AbNESVI - To·tem'ic Candomblé Jejé

Charles Li said:

Forever is a long time, friend to the south: A very long time indeed.

We accept and will send some resources in exchange for forever friendship.

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I forgot to mention that "resources" meant 1EP. I'll edit my message. Sorry if this means you'll want to change your decision.

@Northen Wolf, thankyou for that map, its a big help

@Abaddon, thankyou for the info's! But I protest at punishing people who don't send stories. Don't expect much stories from me in any case... I am working on many various stuffs for my own projects and for other people. I'll see what I can do!

DIPLO:

To Trollzkin
From Sefosé

We have heard of your great people. We would like to offer our friendship. Our people may be few, but nonetheless we offer to aid you against Imper, should they attack you. We do not expect you to do the same for us... But we do ask that the two neutral villages near us be left alone, until they decide for themselves who they wish to join.

We cannot spare anything to give as tribute to you. But if you offer your friendship, in time we will prosper and we will be able to send regular tribute.

We hope there will be peace between us, so your great people can focus on the real dangers in this world...

From: Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
To: Surrounding Peoples (Imper, Sefose, Jorise, Norwal, Byzan)
We would like to ask that at least one of you donate a small amount of resources (1EP), so that we may help improve the lives of those that dwell in our lands. do this, and you shall earn the friendship of the Mesaqoo forever!

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To Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
From Sefosé

We regret that our humble people are unable to send any assistance this season.

We also regert not being able to send help. We must devote all our efforts into building our own lands up to be good places in the eyes of IMP

From: Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
To: Sefosé

That's okay, for we did not expect your small village to be able to spare much. Still, we look forward to interacting with your people when our internal affairs are taken care of. Soon the Mesaqoo will have their hands free, and we shall bring change to the world. Will the Sefose embrace this change and become the friends and allies of the Mesaqoo?

From: Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
To: Imper
Who is this Imp? A mighty warrior? A wise shaman? It is strange that a name held in such high regard has not reached my ears until now.

OOC: I don't think Abaddon is really punishing anyone. He's just giving bonuses to those who send in stories as a way to get people more involved in the NES.

Imp is the Creator of all you see around you. He embodies perfection, though his creation is flawed, it can aspire to his perfection. We urge you to see and understand the Truth of Imp!

From: Sefosé
To: Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo

We have heard that your people are strong and mighty. We wish no quarrel with them. That is all we will say for now.

OOC: about stories, you could say rewarding stories is the same as punishing non-stories I'll be happy as long as there are not big penalties ontop of the admittedly fair and just rewards for those who do send.

Abaddon said:

Sure
Perhaps you could take the time to invent their religion as part of your "buying in" into this NES

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Sure thing, I'll get working on that as soon as find some time.

Daftpanzer said:

To Trollzkin
From Sefosé

We have heard of your great people. We would like to offer our friendship. Our people may be few, but nonetheless we offer to aid you against Imper, should they attack you. We do not expect you to do the same for us... But we do ask that the two neutral villages near us be left alone, until they decide for themselves who they wish to join.

We cannot spare anything to give as tribute to you. But if you offer your friendship, in time we will prosper and we will be able to send regular tribute.

We hope there will be peace between us, so your great people can focus on the real dangers in this world...

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To Sefosé
From Trollzkin
We of the Trollzkin tribe will find your offer quite acceptable and we shall join you in friendship. We are fully aware that you haven't much to spare, but with time and experience we are certain that you will become a glorious tribe. As you ask, the neutral villages shall be untouched by our hands. May fortune be with your tribe and misery flee from your land.

To Imper
From Trollzkin
It will be a pleasure to accept your offer of friendship. We are also thankful that we won't be cut off from the sea.

Daftpanzer said:

@Northen Wolf, thankyou for that map, its a big help

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Your welcome, I'm no good in editing (want to practice). Also this map is helpful to me too, while reading update

Sword means military actions and Flame means riot or similar event.
Also, thanks for writing my name correctly

DIPLO:

Topic: Reply to Mesaqoo people friendship offer.

To Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
From Leader of Norwal tribe Alaranius

Short:
* We have no Free EP to spare
* We request alliance against Byzan tribe
* We Are willing to pay 1 EP per 2000 soldiers you spare, And 1 EP per 1000 soldiers and magic user you spare, If you only spare magic user, we get right to use him for two turns and you will recive 1 EP.
*Magic users mana cost will be taken from your believers/totems. 1 Mana per turn will be used.
*You get to keep villages by the shoreline.
*If you declare war yourself and capture any of Byzan villages, we will pay 1 EP per two(2) turns you are at war with Byzan and hold battles (either defensive or offensive).

Daftpanzer said:

@Abaddon, thankyou for the info's! But I protest at punishing people who don't send stories. Don't expect much stories from me in any case... I am working on many various stuffs for my own projects and for other people. I'll see what I can do!

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I will control it. I agree people should not run away with this NES if they have more time than others.

There will be techs to allow you to compete, as well as the bonus being significant, but not game breaking.

Nation of Norwal has 5 seasons:

Spring - time when women usually give births and sicknesses/plague stop ravaging.

Summer - Time when food is plentiful, not all crops are ready but there is enough to start gathering food for upcoming seasons.

End-of-summer-and-beginning-of-fall - Time when fruits get ready and fish returns into seas and rivers.

End of fall and beginning of winter - No more fruits and not enough rain for crops, fish disappears but animals appear from inland.

Deep winter - Animals move back to inland, starvations are often, viruses and plagues take many human lives,
attacks on and/or by other tribes are usual.

Ancient magic users know to tell, that many, many human lifeages ago, land of Jeje was created by a god known as "Earth".
Earth was a powerful god, he came from the Realm of Gods - a fictional home of gods. Earth created land and seas, he
gave life to many species of animals and created light and darkness. But Earth made more than his power could control -
he could not control land and species he created.

Many creatures started fighting among themselves and only a few payed respect to Earth,'
Lands were shaken by constant tremors and elements(fire, water, wind etc.) were uncontrollable, fire could appear from ground,
or floods could destroy entire villages.

Night and Day cycles did not follow the "cycle",
instead some years were surrounded by constant darkness and during few years, sun never set so darkness could rule.

Earth tried to control his creations, but he failed, so he left. But hes creation was noticed by His Mother and she called 4, much
weaker gods, to help her. Gods decided to take control over earth - they combined their powers and finished what Earth had began creating.

Night and day cycles were set, some animals were banished from earth (imps, ogres, dragons), some were added (ants, dolphins, eagles).
Water was ordered to flow in rivers and seas, land was calmed and fire was hid deep inside earth, tremors did not shook
land of JeJe so often anymore.

It is not known why Earth Has not returned, it is possible that his mother, forbid him to return.

Put 5 gods could not control Land of JeJe together, so they decided to divide rulership, so everyone of them rules certain period of time, while other 4 rest and gather strength to rule during their time. Humans started to call these "periods"
when different gods rule "Seasons".

Gods also decided, that they will offer a 'gift' of magic, to inhabitants of JeJe. So, magic would ease the life of creatures living on land of Jeje. But most species either refused the gift or refused to "pay" for it. And some, like Imps, used magic do evil things and play gods by themselves.

Imps got banished from Jeje along with dragons and green-skinned people. Some races, like human and perhaps mermaid and -men, accepted the gift of magic and did not misuse the strength it gave.

Humans were one of the animals who agreed to "pay" for the "Gift". They decided to give sacrifices to each God during time period when they control the JeJe. Of course they'll respect other 4 gods, but most respect is payed to the god who rules current "season".

Gods were happy with this "deal" and thought humans to use magic(cast, store it into totems etc.) and decided to help "believers", if they would need any "assistance". (previous story says that Earth Mother and Fondar[god of deep winter season and war] aided Norwal Tribe to beat their enemies and assigned new leader to the tribe.)

Earth Mother, strongest Godess of "The Five" took "control" over earth and its inhabitants. Time when she reign was called "Spring".
During the spring First plants began to grow and most sicknesses disappeared, most women gave birth during spring too. Earth Mother chose animal called Imp, one of the races that misused magic and got banished into other realm for that, as her "companion animal". People do not have to respect Imps who are not doing something useful and you don't see imps running around JeJe very often. Earth Mother is the life-giver of newborns and plants.

No sacrifices are needed to please the Earth Mother, as Earth Mother chooses herself what he takes as a sacrifice(newborns die).

Second God that rules right after Earth Mother is so old, that no-one knows his name and people refer to him as "Old". He likes when humans work on fields and if humans work well, he rewards them with great harvest(s) of early crops.
He also likes parties and most celebrations are held during summer.
Dolphin is his animal and during summer Dolphins can quite often seen from coast.
During summer, there are few celebrations where sometimes humans and/or animals is sacrificed to please "The Old".

Third god , An'ia, is ruler during autumn. She controls Seas and Rivers.
During fall, trees won't grow much fruit anymore and cropses do not grow well. To counter Hunger, An'ia brings many animal from inland deep jungles to jungles that are near villages and coast. Animals find food near humans and humans get to hunt them. She also brings Fish back from the seas and more fish appears into rivers. During her reign, people sacrifice fish and captured animals to her.
Her animal is a "mysterious" Blue Eagle. She is the godess of Fisherman and young girls.

Fourth god, the god known as Ona. She also controls animals but She controls Forests too, allowing tribe hunters to hunt for food. At the beginning of her leadership trees do not carry fruits anymore, nor will crops grow and fishes disappear. In the middle of her reign period, Animals start moving back inlands. She is a godess for young boys, as during hunts, it is often first time when teenagers are allowed to hold hunting tools and and are thought what their fathers know about hunting and/or other professions. Shes does not have an animal that represents her power during this season. So People sacrifice anything they can capture or catch (fish, animals, small plants, if in war then opponent villagers). She is a godess of Hunters and Young boys.

Fifth, the second strongest god, is known as Fondar. Durning Fondar leadership, the deep winter, not much food can be gathered. Animals flee deep into inlands, rivers and seas are empty of fishes and plants do not grow well.
Many sicknesses and plagues spread among people and wars are held for sole purpose of not starving to death.
Fondar likes when people show with bravery and courage, he dislikes showing mercy to enemy who flees from fight.
Enemy who flees or surrenders peacefully is not a proper gift to a god.
During hes reign, peoples sacrifice captured enemy soldiers and villagers to please him.

He is not a evil a god and Believers respect him, as he is the one who keeps people of JeJe strong, people who're too greedy or fat get killed by those who are more stronger.
Hes companion is Wolf and magic users can summon hundreds of wolves to aid them in battle.

During this season, killing wolves is not allowed.

My religion is called "Reign of the Godly five" and people who follow this religion are "Believers of/in Godly five".

(is this text understandable for you or if I made too many mistakes, I'll simply remove and/or try to "fix" it.)

It is a good read. When I get the time, i'll repost it with any errors corrected, there are not many to worry about though.

Abaddon said:

...

When I get the time, i'll repost it with any errors corrected, there are not many to worry about though.

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I would be very thankful for that, I know what I want to write, I just do not know how to express what I want to write .

Hi all,
i want to add to my story in the hopes of getting a 'religion merit badge'

Here's the story reprinted in full but only the stuff in quotes is new so skip to that if you actually want to read about the Telak religion but not what has already been posted. Otherwise skip to the next post whatever that may be.

The Earth Thirsts


OOC: The following story takes place after the Telak attack on the Carquos village but before the resulting diplomatic negotiations. It is not meant to affect the Carquos (or any other nation) although it does portray their people. What is is meant to portray is a small portion of the Telak religion and culture.

It is told from the point of view of a 11 year old girl who accompanies the Telak war party into the northern Carquas lands.


Young Kibyan watched as Botono Il'man knelt next to the body and ran her hand through the earth staining her fingers with the crimson of her sacrifice. The priestess rubbed her forefinger and thumb together causing little granules of bloody dirt to fall between them. She smelled the soil and even tasted it. Kibyan was entranced. What could this seer, this woman who spoke with orishas and who, on special occasion was even the conduit for their will, learn from this bloody mud?

Botono Il’man was not happy. There was something wrong with the sacrifice. Kibyan cringed and stepped back as the priestess knelt next to another of the Carquos prisoners. This one was entangled in entwining vines and long jungle grasses, individually weak but together strong enough to secure the Carquos warrior. Even as Kibyan watched, the prisoner underwent dreadful changes. His nose and face would elongate into a snout and vicious wolf-like features would overcome him. Ears would grow and elongate. Teeth would grow and sharpen. Foul-smelling drool would drip, mingled with blood from snapping jaws. The fingers grew and the nails sharpened into claws and the entire body would twist and distort, growing prestigious hair and tearing both his clothes and the vines that bound him. The process would then reverse itself and the Carquos warrior would be just a man, tired, wounded and dirty but also proud and courageous when faced with death. The priestess uttered a word and the vines suddenly tightened around him while simultaneously drawing his head back tightly. She drew an obsidian-bladed knife and with a casual disregard for the prisoner himself cut him deeply just below his protruding and exposed adam’s apple. Immediately his life’s blood spilled out on the already darkened earth. Botono Il’man ran her fingers through it again, muttering prayers to the orishas of the earth and local plants. Again she rubbed the soil thoughtfully, brought the bloody mass to her already-crimson stained lips and tasted it lightly. She brought the earth to her ears and listened to it. Kibyan longed to know what she heard; what whispered secrets did the orishas of the earth share with the priestess?

Again Botono Il’man was unhappy. Something wasn’t right. The earth was not happy; Kibyan could tell from the woman’s scowl and foul temperament. The priestess stomped off frustrated and conferred with the six great warriors of the war council.

Kibyan had never met the war council but she knew who they were. They were the chosen war-chiefs of each village. Each village was led by a minor cacique who pledged obedience to the great cacique (who, in present times was also the Botono Il’man). These minor caciques each chose a representative who would lead their village’s warriors. These were the members of the war council. The fact that they were chosen by their village’s minor cacique and could be replaced by them easily enough meant that they would stay true to their village’s chieftain’s will while their role in war and in direct conference with the high cacique Botono Il’man meant that they would stay true to national interests.

Kibyan watched as they spoke. Some pointed north and she heard the name of the other tribes spoken: Fangar, Tartes, Carquas. Some with admiration and fear, some with hope and some with aggression. Kibyan didn’t now what they were talking about but she knew that the decision they would take would undoubtedly affect the Telak for years to come.

Finally the decision appeared to be made. Botono Il’man turned and pointed southwards. The earth was still thirsty but the blood of the Carquas would not do, at least not here; there would be no further war with the Carquas.

Kibyan smiled. She was, truthfully, a little afraid of the man who had become a wolf who had become a man. It did not bode well to anger those the orishas so clearly favoured.

An OOC Description of the Religion of the Telak said:

Truthfully I had hoped to receive a ‘religion merit badge’ from the story I posted but I didn’t and most people who are writing about their religion are not writing a story about it, but a description, so I’ll do the same and hope to get my badge.

Firstly, the religion of the Telak is not a creation myth. The Telak don’t worry about where things come from; they worry more about how things are and how they will appease the spirit world and thereby survive. There is no name for their faith. When Telak speak of spiritual matters, they refer to individual components thereof: the spirits, the priests, spells. But for our purposes we will call it ‘The Cult of Thirsty Orishas’.

‘The Cult of Thirsty Orishas’ centres around the belief that all things of this world have a soul or spirit. These spirits, which followers call Orishas can be spoken to hold many hidden secrets- the nature of a plant’s growth, why the fish swim through these channels and not those, the timing of the deer’s rut, etc. The most powerful priests and priestesses can open their minds and bodies to the influence of these spirits and invite communion with them. The truly powerful (the tribe’s magic-users) can open themselves to the influence of the orishas so completely that they become a conduit for their manifestation. They become possessed by the orisha and may work great miracles or divulge incredibly ancient and hidden knowledges.

The orishas, however, are not all benevolent helpful spirits. They, like men and women, have personalities and while some may consider the Telak friends others only consider their own interests. Perhaps the orisha of an island off the coast only wants to be left alone to contemplate the feel of the tides and considers any intrusion a great insult. Perhaps the orisha of a willow tree growing at the river’s edge loves the sound and feel of children playing under its branches and likes some tribe members who are nice to the children and hates others who are mean to them.

One thing is certain however; all the orishas can be appeased with blood. The ‘Cult of Thristy Orishas’ is named so because the priests and priestesses often perform blood sacrifices to the orishas to win their favour. This usually takes the form of animals like chickens or dogs but human sacrifice is not unknown. The best and most potent sacrifice is the blood of newborn children; their innocence and potential feeds the orishas’ thirst like no other and is a sure way to win their favour and cooperation.

The priests and priestesses who perform these blood sacrifices have a different position within Telak society then standard priests and priestesses. These are the Botono and are often respected and especially feared by the remainder of the Telak tribe.

Botono Il’man is the highest Telak priestess and she has a special bond with the greatest of the orishas- the orisha of the island of Jéjé for she has fed it more blood then its soils can soak and it, in turn, has granted her command of all its growing green leafy things- a sure sign of its favouritism upon her.

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Sorry, I did not over look your story, but I had counted it as cultural rather than religous (silly i know)

The OOC description of your Religion is very useful, and earns you the 'religion merit badge' and a "gold star"

Uhm Abaddon, rules state:

Military prowess: Your nations men have a general military understanding. You can raise 1000 men a training level for 1EP, or you can invest EP equal to your tribes size to raise the level inwhich your men begin. The various levels are:

Mob-Poor-Tolerable-Normal-Better-Good-Mighty

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I got "pathetic" troops(like several others, Firas for an example), now Do I treat them as they would be "poor" rank or do I treat them as something in between of "poor" and "Tolerable" ?

Eugh. yes YES. I will sort it out NOW.

IF you paid money to raise troops to a level that does not exist. Assume you are the higher rank.
IF you did not pay any money and were at a level that does no longer exist. Assume the lower rank.


Can you guys cope with this? If not, i'll mash things together next update.

Northen Wolf said:

Your welcome, I'm no good in editing (want to practice). Also this map is helpful to me too, while reading update

Sword means military actions and Flame means riot or similar event.
Also, thanks for writing my name correctly

DIPLO:

Topic: Reply to Mesaqoo people friendship offer.

To Shaman and Cacique Izawau, Defender of the Mesaqoo
From Leader of Norwal tribe Alaranius

Short:
* We have no Free EP to spare
* We request alliance against Byzan tribe
* We Are willing to pay 1 EP per 2000 soldiers you spare, And 1 EP per 1000 soldiers and magic user you spare, If you only spare magic user, we get right to use him for two turns and you will recive 1 EP.
*Magic users mana cost will be taken from your believers/totems. 1 Mana per turn will be used.
*You get to keep villages by the shoreline.
*If you declare war yourself and capture any of Byzan villages, we will pay 1 EP per two(2) turns you are at war with Byzan and hold battles (either defensive or offensive).

Spoiler long :

Norwal tribe is always interested in new friends! Your friendship offer is nice, but un-fortunally our resources are being used in war against Byzan.

As you surely know, Byzan Dark magic(hatred spell) turns brothers against brothers and mothers against sons, it has gone too far. A mother taking her sons life in "magical slumber" is terrible sight, We have declared war upon Byzan tribe and we will destroy them or they will destroy us. I also have reasons to Believe that many starvations and plagues are caused by Byzan magicans. We do not know if their leader is controlling these actions or if he is being controlled.

If you have any spare men or resources, we would appriciate military help.
For every 2000 soldiers we would pay 1 EP and same for every magic user you can spare. 1000 men and 1 magic user are also worth 1 EP.

Your tribe can keep villages by the coast.

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We shall aid in your quest to eliminate the Byzan, for they sound like an evil bunch who should be wiped off the face of the earth. My apprentice Iptsima will lead a small force to help raid some of the Byzan settlements. Judging by the results of these battles, we may sell the villages to you, or keep them for our own use.

All right I think that I have come up with a good religion and I will get working on writing a story for it but in the meantime I have a couple questions. Does the tribe? "Barely Tolerable (2/3)" means that when I spend 1 more EP it will raise to Tolerable, correct? And lastly, when are orders due? Thanks in advance.

So Charles, are you going to send me 1EP?

Yes.

I just noticed that research, even thought it takes a pretty long time, gives unproportional fruits.

With 1 village and 5 turns, it bounds up from 1 ep to 4!