End of Empires - N3S III

The computer's fine. The monitor, while bad, is usable. I hope to get the update out during the week. If not, this weekend.
 
From the Hymns to Seshweay, Common Prayer Book of the Ancestors.

When the Se’ta’ai [1] repeats what the Ti’fi’sa [2] has just played it cannot make the same sounds, and it cannot play the same notes. It can, however make recognizably the same music, the same air, the same lilt of an age long past. But it can do so only when the same self logic is applied to both, one can still pick up the dissonance, the grate of notes similar but so different, hanging in the air; mocking is the inability to duplicate the haunting plucking of the Ti’fa’sa.

Cultures are like music, never do the same notes played by different instruments make the same song. Our ancestors believed that by imitating to perfection our Lord’s [3] culture, they could reach their level of perfection. Our ancestors believed that they could translate the notes from the Lords culture to their own, that was false. Translation implies a note for note exchange, impossible when you consider that the Se’ta’ai and the Ti’fi’sa even when played note for note sound so different. This led to only a crude approximation of the tune of Cultural perfection, it was through this crude approach our ancestors, found they were unable to destroy the Arkage, unable to fend of the Satarai, unable to save themselves from Empire, and unable to defend the Fatherland. They failed, we shall not.

Transposition of notes holds more promise, music is not made of a limited number of notes thinking so will only lead to error because of the innate complexity of the sum of the whole. Culture is instead an infinitely complex piece, full of different stimuli and influences, it cannot be exactly repeated, nor can it be imitated, there perhaps exists a possibility of transpositioning the notes from instrument to instrument. What must be saved from the transition between the four strings to the forty keys is the true essence of the culture.

We must transpose the spirit, not the literal meaning, for in the spirit lies perfection.

In practice to fulfil this goal we must restore the Republics true glory, we must restore Sesh our spiritual home and we must ignore the old Fatherland our future lies elsewhere across the seas of the world away from a shattered past.

We must resolve to live not on the mere echoes of a world once known or a tune once heard in passing, we must reshape our culture to play not the echoes of the great song but the great song itself.

No longer shall the Exiled States be exiled, they will be true home of all Seshweay, for where the banner of New Seshweay goes the Seshweay will rally and where our people are persecuted they shall find solace in our existence and know that help is at hand.

For the Republic, For Unity, For Moralism, For the Ancestors, For Seshweay.

Unitary Prime.


Speech before the Senate House of the New Seshweay Republic.
Years since the death of the Revered Aya’se 947.
Years since the death of the First Republic 947.

It is the most humble of supplicants who speaks before his honourable brother Senators, many know that of a certain father of mine, once a Senator of the Empire of Sesh, pronounced upon the last of the line of Tyrant Emperors these bold words, “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of the Ancestors, go." It was a show of the decay of Republicanism that the last honourable voice in the Senate was saved his head only by the intervention of a minority in the military left with any decency. Many of those who saved his life did not survive, but many more fled to the safety of New Seshweay, many amongst their number now sit in this exalted body and saved our Republic from the death throes of the great enemy to the South.

It is not the intention of this speaker, to give an account of the grounds which first moved us to take up arms, and engage our lives and all that was dear to us in this cause, nor will this speaker speak of the sacrifices for the Lords above we have made, for we have all made them. But let it be known that the Republic will rise, all our endeavours will not be for nought, and the Lords above watch us their unworthy servants with favour. Despite all the difficulties, despite all the contests of wits and strength, the endless to and fro, the flight of many from our homes with recourse of extraordinary actions assisted by our Lords we will overcome.

This speaker has listened to the debate that was put forward is this hallowed chamber, and agrees that the Supreme Authority, should be the Senate, devolved upon Ancestor fearing men and of approved integrity. It is hoped that the stain of Empire will be forgotten through the true government offered by the Senate, its good governance, impartial justice and service to the people. This glorious cause should never again require the intercession of arms by a single ruler to dictate by fiat, fear, treachery and chain the course of a true Republican government, nor shall it be tolerated. The Republic shall be for all Seshweay, it shall be the true beacon of government to the many and the varied, the last true hope of Seshweay.

Even now messengers pour in the from the coast requesting our help, weary veterans from the war swell our military, men lead families from the south weapons on everyone’s hip and we welcome them. Our glorious cause demands it, the strain they put on us is immaterial, even now they help us seed cities, reclaim territory and found colonies all over our world. Soon we shall reclaim what was lost to us, we hunger to take back what was ours.

Never again shall we fail. Never again shall we deviate. Never again. Nevermore.

For the Republic, For Unity, For Moralism, For the Ancestors, For Seshweay.

First Speaker of the Senate House of the Republic of New Seshweay.
A humble supplicant, Seshweay Common Prayer Book


During the last days of Empire, many of the soldiers of the Empire fled the collapse, I was one of them. One day the Ta’Pa [4] of our Va’Se [5] stopped the whole column, calmly he rose before us covered in the dust we were all covered in, he repeated the orders he had received from the Emperor in Sesh, tears in his eyes, voice halting we heard how the Emperor had betrayed the Fourth Army. The Fourth had been surrounded and destroyed; the Emperor had ordered it to advance from its positions where it had been cut to pieces by the enemy. The way to the Fatherland, Lord of our Hearts, Seshweay was open; we knew why he was crying now we might not be able to reach home to save it. But he continued to read, “those now hearing this message must make haste to the line of the Sesh, but not cross to the right side of the River, that is lost” howls of anger and indignation were followed ominously by silence as each man contemplated what obeying the orders would mean, abandoning the Fatherland to the enemy. The Ta’Pa quietly continued “we cannot follow this course, I received word from third army just moments ago, Ta’Pa’Se [6] Aya has decided that his service to the Empire is at an end and not a single man of the third didn’t decide to follow him…” He didn’t even get a chance to finish the sounds of men beginning to march with new purpose towards home drowned him out, the Imperial pennants were discarded the symbols of the Republic of Seshweay which hung under them were with special reverence were put back on top. We later found out that not a single Seshweay army had listened to the Emperors orders whole Seshweay divisions in mixed armies fell out of step and left, sometimes the Arkage would try to stop them demanding to know what they were doing all ignored them and marched as fast as they could towards home.

We fought for everything, we failed, we starved, we thirsted, we died from disease, we died from the constant skirmishing and sieges but we fought on. City after city fell, town after town, we stopped being able to fight them honestly we took to the hills, the desert, and the hidden places and fought on. Many packed up and headed north that was where it was safest, the Exiled States became our solace and saviour, fellow Seshweay long removed from their brothers fought alongside us, we could never stop them flooding out of the desert but we bloodied them. They never got to the Exiled States in great strength those few hosts who did died. Whole columns of the fleeing headed north, the Exiled States for as long as they could manage, held the roads open helping untold numbers flee north. We seldom heard about what was happening across the river we didn’t care, we knew they were fighting and dying the same as we were but faced with our own fleeing families and ruined cities we couldn’t help. Ta’Pa’Se Aya was killed in a particularly bloody engagement escorting the last Seshweay Senators of the Empire away, our Senators fought alongside the soldiers they died as readily as we did. But they carried by the far the holiest relics of the Seshweay, the symbols of the Senate and the Gold Busts of the Ancestors from Sesh.

The immediate danger passed, the fighting cooled, the Fatherland was ruined, the desert grew and once fertile land was useless but many of us survived. The Senate reconstituted, the Exiled States united, Senators from all walks of life took up seats. From the Soldier Senator Ti’se’ie formerly a Ta’Pa in the Imperial Military, to the Speaker of the Senate himself who was an ex-Imperial Senator the last of the truly great Republicans in the Imperial Senate to At’Ta’Ma a half Arkage and half Seshweay Lawyer to Eis’Ie a former Naval man in the Imperial Navy who had managed to wrest control of the home fleet and sail the part of it that survived the conflict to the Exiled States to the Arch Republican of the Old Guard Senators Ma’Sh a veteran of the Exiled States military and Old Senate to The All Highest Moralist Ke’ma another half Arkage and half Seshweay head of the Moralist philosophical school however reduced it was and to the Unitary Prime a living example of what the ancestors want in men. The first session of the Senate decided to retain the Republican Government against all tyrants and decided to rename the Exiled States, New Seshweay.

The Senates first act of governance was to issue a general call to arms for the whole male population not engaged in essential agriculture, fisheries or industry thousands of refugees and ex-soldiers many in the last stages of their lives rallied to the standards. Armies that had long since ceased to exist except on beaten bronze taken from the capital in the last days reformed, but instead of the orderly ranks of men armed and clad in bronze that made up the armies of the empire, the fledgling armies of the Republic had little armour, bows crafted of horn and wood were common the weapons of the last desperate days. Antique armour was worn by many and units were reformed some armed with bows, some equipped with the rare armour and bronze weapons while a large majority made do with spears tipped with bronze melted down from anything that could be found. Ancient Bronze law tablets were copied onto wax then melted down to assist the reclamation as it came to be known. Ships which had been abandoned in the mud were re-floated and made seaworthy. Chariots were built in vast quantities, the amount of bronze in them being reduced to the absolute minimum, bronze pins were replaced with a wood which expanded and got stronger when it was dried. The Republics navy sailed to the now mostly coastal enclaves of the Seshweay outside the Republic, built on hills and other natural defensive sites, the old settlements in the lowlands having been abandoned. Upon seeing the galley in the distance the populace would raise their gates upon seeing the glorious flag of the Republic the people would open the gates and stream out tears in their eyes, weeping in happiness and gratitude at the safety that the Republic assured them of. Our soldiers would train and arm the populace and assist in the destruction of bandits. Bandits and others who put the interests of the few against the majority were given a choice, join the Republican military or die. Many choose to join up, eyes misting, the oldest remembering service in the military in the last days would weep at the years lost to treason. Those who resisted and were captured were turned over the population they had terrorised and ripped apart by the mob. Those settlements to far from safety were encouraged to move into the most fortifiable settlements, the soldiers and the populace would expand the defences, some soldiers would stay to drill the populace and the navy would head to the next settlement spreading safety.

I was present for much of the reclamation, cities were rebuilt and partially populated, settlements were fortified, order restored, the few against the many were hunted down, the navy was enlarged, the army was rebuilt, large swathes of the coastline were bought under the Republics control. The most important acquisition was the restoration of the Holy City of Sesh, negotiations with the Janians as the Arkage called themselves allowed a reclamation force to liberate the ruins and begin to restore the walls. The Senate house of the Empire was consecrated, the insignia of the Emperor were cast down and the insignia of the Republic was restored to pride of place. The Fatherland would be triumphant, the heart of hearts and the holy of holies was reclaimed on marched the people of the Ancestors.

Translators and Historians note:


The first piece is the work of a Unitary Prime the main issue is which one, there exists a range of some 200 years over which it could have been written and no less than 5 Unitary Primes that could written it, the consistent style indicates that it was written by one person. It is now the official preface for the Common Prayer Book of the Ancestors and has been since at least the rule of the 65th Unitary Prime.

The second piece is definitely only the abridged first speech of the Speaker of the Legitimate Second Senate; it is likely that the speech ran to an hour or more of reading. The original bronzes used to reside in the Sepulchre of the Republic and Tomb of the Ancestors Temple but at some stage they have disappeared.

The third piece is likely not the work of a single author, it runs from the very first rebellions of the Seshweay part of the Imperial Military against Imperial Authority to at least a hundred years after the collapse and first reconstruction efforts of the new Senate after decades of near collapse by the exiled states. It is likely that for at least seventy years after the final collapse of the Empire Seshweay armies operated in defending the Sesh delta area so it is well within the realms of possibility that many would have remembered serving in the military of the “Empire” of Sesh or it least its Seshweay successors immediately after the collapse. There is a great deal of evidence supporting whole units of the Imperial military ending up in the Exiled States, there is also a wealth of evidence showing that refugees did flee in great numbers to the Exiled States, names which were previously of Imperial stock are found in legal bronzes and pottery in great abundance in that era.

[1] A key instrument with only a limited number of keys, which hit a layered bronze board very rarely played expect in the largest traditionalist orchestras, beloved for its dissonance.
[2] Simple 3 stringed violin like instrument, beloved for its complex sound
[3] Lords were a common name for the Ancestors and in Old Seshweay the word Lords is the same word as Ancestors, showing perhaps best how the Old Seshweay worshipped only the Ancestors and not mortal men in the form of a despot.
[4] General, or at least a senior officer normally commanding over 10,000 soldiers.
[5] roughly 10,000 soldiers in each.
[6] Highest level military officer, roughly equal to a Marshall in the current system, could command up to the whole Empire of Seshs army, likely in this case only around 25,000-50,000 soldiers.

OOC: Kind of combined orders/story, I thought i would try something new, orders will be in soon NK :)
 
Actually, that gives me a story idea.

The Creation of Court Parties
At this period there were tensions in Janian culture. Things began to become more orderly over time, until the situation solidified into three court factions, each with their own agenda.

First was the Arkage faction, exemplified by Hanid. They argued that Jania was a sucessor to Arkage values, and defended them up to the hilt. At first they controlled the kingship, but slowly weakened as they began to face rival propaganda. They recognised the new realities and managed to remain strong by playing the other two off against each other.

Second was the Sesh faction, whose values were half Arkage and half Seshweay. They argued that Jania should negotiate a new Sesh Empire with Tisesh. They in particular hated the Arkage system of family sucession, and began to recognise the reality that the family was an important unit.

Last was the Janian faction, who also opposed the Arkage family system. They argued that Jania should rejecct the evil of it's Arkage past, and dreams of a united Sesh Empire. They opposed the family system, and argued that Jania should enjoy it's wealth and not seek unjust conquests. They were technically heretics, as they opposed the doctrine that the Ancestors recognised might alone. But the Arkage faction allowed them to exist as a counterbalance to the Sesh.

Normally in a three way situation, two powers would ally against a third. But the Arkage faction, desiring expansion on the Sesh river without threats from elsewhere, worked to maintain the status quo.

Stand at the Delta: As told by Janian Faction Historians at the time of Hanid
In the collapse of the Sesh, the defence of the Delta was suprisingly strong even considering it's religious value. The values which had made the Sesh Empire, and more, were embodied in the actions of the defenders. Even some values of Seshweay and Arkage which had died in preceding years were revived to some extent.

Ironically, the man who led the expedition against them, Zantenid, happened to be descended from Craknus, Pa, and Ay'se, like the Emperors. But this was not known at the time, and it likely played no bearing on the outcome.

Zantenid had ravaged Tisesh and established a major power, at this point centered at Arkage. A disbeliever in the religion of the Seshweay, he was determined to take Sesh and burn it to the ground in order to disprove the religion once and for all.

He began by sending several night attacks into the general region. The objective was to destroy the city's supplies and thus weaken it. But General Viws, a descendant of Pa, had rallied in the people some of the old spirit of the citizen-soldier, and most burnings were delayed long enough for soldiers to arrive.

Zantenid's next plan was to hire barbarian mercenaries to inflate his numbers, until he outnumbered the defenders five to one. He then decided to attack on all sides, hoping to overwhelm the defenders by weight of numbers.

The next great achievement was by Kargid, a Craknid officer. He percieved that as the situation appeared hopeless, a false defector looked particularly plausible. This clever strategy allowed for easy deception and confusion of Zantenid and his forces.

Believing the defenders to be weak, Zantenid launched an all out assault on the trading ports, which were duly burned by retreating soldiers. A scene later used to rally the defenders was of a soldier encircled by the enemy. One of his fellows called "I can help you!". "No!" cried the soldier, "I will be self reliant!". He ended up getting captured, but would later escape and kill Zantenid himself...

Goaded on by false defectors, Zantenid continued the assault, only to be faced by a wall of disciplined and well commanded troops. He ordered a charge, but it was repulsed. Soon a wave of Sesh chariots from both sides created a rout, and Zantenid fell back to the burning ports.

Only outnumbering his foe three to one now, Zantenid called in more soldiers from places the Sesh had tried to conquer in their day. He took soldiers from Bahri (particularly slaves who he freed in exchange for fighting for him. They achieved glory themselves that day), Jania, Cyre, Het, and Trului. His armies were replentished, and he called upon the defenders to surrender.

General Viws had been wounded by this stage, and was in no posistion to respond. But the soldiers did not wait for him. The cry of "Freedom!" came out from their ranks, in defiance of the odds.

Zantenid's next plan was to try and bribe a few of the defenders to create chaos in the ranks, and thus destroy the apperance of unity. But this was futile- the false defectors got news back to the city, and the plan was stopped.

The next plan was to hold the food areas around the city. It was reasoned correctly that a blockade would starve the defenders out. It would have been over at this stage, if not for the heroism of Vhw's sucession, Es’w.

Es'w called upon the false defectors to assasinate Zantenid at the crucial moment. Leading a counter-charge, he broke into the enemy ranks and nearly routed them. Only the heroism of ex-slaves from Bahri prevented a total rout, and time was gathered to gain food.

The next assault was appropriately led by an ex-slave from Bahri, whose name is lost to history. Before attacking, he gave a speech to the defenders stating the wrongs of the Sesh Empire. They refused to acknowledge them, however, saying that they were the only true people.

Rallying the attackers with the wrongs of Sesh, the slave rallied them for an assault from land and sea. Refusing to let them relent, he rallied the men with the wrongs of Sesh. Soon the battle was going against the Sesh, and they lost control of the very walls of their holy city.

The final stage of the battle was the raining of flaming arrows into Sesh, a strategy which led to devastation in the ranks. Despite several attempts to regain the walls, the Sesh defenders were doomed.

But even here, things looked up. A valiant man of Seshweay and Arkage tradition, Ta’Valid, managed to slay the enemy commander at the moment his triumph was complete. Many would speculate on his potential to create an empire, but it was ended there.
 
OOC: I've been sick the last 6 or so days and still am sick. I'll try get orders in before the update if I can if not NPC me well please. :)
 
A Slice of Faroun Life

There’s really no such thing as a typical day in the city of Farou.

Yaoli Feyaramaiea, Faroun Merchant: “What do you mean, twelve haoui for these fruits? Do I look like I own the iron mines? I’d never pay more than four!”

Bolse Hodao, Trilui Trader: “Are you mad? I sailed all the way up from the distant south with these, and you offer me that little? My children will starve! If I can’t sell these here, I’d have to go to Hiuttubu-“

Yaoli: “10 haoui. Sold.”


Rauli Fiaour, Age 14: “Did you see the palace yesterday?”

Tahaiu Baelefo, Age 11: “Didn’t it burn?”

Rauli: “They say that King Maoulaio lit it on fire before the mob got him.”

Tahaiu: “What did he do?”

Rauli: “I heard that he tried to take control of the army.”

Tahaiu: “My dad said that that’s what King Faeliodau did just back when... um... a while ago.”

Rauli: “Well, my dad never said that Maoulaio was real smart about history.”

Tahaiu: “If I were the king, I’d be really smart.”

Rauli: “Yeah...”


Tarof Sayfo, Customer: “So, Maoulaio’s gone.”

Tafiaou Paharoua, Blacksmith: “Dead, or gone?”

Tarof: “It was hard to tell, the mob was pretty chaotic. At any rate, I need some farming tools repaired.”

Tafiaou: “Things got a little exciting?”

Tarof: “Not much more than usual. Here they are.”

Tafiaou: “Ah, another King, another coup, more business for me.”

Tarof: “I imagine you could get a good amount of haoui selling those swords you have in the back of the shop in times like this.”

Tafiaou: “I might.”

Tarof: “Do you sell them?”

Tafiaou: “Are you buying?”



Parouf Fihaho, Salei Resident, Alcoholic: “I wash nearly the king, you know... I wash in the counci- *hic* council and they elected me to lead the force againsht Faeliodau after we caught on about his army... *hic*

Barou Shaelio, Bartender: “But Faeliodau went running the second he saw the threat. The overthrow was a success, no?”

Parouf: “Ah don’t *hic* know, I’m just angry that they turned on me.”

Barou: “But the council elect isn’t the king.”

Parouf: “I shoulda been... *hic*”

Barou: Another beer?

Parouf: *Thud*


Mafau Hiolof, Present King of Farou: “So, the palace has been secure for a week. I think that the population’s calmed down. Do you think it’s safe to start working?”

Sahim Rafiaho, Advisor: “You never know.”

Mafau: “Well, you’ve got to start somewhere. We need to pay to repair the fire damages on the palace. Do you think that a small tax on the southern trade routes would be appropriate?”

Sahim: “I don’t see why not.”
 
OOC: I've been sick the last 6 or so days and still am sick. I'll try get orders in before the update if I can if not NPC me well please. :)

I believe the north will be the last area to get updated, so you have plenty of time. :)
 
That thaylliyiy sent orders?
 
Nah, I want that bowl, but im too lazy to fight a PC for it :p

I'll see how LuckNES fares..
 
Random question: What is the government of Moti? It'd be difficult to have a king or queen in an Uggor country. Did they copy my form of government?

Also: How's the update coming along?
 
They have a Council of... Chiefs? I don't remember which noun to use, but rest assured it's correct in the stats. :p There's no real king, though often a chief might gain primacy and call himself Chief of Chiefs or the equivalent title.

The update's not progressing much (busy days), but I think there's a 99% chance of it getting done by Saturday, and a 50% chance of it getting done before.
 
They have a Council of... Chiefs? I don't remember which noun to use, but rest assured it's correct in the stats. :p There's no real king, though often a chief might gain primacy and call himself Chief of Chiefs or the equivalent title.

The update's not progressing much (busy days), but I think there's a 99% chance of it getting done by Saturday, and a 50% chance of it getting done before.

Hmm. So I guess power struggles could be considered common in Moti? Interesting....

Wait a sec. 149%. DOES NOT COMPUTE. SYSTEM CRASH.
 
I think that's what North King intended, but technically that's not what he said.
 
I figured you were smart folks; don't disappoint.

Make sure that there's no more than three replies to this before the update.
 
If the update is not in before tomorrow, I'm gonna forget what my orders were.

... Wait, I already forgot. Gotta check my PM box.

EDIT: I think I have to be more paranoid when sending orders.
 
I'll pick an NPC nation after the update.

...one more post so NK can get the top of the page!
 
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