The History of the World V . . . .

[OzzyKP]

DAY 1 - 2

Nicholas, a born leader, quickly gathered all the men together. He convinced them that they would be far more successful if they stuck together and worked as a team, an army, to defeat the Rakshasa.

There was much disagreement however, including those who accused Nicholas of merely wanting to use them so he could claim the prize himself. It was known that while Nicholas was a mighty fighter, his true talent came in his intellect and creativity, lacking the physical prowess of some of the other gathered warriors. In the end however he was able to convince them all to join together with him and pursue this task jointly.

They marched for an entire day through the jungle, and an entire day the following day, unsuccessfully searching for a sign of this empire of Rakshasa. Not a single one had been found. At night of the second day as they made camp, there was a tenseness in the air. All knew that there was much distrust among the gathered warriors, and unease with the appearant failure of Nicholas' plan.

The American warrior, Sam Houston, was the first to speak, "This is madness" he exclaimed as he threw a rock into the fire, sending up sparks. "The Rakshasa are scared off by this army of ours. They will never come within half a mile of us as long as we travel in such a conspicuous way. The only way to draw them out is to split up."

"And simply allow these beasts to pick us off one by one?" asked Nicholas, "We are not strong enough to face them alone."

"Perhaps you aren't, but by golly I'm ready for a fight. Just because you are afraid you can't talk yourself out of their clutches doesn't mean you should hold us back, boy." said Houston in his American drawl.

No sooner did he finish that sentence then Houston found his hat pinned to the tree behind him with an arrow stuck through it. While Nicholas was not a master at hand-to-hand combat he was an expert marskman and a deadly archer.

"I will thank you not to speak to me in such a manner in my own camp." said Nicholas. "But look at us... fighting amongst ourselves. I have known far more infighting than any man should bear, please let us end it now. The only way we will succeed is if we work together."

"I do not intend to fight you, boy, but I do not intend to follow you aimlessly through the jungle." With that, Houston gathered his gear and began to walk to the forest's edge. "If you wish to shoot me in the back, so be it, but I will not stay a moment longer with this doomed plan. Sita will be mine and mine alone. If the rest of you are wise, you should think of yourselves. To hell with this noble fool and his notions of teamwork. What use is teamwork anyways? Does he intend us to share Sita? Hahaha."

With that the American walked into the darkness. Convinced by his words, the other warriors gathered their gear and set out into the forest on their own. Nicholas watched them walk away one by one in silence.

The last to leave was Sun Wukong, who turned to Nicholas and patted him on the shoulder as he left, "I'm sorry friend, this is the only way. We make too much noise traveling together and scare off the demons. I wish you much luck."

And with that Nicholas was alone.

[OzzyKP]

DAY 3 - 4

"Finally the freedom of the hunt," he thought. "No more taking orders from that damn Russian blowhard. I will be the one to win the hand of Sita. And with the support of King Janaka I can overthrow that fool Robert and claim the throne of America myself."

Just then he heard a russle of leaves behind him. Houston spun around just in time to hear Nicholas call out to him.

"What the hell do you want, boy? Why are you following me?" said Houston, holding up his axe suspiciously.

"I just came to apologize for how things went down last time. You are absolutely right that we will never find the Rakshasa traveling together like we were. But being alone, they just may make themselves apparent to us. To make it up to you, I offer you a gift, please allow me to give it to you before we part ways once and for all," said Nick, walking slowly towards Houston.

"Ah, a gift? Much obliged. Let me see what you've got for me."

As the two met, Nicholas said, "I think you will be quite surprized by what I have to offer..." with that he quickly unsheathed his sword and ran it through Houston's gut.

"Quite surprized indeed...haha."


In Another Part of the Jungle

Nicholas moved cautiously through the undergrowth. "Fools," he thought, "They will be murdered one by one by these deceptive demons. I tried to help them, but they have turned away from me. If only there were something more I could do..."

Just then he heard a noise behind him. Spinning around with his arrow already drawn he sees the person of Sam Houston but 50 yards off. Smiling, Houston greets him, "Ah say boy, I'm sorry about how things went down last night. You were right, it is much smarter for us to stick together. These Rakshasa are too clever to face alone."

"That's one hell of a change of heart Sam, what made you change your mind?"

"I just realized I was being selfish. You were right. I was a fool for not trusting in you. Here, let me make it up for you, I've got a gift," said Houston, smiling and starting to walk towards Nicholas.

"Don't move a muscle. Or I shoot you dead. The Houston I know would never say such words. This must be a Rakshasa trick. Back away now or you die."

"No friend, it is you who will die for invading our sacred jungle. You will never escape here alive." And before Nick's eyes the man standing before him changed into a large bird and began to fly away. Nicholas was too fast for it, and shot it dead with a single arrow.

Half a dozen other large birds decended on him from above. Five of them he shot before they reached the ground. The last however reached him and transformed into its true form. Drawing his spear quickly, Nicholas did battle with the forest demon.

The Rakshasa fought hard but was slain by Nicholas.

"And that," he said to himself, "is why we should have stayed together. Or these shapeshifters will trick us all by taking on familiar forms to get close to us. This has just begun, may God protect the others."

The third day was long and bloody. With enemies waiting behind every tree, Nicholas had to be on guard constantly. He was smart enough to see through the ruse of all the creatures that presented themselves to him, and strong enough to slay them all. It was a difficult battle, and he was getting no closer to finding Ravana.

Knowing he would not be safe to sleep, Nicholas continued on, fighting both day and night. Hundreds of Rakshasa fell to his sword and bow. But he was getting tired...

Finally at midday of the fourth day his luck ran out. The Rakshasa, guided by their skilled commander, Prahasta, set a trap for him. Chasing one of the demons in bird form, Nicholas failed to notice the covered pit ahead and stumbled in. Dozens of demons closed in on him, but to his surprize, didn't kill him. Instead he was bound, knocked unconscious and carried away to their camp.

At Prahasta's Camp

Nicholas awoke in a cage at the demon's camp. He looked around at his captors and saw creatures of all shapes and sizes. Some of them disgusted the eye, while some were beautiful to look upon. Some had long arms and frightful shapes; some were very fat and some were very lean; some were mere dwarfs and some were prodigiously tall. Some had only one eye and others only one ear. Some had monstrous bellies, hanging breasts, long projecting teeth, and crooked thighs; whilst others were exceedingly beautiful to behold and clothed in great splendor.

He did not see any human warriors from the contest, but while still in a daze when he was first brought in, he swears he heard human sounding screams from elsewhere in the camp.

Soon Prahasta, their commander, and servant of Ravana, came to speak with him. "King Janaka was a fool to think you humans could hope to challenge us. The men he sent are all dead. And soon you will join them."

"Why did you capture me? Why not kill me when you first found me? And who was it I heard screaming earlier?..."

"You and the slit-eyed man with a monkey on his armor, have been captured and brought here to be tortured before you die. You both killed many of our soldiers and deserve a punishment worse than death for your transgressions. Before we are finished you will beg us for death, but you will not die. Not yet at least," said Prahasta coldly.

Glaring menacingly into his cage, Prahasta continues, "First you will be whipped. Guard, give this man 20 lashes."

The guards entered Nicholas' cell and tied him to the back and began striking him. The pain was terrible, and long scars took their place upon his back.

Prahasta stepped in close to him, and began to speak, "I must confess there is another reason I have taken you both alive. I wish to learn the location of King Janaka and Princess Sita. My King, Ravana has heard of your pathetic contest and has seen the beauty of Sita and wishes her for himself. Tell me where they are and I will show mercy and kill you quickly. Otherwise you will continue to be lashed."

Nicholas turned to Prahasta and spit in his face, "I will never talk, fiend."

"No matter, human. If you don't talk than the other will. Let me make a deal with you, to show I am a person of good will. The sooner you talk the easier it will be for you. If you talk and the one you call Sun Wukong refuses, then I will grant you a quick and merciful death. If he talks first and you continue to be obstanate, then you will receive 50 lashes."

"And if neither of us talk?"

"If neither of you talk then you will each receive 10 lashes and we try again. If you both talk then you each receive 20 lashes and we allow you to die. As you can see, telling us what we want to know is the easiest escape from this pain. What do you choose?"

"I will never tell you."

"So be it. Guards, lash this man...."

[OzzyKP]

DAY 5

Nicholas and Sun Wukong were both men of impeccible honor. Neither had divulged the location of the King and the Princess. Yet by now, both were quite bloody. Not wishing to kill them yet, Prahasta allowed them some time to recover and build their strength before continuing.

On the morning of the 5th day of the Swayamvara Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, comes to visit Prahasta at the camp, "Why do you toy with them so? My brother already knows the location of Janaka and Sita and moves towards them now. Why continue with this cruel game?"

"Breaking their spirit is the worst torture of all. Whether we need the information or not is irrelevant, they must believe they have betrayed not only each other but the Indian king and the lovely Sita. Only then will their punishment be complete."

"Ah, but they don't talk do they? The honor of these two humans is the likes of which I have never seen. No matter the pain, they continue to stay silent and suffer rather than betray a friend. It is quite remarkable."

"Quite frustrating is what it is. But don't worry, all men break eventually. Their time will come."

At the camp of King Janaka

Pacing nervously in his tent, King Janaka confides in his wife, "What have I done? It is now the 5th day and not a single warrior has returned. I have sent all these young men to their deaths in a foolhardy Swayamvara. In the end not only will Sita not have a husband, but India may find herself at odds with all the kingdoms who sent their princes out to die in our jungles. This couldn't get any worse."

And just then, things got worse.

A loud clammor was heard outside, and one of the King's men rushed in the tent, "Sir! Terrible news! Princess Sita... she's... gone sir."

"Gone?!? What do you mean gone?"

"It happened too fast for any of us, it seems Ravana himself infiltrated our camp and kidnapped Sita."

"Kidnapped!! How did you not see him?"

"It seems he took another form, sir. Witnesses report seeing you enter the Princess' tent, then hearing a loud scream, and they both were gone. All that was left was this note."

Ravana's Note

King Janaka,

Your attempts to destroy me are pathetic. You send a few dozen brash fools to invade my lands seeking to marry your daughter. A cunning plot to be sure, let the others do your dirty work, but like your other foolish schemes this one has failed. You humans are a pathetic lot, and now you will pay for your misfortune.

I am quite frankly hurt I wasn't offered an opportunity to compete for your daughter. No matter, the letter you sent to the Inca was quite revealing, I especially liked the attached picture of your daughter. So much in fact I couldn't let a gem like her go free.

Therefore as per the rules of your competition, as the sole survivor of the battles in Naira, it is now the 5th day and I have come to claim my rightful prize. Don't worry, she will have a spectacular birthday.

- King Ravana

"Sire, your orders?"

Janaka's face was gray and bleak. All seemed lost, but he would fight for his daughter if it cost him his very life, and indeed his entire kingdom. Finally he turned to the soldier and said, "Ready your men, we march."

At the palace of King Ravana


Vibhishana arrived back at the palace just as his brother did. Seeing Sita held firm in one of his many arms, he asked Ravana, "What do you intend to do with her?"

"Brother, brother, brother, you have spent far too much time in meditation and prayer, if you can't guess what I would do with a beautiful woman like this."

"No, this time you go too far. Janaka mobilizes an army to destroy you. Release the girl and he may seek peace."

"Peace? Hah, that old fool sent forth men to destroy me a mere 5 days ago. It is he that has started these hostilities, I am entitled to my due rewards," said Ravana, eyeing Sita lecherously, "I have no worries from King Janaka, his pathetic band will not threaten me."

"And I am entitled to my conscionus. I will have no part of this." With that, Vibhishana left the palace.

[OzzyKP]

Day 6 - Morning - Back At Prahasta's Camp

Approaching the camp, Vibhishana heard more screams. It seems the prisoner's day of rest was over and it was time to torture them again. As he suspected they still didn't talk, maintaining their honor no matter how painful, and ultimately pointless. He couldn't allow this to continue. He couldn't allow his brother's evil to continue. Even if it meant helping a human.

Turning himself into a small dog he secretly entered the camp. He waited until Prahasta left Nicholas alone for a moment while he turned his attention once more to Sun Wukong. At that moment he entered the cage and quietly began to nibble away at Nicholas' ropes. After he was freed, Vibhishana then dragged Nicholas' sword to the cage.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Nicholas.

"No time to talk, free your friend," replied Vibhishana, "Your bow is in the eastern most tent. First though, I will heal you."

With that, Nicholas was healed, and grasping his sword for the first time in two days, freed himself from his prison. Quietly making his way around the outside of the camp, avoiding detection and silently killing whatever guards he met along the way, Nicholas reached his bow and armor in the eastern most tent.

He strode confidently and quickly in the direction of Wukong's cell. His screams piercing the otherwise calmness of the jungle. Nicholas shot down all in his path before reaching Prahasta and his elite soldiers. With no hesitation Nicholas opened fire with a rapid volley of arrows on their position.

He felled a good number of them before they had time to react. Prahasta however deflected the arrows and drew his sword to face Nicholas, however he would never make it. Using the distraction, Vibhishana entered Wukong's cell and freed him, and healed him.


Picking up the whip which was just minutes ago used to torture him, Wukong lashed out at Prahasta, gripping his sword arm with the whip, and pulling him to the ground. Wukong was a feared soldier known throughout China and the world for his power in combat. However, he was not without honor, and allowed Prahasta to rise to his feet before squaring off with him.

The two fought with sword, whip, and shield. It was a ferocious combat, and is remembered always as second only to the battle that was yet to come. Ultimately though, Prahasta was no match for Sun Wukong. The Rakshasa warrior fell to his knees, injured and bloody, and defenseless.

Nicholas stepped in and urged Sun to show compassion, "Let the creature live, he can no longer hurt anyone." Wukong lowered his sword.

"You are wrong!" gasped Prahasta as he reached for his sword.

But before he could bring it to bear on the two surprized warriors, he was felled from behind by Vibhishana.

Looking up at him, still shaken, Wukong said "That's twice now you have saved us. Who are you and why do you betray your own kind?"

Vibhishana said, "I am Ravana's brother, but I do not betray him. It is he who has betrayed God, and I can no longer turn a blind eye to his evil. But we have no time to lose, Ravana has kidnapped Sita. I will lead you to the palace. Quickly, follow me. She needs your help."

[OzzyKP]

Day 6 & 7, the Climax

Vibhishana led them forward to Ravana's fortress. Word had spread about their escape and the going was not without incident. Many Rakshasa attacked the three, but none survived.

By nightfall they arrived at the palace, a palace embroiled in an active siege. King Janaka's army had arrived earlier that day and laid siege to the castle walls. There were thousands and thousands of Rakshasas and the Indian army was taking heavy losses.

Nicholas and Sun Wukong rushed off to speak with Janaka. They were detained and after proving their true identity were allowed to speak with the King.

"King Nicholas, it is good to see you alive, and you Sun Wukong. Any word from the others?"

"It seems they have all perished sir, the Rakshasa are cunning demons."

"Yes, our forces are quickly finding that out. This battle is taking too long, I fear for my daughter's safety and...purity."

"With your leave sire, Sun and I wish to rescue her. Ravana's brother, Vibhishana has aided our escape and will show us a hidden passage into the palace. He has taught us Ravana's weaknesses, and has been a great asset to us."

"Wonderful news. I wish you all godspeed. Please find Sita and save her from that monster. I will continue to press the direct assault. Please hurry."

A Short Distance Away

"Here, this is the tunnel entrance that will take you right into the palace. Remember what I told you, and good luck. Save Sita, I couldn't bear for more innocent lives to be lost this day. I cannot follow you. Not only can I not fight my brother openly, but his immunity to all celestial creatures like myself, makes the idea impossible. You two are on your own now."

"Vibhishana, your conscious is clear. You have done an honorable thing today. You truly live in harmony with dharma, and I shall remember your devotion as long as I shall live."

King Nicholas of Russia and Sun Wukong of China boldly entered the tunnel that carried them to the palace and their destiny. They ran forward dispatching any guards they met along the way. They both worried for the fate of the Indian army amassed outside, but knew they must not fail in their rescue of the Princess.

The two great warriors raced through the palace until finally they heard Sita's screams. Following her voice they tracked down Ravana. In his natural form he was a terrifying, gruesome sight to behold. Ten heads and twenty arms. This would be the battle to end all battles.

After noticing his 'guests', Ravana locks up Sita and arms himself (har har, arms), ready to fight. Nicholas with his bow, and Sun Wukong with his sword the fight rages on for hours. They fight throughout the night and through the entire next day. The palace itself is shook by their epic battle.

Ravana has lost many arms, but he presses on. There seems to be no hope of victory for either side. They have fought each other to a standstill. Being righteous to a fault, Nicholas attempts to talk to Ravana, "This battle is pointless, simply release Sita and you will be forgiven."

"Never, I shall not surrender without being defeated first, human."

"Why must you be defeated in combat? Is not an intellectual contest worthy of settling this matter once and for all?"

"Haha, a creature with but one head challenges the great Ravana to an intellectual battle. What do you propose?"

"I propose a battle of wits, riddles to stump the other."

"Agreed. I shall go first. Until I am measured, I am not known, yet how you miss me when I have flown."

Nicholas thinks it over, and then answers, "Time. That was easy, my turn.. I never was, yet always will be. I am never seen, yet always come. I can carry nothing, yet hold much for some."

Ravana mulls this one over for quite some time, before with a chuckle, answering "Ah-ha, the answer is 'tomorrow'. Quite clever. Now, here is one for you, What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?"

"A man. Crawling as baby, walking upright in middleage, and using a cane in the twilight of his life."

"Damn... I suppose that is an acceptable answer. I would have also accepted a shapeshifting rakshasa. But good job, its your turn."

Alright, "As I was going to Maradhives, I met a man with seven wives, And every wife had seven sacks, And every sack had seven cats, And every cat had seven kits, Kits, cats, sacks, wives, How many were going to Maradhives?"

"Ah crap. Math. I hate math. Lets see... 7 wives, times 7 sacks, 7 cats, 7 kits... 7 times 7 times 7 times 7, hmm... fricken hell," Ravana gets out all 20 hands (including the lopped off ones on the floor) and starts counting and doing his figures on his many outstretched fingers, "49... and, uh... 343. Ok. Its.. its.. 2401."

"No. You are wrong. The answer is one. I started by saying 'As I was going to Maradhives.' So the answer is one. Hand over Sita."

Angered, Revana bellows menacingly "Noo! That was a trick! You cheated me, human. You will die!!" With that Revana lunged forward towards Nicholas. His sword however never reached its destination. Sun Wukong dove in front of Nicholas.

Nicholas cried out, "Noooooooo!", but was unable to act, as Ravana stabbed Wukong through the chest, a fatal blow.

With his dying words, Wukong called out, "Remember what Vibhishana told you. Remem...b..e..r.."

He is right, Vibhishana, said that Ravana had obtained amrit, the nectar of immortality, from the gods. Though he could not consume it, he nevertheless stored a vessel of it in his stomach. Destroying that would render him vulnerable. Now was his chance to strike, Ravana left himself open.

Nicholas quickly reached for an arrow and let it fly. It is a perfect shot, striking Ravana right in the gut, destroying his vessel of amrit, and at long last killing the mighty demon.

Nicholas stumbled over to Sita's cell and unlocked it, exhausted from everything, he collapsed into her arms. Looking up at her heavenly face, he asked, "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

With that he passed out.

[KunojiLym]

The ceremony of marriage held in Moscow rivalled that held in Dehli as the most lavish celebration in the known world. People from all over the world came to gawk at the man who, it was rumored, slayed a full-fledged demon with naught but an arrow, and also at the legendary beauty of his new bride. For weeks afterwards, the streets of Mowcow were alight with color.

Tales of the Tsar's feat spread far and wide, all over Russia. Whereas archery had previously been a sport enjoyed only by the Imperial Court, it was not long before every man, woman and child, too, learned to pick up a bow. Furthermore, Sita's beauty awed and inspired many an aspiring talent, and it was not long before the clamour began in the great cities to erect a suitable mounment in her honor. But it was in matters of the faith where the Nicoyama had the most impact.

While the Imperial Court, seated in Moscow, remained firm believers in the sole existance of the 'One True God', the people of St Petersburg, that second light of the Russian nation, were soon singing the Nicoyama in the streets. The tales spread up the Ural River too, eventually making converts too of the people of Rostov, then a young and brash city. The former personal guards of Victor even named themselves the Ramayans, using the Tsar's Indian name, after they slayed a troop of barbarian axemen on the outskirts of India. However, their brashness was to prove their undoing, as they perished shortly thereafter in a futile assault on a set of entrenched barbarian warriors, upon a desert hill where the Indian city of Bangalore now stands.

This was but a taste of what was to come. The hordes came swiftly from the west, arrows and axes on the ready. The people of St Petersburg mustered every resource that they had to fend off the threat. That desperate war would later be forever known as the years when the mouth of the Muscovite River ran red with blood - the Leti Krobee, or Years of Blood. At the end of it, St Petersburg was a shadow of her former self, and the remaining troops blooded and half-dead. But the indomitable spirit of the Russians saw the city through those dark times, and within the span of a few decades, she was once again a leading light in Mother Russia.

To ward off the barbarian hordes, Tsar Nicholas established his own elite troop of axemen. Dubbed as Nicholas's Axes, they were sent first to India, and then to the easternmost reaches of the Russian nation. In the meantime, as tensions once again came to a boil in the east, the Russian expeditory force proved itself against the Mongol horde. In aid of the English, what will be later be known as the Impeskie Osi (Imperial Axes) routed the weary archers in Turfan, and then made its way towards the capital of the enemy.

As the rule of Nicholas the Great reached its twilight years, Mother Russia looked set to continue upon her path to destined greatness. The Tsar had already named his heir, and was now spending much time in grooming him for the throne. With a heir clearly named, the turmoil that characterized the years of internal conflict seemed but a distant memory.

[OzzyKP]

FOURTH SESSION 480 BC

India(Gandhi) - OzzyKP
America(Washington) - CyberShy
Germany(Bismark) - AI
France(Louis XIV) - NPDragon
China(Qin Shi Huang) - condor223
Russia(Catherine) - KunojiLym
Spain(Isabella) - AI
England(Elizabeth) - Deity
Mongolia(Genghis) - AI
Inca(Huayna Capac) - NicodaMax

[deity]

A few more stats...

Points.

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Points.

[deity]

HOTW 5 Session 4 GNP

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Power

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Culture

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Shields

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Food

[deity]

HOTW5 Session 4 Elizabeth (deity) demogs.