Resetting the Long Count

[Cpt Oblivious]

Resetting the Long Count
Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mayan Apocalypse

Present Day

Sitting in my cubicle, the dull din of printers and copiers echoed around me in a hypnotic symphony, making me spend another day as a corporate zombie. I shake my head gingerly, looking at the clock. The report I was working on had to be finished soon, a last-minute number I'm trying to squeeze in before going to the airport.

"...so, I'll take that as a no?"

I look up with a blank face, snapped back into reality, to see Jim, the guy from the next cubicle leaning on the partition. I had completely zoned out from.. whatever it is he was saying to me. Something about the weekend.

"What? Oh, no, no big plans for Friday. Well, I mean, not personal, at least." I cobble together my words haphazardly. "Got the business trip down to help with the project at the Yucatán office, will have my hands full with that."

Jim guffaws, shaking his head but keeping a mischievous grin. "Slave to the grind, even right to the end of the world, huh?"

He must see the confused look on my face, and elaborates. "You know, the whole Mayan Calendar thing, end of time, December 21, 2012 thing?"

"Oh..." I put my head back down, refocusing on my work. "... yeah, that whole thing. Guess I'm just going to have to miss the end. I'll reschedule the apocalypse for when I don't have a business project."

Still shaking his head, he chuckles at me perhaps more from pity than amusement.

48 Hours to go

4000 B.C.

Spoiler :

I wake with the sun on my face, always a fortunate sign. But my optimism for the future notwithstanding, it is my people who I must make share the same conviction as me. I still don't remember how we arrived in this land, but I know from our travels, from days of tireless journey that wherever used to be home is gone. Home now is where we will make it. As I rise, a stern face greets me.

"Blessings of the Gods unto you, great Pacal."

"And to you, B'alam. How are our people?" I return to my military advisor, a hopeful tone to my voice.

"Tired, and hungry, but nothing they're not used to. Still, I fear that some of the lesser among the men cannot take much more travel."

I looked out ahead of us. To the side of the hill near our camp sat recesses of stone, perfect for building. A river bed extended out along the plains, and in the neighboring hills, rich metallic stones huge in their rock formations.

Spoiler :

"Then we will go no farther. Have the men set up on that hill." I say, pointing with my fetish to the site. " The river will be our Lakam Ha. This will be our home. This will be Palenque. Our travel ends here, now our journey begins."

 

[Cpt Oblivious]

Present Day

I'm no stranger to travel. I've collected enough frequent flier miles on business that if I ever cash them in, I'll humble Jules Verne twice over. Still, in all my trips, this is the first time taking a charter flight. I'm well accustomed to commercial travel, but standing on the tarmac as the private jet idles in front of me, it's a new and surreal experience. But as different as it is, nothing beats when I actually step into the plane.

"Mr. Salazar!" The surprised utterance escapes before I can stop myself. I've seen pictures of my boss, a hearty, tanned man with slicked back hair and a neatly manicured mustache, but never met him in person.

"Please, call me Javier." He looks amused at my bewilderment as he ushers me towards a posh looking seat, swirling a brandy snifter gently in his other hand. "So... you're the man who's going to help with our project in the Yucatán, eh?"

His voice, though friendly, is gruff, and his query sounds more like an accusation than a question. I'm not a stranger to recognizing when someone is sizing me up.

"You seem nervous, have a drink, relax. There's a great many things we must discuss on the trip." He says, his sentence punctuated by pressure in the cabin squeezing in on me for a brief second as the jet door eases shut, sealing us in. His hand drifts down to a folder beside his chair.

"I must say, I'm impressed. Got your Bachelor's with a dual major in Theology and Economics, went to Cambridge for your post graduate work and got your MPhil in Historical Philosophy of Science, high marks... what are you doing working in our Audit Department?"

"Well," I say, struggling with my collar, "The job prospects in that field are a little narrow, and it was the only real job I could find right after finishing my degree... I mean, not that it's a bad job or anything. It's a great job. I love my job."

I stumbled through the last part with nerves, backpedalling quickly. My state only seems to amuse him more as he taps the folder on his leg.

"But you've always wanted more, no?" Sensing my unease, he reassures me. "Do not worry, I'm not here to evaluate you and your current job. Think of this as an interview... no, more of an orientation for a much bigger, much better job. But I do have some questions, and this might help you understand the project we're working on. Let me ask you, do you know why countries all over the world keep sending probes to Mars to look for water?"

It seemed an odd question, and something that never comes close to anything I deal with. Most of my day is grinding numbers and comparing rows on an expense chart.

"I guess because humans want to know what's out there in the galaxy." I say with trepidation.

"Hmmm. Interesting." he nods his head, looking at me through squinted eyes. "It's not the right answer, but interesting. Let me ask you another, and you know a thing or two about history, so this may seem more at home: why are there no real empires anymore?"

I'm not sure where this is going, but hearing that he thought me wrong before makes me consider my answer carefully. "Well, that's not entirely true. But the empires now are companies, corporations, not nations. It's an international effort, not confined by simple borders anymore."

He nods thoughtfully. "That's actually much closer. To be honest, the answer to both is the same: fertile land. Not in an agriculture sense, but in a sense of land with something worthwhile. There's none of it left. It's all been claimed or settled or conquered. By now, there's none left. Save perhaps Antarctica, but it's got nothing of value, so no one claims it, not the way the old empires did the lands in Asia or Europe or the Americas. It's the same reason we want to find water on Mars: people long to conquer and settle new lands, and we've run out of it all here."

I tilt my head as my words leak out of my mouth.

"I'm not sure I understand;" I say tepidly "What does this have to do with the project?"

"Ah yes.. the project. Let me ask you one more question. What do you know about the Mayans?"

44 Hours to go

Ancient Era to Classical Era (Turn 0 - ~Turn 60)

Palenque has established, our people beginning to settle into our new home, but not without being wary. The landscape is still unexplored, and whetever may await us is unsure. Try as I may to consult the Gods, they offer me no answers, and so we must seek them for my people. It after my second dispatch of explorers that prevalent news arrives.

"Divine King, I bring news from our scouts." A soft voice calls to me, a head of curling locks rising above the steps of our monument.

"Ix'muyal, come. What news do you have for me?"

"We are not alone." She says firmly, kneeling in earnest at my feet. "We found a few small camps outlying along the coast, the people of Whittenberg, Geneva, Antwerp, and Colombo. But... that is not all they have found."

Before I can ask, a distant disruption echoes up the steps to my throne. Stepping from my seat, I look down to see the owner of a loud and boistrous voice calling from amid the citizenry. A bold feathered headdress, nearly as auspicious as my own shakes atop his crown.

"The ruler of the people of the North has made his presence known, and seeks audience with you."

Preparing my own plumage, I go to quell the disruption and properly greet my contemporary.

Spoiler :

[OOC Note: Oh boy, this should be fun]

After listening to his boastful words, but greeting him humbly, I bid our guest his exit. Wether it is good to meet one's neighbors or not, it is certainly important. No sooner does he leave our city then an envoy appears outside our borders. More wary, seeing how the strange people of this land behave, I take a contengent of Atlatlists to greet the approaching group.

Their leader seems much more earnest, though her lack of a headdress made me first unsure if the painted woman was in fact the leader. Her assertion over he envoy however cleared this issue quickly.

Spoiler :

Through the settling of our lands in comfort and the discussion of the Gods with nearby encampments of Faith, our people look for direction, and we codify our dedication to the Divine with an edict to be messengers of their words.

Spoiler :

On the 3rd expedition, my advisor came to me, both seemingly excited and confused.

"Great Shield of the Mayan People, I come with intriguing news. We have found several sites, abandoned and scattered with debris. We found many of such sites, only mildly fruitful, but this one was different. We found texts within the site. Primitive texts, adorned with an odd symbol of a sun. We can only think that this may be a sign from the gods themselves. Within, there was the secrets of casting the copper in our hills with tin to make strong but pliant spears of a material they call 'bronze.' The men are beginning to outfit themselves with this weaponry, to some great effect."

I take the text, looking over the markings on the front, then browsing the tome.

Spoiler :

As our city grew, we sought to expand our lands and our influence, as our neighbors would surely seek to do the same. We sent a settlement party along with one of our scouting expeditions, and seemed to find a suitable site, one with the richness of a river as Palenque has, but the protection of mountains nearby. There were also reports of wild fruit in the area, that when overriped, seeped into the groundwater. Word of this- we will call it 'wine' returned to Palenque with great interest to the populous, our people yearning for us to cultivate the secrets of wine. I feel it best as benefactor to the people to appease their want, and gave the order for Tikal to be settled in the chosen location.

Spoiler :

Despite being far from his borders, even as reports come in of a second city reaching my ears, my advisors told me in the aftermath that the lands to the north have issued a stern warning about our newfound settlement. We are keeping a watchful eye on them, if their impulsive leader is so concerned in our affairs...

Spoiler :

As our advancement moves us forward, we settle another site for Chichen Itza. While we do not fear boistrous outsiders, it is in our disinterest to actively provoke them while we are in a time of such expansion. As such, we move southward, secure behind our current settlements. At the base of a river bed, the site further enriches our collection of copper to begin trade, and rests in the eastern shadow of the mysterious sandstone mount that the people have begun calling Uluru.

Spoiler :

 

[psyciceman]

Really enjoying this story. The most interesting part (at least to me) is that you've mixed in current 'affairs' (the end of the Mayans 13th B'ak'tun and the 'doomsday') into a civ story. Hope Monty won't give you trouble though (what am I saying, of course he will )

 

[Cpt Oblivious]

Present Day

I am sure that years from now, I'll look back and think that my boss is the craziest man I've met in my life, and wonder just what I was thinking getting involved in all this mess. Unless of course he's right, in which case, years from now technically doesn't exist.

We had a very "enlightening" discussion on the rest of the flight; According to Mr. Salazar, a lot of the mythos about the Mayans and their scientific advancement and connection to cosmic forces is all real. Legitimate "Ancient Aliens" kind of stuff. All those alien archaeologists that study the tomb of Pacal the Great thinking it has symbolism of him becoming a space traveller are close, but have it backwards, he says. That almost all civilizations started off on another planet - no kidding, he actually believes this - and all travelled to Earth. The Mayans, he said, were just a bit more paranoid than the others. They wanted to make sure that their secrets didn't stay buried, that they were shared and recorded in case something went wrong. He said in truth, we all started out from someplace else, and.. here's the kicker: we're destined to follow the same path. That we're supposed to somehow become some interstellar propegators on some other planet.

I kid you not, the man actually believes this.

I don't, at least, not initially. He assured me that I would though. He explained that there are many governments sponsoring companies like ours, ones researching and developing for this very instance. A lot of applied theory in space-time and interstellar travel and other things I can't even begin to wrap my head around.

"Understanding the technical details is unimportant. It's going to be the practical application of this information that's important." he tells me. "That's why we're getting people like you together and not some of the eggheads in the lab for this project."

38 Hours to go

Classical Era to Medieval Era: The Siege of Tikal (Turns 60-110)

Sitting atop my stone seat, winds of unease blow the plumage atop my head into receding waves. Word came in shortly that a distant civalization had already fallen before we had even met them. Still, something felt... wrong. Seeing one of our couriers rush up the steps to fall prostrate at my feet, panting for air, I knew that my concerns were well founded.

"Great Pacal, *gasp* Speaker of the Word of the Gods *pant*, I bring news from Tikal." He said, on both knees with his arms outstretched along the ground in humility.

"Stand, and speak plainly," I reassured him "but quickly."

"K'uhul Ajaw, our men report a large contengent of Aztecan warriors, dressed in a jungle armor of Jaguars, flanked by archers are advancing on the city. A war party."

A boiling rage overtook me. This was not unexpected, between the brash introduction and the lands of the north petitioning against Tikal's settling. But the hubris to attack the messengers of the Gods? It is assured that these have to be madmen.

Spoiler :

Hey, it only took two turns after I loaded the save. Kinda saw it coming.

"We have forces to repel them in place, I made sure of this in advance. But send further support, we'll put some of our new spears to use."

"Immediately, sir. Also, there is a diplomatic envoy from the eastern lands that wishes to speak with you, and says it is in regards to the conflict in Tikal."

Stepping from my exhalted seat, my eyes fall upon the small Chinese messenger. I descend the steppe and greet him in a friendly manner. Any allies I could make would be welcome at the moment.

"Ruler of these lands," he says, with a bow, "I come bringing the edict of Lady Wu Zetian. Our advance scouts noted the movements of the aggressors well in advance, and the Divine Empress has prepared China's response to these actions."

He hands me a scroll, which I carefully unfurl.

Spoiler :

My guards look over my shoulder, perhaps with more disbelief than me. I look up to the eyes of the diplomat, who looks firm, but bows again, before turning to make his exit. Looking to the men at my sides, I give but a nod, and they seize him.

"And I have prepared my own response. Men, take him to the altar. These carrion feeders wish to mock us with such cowardice, then we will redeem them in the eyes of the Gods. Prepare this messenger for sacrifice."

The Aztecan forces are funneled by the river and mountains, allowing us to weaken their advance. The mountain pass and hilled terrain slow the opportunists from the east. While the enemies close in on the city, we had already slain many of the Aztec forces, and continue to fight them through superior range and terrain advantage as the first of the Chinese forces arrive.

Spoiler :

As the Aztec forces are pushed into retreat, our men turn to the Chinese deceivers. As expected, without even putting up a fight, as soon as they realize that they will have our attention, the quickly begin to recede past the mountains again to crawl in their hole like snakes.

Spoiler :

Amid the battle, our men report that a scouting party was spotted near Tikal, overwatching the events unfolding. At first, it is thought to be more support from the Chinese, perhaps even a war contingent that will actually face us. However, the different manner of dress and talk show that it is the people of another land, who had been cautiously watching our men repel the invaders before approaching.

Spoiler :

Note to self: RNG hates me when it comes to random opponents.

The battle had not shaken the will of the people, and they saw our successes as the support from the Gods for our cause. As such, we codify the edicts that we glean from these battles: to honor the fallen, to build edifices to the honor of the Gods, and that within the lands, our faith will help shield us from any invaders. The penning of the texts of Chilam Balam is monumental for us.

Spoiler :

A pursuit detachment continues to press northward, running the forces of the boastful Montezuma back to his lands. Perhaps the divine warned him of our pursuit, but upon seeing us continue to press into his men, he acquiesces defeat. And now, one one front, we have peace.

Spoiler :

 

[Cpt Oblivious]

Present Day: December 20, 2012

Even though I got to the facility yesterday, a whole day later and it still seems unreal. Hallways of large science labs, looking like something out of a sci-fi or secret agent film. Huge rooms lined with glass walls- which I wouldn't be surprised if they are bulletproof- with all kinds of machinery busy at work while dutiful technicians in starched lab coats tap information into their tablets. At present, I'm walking with a pretty scientist, the lead technician. Between the environment and her looks, I for the life of me can't remember he name, but I follow her to what is (supposedly jokingly) called the "War Room."

As we approach a formidible looking wall, one that looks like it would seal a modern fortress, the large metal panelling slides upward into the ceiling with a faint hiss, like air whispering it's way out of a hole in a mylar balloon. Inside, people in suits - my boss among them - look up at a panel of overhead monitors, many of the images looking like satellite photos. You'd almost think it was a production unit for a national weather station. Seeing me enter, my boss looks towards me with a warm smile, but gives little more than a hand gesture, as if to indicate to continue on.

"The technology we've derived from the years of studies- and mind you, this is a collaborative, multinational effort, so it's not in any way exclusive - was derived largely nonetheless from ancient hieroglyphics." The woman dutifully says, pressing her metal clipboard firmly against her hip as we traverse the room. "Mayan stone carvings, Egyptian burial tombs, Polynesian wood carvings, west African tribal monuments. Think of it like the Rosetta Stone in reverse. Instead of a single artifact tying together multiple cultures, this is the artifacts of many cultures, their information combined into a single result. Stage one of the project."

We stop, and she points upward to a small platform, bracketted rings adorned with carvings and crackling with electricity.

"In simplest terms, it's a new form of transportation. We figured out the basics of it a few decades ago. Of course, this has never been made public- not by any of the governments or corporations involved- nor has it seen prominent use. Have you ever seen the film 'The Fly'?"

I raise an eyebrow, before chuckling in disbelief. "Yeah, why?"

"Because it's the exact same concept, except that's of course some fictional theory on if the process went wrong. It's actually close enough, that we've been trying to find out for years who leaked the information, because it's actually a little too close."

Taken aback, I simply stare at her for a minute, before shaking my head.

"Wait, you mean the ancient civilizations collectively gave us the technology for some sort of, what... teleporter?"

She presses her pen to her lips for a second before nodding.

"In crude terms, yes. Although more specifically, an interstellar teleporter."

28 Hours to go

Medieval Era to Renaissance: The Holy War, Savagery, and Brotherhood (Turn 110-170)

While our forces focused on the eastern front and pushed back the Chinese to their own borders, a wave of calm settled over the people. We had routed a two-pronged attack, and in the process, had settled another city, this on the southwest edge of the Aztec lands. Despite being at treatise, I expected this would not sit well with the people to the north. So when the guard tells me of Montezuma personally approaching Palenque, an ire stirs within me. His insulting behavior was intolerable before. But this time, I'm determined to handle it personally, snatching a sacrificial knife from the altar.

"I do not need the guard." I said to my men, advancing down the steppe. "If he seeks trouble after insulting us before, he will find it, and I will personally take his heart."

He stood at the base of the monument, his vast headdress fanning a large shadow along the ground over the lower steps. My fist clenches tightly on the pommel of the dagger, and his eyes fall over it as I make the final steps to him, my jaw tightening. For a moment, we stare at one another, in silence, before he finally braves speaking to me.

"Leader of the Maya, I have come here to address our conflict." A fiery look is in his eyes, as my muscles tense like a jungle cat. "We are a proud warrior people, and it is the field of combat where we measure men. And you, Pacal, and your Maya people have been measured to be..."

His eyes linger for a moment on the blade, but his chin tucked up into a defiant look.

"...brave and honorable. Truly worthy adversaries, who excel in the arena of combat, and do not back down from a threat, regardless of the odds. On behalf of the Aztec people, you have proven yourselves as a true match to our might, and have earned our respect."

He offers a hand forward to me, his face relaxing from the stern look that had moments before.

Spoiler :

Seeing his impetous gone and the true measure of his worth, I tuck the blade into my waistband, extending my own hand to clutch his forearm in kinship.

He proved that he was not what I expected, and for that, I ask the Gods for strength to overcome my own failings and learn to forgive. Besides, we have a greater problem.

The battle with the Chinese drags on, extending out over a stretch of years. Even as their forces improve to the use of iron weapons, they are unable to mount a military push out of their cities. But what comes next...

One of my advisors approaches, looking concerned. "Divine King, there is a concern among the people. I have received word that Tikal and Chichen Itza have abandoned the tenets of our faith, and adopted the Chinese doctrine of Taoism. Unable to fight us with their soldiers, they are using missionaries to mount their latest affront to us."

Once again, my rage uncurls inside.

"Speak the words of the Gods once again to our people, bring them back on the proper path before they condemn us all to the wrath of the Divine. In the meantime, replace the fortified line at the edge of the Chinese lands."

She looks to me curiously, my B'alam also hearing this and standing in protest.

"Lord? Replace which men?" he says, with confusion that matches hers.

"All of them." I say firmly. "They failed in their duties; ensure that the replacements understand that no Chinese forces are to so much as step out of their cities. I want the edge of their borders to be defined by a trail of Chinese bodies."

"But, Great Pacal, these are civilians."

Pointing my fetish at him sternly, I reaffirm. "NO ONE advances. There are no civilians, if they are the people of Chinese- I don't care if they are carrying a pike and sword, or a spade and plow, or a book- they are the enemy."

Our vigor horrifies our enemies, but in the face of such a show of zeal, they come in time to recognize that their efforts are futile, and will only hurt their people. While the war is protracted, we weather the storm, and eventually, reach peace.

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

It only took... oh... about 100 turns of beating them senseless for them to finally get the picture. X_X

In the time following, our peace is not broken, and we thrive. Tulum and Copan are founded: the former being our bridge between Palenque and our outlying cities; the latter serves to open our expansion to the northeast, a territory that is untouched by other peoples. In this time, we come to learn of the other civilizations: the Carthegians hold the lands even further north of the Aztecan ones, and the Spaniards and Ottomans, who share lands to the east with the Huns. During our time of prosperity, we enjoy comfort to the north: Montezuma is true to his word and we share reverance between our cultures, renewing the bonds of friendship on the anniversary of it's founding, and his own people beginning to embrace the principles of Chilam Balam.

Spoiler :

 

[BHN Tech 4312]

i havent read into this much, but when i get the time i will definately catch up on it. what i did read was good. keep it up

 

[ekat2468]

Do we get another update soon?

 

[Fluphen Azine]

Wow you really worked hard on this story!! How many drafts did you have to rewrite lol?? Very Creative, I thought making videos for lets plays was work with compression and uploading onto youtube but now I know what real work is... writing a complete backstory/novel into your LP

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyXysBAxO8vMsueb3i1ibUg?feature=mhee

 

[Fluphen Azine]

I forgot to ask you what level and settings did you play this LP on?