had only been frightened away by the presence of Saturan warriors who, at that point, had returned with the spices of Sudan. The wariness of the armies meant that the Nubian camps were obvious to the passing soldiers, but it also frightened away any resistance.
The traders set up outside of Waset, where they sold desert plants, a small selection of Zulappi Beer, Fish and Wheat, all the things they had gathered.
But the traders felt their stocks inadequate, for the men of Satura paid in gold, and there were many spices from Sudan. The caravaneers were much impressed with the wealth of the nation. Hep parted ways with them here, and looked into the mines, which interested him greatly. He arrived in the city in the final days of Gideon's legendary rule, and while Hep was in the city Gideon passed into the next life. Pharon the Farseer took command of Satura and oversaw the burial of his revered predecessor.
A massive Obelisk had been under construction for years, a fitting monument for this eventuality.
The rebel camps to the South remained a major topic of conversation in Satura the whole time Hep was there.
(Satura: +Obelisk of the Golden Handed, Wheel (1/4), +Economic Expansion +5 Reputation, +1 Gold Production)
The traders stayed behind to ask Pharon the Farseer to respect and protect their trade routes, but Hep returned down the Nule, back into the land of Zulappi.
Zull was a different land altogether, but Hep soon became fond of the strange customs.
For one, there was not so much money being thrown around. In Satura every market was bustling, but except for a few caravans there was little commerce to be had in Zull. People were concerned with building things, food was provided in the work camps and significantly more time was spent in the act of religious meditation.
The stones, the workers would say, make yourself like the stones. And Hep learned the wisdom of their path. In Satura they had more ideas about religion, but Zulappi had the stronger faith.
But as Hep was just beginning to appreciate the isolation of Zull, the hardworking provincial nature of the people, the Shaman constructed a new and massive market where the Caravaaners made a headquarter of all of their traders.
Here there were not the problems that he had heard so much of when he travelled near the Land of the Sun. The Traders were protected as they worked their trade routes, and because of the cooperation of the Shaman they showed the warriors and citizens of Zull the fastest and safest routes.
It is also said, often, by the caravaners, that it was they who realized the "commercial potential" of Zulappi Beer.
(Zulappi: +Economic Expansion (1/2), +Stonehenge, +Roads, +1 Social Cohesion, +Trade Good: Zulappi Beer. +2 Reputation)
Returning through the Land of the Sun Hep was advised to loose any connection to the trading caravans, as traders were deeply involved in a growing turmoil in those lands.
Traders and Fishermen continue to battle in the streets of Ur, and Hep chose to avoid that city.
(Land of the Sun: Economy Banked)
Dor went to the East, riding his father's chariot he set out for the rising sun.
The first civilized people he encountered were in the Land of the Dragon, here they were excited at the new face, as the nomadic peoples who had settled in Junjan were offering up new knowledge and growing dear to the people.
It allowed more division of labor, while the native and original population of Junjan was scrambling to find their places in the quickly growing fishing clans few nomads expressed an interest in fishing and took upon themselves many of the Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon's more peripheral activities.
But all was not well in the Kingdom of the Heavenly dragon, in that land the scholars and mystics declared that due to an accounting error there were not enough funds allocated towards research, they spread divisive rumors that while the nomad's pottery is great it represents a huge threat to the scientific advancement of the Kingdom. If random nomads know things that they do not, then what else is there, and who knows it? And how do they know that these nomads come with pure intentions!
But, in the streets of Junjan where the nomads marry into Fishing Clans and share their knowledge these cries are not taken too seriously.
(Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon: Economy Expanded, Pottery (1/2), +4 Reputation, +1 Social Cohesion)
Further East, in Shang Dor was astounded by the wealth and cosmopolitan nature of Laozi, where the jewel magnates were beginning to cause problems, feuding with Korean fur merchants who had braved the wilds.
It is the opinion of the Shang Jewel Magnates that if the precious gems are allowed to leave the borders of Shang then the monarch will lose his power to protect the people from barbarian tribes.
But the Opinions of the Jewel Magnates are not taken very seriously in the new and growing Artisan's Quarter, here the workers of Shang provide goods to one another and work with the limited merchants who are willing to make the journey from Korea.
(Kingdom of Shang: Artisan's Quarter (3/4), Reputation +2, +1 Social Cohesion)
And although he could not travel there Dor heard many stories of the distant Kingdom of Kitanato, a place where the King was gaining a reputation for absentee rule. But in Kitanato the religion is taking up much of the role of keeping the people together.
There has been no loss of social cohesion because of the faith, but that might change. If there was ever a problem within the faith, which is bound to happen soon, only the King could resolve it.
(Kingdom of Kitanato: Economy Banked)
And so Dor returned to Paranaa, where he found Hep waiting for him. Aesau had been dead for years, and so the two men found that their mission for him was failed, as they could never tell him the wonders that they had discovered.
So, these two men who had not seen each other since their teenage years, who had spent their whole lives in journeys to the ends of the world sat down in their childhood home and realized that they had nothing to say to one another.
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Map:
To: Satura
From: Miister of the Interior
Our people pine for the smooth refreshment of Zulappi Beer! The workingman's only choice! The Caravans have whet their taste for it, but we need a steady source to really profit off of the imports. These Caravan Leaders have also requested to be allowed safe passage through Satura, and proper protection granted by the guards.
To: Zulappi
From: Nubian Separatists
We are troubled by the developments in Sudan and the support of the Saturans for their false regime. Will you provide our rebels with support?
To: Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon
From: Paranaa
We have heard stories of your glorious rafts and your acceptance of the nomads, we have heard such glorious tales that we desire to be regarded as friends and allies of your people.
To: Kingdom of Shang
From: Interior Minister
Our people pine for the warmth and comfort of Korean furs!
that each turn is from 1-3 generations. Is that right?
