Snake Wort
The gods awoke.
The
Shattered Statue awoke in the marshes of Err, under the same sky as the last wakening. The crickets chirped, the marsh cows yapped, the crows cawed and the snakes slithered. The memories of the lands did flow into the Statue's mind, and she (he?) did hear the sweet songs of decades past.
The people of the Statue had grown and migrated, consolidating themselves amongst the hills and plains of Ulkai, land of the maneless lions. Though once loose tribes, through fire and blood were the many reduced to the Six; six great tribes all enslaved to the One, who was was slave to the Greatest. By this chain of being did all live and die by. As slaves, all of the tribe were equal. Woman or man, hunter or weaver, elder or child; all slaves of the lugal, she who was herself property of the Most Good. In return for their servitude, The eternal lugal Murdus did protect her charges with brutal efficiency and did worship the Greatest in their stead. As mortals most distant from the font of the spirit, and slaves, they were not worthy of giving tribute and to the great spirit directly. Instead, the lugal would commune for them all. Though a child in form, terrible was her wrath was given and few were those who survived her savagery. Perhaps in fear, the People of the Blood did not receive much in the form of molestation or raid from the environs surrounding, for many were those frightened by a horrible fate.
Under this aegis of peace did the people focus inwards; the lugal had not made much effort to subdue the peoples of the world far, focusing but on those near. Focused she was on the promulgation of new ritual and process required to discover the magic of sculptury. The art of chipping stone most finely and uncovering the beauty that lied within. Such was the charge the child lugal did set, and many were the talented and fool alike who tried to advance their knowledge. At first crude effigies, in time more refined statues were made; beautiful to behold. For the time, in any case.
In other ways, the people did change quite slowly and quite fast. The people did continue their old wisdoms, and did learn new techniques of craft; but none so great, so grand to qualify as new technology. However, it was in this time that the plant known as lightroot did spread to the lands of Ulkai and there did it give its gift of sustenance without end. No longer eating for need, but only for want. And so the people were happy, able to focus on other aspects of life. As such, did the arts of story and crafts did prosper. And it was good. The lugal did smile, especially at the craft of the kite and the craft of the wheeled reed donkey, which she did take to most lovingly.
With the advancement of canoes, communications with the peoples beyond did simplify.
The people did know that the lands of the lugal of winds was ransacked and destroyed, by the horsemen, eight-limbed abominations of the arid plains. Many enthralled, others escape to here and there. Across the river had many settled, still loyal to the lugal that had failed.
The people did know that across the banks of the river, but to the side most far, where the people of Flint who elected their lugal by contest demanded by their spirit patron. Though feuding between clan and person, their tribes too were unified and kowtowed to a heavenly spirit. Presumably, a presumption most ardently proven by the living statues amongst them. 'Ghulam', these beings were astonishing to the people of the Six Great Tribes, who knew that the Greatest herself (himself?) as a statue given life as well. What could this mean? After much debate, and without an omen from the spirit, the lugal did say that the ghulam were sign of blessing and that the people of the Flint-Truce were a rightful people, kin perhaps not in blood but in soul. And so, did the people of the tribes make joyous greeting with the Flint peoples. In time, trade and marriage did take place with the blessing of both the child lugal and her mortal counterpart.
These memories, did the Statue see; what he s(he?) did with them was of course, of her will.
1 Worship 1[1CP] (Six Great Tribes) added.
1 Essence (Source: Human Blood) added.Fu did awake amongst familiar setting, but a changed one as well. Though her place of awakening was the same as before, she found herself open to the sky and upon an altar burnt and cracked. So too were the walls of her temple and same with the floors. Paint and decoration once used were gone or damaged beyond repair; weeds and insect grew and crawled all over, and so too did the entity smell unfamiliar scent. Not of her people (though she smelled them as well) but an odd mix of sweats and hairs. The tell-tale scent of the people enfeoffed to to the serpent and horse. In this place most sacred, Fu did hear the laments of her peoples, the sobs of prayers unanswered and the memorials of a people laid to waste.
The memories of the land were scattered like dust in the wind. There had been an invasion of the lugal's lands, the lugal had lost, and the lugal had fled beyond. Other bits and pieces here remained. Families had been enthralled, people had accepted defeat and fled before the horsemen's arrival and the snake Juur had been baited and trapped; its mind lost to hungry ghosts summoned by the mikos as a parting shot. Even now, those hungry ghosts were loose around the land, far beyond the realm, infused with the soul of the serpent within them. Other memories, far more minor, diffused into the entity's mind. Suffering, hope for salvation, desire for vengeance and submission to the horse lords all filtered into Fu.
However, Fu could also feel memories, new ones, far off in places she had never known. Across the river, a large concentration of her consciousness she found, and the souls of many of her living followers. Here, the lugal and her mikos had retreated, rebuilding upon the banks of the south. Foreigners, these lands were not different to a great extreme, but did offer some changes in fauna and flora. The people here too, were different. Not only were the men of the south better canoebuilders, but they bore markings upon themselves called tattoos, claiming that they were charms and magicks sewed into their skin. Their tribes, organised into a system of kinship, were welcomed the lugal to her new lands and for now, the lugal has not deemed it the right time to conquer them. Instead, she takes a friendlier approach, trading for their expertise and men. Still with lightroot, the people of the broken palace have found themselves still able to survive the famines and floods of the bank. Due to present circumstances, the people of the lugal have spent many a year building defenses, mainly in the trading of boats from the canoebuilders, who have become influential in the lugal's court for their services. Indeed, the decades have seen the rise of a true river navy, one that oft travels up and down the river in search of opportunities or otherwise in the defense of the realm.
Farther off and down the river, other fragments of the River Palace Culture does Fu feel, led by descendants of royalty, mikos or others who fled at the time of the horsemen's invasion or colonists from later decades. Though some recognise the lugal as always, many more do not. Some are too isolated to know of the lugal and her new realm, while others have lost their loyalty to her, but otherwise worship Fu.
-1 Worship [Essence] (River Palace Culture) lost
Monuments (The Stone of Eternal Winds, The Whispering Stones of Wind) lost.Basderieen stirred from slumber, rising out of the waters of the oasis. He did find the waters of the oasis risen once more to heights splendid, with reeds and the like growing around its banks. The eels, birds, crickets and the like thrived as before. And so, did the Basdreenin remain happy and full. Indeed, the clans had grown to many, each taking for themselves a span of land around the oasis, living in a sort of peace between one another. Through ceremonial combat and argument were issues dealt with, with prestige becoming the currency of the people. Through shows of power, and especially shows of meekness, did one attain prestige. Items of worth, such as heavy immovable boulders or particularly large fish, too became currency, their ownership traded amongst the people as needed. The Fist of the Badger was one such item, and unlike many prestige items, was quite easily movable, being granted between people as a sign of immense prestige for both parties. After all, to show one's generosity was to show ones lack of need, and thus one's status.
Due to the demand for prestigious items of lesser value, the craft of arts did grow; crude figurines or drawings. Some enterprising tribesmen have created great pictures in the desert composed of many stones, only visible in their whole from a high vantage point. Circles, squares, sometimes even appearing to be objects. These are already becoming quite the commodity amongst the tribe.
As with before, the people of luminous shining cloths did visit the oasis. According to the memories of the lands, they did offer trade most kind with the people of the tribe. Giving tools, fruits and sweet meats, they simply asked for crafts of their own or bounties of the oasis. Most particularly, they wanted reeds. Becoming a common sight, these people came to be known as Mishtraqchi.
From a spiritual view, the people of the Badger had come to truly see Basderieen as a deity of water, he who was truly the oasis. As such, all that came from the waters were his gift and from him did they eek out life, whereas as all around was but deathly sand.
1 Worship [1CP] (Badger Tribe)
Myth of Godhood (Water) attainedMetalhand did awake, to the muttering chirps and tweets of the servant avian, Stoneye. Many stories did the bird tell of the people of the oasis and of farther fields.
The people of the Door and Hammer, did advance their ways of doorcraft and edification, most wonderfully nourished by the the teachings of Asteriskasteriskasterisk. Pupils and descendants of the elderly prophet, who did number in great multitudes, did expand plentifully their influence and by their action and thought, did create new states of construction. Taller homes, sturdier walls, monuments, immense roofs and most importantly, far more intricate (or perhaps, just prettier) modes of entry and departure into structures.
Of course, this elaboration of architecture was not the sole achievement of a generation, but simply one of several. Through the consorting of the various craftsmen of the oasis, aided muchly by those amongst the tribe who had settled in the mountains to acquire stones, did it become easier to produce tools and in some cases, improve upon them. These of course, aided in the further crafting of goods. Some of these included baskets, hats, figurines, votive objects, pleasure sticks, spears or bowls.
Though the tribe had always had a respect for the crafting arts, the further growth of the plant known as lightroot did much to increase their number. Arriving through natural propagation, as well as trade with the southeron riverdwellers known as the Lawful People, the plant provided succour to the people of the oasis not through fruit, but by simple happenstance. Or at least, so it seemed. Regardless of how exactly it worked, the elimination of the requirements of food did much to free up the time of the people. Many, by the influence of the gods Du-Ur and Metalhand, did affinitise themselves to the craft of goods. Others sought entertainment, discovery or indolence; just like the other myriad peoples who had become enthralled by the easiness of life offered by the plant. In these times, the rule of the tribal elders did continue, but so too did the interests of the various personages of the tribe come to influence policy. After all, with so much free time offered up by the gift of lightroot, many took to politicking or complaining. Which after all, is much the same thing.
As such, craftsmen, masons and the family of Asteriskasteriskasterisk, came to become important groups of steady influence in the tribe. It was these groups in the end, who had much weight in the matters of the tribe. Though the elders continued to hold sway, muchly did they come to rely on these interest groups. After all, it was from their number that mot of the tribe owed covenant to. Other professions, while respected or acknowledged, simply did not have the number or clout to control policy to the same extent.
Of course, it was the handful of curious explorers who did journey off outwards beyond the oasis and past the sands who did muchly to expand the knowledge of foreign locales. These were the souls who did make the trek to the great rivers, to the everflowing waters of high mountains and the green marshes of Err proper. From them, secrets of lightroot, herb and flesh were learned in exchange for the stone-secrets of the Doormakers. To the north, did these souls trek as well, finding mainly nothing but sand and nomad and corpse and sand. It was perhaps by odd chance or intervention, that an explorer did encounter the girthy flesh body of a whale harnessed to a sled-car of some wooden manufacture. Though the tale of this first meeting between man and whale (now remembered as the tale of "Balto and the Whale" by the Door-Hammer Tribe) would become much exaggerated, the gist of the matter is that the two individuals did share much information with one another once a form of communication was made. Through their contact, a sort of trade was then established. In the seasons to come, odd caravans of whales did enter the oasis offering lumber, fur, ivory or sometimes labour. In exchange, the tribe did give works of art, figs, honey, fish or sometimes even aid in building.
For many a year, this relationship did continue. However, all things good do end. On one nondescript day, a group of whales and their human vassal-slaves did enter the oasis. Rather than having bearings of trade, they did instead wield weapons and fierce faces. They did enter the oasis and did cause much trouble, looting and kidnapping members of the tribe; much was the destruction for while the Door-Hammer tribe had been masters of artifice, few were the practical artisans of war amongst them. Much wailing and pulling of hairs did take place and by council decision, it was decided that the people would now have to fortify their homes with grander fortifications of stone, as well as weapons to fight the cetacean fiends. In time, did these take place, though in future seasons this did not stop all the mountain raiders.
On matters spiritual, it had become common custom that Metalhand and Du-Ur be worshipped together rather than separately, as with lesser spirits. Seen as natural allies, both gods were perceived to be patron spirits of innovation and learning. Du-Ur was seen as the god of the mind; the patron of planning, knowledge and forethought. Metalhand was seen as the god of hands; the patron of action, experience and performance. While their exact relationship was an open question (ranging from lovers, brothers, sisters, siblings or unrelated spirits), both were held in high regard other lesser spirits.
1 Worship [1 Essence] (Door-Hammer Tribe)
Myth of Godhood (Craft, Innovation, Civilisation)Shelldon did awake, and saw that his people had grown in number. A quite peaceful and rather isolated band of pygmies, the people had by now received a reputation as crab fetishists by their neighbours. Indeed, the crab was very much connected to the people, becoming part of nearly every part of the tribe's lifestyle. Stories were told of crabs, shamans would use crabs as focusing animals, crab was regularly eaten (most commonly during festivals and only after making complex rituals thanking the crabs and the Crabfather) and the lifecycle of the crab did become well known to the more curious or pious of the tribe. Indeed, the tribe had taken the practice of dividing the year both by season as well as the crab breeding cycle.
While mainly peaceful, the more pious of the tribe had become incensed that other peoples ate of the crab without supplication or ritual. Such was a grand cruelty and as such, could potentially rouse the Crabfather's ire. A most catastrophic thing. As such, the tribal leaders did try and convert the others to their way of thinking, succeeding with some tribes and failing with others. Seeing little choice, the tribe did make it their intention to exterminate them for the sake of everyone's safety. As such, Aea and many warriors (including many of her children) did quite stealthily, ambush and ransack those who would not stop their stupidity, taking some as slaves; eventually integrating many of them into the tribe. Most especially, the children.
Beyond this, little did occur in the swamp, save for the shamans of the tribe developing a form of simple fetish-based crab magic. This was widely seen as a boon of the Crabfather.
Shelldon: 1 Worship [1DP] (Crab Tribe) added
Myth of Godhood (Crabs) attained
Myth of Spellfather attained
Du-Ur *Creak*1 Worship [1 Essence] (Door-Hammer Tribe)Myth of Godhood (Knowledge, Innovation, Civilisation)[/i]
MidanThe commandment of Midan many years ago had bade the people of the fiery volcano to find richer lands in which they were to prosper. In the years that had passed, many of the tribe had picked up their tents and travelled elsewhere, using tanks to bring with them their worldly possessions. Whale and man, thusly was the tribe scattered.
In the years to come, a many foreign people were conquered, made to bend the knee, integrated, displaced or rarely exterminated. Always were a number sent to the volcano, in order to make sacrifice to Midan, as well as force them to breed with the Fire-marked. Others were destined to become slave-concubines of Plodding Felly in his new home in the south. From their efforts were birthed many new followers of the fiery god. The children emanating from Fire-marked and the human thralls were oft odd things, killing their mothers (not always of the feminine sex) oft during birth. Misshapen abominable things, they did take on the appearance of odd whale-shaped creatures with human heads and large useless limbs. Abominations, they were regardless, considered blessed. After all, did not Midan demand this? While odd things, they did have one advantage in that they were better able to hold objects, having actual hands and thumbs. That said, their intelligence was often, questionable.
Though scattered, the tribe(s) did continue their observance of worshipping Midan and his prophet. Indeed, through Fire-Marked's diligence, a method of summoning fire and flame did come into being, although only by conducting ritual with the guts of goat and bear. Such rituals did fuel the raising and hunting of such creatures, as well as preservation of their innards. While these powers did pass onto the handfuls of shamans of the tribe(s), the decentralisation of the people did make this spread difficult.
Increasingly, many people began to look to Felly for guidance, being a far speedier being who's wandering ways lent them the ability to reach many settlements whereas the Fire-Marked was nearly always by Midan's summit. Increasingly, he was seen as the Hierarch and thusly did his progeny grow. As with Fire-Marked's spawn, the spawn of his matings with whales did produce abominations.
However, Felly did also attempt to sow his seed within other things, creating childes with the dirt and grass, stone and water. Though at first such things seemingly begat naught, Felly soon experienced terrible pains. Soon did Felly expunge himself of most oddly shaped excrement, blood and fleshy lumps. After this experimentage, Felly did only limit his fertile loins to creatures. Indeed, so did he breed with animals of both the sands and mountains. These resulted in the spawn of subintelligent abominations, half human and half creature. Owing to their animal heritage perhaps, they lacked any true mortality and any true understanding of the world.
With the vast increase in population demanded by Midan, as well as the powers of his subsouls (which at times, were represented in their offspring in a diluted manner), the practice of incest became quite common. Indeed, it was oft preferred. After all, Plodding Felly and the Fire-Marked both were touched by Midan, their blood coursing with his fiery loin-love. It was common reason as such, that this coursed in the blood of their children and that it was diluted by crossing the bloods of those not descended from either. In time, it was recognised, that all tribe members should be offspring of Midan. And so, incest was much beloved and encouraged.
On matters non-wholly spiritual, some whales (under the direction of Plodding Felly) did travel in many directions, some of which did meet with explorers from those that would be known as the Door-Hammer Tribe. Enshrined in the tale of the Hammer and the Broken Wheel (much exaggerated or twisted in many tellings), the first bands of whale did think peacefully and perhaps greedily. They made trade and partnership with the oasis-dwellers of the south. For many a year, this practise continued until word of this arrived and dispersed amongst the other settlements. Angered at this, Fire-Marked made commandment that the oasis be raided and their people made breeding-cattle, as Midan had demanded. While the tribe of the south (which had come to be known as the Fuorlings, due to the name of their patriarch) were much aghast that their trading relationship had been sundered, they did offer minor kindness to the new slaves, finding ways to ensure that those kidnapped found their way there, in order to live as closely to their former home as possible. In some rare instances, a few were able to return home. Most however, were led farther north, sacrificed or made slave-concubine to the Touched of Midan. While the Fuorlings secretly hid their displeasure, they did not act truly against the Fire-Marked, and indeed, facilitated the pillaging of the oasis by allowing their kin to rest and camp in their homes. They however, did not partake.
1 Worship [1 Essence] (Volcano Tribes)
1 Essence (Source: Human Blood)
Myth of Godhood (Fire, Fertlity) attainedKakkabum did awake to see his (whoa)men colonise the mountains and plains, growing some concentrations of plant here and there. Some grew even stargrass. Instinctually they did this, not out of some greater intelligence or wisdom.
Tala awoke to find the tribe as it- actually no, she found it much changed. Very much so.
In the years since her last appearance, the Lawful People had grown and scattered; a great number now lived farther down the river, now inhabiting the floodplains before the marshes of the delta. Others continued to live nearer to Tala's realm. Many of the people now lived in loftier abodes, made not only of mud and reed, but also of stone. Learnt men from beyond the northern sands had taught them methods by which they could improve their homes, as well as the tools to aid in their construction. Low walls were now also made around concentrations of lightroot, to keep out animals who would eat them. Those in the south did much of the same, but were often aided by Diwata's husks, giving the people more time to do other tasks.
Of Diwata, many things could be said. A month after Tala had entered the great sleep, she had left her abode with some of her followers, and settled downriver, soon encouraging others to do the same. Still in command of the husks, she did bring many of them with her, constructing a new centre. For what reasons, only Diwata knew. In this new settlement, which soon earned the name of Innol, Diwata bade the people organise construction so that all was built in a certain pattern known only to the subsoul herself. Roughly in the shape of a diamond, the new settlement had several steles built in the settlement grounds, inscribed with imagery of spirits or perhaps simply exotic beings, as well as adorned with various plant and animal material. At the centre of Innol was a cube of stone the height of three men, built with the aid of masons from the north and husks. On the top of this cube was a black boulder, smoothed and placed on a curved pedestal which tightly held the object. Within this cube did Diwata make her home, in which were many lightroot. For years could she inhabit this structure, venturing outwards rarely.
Regardless of this isolation, Diwata's subordinates were able to convey her will, even without interacting with her directly. It seemed that Diwata now oft made her will known through dream or by husk-courier. From her will, the settlement was fortified with a wall, a system of sanitation was built, and a militia armed. Indeed, perhaps because of Diwata's will, Innol soon came to be inhabited by many spirits, who made themself known via omen or sometimes by physical manifestation. In this environment the teaching of shamans was made easily with little difficulty.
Others of the tribe, being learned in the ways of trade, did explore and travel far distances in order to trade and learn. And much, were the lessons, although many too were those who died. Those who encountered the horse people of the plains oft died or were otherwise rendered as thralls. Regardless, those who returned with knowledge enriched the tribe, as well as spreading lightroot further. While reliance on the plant had been criticised by Tala, Diwata had later said that while perhaps Tala's words were true, there was no reason not to spread the plant, especially if they could acquire something in exchange.
1 Worship [1 Essence] (Lawful People)
Myth of Trader's Friend attained
Myth of Godhood (Law, Lightroot, Teaching)Vulpes Grande awoke. Beside a greater fox density in the area, nothing else had changed. x3.
Sarkyran did come to awakening and saw change, both for good and ill. By decree royal, the tribes of the swamps were made to evacuate to the plains and hills of other environs, pushing out the foreign tribes that had lived there. This had been due to the terrible beasts of the swamps which had appeared in recent times, as well as the bog-dwellers who detested those of the Flint-Peace. Though many a party were sent and many a shaman did advise, there was little that could be done against these threats.
In other matters, progress had continued slowly, but steadily. People generally lived longer and ate a more diverse diet. Many more crops were grown and many of the river's bounty did become food. Techniques of preservation were made, as well as better methods of exploitation. The learning of canoecraft from the south made this much easier than in the past, with simple aquaculture also taking place as a result.
As to the politics of the realm, there was little progress save for a formalisation of the royal hierarchy. While still tribal and very much independent, all chiefs had come to see the lugal as their leader, though more a spiritual and distant one rather than a chief of chiefs. Indeed, the chiefs did continue to look after their own tribes and feud somewhat with each other, but did recognise royal authority. This said, there was some development in the way of spiritual authority. By Jus' decree, the heads of families were instructed in the responsibilities of spiritual command. Patriarchs of matriarchs, they did instruct their kin in the Peace demanded by Sarkyran, as well as the righteousness of His servants and His rites.
To the north east, beyond the river, the peoples of the Statue did make contact with the Flint-Truce. In awe of the golems of lord Sarkyran, they declared friendship with them saying that truly, must they be blessed. For after all, talking statues were the highest of beings, and while they doubted that the golems were of the same lofty status as their own, they did respect them greatly. As such, travellers from beyond the river did often journey in order to trade and sometimes, gaze upon the golems; a reminder of their deity.
1 Worship [1 CP] (Flint-Truce Culture)
Guar awoke to much chaos. He felt his power stronger, but scattered...and with something missing. It took but moments, but soon Guar did learn; his serpent was no more. Juur had been tricked and his soul devoured, leaving only a ferocious serpent that hungered and fed without reservation for allegiance or kindred. From the land's memory, Guar did learn the gist of what had occurred. In the sacking of the wind-lugal's lands, Juur had come to be good friends with arrogance, and with their heady advice, did pillage in person. Thinking that the lugal's power had been broken, it had not suspected the spirit trap that the mikos had placed. With no warning, the serpent was ensnared, suddenly the target of a thousand thousand hungry ghosts, nearly all sourced from those sacrificed by the snake. In the ensuing hours, many of the snake's subordinates were devoured by their former master, who did not immediately understand that their master was no longer in existence. It took many days for the knowledge of the snake's seeming madness to percolate amongst the horsemen, as well as the fall of many of the culture's heroes.
Though the lugal was driven across the river, and her lands made pasture or fief of the invaders, the horse culture did fall into grand chaos as their unifying leadership was lost. Soon, former comrades were at each other's throats, attempting to cement their authority in a new state of affairs. All the while, those that remained of the River Palace culture were enslaved and used for a variety of purposes. Some for the altar, others for the kitchen, some for the fields and others for the bed.
In this state of anarchy, the various strongmen divided the lands into loose chiefdoms that were controlled only by might and charisma. The tribe's shamans, most of which were disgusted by the warriors' conduct, did retreat to the mountains or the Pillar. A few became chiefs in their own right, making use of spirit aid to administer their fiefs or expand it. Many of those shamans who did make use of spirits however, soon found themselves a target for hungry serpentine ghosts. With little difficulty however, were these threats banished, being protected by Guar against such dangers.
Indeed, much of the land was beset by hungry serpentine ghosts in the aftermath of the conquest and while they had scattered in the next few decades, many remained. Now a days nesting in certain places throughout the land, these angry spirits did cause much trouble for any who would happen to live near them. Out of common sense, most of the horsemen pastured far from these places. That said, such things posed little trouble to anyone of the Plains Horse, being adorned with the blessing of Guar.
In other matters, the horse culture did advance somewhat. With the conquest of the River Palace, the arts of the conquered did diffuse amongst them. A few even took to boats and rafts. Some settled down amongst the conquered villages and towns, becoming settled chiefs. Most however, continued their nomadic existence amongst the plains.
Despite the strife of the era, blood sacrifice continued; with horseman fighting horseman, sacrifices continued with no end. Not now sacrificing the lugal's people, they now sacrificed one another. Oddly, Guar did not feel the blood of these sacrifices flow in him, save for a smidgen of power.
Guar: 1 Essence (Source: Human Blood)
1 Worship [1 DP] (Plains Horse Culture)
Author
Topic: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC] (Read 22746 times)