alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: You have my blessings jalapeno 
LINESII- Into the Darkness
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
@das: Maybe someone can instigate a tristarian revolt or something? 
****
Lengeliz, 1243
I watched the ceiling of my 'palace' with unopened eyes, the echoes of the Citadel group slowly fading as they exited my hall. The door closes, and I am left alone. I do not open my eyes. I imagine the feel of the sun of my face, the blue sky above...
I will meet that man again. Like two old friends we will open the door, and in an unspoken question, have it answered. The question that drives us, keeps us awake at night. I have been Jebe the Clever for over two decades, ruling my empire, creating laws and regulations while my armies train and keep the peace. I have rebuilt the war-torn nations that my father conquered, while my heroics in the war were praised.
I did not need that praise. I was merely happy with my wife, Sokhatai, content to strengthen my people. Through my rule, Nkondi became Lengel, and Davar began the road towards assimilation, the barbaric north becoming more and more like its conquerers every day. The south, however is content to serve me, as long as their religion is untouched, and their farms unthreatened. They are content, although bitter. But such scars will pass, and the road through the mountains, connecting the Davar road system to Sasako in Nkondi does much to heal.
Trade now flows between the two countries, where nothing had existed before. Citadel trade moves along the Dava river, into the war torn Davar cities, which then moves to Nkondi, and the south. Trade begins to flourish in this massive empire, and it becomes to become connected. Whole. And they call me Clever for it, and praise me for it.
Fools.
I am not Clever, only blessed. My children, off-spring of Lengel, Aneyan and Nkondi learn from ancient Davarian scholars of the history of this place. They struggle to survive upon the steppes, and find rest in this capital, Lengeliz. Those who worship my blood come here in tribute, before once again moving to pastures upon the steppe. And the Steppe is ever moving. I was blessed with a strong father, and a good teacher. Blessed by my blood, by my brothers. Blessed in all my attempts.
But now, I am old. And in that, I find a blessing. Soon, very soon, I will finally see as I was meant to see. The burning in my chest will finally cease, and I will be home. Only to return to this Earth once more when it is time for another Jebe the Clever.
Joshea of Riverfork, I will meet you again. We will meet again. I will see you truly, and there will be truth between us. And the burning we feel beneath our chests will fade. Mine is not ready to fade yet. I feel it waver, but it does not fade. My time of reigning is over.
I call for my first born son. I wait for several minutes, until he walked calmly into the room, a dangerous intelligence in his eyes. My son, thirty years old, and already my spymaster. He learned all that I could teach as quickly as I taught it, before wandering the Lengel lands much as Joshea did. And I found, as much as I wished against it, that he felt the burning too. My other sons were not as blessed, and so, it was never a question who would succeed me.
My sons did not question me, knowing that my word was law to the people, to every Lengel everywhere. While some may plot against it, they will amount to nothing. My son, my Yesugei, was the spy master. He knew who plotted, and wove webs to catch the pests in quiet, silky deaths. I know, because he told me. I know, because I was like him once.
"Father?" his voice breaks through my thoughts, and my head turns toward him, my eyes not opening. I smile, and get up from my throne of fur. I walk towards him, my eyes unopened.
"Come," I say, "walk with me."
And we walk, my eyes unopened, my son leading the way. We walk until we are outside, underneath the blue sky. In the center of Lengeliz, I turn to my son, and open my eyes.
"My son," I said, my memories and experiences filling my blood, my fathers words burning still within me, "I wish to finally see the Blue Sky, as it is meant to be seen. I do not wish to die of old age, weak and unworthy of my title. Let us fight, one, single time underneath the Blue Sky."
My son merely nodded, and gave me a sword. He then gathered the Council of Warlords, and those that had come to Lengeliz that day watched their Lengelzai, old and weak, try to hold his sword up as a proper Lengel. When the duel was set, and the Council ready, my son charged.
I parried, my muscles buckling under the pressure of his youth. But my fire burned greater than before, and my heart pumped, and I felt truly at peace. I only managed to block a few more times, before we seperated. Then, with the last of my strength, I charged my son, my sword held high above my head. There, in that moment, I was truly worthy of the title, Lengelzai. In all the days of my youth, in all the days I served, I had never earned and deserved it. Merely been blessed by it. And when my son stabbed his sword through my chest, and my bronze blade clattered to the earth, we looked into each others eyes.
Much like I had seen, a few hours before with Joshea, I knew that we would meet once more. That our fires would be quenched, and our questions answered. And I knew then, that my son understood the title of Lengelzai. And I smiled.
****
The Lengelzai is dead! Long live the Lengelzai!
That was the chant of the people of Lengeliz, as they mourned the body of Jebe the Clever. His successor (and his killer), Yesugei, was immediately named by the Warlords who watched the duel to the position of Lengelzai. And the nomad's capital wept and celebrated the passing of their master. He was with Koke now.
Yesugei took the sword his father had used, and admired the simple craftmenship the blade had. The blade was simple, no words carved into, nor where there any precious gems placed in its hilt. It was just a blade. But, Yesugei thought, it prefectly represented his father's humbleness, the fact that for all his wealth he lived mainly on the steppe, only taking to the palace when it was required.
And Yesugei shoved the blade into the ground. Jebe the Clever's body was placed where he would have wanted it to be, in the wilderness of his homeland, as his father, and his fathers father did before him. But, his body would fade. The representation of that body, of that indomitable spirit would remain in Lengeliz. In bronze sword placed in the center of the Lengeliz.
Many would come to this place, and give respect to the fallen Lengelzai. His death was that of a true Lengel, and his death would become story. And his story would become lore. And lore would become Legend.
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
*sob* I simply LOVE your stories, Contempt. I mean, you are The Horse! The Mongol! The ultimate barbarian warlord! 
You do know that it got buried in the great earthquake of 912 right?
Because I'm stupid. *hits head on table*
And despite being less 'civilized' in the eyes of most of the rest of the world, you're more honourable than almost all of them.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
Lord_Iggy said:
Mmhmm, contempt's steppe nations are fierce but honorable warriors indeed. Unlike a certain evil nation starting out with an E.
Please answer PM
EDIT: Thank you Iggy
das
Regeneration In Process
Not despite.
'Erber?
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
das said:'Erber?
Or perhaps 'Emri? Or were you thinking of the (Citad)'El?
EDIT: Someone needs to reply to a PM sent by someone.
das
Regeneration In Process
Gerber can actually be almost realistically pronounced like that. Which is more than what I can say for 'El.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
The Expedition Begins
There are good men, and then there are great men. Great men are not always good men. Reference to Prince Ku, future Emperor Yi-Ga
His name was Ban Chao, nothing more then a mid ranking official in the Ministry of Exterior Affairs. As required, he was fluent in Nurmaferis, Valin, and was working on Swade. It would be easy to say nothing was expected of him as he conducted his daily business inside the Ministry dealing with various merchants, spies, priests and monks, and once even an offended young woman who had been asked for services. Nothing out of the ordinary and safe had ever happened in his life, though he assured himself many times as he slept in bed with his wife and children in the next room that he could be brave if an opportunity presented itself.
Little did he know, his peaceful life would end right then because an inquisitive Prince thought and wondered. A certain Prince that would be cursed by Ban Chao many, many times on his journey, but I digress. You see, this Prince, Prince Ku, had grown up on the stories of the mysterious north told by Minister Ri-che-liu. The forests of Myocaca, the cities of Khemri, the Crystal Ridge Mountains and the fabled city of Veritas and most of all, the Tomb of Strategius. Tales unknown by Guangfei, told from memory by the Minister in his tales. And that, would be why expeditions were sent forth.
On that fateful day of May 6th, all the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were gathered for a reception and a splendid dinner banquet was held with Prince Ku present. Ban Chao himself had the pleasure of ah, too much good Guangfei wine and alas was unable to communicate coherently while his fellows were reveling in good spirits. And thus, when Prince Ku stood up near the end of the banquet to give a toast to Guangfei, all present toasted. When he asked, Who shall go for the glory of Guangfei a most dangerous mission in where you will all assuredly die! everyone volunteered. Except Ban Chao of course, too much good wine and a little common sense.
Alas, Prince Ku had a wicked sense of humor. He smiled a crooked smile and with a few words, doomed Ban to around 4 years of misery. He pointed at Ban Chao before stating You, the one good man here with the sense not to volunteer will be going. Now, drink up! Alas Ban Chao was in no position to appreciate his new found ah greatness as immediately after wards he fell collapsed onto his table which was interpreted by the Prince as such a great desire to go that he was immensely pleased. He was brought back home with no memory of what happened at the dinner.
****************
The home of Ban Chao in the early morning was buzzing with activity as the retainers quickly tried to make the reception chamber presentable to the heir to the Throne even going as far as trying to wrestle a huge statue into the room but too late. Prince Ku, Minister Richeliu and another extremely well dressed man with a servant entered the chamber as Ban Chao and his wife came in shortly in crumpled clothing as a sign of hurry. Upon seeing the Prince and the Minister they quickly bowed/curtsied and seated themselves on the lower chairs while the Prince and the Minister sat on the chairs upon the raised floor.
They looked curiously at the extremely well dressed man as they took their seats eyes filled with curiosity. As the tea and little finger snacks were served, the Minister himself began the tenuous conversation. Ah Chao, perhaps you remember the mission conferred upon you last night? As we said, we have brought a man that is willing, very willing, to aid you in your mission. Count Shang of Kuifei outside of Guanzhong is the head of ah a trading company. He is interested in reaching new markets for Guangfei goods to the lands north of Nurmafer.
As the words were being processed by Ban Chao and his wife, Prince Ku continued where Richeliu left off. As you may have known, I have been very interested in finding out more beyond our own borders and our knowledge. Unlike certain fractions in the court, Im ah the term mercantile and my support comes from the well to do classes. You Ban Chao, are to explore the nations of the north and find out if those nations have markets and goods that can benefit Guangfei.
The truth was beginning to dawn upon Ban Chao and his wife but they were still in shock and were as of yet unable to produce any sounds recognized as a human tongue. As Prince Ku ceased talking, Count Shang began. I am extremely grateful that you have decided to aid the State in such a splendid expedition to these unknown lands. We did plan to send our own agent, but it wouldnt have had the same weight as a Representative of the Empire. Oh yes, the man behind me is Kui, a Nurmaferi who works with our company fluent in most tongues. He will be accompanying you in your mission.
Now after all these 3 men had spoken, they found their voice. This is outrageous! Your Highnesses, and Lord, I have never agreed to go on this expedition to the north! And even with the guide Lord Shang has offered, do you expect me to go north as a diplomat for the Empire with no protection? Open to raiders and cut throats of all sorts in the barbaric and culture less lands of the north? Wh
He was cut off with shock as the three men started laughing. Laughing loudly with even knee slapping gestures in fact, they looked hilarious. The Minister himself had tears coming down his cheeks as he laughed. It was an awkward period as Ban Chao and his wife stared at the incredulous sight of nobility laughing their hearts out. When it was over, the Minister wiped tears from his eye before beginning to speak. Ah Ban Chao, you are so amusing in many ways. Of course we wouldnt send you anywhere without an armed escort! Rest assured, everything will be taken care of when you depart tomorrow, May 8th. We have been planning this for a long time. Enjoy your trip.
As these great and powerful men walked out of the chamber, the future guide, Kui paused before leaving the chamber.
Best of luck to our journey together Minister, for traveling into the north is no paltry business...
~Darkening~
Weep, Mother.
Oh how do you people have a surprise coming
Swissempire
Poet Jester
I love all the attention the Swade Hegemony is getting. But i'm not evil, i'm just a theocracy. I protect my people from the Lies and Corruption of Other religions.
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Will Ban be visiting the Wardash as well? 
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
Silver Steak said:Will Ban be visiting the Wardash as well?
Perhaps, is Gorin in the Wardash area?
Cuivienen
Deity
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2003
- Messages
- 8,011
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
There is still an update tomorrow, right?
From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei
We have heard rumor of your desire to increase trade with the outside world. Being the gateway to such a world, it is our pleasure to help provide the infrastructure for your traders to access ports and roads to take you north. Rather than cross the Nurmaferi wastes, your merchants can travel through New Veritas. Construction has begun on the southern side of the White Mountains on a city. It will be near the headwaters of the river which flows into Guangfei, from which rafts can flow downstream to Guangfei, and galleys can travel upstream. Though the city is far from your borders, we hope that a road connection can be completed within the century.
From: New Veritas
To: Guangfei
We have heard rumor of your desire to increase trade with the outside world. Being the gateway to such a world, it is our pleasure to help provide the infrastructure for your traders to access ports and roads to take you north. Rather than cross the Nurmaferi wastes, your merchants can travel through New Veritas. Construction has begun on the southern side of the White Mountains on a city. It will be near the headwaters of the river which flows into Guangfei, from which rafts can flow downstream to Guangfei, and galleys can travel upstream. Though the city is far from your borders, we hope that a road connection can be completed within the century.
Similar threads
- Poll
