Tales from Gaia

[belinda9]

this is the Monday night diplo game just started: drake, belinda9, rridd, boann and chris. We run on a random map, and I'll just let everyone introduce themselves as they show up...

[belinda9]

Listen my son, and remember, for this is the history of our people as it has been passed down from generation to generation: so shall you also tell it to your sons and daughters, that it might not be lost to us.
In the beginning were the People, who called themselves the Chiraqua, and they gathered under the leadership of Big Momma, and established Home upon the western coast, where there were fish and grasslands and forests. Life was hard: the people had to work from sunup to sundown to eke out a living, as the land was rough and unforgiving. Yet some were called to study: Big Momma, in her wisdom, decreed all must support these scholars so they could devote their time to discovering new skills to aid the Chiraqua and make life better for the whole. The first of these discoveries was the art of Horseback Riding. Warriors had gone forth to explore the surrounding lands, but with this new discovery, horsemen could explore farther and faster than the warriors on foot, so this was good. In this way was found wandering nomads, who wished to become Chiraqua, and thus was Deerprint begun in forested lands to the southeast where deer were plentiful. Scholars invented our Alphabet, and then the art of Ceremonial Burial, and our people became more advanced. Big Momma had been such a wise and beneficient leader for our people, that upon her death after a long life, her successor also took her name; and thus it became the tradition for our people that whoever should lead us would be our Big Momma.
During these hundreds of years, Home had grown and prospered, and so it was fitting that others should wish to go forth and settle these new lands our horsemen and warriors were exploring, and they went with the blessing of Big Momma. One band of settlers went east and settled in the narrow lands between the seas, and did take the name of Betwixt for their settlement.
Then did one of our band of horsemen come upon barbarians, who slew them. When word reached Deerprint of this atrocity, other horsemen rode out to avenge them and cleanse our lands of these murderous barbarians. In doing so, they discovered the great Southern penisula, and sent back reports of a land rich with resources. They found wandering nomads, and convinced them to join with the Chiraqua, though they journeyed for many years before they settled on the far southern coast in a land rich with whales, deer, and fishes. These nomads became discourged during this trek to unknown lands, arriving only under the iron will of their leader, Kagoshima, and thus was their colony named in his honor.
Our esteemed scholars still came forth with new discoveries for us every so many years: the science of Mapmaking allowed the people of Home to build ships to sail forth and find new lands. Code of Laws allowed our people to enjoy better leadership and fair and just laws for all, as Warrior Code gave us a new class of strong military. Even as settlers from Betwixt journeyed to the farthest northeastern reaches and founded Bounty on the penisula, where there were fish and whales to hunt, settlers from Deerprint journeyed east and settled along the coast where there were whales and pheasant, forests and grasslands; this became the city you know as Easthaven.
And then, my son, in your grandfather's time, word reached us from our triemes at sea that they had discovered another people, living peaceably upon an island to the northeast, who called themselves the Freedoniaians. These people taught us our present system of government, Monarchy, as we taught them Horseback Riding. We promised peace with them, that all should prosper each in his own space, without interference from any other, and to this end traded maps with them, so each should know where the other called home in the world. Then our ships sailed to the northwest, and soon discovered another people, the English, who were prospering upon a larger island too far to our north to reach by ship without following the Freedoniaian coasts. With these people we also promised peace; although we learned no new technology from them, having none to share in return that they had not already discovered for themselves. This discovery happened even within your lifetime, my son, even as the founding of the first monarchial dynasty happened as you were born. The Big Momma who passed away ten years ago, the Goddess protect her soul, did herself crown as her successor our present Queen Belinda, and decree that henceforth the rule of our people should pass from Queen to her firstborn, being either male or female, as they are brought up and taught the intricacies of leadership. Thus does our people grow and prosper, and thus do we teach our children to grow and add to the proud legacy that is the Chiraqua.
We will talk of this again, my son, that you may learn the oral tradition that is our history, so as to pass it along to your children. Now, go and help your mother pack. You don't want to leave anything behind when we join up with the settler train leaving out at the end of the week. Just think! We will get to help settle new lands and found another city, even as the legendary Kagoshima! I only pray the Goddess I live to see the end of the journey....

[drake]

The brief history of the mighty Arabians

The people that would come to be known as the Arabians evolved in the lands of the north. It was here Marrakesh was founded. In the next few thousand years, many cities in Arabia would be founded, most notably Mecca and Baghdad.

After hostile talk with the white man (and women) of the South, known as the Celts, a national boundary was founded in the southern portions of Arabia. Mohammed allowed the Southern half of Arabia to be bisected for he was a humble man and knew he did not have the resources to hold this ground. The Arabians will allow the white man to move onto this land, but the border will be closely supervised, for they certainly have not earned our trust at this point.

Barbarian savages continue to be a problem for Arabia. 3 teams of warriors have been lost to the savages. 2 bands guilty of these murders were rounded up and beheaded, but one group is still wandering free in the west. The Sultan has offered a bounty of 5 gold to any man who brings the savages bodies in.

The future looks bright for Arabia. Our government is the most sophisticated in the land. It is a system of elected senators who speak for the people, with the Sultan making the final decisions after advisement from the senate. The people love this government and are incredibly happy at this point in time, for they feel as if their voice is truly heard!

We soon wish to establish a system of trading within our own country and later the world.

[Chris 62]

Tales OF Gaia

Got to watch that title, Belinda!

Haven't got the time now to do Freedonia's history, has to wait untill I get home from work!

[Chris 62]

A nation awakes

Through the mists of time, the story of an anciet and peaceful people was past down.
Know you that they were know only as the Freedonians, and that they inhabited a small island in the sea of the breaking waves....
So begins the translation of the recently discovered texts uncovered in the latest ecavations, we know have a glimpse of of our ancestors, whom first settled these lands, and attempted to spread freedom and brotherhood throughout all of Gaia, our beautiful planet.
These texys were written about 2,000 BC, and give invaluable information about the first 2,000 years of Freedonian history.

The capital, also know as Freedonia, has founded on the river Aneaux, in an area of forrests, and the Freedonians quickly began to take the rich bounty of the sea of the breaking waves as a means of commerce and trade, so that they may spread forth in goodwill and fellowship....
The first settlements have recently been excavated, and show a glimpse into the lives of everyday freedonians.
They quickly made use of the great banks of both fish and whales near the iniatial settlement, to begin there ascent up the long ladder of civilization.

In the course of time, even before the first capital was founded, a band of fierce charioteers joined our great people, attracted by their offer of a better life, pledged alligence to our first ruler, and thus even before we had a city, we had an army...
Evidence of early wheeled vehicles and early bronze armor has been found at three sites thus far, showing that this text is strong in historical fact.

In due course, we became the first race of Gaia to have a king, and several other outposts were founded, portected by our mighty phalanxs, and our beautiful cities had temples to the mighty gods of Gaia, and our sprit godess of our race, Freya...
Recent finds do indeed show that the Freedonians where the first to develop the concept of Monarchy.
The first kings (as the early monarchs were known in the text) began a rigouros program of temple building to the many gods of the Freedonia, and here began the Gaia cult to the Goddess Freya, mistress of the harvest.
It also indicates that the early freedonians were excellent with bronze, and had come up with an effective military system for defense.

One day, out of the Sea of Braking Waves, came strangers to the shores of freedonia, who came riding Horses, and who spoke a tougne we at first could not phantom, but quickly mastered. They came in peace and as brothers, and the Freedonians quickly took to them as true friends, and taught them of Kings, and learned form them of Horses....
Scientists beleave that the visitors were the Chiraqua, a great seafarring people who also lived on the shores of the Sea of Breaking Waves.
This culture seems to have also made contact with the English, another of the early cultures mentioned in the anciet texts.
It seems to indicate that the Freedonians taught the Chiraqua the concepts of Royalty, and in turn learned the science of horsemenship.

In due course, they built mighty ships, and began to explore the known and unknown world...
Evidenxe of these sturdy ships have been found at several sites, and indicate a solid knowledge of mapmaking and basic seamenship.

More next time...

[drake]

Arabia made much progress in the reign of Mohammed the second. A meeting with the peaceful Freedonians took place and a large plot of land in Arabia was agreed upon as Freedonian territory. Borders agreed to with Queen Boann and the celts has been upheld and we have come to more friendly terms.

The friendly Freedonians shared their maps with us and a wide world opened to our eyes. In their map, the Freedonians had lands which they said belonged to the Nations of England and the Chiraqua. England was quite large, and Chiraqua was quite mediocre in size. Soon, we will head out onto the open seas and find these people for ourselves. Perhaps we shall exchange goods with them.

Rumor has it that the English are a very aggressive civilization. This if course cannot be confirmed, but nonetheless Arabia will keep a close eye out for the English and their warriors.

Many great wonders were created across the world in these last years of Mohammed II's reign. In England, it is rumored that a series of massive triangular shaped brick buildings were erected. Apparently the English use these massive buildings as burial plots for their royalty. We have also heard of a massive, artificially transplanted garden on the roofs of a grand palace in an English town. The Freedonians tell us that the proper name for thie wonder is the Hanging Gardens.

Our friends the Celts have also been busy. Being quite the explorers, and masters of navigating open ocean, the Celts built a tribute to their love of the sea by building a tall cylinder that reaches for the sky, higher than any tree, on their coast. At the highest point of this cylinder, a fire is burned to signal the sailors of approaching land at night. Queen Boann tells us that most navigation is cut off during the night....but such a wonder will allow even nocturnal travel.

And finally, here in Arabia, we have built a gargantuan statue bearing resemblance to Mohammed I, in our capitol city of Marrakesh. The legs straddle the two sides of a small gulf, which is the entrance to the Marrakesh harbor. This site has already brought many Arabians throughout the country to gaze in awe. The onlookers bring gifts and goods in tribute of such grand construction. As a result, the markets are full of many exotic wares. Mohammed II anticipates that after his death, that Marrakesh will become a worldy center for exchange.

Arabia now proudly boasts 22 cities and still growing. Science is still rolling and internal and external trade will soon begin. These are good times for the Arabians.

[Chris 62]

The Freedonian texts, Part II

In due course of time, a large island was found to the north, in the sea of storms. Our people settled on this island and did call it Burland...
Evidence shows that the early freedonians began to colonize nearby islands some time around 1,000-800 BC.

Becoming aware of the world, our friends the Chiraqua proposed we ally with them and there friends in a mighty League, for the protection of our trade and nations...
In approximatly 550BC the Freedonians, Chiraqua, and the British joined in the Ocean League Pact, which was propossed by Queen Belinda I of the Chiraqua, and was agreed to by both the Freedonians and the British.
The OLP was a defensive alliance designed to protect the sea people from aggressive nations, and it seems that the Freedonians and Chiraqua believed in peace completly.

Before long, we taught our friends from accross the sea how to read and write, and they taught us the way of the warrior, and several other arts....
These two cultures exchanged knowlege throughout this period, the Freedonians teaching things like writing, the Chiraquas teaching fighting skills, and pratical things such as Pottery.

Soon our nation came into contact with mighty Arabia, and they invited us to live in their lands...
It seems that the Arabians wanted a balencing power to the Celts (A seafaring people who harrased them throughout prehistory) so they gave large tracts to the Freedonians to settle in.

Before long, we had maps of most of the known world...
Freedonian knowledge of Gaia was more complete at this time that any other power.

More next time...

[deity]

Need a sub? LOL

Shame I work Tuesday Aussie time

Not that you'd want me anyway!

But I'll follow your thread - great posts thus far...

[drake]

Heres the game if anyones interested.......

[boann]

Hear the words of the Star Goddess,
the dust of whose feet are the
hosts of heaven,whose body
encircles the universe:
"I who am the beauty of the
green earth and the white
moon among the stars and
the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul and come
unto me.For I am the soul of
nature that gives life to
the universe.From Me all things
proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that
rejoices,for behold - all acts of love
and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and
reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me,
know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek,
you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I
am that which is obtained at the end of desire."



The History of Avalon.

before time there was the goddess . she has been and always will be . Life force and mother of creation... she made the
world and set on it her daughters to hold peace and knowledge
in our hands and rule over the beasts.

Time passed and we the daughters learned many things
about the beasts and plants of our land. The use of horse beasts
to move over the land and the use of men beasts to irrigate and
work the land. The trees for building of many crafts to explore the great waters. we built a great light to find our way home from the black waters at night. there are many daughter colonies now and our crafts flow over many waters over all the known world.

the goddess told our great princess to set out warriors to explore the land and waters. Our warriors found people to the north , but the men are warriors and their skin is a different color . We are not sure what to make of them . where are their women...these men who do not even know of the goddess or give honor to her.
we do not understand them or their ways.
we shall keep vigilance and watch them closely.

the day the green boat came with the slanted eyed warriors was a fearful time. they came upon our home by surprise but were peaceful. we do not know very much about these people .

we hear stories of other peoples from our crafts that explore the seas . I suppose in time we will meet these strangers.

[drake]

Ok all, we had a few issues this week due to different problems on Monday and Tuesday.

Anyway, for this coming week, Belinda and Rridd have a football game to go to on Monday (Go titans), so Chris and I were wondering if you all could do a tuesday session this coming week. It would <i>really</i> suck if we missed two weeks in a row!

Boann, Belinda and Rridd, please post here and let us know if it can be done

[boann]

i will do my best to be there monday night.
might be around 615 mt time.
since i get off work at 530.

[belinda9]

No, boann.
Relax Monday--that's the night neither rridd or I will be here to play because we already had tickets to the Monday Night Football game for that Monday (even before we started this diplogame).

I should be able to make it Tuesday and will see about rridd, also....who should also get off his lazy can and POST HERE (hint, hint) BUT...I still do not have my new hard drive as of today (Fri.) though I'm supposed to get it all done by today or tomorrow, and I plan to have Civ reinstalled and be back to speed by then. I just mention it in passing because it hasn'tr exactly happened yet and you never know what the computer gods have in store for you.
In case anyone here didn't know, my hard drive fried bigtime on me last week and I was down for several days. So I'm still trying to get my system all back how I want it, and get my programs reinstalled and all that good garbage.
I tell you what.what next? I feel right now like the old song "if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all..."
sigh.

[belinda9]

ok. so rridd says he can play Tuesday.
I should be able to play Tuesday (assuming my *&%^&$ tech guy actually shows tomorrow morning to finish me uP and I get civ back on my new hard drive!)

so I'll check back before then and see if it's ok with everyone else and we can try for Tues. just this week.

[Chris 62]

Freedonian Texts part III

As time moved forward, we realized our destiny was to bring the world together in harmony.
Although other nations may have more land, and more skills, we alone possed the ability to speak with all, through our fine embassies....
The Freedonians established a network of embassies throughout the known world, after the great Freedonian explorer Marco Polo returned from Arabia with tales of the great Eastern kingdoms.

We understood that we were not the world's leader in acdemicians...
It seems that Fredonia was middle of the road in scientific development at this time, approximatly thrid in world development.

and also that our lands were not the most extensive...
Recent studies show that Freedonia was the smallest of the major powers in this period in terms of land, yet maintained a considerable population.

Our brave explorers found new lands to the north, and many Freedonian settlers set forth in search of a better life in the Northern seas...
In about 240 AD the Freedonians began to colonize the northern region, where there where British and Celtic settlements.

Thanks to Freya's favor, we could see where the children of Gaia were moving...
The Freedonian "Bureau of Barbarians" was quite extensive, and provided detailed information on the activites of the other nations of Gaia.

In due time, we met the great Queen Boann of the Amazons, and joined with them in peace...
The Freedonians made contact with the great seafarring power, the Amazonian Celts, a matriachal society, and seems to have allied with this power, as a balence against the more powerful states of Freedonia.

More next time...