Some days later...
Shiva, Northern Marshes
Shiva watched proudly as the first set of rudimentary watchtowers were finished, pleased with both the brilliance of Briln and the Councils acceptance, albeit somewhat reluctantly. It was the first step to securing their nation against possible invaders, and the huntress planned to help guide her fellow citizens for the rest of the way. Munching happily on a Sweet Fruit, she circled the towers as the nations very first permanent archers tested their accuracy from within. Side-stepping quickly as a rogue arrow whistled past, she called out in a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Shoot the Council's best hunter!"
A muffled apology quickly followed, and the arrows were deliberately volleyed in the opposite direction. Stamping the core of her fruit underfoot, her thoughts turned to possible incursion scenarios, and the effectiveness of their new fortifications. While arrows certainly were effective against prey and similarly unarmored foe, Shiva entertained the thought of an invasion from people with skin as thick as an alligator.
Not good...
Her foot still pressing down on the core, an idea sprung to mind. One that would round off their general defense and allow them to shift focus from military matters to economic and cultural development. Not her forte, to be sure, but she would rather complete her job as fast as she could and return to hunting.
After hastily composing a message in illegible handwriting, she thrust in the arms of a messenger to send back to Aret post-haste. Returning to the watchtowers with a team of hunters, she called out to the occupants inside, holding up a large section of wood to catch arrows in.
"Alright! We'll be drilling this until the sun goes down. Try not to kill us, if you can!"
As the afternoon played out, Shiva and her team repeatedly ran towards the tower, trying to outmaneuver and infiltrate the prototype fortification. While they were slow to start, the archers soon began to work efficiently to repel them from all levels of the tower, the sound of arrow on wood muffled by the densely packed marshland.
*On the next page is a crudely drawn picture of an alligator invasion, with arrows bouncing off them, surrounded by question marks.*
Alcrik, Aret
Earlier
Centering himself in the farm, Alcrik sat cross-legged amongst the tall plants, invisible to all save the insects that crawled underneath. The air was heavy here; scented with both the smoke from nearby fires and pollen from the numerous flora that flourished nearby. Pondering the mysterious voice, Alcrik took a gamble, and extended a friendly gesture towards Cyth'Raul.
"I accept! I shall try to convince the council to include you in our ceremonies at the Marshlight Festivities. I am sure a being of your...inclination, will appreciate a few followers here and there. In return, I hope you can relay the message to any interested parties, that Rok'lo Sha is looking to open it's borders."
Unsure whether he was heard, he looked around for a moment, before bowing in the manner usually reserved for Forest-Deities, and wandering back towards Aret, council matters bubbling in his mind.
Now
"Why should we settle anywhere else? Our people are happy, prosperous. Safe. It just seems...unnecessary."
The young athlete, from those representing Aret, spoke out against Alcrik. The National Council had been seated for the better part of the day, and it was only now that Alcrik had chosen to speak up. An experienced diplomat, he had chosen well; most were too tired to form opposition, eager to get home and eat. This upstart, however...
"Can you provide any good reason we should expand?"
Alcrik took a deep breath and smiled, beaming a friendly and open visage, before stepping up into the circle of stone to reply. The Athlete had a pronounced ego, but was not without skill; he did seem to earnestly want the best for the nation, and his skepticism was at least reassuring.
"The scout team organized by my associate has reported that the Southern Marshes are both prosperous and safe. Not only will they provide more food, more space and more land, they also bring us closer to the waters of the ocean. This will allow us to both better defend ourselves if need be, or communicate and trade with the outsiders."
The athlete was just ready to speak before Alcrik quickly regained momentum, grinning broadly.
"Your questions are appreciated, Councilman. Now when it is accepted, people will know you rigorously investigated it. Instead of being known as someone who placed limits upon our wonderful nation, you shall be remembered as a propagator of growth and prosperity. I must congratulate you!"
Alcrik bowed towards the now somewhat confused Athlete, who slowly bowed back before humbly agreeing. With his consent, the Council soon followed, and a settling party was soon sent south; equipped with the relevant people and equipment to found a large village and farms. Before the Council was over, Alcrik made a quick plea for additional rituals, disguised as a concluding statement.
"Thank you all for coming, and I'll see you at the festival, starting tomorrow! I believe a few extra rituals will be added in honor of a previously unheard of spirit who has contacted several of our citizens. If there's no opposition, we are free to go!"
As the Council left, Alcrik patted his rumbling stomach, quite pleased with himself. Happy to reward his hard work with an extra serving of deer, he ducked into his home for a quick meal, before preparing to set up the colourful decorations used for Marshlight Festivities.
Briln, Aret
Briln smiled in earnest as he read Shiva's message, before furrowing his brow as he tried to decipher her somewhat unhelpful diagram. Waving the messenger away, he strolled towards his home as he mused over her request. Unlike the watchtowers, he had no preliminary designs to work upon, and instead had to start from scratch. Which would mean a heaped burning of scented flowers and a short fast to engage his mind. Waiting by his doorstep was his boisterous friend Ajak, who was nervously twisting his heels in the ground.
"Briln! How'd it go?! Did they work?"
Ajak had been one of the leading builders of the watchtower; handy with tools and ever resourceful, he was perhaps the brawn of the engineering duo. Returning from the frontiers to take part in the festival, he had awaited the reception of his hard work, hoping desperately it would win him the honors that he lost in the races.
Briln looked up and gave him a grin, before letting him inside. His parents were away, and only the smouldering logs of an earlier fire lit up the room.
"You're a talented man, Ajak. They've commissioned them for the whole nation. You might need to start a tradesmen Guild at this rate."
Briln heaped a pile of dried wood onto the fire, and sat down on a small, cut log. Throwing a handful of purple flowers onto the fire, he breathed deep, as he drew lines and circles in the mud at his feet.
"Wow, really!? You know, I was thinking of enlisting a few of my friends to help me build them. We could be like the outsiders are; permanent building makers! Builderers...buildingeers...I'll think of a better name."
Somewhat ignoring his friend, Briln stared deep into the fire, his stomach rumbling. His process of thoughts quickened as the musky smell of the flowers began to cling to everything in the home. Shiva wanted something that could stop Alligators, as their thick, layered skin tended to ward off all but the most powerful, accurate hunters.
Thick, heavy, powerful, stealthy, fast if they need to be. Not much that can stop things like that.
But they have to travel along the ground, unlike the hunters that can move through the trees.
The ground...
Briln stood up quickly and left, yelling over his shoulder.
"You're in charge of supervising the new constructions, have to run, no time."
As he burst into his workshop, he quickly flipped his table and started digging.
Shiva, Northern Marshes
Shiva watched proudly as the first set of rudimentary watchtowers were finished, pleased with both the brilliance of Briln and the Councils acceptance, albeit somewhat reluctantly. It was the first step to securing their nation against possible invaders, and the huntress planned to help guide her fellow citizens for the rest of the way. Munching happily on a Sweet Fruit, she circled the towers as the nations very first permanent archers tested their accuracy from within. Side-stepping quickly as a rogue arrow whistled past, she called out in a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Shoot the Council's best hunter!"
A muffled apology quickly followed, and the arrows were deliberately volleyed in the opposite direction. Stamping the core of her fruit underfoot, her thoughts turned to possible incursion scenarios, and the effectiveness of their new fortifications. While arrows certainly were effective against prey and similarly unarmored foe, Shiva entertained the thought of an invasion from people with skin as thick as an alligator.
Not good...
Her foot still pressing down on the core, an idea sprung to mind. One that would round off their general defense and allow them to shift focus from military matters to economic and cultural development. Not her forte, to be sure, but she would rather complete her job as fast as she could and return to hunting.
After hastily composing a message in illegible handwriting, she thrust in the arms of a messenger to send back to Aret post-haste. Returning to the watchtowers with a team of hunters, she called out to the occupants inside, holding up a large section of wood to catch arrows in.
"Alright! We'll be drilling this until the sun goes down. Try not to kill us, if you can!"
As the afternoon played out, Shiva and her team repeatedly ran towards the tower, trying to outmaneuver and infiltrate the prototype fortification. While they were slow to start, the archers soon began to work efficiently to repel them from all levels of the tower, the sound of arrow on wood muffled by the densely packed marshland.
Briln,
Great job with the tower! Will drill later today, but I have good faith it is effective.
Please begin construction of these around borders ASAP.
Also, please see if you can devise something that will stop/hinder impenetrable foes.
See diagram for details.
Give regards to your kin and mine.
See you at the festival!
Shiva
Great job with the tower! Will drill later today, but I have good faith it is effective.
Please begin construction of these around borders ASAP.
Also, please see if you can devise something that will stop/hinder impenetrable foes.
See diagram for details.
Give regards to your kin and mine.
See you at the festival!
Shiva
*On the next page is a crudely drawn picture of an alligator invasion, with arrows bouncing off them, surrounded by question marks.*
Alcrik, Aret
Earlier
Centering himself in the farm, Alcrik sat cross-legged amongst the tall plants, invisible to all save the insects that crawled underneath. The air was heavy here; scented with both the smoke from nearby fires and pollen from the numerous flora that flourished nearby. Pondering the mysterious voice, Alcrik took a gamble, and extended a friendly gesture towards Cyth'Raul.
"I accept! I shall try to convince the council to include you in our ceremonies at the Marshlight Festivities. I am sure a being of your...inclination, will appreciate a few followers here and there. In return, I hope you can relay the message to any interested parties, that Rok'lo Sha is looking to open it's borders."
Unsure whether he was heard, he looked around for a moment, before bowing in the manner usually reserved for Forest-Deities, and wandering back towards Aret, council matters bubbling in his mind.
Now
"Why should we settle anywhere else? Our people are happy, prosperous. Safe. It just seems...unnecessary."
The young athlete, from those representing Aret, spoke out against Alcrik. The National Council had been seated for the better part of the day, and it was only now that Alcrik had chosen to speak up. An experienced diplomat, he had chosen well; most were too tired to form opposition, eager to get home and eat. This upstart, however...
"Can you provide any good reason we should expand?"
Alcrik took a deep breath and smiled, beaming a friendly and open visage, before stepping up into the circle of stone to reply. The Athlete had a pronounced ego, but was not without skill; he did seem to earnestly want the best for the nation, and his skepticism was at least reassuring.
"The scout team organized by my associate has reported that the Southern Marshes are both prosperous and safe. Not only will they provide more food, more space and more land, they also bring us closer to the waters of the ocean. This will allow us to both better defend ourselves if need be, or communicate and trade with the outsiders."
The athlete was just ready to speak before Alcrik quickly regained momentum, grinning broadly.
"Your questions are appreciated, Councilman. Now when it is accepted, people will know you rigorously investigated it. Instead of being known as someone who placed limits upon our wonderful nation, you shall be remembered as a propagator of growth and prosperity. I must congratulate you!"
Alcrik bowed towards the now somewhat confused Athlete, who slowly bowed back before humbly agreeing. With his consent, the Council soon followed, and a settling party was soon sent south; equipped with the relevant people and equipment to found a large village and farms. Before the Council was over, Alcrik made a quick plea for additional rituals, disguised as a concluding statement.
"Thank you all for coming, and I'll see you at the festival, starting tomorrow! I believe a few extra rituals will be added in honor of a previously unheard of spirit who has contacted several of our citizens. If there's no opposition, we are free to go!"
As the Council left, Alcrik patted his rumbling stomach, quite pleased with himself. Happy to reward his hard work with an extra serving of deer, he ducked into his home for a quick meal, before preparing to set up the colourful decorations used for Marshlight Festivities.
Briln, Aret
Briln smiled in earnest as he read Shiva's message, before furrowing his brow as he tried to decipher her somewhat unhelpful diagram. Waving the messenger away, he strolled towards his home as he mused over her request. Unlike the watchtowers, he had no preliminary designs to work upon, and instead had to start from scratch. Which would mean a heaped burning of scented flowers and a short fast to engage his mind. Waiting by his doorstep was his boisterous friend Ajak, who was nervously twisting his heels in the ground.
"Briln! How'd it go?! Did they work?"
Ajak had been one of the leading builders of the watchtower; handy with tools and ever resourceful, he was perhaps the brawn of the engineering duo. Returning from the frontiers to take part in the festival, he had awaited the reception of his hard work, hoping desperately it would win him the honors that he lost in the races.
Briln looked up and gave him a grin, before letting him inside. His parents were away, and only the smouldering logs of an earlier fire lit up the room.
"You're a talented man, Ajak. They've commissioned them for the whole nation. You might need to start a tradesmen Guild at this rate."
Briln heaped a pile of dried wood onto the fire, and sat down on a small, cut log. Throwing a handful of purple flowers onto the fire, he breathed deep, as he drew lines and circles in the mud at his feet.
"Wow, really!? You know, I was thinking of enlisting a few of my friends to help me build them. We could be like the outsiders are; permanent building makers! Builderers...buildingeers...I'll think of a better name."
Somewhat ignoring his friend, Briln stared deep into the fire, his stomach rumbling. His process of thoughts quickened as the musky smell of the flowers began to cling to everything in the home. Shiva wanted something that could stop Alligators, as their thick, layered skin tended to ward off all but the most powerful, accurate hunters.
Thick, heavy, powerful, stealthy, fast if they need to be. Not much that can stop things like that.
But they have to travel along the ground, unlike the hunters that can move through the trees.
The ground...
Briln stood up quickly and left, yelling over his shoulder.
"You're in charge of supervising the new constructions, have to run, no time."
As he burst into his workshop, he quickly flipped his table and started digging.
Establish a settlement to the South-West.
Implement a researched technology.
Research a new technology.
Advocate the worship of Cyth'Raul (No AP required, right?)
Implement a researched technology.
Research a new technology.
Advocate the worship of Cyth'Raul (No AP required, right?)
Basic covered stake pit. Walk over it, fall, be impaled. Briln is researching deep, narrow pits that would be arranged in staggered lines amongst the border, camouflaged in the same style as the ground.