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Author Topic: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]  (Read 21242 times)

micelus

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #90 on: March 01, 2019, 03:41:55 pm »

Gemegishkirihallat coughed. "There are 23 mikos already. My daughter would be the 24th."
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micelus

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #91 on: March 18, 2019, 09:53:33 pm »

Quote
And then the Midan waited to receive the human he was to anoint.

And lo, did the Fire-Marked present his most righteous vassal, Plodding Felly.
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micelus

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #92 on: March 18, 2019, 10:42:11 pm »

oops.
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #93 on: March 19, 2019, 02:54:06 am »

And lo, did the Fire-Marked present his most righteous vassal, Plodding Felly.

And the Midan had said, I am the Midan, I am the Speaker and the Spoken, and forsooth, as Fire-Marked has surely told you of your purpose already, I shall waste no more of your time, but anoint you forthwith. And the Midan had improved Plodding Felly by dropping a blop of divine lava on his(?) head.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

And the Midan had said, go, do stuff, be great, I'm going to bed, ♥♥♥.
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micelus

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #94 on: March 28, 2019, 07:33:12 pm »

Remonstrance. Offal. Serenity.

TURN 3: Age of Death, Shrivelled Kelp, Year of No King.


The gods acted.

The Shattered Statue did appear in dream to a child most pious, as much as one could be to a wrothful mobile conglomerate of statue chunks. To her, the Statue did bestow boon of statuewright and mercurial retching. At a cost, of course. The five-year old was given duty, to further her master's worship, protecting her (his?) subjects and giving an offering of life and blood. The first and second of these were most easily done, while the third did require effort.

The girl did do as her god did command, slaying in heated blood her mother and father. Then her infant brother and sisters. This she did most piously, slathering an effigy of the Statue with the offal and blood of her kin. Upon the discovery of this act, the village was mortified. At first, the elders did make plan to burn and bury her as a witch. After she slit the throats of a few of the other villagers, and did announce her patron, the villagers were cowed and made effort to lower their heads and forget the issue.

Presumably, this did please the Statue, and in his (her?) greatness, she (he?) did grant further boon. Replacing her mortal-flesh heart, the Statue did graft into Murdus a heart of bronze. This did grant the girl power of vast strength; an army made of but one child.

This done, the Statue continued to search for the rogue herd. Fording a river, he (she?) continued to travel on the trail of the elephantine herd. He (She?) then fell asleep.


Fu, having become aware of the hostilities that were soon to intensify, did craft the Bow of the Center Winds. She did then granted boon to one of the lugal's daughters, naming her Miko of Water and the 24th miko so far. Given writ to bless the land, teach the people and offer kindness. Whatever this 'mana' thing was , Ninsar wasn't sure. Regardless, she would do her very best to carry out her divine task. Perhaps.

After this was done, Fu did go to the Stones with her servants of Wind and Water in order to attempt to teach the people of the Palace the wonders and joys of the written word. She called the script katakana-hiragana-and-kanji. And the people, a few at least, did emulate. Using chisels they did copy ever so slowly, the scripts into hard stone. Some, with expensive paints, did draw crude representations of the script, using brushes of reed and hair. Of course, actually learning what these meant and how to use the script, took a great deal longer and was limited to far fewer people.

She did then sleep.


Basderieen did carve out an area of the sand, creating a depression. This the oasis emptied into, mainly draining into the desert sands to join the aquifer below. Greatly reducing the depth of the oasis, perhaps in time it would reach its previous heights. Regadless, Basderieen did spread reeds around the new lengths of the oasis and did wish it to grow. Finally, he did make the Fist of the Badger, which he gave to the people of the Badger as a group.

The badger god did then sleep.

Metalhand did receive an audience of the people's best and did grant immortality to the ancient Zapharia, granting her further boon with the Chain of Leadership.

After many months, Stoneye did return and offer his master new knowledge of the lands of the oasis and further afield. According to the people of the oasis, Du-Ur was a spirit of the east, of the endless desert. Patron of Asteriskasteriskasterisk, the great spirit was the teacher of housemaking, of the intricate arts of angles and supports. It was he who, through the spirit of Asteriskasteriskasterisk, did teach the people how to live beyond burrows and and small huts.

As for the lightroot, according to those the bird had met, the lightroot was a creation of a foreign spirit  of the south who made it to nourish her people and the nature of the world. Accordingly, those in its presence for a long enough period lost the need to eat. Indeed, the southerners mainly only ate when they desired to taste, rather than out of hunger.

This, the bird did say, he mainly sourced from a powerful person of the south, someone named Diwata. It seemed she served a great spirit called Tala. Funny story, the bird did say, the she was seeking information about the north. They had a good laugh and did trade information.

His questions answered, and boons distributed, Metalhand did slumber.


Shelldon , in his waking months, did teach the people of the crab the power of dyes. With a pinch of fruit juice and crushed skins of bark or leaf, they hid themselves in hiding colours, aiding them in hunting. Before sleeping, he strengthened his connection to the land and did become Guardian of the swamp.

The Crab did then sleep.

Du-Ur *Creak*

Midan did love his people and so, it did did bade itself craft a tool of locomotion. Perhaps by miracle, Midan did make the first vehicle with ease, teaching his followers the craft with little difficulty. The intricacy of wheelwork and the frame upon which a cetacean body would placed were quickly understood by the crafty folk of the tribe. Looking upon the craft, the people were pleased, and did call it a tank.

After this great creation, Midan did go and bless the human Plodding Felly with a fiery aura, blazing intellect and burning fecundity. Well endowed was he/she/xhe with wombs and organs plenty. Given task to breed, think and cover the land in Midan's faithful, Midan did bless them with a drop of divine lava.

The Midan then did fall into a deep sabbatical.

Kakkabum, a lonely and sullen entity, did wish for others to share in his greatness and conversation of stars. And so, he did doth make the Mountain (Whoa)man, creatures like humans but lacking in much intellect. He bid the creatures to make home in the mountain holes crafted by his majesty, and to feast upon the grains of their own hands' labour. This they understood to an extent.

Reciting a dour prophecy of stars come-soon, Kakkabum then slept in star-sleep.

Tala did ask her servant to quest north, to seek knowledge of its power. In time, she did return, saying that she had met a cunning bird of the northern oasis, who did serve a spirit of craft and generosity called Metalhand. It came south inquiring about the people of the river, and of lightroot. Diwata traded her own knowledge with the bird and did return posthaste with the information.

Regardless, Tala then did grant Diwata the boon of the Spear-Banner which while filled with many a boon, was diluted in power and intensity. Still, a jack of tools was perchance more desirable than a king of spears. She then further gave Diwata lecture on matters of sacrifice, laws, Memory and stuff about how to view Tala. Diwata may or may not have been listening to all this, having concluded certain things about life and the divine.

Tala did then try to  teach the art of writing. This, the people failed to understand in its entirety.

Trying a different angle, Tala did then try to enhance the people's knowledge of trade, the tricks of the art and such. She also went into great detail about other things, but as they are not quite connected to the concept of trade, it didn't quite strike into the people's minds and most forgot them just as quickly as the entity uttered them. The art of the deal however, was embossed into the minds of many. While Diwata was tasked with her spear to help in teaching, she soon realised that her spear's ability to enhance communication was extremely shallow and indeed, only worked on one or two people at a time. At best. Diwata sighed knowingly.


This done, she did then did enter hibernation.

Vulpes Grande did make on its lands, Blood-Berry bushes, which did then spread and feed the creatures of the desert. It then did grant dream to the minds of sleeping foxes, so as to draw them to his lands. It then did inter yet more power into its tools.

Reserve: 1/3 CP, 2/4 DP.
- Sinister Digitus (1/1)
- Sinister Manus (1/3)
- Dexter Manus (1/3)

It then did sleep.

Sarkyran Sarkyran did see the beauty of progress and did see it proper to teach yet further the arts of civilisation. Soft copper did he tie onto shafts of gentle wood and stone, creating axes to cut the wood. He did try teach this art to the people, but the people did find it difficult.

The pick and chisel too, were crafted by the spirit. Again he tried to teach the people the wisdom of stone, but found their minds slow and unready.

Perhaps giving up on this path of progress, he then did announce a contest in order to choose a king of the tribes, who would be his representative in his dreaming years. To aid him, another golem he did forge. Entitled Jus, it was to judge further electoral contests in the future. In this generation's age, A man named Kilabira won the contest of divinity and was made representative of the god of civilisation. Now lugal, he was lauded by the people. Given authority to rule and guard the people of the Flint, the man was given gift of every clan and tribe.

Though perhaps only having mixed results, Sarkyran slept.

Guar did bang the drums of war and did speak to the people of the serpent and horse. In his bloody speech, he told his people to ready for total war. No longer but raiders, they would now destroy in entirely the realm of the south, of the wind witch and her kin. He did grant them the boon of the Blood Fury and Guar's Spirit, so that the enemy would well and truly die. The people in their entirey took on a reddish hue, eyes glowing with the flames of Guar's spiritual ire. Becoming stronger and quicker, they ignored pain and calls of mercy. Furthermore, he strengthened their souls, grafting defenses upon them, like walls of stone but made incorporeal.

Blessed and given boon, Guar did announce the Era of Blood and did order them to ransack the South, see their women and children made slave and property, their bodies used for whatever the Serpent and kith demanded. The lugal would be taken, broken and used; her soul fed to Guar. Her children would be split open, their hearts still beating, given torture for a generation. The palace would be broken, chipped into sand and thrown into the river. It would be as if the South had never risen.

With that, Guar did slumber.

And so, the gods slept.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2019, 07:39:56 pm by micelus »
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micelus

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #95 on: March 28, 2019, 07:34:08 pm »

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) attained


Metalhand 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]


Midan

The 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) attained


Kakkabum 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)
« Last Edit: April 23, 2019, 04:52:32 am by micelus »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #96 on: March 28, 2019, 07:34:27 pm »

Era of Blood?

The gods awoke as always, but found the world different. Not only in the regular sense, but also in the extraordinary sense. The entity Guar had decreed this time to be the Era of Blood, in which his people would conquer and destroy the civilisation of Fu's lugal. In this, they were mainly successful. However, there had been unforseen consequences.

From the death of Juur's soul, did arise many hungry ghosts of serpentine nature. Fearsome ethereal spirits in the image of snakes, the spirits slithered on ground or just above it. These creatures bit and constricted, absorbing soul and energy from those they fed upon. Sometimes but a nuisance, it was not rare for them to kill. Most of these beings remained in the old lands of the lugal, now the fiefs of the horse lords. Some however, spread farther, colonising the plains and swamps of the land. Some had been sighted upon the river banks of the south, in the deserts of the east and the hills of the west. Gathering in nests during the day, the ghosts would venture out in the night and twilight hours, harming travellers. Not limited to human prey, many fed on animals, which of course had consequences on those who relied upon such creatures. While shamans were at times able to banish them, these beings seemed to be growing in number regardless.  there It seemed, there would be yet another danger in the world.

There was also something else stirring. The gods, regardless of who they were, felt something move in the firmament of Err. Something that had always been there, but had not been noticed before. As the gods took notice, so did it notice them.

Then the stirring ended. However, the gods did felt something grow within them.

All gods have gained 1 further action. It must cause mortal death if used.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2019, 04:24:40 am by micelus »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #97 on: March 28, 2019, 07:37:22 pm »

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: POIs (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Accoutrements (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Monuments (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Natural Wonders (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Cultures (click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: June 23, 2019, 02:39:12 am by micelus »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #98 on: April 14, 2019, 04:20:13 am »

Spoiler: Player Entities (click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: April 23, 2019, 04:09:45 am by micelus »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #99 on: April 14, 2019, 06:19:49 am »

Shattered Statue simmered with frustration. Just how far did the elephants flee to escape her/his wrath? Not far enough, he/she vowed quietly.

Still the great success of Murdus was a soothing balm for the place where his/her heart should be. Things were slowly starting to fall into place.


Action 1: The wind-swift slithering of the Statue stirred up great waves across the marsh, as they continued to speed off hunting the Elephants who would disobey and flee from her/him. Their punishment was coming, steadily, a centuries long hunt. If at last they are found, be particularly harsh in disciplining them. They must fear me too much to run away again.

Action 2: The Shattered Statue forces knowledge and waking visions upon the artisans of his worshippers, squeezing the knowledge and skills of bronze-working into their minds and plagueing their sleep with nightmares of metal, smelting and forging.

Action 3: [3CP] Once more searching among his/her people for a particularly pious child who shows promise in sculpting and hunting, the Shattered Statue appears to the boychild in dreams, and offers them greatness and immortality if they shall serve dutifully. If the child does not accept, the search will continue until a suitable candidate is found. The chosen child shall be made into the Shattered Statue's champion, to serve as a warlord for Lugal and the Six Tribes of Ulkai.

The Lugal Murdus is informed of the ascension of her brother, the fourth disciple of the Shattered Statue, and praised for her achievements and hard work. The People of the Flint-Truce seem to be goodly people indeed.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Blood Action: [6 DP] The Shattered Statue creates the Eye of the Basilisk, a powerful accoutrement, and implants it in the forehead of Nusku, allowing Nusku to petrify most mortals and creatures, killing them. He is commanded to use it to enslave the people who do not yet bow to the Statue.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: April 18, 2019, 08:43:46 am by Demonic Spoon »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #100 on: April 14, 2019, 03:23:18 pm »

[Vulpes Grande]

The statue of Vulpes Grande forms of sand, becoming sandstone, and turning red.
Vulpes Grande surveys the surroundings. And sees that more foxes are here. Good.

Vulpes Grande lets out a howl, heard by all foxes in the tile. And seeing the stone fox, several times their size, would certainly attract attention.
"This land was created by Vulpes Grande. Nurtured by Vulpes Grande. And though you are not Fennec. You are fellow Desert Foxes.
However, you have perception, not intelligence. You can make thought into action, but not thought into further thought. This will not do for Civilization.
So I shall grant you intelligence. The ability to make thought into thought.
"

Vulpes Grande uses 4 CP to grant sapience to the Blanford's Foxes in the hex. Making a race of Intelligent Foxes. This drains the Dexter Manus of it's 1 CP.
"Now, you will be able to ponder your experience. Learn a lot, study. But let us put that to the test.
The Blood-berries I planted will feed. But what if you outpopulate the food?
I challenge you to find a way to make more Blood-berry Bushes grow. So you can ensure a stable supply of food.
"

Vulpes Grande stores his 2 DP into his Sinister Manus.
Reserve: 0/3 CP, 4/4 DP.
- Sinister Digitus (1/1)
- Sinister Manus (3/3)
- Dexter Manus (0/3)
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #101 on: April 15, 2019, 05:03:34 pm »

I Seek out the leaders of the three "strongest" Clans, and gift a power to them that will grow stronger as time progresses, A Strength That will pass to their descendants when they themselves can no longer use it...
And Finally I travel to the bottom of the oasis once more- to rest until the next age.
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Maximum Spin

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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #102 on: April 16, 2019, 02:53:28 am »

And the Midan had appeared before the Fire-Marked in the steaming of the hot sands on a summer's morning, and the Midan had said in a calm, kind, slightly disappointed voice, Lo, carísima tremenda ballena, is this the wisdom which I am to expect of you? Have I taught you to throw away beneficial trade so easily? Lo, did I not say, trade with them as you will? It is not necessary that all be cast down and made to bow before your might, and it is only the wasteful fool who demands to take by force what would willingly be given.

And the Midan had said, Let me tell you the words of a wise man from a distant time and place, who had written thus: "It is always a temptation for an armed and agile nation to call upon a neighbour and to say, 'We invaded you last night — we are quite prepared to fight, unless you pay us cash to go away.' And that is called asking for Dane-geld, and the people who ask it explain, that you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld, and then you'll get rid of the Dane."

And the Midan had said, Moreover, the prophet continues, "It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation to puff up and look important and to say, 'Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away.' And that is called paying the Dane-geld; but we've proved it again and again, that if once you have paid him the Dane-geld, you never get rid of the Dane."

And the Midan had said, Meditate upon these lessons, and learn that there are other things one can gain from a foreign tribe besides slaves.

And the Midan waited politely for a response.

Free action, I think: talking to subsoul.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2019, 03:28:33 am by Maximum Spin »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #103 on: April 20, 2019, 06:47:45 pm »

Action 1:Shelldon using 4 cp creates a group of fantastical trees in the hex south of him
Spoiler: strange wood (click to show/hide)
Action 2: Shelldon teaches his worshipers about herbology, its about certain herbs they can find in this swamp and how they can be used to cure illness and even counter poison which he also teaches them how to make and apply to there weapons and even meantions about the new trees he made down south and how the fruit it makes is extremely precious for its uses in curing things
« Last Edit: April 21, 2019, 02:59:40 am by darkwarlock3 »
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Re: Between the Rivers: Gods Adrift [IC]
« Reply #104 on: April 23, 2019, 04:56:11 am »

And the Midan had appeared before the Fire-Marked in the steaming of the hot sands on a summer's morning, and the Midan had said in a calm, kind, slightly disappointed voice, Lo, carísima tremenda ballena, is this the wisdom which I am to expect of you? Have I taught you to throw away beneficial trade so easily? Lo, did I not say, trade with them as you will? It is not necessary that all be cast down and made to bow before your might, and it is only the wasteful fool who demands to take by force what would willingly be given.

And the Midan had said, Let me tell you the words of a wise man from a distant time and place, who had written thus: "It is always a temptation for an armed and agile nation to call upon a neighbour and to say, 'We invaded you last night — we are quite prepared to fight, unless you pay us cash to go away.' And that is called asking for Dane-geld, and the people who ask it explain, that you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld, and then you'll get rid of the Dane."

And the Midan had said, Moreover, the prophet continues, "It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation to puff up and look important and to say, 'Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away.' And that is called paying the Dane-geld; but we've proved it again and again, that if once you have paid him the Dane-geld, you never get rid of the Dane."

And the Midan had said, Meditate upon these lessons, and learn that there are other things one can gain from a foreign tribe besides slaves.

And the Midan waited politely for a response.

Free action, I think: talking to subsoul.

And so the Fire-Marked was ashamed, immediately abasing himself before the summit of the volcano, which he viewed as the home of the great Midan. In much sadness and weeping, it declared in a most abasedly manner, that he thought he had been following Midan's desires forthrightly. Seeing error, he said he would atone for his mistake and make right the past, by taking pilgrimage and by declaring those who traded to be in the right.
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