End of Empires - N3S III

[Thlayli]

From: Zalkephis, High Oracle of Taleldil
To: The High Ward and the Wards of the North

I have considered the writings of your venerable Rishadras, before his ascension with Javan to join Taleldil in the War in Heaven. In light of his recognition of the doctrine of the ascension of Taleldil to godhood-in-potentiality, and the possibility of noble men joining him in his retinue in the afterlife, I wish to make the following proposal.

If the authority of Taleldil in your conclave of worthy godlike personages over the spirits of Aelona and Kintyra is recognized, the Ardavani will not oppose those who venerate those spirits. We would further appreciate the effort of the Wards to spread the understanding of this doctrine and the veneration of Taleldil in the Stettin lands where their worship holds sway. This does not change our historical toleration of those who follow the Path alone and untempered.

I have seen in my visions that while Aelona and Kintyra were tempted by the whispers of the Aitah in life, in death the prayers and works of the Faithful have liberated them from being bound to the armies of Aitah, and their spirits now serve Taleldil in the afterlife. For the Aitah is not a woman at all, but a force which possesses women and twists them to serve its desires; this is known.

With that said, let it be known that Aelona was cured of her affliction by prayer, and Kintyra by fire. And with this understanding between us, let us exhort our faithful to follow my father Arteras and Lord Protector Caron in purging the recent bearer of the Aitah from the world, and ending this corruption once and for all.

 

[North King]

By the way, I've gotten stuck in my hometown due to plane delays. Stats will be up whenever I get back, plus a deadline. Expect it to be mid-to-late January.

 

[CivDad]

have to quit NESing out of embarrassment

Impossible!

 

[Jehoshua]

To: Whom it Concerns
From: The Church of Iralliam

-

The Church has long been, due to its nature as a religious institution present in many lands entrusted with the treasure of eternity, trusted by all as the impassive guardian of the passing earthly treasure and wealth of men from everywhere from the far south of the world, to the Sesh, from the cape of Hanakar even unto the avenues of Dula. The Church has been over the centuries the foremost banking institution in the known world, with the people throughout all that time having over that time absolute confidence in the Church's detached service, having the foremost trust that with a receipt of credit they can deposit their money in one temple and receive it from another far distant from where they travelled from, or that they can borrow from the Church in the certainty of its constancy.

In the same spirit of detachment then in which we manage the affairs of all who come to us, we observe at present the likely inevitability of renewed war (war now having continued in the region for many years) and the large levels of debt on the part of many parties who have reduced ability to repay loans taken from various temples and religious institutions (with this inability likely to increase as war goes on) due to war. The Church therefore has concluded reluctantly that it cannot grant loans to those in the Farubaida o Caroha and Holy Moti Empire who are currently in substantial debt with the Church lest the debt of said clients becomes so excessive as to be functionally unpayable, to the detriment of all who put their trust in the Church in both temporal and religious matters.

However understanding that war will almost certainly require new loans to parties currently in debt, either for rebuilding in cases of lands that have already suffered or will suffer, or for other more immediate purposes related to war, the Church is prepared, in solidarity with those in our debts unfortunate circumstances, to accept non-standard repayment of debt to the temples and banking institutions of the Church, upon which being paid and the debt thus being expiated, the Church will deign to grant further loans to aforesaid parties. The Church has also decided in addition to this protocol, to not call in an immediate collection of debt beyond ordinary rates for those in substantial debt (although as we noted, they will not be permitted loans). With regards to non-standard forms of repayment, the Church's banking institutions have been instructed to accept donations of land and donations of fungible property to the Church (equivalent in value to monetary debt owed) as substitutes for direct monetary repayment. We have also decide forgive wholly the debts (and permit further loans) of those not of the faith who convert to the faith. For one soul brought to Iralliam by the way of the prophet is worth more than all material treasure in existence.

The Church also notes, and makes this absolutely clear, that we give an exemption from the prohibition against loans to those in substantial debt protocol to the Ayasi, in recognition of his particular circumstances in these troubling times, his great faith, and his previous and commited support for the Church. We also give an exemption to the Sarafaio for the duration of the likely forthcoming war. We will however still accept land of equivalent value/fungible property of equivalent value in lieu of monetary repayment from these parties as they deem prudent according to the repayment protocol now or in the future. Neither the loan or the repayment protocols applies to other realms as of present.

sincerely

~The Grand-Patriarchate in Opios
~The Patriarchates of Gaci, Krato, Jahip and Triad.
~The Assembled Exarchs of the Lands of the Holy Moti Empire
~The Exarchs of Trovin, Caroha and Neruss.

-

ooc notes for reference:

Spoiler :

~ Exemptions given to Sarafaio and Ayasi due obviously to their particular position as embodiments of state. It does not apply to anyone not mentioned (ergo anyone other than the Ayasi and the Sarafaio) with this including for example subsidiary lords and princes, mayors, constituent state governments in the Farubaida and so forth.

~ Ayasi debt looks to be substantial, thus why the Church as bank is still leaving the door open for him (and the Sarafaio should it get into debt in the future) to repay it non-monetarily despite continuing to allow him to take out loans.

~ As a non-consequential note (ergo its not contextually important) I presume that all those Moti "immigrants" in the Farubaida were able to retain their wealth and contribute to that burgeoning era of creativity that nation is having (rather than being a bunch of non-contributing impoverished refugees that would have been a drain on the state as they huddled around spluttering fires presumably in slums or tents) as was indicated, because they could ditch their gold with the Church and pick it up again in their new home via notes of credit at the local temple. Thus is the benefits of international ubiquity and organisation.

 

[Azale]

Legend of the Hidden Temple, Part I​

He was a doomed man, with no food, no water, no means of protecting himself and many a day’s journey away from his beloved Brunn. Brunn, the fetid kingdom of mud and severity that it was, seemed as welcoming as a Mahidian whore’s breasts compared to whatever this place was. As he trudged through the undergrowth, he felt as though he would rot into the ground itself and become food for the hot forest.

Suddenly, a great rumbling shook the ground beneath him. The Brunnektian’s knees quaked as andreadfully deep voice spoke to him.

It has been too long since a traveler has graced my steps.

The Brunnekt man stared in wide-eyed disbelief in the direction of the bellowing. Thick growth still obscured his vision, but the voice came again to offer direction.

And what a tale attached to it.

Scrambling over gnarled branches and fleeing fauna, the man finally saw the light of day. There it stood, as if in a shelter amidst the storm, its gleaming steps and statues untouched by time or the hot forest.

Greetings, man of Brunn. Comprehend if you can the majesty that is Naleoc.

Constructed with more stone than the man had ever seen in his entire life, the complex sprawled out in front of him and many lengths into the sky. At the top of the monument, immaculately sculpted warriors reenacted a battle fought long ago. At its bottom, a frieze on massive ornate doors told another tale. Giant serpents, soldiers, gods descending from the heavens, all tumbled together and tried to grab his attention.

The Brunnekt man, filled with wonder as he was, still thought it unwise to anger the ancient monument by ignoring it. He summoned his courage and asked from whence he knew him.

As soon as you came near, I could see into your past, your present, and your future. It is no great feat.

You were a simple merchant, until one day you stole a boat at the port of Kurchen and become a simple criminal. Or am I being too harsh?

You felt forced into your decision. A small shrine to the long deceased prophetess Kintyra and her mother Aelona was all you had, never enough you thought to provoke the Big Men. When a rival merchant sold you out, so to speak, you thought it fair to cut his throat and steal away on his vessel for parts unknown.

You shortly found yourself in Gallasa, where your people are most popular as I am sure you are aware. When your musk and general scruffiness gave you away, you spent a few hours in a Gallesian prison. While they were debating whether to hang you as a spy, heretic, or thief you managed to bribe your way out, the merchant’s gift.

Now the fun part begins. Running low on supplies, you made port at Mahid where unbeknownst to you…

And so the temple continued on, leaving no detail spared in its description of the man’s journeys.

The Brunnekt sat thinking, legs crossed, on the ground in front of the grand talking edifice. Its manner of speaking was a shock, not at all the ‘staid monotone of the Ancients’ he would have expected had someone told him an enormous temple would be orating to him today. Who had built such a wondrous contraption? What kind of riches might be inside?

Ahh, but now you look pensive. Do not fear, within my walls are not merely more tales to satiate your mind but wealth to satiate your every desire.

Please, come inside. Your arrival has been expected.

And so he did.

 

[Thlayli]

From: Arteras, High Prince of the Scroll, Protector of the Exatai
To: Frei, Chief-of-Chiefs of the Moti

Set aside your accusations in the interests of peace, mighty Chief, and in the interests of your lawful revenues continuing to flow to your indebted coffers. I do not seek Talephas' power for myself, nor do the Princes of the Exatai recognize assassination as a means of succession. I am but the guardian of this force until such time as the servants of evil are brought to justice and a new Redeemer acclaimed.

Furthermore, I defend your primacy just as Talephas did. We come not as conquerors, but as an army of the forlorn, who have lost their greatest friend and hero. Talephas *must* be avenged. We can do no less.

And I do not intrude on your territory to overthrow your relationship with your vassals and subjects, but to end the vile treachery of the Aitahist assassins that has affected both our great nations. Surely you do not seek to defend Aitahists that even now seek to undermine your primacy?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

To: Princes of the Karapeshai
From: The Harafaio o Caroha

If you seek to avenge the death of Talephas, then an attack against the Farubaida will let those responsible to go unpunished. Look to your cousins, the Kothari- long did we war with them, in the past, and never did we make an attempt to stealthily take the life of their leader. The same is true of our war against the decadent Empire of the Opulensi. Assassination of one leader, by the forces of his foreign rival, is a poor strategy indeed. Why would we kill the man who was set to meet with us, in the august presence of the Chief of Chiefs, the Holy Moti Emperor, to resolve this conflict?

The only man to profit from the death of a leader is his successor, and it is not we, the six Haranun, who stand to contest for the role of fallen Talephas.

 

[spryllino]

In any case, Arteras, I should say that nothing would give you the right to march through Moti lands against the Ayasi's will. Imagine if Taexi had had Kartis my predecessor murdered - in reality or in pretence. Would I have been justified - if I could have done so - in marching through the Ayasi's territory against his will in order to avenge him? Of course not. Not only is what you say a lie, but the course of action you propose to take as a result would not be just even were your lie true.

 

[North King]

Stats, front page, and orders due date all updated. Let me know of any discrepancies, and appeal now for an extension if you need one.

Sorry for the delay. As many people on here can probably attest, I've had a somewhat hectic life lately.

 

[Neverwonagame3]

EDIT: Just checked. Sorry about that. Should I send in orders for this?

 

[North King]

This next update is just for those participating in the big war. Everything else should be resolved in the ET.

 

[North King]

[That said, if you've started to think about the ET and want me to look over stuff, feel free to send it in at any point.]

 

[Golden1Knight]

OOC: I'll be in this war, if Thlayli request my participation.

 

[Thlayli]

I do request it, Golden. Thank you for your service.

 

[Golden1Knight]

Well, then I have to send the orders today, because after tomorrow I'll be a long time away. If you want to talk about it, I suggest we do it today.

 

[Thlayli]

From: The Serene Enclosure of Tepecci
To: High Prince Arteras, The Princes of the Exatai, Loyal Gallatene Allies

At the behest and generosity of the Scroll-Bearer Arteras, the House of Tepecci will break the debt tiles of any tarkan, lord, Prince of the Exatai or its leal friends who will commit their full strength to fight under the banner of the High Prince in the war of vengeance for our murdered Redeemer Talephas. Furthermore, we will redeem debt tiles held in the names of our sister houses Atteri and Sevecca. [Please note that we will not redeem Rutarri tiles.]

Notaries of the Serene Enclosure of Tepecci will be present at the encampments of the host to verify those who have fulfilled their obligations.

We assure those who desire not to participate, though Talledi may hide his face from them in the heavens, their accounts will continue to accrue interest at standard rates.

 

[Daftpanzer]

/decloak

@North King, I see Ethir are NPC on the front page. I'm still very much interested in playing Ethir I also understand there is going to be an ET. Would this be a good time to step in, or not?

 

[Gem Hound]

--Delete--

 

[Thlayli]

Embers in the Garden

"Was I the promised price?"

-Last words of Talephas the Great (apocryphal)

---

Her touch on his face was cool water and the smell of citrus. When his father had fled to his books and his empty sorrows, she made court in the garden, and great men came to her. Masked and unmasked they came, covered in steel and rags. Her eyes were the mellow almond of a rich fruit bearing tree, and her face radiated vitality and awareness behind its folds of wrinkles. She gave a few, careful words to each, facing prince and slave alike with the same aura of unfathomable, cool self-assurance. Whenever, on the thousand thousand future occasions of his lifetime he heard the word exatas, he recalled the ancient woman holding court in the shadowed garden.

She died when he was sixteen, but not before teaching him the greatest mysteries of life. He remembered the one she chose, one of his cousins marked for resemblance to her, her voice an urging whisper in his ears as he did what he did. He was chained to that memory in all his future passions, marked by it. He would never equal its perfection, though he sought it endlessly.

She died when he was sixteen, but the statue of pure gold he erected in the heart of the nuccion would last for centuries. He had loved her with the passion of a son. He had loved her with the passion of a lover. And her mask would show in death what she was in life.

She died when he was sixteen, but the memories of the shadowed garden would not die.

"Grandmother, may I, too, wear a golden mask?"

"Sweet child, seed of my body. If you remember nothing else, know this." She ran her fingers through his hair.

"You do not have to rule, to rule."

---

The High Prince's bloody dagger smeared a black-red stain across the silver filigree of his riding leathers as he wiped it clean. He picked up the piece of meat that had been the man's tongue and tossed it across the room.

Shav coughed, his screams having dulled to a low, gurgling moan.

"They will look at you, and they will see a Faronun, tanned nut-brown by the suns of the south. After all, that was why Sianai chose you to be his spy, was it not? And why I bought you to be mine."

He sniffed with distaste as the man lost control of his bladder.

"But you killed the Redeemer, against my orders...that was a true surprise. They will say I did it, or Frei, or the Sixth Aitah. But the truth?" He laughed. "The truth is far more sad." Arteras crouched down in the dirt, staring into the man's eyes but inches away.

"You were Sianai's last gift to us, were you not? You were truly his man to the end...and trust me, you ragged old wolf, this is the end."

He sighed. "Apocalypse by accident." And rose. "I will be seeing you again, Shav, when they lift your body onto a pyre."

He paused at the entrance to his tent. "But I suppose that is what you want, isn't it?" He looked inquisitively at the tortured man. "To follow your master into death and ignite the war he so desperately wished for?" Arteras shook his head, laughing ruefully. "Sianai won, and I am now his instrument. Such are the times we live in."

Elikas, son of Talephas, waited outside his tent. He had been summoned.

The man was young, his body rippling with muscle. The son was not the father, shorter and stockier, with barreled arms, and his hair was close-cropped black, instead of the flowing gold. The High Prince embraced him, a gesture he did not reciprocate.

"Your father's killer lies within, divested of his foul southern tongue. He sought to corrupt me to the ways of the Aitah, but I did not allow him to speak his poison further."

Elikas stared at him bluntly. "We need this war to bind us after the murder. If I learn you killed my father, you die the day it ends."

Arteras bowed his head. "Prince of the Shield, why would I kill Talephas but to gain the golden mask? And if, after the first battle, your obvious heroism earns you my certain support, why would I have killed friendly father to replace him with hostile son?"

Arteras smiled as Elikas struggled to suppress the obvious urge to ram his spear through the High Prince's throat.

"I won't be your kalis tile, you Accan rat. But if you support me, you may survive this storm."

"Then let us embrace Nephrax's folly."

"I don't like the taste of human flesh."

"They say you have to taste a new food several times before you *really* begin to like it."

"Nor do I enjoy your company."

"Then close your eyes and think of your father."

"Is that what they do in Acca?"

"I think we may be done talking."

 

[North King]

Relevant parties, please get orders in ASAP. Thank you.