Absolution 4: Tabula Rasa

A Golden Goblet of Grain

Pharon walked along the Nule alone. Well, technically not alone, because that bastard Krunnar, "Ranger of the West" keeps sending his rangers to keep a watch on him. What? As if he is still a child? He's the King of the Golden Land! He can do as he want!

Pharon thinks about Satura alone. Well, technically not alone, because that bastard Jocasta, "Mistress of the Interior" keeps popping into his head with her little wittisms. "We thirst for beer!" she says. "Caravaneers want guards!"

His good humor ruined, he turned and sat on a rock next to the river. He was really thirsty, but after watching what people do in the water... He just wants to burn it into a crisp and cleanse it with the flames of the Golden Sun. He rubbed his crown and whispered. "I wish I have a decent drink."

Like magic, a caravaneer ran over, a jar balanced precariously on his head. "Zulappi Beer! Best of the land! Cleanest Beer! Quenching Beer! Be a Bear; Drink our Beer!" He walked infront of the king. "Ah, Pharon, we bring the Best Beer of the Beyond. Have a taste!" The merchant took out a golden goblet. "To your strange customs, let the Golden Goblet of Grain flow through your Gullet!"

Pharon looked at the goblet, looked at his crown, and started rubbing it harder, shouting, "I wish I can bring enough beer for all!" Laughing now, he downed the drink and stood up.

Just beyond the curve of the river, in the distance he can see a crown of stone on a mountaintop.

"There be Zulappi, the land of beer" said the merchant.

Pharon started running towards the distant mirage. Hooting in joy as he passed through the Caravan. Some of them looked scratched up and wounded. "The King!" they cried. "Protect us!" they begged.

"Hey Krunner you Kunt, here's some idiots who want you to be their Big Brother! Take care of them! And That's an order!" grinned Pharon, to the cheering of the Caravaneers. Pharon the Farseer was just about to clear the caravan when he ran into a fellow clad with stone spheres.

"Ouch!" they cried. Then they looked at each other. "Who are you?" asked the strange man. Pharon shrugged and rubbed his crown. "I wish I know what to do with this guy."

Jocasta interrupted his throughts by plugging in, "He owns the beer, WE THIRST FOR BEER!".

"THAT'S IT!" Shouted Pharon. "You have beer?"

"Damned by the Stones if we don't" replied the man.

"I wish for a piece of gold!" Pharon said, stroking the Crown. Then he looked on his goblet and said "Oh." He turns to the Man. "Hey, I have gold, you have grain. Let's drink from the Golden Goblet of Grain together!"

Silence.

He rubbed it one more time. "I wish I always know what to do next."

Jocasta suddenly appeared and sat next to him. "I'll always be here, just far enough so you don't grope me."

Damn.

He rubbed it again and said, "Get rid of Jocasta."

She stayed there.

"I wish to get rid of Jocasta"

She shrugged.



A crown only gives five wishes.

OOC: SKILORD, My last story should be a religious story, this is just diplomacy.

IC:

The Shaman fingered his plum. A fruit from the farthest east somewhere, he thought.

"Indeed. Send them this in a word,"

The Shaman more frequently than not found himself to be a man of few words, though this occasion merited the evils of thought. He suckled on his palmed fruit thoughtfully.

"Southern 'friends'. Emphasis on the friends. No, strike that, don't write that. No, sto.."

He sighed tiredly. This was going to be a long day.

"Long have our two peoples existed, mostly separately. This, we feel, should continue. Your 'gold' has brought much happiness, but much rebellion, to your and others lands. We feel our beer is worth more than gold. Perhaps if you offered us something more useful to our society?"

The servant stared up at him, dumb-founded.

"Should I repeat that more slowly? No, don't write that down. STOP."

A thought occured to him. When you seldom speak, you often did not put value on the ability of your servants to understand your requests.

That was a mistake.



To Satura: [in response to private 'want sum goald for beer' (paraphrasing)]

Your gold would only serve to bring rebellion to our lands. Perhaps if you had a more useful, and less rebellion-inducing, resource to offer us. Perhaps another time.

To Zulappi
We will send you many minor resources (1 ep) every year for your beer, at least until we develop a resource more to your liking.

Story:

"You refuse my gold?"

The shaman replied again.

Your gold would only serve to bring rebellion to our lands. Perhaps if you had a more useful, and less rebellion-inducing, resource to offer us. Perhaps another time.

Click to expand...

"Fine! What can we offer?"

Jocasta leaned over, giving him a faceful of imaginary disks. "Let's see... slaves, hunters, herbs, mud, skins, meat-dried meat made by hunters seasoned by herbs buried in mud by masses of slaves? Not to mention various gems, some decent, if crumbly, building stone, decent artisans..."

"Whatever" he turned to the Shaman. "You want a more useful resource? How about food? Your people need to eat when they are too busy working, eh? How about slaves to guide that food? How about herbs to preserve that food?
He waves his arms
"How about the stone? You have your grey stone, we have pale and shiny yellow stone. Make monuments, you need stone? What about drinking cups? We make out of silver if you want. Purify your beer, I drink."

To: Satura
Our beer is very special to many of our people. It brings us all closer together. Perhaps we could part with some of it for .. [2 EP] every year. Or until you can offer us something better.

--

"These foreigners think that they can dictate to me. To my domain, over my resources. Well, they had better learn quickly that that is not the way it works around here."

His servant bowed deeply, a gesture that The Shaman assumed meant "Do continue at your leisure, your Shaman-ness. You are making so much sense right now."

That's what it usually meant, anyway. Probably. He didn't really know, as no one had told him.

"Send them a somewhat demeaning messege. Yes, you know the kind. No? Well, ask Dormus. No, just make up some bulldung and demand double of whatever they offer. Yeah. That's good. Foreigners. Thinking they can just come in here and.."

This continued for several minutes until the servant was dismissed.

OOC: When you trade a resource away, does that mean it is completely gone, or does it mean the surplus which is available for trade is given away?

If the answer is the second-HA!

Either way my insane demands diplomacy stands :0

I don't know anything about what sort of crazy subterfuge you two have going on. I can't even read those stories right now. I get one sentence in and think, "Wish I was at the strip club instead," and maybe tomorrow I will be able to deal with it.

Terrance888 said:

OOC: When you trade a resource away, does that mean it is completely gone, or does it mean the surplus which is available for trade is given away?

If the answer is the second-HA!

Click to expand...

Well, Trade goods don't really generate benefits unless traded, so it doesn't much matter. For story purposes... I mean if you talked about having such resources I wouldn't mind.

If YOU traded your Gold it would deplete the amount you have available for trade. But in 3 turns, when the trade agreement with Sudan (the first one) is over your mines would still be producing gold and you could begin a new trade agreement with those resources.

48 hours until the order deadline.

Have you sent orders?

Probably not.

I'ma postpone the orders due until Friday at this point. Midweek update wasn't a good idea for me anyways.

But still, send your orders if you have not done so yet.

Hey,

The Lone Mother Wolf & The Spinning Table (scientific)

"If I have any luck its going to be here." It was in his favorite spot. The very spot it was said that the great Fu Shan had met Mei Hua.

She was the Lone Mother Wolf and on the hunt. Eyes wide, she sniffed the air looking for the scent of the two legged. There it was. She smile a wolfish smile and bounded off into the tall grass.

Yun Yuan sat down at his equipment. A small table with a rotating top. This would help him place the cord like strips of clay around the mouth of the jar he was creating. He would slowly build it up this way till the point of completion.

The Lone Mother Wolf crawled through the tall grass to position herself at the two legged's back. Her wolfish smile appeared again as her muscles tensed for the attack.
One quick sprint and leap and the prey was hers.

Yun Yuan turned at the last second. He might be lazy like his famous great great grandfather but he had the ears of Mei Hua. He took the flying body in his arms & fell off to the side of his worktable. "The Wolf Queen has me!" They rolled around screaming and laughing. "Oh the terror of her attack."

"I got you! I got you!" The small girl sat up on his chest growling down at her father.

'Good morning my wild child." He grabbed her below the arms and held he above him. "You know I was ordered to make a piece of pottery or we will have to move."
He set her down and looked over at his table which was spinning fast. "Quick grab the clay or I'll have to dig more." The young girl was fast and at the table before Yun Yuan got close.

Yun Yuan stopped short and watched as her small hand slid down into the clay creating a wide opening. Watched as her other hand went to the outside of the clay. He watched as the clay smoothly climbed up her small arm, under her hand, creating sides.

"You are the most beautiful girl in the world." He yelled as he grabbed her up, clay flying everywhere, and hugged her with great pride. "Who would have known that my daughter would find a true piece of the Dragon's puzzle."

"What do you mean father?" She pushed back to look into his smiling face.

"It means you have discover wisdom to make life in the Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon easier." He pointed to the slowing table and its mound of hollowed out clay. "From my little Mother Wolf's actions a new way of making pottery."

"Really!" She jumped down, looking up surprisingly. "Me?"

'Yes, you Xue Niu!" He picked her up & put her on his shoulder. "We must tell your mother that we have a Daughter of the Dragon's Wisdom in our home."


YYsp1

Hey,

King Longwei & the Dragon Guard (Militaristic)

Everyone in Junjan had turned out to see King Longwei bestow the title of Dragon Guard on the winners of the Festival of Youthful Determination.

"You have all passed the Dragon's Challenges." The King looked over the youth lined shoulder to shoulder on the shore of the lake. "You have proven your worth to be one of the new Dragon Guard." The King motioned for his retainers to present each young man with his new uniform. "Wear this uniform in honor of our past." This was represented by the red hide pants of the nomads. "Our Life." This was represented by the yellow long coat like robe of the villages. "And the Wisdom of the Dragon." King Longwei took a newly produced conical hat and placed it on his head. It was painted red with a stylized yellow dragon on it.

The new members of the Dragon Guard quickly changed and returned shoulder to shoulder. "You are now members of the Dragon Guard." The King waited for the cheers to die down. "Entrusted to guard the lives of any who would would travel the heavenly paths of the Kingdom." King Longwei motioned for the teachers selected to travel to Panaraa to learn the Dragon's Wisdom of the wheel. "Your first duty is to guard the lives of our most learned scholars and thier families to Panaraa."



KLstw2

I want to send out reminders for people to send their orders. I'm going to update on Saturday.

I'll do it, but if it can cut down on the numbers if this post convinces people to send their orders. Because right now I only have 1 set of orders. Thank you Eltain. But I would appreciate some sort of final decision on that trade agreement, I guess that's up to Terrance.

But if you are not Eltain then you should send your orders before Saturday. So, today or tomorrow.

I'll send it later. Been busy all week. Probably can't fit another story in.

Anyway, I will reject the proposal and brood over the little beer I can buy from the Caravaneers, getting inexperiencly drunk. Unfortunately, I can probably paint this scene much better with more time.

Hey,

The 5 Tablets Of Dragon Wisdom(building)

Shi Feng laid his head down on the huge oblong wood plank. With one eye open he carefully took in every ridge & shadow created by the bright moonlight. He ran his hand across the surface feeling for the same. It had taken a full ten men to carry the plank through the streets to his courtyard and its place across stone benches.

"Pop." The boy stood on tiptoes to see his father. "What are you doing up there?"

'Ah, Bolin my son." Shi Feng leaned over the edge of the tablet & lifted his son up to stand on the huge wood plank. "Come on."

"What is this father? He began to run around the top of the piece of lumber. "The bottom of a boat?"

"Relax child." Shi Feng sat back looking up to the moon. "This is the begining of a job of great honor for your father." His smile became a look of determination and of pride. "It is my job to sand and polish this huge tablet for the King. He will then use it to record all the Dragon's Wisdom that we have learned." Shi Feng looked at his son. "All the knowledge of the Heavenly Kingdom."

"How long will it take pop?" The boy laid down and looked at the plane of the wood as he had seen his father doing.

Shi Feng let out a sigh. "Lifetimes Bolin. Lifetimes."


SFBw1

EDIT: I can have my orders in tonight. I can save a commerial story for next update.

SKILORD: The Shamans see the gold's influence on the Satura as a very bad, destabilizing one, which would interfere with the calm utopa they have crafted. We would not trade for 'gold', also see Terrance's post #73.

Hey,

OOC

The Heavenly Kingdom Orders sent.


Blaze Injun

Update Soundtrack: Any Means by NK Dub

-

The Sun Rises, and the first place it sees, past the now reckless prophets and wise men of Kitanato is the glorious Kingdom of Shang.

The Construction of an Artisan's Plaza complete the people of Shang now are united in purpose and profitable in action. The Sun smiles to see children playing at games designed to teach them the fundamentals of trading, to see them pretend to be miners and showing each other the rocks that they dubbed precious gems.

But the travelers who come to trade at the artisan's plaza do tend to mock the people of Shang saying, "Look at these men who are so foolish that they cannot even farm and are still hunting and gathering for food, or trading gems for bread."

(Kingdom of Shang: +Artisan's Plaza, +Economic Expansion (2.66), +1 Social Cohesion, +3 Reputation)

In it's journey the next civilized land that the Sun encounters is the Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon. Here it finds that the divisions of natives and nomads have settled down and the society has also returned to harmony, seeking knowledge is a goal that unites all of the Heavenly Dragon's subjects.

The warriors sent to explore and escort the initial shipment of Dragon Smoked Salmon were able to craftily avoid any Barbarian traps through the combination of their own paranoia and their knowledge of rafting. When a tight spot arrived the barbarian attackers only saw the men of the Heavenly Dragon board their rafts and float away. On the return trip the ease of their travel was exaggerated by the wheels that they brought back to Junjan.

Wanderer Merchants of the East have arrived in the Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon and asked for permission to travel freely through the land and trade their wares without being subject to persecution because of their transient lifestyles if you would grant them that honor most heavenly monarch.

(Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon: +Pottery, +Wheel, +1 Warrior, +1 Social Cohesion, +5 Tablets (3/4), +4 Reputation)

When the Sun passed over the Kingdom of his own name, it didn't know what to think, but it was pretty embarrassed. The country seems on the verge of civil war, with traders and fishermen still engaging in street brawls and other citizens joining in divided over whether or not to overthrow the absentee Kings of the Bado line.

(Land of the Sun: -2 Social Cohesion)

In Zulappi the Sun spent many hours pondering the prayers of the Shaman. A reduction of the "Anarchy" style transition penalties for traits was an interesting idea, but the moderator didn't like the way that it was worked out there and although he decided to bank your economy for that project this turn he appreciates the innovation and will be working to provide you something mutually acceptable along those lines.

But it also saw the strength of the people of Zull. The steadfast stand against materialistic corruption, Gold would not flood the streets of their city and corrupt the simple spirit of the people. But the Economy grew through the addition of a workers camp, where food and shelter were provided to the workers efficiently and in accordance with their rituals and sacraments.

And as well as the expanded Economy the Caravans also attempted to bring in extra wealth to the people of Zulappi this turn, since they were the only source for Zulappi Beer in Satura they made extra trips and paid ever increasing prices as the merchants and brewers gouged them.

But these gains were all lost, late in the season, when raiders identified as Saturans raided the outskirts of the city and stole large quantities of beer. One has been captured, and several others are dead but their theft remains at large. The warriors call for blood.

(Zulappi: +Economic Expansion, +1 EP, +1 Social Cohesion, +3 Reputation)

In the final hours of Dusk in Satura the Farseer paved a bold path for his people.

The Rangers were added to their ranks, small, mobile groups of hunters who methodically stalk bandit gangs and small armies. When united with more of their number their confidence swells and they are a fighting force few can match.

When approached about the plan to send Rangers into Zull with the Caravans the lead Caravaneer was horrified, if such a plan were to take place then his people would have no hope of ever re-entering Zull again. War would not be profitable for him, and taking a side in such a war, especially through such a tactic, would ruin his business. He refused to allow any troops to escort the Caravans from Waset, striking out in secret immediately. Caravans came and went, but as though they thought as one they avoided the Saturan armies.

But the raid was accomplished, with the new Rangers scouting out the location and preparing the others for the quick theft. The Zulappi warriors were caught completely unaware and a large portion of the Zulappi Beer was loaded into the wagon when the defenders of Zull arrived, catching a group of Rangers who lagged behind the others and slaughtering or capturing the men.

There is feasting tonight, with Zulappi Beer throughout Waset. But how long will it last?

(Satura: +Wheel, +2 EP, +1 Social Cohesion, + Unique Unit Ranger +1, +4 Reputation)

-



-

To: Kingdom of the Heavenly Dragon
From: Panaraa

The Earthquakes that trouble this land have grown somewhat worse recently and have damaged many of our standing structures, would you be willing to send men or funds to help us repair these things?

To: Zulappi
From: City of Peace

We wish to offer a trade agreement, we have been creating fine linens for clothing and we would like to offer you these in exchange for your Zulappi Beer. We have heard that it is the workingman's only choice and we have to admit, we are intrigued. Perhaps getting rid of some of the excess would help avoid… incidents… and would also net you a respectable profit that could be spent bolstering defenses.

To: Zulappi
From: Caravaneers

We are honor bound to inform you that we have reason to suspect that the Saturans are up to something.

To: Satura
From: Sudan

My Warriors are at your beck and call, Farseer.

I wan mah ber!

Hey,

Hu Jue, Merchant Chief of the Caravan of Exotic Wonders. (NE scientific)

The leader of the Eastern Traders followed the every talkative guard down a long stone path that cut across a snow covered garden. "You are a strange people my fine companion." Hu Jue said trying to sound confident and carefree. Plus if he talked the guard couldn't ask any questions. "In my many travels, questions of the places I've been and people I've seen have been the norm." He pulled his fur collar closer to the back of his neck. "But you fine people ask the hows and whys." He thought back to the day his caravan meet their first of these Heavenly Dragon people.

"You think a lone man meeting such a wonderous sight as my Caravan of Exotic Wonders would ask who we are or were we came from." Hu Jue followed the guard through several gates without a door or walls. Three extemely large pieces of lumber created a door frame. Each was beautifully craved with clouds & a very stylized Heavnly Dragon. "But no he asked how was my saddle was made. From what materials."

The guard stopped and turned quickly almost falling into the snow. Hu Jue knew that he had to act fast. He stepped forward and putting his arm around the guards shoulder turned him back toward thier destination I'll have you know that man spent 3 days with us and learned how to make a saddle." Ahead was a small wooden pavalion beside a small stream, under a very old willow tree. "He took a saddle apart and made a second one before putting the first saddle back together." Trader Hu Jue laughed loudly. "An not only that. He was riding his own horse when we parted ways. You are truely a strange peolpe."


OCC



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