MP Game - Yarnspinners

[CuriousCat]

Machaka Turn 10

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Slowly awareness returned. It was as if a mist was slowly receding from his mind. Since his mind basically was mist, Cetawayo found the sensation more than a bit disturbing. As he became aware of his surroundings he grew even more disturbed. He was standing in the middle of his tent, the one that he used when traveling into the countryside. This would be fairly inconsequential, if he could remember getting into the tent, if he could remember leaving Balakavo. He also felt somehow different...

At that moment, a young man Cetawayo didn't recognize entered the tent. He was attired as an acolyte of the order of the Voice. Cetawayo was shocked that such a junior priest would enter his presence with such... confidence? As Cetawayo started to ask this brash young man to explain himself, the acolyte gasped and quickly assumed the proper attitude of obeisance.

"My Lord, I await your pleasure." the priest said with more fervor than Cetawayo would have expected. Cetawayo began to analyze the situation. Something was very wrong, but it was something that he would defeat. Confidence began to return, he had bested death after all. He would defeat this, whatever it was. The first step was to figure out what had happened. This would be quickly followed by who or what had caused it. However, he had to tread lightly. He was a god to be, more powerful than most any other being in the land. He could still sense others much like himself in power, those who would steal his destiny - if they could. Could one of them have done this? What of the priesthood? They were powerful men and like most powerful men, many wanted more power. If they could rule in his stead, some would take any chance... Could they possibly have managed such a feat?

But first, more information. "What is the state of the land?" he asked the priest.

"My Lord, little has changed." answered the priest.

Cetawayo was impressed by this careful answer. Now to see how much this man could be trusted. Cetawayo focused his power, his presence on the priest. "Look at me." he commanded. It was a calculated risk. To experience such full force of divinity could leave the victim a feebleminded wretch. Of course, that generally happened to those who were strong willed and attempted to resist and to hide their true nature. That would not happen here. He could sense that this one was a true believer, completely devoted, and could be relied upon. Such were rare and to be highly valued. "Why are you in attendance upon me?" he queried.

"Master, when you... went away... the ranking priests returned to Balakavo in order to manage the empire. I volunteered to stay here and attend you." replied the priest. "I knew that you would return to us!" he joyfully exclaimed.

"How long was I... gone?" asked Cetawayo.

"Three months." replied the priest tremulously.

Three months had passed! This was unwelcome news. There was indeed much work to do. Now that he was assured of the young man's devotion he quickly gathered the details of his... illness. He also learned a bit more about the political situation among his priesthood. Impressed with the young man's knowledge and insight as well as his devotion, he quickly summoned the scribes and messengers that his one loyal priest had retained. His will would flow! He quickly ordered an increase in the levies in the capital. He also ordered the young priest to help him perform the rituals that would allow them to sense if any sources of magical power were located here on the plains.

Things were moving forward once more. He was recruiting an army and would soon, with any luck, find a additional sources of magic for his land. All that remained was a leader for the armies and perhaps a prophet. He also needed to put the priesthood back into their proper place. "Hmm... perhaps two birds with one stone." he pondered.

[magnate]

Ok, I've caught up. Congratulations to Arco and Ermor for submitting yarns consistently. Just to remind everyone, the scores after turn 5 were as follows:

Abysia 9
Arco 10
Atlantis 2
Caelum 4
Ermor 10
Machaka 10
Man 6
Mictlan 5
R'lyeh 4
Vanheim 4

Here are some points for turns 6-8:

Turn 6 - Abysia 2, Arco 2, Ermor 2, Man 2, Mictlan 1

Turn 7 - Abysia 1, Arco 2, Ermor 2, Man 2, R'lyeh 2

Turn 8 - Abysia 2, Arco 2, Ermor 2, R'lyeh 2

Which leaves the scores after turn 8 looking like this:

Abysia 14
Arco 16
Atlantis 2 (presumably dead or AI now?)
Caelum 4 (ditto?)
Ermor 16
Machaka 10
Man 10
Mictlan 6
R'lyeh 8
Vanheim 4 (also dead?)

I can see some turn 10 reports already, so I'll award points for turn 9 yarns tomorrow (Last call!). After that I'll revert to awarding points just as the subsequent turn is run (ie. you have one whole turn to write a piece about the previous turn). Alneyan, are you still hosting 2x per week, Wed and Sat?

Glad you're all still enjoying it,

CC

[Alneyan]

All nations except Mictlan are still alive and kicking. Atlantis has just been taken over fairly recently, and both Vanheim and Caelum lack time to submit yarns.

I will, one of these days, submit my own yarns, but it has been fairly hectic for me as well. The current schedule in on Thursday evening and Monday afternoons, due to a delay during Last turn. I will put notices when a turn runs on this thread for your own convenience (or simply send you a mail).

So turn 11 has been sent one hour ago, and turn 12 will be sent on Monday afternoon.

[magnate]

Ok, points for turn 9 yarns: Arco 2, Ermor 1, R'lyeh 1

Scores after turn 9:
Abysia 14
Arco 18
Atlantis 2
Caelum 4
Ermor 17
Machaka 10
Man 10
Mictlan 6
R'lyeh 9
Vanheim 4

Glad to hear that people are still playing, even if they aren't writing every turn. Plenty of scope to resume yarns at any point.

Points for turn 10 yarns on Monday.

Best,

CC

[Alneyan]

A not-so great yarn, as I made the mistake of confusing "Save changes" with "Discard changes" when saving the first edition of that yarn.

Man - Turn 10:

“And by the shade of Avalon, I bless these woods, the Grove of Ilneoa.” The voice of Flacal, the Prophetess, had the eerie tone of the ones immersed in the trance. Her mind between the earthly world and these lands of Beyond, the Priestess communed with both her Goddess of the Tempest and the older powers of the Kingdom. The blood of the Fae-touched was still running strong in the veins of many of her Sisters, and traces of their heritage could be seen in the land. A ruined castle wall here, fragments of pottery in a cottage, cumbersome blades made of fabled cold iron; such were the presents of the Old Folk. Only in lore did their name remain, fading away as the ways of Man changed.

“Deep within the Grove are a haven from the outside world, where the peacefulness of the land allows you to reflect upon your own actions. Ilneoa cares little for empty boasts and idle claims; only acts do matter, for they reveal the contents of your hearth. A place to meditate in harmony with Earth; such is the gift of Ilneoa.” Slowly Flacal left the divine world behind her, awakening in the grove she had blessed. It was filled with the typical yew trees of Man, dotted by the Last crimson leaves of autumn. Only the occasional flight of birds and the rustle of wind in the trees disturbed the peacefulness of the woods; a place to meditate away from the world.

Such a bucolic land, so different from the turmoil surrounding Ilneoa. A handful of knights in glittering armour stood before her, the Last defenders of the rebel Earl of Valogda. They were accompanied by their squires and overeager lads, a ill-suited army to stop her advance. Shielded in their pride and honour, they charged against her, lances twinkling in the sun. How graceful they were, until they broke away once her fury was unleashed. Ilneoa herself landed in their midst, her hands spreading thunder to all foolish enough to stand close to her. The few knights not having taken leave of their senses attempted to flee; too late for them. Not one warrior left the battlefield alive.

A satisfactory victory, but the Earl himself was nowhere to be found. Surely one of her soldiers had too free a tongue over a mug of ale, or a merchant's purse had grown fatter overnight. The display of her might should act as a reminder of what happens to rebels and traitors alike; who would dare to challenge such a powerful being as herself? And once the Earl had fallen in her custody, another example would be made, for the common good.

Her Tempest was rising in the east, with both her own arm striking down her foes, and her armies securing the borders of the Realm. The days when Avalon would remain a mere observer of the world were gone; only supremacy will be adequate for her purposes.

[Tuidjy]

Caelum is not dead... It's just that I ran out of time/inspiration. But I
will keep playing.

[Sedna]

Turn 11, R'lyeh

At Last a decent meal. As I sucked life from the faces of the hastily gathered militia who had gathered in the fog, I felt my own mind returning. I have wandered, I fear, these past months, through the dark paths of madness and semi-awareness. Now I am well again, and I have a foothold above the waves. I shall fortify one of these sunlit shores, but perhaps not this one. It still reeks of humans.

To my west, there are hordes of undead, waiting to be dead again. They will not provide as full a meal as these militia, but 'tis enough. Perhaps I can find some sites of dark magic power, pitiful in comparison to my own, but still... I will move to take one, and send my lackeys against the other. There, ah, it pains me to think on it, but we were rebuffed by the shuffling hordes in our first attempt, and my warriors fled. They will not fail again.

My scouts wander the waterways throughout the world, bringing me tidings of distant things. Fire and Death cling to my shores, but I have seen the pitiful remnants of the Atlantian empire in the shallow seas. They seek a place for themselves in the world—it is under my thrall.

Far to the east, my scout has chanced upon a strong race of humans who, in their foolishness, appear to worship trees and the air. Perhaps I will sit in this shallow lake and watch their efforts, for they are numerous.

Cthugul sends word that his summoning has been successful again. Monsters, never before seen in this world, will soon be running amok, terrorizing these mortals in broad daylight rather than confined to the world of dreams.