Excellent update! I feel boring, didn't have much to do and ended up sending shorter orders than I probably should have. But the update has given me some ideas, and it will be more fun to have them play out in short turns anyway.
End of Empires - N3S III
- Thread starter North King
- Start date
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
The Vedai Satar at the End of the Third Exatai
"We live in a moment in which something is waiting to be born. Not the Return of Taleldil, as the white ones preach, but the return of noble princes who protect the people and hear their cries for justice."
-Oracle Ashelas
The Zalkephai Rashai, long organized into separate, feuding city-states and exile monasteries, have managed to reorganize into a powerful confederacy, led by a universally-recognized Zalkephis of great power, who satisfies all the signs and resembles the original. Though his lieutenants have failed him in their effort to conquer Cyve, the root of the Dark One's followers, he has now revealed himself in Sartasion, and lays the ground for the Fourth War of Prophecy. The Aitahists and the Princes alike shall fall. Vexas ven atanas. To die is to live.
The Vellari Exatai, having made their narrowly-unsuccessful play for global dominance against the Carohans, are consolidating their gains. Prince Taracis' ambition is not to reunite the the Karapeshai, but to eclipse them by reuniting the old Accan trade networks and regaining their massive historical wealth, then assembling a maritime dominion supported by superior technology and professional soldiers. They are sneaky, opportunistic, and smart. They have a longstanding rivalry with the Tephrans and Alusille.
The Tephran Exatai have fought noble wars against the Enguntithi and the Zalkephists for centuries, and are now content maintaining the status quo. They hate the Vellari and everything they stand for, and would only unite with them if there was some massive Zalkephai invasion. Mostly however they are living as a peaceful kingdom, helping their friends and allies among the Vischa where possible. They are good Satar, that hold to the ancient ways.
The Ashelai Exatai is opportunistic as well, prepared to fight on any front. Named after the Oracle who invited in the nomad princes who had sacked the Vithanama Empire, they are fierce patrons of Ardavan, but also extremely tolerant, offering many princely positions and even religious patronage to the Iralliamite minority. Grown wealthy on the caravan route through Magha and Yashidim, they are great builders, and their rotational method of succession has proved excellent at promoting stability, though it does occasionally cause a lack of coherent policy from ruler to ruler. They are unpredictable and creative.
The High Princes of Alusille, [Exalai Sartashai] ancient in lineage and high in prestige, are the current Redeemers of the Satar Exatai, as they have been for many occasions over the past several centuries. This title, unfortunately, does not mean anything, as they are less powerful than the Vellari, the Tephrans and the Ashelai. All three send the Redeemer a ceremonial 'gift' each year (perhaps a falcon, or a horse, or a golden ring) but little else. However, the great fortress-city of Alusille has never fallen to an enemy in centuries of war, and the Shield-Princes (as well as the High Oracle) could unite the fractious Exatai against a common foe if everyone stood to gain equally. But probably not.
The Princes of Shadow [Xidevi Sartashai] stand isolated, surrounded by more powerful foes. But the forest is dark, and full of terrors. The Maninist reforms have allowed them to integrate the old Path with the worship of Talad, who they venerate as Manin's greatest champion. The Taudo themselves have built proud ships to drive the Cyvekt from their coasts. They will do whatever it takes to survive.
The High Oracles of Siaxis are proud of managing to keep the title Redeemer in one person's hands throughout the entire period, preventing further fragmentation than that which has already occurred. (We'll just ignore the Telha here.
) Siaxis itself has swelled into an incredible city; as a neutral ground between the Exatai it is safe from war, and has become home to a vast marketplace as well as famous marble-lined steam baths designed by the Sephashim.
"We live in a moment in which something is waiting to be born. Not the Return of Taleldil, as the white ones preach, but the return of noble princes who protect the people and hear their cries for justice."
-Oracle Ashelas
The Zalkephai Rashai, long organized into separate, feuding city-states and exile monasteries, have managed to reorganize into a powerful confederacy, led by a universally-recognized Zalkephis of great power, who satisfies all the signs and resembles the original. Though his lieutenants have failed him in their effort to conquer Cyve, the root of the Dark One's followers, he has now revealed himself in Sartasion, and lays the ground for the Fourth War of Prophecy. The Aitahists and the Princes alike shall fall. Vexas ven atanas. To die is to live.
The Vellari Exatai, having made their narrowly-unsuccessful play for global dominance against the Carohans, are consolidating their gains. Prince Taracis' ambition is not to reunite the the Karapeshai, but to eclipse them by reuniting the old Accan trade networks and regaining their massive historical wealth, then assembling a maritime dominion supported by superior technology and professional soldiers. They are sneaky, opportunistic, and smart. They have a longstanding rivalry with the Tephrans and Alusille.
The Tephran Exatai have fought noble wars against the Enguntithi and the Zalkephists for centuries, and are now content maintaining the status quo. They hate the Vellari and everything they stand for, and would only unite with them if there was some massive Zalkephai invasion. Mostly however they are living as a peaceful kingdom, helping their friends and allies among the Vischa where possible. They are good Satar, that hold to the ancient ways.
The Ashelai Exatai is opportunistic as well, prepared to fight on any front. Named after the Oracle who invited in the nomad princes who had sacked the Vithanama Empire, they are fierce patrons of Ardavan, but also extremely tolerant, offering many princely positions and even religious patronage to the Iralliamite minority. Grown wealthy on the caravan route through Magha and Yashidim, they are great builders, and their rotational method of succession has proved excellent at promoting stability, though it does occasionally cause a lack of coherent policy from ruler to ruler. They are unpredictable and creative.
The High Princes of Alusille, [Exalai Sartashai] ancient in lineage and high in prestige, are the current Redeemers of the Satar Exatai, as they have been for many occasions over the past several centuries. This title, unfortunately, does not mean anything, as they are less powerful than the Vellari, the Tephrans and the Ashelai. All three send the Redeemer a ceremonial 'gift' each year (perhaps a falcon, or a horse, or a golden ring) but little else. However, the great fortress-city of Alusille has never fallen to an enemy in centuries of war, and the Shield-Princes (as well as the High Oracle) could unite the fractious Exatai against a common foe if everyone stood to gain equally. But probably not.
The Princes of Shadow [Xidevi Sartashai] stand isolated, surrounded by more powerful foes. But the forest is dark, and full of terrors. The Maninist reforms have allowed them to integrate the old Path with the worship of Talad, who they venerate as Manin's greatest champion. The Taudo themselves have built proud ships to drive the Cyvekt from their coasts. They will do whatever it takes to survive.
The High Oracles of Siaxis are proud of managing to keep the title Redeemer in one person's hands throughout the entire period, preventing further fragmentation than that which has already occurred. (We'll just ignore the Telha here.
) Siaxis itself has swelled into an incredible city; as a neutral ground between the Exatai it is safe from war, and has become home to a vast marketplace as well as famous marble-lined steam baths designed by the Sephashim.
Perfectionist
Angel of Verdun
Only if we lose.
- Response of Altaro Javan when asked after the Immolation if the world was ending [possibly apocryphal]
Junctions on the Path, the Fulcrum of the World, and the Terminus
The future is not set, and any who tell you otherwise lie. Man's ultimate end is not written in any book, or revealed in any dream. The Path, we know, leads to the Terminus of Light, our escape from the bonds of this World; and though Terminus is itself but a beginning, we cannot know or speak of what lies beyond. Our constrained minds cannot unlock those secrets until we reach Terminus, and if any have crossed that threshold they have not returned to tell us of it since Manin-Othor-Dorom departed. There is a beguiling sense of inevitability to the Path – you have only to follow it and you will, in time, reach your destination, however heavy your burdens along the way.
But the Path is not alone; this, too, we know. There are many paths branching off in all directions, and though some are long and some are short, some first bright and inviting, others always dark and dreadful, each leads to its own terminus, a darker terminus, what the Satar might call an ultimate Armageddon. And when the unwary traveler comes to a junction on the Path he might with but a small push be thrown onto a different path, following a darker way, and regaining the correct Path might prove impossible even if he realizes his error. So it was that the ancients, assured of the inevitability of Terminus, overlooked the coming of the Dalothim into the World, and so were easily swayed off the Path. And with that, we know, came ruination, and Man followed a dark path long, and came perilously close to its end and final catastrophe. And in the darkness the Dalothim rejoiced, for they now believed their own victory to be likewise ordained and inevitable, and the extinction of Man a foregone conclusion. They too were mistake, as we know, for the first of the Faithful, the first of the Haradim, realized just ere the end Man's peril, and by enormous sacrifice wrenched Man away from that terminus and, after long ages of struggle, set us upon the Path once more. And though this time the whole body of Man was not united, and it has long fallen to that portion that remained Faithful to drag the rest down the Path, destruction was averted. And so neither the foretold destruction nor the foretold liberation of the World came to pass as expected. The future is not set, and any who tell you otherwise lie: for we might at any point come to a junction on the Path and by either a misstep or the action of Dalothim again head towards a darker end.
Only Man can determine which direction he will take at a junction. Though Dalothim might sway us one way and Haradim try to keep us aright, only our actions in the end determine which way is taken. But some missteps are easily avoided – the worship of Ancestors, for instance, never held attraction to the Faithful. Some are far more insidious, appearing fair to look upon, yet all the more terrible for being shorter and reaching their end sooner – as the followers of Qasaarai thought for long years that they held to the Path, and even to the very wise their error became apparently only when it was nearly too late. It is these junctions that the Dalothim bend their greatest efforts towards, and where we must be most vigilant. Sometimes we might take but a step or two in the wrong direction, before the wise see our error and correct it, and then little harm is done, and Man continues on the Path to Terminus. But sometimes we might by mistake proceed a ways down an incorrect path and once more approach destruction ere realizing our error. And then it takes a great effort to wrench Man back to the Path, and it is opposed with all their might by the Dalothim, and should their strength overcome that of the Faithful the World will proceed directly to that black terminus. This is what we know as the Great Ordeal of the Faithful, when the Dalothim war against the Faith with all their might and hope fades and will drains as the fate of the world balances for a moment on a narrow point: for if it tips one way, all comes to an end, while the other way brings not liberation but only its continued possibility.
There have thus far in the history of Man been only two Great Ordeals: the first, lost in the mists of time, when the first Faithful fought the first Dalothim and won; and the second, when the Dalotha Aitah shed the fair visage that had entranced so many and drowned the lands of the Faithful in fire and blood. Each time we survived, but each time only barely, and each time only because there emerged a great leader, a champion of the Faithful, who might contest with the Dalothim on equal terms and win. First was the Nameless Haradyr, his identity long since lost to memory, who preserved the knowledge of the Way and the Light through all the darkness; second was Javan, known to all as the man who willed a beaten people through Desolation and Peregrination to victory. Perhaps the next Great Ordeal, if it comes, will be defeated without such a champion; then again, perhaps not, in which case we must hope that a Halyr comes again to lead to the Faithful to survival. We must never let our guard down, we must watch always for straying, and should we suspect that we approach once again a Great Ordeal, a time when the City is once more the Fulcrum of the World, we must contest it with all our might and seek for one to lead the Faithful.
For Terminus is far away even now, so far down the Path that only those with the keenest vision may discern even a glimmer of it, while the end of the World is always lurking just a few steps away.
- Response of Altaro Javan when asked after the Immolation if the world was ending [possibly apocryphal]
*****
Junctions on the Path, the Fulcrum of the World, and the Terminus
The future is not set, and any who tell you otherwise lie. Man's ultimate end is not written in any book, or revealed in any dream. The Path, we know, leads to the Terminus of Light, our escape from the bonds of this World; and though Terminus is itself but a beginning, we cannot know or speak of what lies beyond. Our constrained minds cannot unlock those secrets until we reach Terminus, and if any have crossed that threshold they have not returned to tell us of it since Manin-Othor-Dorom departed. There is a beguiling sense of inevitability to the Path – you have only to follow it and you will, in time, reach your destination, however heavy your burdens along the way.
But the Path is not alone; this, too, we know. There are many paths branching off in all directions, and though some are long and some are short, some first bright and inviting, others always dark and dreadful, each leads to its own terminus, a darker terminus, what the Satar might call an ultimate Armageddon. And when the unwary traveler comes to a junction on the Path he might with but a small push be thrown onto a different path, following a darker way, and regaining the correct Path might prove impossible even if he realizes his error. So it was that the ancients, assured of the inevitability of Terminus, overlooked the coming of the Dalothim into the World, and so were easily swayed off the Path. And with that, we know, came ruination, and Man followed a dark path long, and came perilously close to its end and final catastrophe. And in the darkness the Dalothim rejoiced, for they now believed their own victory to be likewise ordained and inevitable, and the extinction of Man a foregone conclusion. They too were mistake, as we know, for the first of the Faithful, the first of the Haradim, realized just ere the end Man's peril, and by enormous sacrifice wrenched Man away from that terminus and, after long ages of struggle, set us upon the Path once more. And though this time the whole body of Man was not united, and it has long fallen to that portion that remained Faithful to drag the rest down the Path, destruction was averted. And so neither the foretold destruction nor the foretold liberation of the World came to pass as expected. The future is not set, and any who tell you otherwise lie: for we might at any point come to a junction on the Path and by either a misstep or the action of Dalothim again head towards a darker end.
Only Man can determine which direction he will take at a junction. Though Dalothim might sway us one way and Haradim try to keep us aright, only our actions in the end determine which way is taken. But some missteps are easily avoided – the worship of Ancestors, for instance, never held attraction to the Faithful. Some are far more insidious, appearing fair to look upon, yet all the more terrible for being shorter and reaching their end sooner – as the followers of Qasaarai thought for long years that they held to the Path, and even to the very wise their error became apparently only when it was nearly too late. It is these junctions that the Dalothim bend their greatest efforts towards, and where we must be most vigilant. Sometimes we might take but a step or two in the wrong direction, before the wise see our error and correct it, and then little harm is done, and Man continues on the Path to Terminus. But sometimes we might by mistake proceed a ways down an incorrect path and once more approach destruction ere realizing our error. And then it takes a great effort to wrench Man back to the Path, and it is opposed with all their might by the Dalothim, and should their strength overcome that of the Faithful the World will proceed directly to that black terminus. This is what we know as the Great Ordeal of the Faithful, when the Dalothim war against the Faith with all their might and hope fades and will drains as the fate of the world balances for a moment on a narrow point: for if it tips one way, all comes to an end, while the other way brings not liberation but only its continued possibility.
There have thus far in the history of Man been only two Great Ordeals: the first, lost in the mists of time, when the first Faithful fought the first Dalothim and won; and the second, when the Dalotha Aitah shed the fair visage that had entranced so many and drowned the lands of the Faithful in fire and blood. Each time we survived, but each time only barely, and each time only because there emerged a great leader, a champion of the Faithful, who might contest with the Dalothim on equal terms and win. First was the Nameless Haradyr, his identity long since lost to memory, who preserved the knowledge of the Way and the Light through all the darkness; second was Javan, known to all as the man who willed a beaten people through Desolation and Peregrination to victory. Perhaps the next Great Ordeal, if it comes, will be defeated without such a champion; then again, perhaps not, in which case we must hope that a Halyr comes again to lead to the Faithful to survival. We must never let our guard down, we must watch always for straying, and should we suspect that we approach once again a Great Ordeal, a time when the City is once more the Fulcrum of the World, we must contest it with all our might and seek for one to lead the Faithful.
For Terminus is far away even now, so far down the Path that only those with the keenest vision may discern even a glimmer of it, while the end of the World is always lurking just a few steps away.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Since I think it will clarify the nation-choosing a little if I select one for myself, I have decided after much deliberation that I will take the Vellari Exatai.
Not an easy choice for me, but it had to be made.
Not an easy choice for me, but it had to be made.
Terrance888
Discord Reigns
Argh!
SO MANY VOWELS!
EX TER MIN ATE! EX TER MIN ATE!
SO MANY VOWELS!
EX TER MIN ATE! EX TER MIN ATE!
tuxedohamm
Disguised as crow.
Let the vowel flow through you.
Golden1Knight
Emperor
I do not know how it sounds in English, but in Portuguese it sounds perfectly fine. But I wonder if I'm pronouncing correctly.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
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- 18,165
OOC: It's not that Terrance finds it objectionable OOC, it's that his country, the Parthecans, aren't fond of vowels. 
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Amongst other things, one can curry mod favor right now by:
1) Telling me the name and age of your leader/prominent figures (as many as you like).
2) Working on the wiki, preferably adding the articles/bringing up to date the old articles on this to do list. Don't worry too much about getting it perfect, I keep a pretty close eye on the wiki, so I vet most of the articles.
1) Telling me the name and age of your leader/prominent figures (as many as you like).
2) Working on the wiki, preferably adding the articles/bringing up to date the old articles on this to do list. Don't worry too much about getting it perfect, I keep a pretty close eye on the wiki, so I vet most of the articles.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Dramatis Personae of the Vellari Exatai
--
-The Prince And His Family-
High Prince Alxas-ta-Vantyris of the Scroll (43, passive, intellectual, doubtful)
Princess Sephecci-ta-Icci (m. Alxas) (39, detached, emotional, regal)
Prince Altrias-ta-Vantyris (22, proud, virtuous, direct)
Princess Sephecci-ta-Erecco (m. Altrias) (19, idealistic, self-conscious, shy)
Prince Idraxis (19, brilliant, lame, jealous)
Princess Edrexa (16, greedy, cruel, self-absorbed)
Princess Nesha (14, kind, outgoing, faithful)
Prince Arro (4, happy)
-His Servants and Councillors-
Prince Karynir-ta-Aterai of the Sea (l. Sarali) (54, disciplined, detached, amoral)
Princess Erhelia-ta-Acca (m. Karynir) (l. Velection) (21, ambitious, promiscuous, amoral)
Prince Velection-ta-Aterai (l. Erhelia) (24, cunning, ambitious, amoral)
Princess Sarali (m. Velection) (l. Karynir) (19, depressed, promiscuous, amoral)
Numerous relations of uncertain provenance.
--
Prince Zirazephis-ta-Alma of the Tower (u. Alxas) (58, jovial, inquisitive, duplicitous)
--
Nuccios Kecci Erecco (65, imperious, perceptive, cynical)
Nuccios Deverro Tepecci (21, outgoing, stupid, ambitious)
Nuccios Arexas Kelekephi (31, creative, prudish, faithful)
--
Ardaxes, a Tephran warrior, tarkan of the High Prince and weapons trainer
Vendrym, an Avaimi warrior from the frontier, tarkan of the High Prince and captain of his men
Sedrax, a functionary and bureaucrat
Alactephion, the High Confessor of the Sephashim
--
-The Prince And His Family-
High Prince Alxas-ta-Vantyris of the Scroll (43, passive, intellectual, doubtful)
Princess Sephecci-ta-Icci (m. Alxas) (39, detached, emotional, regal)
Prince Altrias-ta-Vantyris (22, proud, virtuous, direct)
Princess Sephecci-ta-Erecco (m. Altrias) (19, idealistic, self-conscious, shy)
Prince Idraxis (19, brilliant, lame, jealous)
Princess Edrexa (16, greedy, cruel, self-absorbed)
Princess Nesha (14, kind, outgoing, faithful)
Prince Arro (4, happy)
-His Servants and Councillors-
Prince Karynir-ta-Aterai of the Sea (l. Sarali) (54, disciplined, detached, amoral)
Princess Erhelia-ta-Acca (m. Karynir) (l. Velection) (21, ambitious, promiscuous, amoral)
Prince Velection-ta-Aterai (l. Erhelia) (24, cunning, ambitious, amoral)
Princess Sarali (m. Velection) (l. Karynir) (19, depressed, promiscuous, amoral)
Numerous relations of uncertain provenance.
--
Prince Zirazephis-ta-Alma of the Tower (u. Alxas) (58, jovial, inquisitive, duplicitous)
--
Nuccios Kecci Erecco (65, imperious, perceptive, cynical)
Nuccios Deverro Tepecci (21, outgoing, stupid, ambitious)
Nuccios Arexas Kelekephi (31, creative, prudish, faithful)
--
Ardaxes, a Tephran warrior, tarkan of the High Prince and weapons trainer
Vendrym, an Avaimi warrior from the frontier, tarkan of the High Prince and captain of his men
Sedrax, a functionary and bureaucrat
Alactephion, the High Confessor of the Sephashim
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Still needing a few more here, but there you go.
There'll be more related to this soon.
Oh, and this:
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
The Zalkephic city south of Lexera is called Trazev. The northernmost city on the lake is called Ivis. Still working on the other ones.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Crezth obviously has my approval. Vexas ven atanas.
The Succession of Emperors, 1456 AR to Present [1734 AR]
- Arjannun IV, r. 1456-1474
- Jarmai VI, r. 1474-1490
- Lorian IV, r. 1490-1500
- Jarmai VII, r. 1500-1534
- Lorian V, r. 1534-1539
- Lorian VI, r. 1539-1548
- Unall V, r. 1548-1561
- Galann III, r. 1561-1578
- Jarmai IX, r. 1578-1599
- Jarmai X, r. 1599-1604
At the assassination of Jarmai X by Gurgheli assassins, a brief bloodless civil war took place between his twin son and daughter. With the death without other heirs of the ostensible Jarmai XI (typically omitted from lists of rulers) in 1607, Samerdis took the throne in Traha as Empress Regnant, the first ruling Empress in Trahana
- Samerdis, r. 1604/1607-1645
Although later histories would widely consider Samerdis a widely successful ruler, reviving imperial power after a century of nostalgia and stagnation, her rule was also marked by significant tensions with a male-dominated aristocracy. Samerdis had no children of her own, and the throne passed to the son of her pre-deceased younger sister on her death. He would be overthrown in a coup after less than a year, and a distant branch of the imperial family installed as rulers, puppets of the noble houses.
- Parysats, r. 1645-1646
- Ursites I, r. 1646-1659
- Ursites II, r. 1659-1667
The reigns of Ursites I and Ursites II coincided with the dramatic rise of the Golden Ships, which threatened the central authority of the emperors. Ursites I and II both had close ties to the landed families, and in just 22 years from the death of Samerdis, it looked as if imperial authority would be all but wiped away.
However, the son of Ursites II proved quite different from his father and grandfather, and would lead the reform of the Golden Ships and a second, more lasting revival of central power in the empire, though his descendants would still contend with controlling unruly noble and merchant classes.
- Ursites III, r. 1667-1689
- Gambian I, r. 1689-1702
- Tisfar, r. 1702-1721 [first son of Gambian I, died without issue]
- Gambian II, r. 1721-1730 [third son of Gambian I, inherited following the deaths of his older brothers]
- Gambian III, r. 1730-Present
The current Emperor, Gambian III, is only a boy, 14 years old in 1734. He is guided in his reign by the true power behind the throne, the Dowager Empress Amestrunna, his grandmother and the wife of the late Emperor Gambian I. It is also said that Amestrunna was the real power behind the throne during the rules of Tisfar and Gambian II, both her sons, though they were fully of age. Enemies of the state suggest that she poisoned Emperor Tisfar after a dispute, causing his early death, but there is little evidence for this allegation. Despite her stewardship of the throne for nearly a half-century, Amestrunna herself hails from a noble family with strong ties to the Golden Ships and has been considered an important glue holding together the factions of the Empire. As Amestrunna's age is now quite advanced, all factions in the Empire prepare for the end of her era, but none can say what the future holds.
North King
blech
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- Jan 2, 2004
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- 18,165
Bair_the_Normal
転輪聖王
How blank of a slate is Satabo?
