* * * * * *
Like an artist, the Sun stretched its golden arms and brushed the sky with a lavish red and added purple linings to the glowing clouds. As if It was trying to give the Earth Its best piece of artwork before fading below the mountain ridge lines, yielding the sky to the cloak of darkness.
From the door way, Takako could see the slender silhouette of her mistress, standing still, basking in the magnificence of the setting sun. To someone who did not know better, it would seems as if she was enjoying the sunset. But Takako knew without seeing the pale but beautiful face that the brows of her mistress must be deeply locked into a frown by worries.
"M'lady", she said, as she entered the room.
The slender figure turned, "Takako, you are here."
"Yes, milady. I brought news from Matsuya."
"Ah, right. He went ahead exploring, didn't he? Even though I asked him to provide protection to the workers who are out there chopping the trees."
"Indeed, milady. He said that the workers need no protection, everything was clam, and everybody wants to know what lies beyond the hills and forests to the north west."
"So, what had he found?"
"A tribe, milady."
"Yet another tribe?"
"Yes, and the tribe agrees to answer to the banner of the Golden General. As a token of faith and to swear fealty, they gave Matsuya a scroll."
"That's wonderful news. What does the scroll contains?"
"Immediately after the Elder looked at the scroll, they declared we have entered what the prophecy foretold as the Classical Era."
"You know I am not interested in such folklore or prophecy ..."
"But, milady, you are the prophesied Golden General, the Bringer of Peace ..."
"Ironical, isn't it? The prophesied does not believe in prophecy, yet all she does was nothing but to fulfill the prophecy.... but enough of that. Tell me what does the scroll contains?"
"Something about the skills of riding those magnificent, strong beast we found in the southeast valley."
"Oh, my ... and the Elders are happy about that!?"
"Yes ... why are you so shocked, milady? It is as if you heard the news of your own death!?"
"I'm afraid that would means what the prophecy said about 'the Great Yellow Chariots reigning over the battlefields' would not come to pass ...."
"Hee ... I thought someone does not believe in prophecy???"
"Stop teasing me, Takako. I am worried ..."
"Don't be, milady. The Elders, who indulged more into the prophecies than you do, with all due respect, had verified that we can still construct the Chariots as prophesied ..."
"... in fact, they had also instructed the preparation of a settling party to found a new settlement near the valley to rein in the horses."
"Horses?"
"Yes, that was the beast are called. As you can see, milady, the workers would finish the pasture in 6 days, and the archer training will be completed in the same time while the village food store will be full also in 6 days. Everything is in prefect synchronization a settling party to be gathered in 6 days."
"That's a relief."
"M'lady, sometimes I feel that you worried too much. You should eat more, and rest more. Everything will be alright, the prophecies will be fullfilled as the prophecy wills, whether you are worried or not. Might as well let it be."
"You may be right, Takako, you may be right."
"Get some rest, milady. I will bring you the supper ..."
Takako turned, and she glanced back, only to see her mistress resuming her original posture, staring out into sky, now turning almost all dark, with all traces of the once glorious Sun completely washed away, only to be replaced by the tiny hint of glistering of the stars, struggling to twinkle amidst the looming darkness ...
* * * * * *
Barbs are starting to roam the land ....
here is the situation at my last turn:
I would suggest that the next player move the NW archer down to intercept the barb warrior, in case the barb warrior ignore our southern archer and go straight for the pigs and do unspeakable things to those poor stocks.
I further suggest a whip near the completion of the settler, for hammers overflow to one more archer, which should protect the settler to the horse site. Further I think there is a better location than Cosmic's suggested site for the iron-elephant city, as indicated above.
Good luck.
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The Save (2050BC) <<<