Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 1 - April 2012]

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Battle of Garcon Hill

Through the Darkwoods Trotseer's Braves ran with courage in their heart. They know that they must make it home to defend their homes from the bloodthirsty French

After may days of running they come to a clearing near hillside. Then one Brave spots the French "Garcon gang" or Gang of boys, through the trees armed with clubs and setting up a camp on a clearing high high above them on the hill.

"So this are the one French send to kill us" Trotseer says.



"What should we do Brave one?" a Brave ask him.

Trotseer look direct into the eyes of his men. Without flinch he say firm but quiet "Attack"

The boys-gang never knew what hit them. Even though they position is stronger on the hill, they were not ready for the speed and brazen courage of Trotseer. They rush up the hill and beat back the French before they have any time to react. When the dust settles, the French have lost the high ground on the hill and have no choice but to run for cover. Trotseer has won.

[France (DoB)]

Serge tossed another log on the campfire as he awaited the tribal elders to return from their council with Chief Benoit. Damn Nether magic made everything so confusing. He had been summoned back to Paris, after French agents had heard reports of the Nether claiming the Trotseer brigands had defeated the Garcon de Paris!

It was all more Nether lies. Not a single member of the Garcon of Paris had been hurt nor had any of them even seen one of the Trotseer Brigands. Somehow the brigands had managed to sneak by his patrols unnoticed although that wasn't possible without damned Nether magic!

The tribal elders had already explained how the Nether mystics could shed their skin, like snakes, becoming unseen spirits to bypass French patrols and then take on new skins from the dead in other locations. There was no way for a warrior to fight an enemy he cannot see or even hit with his club. It was now up to the tribal elders to devise a defense against this vile magic.

Serge had had enough though. He had been searching for 30 winters for this elusive Trotseer to no avail. It was time to plant grapes and drink wine and let a new generation of younger warriors defend Paris from damned Nether magic.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

After defeating the French, the Braves gather round the campfire to share a true tale of Nether history.

It is said that Fire Mountian the Volcano was once only with his brother Wind Sky. But Wind Sky never talks to Fire Mountain as they have said everything already since the beginning of time. So Fire Mountain was lonely and he wept tears of fire. These lava tears cooled and became Earth and she loved Fire for bringing her to life. But though Earth was beautiful, and voluptuous she was simple and witless. This is from where the saying 'dumb as dirt' comes.



So Fire was pursued by Earth, but he cared nothing for her because she not smart enough to hold his interest or flame his passions. Fire asked his brother, Wind to help him be rid of Earth and Wind agreed to help him two times. First Wind made Earth his mate so she would leave Fire alone. Later, from the union of Wind and Earth came the French. Then Wind Sky opened up his clouds and rained down. The rains became Ocean Water and Fire fell in love with her right away. From their love the Nether were created, some in the image of Fire Mountain, some in the image of Ocean Water.


The children of Fire were dark and mysterious with dark hides like rock, hair that puffed like black curls of smoke. These children of Fire are the strongest, the fastest, the fighters, the runners the jumpers. The children of Ocean Water had pale hides, transluscent like the waters, white like the ice and snow, with waves of hair that flowed like river. These are the singers, artist, thinkers and dreamers, these are the swimmers and fishers. This is why we Nation of Fire, Nation of Water.



Children of Fire are skilled in painting the skin to match the things around making them harder to see. They also good at hiding in their surroundings and moving silently. The dark skin also helps to approach without being seen and Children of fire are swift runner.



That is how we are able to defeat French Garcon-boys so easily. They is so backwards they thinks it is magic, but it is only that we are smarter than them and knows the art of invisibility. Those French thought it was spirits attacking them and they could only run and hide. Once we beat them back, we can move on to protect our river village home.

[France (DoB)]

French Burial Rites

French mystics have begun using elaborate burial rites to prevent Nether spirits from stealing the bodies of the dead or enslaving the spirits of the dead. All dead, whether friend or foe, are now buried in Mother Earth so that they are protected by her great spirit. In addition wine is poured over the grave and a large stone, called a grave stone, is placed over the wine.

Nether spirits are known for their love of wine and their greedy nature prevents them from leaving a site once they sense the wine. Being insubstantial the Nether spirits cannot move the grave stone to reach the wine therefore they stay for all eternity at the gravesite unable to overcome either the power of Mother Earth or their own innate greedy nature. Thus are the spirits of the dead saved from being enslaved by the Nether spirit magic.

French Defensive Magic

As a variant on the French Burial Rites, the town of Paris and other nearby key areas have been marked with large stones under which wine has been poured. Thus are Nether spirit spies also trapped by their innate greedy nature.

Since implementing the new defenses, the French have noted a substantial reduction in Netherlander spy activity proving once again the power of French earth magic over Nether death magic.

[France (DoB)]

Gabriel and the Persian Mystics

Around the campfires in Paris, the tale is told of how Gabriel narrowly survived the ambush of two prides of Persian mystics. Persian mystics through a blessing of the Water Mother have the ability to change into animals, like water changing into ice or steam. The Water Mother appeared in a dream to two tribes of Persian mystics, one capable of changing into lions while the other could change into panthers, and bade them to prepare an ambush to kill Gabriel and the Great Valley Seekers.

So it was that when the Great Valley Seekers were crossing the Ditya river that they were attacked by the Persian Panther mystics. Despite being caught by surprise, the Great Valley Seekers managed to slay all of the panther mystics. The cowardly lion mystics had held back planning on attacking whoever remained, for as is the nature of evil, the lions had intended to betray their panther brothers. So thoroughly did the Great Valley Seekers destroy the panthers though that the lions hesitated, fearful of attacking even though nearly half of the Great Valley Seekers were dead. In that moment of hesitation, the Great Valley Seekers managed to retreat back into the mountain forests, carrying their dead and wounded and build a defense.

A golden camel watched as Gabriel performed the sacred burial rites and at the end of the rites the camel transformed into a man. Sensing another ambush, the Great Valley Seekers would have slain the Persian camel mystic however Gabriel ordered them to stop sensing there was something different about this mystic.

The Persian mystic introduced himself as Zoroaster, the Golden Camel, and claimed to come in peace. Zoroaster only wanted to know more about the significance of the burial rites. So it was that Zoroaster and Gabriel spent many years together exchanging magical knowledge from their respective traditions.

With nearly half of the Great Valley Seekers dead, mostly the women and children for it is the nature of evil predators to attack the weak and defenseless first, many of the Great Valley Seekers took mates from Zoroaster's family so was a bond of blood formed between the two tribes.

[France (DoB)]

Bernard sat with his back to the small fire so he could watch the flickering shadows on the cavern wall. If he was very quiet and still he could hear Mother Earth's quiet responses to Father Fire's loud crackling comments. While he did not understand their spirit language he could sense the tone of their conversation and interpret their shadow gestures.

As the newest French mystic to join the tribe of elders, Bernard had been tasked with resolving the tribe's latest concern. Messengers were no longer returning from many of the other tribes and the other elders were worried that some new Nether magic was at work.

Bernard had painted the cavern walls, using berry extracts, with symbols of the known tribes. The shadows flickered excitedly between the Spanish Princess symbol, a female figure with a wooden club between her legs, and the hobbit symbol, a small hut. Bernard could sense a deep dread in Mother Earth, a powerful spirit was gaining strength in Spain and it threatened to drive out Mother Earth even as it would force the hobbits to flee their huts to build anew far away. Bernard could not imagine a spirit so powerful as to frighten Mother Earth and he would have to discuss what he had seen with the other elders.

Bernard focused his attention back to the shadows which had moved between the Spanish Princesses and the Siren symbol of a half woman/half fish. Father Fire seemed aroused by the interactions of the two symbols while Mother Earth seemed disgusted. An alliance was brewing between the two female tribal leaders but perhaps there was something more. The Siren's magical songs of seduction and their love potions, which they often concealed in their tasty stews, only worked on French men but could it be that Sirens had managed to enchant the Spanish Princesses?

Once again, Bernard was forced to shake distracting images from his mind and refocus on the shadows on the cave wall. The shadows were flickering over the black man symbol of the Unseelies, which was one of the tribes from which no messengers returned. The shadows grew wildly around the symbol as if they were out of control and Bernard could sense that the Unseelies were in disarray and leaderless. That bode well for the French tribe as that was one less tribe to worry about for the moment though some leader might arise in the future to unite this prolific tribe.

The symbols of the other two tribes from which no messengers had returned, the Immortals and the Djinn, were not touched by the shadows which stopped at the ugly little head symbol of the Goblins. Furthermore the shadows stretched down from the Goblin symbol to the Orange Flaming Skull symbol of the Nether Necromancers hinting at a possible alliance between the Necromancers and the Goblins.

Bernard pondered the shadows meaning until he deduced what they meant. The Goblins were known to have increased their espionage efforts against the French tribe. The Goblins must be targetting French messengers to the Immortals and the Djinn since the messengers have to sneak through Goblin land to reach those tribes. With none of the French Nether spirit traps near Goblin land, the Necromancers are free to unleash their Nether spirit minions to track down the French messengers for the Goblins to ambush.

Bernard was confident in his interpretation of the signs but he also needed an answer to the problem so he returned his attention to the shadows one last time. The shadows were pointing a single straight line at the white man symbol of the Seelies. Of course, the Seelie glamor magic allowed them to hide from any would be tracker. It was time for the French to learn more about Seelie magic.

[Spain (DoB)]

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.

Himilce

[France (DoB)]

Messengers are sent out to all the tribes known to the French declaring:

The Earth Mother's prophesies are clear. The mystics of Spain shall summon forth new spirits unlike that of any spirit seen before. From the Spanish tribe shall arise a Great Oracle which shall sway the people from the four Great Spirits of Fire, Earth, Wind and Water to follow the new spirit. The Portuguese People shall be pushed into the sea and all tribes, even the French, shall eventually bow before the new spirits forsaking the old spirits. This the Earth Mother has foreseen therefore it shall be...

...BUT IT NEED NOT BE TODAY AND NEED NOT BE IN OUR TIME!

The French tribe call upon their Spanish sisters to end their blasphemy and return to the Earth Mother's embrace! It is not too late for our Spanish sisters to forsake this corrupt path and return to the old ways.

If our Spanish sisters will not end their heresy then the French tribe calls upon all other tribes that believe in the four Great Spirits, whether Fire, Earth, Wind or even Water to shun our Spanish sisters until they return to the old ways!

[Spain (DoB)]

The ways of the French are clearly the ways of a lot of talk, fuzz and froggy behaviour.

We are friendly towards all around us. We try to live in harmony and don't go looking in some crystal ball with all kinds of misguided visions on the future.

[Spain (DoB)]

Thinking about this last french statement Himilce suddenly gets a craving for frog legs.
She starts to prepare her famous recipe for “Ancas de rana a la castellana”.

She prepares it, eats it, and her anger subsides about such misguided allegations which are clearly devised to put a strain on Spains relationship with her neighbours.

Again she finds her peace.


************************************************** *********************

Himilce's recipe for Ancas de rana a la castellana (frog legs):

Ingredients for 4 people:
24 frogs´ legs
3 tomatoes
2 teaspoons of flour
1 sprig of parsley
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons of sweet paprika
4 tablespoons of olive oil
1 pinch of salt
2 green peppers
1 pinch of pepper
1 chopped onion
1 clove

Preparation:
Put the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onion.
Cut the tomatoes and the peppers into chunks and add to the pan.
Mix the parsley, garlic, pepper, clove, flour and paprika.
Add water until you get the consistency of a sauce and cook until this sauce is well mixed.
Add the frogs´ legs and cook for 10 more minutes

[France (DoB)]

The French note with deep regret that the Spanish have already forsaken the Old Ways and mock the prophesies of the Great Spirits. The Great Spirits gave life to all the Great Valley tribes including the spanish and now you turn your back on them like an ungrateful child.

If the Spanish intentions are truly friendly towards all the other tribes then swear so that all may hear that you shall not summon forth a new religious spirit. Swear that you shall not create a Great Oracle to spread the influence of this new religious spirit. Swear that you shall not take the lands of the Portuguese tribe for your own.

If these things you cannot swear then your intentions are not friendly nor are they harmonious. There can be no more sinister attack then to attack the spirits and beliefs of a people!

[Spain (DoB)]

We the Spanish do swear the following: we honor all religions and are great believers in harmony.

And we believe in not trying to impose anything on anyone.
All trades of life which strive towards harmony can welcome our warm support.

[France (DoB)]

The Earth Mother quakes. The Fire Father erupts. The Ocean spirit froths and the Wind spirit howls. This is what the Spanish call harmony! You disrupt the Natural Order for your own purpose and claim not to impose anything on anyone! You impose the very concept of Religion upon all Free Spirits!

Your elusive words clearly indicate your true intent to subvert the land of your Portuguese brothers. If our Portuguese brothers but ask then the Tribes of France shall stand with them against Spanish aggression!

[Carthage (DoF)]

.....

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The Nether are wary of the lies of France, but as we have not yet met the Spinach-speakers we have no choice but trust their words. If there are truly those that defile the honor of Water Ocean Mother, Fire Mountain Father, Wind Sky his brother, and Earth mate of Wind Sky. We must all honor the true creators of the world, and turn away from this new false thing the French Piggyswines call 'religion'

We joins our French bretheren in condemn this new evil called 'religion", though we are enemies we can agree to this that the religions are evil and bad and those that follow them must trurn away from this evil!

[Spain (DoB)]

At the annual Pyrenees festival, Himilce adresses Bernard, who apparantly has loosened up a bit
after drinking some of the fermented fruit juices from the grape the Spanish call uva de vino.


"My sweet french ancas de rana, you know my dear, that I like your bravado.
I really like you a lot, but sometimes you can get a bit loud.

We have good relations with the Portuguese. And we are confident we can make satisfactory
arrangements in and around the Iberian peninsula.

So, my little hocico del cerdo, this meddling in Iberian relationships is not appreciated.
May I remind you respectfully that you are disturbing the harmony.

This while we thought we had reached a good understanding and made good future arrangements.
Is it so that the French don't appreciate these arrangements?

Don't be a mammoth in the pottery shop, be in harmony with your neighbors."
She paused for a short moment.

"So drink some more uva de vino and lets be gentle and merry. Let's enjoy life!",
she said while waving to the band to start a new wild and ferocious Catalonian dance.

[France (DoB)]

Bernard took another sip of the Spanish fruit juice and smiled to himself as he felt the mystical effects of the Spanish fruit juice flow through him. The Spanish attempt to influence a French mystic by wine magic was amateurish since French mystics had invented wine magics nevertheless Bernard decided to play along to see what Himilce was after, having invited the French delegation to this Pyrenees festival.

The Spanish, like their wine, were much too sweet and not strong enough for Bernard's taste. It had been over 30 years since Bernard first saw the shadow prophesy of the Spanish spirit summoning. He had been learning all he could about the Spanish in that time in an attempt to prevent the great catastrophe that was looming in the near future. Some on the French council of mystics had recommended Bernard for this mission because of his Spanish expertise but most had wanted him to go because they believed the invitation to be a trap and few of the French attending the festival expected to return home alive. Bernard had many enemies on the council, mainly those who did not believe the great religion spirit prophesy would happen in their life time and they would be happy to see him gone.

Bernard was therefore reasonably fluent in Spanish and was well aware of the meaning behind Himilce's barrage of Spanish insults. The French mystics had made great progress in using Seelie glamors to gain a substantial understanding of Nether death magic and Bernard briefly wondered if the spirit of a living immortal could be trapped. Bernard dismissed the thought immediately since even though Himilce looked young she was over 10 times his age. Being over 500 winters old, Himilce presumably had some significant sources of power.

It was obvious that Himilce wanted to engage in a battle of taunts so Bernard obliged, "In France the most beautiful young women find a mate by 15 winters and even the most undesirable women will find a mate by 20 winters. I cannot imagine your frustration at not finding a suitable mate in over 500 winters. It is unfortunate that none of the Spanish men can measure up to your standards."

Bernard continued on without pause, "But I do not believe you invited us here to discuss the trials of 500 years of celibacy or the stigma of being the oldest virgin alive. We have come in a final attempt to dissuade you of this madness which threatens Mother Earth herself.

Immortality has caused you to lose perspective. You treat reality as if it is but a game when your actions have consequences and effect the lives of many. You reference conversations that you had with my ancient ancestors many generations and hundreds of winters ago and act as if I should know what you are talking about!

In the real world, outside of the never changing immortal bubble in which you have encased yourself, people live and die and struggle to exist in an ever changing world. As mortals we know that we shall die and all that matters is that we die for a worthy cause!

I give you forewarning that there shall be no harmony between France and Spain if you insist upon summoning forth this 'religious' spirit! If you seek harmony then abandon your insanity. The tribes of France are faithful servants to the Great Spirits and defending the Great Spirits is the most worthy of causes to die for!

I can only hope that I never live to see the time that your 'religion' spirit comes into existence."

[Spain (DoB)]

"Bernard, you shock me by saying that arrangements made with your ancestors are nothing to you.
In Spain we honour our agreements... "

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The return of Mighty Trotseer the Brave and the departure of Aantaleen and Angeline

To much rejoicing and cheering, Trotseer's Braves returned at last to the river village home of Nation of Fire, Nation of Water. Trotseer was a very old man now, his travels taking a toll on he and his men. But he was still very strong but still, the ancient immortality of the Nether was fading with each passing year. Some say still it is because of the loss of the Great Valley, some say it is poisons and evil French Earth and Wind magics. No matter what the cause Nether were dying younger now, not the centuries and milleniums that they used to live.

Even this was affecting Chieftain Aantaleen and Cheiftess Angeline. One day they finally call all the people together.

"Now it is time for us to go, we must pass into the Nether-regions of Ocean Mother. She will carry us deep to her Nether regions, into the realm of the rebirth where we shal renew our life force and return as reborn infants. Farewell to you our beloved countrymen, Nether and Dutch alike. When we return, we will not remember this lifetime again. Trotseer is here now to look after this land." The next morning they were gone, never to be seen again.

Some say that night, the two lovers held hands and walk towards the Northsea. They step into the waves, each step going deeper and deeper into Ocean Mother's embrace. Soon the heads are not visible as the waves wash over them. Then they are gone. Others say they went into the Darkwoods alone to hunt for the Great Valley where they would live forever as immortals. But no one really knows where they went.

[Japan (DoB)]

The most Noble and Honorable Tokugawa, ruler of Japan, has reviewed all reports coming in from the brave warriors traversing the land. In his mind, the fertile grasslands and magnificent mountains give shelter for village upon village, filled with his thankful and prosperous people. Mysterious the sea may be, surrounding every piece of this land, yet meaningful to us. This land, this solitary foundation, will grant us the greatest of strengths and protection from both beast and men.

Our village grows steadily, and the boats that sink give us insight into what can be improved. Soon, we will walk among the waves and greet the sun first hand, rising from the sea. Then the land and the sea will be shared among us, and we will learn more of what there is to find out there.

May we bend like the trees in the face of storms,
dig our roots deep, firm in the earth,
growing ever stronger under the sun.

-Jiraya, personal secretary to the Noble and Honorable Tokugawa, leader of the Japanese people, Year of the Yawning Snake.

[Arabia (DoB)]

In the year 3310BC, the first Religion Holy Islam is discovered in the Holy city of Mecca. All the Arabian people rejoice at the discovery of the first and one true faith. All the world must turn away from false religion and submit to Islam, the path of holy Submission.



The angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet at the Cave of Hira, the Quran, began to be revealed to him. His wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, encouraged him to describe the events that happened in the cave.

[France (DoB)]

OOC: Interesting historical trivia on Jun 7, 3301 BC at 8:36 AM there was a total Solar Eclipse that lasted 6 min and 8 seconds.

Bernard was an elderly man but he still insisted on getting up early each morning and leading the younger mystics to walk along the seaside cliffs since he considered that a sacred moment and spot where the four Great Spirits came together. The rising sun (Fire), the cliffs (Earth), the ocean (Water) and the morning breeze (Wind) all combined to discuss the upcoming days events and Bernard had become quite adept at interpretting their conversations.

This morning the four Great Spirits were particularly agitated and Bernard knew something important was happening but even he was not prepared when Father Fire turned his back on the Earth blotting out the Sun! Staring at the black sun, Bernard immediately knew that the religious Spirit was being summoned but not in Spain where he had interpreted! Bernard had failed the Great Spirits!

Just as the thought of his failure struck him, Bernard was struck blind by the black sun. In his confused panic, Bernard stumbled off the side of the cliff and fell through the air to drown in the sea below. Thus did the four Great Spirits fulfill Bernard's expressed desire to "never live to see the time that your 'religion' spirit comes into existence"!

[France (DoB)]

Foreign espionage agents have been reporting that in the 30 years since the Great Spirits granted Bernard's desire, the tribes of France have become stagnant and demoralized. The power of the revered mystical council of elders has been increasingly challenged.

Rumors abound that the mystical council have fallen out of favor with the Great Spirits and that the magic of this generation is far weaker then previous generations. There have even been occassional calls for Chief Benoit to show himself and take back visible control of the tribes!

Tales of Gabriel's heroic exploits have not appeased the masses, as they have done in the past. The tale of Gabriel hunting down the Persian Lion mystics is hardly even told having been supplanted by rumors that it was the great French hero Gabriel that summoned forth the religious spirit called Islam!

A few small pockets of French rebels have arisen which have asserted that the Great Spirits are a lie which the mystic council have invented to control the people and that Gabriel learned the truth in the Great Valley where he freed the spirit of Islam. These rebels were mostly wiped out by the french mystics, after the rebels openly called for Gabriel to return to Paris and claim his rightful place as ruler of the French!

The tribes of France were disunited but they are not any more since they have declared WAR on Arabia for spreading false rumors about Gabriel and for unleashing the Islam spirit to attack the four Great Spirits!

[Arabia (DoB)]

The people of Islam are saddened by the French declaration of holy war. This is unprovoked and unwarranted. Islam is the true faith not these false Earth and Water spirits. Islam should be praised and heralded as the first great religion of the world. Many imitators will come from Islam, this is only the beginning. France must stop this foolish path and embrace the future. Religion is here and her name is Islam.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Nation of Fire, Nation of Water calls also for all to stop this religion madness. We do not trust the lies of France, but we believe that Ocean Mother and Mountain Father must be respected at all times. If there are any who defile them, they must stop the before the world is aflame.

As for the liars of France we don't trust them and think they must be some excuse they are making to steal the lands and women of another land. Greedy Piggyswines that they are.

[France (DoB)]

Tales around French campfires talk about a band of the Garcons de Paris that has been cut-off from returning to France by Holy Roman tribe expansion. The band, known as Le Gaulois, was attacked by the spirits of the bears that Gabriel slew to free the Jinns of Arabia. The bear spirits were summoned up by the Islamic forces of Arabia to test the magic of the French mystics, who easily trapped the bear spirits.

Another popular campfire tale, is of how the immortal French mystic Gabriel used Persian shape changing magic to give himself thousands of wings so that he could fly around the lands of the rising sun exchanging knowledge with the mystics of the far off tribes. The Arabian mystic Muhammad, was one of Gabriel's frequent students. Muhammad's magic involved the summoning of the Jinn, which are actually a separate race from the Arabs, even though the two tribes inhabit the same desert. The Jinn are free-willed mostly invisible spirits of fire and wind while the Arabs are just normal mortals.

Muhammad became obsessed with the prophesies of Bernard concerning the summoning of a great religious spirit but instead of helping Gabriel prevent the great disaster, Muhammad used his new knowledge to secretly summon up the religious spirit of Islam for his own tribe. Betrayed Gabriel went to confront Muhammad but the Arab mystic had withheld the powerful secret of Arabic warding magic with which he prevented Gabriel from returning to Arabia. Gabriel and the Great Valley Seekers have headed further east seeking new magic to break the Arabic warding magic.

There are many Jinn who still remember Gabriel's defeat of the Great Bears which allowed the Jinn to return to the ground. Many of those Jinn have joined Gabriel, acting as messengers since they can fly invisibly over long distances extremely fast. Other Jinn act as Gabriel's agents in Arabia.

A third tale is that Arabic spirit attackers and spies have been unable to penetrate the French wine-based wards however some Arabs are taking vows of prohibition against wine in the hopes that their spirits might resist the French wards. While French mystics claim to be confident in their wine wards there is a concerted attempt by the mystics on learning the Arabic warding magic, just in case!

[Byzantium (DoB)]

The Byzantine people celebrate as the finnal house is risen in the new city of Thessalonica. For many years, citizens from Constantinople worked hard to create a new home so that there people would have the chance to grow. Let us all celebrate the compleation of Thessalonica.

thessalonica.jpg

[Arabia (DoB)]

Surely these Lion spirits are evil magic conjured by the bloodthirsty evil French. They prey on our warriors nonstop and must be the work of the evil French. Any other nations who are victims of the evil French magic, let your voices be heard! Speak out against this French menace of evil!

[France (DoB)]

French fireside tales are ablaze with the tales of the crafty invisible Jinn warriors slaying evil Arabs and leaving their corpses for the lions to feast upon. With no survivors the Arabs believe it is the lions that are slaying their warriors.

Another tale is of how the sacred land of the Battle of the Bears and where Gabriel exchanged mystical knowledge with the Jinn mystic called Salem has been settled by the Byzantines. The Jinn rebels fighting against the Arabs had already built a fortification on the site which they called Jerusalem, meaning "Salem gives instruction" however due to its concealment and the Jinn's natural invisibility the Byzantines had not yet discovered the fortification. Rumor has it that the Jinn are willing to accept the Byzantines settlement on the site as long as the sacred land never falls under evil Islamic rule. Gabriel is reported to have agreed to launch a crusade to free the land should that ever happen.

The Great Valley Seekers have slain another pride of panthers in the far lands of the rising sun however it is not yet known what force was behind the attack perhaps a hitherto unknown tribe.