The pre-AFSNES I.

[Cannae]

I want to play as the Arikara. I have marked a circle on the map where I want my civ to be. I also say that the circle I put is not the borderline of my civ it's just to show where I want it... Not how large I want it. Feel free to change the borders and the color of my civ. By the way if this is not a possibal location to have it at will you have it on reserve for me so that when it's possibal I will be able to have and play as it please?

 

[LightFang]

My dear Slavic, let me direct you to this map:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=155549&d=1183982610

 

[Cannae]

I saw that map already. I may have read the instructions wrong but from what I understand you are allowed to have a new nation placed there under a certain condition. I could be wrong though so I am going to double check to see if what I am saying is true. If it happens to be that I am wrong or I am not allowed to have my civ there I would like to play as it once it does become available.

Here it is.

If you want to start in a non-CZ region, well, talk to me about it and maybe we will work something out, but this will usually be even more challenging.

By the way I would have PMed Das but I haven't been able to PM the map. Thus making it much harder to have the message I said to be understood and have relevance.

 

[das]

The Arikara would seem to be rather anachronistic, and it would be generally be too early for serious civilisation in this region, I think.

 

[Cannae]

Well could I reserve that area please for when it's possibal to play as them?

 

[das]

I suppose, if you want... But it probably won't be any time soon.

 

[JosefStalinator]

Thank God for a long deadline; I managed to totally forget to check this thread for about a week

 

[Flavius Aetius]

I found this Spanish site that talks about...impossible thigs ! Liguria is not connected with Tarsessos !
http://www.tartessos.info/html/ligures_tartessos3.htm

 

[The13thRonin]

Am I sensing a massive update in the wind?

 

[Niklas]

Am I sensing a massive update in the wind?

Okay, as feared the deadline will have to come at some point after the 19th. That gives you people time for stories and orders.

I.e. not quite yet.

 

[das]

Still, early orders couldn't hurt.

 

[The13thRonin]

My orders are already in. Hessonia for glory!

 

[Daftpanzer]

- Warrior Traditions of Akurnian Thrace -​

Thracian warrior culture developed in many directions during the first and second periods of Akurnian rule. The most important of which was Odysgrya, meaning the ‘Path of Odrys’. Over the previous centuries, there had been alternating periods when Odrys was either worshipped as either a psuedo-greek-heroic figure or a more ethereal warrior god. Although his original form and meaning was lost with the passage of time (and he was now claimed a local god by tribes living far from the original Odrysia), Odrys in his various guises remained a prominent figure in Thracian mysticism.

The roots of Odysgrya go back to the late Odrysian Kingdom (before Paphlagonian rule). It saw something of a revival during the time of Deospor the Great (420 to 382 BC), but saw its main period of development after 200 BC, after the re-occupation of Akurna as a semi-official capitol of Thracia.

The development of Odysgrya may be seen partly as a reaction against ‘soft’ influences from the more civilised mediterranean areas, as it emphasised old and fading tribal traditions, and glorified the largely-imaginary ‘golden age’ of centuries past. It can also be seen as an attempt to unite the disparate elements of Thracian warrior culture, with a more structured system of warrior hierarchies and strict codes of honour (with the ‘high king’ and his favoured nobles/lesser kings firmly at the top).

The Odysgrya created a warrior elite – typically only a fraction of the tribal armies assembled by the high kings, yet it was said that each was ‘worth ten lesser men’.

Warriors from Birth
Tribal priests were responsible for recruiting new warriors into the Odysgrya. Indeed, none could be initiated without the blessing of the priesthood. Initiation began at an early age – usually seven or eight years old, certainly never later than twelve. Only the strongest, healthiest, or the most ‘strong minded’ children were selected. Of course, the vast majority were male, but rare exceptions were made. Women warriors had played a small, but crucial supporting role in many Thracian battles.

Entry into the Odysgrya was considered an honour for the whole tribe. There was inevitably some corruption, where higher ranking families used their wealth and influence to ensure at least one of their sons was chosen, though this was considered a very shameful practise. On the other hand, if a family refused to hand over their child to the call of the Odysgrya, immediate exile was the usual result.

Though tribal loyalty was still strongly encouraged throughout Thracia, the young initiates were deliberately placed in mixed groups, each coming from many different parts of Thracia. From that point on, their loyalty was to be reserved for the Odysgrya and the high king above all else.

The first two years were spent largely in isolation, in the ‘sacred wilderness’ (areas owned by the priesthood or nobility, where no commoner was allowed to tread). The young initiates were forced to learn how to survive outside in the wild, in all seasons, well away from village life, and with only minimal contact from the Odysgrya priests. They were encouraged to work as a team, and these brotherhoods or Taks would often endure right through the Odysgrya, eventually to be played out on a real battlefield. The killing of enough wild animals – such as a wolf or wild boar – would allow the group an early advance in rank, up to the next stage of the Odysgrya. Sometimes the prey was human - criminals, captives, or political enemies were often dragged into the ‘sacred wilderness’ to be hunted down and killed by the groups of child initiates. So, some killed their first men at the age of eight, or even less – this was considered a sign of strength, and was greatly rewarded.

Many initiatives would die of disease, cold, hunger, accidents, or attacks by wild animals. This was considered an honourable loss for them and their families. To run away, however, was a great shame – if re-captured, the initiate would often be put to death (no matter how young), and shame cast on their family.

Brootherhoods of Blood
For those that survived the wilderness, the next few years (usually no fewer than five years) were spent in constant battle training. Initiates had to become skilled with spears, bows, clubs, and all kinds of metal-bladed weapons, as well as various forms of wrestling, and also had to have knowledge of battle tactics and formations. They were also taught the basics of metal-working – some would become skilled enough to fashion their own unique arms and armour. Finally they were also introduced to the more mystical elements of the Odysgrya, including many meditation-like practises, designed to minimise fear and promote a sense of awareness and calm in battle, the so-called Zalwyz, or ‘tamed rage’.

They had to be prepared to kill. Prisoners were often brought to Odysgryan temple-barracks for the young initiates to practice their deathblows. Sometimes the prisoners were armed and promised their freedom if they could defeat an initiate in battle.

Needless to say, the initiates were constantly indoctrinated at all stages with the Odysgryan ideals – self sacrifice for the group/tribe/king, honour and respect, honesty, fairness, stoicism, moderation, self-discipline, awareness, intelligence, mental and emotional control, mercilessness, extreme courage and brutality in battle, and the upholding of laws and ‘freedoms’ above all else. And, needless to say, few actually managed to meet such lofty ideals during their time in service. Most fell somewhere in the middle. But those that did succeed were hailed as great heroes.

After between 7 and 11 years as an initiate (at anywhere from 13 to 23 years old), the young warriors would be let loose on the battlefield, entitled to call themselves one of the Odysgrya. However, in practice, they faced many years fighting as auxiliaries and skirmishers in battle, while working as spies and saboteurs in-between, all the while kept under the wing of their more experienced brothers. These battles would often be overseas – entire groups of Odysgrya, including veterans and untested men, would sometimes travel abroad to fight as mercenary companies for foreign kings, alongside the more common Thracian warriors.

Only those who survived to become veterans were considered the ‘true’ Odysgrya, the elite warriors of all Thracia, protectors of the high king, ancient traditions and rule of law. However, they were not the most fearsome troops to come out of Thracia…

The Red Men

(a painting from the wall of the tomb of a Thracian warrior, circa 200 BC)

Naked, wearing only burning wooden ‘horns’ on their head, covered in blood, charging forward and screaming in wild rage – these were the ‘red men’, also known as the ‘brothers of Odrys’, ‘burning men’ or ‘crazy shields’.

These were veterans of the Odysgrya who went into battle not just accepting the possibility of death, but actively seeking it, while trying to take as many as the enemy with them as possible. They gave their bodies and their lives to the battle, in the service of their brothers and their high king. This concept was by no means unique to Thracia, but it was highly respected an honoured by the Thracian warrior culture. It was the highest possible rank of the Odysgrya. The ‘red men’ were, in theory, equal in status to the high king, if only for a few hours.

The motivations could be many things… Old warriors would seek death rather than succumb to age and painful disease. Others did it to restore honour to their tribe, or to atone for some grave sin. Some did it out of grief for dead relatives, who they wished to join in the afterlife. Still others heard the ‘call’ to sacrifice themselves - after all, the honour and respect this act conferred was a motivation in itself, and survival in battle was hardly guaranteed in any case.

Those willing to be ‘red men’ would make themselves known before battle. They would be stripped of any clothing, equipped with the best available weapons and shield (this was the only acceptable amount of protection for them), and ceremonially covered in blood – usually that of a scarified bull or horse, but the blood of suitably ‘honourable’ human prisoners was sometimes used instead – while receiving blessings from the war-priests. The ‘red men’ would often make a point of mutilating themselves before the battle, such as removing a toe or finger, burning the body, or cutting the face. This was to demonstrate their detachment from their body, and their willingness to seek death.

It is often claimed the ‘red men’ took drugs before the battle, thus explaining their great savagery and fearlessness. There certainly was a special mixture, known to the Thracians as Wyrd, which consisted of hallucinogenic mushrooms and strong alcohol, though it was only known to be used for religious ceremonies and rites of passage. It seems the mental condition of the ‘red men’ was merely a result of a lifetime of indoctrination in Thracian warrior ideals.

In the final act before battle, the ‘red men’ would kneel, and their head-dresses (usually wood fashioned in the shape of a bull or stag’s horns, covered in pitch) would be set alight by the war-priests. They would then lead the charge, screaming wildly, doing their best to terrify the enemy and encourage their own side.

Any ‘red men’ who happened to survive a victorious battle would be ceremonially decapitated, to the chants of admiration and appreciation from their brothers…

 

[das]

Okay, I could probably manage a 20th of July deadline (usual time).

Also, good story Daft.

 

[Abaddon]

Das, you mention areas you wish people were in.. care to point me in the right direction?

 

[das]

Just look on the present political map and on the present CZ map. It should all become more clear. But in particular, Northern Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia are rather empty. If you have any good ideas for civilisations in other CZs, then by all means, go ahead.

 

[Abaddon]

aww, that means looking through the thread for the maps

OK, stuff may appear tomorro if i have enough time.

 

[Flavius Aetius]

Orders sent, story soon.

 

[Daftpanzer]

Thanks, das. I know you want actual stories, but I lacked inspiration. I hope a ‘documentary’ will count for something

Orders have been sent in the name of the High King of greater Thracia. Onwards to glory!

 

[alex994]

OOC: *mutters about the High King of Greater Thracia being pursued by all the various China-reincarnations and alternate dimensions for failure to update his nes*

Das, please don't let some of that blasphemous ideas from birdnes seep here okay?