SSNES3: Slaves and Masters
- Thread starter Silver Steak
- Start date
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
"Always good to be back in Corran," muttered King Artoth, looking up at the great walls of his capital. "Not sure how the Kienwardum will work out, but we can probably beat them in a fight."
A runner approached. "Majesty, the Gorna and Lible clans have gotten into a dispute over a group of slaves that escaped from one of them's tracts to the other's, and they insist you rule on it."
"Tell both clan heads to come to the throne ring on the next new moon, in three days' time." Artoth turned to the ceremonial runner attached to his party. "And you, run ahead and get the latest events, and stop by the throne ring while you're at it."
The party dissolved shortly after entering the city proper as everyone drifted towards their houses. Artoth ate a quick snack, ordered his personal servants to begin preparing dinner, napped unceremoniously for an hour, and was awakened by his wife coming home. "What's this, you're home and there's nothing ready for me when I've been in Gyorna for a week?"
"Darling, I just got home right now myself. The servants are working on dinner. It should be ready soon. Meanwhile,"
[deleted because CFC has a PG-13 rating]
Artoth made his way to the throne ring later that evening, gazing at the clouds. Merchants were drifting in and out of the area, haggling with passers-by. As usual, lots of people were present. The throne ring was not only were Artoth ruled, it was also recognized common meeting ground.
Artoth sat down amidts the hubbub and banged his shield twice.
"Attention!"
Merchants continued to haggle, clan heads continued to talk, though everyone was more subdued.
"I announce that the next Lesser assembly of Throne is on the new moon, three days hence! Then I will tell of our peace with Gyorna, Keinwardum and Eiphmen. I also announce the next Greater assembly of Throne, with at least a score of days' warning as is custom, on the new moon following the Lesser assembly of Throne."
He stared out at the audience.
"Now, those who have grievances may present them, assuming both sides are present to a dispute, or send witnesses in good standing."
Artoth liked the air of formality these sessions had. It wasn't as good as beating someone into submission, Erronian or otherwise, and it wasn't as good as watching thousands of men march at his command, but it was oddly soothing and felt somehow right that he rule on things this way.
A runner approached. "Majesty, the Gorna and Lible clans have gotten into a dispute over a group of slaves that escaped from one of them's tracts to the other's, and they insist you rule on it."
"Tell both clan heads to come to the throne ring on the next new moon, in three days' time." Artoth turned to the ceremonial runner attached to his party. "And you, run ahead and get the latest events, and stop by the throne ring while you're at it."
The party dissolved shortly after entering the city proper as everyone drifted towards their houses. Artoth ate a quick snack, ordered his personal servants to begin preparing dinner, napped unceremoniously for an hour, and was awakened by his wife coming home. "What's this, you're home and there's nothing ready for me when I've been in Gyorna for a week?"
"Darling, I just got home right now myself. The servants are working on dinner. It should be ready soon. Meanwhile,"
[deleted because CFC has a PG-13 rating]
Artoth made his way to the throne ring later that evening, gazing at the clouds. Merchants were drifting in and out of the area, haggling with passers-by. As usual, lots of people were present. The throne ring was not only were Artoth ruled, it was also recognized common meeting ground.
Artoth sat down amidts the hubbub and banged his shield twice.
"Attention!"
Merchants continued to haggle, clan heads continued to talk, though everyone was more subdued.
"I announce that the next Lesser assembly of Throne is on the new moon, three days hence! Then I will tell of our peace with Gyorna, Keinwardum and Eiphmen. I also announce the next Greater assembly of Throne, with at least a score of days' warning as is custom, on the new moon following the Lesser assembly of Throne."
He stared out at the audience.
"Now, those who have grievances may present them, assuming both sides are present to a dispute, or send witnesses in good standing."
Artoth liked the air of formality these sessions had. It wasn't as good as beating someone into submission, Erronian or otherwise, and it wasn't as good as watching thousands of men march at his command, but it was oddly soothing and felt somehow right that he rule on things this way.
Swissempire
Poet Jester
Sweet Jazz, that was a good update.
Stories and Diplo later
Stories and Diplo later
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Oh, it was nothing. Just a little background story composing on the run while retelling your orders in (very) brief. 
Insights on a Chirik's Mind- Religion
No, I do not understand religion. Do not get me wrong, I understand faith. I have great faith in my leaders and my family. I have faith in the flooding of the Great River. But I do not understand your idea of 'god'.
Why do you believe that there are intangible, omnipotent entities controlling this world? Surely Magnamund's countless miracles are controlled by something tangible. The Ancients performed miracles beyond many of our imaginations, yet they were tangible and living. How can one live their life with religion, believing in the impossible?
Surely these gods, if they ever existed, were left behind us when we were torn away from our own worlds. For if they had followed us into this world, they would have helped shield us from the cruelty of enslavement.
They didn't. We survived only through our own skills and perseverence. Any god who would allow his people to suffer so is either weaker than the Ancients or cruel and unfeeling.
Where was a god for the Chiriks through the millennia of enslavement? Where was a god for us while we toiled in the burning forges of the Ancients, slaving away until our dessicated bodies moved no more and were replaced? Where was a god for us during the times of chaos, where so many of us were murdered?
Nowhere. We made it by only with cunning, strength, and will to survive.
Some may find it comforting to think of something powerful watching over them. But there is no good, kind, powerful deity watching over us. We stand alone.
No, I do not understand religion. Do not get me wrong, I understand faith. I have great faith in my leaders and my family. I have faith in the flooding of the Great River. But I do not understand your idea of 'god'.
Why do you believe that there are intangible, omnipotent entities controlling this world? Surely Magnamund's countless miracles are controlled by something tangible. The Ancients performed miracles beyond many of our imaginations, yet they were tangible and living. How can one live their life with religion, believing in the impossible?
Surely these gods, if they ever existed, were left behind us when we were torn away from our own worlds. For if they had followed us into this world, they would have helped shield us from the cruelty of enslavement.
They didn't. We survived only through our own skills and perseverence. Any god who would allow his people to suffer so is either weaker than the Ancients or cruel and unfeeling.
Where was a god for the Chiriks through the millennia of enslavement? Where was a god for us while we toiled in the burning forges of the Ancients, slaving away until our dessicated bodies moved no more and were replaced? Where was a god for us during the times of chaos, where so many of us were murdered?
Nowhere. We made it by only with cunning, strength, and will to survive.
Some may find it comforting to think of something powerful watching over them. But there is no good, kind, powerful deity watching over us. We stand alone.
das
Regeneration In Process
Hurrah for "the most noteworthy (of humans)"! 
Btw, are the various white areas inhabited? And if so, then by whom?
Btw, are the various white areas inhabited? And if so, then by whom?
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
The white areas are quite desolate, with only small barbarian tribes and the occasional hermit. In any case, there's no population worthy of note there, so you're pretty much freed of worrying about barbarian invasions and the like. At least for now. 
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
ORDERS DEADLINE THURSDAY! The reason for this is that I have leave from Wednesday until 29th, and I plan to do at least two updates in that time. Thursday I will have a get together with my former class mates, so I will start updating Friday. You better get in your orders this time, as packs of Zang are in store for those who don't. And no, I did not introduce them for this purpose only, although they are nice excuses for getting rid of abandoned PC nations.
Clank. Clank. Clank. Ivan trudged past his protective guard, and stared into the eyes of the Fell-Raichi populace.
"Citizens!" he cried, "It is time for us to face the treacherous seas, and show them that we are not afraid of death!" He spat upon the blackened dirt that he stood upon, and continued; "Far too long have we been secluded from the pitiful outside world. We must continue our expansion! "
Ivan saw the thirst for safety in his subjects' eyes, and went back to his exposition;
"Firstly we must expand upon the southern and northern coasts to stop the mortal monsters from reaching the monster that we call the sea! Thus we must demand that fellow nations relinquish their naval holdings, or face the wrath of the Fell-Raichi legion!"
The Masses roared with pleasure, their excitement continued as Ivan went on;
Secondly our naval power must be expanded. We cannot be expected to defend our lands if our greatest asset and enemy comes to the side of our foes.
That is all. DISPERSE!"
The Fell-Raichi citizens shuffled off as Ivan III stode off towards his Sanctuary cave.
May the sea become ours!
"Citizens!" he cried, "It is time for us to face the treacherous seas, and show them that we are not afraid of death!" He spat upon the blackened dirt that he stood upon, and continued; "Far too long have we been secluded from the pitiful outside world. We must continue our expansion! "
Ivan saw the thirst for safety in his subjects' eyes, and went back to his exposition;
"Firstly we must expand upon the southern and northern coasts to stop the mortal monsters from reaching the monster that we call the sea! Thus we must demand that fellow nations relinquish their naval holdings, or face the wrath of the Fell-Raichi legion!"
The Masses roared with pleasure, their excitement continued as Ivan went on;
Secondly our naval power must be expanded. We cannot be expected to defend our lands if our greatest asset and enemy comes to the side of our foes.
That is all. DISPERSE!"
The Fell-Raichi citizens shuffled off as Ivan III stode off towards his Sanctuary cave.
May the sea become ours!
Cuivienen
Deity
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2003
- Messages
- 8,011
The Heretic King
A Work of Allendi Myth
The Saint: I come to you, oh King of the Allendi, to bring grievance.
The Heretic King: What grievance to bring, holiest of the Faithful?
The Saint: I bring grievance against His Majesty and against his rule. I bring a speech for the troubles of the kingdom that His Majesty has abandoned.
The Heretic King: You would bring grievance against your king? You are a most heretical and disloyal saint.
The Saint: I am no heretic, Your Majesty. The people cry out against your rule. They wonder why you abandon the Chosen people for foreigners, why you entertain peoples of lesser worth in your courts.
The Heretic King: I have no news of this, saint. Why do you tell such lies?
The Saint: I tell no lies, only truth. I ask of you why you entertain foreigners. Do you understand?
The Heretic King: I understand, but I do not. Foreigners, they are not of the Chosen, but they still must receive audience.
The Saint: Audience, yes, but reverence? You bow to their will. You give them gifts. They feed off the wealth of the Allendi court. You are denying the Chosen people.
The Heretic King: I am enriching the Chosen people. I am fostering friendship with others that the Chosen people might become stronger.
The Saint: It is not your duty to aid others. It is your duty to aid the Chosen people. How does your pandering do such?
The Heretic King: The foreigners, they bring goods to trade, they grow food, they mine metal, they cut wood. They have skills we do not possess. They are of value to the Chosen people.
The Saint: Foreigners bring only death. The GODS have so taught us, and brought us to the isles that we might be safe from those unChosen.
The Heretic King: I do not know what GODS you call yourself a saint of. My GODS would see the Chosen strengthened.
The Saint: Mine as well, but not through prostitution.
The Heretic King: And why would you call our greatness prostitution?
The Saint: It is an abhorred by the GODS.
The Heretic King: You have not answered me, saint.
The Saint: I need not answer to you, Your Majesty.
The Heretic King: Then you need not speak to me, saint. Your words are empty, meaningless. You prattle about the will of the GODS, yet you do not understand it. What should the Chosen people do but strengthen themselves to prepare for rule over all men? What should the Chosen people do but interact with their future subjects? Your isolation would be the death of your GODS, not their glory. Go forth now and never return, saint.
The Saint: I need never do so.
OOC: The Heretic King is considered the "correct" viewpoint.
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
I could see it both ways, actually.
@tycoon: how can Ivan see anything in his subjects' eyes when he is blind? Or can he see because he's sort of a Super-Raichi?
@tycoon: how can Ivan see anything in his subjects' eyes when he is blind? Or can he see because he's sort of a Super-Raichi?
Sheep
Orange Shrooms!
I must drop out of this just cant get intrest
das
Regeneration In Process
That's precisely what I meant to ask about. Who are they, racially? I suppose that in my area they will mostly be humans, but in case they aren't...
Reno
The Studio Ghibli Fanatic
@Silver Steak Will you make a resource/fauna map at some point?
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
@Sheep: awww, then the Crescent Bay will be left to the orks and elves alone! 
Or maybe the Fell-Raichi... I hope Thlayli decides to fill the gap created by you and Dark.
@das: As you suppose, they are humans. Of course, there may be a few stray individuals of "alien" species, but they are becoming the stuff of parents' stories to scare their kids from going out in the dark.
EDIT: @Reno: I already do have such a map. Only I haven't posted it, and I don't think I intend to. Some of the resources can't be pinpointed either, like the Torii, because they live across a vast territory and move about very often. Still, I constantly keep track of who has what resources available, and with so few of them available at your hands now, I expect you all will start exploring like krazi soon enough.
Or maybe the Fell-Raichi... I hope Thlayli decides to fill the gap created by you and Dark.@das: As you suppose, they are humans. Of course, there may be a few stray individuals of "alien" species, but they are becoming the stuff of parents' stories to scare their kids from going out in the dark.
EDIT: @Reno: I already do have such a map. Only I haven't posted it, and I don't think I intend to. Some of the resources can't be pinpointed either, like the Torii, because they live across a vast territory and move about very often. Still, I constantly keep track of who has what resources available, and with so few of them available at your hands now, I expect you all will start exploring like krazi soon enough.
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
I got a question from das that I want to answer on the thread because it might interest all of you. The question was how much the slave species know for sure about the Ancients.
The simple question to this is: nothing. They are so ancient that noone can truly say how many years have passed since their departure. The main reason for this is that the salves lost the knowledge and purpose of recording passing of time and normally notable events. OTL alphabet was remembered for only about a century, for example. Knowledge is power, and can forge unity. The Ancients knew this, and actively sought to deprive their slaves of anything that might allow them to communicate and coordinate a revolt. It worked brilliantly.
So, since there was no calendar except counting winters, this became both inaccurate and pointless. None of the slaves established oral traditions of the Ancients - or they all did, but skipped the details. They had more important matters to deal with, like survival. So basically, you know the few tidbits I've told you (like how the Ancients began their civil war, and the creation of the Crescent Bay) Oh, and all slaves were taught a sign language by the Ancients, which enables you all to communicate. The sign language lacks an alphabet, however, so documents can not be made until you discover a script on your own.
The simple question to this is: nothing. They are so ancient that noone can truly say how many years have passed since their departure. The main reason for this is that the salves lost the knowledge and purpose of recording passing of time and normally notable events. OTL alphabet was remembered for only about a century, for example. Knowledge is power, and can forge unity. The Ancients knew this, and actively sought to deprive their slaves of anything that might allow them to communicate and coordinate a revolt. It worked brilliantly.
So, since there was no calendar except counting winters, this became both inaccurate and pointless. None of the slaves established oral traditions of the Ancients - or they all did, but skipped the details. They had more important matters to deal with, like survival. So basically, you know the few tidbits I've told you (like how the Ancients began their civil war, and the creation of the Crescent Bay) Oh, and all slaves were taught a sign language by the Ancients, which enables you all to communicate. The sign language lacks an alphabet, however, so documents can not be made until you discover a script on your own.
das
Regeneration In Process
But do they have some place in our mythology? The presence of an "Ancient" pretender implies that, and seems to indicate a generally-negative perception amongst the majority of peoples.
Another thing - though this may technically be an exploit, do we remember anything about their use of mounts (especially those used for the massive slave armies)? I.e. can we possibly guess that Kage beasts or something else could be used in such a manner?
Another thing - though this may technically be an exploit, do we remember anything about their use of mounts (especially those used for the massive slave armies)? I.e. can we possibly guess that Kage beasts or something else could be used in such a manner?
Silver Steak
The Ghost of SS
Of course the Ancients are a fact. Every species acknowledge their history as slaves. It's just the lesser species (that are driven extinct) that are beginning to fade away. And you do know about mounts, so this will be available to you as soon as you discover them.
