LINES-World of Magic
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
The Strategos
Thanatos
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2002
- Messages
- 1,175
As much as I would like it, I assume +100 galleys should be +10?
das
Regeneration In Process
Looking back from now, when I am at my deathbed, many things could have went differently. But they went the way they are, and though many of those memories pain me, we must salt our wounds lest we forget.
When I took power, we all expected rebellions, conspiracies... any instability. But no - the people who could have moved against me were either imprisoned, either fighting in the east. Makar has planned well.
Makar, Makar... he, I felt back then, was a great man, and indeed that he was. Wise, cunning, competent... genius. And loyal, so I thought - which was why I had him as my primary advisor, and also "ordered" him to create a buerocracy - like in Ur - to better organize the conscription. We needed more and more men for the war effort - the Scythians were putting up one hell of a fight, and the war has degenerated into raids, counter-raids and other skirmishes. Though general battles happened as well, and were little better (many casualties, no gains).
And, looking back, was not Makar loyal to me, in a way? He kept me in power, alive and well. And what he was doing... was for the best of the empire, and of me myself, the way I was back then. To say the truth, perhaps I only like to think that I have changed...
For the first nine years of my "reign", Makar ruled the state for me. Did I have any role to play in it? Ofcourse! I was the real ruler! Only, my mind at the time didn't wholly belong to me, rather it underwent some confusing process that znachar (healer) Drasec told me about - whilst I slept... Makar gave me his political and such ideas. So naturally, I proposed what he wanted to do and he did it. And I didn't notice anything. Perhaps I would have been ignorant even today...
But it was not to be. Tirski, my good old friend, came back from yet another battle - a horrible defeat, for the Scythian Vargas has unleashed some horrible monsters. Tirski was wounded; he was sent as a messanger by our retreating army. He was the son of a volhv himself and noticed - with the assistance of Drasec - that something was wrong. So when Makar and I "discussed" the disaster on the next day, Tirski and the oboroten Kedyr suddenly came in, assisted by the guards whom they somehow persuaded, and slayed Makar. So great was his power over me that I nearly died myself, falling unconscious as soon as Makar died. When I woke up, they explained it all to me.
At first, I was indignant at Makar. He lied to me, he lied to us all! Yet soon, I realized that I missed him, his counsel... his CONTROL, over the situation and over me myself. By his nature, a human, even a one as highly born as I, must have a leader - it is just that I, like Makar and my father before him, managed to make myself at one with Tripolye, and subservient only to the gods.
Ruling a state was a great responsibility, and I only now trully felt its burden. But I felt that I needed to do so, because otherwise, the Scythians would win and have no mercy, and because otherwise, all those deaths will be for nothing. Upon Tirski's patient advice, I involved myself in practically every matter. It was a thankless, difficult task, but I managed to control the state. Things still were difficult, however...
---
"And upon Makar-magi's death, Kiy took power firmly into his hands. He conscripted more and more troops, and personally persuaded the nobles of the need for the war's continuation. In his wisdom, he despatched messangers to the Scythian tribes that were yet to align with Vargas-magi, whilst himself Kiy started the preparations for the landing in Caucasia.
Whilst the Tripolyean cavalry attracted Vargas-magi's attention to the northern section of the border, the larger army, personally led by Kiy and his lieutenant Tirski, has landed to the south from the damned city of Azov, now the city of Tana."
- "Of my noble ancestor, Kiy the Great." Knyaz-Lugal Akuren II.
---
I never before commanded an army. Hell, I never before actually killed a human being! With time, I got used to it, but when I impaled that old Scythian horseman that during the skirmish a few fields south from Azov, I was genuinely shocked and disgusted as the Scythian died, guts spilling out of his abdomen. I quickly recovered, and most troops didn't notice, but Tirski apparently did; or perhaps he experienced something like that himself, in his first battle a few years ago.
"Your first kill, eh?" - he patted me on the shoulder - "Don't worry, Kiy, it will be easier after the first few corpses."
That didn't greatly comfort me. But there was no backing out of it... ever. A ruler must carry out his obligations, lest the gods strike him down... and lest his empire fall.
We caught Vargas by surprise, that was what oboroten Takor said having returned from the evening reconaissance. Lest we lose the surprise effect, I decided to make one last push. I explained this to the warriors - if we strike now, our victory will be much easier then otherwise...
If this was indeed true, we very lucky that it wasn't otherwise.
---
"The Scythians were, however, not caught entirely by surprise - Magus Vargas, though weakened and drained of much of his power by the recent challenges, was still careful and far-sighted, having despatched scouts to search for the Slavic [Tripolyean] forces. Many of his troops were away, and there was no time to summon them, so Vargas decided to try and bleed his enemies white in the city, laying an ambush. Tunnel Fiends, militiamen, geomancers, and a few dismounted Scythians spread out throughout the city. Thinking their enemies unprepared, the Slavs [Tripolyeans] quickly assaulted and entered the city. Then..."
- "The Chronicles of Wars waged by voevoda Viy and the other rulers from the Viyid Dynasty." Anonymous, probably Urrian.
---
...all hell begun. Torches were flying, metal was clanging, and our oborotni clashed once more with their Tunnel Fiends, hideous beasts that proved the old proverb, "better to see once then to hear a thousand times". Only, in this case it was WORSE to see these creatures. They ATE our men just like that, I and five of my druzhinniki (in this case, bodyguards) only barely cut down one such beast.
And the rest wasn't better. Stones kept hitting us, but they were not thrown by the populace; rather, the geomancers created them out of thin air. Scythians with war axes and the like kept leaping out of their ambushes... Eventually, we had to resort to simply burning down any major groups of houses that drew suspicion with fire arrows.
It was increasingly surreal, like a dream. I didn't feel pain, I only noticed a shrowd of blood around me as I charged out, towards the source of a pillar of green light against the night sky. I felt Vargas to be there, and I noticed him - an old, yet strong man with a war hammer. I charged at him, we fought and I hit him badly, he collapsed and fell to the ground... it was only then that pain cut through, in my left shoulder.
And then there was darkness.
When I took power, we all expected rebellions, conspiracies... any instability. But no - the people who could have moved against me were either imprisoned, either fighting in the east. Makar has planned well.
Makar, Makar... he, I felt back then, was a great man, and indeed that he was. Wise, cunning, competent... genius. And loyal, so I thought - which was why I had him as my primary advisor, and also "ordered" him to create a buerocracy - like in Ur - to better organize the conscription. We needed more and more men for the war effort - the Scythians were putting up one hell of a fight, and the war has degenerated into raids, counter-raids and other skirmishes. Though general battles happened as well, and were little better (many casualties, no gains).
And, looking back, was not Makar loyal to me, in a way? He kept me in power, alive and well. And what he was doing... was for the best of the empire, and of me myself, the way I was back then. To say the truth, perhaps I only like to think that I have changed...
For the first nine years of my "reign", Makar ruled the state for me. Did I have any role to play in it? Ofcourse! I was the real ruler! Only, my mind at the time didn't wholly belong to me, rather it underwent some confusing process that znachar (healer) Drasec told me about - whilst I slept... Makar gave me his political and such ideas. So naturally, I proposed what he wanted to do and he did it. And I didn't notice anything. Perhaps I would have been ignorant even today...
But it was not to be. Tirski, my good old friend, came back from yet another battle - a horrible defeat, for the Scythian Vargas has unleashed some horrible monsters. Tirski was wounded; he was sent as a messanger by our retreating army. He was the son of a volhv himself and noticed - with the assistance of Drasec - that something was wrong. So when Makar and I "discussed" the disaster on the next day, Tirski and the oboroten Kedyr suddenly came in, assisted by the guards whom they somehow persuaded, and slayed Makar. So great was his power over me that I nearly died myself, falling unconscious as soon as Makar died. When I woke up, they explained it all to me.
At first, I was indignant at Makar. He lied to me, he lied to us all! Yet soon, I realized that I missed him, his counsel... his CONTROL, over the situation and over me myself. By his nature, a human, even a one as highly born as I, must have a leader - it is just that I, like Makar and my father before him, managed to make myself at one with Tripolye, and subservient only to the gods.
Ruling a state was a great responsibility, and I only now trully felt its burden. But I felt that I needed to do so, because otherwise, the Scythians would win and have no mercy, and because otherwise, all those deaths will be for nothing. Upon Tirski's patient advice, I involved myself in practically every matter. It was a thankless, difficult task, but I managed to control the state. Things still were difficult, however...
---
"And upon Makar-magi's death, Kiy took power firmly into his hands. He conscripted more and more troops, and personally persuaded the nobles of the need for the war's continuation. In his wisdom, he despatched messangers to the Scythian tribes that were yet to align with Vargas-magi, whilst himself Kiy started the preparations for the landing in Caucasia.
Whilst the Tripolyean cavalry attracted Vargas-magi's attention to the northern section of the border, the larger army, personally led by Kiy and his lieutenant Tirski, has landed to the south from the damned city of Azov, now the city of Tana."
- "Of my noble ancestor, Kiy the Great." Knyaz-Lugal Akuren II.
---
I never before commanded an army. Hell, I never before actually killed a human being! With time, I got used to it, but when I impaled that old Scythian horseman that during the skirmish a few fields south from Azov, I was genuinely shocked and disgusted as the Scythian died, guts spilling out of his abdomen. I quickly recovered, and most troops didn't notice, but Tirski apparently did; or perhaps he experienced something like that himself, in his first battle a few years ago.
"Your first kill, eh?" - he patted me on the shoulder - "Don't worry, Kiy, it will be easier after the first few corpses."
That didn't greatly comfort me. But there was no backing out of it... ever. A ruler must carry out his obligations, lest the gods strike him down... and lest his empire fall.
We caught Vargas by surprise, that was what oboroten Takor said having returned from the evening reconaissance. Lest we lose the surprise effect, I decided to make one last push. I explained this to the warriors - if we strike now, our victory will be much easier then otherwise...
If this was indeed true, we very lucky that it wasn't otherwise.
---
"The Scythians were, however, not caught entirely by surprise - Magus Vargas, though weakened and drained of much of his power by the recent challenges, was still careful and far-sighted, having despatched scouts to search for the Slavic [Tripolyean] forces. Many of his troops were away, and there was no time to summon them, so Vargas decided to try and bleed his enemies white in the city, laying an ambush. Tunnel Fiends, militiamen, geomancers, and a few dismounted Scythians spread out throughout the city. Thinking their enemies unprepared, the Slavs [Tripolyeans] quickly assaulted and entered the city. Then..."
- "The Chronicles of Wars waged by voevoda Viy and the other rulers from the Viyid Dynasty." Anonymous, probably Urrian.
---
...all hell begun. Torches were flying, metal was clanging, and our oborotni clashed once more with their Tunnel Fiends, hideous beasts that proved the old proverb, "better to see once then to hear a thousand times". Only, in this case it was WORSE to see these creatures. They ATE our men just like that, I and five of my druzhinniki (in this case, bodyguards) only barely cut down one such beast.
And the rest wasn't better. Stones kept hitting us, but they were not thrown by the populace; rather, the geomancers created them out of thin air. Scythians with war axes and the like kept leaping out of their ambushes... Eventually, we had to resort to simply burning down any major groups of houses that drew suspicion with fire arrows.
It was increasingly surreal, like a dream. I didn't feel pain, I only noticed a shrowd of blood around me as I charged out, towards the source of a pillar of green light against the night sky. I felt Vargas to be there, and I noticed him - an old, yet strong man with a war hammer. I charged at him, we fought and I hit him badly, he collapsed and fell to the ground... it was only then that pain cut through, in my left shoulder.
And then there was darkness.
TerrisH
Mischief?
"And how go our forces abroad? our expiditions, and our Relief forces to the New Alantica?"
"Our ships have managed to discover a Land byond a Quirm coast. while we do not have the supplies to establish a colony there yet, the current inhabitents our poor, and the terrien is Icy. Our exploros spread some Ice-moss seeds, and gave some gifts to the Naitives. several follow up expiditions have been planed, and in a generation or 3, we shall start introducing the cure to the Plauge of Age. atleast to those freindly to our Rule. they should be eager to join us in a Century or two at the most."
"Good, good. and to the west?"
"there, the News is even better. Their is an Land there, almost entierly coverd in Ice. the Ice-moss we have scattered there will thrive, and shall soon be green.. and we found one of ITS roots. and like we thought, it appears to be dead. There was no sign of it's main trunk, though we did find a Large Seed."
"REALLY?"
"Yes m'lady. hopefully, there are more in the Intirior, but even if there is not, the information we will get will be.. invaluble."
"good. prepare a Colony at once. I want it's remains sucured at once."
"of course, m'lady."
"and the Relief force?"
"The mages we sent to assist New Alantica are doing just that. they are healing their troops, and assisting them with the recovery of what crops were lost in the war."
"very nice. now leave me to my thoughts.. I must think."
"Our ships have managed to discover a Land byond a Quirm coast. while we do not have the supplies to establish a colony there yet, the current inhabitents our poor, and the terrien is Icy. Our exploros spread some Ice-moss seeds, and gave some gifts to the Naitives. several follow up expiditions have been planed, and in a generation or 3, we shall start introducing the cure to the Plauge of Age. atleast to those freindly to our Rule. they should be eager to join us in a Century or two at the most."
"Good, good. and to the west?"
"there, the News is even better. Their is an Land there, almost entierly coverd in Ice. the Ice-moss we have scattered there will thrive, and shall soon be green.. and we found one of ITS roots. and like we thought, it appears to be dead. There was no sign of it's main trunk, though we did find a Large Seed."
"REALLY?"
"Yes m'lady. hopefully, there are more in the Intirior, but even if there is not, the information we will get will be.. invaluble."
"good. prepare a Colony at once. I want it's remains sucured at once."
"of course, m'lady."
"and the Relief force?"
"The mages we sent to assist New Alantica are doing just that. they are healing their troops, and assisting them with the recovery of what crops were lost in the war."
"very nice. now leave me to my thoughts.. I must think."
TerrisH
Mischief?
To Gorin
dose this mean you are not inturested in a trade route?
dose this mean you are not inturested in a trade route?
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
From Gorin
To Avalon
we are, but not at this time, perhaps in a few hundred years (next turn)
To Avalon
we are, but not at this time, perhaps in a few hundred years (next turn)
TerrisH
Mischief?
To gorin
That would be welcome. Also, Lady Morgan herself would like to visit your Island herself and meet you in person. perhaps Such an adrangement could be made? (ooc: want a decent reason to write a discription of Lady morgan.
)
That would be welcome. Also, Lady Morgan herself would like to visit your Island herself and meet you in person. perhaps Such an adrangement could be made? (ooc: want a decent reason to write a discription of Lady morgan.
)
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
The young priest trembled as he was brought before the Lord in Green. A sensitive soul, he had twisted and turned on every etherical wind since he was a child - far to weak willed to bind a horror or leave the consecrtated walls of the temple.
"Your nightmares child, speak of them - in dreams we see the world bereft of the veil of lies our waking minds lay upon our eyes." The Lord in Green's tone was quiet, almost fatherly - he did not wish to spook the young man before he had told his story.
"My lord, I can feel a...well...stirring to the north. In the lands of our forefathers!"
"Your forefathers perhaps, I was there in person the day ice sheets covered the plains of gold."
"Of course my lord, I forgot myself"
"Continue"
"It was magic my lord, but not as we are tought it, or as the Elgovian's weave it. It was trying to bring life to the land"
"I see. How powerful was it?"
"It was weak but complex and assured - as If someone was conducting a test of their power."
The Lord in Green looked to one of his advisors in their white and black regalia. "How long do you think we have"
"It could be many centuries for these new ones to explore all of the old lands and delve deep in the ice. And even if they find the Glass-walled peaks - they may be wise enough to leave what the old masters sealed undistrubed"
"I do not feel like risking all that we have built on their lack of curiosity - If these makers of new life open the Catacombs beneath the Eiglophian mountains without knowing what lies beyond..."
"You fear my lord! Even of...The Unclean one?" THe young priest squeaked in shock.
The Lord in Green turned his gaze on the leashling, and the whelp felt the full weight of years those eyes had seen and quaked.
"I fear all of the spawn of the Unbegotten Source, as should you, and all those who draw breath. Now prepare to outfit an expedition"
OCC: TerrisH: This story is about you going to greenland - be seeing you soon!
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
From Gorin
To Avalon
Our King Merzan will be glad to meet your Queen, perhaps we can even forge an alliance or defensive pact
To Avalon
Our King Merzan will be glad to meet your Queen, perhaps we can even forge an alliance or defensive pact
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
Btw Iggy how does Songhai have a population of 810 000? evidently I'm not putting enough effort into my orders 
Kozmos
Jew Detective
When is update?*hopes for a saturday*
How are trade routes handled?
To Penguin Kingdoms
From Antarctica
Very well, we will dignify ourselves to open trade routes with outsiders. Our merchants will arrive by galley and overland expedition; your merchants will be welcome to our cities as well.
...
A world of warning; riches there be, warmth and food. But for all it's pleasures; beware the north.
Antarcticans are the best of it's kind; not all humans are good - for we are the same with or without knowledge of magic - as us.
To Penguin Kingdoms
From Antarctica
Very well, we will dignify ourselves to open trade routes with outsiders. Our merchants will arrive by galley and overland expedition; your merchants will be welcome to our cities as well.
...
A world of warning; riches there be, warmth and food. But for all it's pleasures; beware the north.
Antarcticans are the best of it's kind; not all humans are good - for we are the same with or without knowledge of magic - as us.
To: Ross
From: Antarctica
Well, for one it's very warm and not truly a climate that would suit you. However the food sources and recources should compensate richly for that.
It is the evil of our human kind. Easily aggrevated our cousins to the north are an aggressive kind. They attack those they deem weak or too trusting in order to seize their resources and living space.
From: Antarctica
Well, for one it's very warm and not truly a climate that would suit you. However the food sources and recources should compensate richly for that.
It is the evil of our human kind. Easily aggrevated our cousins to the north are an aggressive kind. They attack those they deem weak or too trusting in order to seize their resources and living space.
Kozmos
Jew Detective
at entire conversation 
