New Horizons - EuroDiplo - Story Thread

[Ottomans (NH)]

Bumin knew that his time was close. But he was confident as he prepared to face his ancestors.

First, he had led his people through the terrible ordeal of the long treck from the East, and found the rich lands of Europe to be the inheritance of his trible. He had made a friendship with the Ostrian people who agreed to divide this land between them, and established Pella in the Western lands on the borders of the Ostrian people where many Ostrian maidens flocked to secure marriage with the strong Turkish men.

But more importantly as he faced his end Bumin rejoiced in the establishment of the great worship of the gods in Constaninople.



The secrets had first been shared by the fishermen of the coasts around the great city. But theirs was a primative shadowly cult - it was now sacred, glorious and awesome, established truly at the place where Europe and Asia met, the bridge between heaven and earth. And he, and his successors, the guardians of the truth faith, the annoined of the gods. Indeed more and more his people saw his as one of the gods. He just shock his head, but his son seemed enamoured of these divine honours.

His son, a strong man, who had hunted in the lands to the West and had found and mined the first copper in the lands to the south, and who haboured plans to mine coloured, patterned rock from the lands further south to glorify the shrine of the gods.

But for now Bumin sat eating the rich fish harvest from his fleets, surrounded by his harem, and thought of the coming nights.

[England (NH)]

Cerdic's Passing

The men were gathered around the byre. Cerdic, Bretwalda of all the English peoples, was dead. Laid out before them, Cerdic was shown in full battle dress, though in truth he had not led the peoples into battle in some time. His contributions had been much more important; for this, the men did honor.

Cerdic has been ruler of the tribe for many years. He had taken over shortly after the death of Ælle, and had done many great things for the people. He had strengthened the tribe through the addition of others around them with like customs and language. He had overseen the establishment of more "cities", the accumulated housings of the people in one place, so that they did not have to wander in search of food or shelter any more. He had guided the people to new knowledge, carefully husbanded, which allowed them to do many helpful things, none more amazing that working the reddish shiny metal that was found in the land of the English. And he had kept the people peaceful, strong, and growing.

Men listened as the priests chanted the listing of Cerdic's accomplishments. They noded silently as the priests reminded them of how Cerdic's hand had shown the people's of the coast how to build bigger, safer boats; how his mind had conceived the idea of planting new grasses from the seeds of last season's harvest. They recounted the feats of exploration, which had extended along the whole of the island, large and wealthy, upon which the peoples lived. The men were happy to remember these things, content to spend the day in peaceful backwards-looking.

Tomorrow, there would be troubles. Cerdic, for all his greatness, had never established a dynasty. His people were still fragmented; many potential kynigs could claim to be Bretwalda. There would be choices soon, and it was not clear in what direction a new leader would steer the people. And who knew how much longer the peoples across the Channel would sit idly by without making any attempt at contact, or conquest. Tomorrow was cloudy.

The men lived in today at last. They silently lifted up the figure of Cerdic and carried him slowly to the great mound prepared for him. Whatever else tomorrow would bring, all would remember the golden days when Cerdic had been in charge.