The World Becomes Ours

[Angst]

Link to video.

Named after the Huntsman constellation, which shows up during spring in the southern hemisphere, The Hunstman's Spring is one of a multitude of brass pieces played in the Zang valley during the spring festivals. Normally, brass music, horns and trumpets are military weapons and induce fear into people who hear it[1], but during the spring festivals by the Zang river, they are used to welcome the coming of the bountiful summer and its wealth. The trumpet sound and its military associations are related to the sun and its gracious, powerful warmth. The marching military rhythm is here associated with the rhythm of the season.

(Yes, I composed this.)

(Oh and here spring means spring. As in, I think I'm in the southern hemisphere which means that spring's increasing heat is during fall on Earth - and that's certainly true on Earth but wrong to apply here. The locals attribute spring to their spring and we're not on Earth. QED.)

[1] This is actually an OTL European thing. Trumpets were only allowed to be played by the military and were attributed to power and destruction. Hearing a trumpet and not knowing what it is probably had the same effect as an air bombing siren.

 

[gay_Aleks]

After an unfortunate accident that led to my ban, we return to the scheduled update on my RP.

The delegation to Pinzou might seem from a first look a rather innocent affair; even, perhaps, legitimising the existing clique in these rather troublesome for it times. Order in Xi-Peng wasn't held by rule of law as in Eamo, but rather with the iron fist. Most of the army was concentrated in the capital, where the local governor (titled, "Emperor") and his family are constantly on the watch for plots. Recent developments with Morazen heathens in the city of Paret, while insignificant on their own, have created a rather quick and heavy-handed response by sending in some handcannoners.

In short, the situation there could be easily called "a sand castle balanced on an iron pike". Which is why the Eamoan diplomats and clergy (I've heard something about some Brother Tindor raising ruckus? What's going on?) were greeted almost warmly, despite the animosity that might have existed at one or another point in the past. The clergy was accepted in an attempt to appease the local Mora believers, in hopes that they can prevent revolts (due to the fact that almost all Mora believers that live in Xi-Peng are concentrated exactly in Pinzou). As to whether that was a good idea, I'm more intent to believe that the Xi-Peng "Emperor" probably shot himself in the foot by accepting that, as most of the clergymen were...rather agitating in their speeches, which nearly ruined the façade of friendliness.

Yet, back to the intentions of the delegations; they definitely were with the purpose of evaluating the situation back in Pinzou, and the gifts that were brought then will be very likely paid back with an interest.

 

[Decamper]

Orders are due. I'll be starting work on the update now, and will no longer accept revisions of orders. I'll accept new orders up until I finish the update and post it.

Very happy with some of the order sets, lots of detail and easy to read. Worth noting for future reference, you won't see a lot of return for generic orders. Be specific about where all of your attention and EP are going.

Also very happy with the stories and world building that's been posted so far, really good stuff, and gets me cranked for updating. Special kudos to Angst's song, got a friend of mine to ask if I was watching a trailer for a movie or something. Very cool.

Last thing - I'm still deciding on how I want to do updates. The easiest and most informative way would be the general description of affairs in each region. I'm also toying with the idea of doing it 'in world' similar to update 0, with the description of each region being a conversation or its own short story. That would be more fun for me and allow a bit more world building, but might not be as informative and gratifying for you guys. Feel free to tell me what you think, and I'll consider it before ignoring everyone and deciding on whatever I feel like doing anyways.

 

[gay_Aleks]

By the way, do you have some sort of an order format?

 

[Decamper]

Yup, bottom of the first post.

Orders
Please format orders somewhat like this. Send by PM.

Current Stats
Spending how much EP you’re putting towards training regiments, funding projects, etc.
Military Orders what troops are moving where. More detailed war plans will generally yield better results. Maps too, if you’re feeling saucy.
Whatever Else Trade deals, espionage, domestic policy, whatever and anything else goes here. Throwing some EP at anything you do will greatly increase its effectiveness or chance of success.

If your orders are based on diplomacy or something posted in the thread, include a copy in your orders. Don’t assume I read the thread (I do, obviously, but I miss or forget things).

EDIT: Your orders are good Tolni. The above is just a generic format, if you want to get fancy and do it IC, that's even cooler.

 

[Angst]

Wow you began the update much sooner than I expected.

I'm first able to start working on the orders in about four hours as I have classes - they will be done in five. Hope I manage to get them in.

Thanks for the praise by the way.

 

[Decamper]

Don't worry too much, I take a good chunk of time to update, ask any of the poor souls who were in the last game.

 

[erez87]

I will be writing my orders soon. Sadly I could not think of a Uu yet, does it have to be a military unit?

 

[Zappericus]

Don't worry too much, I take a good chunk of time to update, ask any of the poor souls who were in the last game.

2-5 weeks between updates.

Though it was absolutely worth it, so no worries Decamper makes everyone feel special and loved in his updates, kek

 

[erez87]

Maee was sitting in his small office, at least until he builds a throne room, this room in his castle will remain his sit of power. A lowly servant stood next to the door, awaiting the approval to speak. Maee waved his hand.

“The messages have been sent, my lord”.
“Good. They better all behave, we have the opportunity now… To do what Qeng Xo did before us, yet with us in the head.”
“Yes my lord.”
“The world cannot last so disunited, so broken. If that duke rebels, I will eradicate his seed.”
“Yes my lord.”
“Ah. I cannot be angry before I am betrayed. We have so much work. The Qeng united Jiadau in less than a century, we must strive to achieve it faster.”
“Yes my lord.”

A few quiet moments went. A young man came through the door. A tall dark skinned young man. His name was Jarid, and he was the heir to the kingdom.

“Father. You ordered me here?”
“Yes. I want you to take command. I want to see how well your education far from home in the arts of war has been.”
“To Occulta father?”
“No son. Malat.”
“We must cut the rebellion out before it even begins.”
“Yes. I am giving you a large force, make sure their heir is with you. If they rebel you know what to do.”
“What we always do.”
“Stability or pain.”
“Yes father, stability or pain.”
“I intend to hire elite forces of the old guard. You may have to find a Qeng Xo woman to marry soon. If we are to have any right to claim to be the new line of emperors, we need the Qeng Xo to accept us.”
“Yes father.”
“Well then, go on, lead our troops. I will let general Minn handle the Occulta.”
“Yes father, I will head out.”
“Remember, stability or pain.”
“Stability or pain.”

Jarid let the room. The orders were already made for new men to be hired. Overwhelming power will bring the others into submission. Once the inner parts will be stabilized, we will look outwards. Overwhelming power will bring all into submission under a new empire.




The Kingdom of Karneia

Diplomacy
to Vassals under my rule
Yes, the news has spread, the old empire seems to be collapsing. Yet we do not have to follow suite and collapse as well. Rebellions, as in the past, will be crashed with severe force. Not paying tribute will be punished harshly. The power of the kingdom is greater than the sum of its pieces and we must maintain stability and unity in this era. Would you prefer the Occulta come and take your homes?

*I call upon the vassals to honor their code of honor and send half of their military to aid in crashing the Occulta rebellion before it grows into out own lands. The Kurr and Sur can, and will, control their faith under our unified kingdom.
*This year's tribute is set at 10% of income. The crashing instability of our kingdom demands we maintain the power of our kingdom, and this costs funds, many funds. Those who rebel will pay much more.

Your rebellions have failed before, and other than the name of your highest leader, nothing have changed. Do not fool around with your lives. The power of Karnei is still greater than ever.


to Malat
Swear your vassalage again and send us your heir. In return for maintaining stability we will lower your tribute to 5% of income. We will send a military force to take your heir to the capital. Refusal will bring pain upon us all, in particular, on you.


to Mao Sho:
The Occulta slaves are upon us, rebellion have begun within my kingdom, and it will soon follow suite. Once their raided us all, they will begin again. I offer an alliance against the Occulta until the slave race is under our power again. You know the justice in my words, the slaves must be contained.

 

[Angst]

Ooc
Erez is it OK that I reply to you post-update? I'm kind of uncomfortable deciding anything during the updating limbo. Neither personal ic nor ooc.

 

[erez87]

Ooc
Erez is it OK that I reply to you post-update? I'm kind of uncomfortable deciding anything during the updating limbo. Neither personal ic nor ooc.

Sure it isn't the deadline yet I think (I am still thinking up my orders), but it also would make sense for the message to take time to arrive at you.

 

[Angst]

OOC @Decamper
I miswrote some EP purchases just so very slightly that I don't think I should fix it and resend orders. Go with the 12/13/12 distribution as outlined in spending, ignore the weird stuff that sticks out.
So, yeah, orders sent. Can't wait for the update.

 

[Lord_Herobrine]

EDIT: Accidental Post

 

[Seon]

It has to be this way.

The seven-headed serpents gaze longingly across the sea, welcoming the sailors who wander into the misty harbors of Tha'im, the City of Lies and Eternal Confusion. All around the statue are peach blossoms, brought here from a far away land. Why do we have the Serpents upon our shore? Is it a warning to the visitors regarding the nature of the inhabitants of this lands? As seven headed traitorous beasts, speaking seven different things at all times?

We are a people whose trade and profession is to be speaker of lies. But we were not always thus. We were a people who valued learning and wisdom above all. We sang philosophies and the positions of stars to each other around fire lit to ward the mosquitoes and whispered secrets of the earth that unveiled itself to our wisest among each other. It was always thus, until the arrival of the Qeng.

We were not afraid to die for the cause of defending our homeland. Many of our warriors called out for Qeng Xo blood, and was ready to prove boasts of their bravery. Our elders deliberated upon the Qeng Xo ultimatum for our surrender. We could resist them, even significantly bleed the Qeng Xo armies sent to occupy us.

But if we chose to resist them, our society would be forced to change. Gone would be the days when we would sing stories to one another near fires. Gone would be days when we valued wisdom and knowledge above all else. Resisting the Qeng Xo would have heralded an age where might, ability to wage war, and contempt towards the foreign would become our new core values. This, we decided, was worse than occupation. This would be the death of our soul.

It has to be this way, the elders decided. And so, we surrendered to the Qeng Xo. Became part of the whole. Gave up our free will. The warriors, disgusted with what we have become, left us. We mourned their passing, just as our ancestors mourned the passing of the Serpents.

The Serpents are the last remainder of the days before the Qeng. They were serpents of wisdom, who brought knowledge and learning to our people. They left us behind once they were sure that we could take care of ourselves in the jungle that birthed us. We erected that statue upon the harbor, so that it could find us once more when the time was right.

Very few of our people know of the story now. When we first began telling our lies, it was to protect each other against the Qeng Xo occupiers. At some point, we began to lie to safeguard our own knowledge in order to prevent it from falling to foreign ears. At some point, we began to lie for our own benefit. At some point, we began to believe our own lies.

Perhaps the warriors were right. Perhaps in trying to preserve our life and soul in price of our honor, we lost both. But we are what we are now. If it has to be this way, it shall be this way.

 

[Immaculate]

A walk in the woods- Part 1: The Fox

The Totem Trail is not the fastest route between Donvaj to Pradá and it certainly isn’t meant to accommodate wagons or, even in some places, horses. Its not a route you use to travel Vélache. It’s a path people take when they are looking through the woods to find something inside them. Stupid really.

Normally I wouldn’t bother. There’s a lot of old totems and run down old monasteries and a bunch of creepy quiet witches, monks, and frankly, bums, hang out on the path, “finding themselves”. I’d rather just take the lowland route and get back to college as fast as I can so I can see my friends again. But auntie said no, that I was always in a hurry and couldn’t see the ‘good things right in front of me’.

She’s left now. She walked with me for three days and gave me a pack and some nuts and berry paste and turned around. “You need solitude to properly walk this path,” she said. I wanted to say I needed solitude to get eaten by a white tiger but I kept my mouth shut; she would just have gone on about the spirits and I had had enough. I guess when you live in the shadow of the great Pradá cliffs, some of their mumbo-jumbo silliness can’t help but wear off on you.

I probably sound pretty, well, I don’t know, disrespectful of the spirits to you. You probably think I’m not much of a Vélache if I don’t believe in the spirits, but I’ll tell you something. I wasn’t always like this. I used to buy into all that crap but really, if the spirits really cared they wouldn’t have let my mother die giving birth to Émiv, and they sure as hell wouldn’t have drowned my father in a flash flood. So anyway, even if the rest of the siheyuan tell themselves the spirits care about us, I know they care about themselves.

Anyway, I may sound bitter, but really I’m just sore. My legs are sore. My back is sore. Even my neck is sore. But mostly my legs are sore; I’ve been climbing slowly for about eight days now. Its not a major incline, and I’m young and fit but sometimes I come to a ridge that gives me a view over the Redwoods and I look down at the lands below and I realize how far up I’ve come.

I haven’t seen anyone since my aunt left and to be honest, walking doesn’t take a lot of thinking; watch out for that root, don’t hit your head, that’s about it… so my mind wanders. I think about getting back to the national academy and of my classes. It’s my second year. I have six classes, mostly relating to materials. I’m learning to make dyes from stones and clay for clothes and artists. I’m learning about minerals and which ones can be used for what, about casting bronze and the giant iron foundry. I’m learning about the spirits of fire and how fast the breathe and how hot they get. I think about all the things I am learning. Next year I’ll apprentice and then it will be one more year at the college and I’ll be ready to take my place in Vélache adulthood. I think about my friends. About girls. Eight days alone in the woods, with no signs of anyone else: you do a lot of thinking.

I guess that’s the point.

The air is different here. Higher on the slopes it gets more refined. Thinner. The towering redwoods are something I look down upon; around me there are scraggly pines. Increasingly the redwoods are not the only thing below me; the valleys are often thick with mist and I realize these are low clouds rolling in off the cold grey ocean- distant- like a thin grey line on the far horizon.

I stop, resting my pack against a tall piece of schist rising like a finger from the edge of the path. I drink water from my skin and pull out my pouch of nuts. I take off my moccasins and massage my feet while I eat. I taste my fingers and realize my feet smell (and taste) horrible.

I lean back against the giant stone finger and look at the sky. My mind wanders and I see shapes in the clouds.

“Hello.”

I jump to my feet and look around.

A small red fox stands on the path. It is staring at me with that decidedly not animal-like curiosity foxes somehow have.

There is no one else around. Did the fox just talk to me?

I point a finger at it and sort of just stare for a second. I look at the nuts I am eating and consider throwing them away but decide against it.

Finally I my mind starts to crawl back to some semblance of thoughts, “Did you just say- Hello?”

 

[Zappericus]

They say the pen is mightier than the sword.
But the ones who spout this nonsense are now dead.

Kazimier sat upon his wooden "throne" at the far end of the round table, a hot and dry gust of wind blew through the open windows and tipped over his empty bottle of spirits. Within the chambers and around the council table sat the iconic Boyars; Basel, Vladim and Józef, at their sides stood armed-to-the-teeth bodyguards, eyeballing each other from across the room, and with their hands firmly held around the handles of their blades. A typical meeting between the four principalities.

Basel was a dark-skinned fellow with a thick, long and untrimmed beard. His clothes were predominantly made of the furs of game he had hunted himself, and horse leather. He lacked the behavior and looks of a nobleman, and a foreigner would without a doubt have a hard time distinguishing him as a man of high-blood. He sat on the left side of the table, tapping an arrowhead into the table as he awaited the meeting to commence.

On the right side of the table sat Vladim. A large, pale, sweaty and balding man with an even larger belly bulging out from his stretched clothing. He was clad in a fine nobleman's attire and wielding several golden rings that barely fitted his chubby, greased fingers. He had combed over his remaining hair in a futile attempt at hiding the fact that he was losing it. With a smug grin on his face, he too, was patiently waiting for the meeting to start.

And on the opposite side of Kazimier sat Józef, perhaps the closest thing to a rival that the grand boyar held. He was a charismatic figure with a great physique, clad in a fine attire as befitting his stature, with steel padding and a breastplate over it. He was a practical man, but always alert, always prepared for a fight - and overly religious. Rumour has it that Józef bears the scum-genes of foreigners, and that his biological mother was a prostitute from the Qi Empire. Of course, this has never been confirmed, or properly discussed for obvious reasons.

Suddenly, with a great and mighty belch, the eerie silence which hovered within chamber was broken.

- "For the love of.. Get on with it! I did not travel all this way to eyeball you greasy bunch of sad bastards!" Vladim added.
- "Did anyone else hear a whale moan just now?" Basel retorted, leading to Vladim slamming his fists into the table and rising, followed by guards on all sides drawing their weapons.

- "Enough!" cried Kazimier, letting yet another silence fall upon the council.

- "We are gathered on this two-hundred and thirteenth meeting to discuss pressing matters at hand, and I will not have it turn into yet another shouting match."

Vladim sat back down after a few moments of glaring over at Basel, whom simply snorted and crossed his arms like a stubborn child.

- "And what are these "pressing matters" you speak of, hm?" queued Józef.

- "As of right now, we have established a trade agreement with the surviving remnants of the Qeng Xo, declared our southern neighbours as under our protection, with multiple factions outright refusing to respect us, and the Soxyn's are clashed in a civil war that is ripping apart their territories."

Vladim laughed, raising his hands. - "Bah! The Qeng Xo are the very ones whom had our peoples put in iron and forced to labour our ore! And you'd have us trade with them!? You dare!?"

- "Quiet, Vladim! I promised all of you that we would never again suffer at the hands of a foreign power, but the Qeng Xo are broken! Their empire burns on all fronts, and we must adapt. The world know of us only as brutes, and we will show them that we hold some measure of mercy to a beat dog. Even if that dog is the narrow-eyes."

Józef snickered and leaned back into his chair. As did Basel. - "And how do you suppose we convince Petrov to let the Qeng Xo trade caravans through his lands? The former imperial governor killed off his family, you know. I doubt he'd see eye-to-eye with your request, nor take it kindly."

- "He doesn't have much choice. We'll send someone to deliver the orders. If he refuses, he's at the mercy of the Qeng Xo general and his remnant army, and the other kingdoms he's raided over the past few years. He'll either accept, or see his people put to the torch. This is the only way."

Józef nodded, but his attention was abruptly turned towards Basel whom added - "And what of the Soxyn? They are ripping each other apart over some filthy title, the crazy slugs.."

- "Yes. And we'll have to support one of the claimants. If we can get the upcoming Soxyn Khaigon on our side, then our power on the continent will be unparalleled. Who do you all suppose we should support?"
- "The Soxlynds? They hold the capital."
- "Too far for us to support properly with our military. We'd have to bash our way through the Olfbaatar." Kazimier responded.

- "So, The Olfbataars, then? They have ethnic Polavs within their populace.."
- "Indeed. We should support them, as they carry the blood of our people, and are neighbours with Józef. Any objections?"

- "Nay." The Boyars replied in unison.
- "Then it is settled. We'll support the Olfbataar's leader as rightful Khaigon, and will put our armies out to supplement their horde if need be."

Kazimier looked out the window. The sun was setting. He turned back to the council as he rose from his seat. - "I am concluding this meeting for today. We will continue our discussions tomorrow, where we will have to find a proper way to deal with those skanky Ukreshaen mongrels."

_________________________________

[The 213th Meeting of The United Boyars]: Conclusion

* Mercy is Relative: Polavostronyan Emissaries travel to the territories of the Petrov Horde, where they hand over papers bearing the seal of the Polav Boyars, explaining that their principalities and the Qeng Xo remnants are on mercantile terms, and that these trade caravans are to be let through the horde's territories UNTOUCHED, and protected. Failure to uphold this demand will result in the principalities nulling their decree of protection, and may even begin raids on the horde themselves.

* Stirring the Fire: The Union Principalities of Polavostronya declare that they are supporting the Olfbaatar horde for the title of Khaigon over the Soxyn people.

 

[Ailedhoo]

Before Khulan's assault centuries ago Safimama was a great city; after Safimama resisted Qeng Xo domination it was reduced to rumble and allowed only humbly to regrow again. Now after those years the ruins of yesterday echoed the city that was reduced into a meager town; it has only after the redraw of the Qeng Xo the city was allowed to burst into grow once more but it was hindered from both the remains of old, the fear of Ikhayan invasion and the draw towards to Mungu which had claimed control over Safimama to allow them access to inland farms. Cyan flags decorated Safimama, blending with a clear blue sky as the sun lay its sovereign light over the Watu. Refugees and others migrating to Mungu tended to come to Safimama to catch a boat to the dawning trade city, contributing to the live of the Salfimaman ports. Farmers bought their goods to distribute to those taking food supplies to Mungu, while also selling goods at the town market situated right next to the ports. It was a sunny day for trade indeed.

Chane Kipkemboi, a merchant employed by the Sarr, sat on a seat of stone in the rattled down trading ports of Safimama. He was watching two agricultural merchants complaining on who should be allowed to use the spot near the dock as the spot of their vendor store, while youths played misdeeds on a wrathful fishmonger to the dismay of a customer as the seller focused on scaring the street urchins away from the fishing stand. Chane was waiting for a fellow Sarr merchant so they can organist a special batch of salmon for a special inter-family banquet the Serene Doge was organizing to both ensure the strength of kin and to debate the merchant dynasty's trade schemes. Chane simply waited, observing one of the youths succeeded in stealing a cod from the fishmonger stand while the vendor, in tiredness, resulted to yell at a inpatient customer who responded by deciding that chicken would be a better center of tonight's meal and thus made retreat away from the fishmonger. As the youths retreated into the shadows of the streets to make hide from a angry fishmonger Chane noticed a figure in green dyed woo cloak; unusual wear for one in the soon, stranger still for one of the Watu to betray their senses and wear such cape under the tyranny of most hot sunlight. Chane came fascinated with this odd fellow, so fascinated that he was enchanted enough to not notice a light silk cloak that the was color of the sun approach Chane Kipkemboi and henceforth break the spell on Chane via a tapping on the left shoulder.

Chane, dispelled, turned his head in quick succession towards the source of the finger that tapped him; he saw a figure with sun yellow cloak over white tunic, a yellowish hat with blue and green feathers trapped on it rested on the top of the figure's head. The figure's smile hid behind a heavy, fluffy mustache and his amber eyes were positioned under two bushy lashes. Chane stared at the fellow Sarr merchant who spoke to Chane the words "hello my friend! Sorry but did I break your attention?"

"No" spoke Chane, tugging his light green shirt and scratching from his small goatee to his bald head "I guess the sun guided my vision to the crowds"

"Waiting can do that to people" spoke Ayo Too, lending his hands to shake Chane Kipkemboi's. "Any rate we have business, no?"

"True" replied Chane as hands were shaken.

"Well then; I have already spoken to Azizi" spoke Ayo "and he will join us in our meeting with Habib on his catch of river salmon."

"A Bluunjian treat!" spoke Chane.

"Indeed" replied Ayo.

"Still the sum for the catch is still to be addressed? I mean has Azizi given any details about Habib Kipyego's price for his river catch?" asked Chane, scratching his dark green izaar. "They say the Ikhayans are keen to ensure they have monopoly on Bluunjian salmon and thus those upstream fishermen like Habib are kinda going to desire compensation for fishing near (and perhaps beyond) the border of the Ikhayan "kingdom.""

"Now now; this is to be a fair priced deal" spoke Ayo, who then quoted a old saying: ""Even if we get into a scramble here, the winner will be the one destined to win.""

"As if we are destined to win a trade scramble over Bluunjian fish" responded Chane. "Any dealings is going to be difficult; destiny over trade is not something to..."

"Hsssh!" interrupted Ayo, gentling pointing towards the wool cloak gentleman who was a bit too close to them to be focusing simply on observing the fishmonger who was in morning for his dignity after the thievery of one of his cods and the embarrassment he presented himself in front of a customer. "I think" spoke Ayo "that we should take a walk before heading off to our meeting; to chill the mind."

"I guess that be wisdom" spoke Chane, nodding in observation of the green wool stranger. Both Sarr merchants then walked down a street, away from the green wool figure.

The Sane merchant in a green wool cloak would decide not to pursue the two Sarr merchants; he was wondering to blame the retreat of the Sarr merchants on a still to learn more the gentle of intrigue or rather the outlandish green cape his friend had given to him for a present and expected him to wear in the deep heat of the day may have helped the suspicions of the Sarr employees. Any rate he decided to seek the shade of another street, knowing a street bar that would sell cool beer to help combat the tyranny of the sun.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Update's still being worked on, right?

 

[Decamper]

Yeah.