Destiny of Empires [Diplo Game] [Story Thread]

[France (DoE)]

Translated introduction from L'Histoire de Paris by Legendary Archaeologist Jacques Cousteau.

The old Parisii hunter stood on the bluff, listening to the crash of the ocean waves below. Across the water he could barely see the strange huts on the far island but he could not see the builders. Whoever had built the huts, they were not Parisii. They were Other! Parisii hunters were reporting other strange buildings to the north and to the east as well. There were at least 3 strange tribes invading the ancestoral hunting lands of the Parisii. The waves crashed faster and louder as if to match the quickening beat of the hunter's fear-struck heart.

The hunter's imagination tried to give shape to the fears invading his mind. The westerners probably smeared feces on their face! The northerners probably had hair like urine and the easterners were probably hairy hunchbacks with only one eyebrow! They were all disgusting creatures and they had no right being in his homeland! The wind began to pick up, whipping the waves below to an ever increasing frenzy, while his mind whipped up ever gruesome images of the invaders!

These disgusting others would come and rape his women and eat his children! The very thought made his blood boil and his mind scream in rage. Fear had become anger. Anger had become an all-consuming rage and rage had become determination. Like a cornered beast who can no longer flee, his survival depended upon an unhesitating merciless will to fight to the death. He would give no ground to these invaders!

So it was that the Parisii families, that had wandered since the beginning of time, banded together in one location to defend against the invading tribes that surrounded them. Legend says that the city of Paris, on the shores of the French Channel, was founded approximately 6000 years ago as the first village of the Parisii tribe.

[Inca (DoE)]

OOC: Going with real Earth geography after all... sort of.

We set out long ago from our homeland on this sacred journey. No one is alive who remembers the old land, many generations having passed. But we keep to our duty, for the most part. This land we have found ourselves in is very different from what our ancestors lived in, and what our fathers and grandfathers traveled through. The story goes that we came from the mountains, where the Essence touched briefly this land while passing overhead. A great cloud, they say, is what it resembled then, and in touching those peaks some of it became trapped on the other side, and then hardened into snow, falling on the peaks. That snow, in turn, became water and trickled down into our valley, where it turned into a lake, our Titicaca. Our people drank and ate from this lake, and through it became strong and aware of the universe and the Essence. From that came our mission, to find the limits of this land, so we may know the true greatness of the universe, and the fullness of the creation.

We measure our land not in patchas now, but in years: how many it will take to reach just the second of the four limits. 164 years so far, and there is no sign of it still. Every day we head Left of the sunrise, to the Leftmost place, still unfound. I am very old now, but I have known only these jungles since my birth. Here is a thick, dark place, the sky always dark, always assaulting us. We have no friends, but we meet no enemies; it is only us and the universe, and with it we commune through exploration of its depths. This path is our prayer, it is our meditative purification.

But when I was very young, there were still some men who had seen that earlier land, one of ash and dust and rock: The ancestral Hilllands, or Pachusuz Sunupiti. For generations they had walked left through those lands, across countless valleys, onto unending ridges, across the green plateaus, and down into the white deserts of the coast. From there, we –I, now– passed into the Greenlands, the Alchahuzpi Sunupiti, where we are still today. I remember the forests of my youth being much less thick than they are now, but that may have been just because I was very small. There were hills then, too, but now we travel over much flatter terrain, and the mountains have all but left us.



The Inca capital of Capaco was founded in 3956 BCE. At first it was only a small collection of farming villages near the coast, on the floodplains of one of the small rivers that carved vast canyons out of the western slope of the Chupat Mountains. Only about 1500 people lived in this area at the time, although already the population was expanding to the southeast along the coast, to an area that was more fertile and would prove very receptive to Incan irrigation. The earliest major settlements here were along the great twin river systems of Bayuchupi and Bayulla. Within a few hundred years, however, most of the activity in this area was centered on Cunupinumanu, which for a long while provided the young empire with most of its growth as the local population expanded on strong yields into neighboring provinces and into the urban center of Capaco. The Inca Empire –at that time little more than a loose collection of farms– was still one of canyons and small coastal plains, their sustenance harvested regularly from what small amounts of arable land they could find on the banks of the major rivers. Slowly, though, a new source was found: the sea. Over about eleven generations the river people learned the tools and trade-craft of harvesting the ocean, and it would not be long before Incan exploratory fleets were working their way up and down the coast in search of new lands and the “great limits” that ironically existed right in front of them the entire time, directly above them.


15°25'31.92"S; 74°36'42.24"W


16°20'18.50"S; 73°10'37.19"W

[Aztecs (DoE)]

A letter from an aide of Montezuma I

The following was translated from a post-conquest Spanish text written by Hernando Castillo. Castillo prefaces it by saying the letter was found by a travelling merchant and it is believed that the letter never reached it's intended destination.

-- C. Kent

Montezuma is a fool. He dances like a puppet on a string, and has no idea I'm manipulating his every action. It is likely I will be able to persue the action we discussed very soon. Things are starting to settle and people are getting complacent. Ripe for the picking.

A shipment of cacao and quachtli should be reaching you soon. I will send a courier for you should I need your services. I have also seen to it that your family is well taken care of. They will prosper under my watch, and soon all the people of Aztlan will benefit once we have what we are striving for.

I will be waiting for confirmation of both this letter and your payment. May fortune smile on you, my friend.

Citlatl

[France (DoE)]

Agence France-Presse (AFP) posted September 22, 2051

The DNA Ancestory Project has recently announced that all Europeans can be traced back to 5 tribes circa 4000 BC.

The Parisii tribe were the well known ancestors of modern France. English, Turkish and Viking tribes also existed around the same time however the shocking discovery was that a tribe of Neanderthals still existed circa 4000 BC. Previously thought to be extinct around 30,000 years ago, the theory that most modern Germans are direct descendants of Neanderthals still living only 6000 years ago is certain to be a hotly debated subject in scientific circles.

[France (DoE)]

Excerpt from Mapping Pre-Historic Migratory Paths Via DNA by Archaeologist Jacques Cousteau copyright 2051.

Combining DNA studies with archaeologic evidence, it has been possible to map out the migratory paths of prehistoric tribes and their inter-relationships. DNA samples show that the Gaul tribes originated from the Parisii tribe which inhabited the area of modern Paris around 4000 BC. The Parisii tribe, approximately 2000 strong, was highly migratory and headed north where they would have encountered the English tribe.

It was at this meeting approximately 3975 BC that the Parisii tribe divided with approximately half the tribe forming the first Parisii oppidum with the other half of the tribe continuing its migration. Archaeological evidence indicates that the nearby English village of London predates the Parisii village by approximately 25 years so it is possible that the Parisii tribe were emulating the English when they settled their first village.

Regardless of the reason for settling so close to London, the result was that the two villages exerted such a tremendous cultural influence over one another that it was previously believed that the Parisii tribe was originally of Celtic (English) origin. Recent DNA evidence has shown that the two races are genetically unique and that any relationship between the two is the result of cultural influence only.

The migratory portion of the Parisii tribe headed north where they would have encountered the Viking territory. The tribe then veered east until then ran into the Grunzen Neanderthal tribal territory. The tribe then veered southeast until they encountered the Turkish tribal territory.

[Native America (DoE)]

Previously thought to be extinct around 30,000 years ago, the theory that most modern Germans are direct descendants of Neanderthals still living only 6000 years ago is certain to be a hotly debated subject in scientific circles.

[Native America (DoE)]

Coyote Runner was perplexed. Coyote had never mentioned anything like this to his people. Here, staring at him across the creek was what appeared to be a man. It had two arms, two legs, a head, two eyes, a mouth, an ugly beak of a nose. It looked and acted very much like a man. But it made noises that made no sense to Coyote Runner. It would open its mouth, make the noises, gesture with its hands, and then wait, as if it expected Coyote Runner to respond. But such noises it made! Clicks and sounds in its throat that no human would ever make.

Coyote Runner tried to talk back to it. It appeared to listen, but it did not understand. Coyote Runner thought and thought. Coyote had not mentioned such things, but Coyote had made mention of how other gods had mocked him for making Man. Perhaps some god had mocked Man with this thing. Clearly, it wasn't intelligent; it couldn't even speak or understand speech! It just imitated the act as best it could with its animal mouth.

Coyote Runner nodded to himself. The animal was not man. It was not worth worrying about, then. He had other, important business to attend. These mountains had to be traversed; the People had to know what lay on the other side. He would waste no further time. He turned and left.

[China (DoE)]

As Tung explored the north, Tang was busy at home.

Having just given birth to a new born son, Yi, Tang felt his encampment safe enough to leave and explore South. His wife Wen would have to take care of the new-born and continue construction of a boat that would allow them to fish the ocean to the East. Tang knew better than to venture far from home so he made sure to plot a route that would both allow him to explore the surroundings and also stay close enough to home in case he needed to defend it.

As both warriors, Tung and Tang explored the wild all alone, they were separated geographically but together with their thoughts...

Are we alone? Are there other like us out there? We have seen animals but no other men.

[Arabia (DoE)]

Islam Founded - 3675 BC

The prophecy came true, and Islam was born in Mecca.

Islam is founded on the concept of one God, who the Arabians called Si. It was the hopes of the faithful that the word of Si be spread to other lands.

For the first time there was a sense of unity among the tribes. They now looked upon outsiders as the enemy as opposed to each other. Survival, and the spread of Islam to all Arab people were the major contributers to the unification.

Lead by one God, and no man.

[Japan (DoE)]

Long ago a man was born into the head family that ruled over Kyoto, his name was Butsu. At the age of 29 he left the comfort of his
home in search of the meaning of the suffering he saw around him everyday. For 10yrs he sat under a bodhi tree high atop Mt. Fuji
and mindfully meditated letting go his mortal self. Then on the full moon of may, with the rising of the morning star Butsu became
Buddha, the enlightened one. For the remainder for his life he spread his teachings to all and created monks who would one day
spread this teaching to all parts of the world. he lived only 45 more yrs and on his death bed his last words where:

Impermanent are all created things;

Strive on with awareness.


After his death Kyoto offically adopted Buddhism as its offical state religion and began striving to spread Buddha’s wisdom to all they
find.



To do no evil;

To cultivate good;

To purify one's mind:

This is the teaching of the Buddhas.

[America (DoE)]

The cavemen looked at each other in silence. Recently, over the past few generations, they had come up with a very basic form of communication. It consisted mainly of guttural noises, but they were able to talk.

"Ugh, grrrrrr, ugh ugh, grrrrr, ugh", said the clan leader.
"Ugggggh!" said his right hand.

And thus great things were decided.

[Inca (DoE)]

Nine generations was the length to the Leftmost Limit. It was many more that we were wandering through the dark jungles of Cachullayco, that great land of darkness and rain that covers the whole of the Rising Lands, those across the Chupat from our origins. We have found we are not alone in our wanderings, though. Three times we have come across others, who like our ancestors in the Great Split, have settled into a life in one place. From them we have learned of the great expanse of the Blue Frontier towards the sun’s set, and from others all the crafts of the woods, how to hide, how to fight, and how to use the plants to heal ourselves. We have become experts ourselves in these wanderings, but now we travel to new places, colder places, drier places. After hundreds of years, we finally left the almost endless expanse of foliage and traveled over the dangerous plains of Cahapiz. There, in those fertile yet hauntingly bare lands, we nearly met our end as nature turned foul, hunting us day and night with wild beasts we had never seen before. We passed through the gauntlet of teeth and claw with many lost men. Our knowledge of the jungle and woods were of no use; despite all we had learned we were helpless. We now find ourselves in a new place, with plants we have never seen before. Here, it is dry, it is thick mountain and hillands like our ancient home. So we have stopped in these high woods to rest and settle for some time ourselves. We may one day leave this place, but it will be generations before we are a strong enough tribe to once again travel the land.




Near 3018 BCE the long journey of the Tupaca came to an end on the small lake called Hazoccoyna. There, in the rocky and lightly wooded highlands, the people set up the first permanent settlement in what would become Argentina. The lowlands were at the time brutally competitive with local wildlife being dominated by a highly vicious species of lion, alongside the South American panther and bear, all of which made permanent settlement an unattractive option for the woodland gatherers. Slowly, though, their descendants did spread down the hills into the rich grasslands, setting the stage for Incan settlements during the later great migrations. At this point, communication between the Tupaca and Capaca peoples had been severed for centuries, and when the two finally met again, it was with much alarm and confusion.



Lake Hazoccoyna.



In the meantime, the Capaca had been building civilization. After settling up and down the coast, the people had moved back inland into the hills to harvest the abundant supplies of gold there. The small civilization was flooded with gold jewelry, gold décor, and even gold weaponry (mostly for show as the early Capaca had no enemies or even predators to worry about). The two parts of the empire at this time, the hill people (Mancha) and the coastal people (Capaca), were beginning to diverge. Both lived primarily off of the produce of valley floodplains amidst great hills, and while the coastal people supplemented this with fishing, the hill people supplemented their potato and tomato diet with corn grain bought from the coast and fruits and wild plants gathered from local forests. The two regions were not easily delineated, with desert-walled river valleys extending far inland, but the fishing and trade of the coasts did not extend very far, being a product of the seas and coastal expansion. At this time, though, most people were still a mixture of valley farmer, pioneer, and fisher. With minimal differences to divide them, an early inter-regional economy and trade developed, although it would be some time before proper trade routes were constructed to aid in the flow of goods.



The land of the northern Capaca: Culnachul.



The land of the Mancha: Canncoculcha.



The government had grown more influential, as the original tribal villages and farm collectives slowly morphed into a centrally-controlled empire (although serious autonomy was granted to constantly expanding colonies and the "empty lands", where new pioneers were free from any real intrusion into their lives. Capaco was still weak and small compared to its future greatness, but already it had been taking an active role in directing its population’s labor into improving the lands through grand irrigation works and the grueling process of creating gold mines within the “heart of the world”. Around the time the Tupaca had settled in Hazoccoyna, the Capaca were spreading even further north along the coast to the bountiful plains of Culnachul. These plains were the first time that government-directed flows of population were responsible for a migration, where government work groups first arrived on the scene, only later to be followed by a popular wave of immigrants. The government had also sent out another great expedition of Mancha to discover the Rightmost Limit, which was discovered in a few centuries. During this journey, the Mancha party, forced to survive off of the harsh landscape, developed advanced hunting techniques, although in a very rapid manner, at odds with typical Incan technological evolution. Some believe it was adopted by the Mancha party upon the assimilation of another, local people.

Returning to the Capaco region and central government, it should be added that none of this new control would compare to the great leap forward when stone gave way to metal and a cursed institution was born that would unfortunately survive the ages…

[Ottoman Empire (DoE)]

Hail Ramesses, Great Builder of the Desert Wall.

We the turkmen have heard of your great wonder. Truly the gods must bless you to have achieved such greatness. All praise to you.

We turkmen rely on the utter destruction of our enemies to keep our people safe. But yours is a more noble path. We are in awe of you our friends.

Suleiman the Founder.

[Israel (DoE)]

Egypt, land of Sand



A man, a woman and a child were sitting on a sand dune.
The father had fear in his eyes.
He whispered to wife. Looking around all the time.
As if he feared a possible danger to show up.
Suddenly.

"Why do we fear father?" the small kid asked.
His father answered by singing a song.

"In the desert
there are no friends
only enemies.
The Sand will not cover us
The sun will not relieve us
The winds won't stop hunting us
Our enemies will kill us"



Pharao Tiu, leader of the settled nomads, called all aged men of the clan to meet at his hut.
They encircled him.
Nobody talked.
Suspicious looks at each other.

"Help my family" one whispered.
"Don't kill us Pharao" another mumbled.

"We build a wall to defend us!" Tiu decided.
Then all grown up men of Egypt built this wall.



"Are we now safe, father?"
"Never....!"

[Israel (DoE)]

Suleiman,

Please don't kill us.
Thank you for your kind words, I think.
We did not build it to use it against you.
Please don't destroy us. We want to be kind.

Are we friends?

Pharao Tiu
Your slave