LINESII- Into the Darkness

Penguins slay SS.....

Khemri weeps on this sad as our allys have fallen from Glorious heights...

Let this be a reminder to abide by the mod at all times.....

The wonder for now is only 4 palaces of east-fire-infenous family, west-water-aquic family, north-sky-Nadin family, south-earth-gaia family.

I know the name are stolen kinda .. it's the 4 families made out of 4 women and 4 men of the antigotians that came. gods needs their speciality after all..

The leader and his well... mate (which was a boy) are suppose to be long dead (so long ago) and for now just have a small statue in the center of the capital...

I don't have writing muse so can't write stories about all this...


hmm should I get more men from all tribes that are made into the army?

Oh, Iggy won't kill me. I was just pointing out a few things so he didn't have to edit them later again. I'm doing him a service.

...

*hides for his life*

I have some nitpicks too, but I'll wait.

Iggy, why my population has not grown at all? And what about the project? What happened to the things I ordered to buy?

Thlayli said:

I have some nitpicks too, but I'll wait.

Click to expand...

Seconded...

good good good i like that, i am super ass man (LMAO) you want to mess with me?

btw iggy, i didn't invest in education, yes yes i know stats aren't dun, but just incase you forgot

Innovations II

It was a battle, like any other. Blood was decorating the faces of dead and living alike, and neither were aware of it. The intensity of the slaughter was tangible, as the very air was hot, smelly and filled with the clashes of bronze. Here a Veritasian would hack off an arm, moments later being stabbed in turn by a Khemrian. A volley of flaming arrows fired by the dreaded Phoenixes would rain down upon the entire melee, killing a full dozen and wounding twice as many. In this bloody mess, Thomas was just another life about to be snuffed.

A squad from the 7th Shalamari Phalanx was marching steadily down into the boiling center of the battle. Their spears were slanted in beautiful parallels, ready to be eased down and braced against the ground. The Phalanx steadily moved on, a strict line of order, descending into a pool of chaos. After halting once or twice to ward off a hail of arrows with their large shields, the Phalanx reached the bottom of the valley. The bodies of friends and foes alike were strewn across the field, creating a wet, uneven carpet of flesh beneath them. But Thomas was not aware.

A minute later, the Phalanx who took pride in ordered lines and impregnable defence had themselves been reduced to a mob of desperate, fighting men. Not even their discipline could stand against the worst of war's disruptions. Their tactics were forgotten, their officers slain, their targets abandoned for new ones, their rational mind exchanged with a bestial instinct. The worst of Man came to the surface, and as the fighting continued, more and more the soldiers became wild beasts - filled with rage, hatred and lust to kill. Thomas fit the description perfectly.

All in all, the personal heroics and struggles of Thomas is forgotten, just like the fates of countless others who fought and died that day. The fates of every dead soul can only be reckoned by The Red Lady herself in the Netherworld. Still, there was one last action Thomas was to be remembered for. The witness called Nailab, a blacksmith's son who served in the same 7th Corps, retells his comrade's final moments. Observe:

"I spotted Thomas Saniuqa, identifyable by his scar that went from brow to chin, as he was fighting a mix of Veritasian Falchions and latismen. It was just one of those encounters from our nightmares, when we were pitted against bladesmen without a proper line or formation. It really was the fight - and fright - of my life. But we did what we could, and Thomas most certainly did.

"He was, as pointed out, in a tight place with half a dozen latismen charging him. He braced with his shield and spear, and the small mob practically ran him down. A couple of them were impaled by the force of the following men pushing them against the braced spear, which broke off at the base of the bronze spearhead with a snap. I was then distracted from this dramatic struggle of the 7th Corps' unsung veteran by the same latismen advancing on our main group.

"When I looked down and spotted Saniqua again, he was fighting a good distance away from where he had initially met the latismen. His shield was lost, and he was fencing and jabbing away at the fearsome Veritasians with his short blade only. It was an amazing show of cunning, reactions and sheer speed, as he elegantly stabbed one of the two, quickly spun around in the air and rolled to avoid yet another swing. As he came up, he held the fallen Veritasian's latis in his hands, and hurled it with all his might at the other. With immense luck and accuracy, it struck - and was stuck.

"Alas, this sight was soon followed by the terrible advance of the Veritasian Falchions, which was to be the near annihilation of our 7th Corps. Thomas had only his blade left, and desperately needed both reach and defence. Where I expected him to turn and flee, he istead grabbed the haft of a spear - his spear - and swiftly unwound his bandana. The sight robbed me of all initiative: Thomas was binding his curved bronze blade to his spearhaft, fashioning a makeshift spear or blade - or a nagi as it is known today.

"What followed was branded into my memory, and indeed is my only clear memory of that day. Thomas Saniuqa brandished his makeshift weapon, bellowed the tradishional 'Ten'chaaaaar!!!' and huled himself into the mass of Veritasians. His nagi swirled about him, blacking here and slicing there, causing considerable confusion and pause for the enemy. At last, he was swarmed by a full dozen Veritasians, most likely trampled to death.

"It was quite ironic, the way his fearless charge was so brutally stopped. But the rage that brought about his odd but genius invention was what made me the one I am today - and I thank him for his service, both for my fortune and to Shalamari. He was, indeed, a hero."

The weapon design that was inspired by Thomas Saniuqa, and later perfectionized by Nailab who returned to learn his father's craft, was named the nagi. It was essentially a spear with a curved blade, designed to be used both for stabby defense and slashing offense. Still, the fact that a straight metal point was not used, allowed for a lot of different shapes. This has resulted in every Corps of Phalanx having their own variations to the blades. It has also revolutionized the Phalanx, allowing them to train and excel in both offense and defense.


More innovations will come... I'm planning to make a series out of this.

Nice story, SS.

wow, sweet story dude can i please use that!! PLEASE!!

Council Hall
Citadel of Knowledge
1051 VC

"...The world is consumed by war, and yet we stand by idly! For over one hundred years, Veritas and Khmeri have been fighting to the death, in a war that was started before the time of the Prophet! Thousands die, and the world is weary of war. We are dedicated to pacifism. We could lead the people, unify them, form them into a force that can shake the world, a powerful force of peace, and yet we do nothing! Fellow members, I condemn you for your weariness, your laziness! We must act, or see the Eldranians come again, and unstoppable this time! We must act!"

Paul was finishing another of his firey speeches to the Council of Eldos, prompted again by the latest report of the War.

The Builder wearily waited for his speech to end. He had heard this speech, or a variation of it, many times before. "I am sure you have noble intentions, Paul. But for the time being, we can do nothing. Unless you want to be a rabble-rouser, a demagogue who speaks to the mob. That is not what we are. We are scholars, detached from the world. Only by being seperate from the world can we save it."

Paul wondered if the Builder realized the hypocrisy in his last statement. The Builder. Even his name revealed all that was wrong with him and his generation. All he could do was finish the work of others, whom he depended upon for the foundations. He clung to old beliefs and musty traditions, smug in his superiority. He was a scholar through and through. He did not realize that only by getting involved can one change the world. Fortunately, this type of man was dying out. Soon....

"I believe we have exhausted debate on this topic. I motion to table the topic. All opposed?" said the Builder. He looked suprised when Paul's defiant hand was joined by several others. The Builder had only 60 percent of the council. Soon...

Council Hall
Citadel of Knowledge
1055 VC

It had finally happened. The old fool had finally died. Paul exulted. The votes had been tallied, and he was the new Head. The new order had one, and as was its nature, its margin of victory would only grow.

As was expected of him, Paul started his speech with empty praise of his predecessor, but then quickly moved on to the point.

"The Builder was a great man. He finished the long work of others. Under his tenure, the Great Library was finally completed, although it continues to grow to this day as new knowledge is discovered. He served many years in Eldos' name, and for this we thank him."

"But the time has come for a new man, a new order. War rages all around us, and we are called to action. We must stem the tide, bring peace to the world, and we can not do this by withdrawing from it. Instead, we must reach out."

"Unheeded by most, a new force is rising--the people. Individually insignificant, together the people can move mountains. And they are a powerful force for peace, if they can only be unified. I propose to become that unifier. Currently, small pacifist movements form and disband, always believing they are alone, never knowing how to act. But if they are directed, shown to others who share their goals, who wish peace and progress for mankind, they will last, and grow. I will communicate with their groups, become a bridge between them. I shall start a movement that shall not fail, a contact that will never be broken. I was once Paul. I am now the Letter-Writer."

Nice story also, pepper_person.

New story arching time!

Kings and Commanders

"What a reckless mission! If only I had been better prepared, victory would have been my herald. At the last, I go to the halls of great ones now gone."

-Reputed last words of Stratikrator Cendrian

---

Part One:

"Me? You've got to be kidding."

"Host-Lord Delagani, the leadership of the High Strategiate is not given lightly. Our great leaders in the Assemblum consider all possible candidates before selecting their choice, and insist upon heavy combat and strategic experience."

"I killed a few rebels, built a few forts, and commanded a few armies. It's nothing much, compared to...well, you know."

"Nonethless, the Assemblum has chosen you. And it is your One-given task to bear the burden of the future of Veritas."

"Let's cut the high-minded talk, Haelian. You and I both know that the upper echelon of leadership was wiped out at Said, and the Southern Campaign. The Assemblum needs a steward, someone who can hold on to the job until the new generation of commanders have been trained in Salvation. I'm a stand in, because there's no one else old and respected enough. That's the only reason they'd let anyone with a single drop of Zibonese blood take the position."

"I have not the authority to condemn the Assemblum, my lord. I present you with your commission, and the Cloak and Sceptre of the Autorex."

"Thank you. I'll bear this with dignity, even if this is the first time a Stratikrator's actually been insulted by the job."

"Hail, Stratikrator Ancelius Delagani!"

---

"The best resources from the Second Republic are always the official records of the Recorders and Historians of the Assemblum. But the personalities of many Elders and Stratikrators are lost in the dry, tasteless factuality of the official documents. Searching for more...unorthodox sources can tell us plenty about the more colorful leaders of Veritas. Stratikrator Delagani, for example..."

-Ventalian Ialia, Tales from the Early Republic

---

Salvation, for those that don't know it, is a nice town. Veritas is grand and stately, almost scary for a new visitor. You can feel the statues and history pressing down on you, magnificent as it is. And Kallamas is massive, sprawling and chaotic, dozens of cultures clashing and mixing, and the Provincial Assemblums clashing too.

Every city in Veritas has its own history. From Lux, with the constantly forging bronze furnaces and large Zibonese population, to Copenholm, with the "Best fish in the East," or so the harbormasters say. The great shipyards at Tellium, and the marble quarries and rural villas of Noras all make up Veritas, but a different Veritas in each province.

Anyway, Salvation has two names. One is the City of the Gardens. And the other is the City of the Legions. It isn't as famous as Veritas, but almost as ancient.

Around 100-200 P.D, a few colonists got on a leaky galley, and somehow made it across the Strait of Peace, as it is called. What a misnomer. The Strait of Peace is one of the biggest longrunning jokes in Veritas, as for 3 months each year the rainy season turns the area into a churning mess of swirling whirlpools and large waves. Guess when the colonists left.

But the One smiled on them that day, and the colonists landed, with lots of scared children, scared animals, and seasick men and women looking for a nice place to make their lives.

Aided by a few scouts, (OOC: See one of my earliest stories) the settlers built a small palisade and a house. A humble beginning, but a good one. Because the next spring, the settlers found out that the land they had chosen to settle on was the richest for two hundred miles around. The rainy season dumped plenty of water on the area, and the climate was perfectly temperate.

The farmers barely had to take care of their crops, they just sort of sprung up by themselves. Soon enough, the island Veritas got a windfall crop of grapes, olives, grain and oranges from the settlers...and the gold came pouring in. Before long, Temples of the One were founded on each of the three hills, and incense wafting down mixed with the perfumes of baking bread each morning...sickening to some, but unforgettable to others.

The lush soil wasn't just good for growing food. Before long the bustling town of Salvation grew out of the gently sloping dell where it was founded. Cherry and Celian, and all sorts of flowering trees burst into blossom each year, and ivy covered the walls of almost every stone building. Lilies of the Valley bloomed particularly well in the...well, valley, and Ventelia* cast their golden blooms in high summer.

But Salvation was most famous for the roses. Every townsperson had roses in their garden, and by 700 P.D. the phrase, "A Salvation rose is like no other" had spread through the Republic. There were the traditional red, and the purple reserved for important homes...and yellow, pink, burgundy, coral...you name it.

But in each of the three Churches of the One, the Disciples there cultivated white roses. No one else knew where they came from, and there were no others like them in all Veritas...but curious tourists always came to look. No one ever took them, though. Everyone knew that to wither a white rose would curse you for life.

---

But there was another side to Salvation. Around 450 P.D, the Assemblum finally got sick of having to feed and quarter thousands of unruly soldiers on the Island itself, so naturally they sent the soldiers where they sent everything they didn't like...across the strait to Tellus.

The Host-Lord in command (Stratikrators were only needed during wars back then) liked Salvation almost as much as the settlers had, but all his "pursuading" didn't move the Elders, who also didn't want thousands of soldiers swarming across the town.

So they made an unusual agreement. The army would build a barracks a few miles outside of the walls, and the soldiers could come to the town only between dawn and dusk. That way the soldiers would have new quarters, the town would get the commerce from the army, and both groups wouldn't hate each other to death.

Salvation was definitely an interesting city, with burly latismen and falchioni marching down beautiful sunswept boulevards. Why is all of this important, though?

Because the army made all of its decisions in Salvation, and the Stratikrator's official residence was there. Of course, everyone knew that what the Stratikrator decided, the army would do. And what the army did, Veritas did.


---

*Ventelia- Think of a small weeping willow, with silvery bark.

Nice story, Thlayli.

Stop that! You make me feel bad for not writing stories

Well, write! I don't think I've read any of your stories...

That's because they are so crappy that I'm ashamed to write any.

Come to think of it, I think I read some of your stories in StMjMNES.

Silver Steak said:

Come to think of it, I think I read some of your stories in StMjMNES.

Click to expand...

Hmm, I wonder how since I haven't written any in that one only ones are darwins nes and NEO nes Legends.

No, I confused you with Finmaster. Sorry.