Aztec Glory



Chapter Two: Appeasing the Gods
Ehawatalax marched alongside the troops in his small detatchment of Aztec eagle warriors. These elite Aztec fighters would normally be on the battlefield, mercilessly destroying enemies as they lived up to their glorious name.

But, Ehawatalax was not engaged in his normally glorious activity at the moment. He, and his 50 man detatchment, had been ordered to march a crowd of 100 enemy prisoners to Tenochtitlan. Although Ehawatalax was displeased by the fact that he was doing work usually done by lowly conscripts, it was his duty to do whatever the Aztec command wished him to.

Presently, the Aztec troops approached the capital of the great Aztec Alliance, Tenochtitlan. The roof of the Pyramid of Moctezuma, the capitol building of the empire, loomed close.

"Come on, you yellow-bellied cowardly morons!" Ehawatalax yelled to the prisoners. "Your final destination awaits."

The prisoners quickened their pace. They knew that they would be punished severely for anything but a firm and powerful stance. They were aware that some in their midst would be painfully sacrificed. Others would simply be held until the barbarians negotiated exchanges.

After marching for a few more minutes, the caravan reached Tenochtitlan. After passing through the gates, the prisoners were led to the prisoner holding cells. These stone brick buildings were anything but inviting.

Immediately, five prisoners were picked from the large band. They were bound together with rope, and were forced to march toward the exact thing they dreaded; the sacrificial altar...

Moctezuma stood before the small altar of Tenochtitlan. It occured to him that major renovation must be done. This altar was very makeshift. It was not elaborate. He knew that if he made it more powerful looking, the Aztec glory would become even more immortalized.

Finally, the captives were led to the Great Altar of Tenochtitlan. One man was untied from the rest and forced to put his head upon what the Aztecs called the Stone of the Gods.

Moctezuma stepped in front of the altar, facing the assembled people. He spread his arms wide.

"People of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Texpan, and what will soon be Tlateleco! I call you here today to witness the triumph of our Aztec forces! We have captured some cowardly enemies from our battle with the Northern Barbarians! We have captured many more than these five! Through several days, we shall appease the gods by sacrificing a total of 25 men! For Quetzalcoatl!"

Then, the sacrifices began. One by one, the prisoners were painfully dismembered by a priest. All to the backdrop of hundreds of Aztec citizens and military-men screaming "Aztec glory, Aztec glory!" in unison.
 
If you hadn't already figured it out, each update ends with people chanting "Aztec glory, Aztec glory," or something related to the fact that everything progresses toward the glory of the great Aztecs.

If anyone wants to become part of this story, just post what kind of person you want to be (soldier, general, citizen, governor, etc.) and a name (make sure it sounds Aztecish.
 
I will be Montezuma's advisor
 


Chapter Three: A New and Glorious Empire

Moctezuma sat at his stone desk at the Pyramid of Moctezuma. It had taken his people several years to build a temple for the great emperor. It demonstrated the might and glory of the Aztecs. However, the tasks that Emperor Moctezuma had to complete were not nearly as glorious as the great pyramid.

Moctezuma was recently finishing signing yet another round of stone tablets, He had to sign quite a few of these lately. This was because a very large number of Aztec workers would be sent to settle the new city of Tlateleco soon, and he had to Moctezuma had to authorize allocations of resources, tools, weapons, and money to ensure that the settlers could make Tlateleco a glorious city that reflected the glory of the entire Aztec nation.

At this moment, a loud knocking was heard from the door. One of the five guards who stood guard outside Moctezuma’s office stuck his head inside.

“Great Emperor Moctezuma,” the guard said. “A farmer from the outskirts of Tenochtitlan wishes to speak with you.”

Moctezuma sighed.

“Very well,” he said. “Send him in.”

The slender farmer walked into the office, escorted by two guards eyeing him suspiciously while gripping their spears and shields.

The farmer bowed low, while repeating the phrase “Hail Moctezuma, hail Moctezuma” several times.

Moctezuma spoke then. “I do not have much time, citizen,” he said. “What is at that you wish to discuss with me?”

“Great Moctezuma,” the farmer said, bowing once again. “I am Fekandax, a farmer who has joined the party of settlers who will settle the new city of Tlateleco. While I am gone, my wife and son will be the only people left to tend my farm. However, I fear they will not be able to harvest all the crops. I beg you to aid me with money so that my family will survive.”

Moctezuma thought for a while. I would like to help you, citizen,” he said. “You have done a good deed, doing your patriotic duty to help build Tlateleco. However, I am not made of gold. So, I cannot afford to pay you any some of money. But, as you aware, each able must do two hours of civil service each week. Therefore, every week, I will order five able-bodied males to help your wife and son with your farm each week.”

The farmer bowed low.

“Thank you, great Moctezuma,” he said.

The farmer was then escorted out of the room by several guards.

Moctezuma sighed. The Aztecs seem to be so different nowadays, he thought. It seems that just a few months ago. Defeating a few barbarian invaders seemed a great victory. But now, the world is so much larger. New cities, new technology, and new neighbors. It was reported that a people to the east were rising to power. They called themselves the Olmecs and were supposedly as powerful as the Aztecs. He knew it was unlikely, but he knew that being hostile would not help.

It is obvious, thought Moctezuma, that the Aztec Glory is an entirely different thing than before.
 


Chapter Three: Tlateleco

General Mendiozas panted as he led his men up the hill. He had been traveling for 15 days now, and was very weary. With morale running low and troops becoming extremely tired, Mendiozas knew that he would have to reach the site of future Tlateleco quickly. Otherwise, his settlers would fall apart. He had been trying to galvanize them for the past three days. At first, it had worked and spirits were high, but gradually they went back to the dismal mood of just pushing on and hoping, praying, that their journey would soon be over.

As Mendiozas climbed over the hill, he saw the sight he had been waiting and hoping he would see. This miracle that he saw was a small group of men around a tent, with an Aztec flag flying overhead. They had reached the building site of Tlateleco.

The general turned about and said to the men: “Gentlemen! We have arrived. We have reached the construction site! The world will remember this day. We have reached our building site! Now, we can stop walkin’ and start buildin’! Tonight, we will rest. But, tomorrow, we will begin our massive construction project and reclaim the glory of the Aztecs!

And that was what happened. That night was marked with feasting and merriment. But, the next day was different. The feasting ended and the building began. The men knew that although it was excellent that the journey was over, they still had work to do. The Aztec glory could never be true glory if the only thing they did was feast and dance. There was work to do, and the building of Tlateleco would bring the Aztecs glory beyond their wildest dreams.
 
I'll be following too. I'm doing a very different Aztec story right now. It'll be good to follow the differences as you seem to have a pretty solid feel for Aztec culture.

Good so far, but I'm ready for more blood sacrifices, sir.
 


Chapter Four: Engineering a City

General Mendiozas unrolled the city plans, two engineers fidgeting uncomfortably behind him. If he didn’t like their plans they could be sacrificed for their bad job. As Mendiozas glanced over the arrangement of plans, his straight face turned to a smile. The engineers were relieved. Perhaps they would not meet their doom.

As Mendiozas looked over the plans, he did indeed begin to smile. The city was arranged in an excellent fashion, with the peasants’ homes arranged neatly (unlike most Aztec cities, where the peasants’ dwellings were scattered about) and the central platform held temples and government buildings. They were arranged with interesting architecture, somewhat reflecting Tenochtitlan, with the grid pattern shaping the entire city. The lords’ manors were near the marketplaces. The formation of the temples and shapes on the roofs would be sure to please the gods and grant great fortune to the Aztecs.

“Engineers,” he began. “This is an excellent set of plans. We will begin construction immediately! You will be rewarded with 20 large gold measurements each. I congratulate you on a job very well done.”

The peasants’ work was done for the day. Another handful of small dwellings had been completed and the main temple was nearing completion. At the end of the day, peasants were allowed to trade with nomads who came to show their wares.

General Mendiozas stepped from the crowd. Many were shocked to see an official so high as himself actually freely walk amongst those considered lower class.

“General,” a citizen from somewhere in the crowd. “Will the gods be pleased that you walk among us peasants as if we were your equal?”

Mendiozas ignored the comment and bent down to examine a ware. It was a beautiful clay pottery piece depicting a sacrifice. Mendiozas laid down a small sack of silver coins, picked up the ware, and left the market.

General Mendiozas trotted to his small manor at the top of the central hill. He liked his position as city-builder, but he yearned to go back to the battlefields.
Perhaps, he thought. I shall request to be re-instated in the Aztec army once the city has been built. I yearn to charge upon the battlefield and reclaim what I feel is the best for the Aztecs. After the city is complete, the entire Aztec army will no me as a great city-builder, and a great general who honored his family with true Aztec Glory!
 



Chapter Five: Taking a Stand


Nakil stood quietly atop the wooden guard tower, observing the ground east of the encampment. His shift as sentry lasted another thirty minutes, and he would enjoy every second of it. Unlike most soldiers, who fidgeted and yawned while standing on duty, Nakil used the time to think and be philosophical.

Nakil, who at one time was a farm boy who joined the army, now had captured three prisoners who were sacrificed in the name of Quetzalcoatl. If he captured one more prisoner, he would be given the rank of tequiua, and would be allowed to participate in the war council. He looked forward to that day, hoping that he would one day be as glorious as Moctezuma himself.

He sighed. He felt little bloodlust as many troops in the army did. In fact, the sight of a man dying sickened him. But, he knew it was his duty, so he clamped his mouth shut and pretended to enjoy the sacrifices.

Suddenly, his attention was attracted to a bush.

Was something rustling in the underbrush?

He looked more carefully, squinting and trying to see. What he saw made him gasp. About seventy-five warriors clad in frightening costumes preparing to launch an attack. He had no doubt that there were hundreds of other warriors, preparing to attack the Aztec encampment.

Nakil picked up his chimalli, the lightweight shield easily springing up to defend him against missile weapons at the slightest leverage. His free hand went past his three-foot maquahuitl sword-club and went to a bugle on his belt. Without hesitation he brought the instrument to his lips.

The horn produced a loud medley of shrill, high notes that awoke the whole camp.

At that moment, Nakil had to duck below the safety of the guard tower fortifications. For, at that moment, several arrows flew threw the air toward. This did not surprise Nakil. The first action of stealthy invaders would be to kill whoever could sound the alarm. He had seen them drawing their bow, so he was able to duck before the deadly shafts could strike him.

Nakil quickly rushed down the steps of the guard tower to help defend the fort. He saw that his comrades were already beginning to emerge from their tents and were all rushing toward the northern gate to defend it against the now inevitable attack. Within moments, Nakil and his company were assembled in a fearsome formation. They rushed toward the gate, knowing that the enemy had probably brought axes to make holes in the great palisade gate.

More bugles sounded from both sides, delivering commands that ordered various troops to report to various positions.

Nakil’s unit screeched to a halt as the gate shuddered and creaked. It was obviously being cut by the barbarian hordes. Several gaps began to form as teams hacked away. Nakil urged his unit on, though. They rushed forward and jabbed their spears into the empty space made by the axe attacks.

This stalled the destruction of the gate and bought the Aztec army some time to begin assembling defense troops. They began to fire arrows over the ramparts and into the barbarians. This clearly had a profound effect, as there was a pause in the attack as the brutes began to reorganize.

Nakil was pleased with his unit’s progress. All surprise in the attack had vanished, and the barbarians were even beginning to fall back. At that moment, Nakil’s commander approached.

“Nakil!” he yelled over the roar of battle. “I need you and your unit to charge into their midst and finally push them out!”

Although fearful, Nakil knew that he had to obey his superior. He nodded, picking up his bugle. He issued the shrill notes that ordered a charge.

The troops charged through the gate and into the midst of the attackers who turned and fled at the mere sight of retaliation. Nakil meanwhile cut the leg of one of the invaders. He then disarmed his opponent and hauled him to his feet.

This is my fourth captive, Nakil realized, I am finally going to be promoted.

More captives for sacrifice were also taken by the other Aztec soldiers.

Once again, the great battle cry went up: “Aztec glory, Aztec glory!”
 
Long holiday, but oh well. The next chapter will be about how Nakil and his men pursue the barbarians. And, the next chapter will finally include Rodent, or "Three Rodents," shall we say. ;)


And of course, all questions comment, concerns, compliments, constructive criticism, etc. are heartily welcomed.
 
Erm.... bad news kids.

A few months ago, really random stuff happened with my computer. Viruses attacked, and a whole bunch o' stuff had to be reinstalled etc etc etc.


So, my Aztec Glory files have disappeared to... somewhere where I may not find 'em. therefore, I probably won't be able to make new updates. Sorry 'bout that. However, I have a plan for a new story. Shall be awesome...:crazyeye:
 
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