MP: Chronicles_EA: Second-pass Signup and Discussion

[sansanjuan]

The thick air breathers stir below. Bound to the earth they plod like deformed Wingless. They don't look up. Pity. Soon the rarified air of Caelum will stir and the shadow my my Icesword will fall on their shoulders.

Eres - Storm General 1st Army (The Gathering of the Cleaning)




Dear Mom,

"Join the Wingless" you said. "Make a name for yourself in the 'Cleansing'. It will toughen you up. The ladies like a war scar." Ha! Even the Wingless don't take cripples... so they hand me a pitchfork and prod. Now I'm freezing and knee deep in Mammoth s*h*i*t. I asked what happened to the last handler. The Iceclad smiled and told me to "check between Scrot's toes". Scrot, the biggest meanest beast of the lot... hates me already. The campaign rolls tomorrow. Tell Kes he can have anything he finds in my room.

Love Kern

[Ruminant]

Sorry for taking so long to reply, I've been out of town. Regarding my nation, EA Agartha is my top pick followed by EA (or any) C'tis and EA/MA Shinuyama.

Edit: While I'd prefer EA just because that's my favourite Agartha I'm pretty ambivilent whether or not we use single age mod and can just as easily do MA/LA.

[Wrana]

Prologue - Shinuyama (sorry for delay, these Pretenders got argumentative... )
***
Those who had seen mount Shinuyama at that night would think that the ancient volcano awakened again as it was almost all highlighted by fires which danced in rythm of sound like thunder. But what actually occurred here was probably even more threatening, at least for those who did not live very close - and such fools were long dead. For at that night goblin tribes of Shinuyama gathered to call forth the God who will lead them in troubled times to come.
The summit of the mountain was circled by shamans and sorcerers deep in communion who summoned great spirits offering guidance to the tribes in return for their worship. Here also were tribe leaders who judged which one would better lead them all. They eyed each other closely and their hands never stayed far from handles of their swords for here lied an opportunity to rise above one's peers and they all wanted to take it. Some were absent, but if they won't take part in ceremony, their clans will lose status and spoils of conquest will be divided without them, too.
Soon the first one manifested in the ring of fires - a spirit of the Holy Mountain itself, it was mighty and bakemono venerated it for a long time. It offered to lead its worshippers to battle, and many hailed him while one of the gathered chieftains stepped forward to become its champion. Then a dragon from the cloud-covered peak nearby appeared to offer the same and another chieftain supported him. Still, most waited, knowing that there were no longer scattered tribes around them, but mighty empires rising to claim all the world for their gods, and it could be much more difficult to beat them.
Then the flames danced wildly and a stench of blood filled the air. A voice sounded from nothere:
- Worship me, and I will bring you prosperity and strength. Many will fear you, for I will give you secrets of the ancient magic... Make sacrifice... Make it now - for I must be free!
One of the gathered chieftains raised his arm and cut it with knife - and the stench of blood became thicker as something began to appear in the ring... Many of the chieftains began to gather about the first one who have chosen the newcomer
Then another voice thundered:
- Banish this foul apparition! He will bring suffering to yourselves - not only to those you fight with! Demons whom he'll summon cannot be trusted. I know - I fought them fro the Pantocrator and have beaten it once. And I will teach you how to fight as regular army, not a gathering of tribes! Many will be those who will follow me and they will become your allies!
Many were those who nodded hearing this and seeing a regal figure of the celestial warlord. However, those who have heard the apparition did not draw back - for they knew that backing a losing Pretender will result in both death and humiliation. Swords hissed leaving their scabbards.
As the chieftains began the fight which should decide who will lead bakemono to conquest, one of the sorcerers surrounding ring, slowly raised.
- Enough of this foolishness!
His voice easily raised above din of combat.
- I will rule!
As one of the other sorcerers seemed to want to say something, the new pretender had drawn his sword and in one fluid motion struck the objecting one down.
- I am no less immortal now than these spirits! And I know what you all want - I will bring you loot and killing enough to sate everybody! You, General - we do not need your "allies" - they will want to make us to bow down to mere humans - and that cannot be!
A roar of agreement seemsed to shook the mountain.
- I need no champion, - continued ancient sorcerer, - I will show you all how your master fights!
He waded into combat, easily ignoring strikes of mighty chieftains and striking them down one after another...
Many were slain, including some sorcerers forming the communion. Others, raising from their trance, skulked into darkness, clutching their heads, their magic powers wiped for a long time by concentration needed for this one ritual. One, however, suddenly stopped looking around...
- There is more! - cried he and dropped down.
Fighters warily backed away from each other. Several who tried to hold back the Kunshu sorcerer were tired and wounded, except the mountain spirit's champion, who looked fresh. Sorcerer himself, however, showed no effects of blows which striked him. He slowly drawn somebody's sword from his chest, dropped it on stones and stepped on it, breaking the blade.
- So it will be with you.
- You are mistaken, sorry, - another voice said, with intonations out of place here in the wildereness.
- And who are you?! - sorcerer whirled, sword in hand.
- I am THE one who really deserves to ascend to godhood, - answered the newcomer, whose transparend body was covered with ancient mantles of Tien Chi courtier. He seemed to have no weapons, but beared himself as a warrior. - I see, there is at least one here who can introduce me, aren't you, General?
- You are a traitor! - roared the Celestial general. I'll kill you!
- Impossible, sorry. And, saying nothing about the fact that it was I who crushed your army before, your lord, while unmistakably of royal blood, had no Mandate of Heaven, and so had no more right to rule than our over-enthusiastik friend her, - he pointed at Kunshu, - while my lord did.
- You betrayed him, too!
- No, I just beat his worthless descendant to assure that the Empire will be ruled by worthy lord. And yes, I remember that it was my son who founded the next dynasty...
- Now it is brought down, at last! Justice triumphed!
- Yes, Heavens seem to scorn my genius, while accepting your mulishness as something worthy to worship. But even if eunuchs of the nowadays court won't acknowledge me as rightful ruler, this won't stop me!
The ancient warlord and Emperor-maker turned to accembled chieftains.
- Listen to me, warriors! Spirit of the mountain was worthy to worship when you huddled here and fought each other - but I offer you the world! Dragon is strong enough, but he isn't the sorcerer you need to fight off enemy demons! Spirit of blood was beaten by general and I have crushed this one. And you sorcerer here can only offer you things of past, which are not enough now when new empires rise! I will teach you to grow rice so you would not hunger and will multiply. I will teach you to make weapons of fine steel. And I will teach you to fight as civilized empire - like THIS!
He brought his fan sharply down and a rain of arrows from darkness struck at most of the chieftains still warily watching each other.
- You can't kill ME like that! I am immortal!
Kunshu looked like hedgehog, but arrows seemed to do him no lasting harm. He rasied his sword in preparation for charge. His opponent, though looked unfazed:
- You are fool. You shouldn't think that killing everybody who built a sanctuary for your heart will suffice to hide its location from those who know how to speak with a dead. Bring it.
Two bakemono appeared from darkness, carrying a large ceramic urn. Both moved shamblingly and as they drew closer, all have seen that they throats have been cut. Still, they moved.
Kunshu screamed and charged at them, but as he was almost there, the strategist gestured with his fan. Both soulless collapsed and urn shattered, dropped on stones. A heart, still beating, lay between its shards.
- You thought to kill them another time? No need. And as for this...
As if summoned by another fan sign, a single arrow appeared from the darkness and pierced the heart. With a scream, the sorcerer collapsed.
- And this, - said the new Pretender as a figure of another Dai Bakemono chieftain appeared in firelight, - is my champion. Be sure to do what he says, as he has instructions for you until the time when I will rejoin you. I WILL have the
Throne of Heavens! And you - will rule the world!
***

Whoever remembers an actual man this story is based on, gets a cookie (or NAP).

[Tifone]

Nice stories, from the shorter to the longer ones guys, I really enjoyed them all. I suppose it's my turn to start posting some introduction too now about my nation and chosen pretender.

Aeons after that the "society" of men forgot the great empires, battles and gods of the past, a discovery beyond belief threw the shadow of the doubt on the history of humanity.
The archaeological excavations in the great desert brought from the sands to light the ruins of an ancient kingdom, which existance was to date to an Era the humanity didn't even think their world existed.
The unbelievable prehistoric city was amazingly advanced for the time, with great buildings including high walls, tall towers and overshadowing mosquees. On everything, a deep layer of cinders... like if great flames had enlightened the whole reign for millennia.
The greatest discovery the "scientists" of men made, was found into the greatest temple, now collapsed (the unforgiving time? or razed by invaders?). Into it, on a golden lectern, a book of an unknown fireproof material stood like if the weight of the time and destructions wasn't able to touch its pages.
The translation of the book took years, and as expected, but still in the general amazement, it revealed itself being a holy text with stories of prophets, heroes, monsters and so-called "Pretender Gods". It narrated of the Abysians, or "Nar Sa'ab", the people of the Fire, and of their once great reign and religion. The mosaics and paintings on the ruins of the walls of the temple helped the "historians" of men to understand the incredible events of this distant past.

Here is the first chapter. In black, the annotations of the "glottologists" of men.

-

Shalallam a-El'Fyara! ("Glory to the Flame" - a starting and concluding sentence for hymns and prayers and a common greeting in this religion-heavy society)

It is said and sworn that in the third day of the month of the Scorpion in the first year of the Second Era after the disappearance of the Pantokrator, everything changed!

It is said and sworn that Ras Sulawar, Shalallam a-Y'Fyares! ("Glory to his Flames") , the great Anathemant Dragon (seems not to be an actual dragon, but rather some kind of religious patriarch) , was belting from the top of the Minaret the call to the Evening Prayer for the people of Abysia.

His devotion was strong in his heart, his mind, his spirit, his tongue. The Three Gods revered by the Abysians, *The Ascended One* who from the people of Hinnom became the God and replaced the Pantokrator in the First Era, *Jidr Al Kalima* who was worshiped in the sky, and *La'i'm Dam* who was worshiped in the land, all of them were very pleased of him.

Under his blurry old eyes, tens of thousands of glowing people started to pray and sing the glory of The Three Gods. But the resplendence of the Nar Sa'ab was no longer the one of the ancient times. The Warlocks, in their cross-breeding experiments (seems incredible, but it is the only viable translation! These ancient people talk about "cross-breeding experiments"!) had corrupted the pure blood of the Children of Rhuax. Ras Sulawar could remember the words and stories of his long-dead father, Abu Alrayyah, Muneziz a-Y'Vhaif! ("Peace to his Cinders"), the last Anointed of Rhuax, about the time of the Burning Ones. But all their blood had been diluted in the blood of the pink-skinned animal, the two-footed pig (the humans?), and the city was no more glowing as much as in their time.

Suddenly an high shout pulled him out of his reflections.
"Great Ras! Great Ras Sulawar!" A winged Demonbred was flying up the minaret, reaching him.
Never, in the memory of Abysia, such a thing was done during the prayer. The shocked Lava Warriors, guardians of the mosquee, were about to slay the offender.

But Ras Sulawar, Shalallam a-Y'Fyares!, in his unlimited wisdom, understood that something serious had happened, and in his neverending benevolence stopped the flails of the righteous warriors with a word.
"Great Ras, look! *Jidr Al Kalima*! The Divine Glyph!" shouted the Demonbred reaching him.

Ras Sulawar glanced up. Such did the Abysian people, and the prayers and choirs stopped, and silence and screams of terror took their place. The Divine Glyph of Fire, Second God of Abysia, which had always stood over the Great Mosquee, which essence was once so strong to almost blind whoever looked at It from a distance, had lost His light and was now feeble. A quaver, and It disappeared.

A second shout came from another Demonbred. "Great Ras, look at the Unholy Fountain!"
The Third God, *La'i'm Dam*, was in the great square. It had poured blood for centuries, Its sight gladdening and frightening at once all the Abysians. The blood had stopped flowing, the Fountain was dry.

Ras Sulawar understood that something incredible had happened, and nothing would have been the same no more. He rushed to the square, sorrounded by the people of Abysia in search of answers. The Warlocks were questioning the silent stars without result.
Ras Sulawar looked at the Fountain of Blood. Only one minuscule tear of gore was dripping. He touched it, and his mind was possessed for a moment by the spirit of the Third God itself, who spoke His will in the mind of the Anathemant.

"I am *La'i'm Dam*, the Third of the Three of Abysia. But now I'm One. The *Ascended One* of the Rephaim, the one you worship as the First of the Three, who had taken the place of the vanished Pantokrator, has now disappeared like his predecessor.
This revolution has destroyed many of the minor gods, like *Jidr Al Kalima* the Second of the Three; many others have been made dormant for one long year; others, like me, are imprisoned by astral laces for a longer time.
Now all the remaining minor Gods have taken their old role of Pretenders, and only one shall rule at last.
You, my proud people, must bring me to the full godhood. Must make me, my dearly beloved Nar Sa'ab, the Second Ascended One. Shalallam a-El'Fyara!"

Ras Sulawar opened his glowing eyes. The now Only God of Abysia had chosen him to spread His Word in the lands; should he have proudly died in the battles which were to come, his brother would have taken the role. Suddenly, he felt the power of a new, superior holiness flow in the magmatic blood of his family once again.

The month after, Ja Ahrid was made Emir of the First Scorching Armada, and left the capitol to start enlarging the kingdom and spreading the Word.

The Grand Vizier Ras Sulawar observed the leaving legion from the Smouldercone.

Then, he started the long-forgot research of magical powers together with the Warlocks.

Here ends the first chapter.

[Lokean]

I have asked Gandalf to lock this thread for the moment. I have decided to separate this into two games, one MA and one EA, with the original 20 players split between them based on their preferred age/nation and then the other interested parties filling them out. I'll be contacting everyone by PM as I go, so please don't PM with nation requests for the moment.

[Tifone]

No megagame all boys together?

[Lokean]

It's either exclude some people who'd like to play or split it into two slightly more manageable games.

Either way, you'll still have half the 'famous faces' to be terrified of.

[calmon]

Hmm, why do you split? It seems we are not enough to fill this game.

And as the host at the end you decide what we play. Don't make it too complicate by listening each single voice. Otherwise we end in a neverending story starting with splitting, followed with first drops because it takes too long to start the game, etc.

[Tifone]

*bump!*

[Wrana]

Exactly.
Most Shinuyama goblins had wandered off in the interim - they are easily bored, you know. But maybe promises of loot, rape, and especially killing will lure them back to their proper duties - which are, of course, loot, rape and especially killing!