They call me Brandon, son of Albett. I'm the first men ever to rule all of the Hippus tribes, first men to be called High Warchief. It was my father, Albett, son of Albenis, who started this work, and it was on me only to finish it. Or, better said, to begin it.
My father managed to bring many warring chieftains, warlords and clan leaders to their senses, and united Hippus tribes under one rule. He formed this loose tribal confederation, Chiefdom of Hippus, and immediately proclaimed me as it's first leader.
My father learned to write and read from the travelling merchants our tribe traded with. He taught me how to use Parchment That Speaks as well, but our people still don't trust it's power and prefer swearing before God. With this skill, it is my duty to keep history of my race for all to see.
We were always surounded by enemies. Calabim, Luchuirp, Kuriotates, Amurites, they all wnated to destroy us, but they were incompetent and allowed us to grow, and organize. Now we stand strong, and they will soon learn their foolishness.
We are the Horselords, most skilled riders of the plains. We believe in one God that stands above others, Tali, he who brings us luck, though there are other gods on heaven that seek to cause mischief. Some tribes believed in other, pagan gods, bent their knees to nature, stars, relics or whatever, but my wise father talked them out. Tribes are still mostly independent, choosing on their own where to graze, how to fight, and what to teach youth, each having an own set of local laws based on ancient customs. Every tribe has it's own chieftain, in some tribes his position is passed from father to son, like in mine, in some he is elected among his people, and in some, most brutal ones, he is decided by contest – fight to death. I rule all of them as a High Warchief, but real power lies beneath me, in lesser chieftains. My main power is a position of war leader, and leader of foreign diplomacy.
There are other important individuals in our tribes. Shamans and Witch Doctors are feared and respected, they have powerful magic abilities and are also a potent healers. They are also experts in religious matters, being able to speak with Tali. A wise man will heed their advice.
Then there are also Councils of Elders, which each tribe has, and then they meet amongst themselves every few seasons and choose wisest to act as their eyes and ears, proclaiming him High Elder. This time, he is Arry the Wise, an old, gray man extremly good natured and full of wisdom, and a good rider in his early ages. He follows me and advises me. Though my people claim to respect „Council of Elders“, in reality it is not a „Council“ but „Counils“, each tribe having one and then all meeting on a specific part of the year to choose High Elder. He has no real power, but wise man will heed him as well, as he can turn all councils against leader if he is unhappy, and then tribes may rise in revolt. Elders that fill these councils are mainly old warriors, that fight no more, that have enough experience and wisdom.
We stand powerful now, with 5 000 strong and mounted men on the field waiting on my orders, but in reality we are surrounded by enemies. We may be stronger than any of them, but if they all come together against us we will be destroyed in no time. One wrong move and all our hard work will be undone.
That is why I must be careful. I first turned my eyes on west, towards the Amurites. They are strong, but devastated by civil war. They are not in position to fight again. We could surely presure them to give us Big Weed Grasslands, where we could graze our herds.
So we sent a messenger, and in the end, we paid some gold but got both lands and right of passage and Amurite neutrality. On south, we did the same.
From the Hippus High Warchief Brandon and His Council of Elders
To the Calabim Tribunal
We took note of your lands south of us. We heard about your dishonorable killings of black shamans that call themselves Priests of Lugus and Lightbringers. Some of our people even heard their word as they were traveling our lands and accepted it.
We will be honest with you. We don't like your pale skinned lords. We don't like stories about them either, stories that make even our shamans uneasy.
But our God is Tali, not Lugus. We don't care what you do inside your borders, as long as you pay us tribute.
If you want peace and have sane mind, you will pay us 100 gold immediately, and agree to non-aggression pact. You will also agree to exchange of wards, sending us ten prominent nobles of your lands. They will be our honored guests and will be taken good care of. They are able to bring all their wealth to our lands and build their manors here. We won't touch that wealth as long as we remain in peace. They will also be able to do all their administrative duties as well. We also offer you male heirs to ten of our chieftains of tribes that make Hippus. Wards will safely return after we both agree to that.
Should you refuse, Acaia will burn before sun sets and your armies realize what is going on. We are certainly in position to do so. I promise you, I will order my horses over Trident's Top if I'll have to, but we will come after you, after your castles, and your pale lords. Think about this. How many urban Kings will come to your aid? What will your zealous people think once they see their lords dead and weak, unable to protect them? Will taste of that change them?
Before Council of Elders, High Elder Arry the Wise and Tali himself as witnesses, I, High Warchef Brandon, pledge my swear and my honor
Unfortunately this is impossible. We will send the Hippus the Rhornii familly, and their wealth. They are the only ones the government can realistically persuade to go without causing mass uproar.
We will send you all twelve mebers of the Rhornii family. Traditionally one of the most influential families of the Calabim Empire. We will accept your heirs, we will provide suitable accommodation in the form of the Rhornii's Manor House. We will pay you your money. Your heirs will remain in our lands indefinitely (unless one should become chief), and will be treated as the highest caste of humans. However, if you betray us they will be cast into the pits of the Kraltavoi where their experiences will be most unpleasant.
I hope you can agree.
Internal Affairs
Even if it were hundred, members of one single family, and to it a disgraced one, do us no good.
Let us sweeten the deal. You pay us 50 gold. You give us those Rhornii, as much of them as you want to, and 5 others from other, different great houses. And to it, we will gift you 99 wooden poles. These are the poles your lord's heads will be on if you refuse this deal. You can freely show them off in the Council if someone disputes your decision.
Agreed?
Luchuirp were third, and we reached an agreement as well.
Now only Kuritates remain, their lands ripe for taking, and their army busy on north. They have grown too big, not able to defend. We will be able to overrun most of their lands before they will be able to respond. Without allies to aid them, our victory is almost guaranteed. Now we march, riches await us!
