Ekolite
Deity
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2007
- Messages
- 5,451
A Painted Map
6,000 years later a small band of archaeologists uncovered an ancient, ruinous structure in the western highlands thought to be the fabled Iwa Axsruum. Its once grand and imposing stele had now largely crumbled, and the pictorial script which once adorned every inch of stone mostly eroded by the harsh mountain winds, its symbols too weathered over the millennia to properly interpret. Nethertheless, the ruin was known to be an important historical monument of Iwa civilisation, and the explorers buzzed with excitement as to what they might discovered beneath its crumbling exterior.
They quickly set up a dig site, and soon begun to uncover various artifacts including several large Telwa. These were stone pots which were used by the Iwa civilisation to brew strange concoctions from the wide variety of herbs which they were thought to cultivate in the valleys. After several weeks of careful excavation, during which the explorers made only minor discoveries, they finally came across a real prize. The pieces of a large, stone tablet covered in faded paintwork. The different colours appeared to form an elaborate, decorative pattern. It was not until the tablet was painstakingly put back together that its true nature became clear.
The tablet they had uncovered was a map, and was thought to be one of the earliest historical maps to have been discovered anywhere in the world. Perhaps as a result of the Iwa's skill with mathematics and writing, or perhaps due to their priesthood's penchant for viewing the world from a birds' eyes' view, it was remarkably accurate for its period.
The map clearly depicted the famous waterways of the Iwa civilisation, as well as the disparate settlements which they once interlinked. Along the river and waterways, and high among the mountains were black marks, each labeled with tiny symbols, some of which identified known Iwa settlements, but many of which indicated the presence of ancient settlements yet to be discovered. Perhaps the most exciting of these was the largest marker, which was labelled with a stylized red feather and a crown of reeds, the symbols of Iwa royalty. The map seemed to suggest that this unknown settlement was the mysterious Yexserem, known to be the capital of the Iwa Kingdom during this period. The city of Yexserem had been frequently referenced in the Iwa scriptures they and their colleagues had previously uncovered, but until now its location had been only speculative at best. Now they had an exact location.
The archaeologists would jealously guard this prized information, already planning their next big project.
6,000 years later a small band of archaeologists uncovered an ancient, ruinous structure in the western highlands thought to be the fabled Iwa Axsruum. Its once grand and imposing stele had now largely crumbled, and the pictorial script which once adorned every inch of stone mostly eroded by the harsh mountain winds, its symbols too weathered over the millennia to properly interpret. Nethertheless, the ruin was known to be an important historical monument of Iwa civilisation, and the explorers buzzed with excitement as to what they might discovered beneath its crumbling exterior.
They quickly set up a dig site, and soon begun to uncover various artifacts including several large Telwa. These were stone pots which were used by the Iwa civilisation to brew strange concoctions from the wide variety of herbs which they were thought to cultivate in the valleys. After several weeks of careful excavation, during which the explorers made only minor discoveries, they finally came across a real prize. The pieces of a large, stone tablet covered in faded paintwork. The different colours appeared to form an elaborate, decorative pattern. It was not until the tablet was painstakingly put back together that its true nature became clear.
The tablet they had uncovered was a map, and was thought to be one of the earliest historical maps to have been discovered anywhere in the world. Perhaps as a result of the Iwa's skill with mathematics and writing, or perhaps due to their priesthood's penchant for viewing the world from a birds' eyes' view, it was remarkably accurate for its period.
The map clearly depicted the famous waterways of the Iwa civilisation, as well as the disparate settlements which they once interlinked. Along the river and waterways, and high among the mountains were black marks, each labeled with tiny symbols, some of which identified known Iwa settlements, but many of which indicated the presence of ancient settlements yet to be discovered. Perhaps the most exciting of these was the largest marker, which was labelled with a stylized red feather and a crown of reeds, the symbols of Iwa royalty. The map seemed to suggest that this unknown settlement was the mysterious Yexserem, known to be the capital of the Iwa Kingdom during this period. The city of Yexserem had been frequently referenced in the Iwa scriptures they and their colleagues had previously uncovered, but until now its location had been only speculative at best. Now they had an exact location.
The archaeologists would jealously guard this prized information, already planning their next big project.
Presumably sand elves are to blame.
