It was really happening.
From the age of understanding, every Aegean was told of how the great god Yagesh, lord of water, had promised the Aegean people a great and mighty citadel in a place the fish-people had never seen. Stories of crashing waves and colorful fish and bountiful waterweeds had delighted the minds of the young and troubled the minds of the adults for generations, as it turned from a shining hope into a rusted weight at the back of the mind, something which could have been great but was never truly possible.
But it was really happening.
At the same moment, every Aegean, from the hatchlings to the priests to the towering elders themselves heard the call deep within their souls. Every Aegean settled themselves, picked up what few belongings they would need, and simply followed the pull.
The elders, their massive frames almost too large to fit through the passageway connecting their quarters to the temple proper, seeped out of the great temple and followed along in the procession. Their hulking shadows towering over the younger Aegeans and giving the gathered pilgrims a sense of awe at what a simple Aegean can become over time.
The city that had for so long been their home seemed almost alien now. Deep within each Aegean there was now seated a constant reminder that their true home, the one that they were destined for, lay to the east. Far into the east.
And so they went. Crowding together into one massive exodus, they left the stone and shell buildings behind and made their way to the flowing river that had appeared to pave their way towards destiny.
Some knew that they were not quite finished with the place they had called home for so long. That one day, Aegeans traveling from the new citadel would return to visit this birthplace of their ancestors, and perhaps pay homage to the myriad of temples scattered around.
But for now, they headed east. Far into the east.
[OOC]
Eh, population. Let's see.
About 120 Aegean citizens/priests, plus the Phalanx under Q'uagnun's control (and Q'uagnun himself) which is another 65, and then the 8 elders, and then the research party of about 6.
199 Aegeans, roughly. Let's just round it off to 200 and call it good.
And yeah, the old citadel will be a "special place" eventually. It will become a pilgrimage to the sea-dwellers (let's ignore the saltwater/freshwater incompatibility for now, shall we?). The soon-to-be-formed citadel in the sea will be my capitol.
For now, my entire race consists of a research party, a migrant group, and a phalanx of soldiers. Plus one abandoned city, which will probably crumble a bit and become overgrown in short order.
This is going to be a long trip... Here's hoping that we don't get picked off along the way.[/OOC]