Near a meadow where mektoubs and raspal were grazing, there was an old root thicket. In this thicket, near a barn and granary, there lived a family of talkative frippos. But the homins had moved on, barn and granary were empty. And as it turned to become winter soonish, the frippos started to gather grains and nuts and jubula and staw. All frippos laboured day and night. All, but the frippo Frido. ``Frido, why don't you work?'' they asked. ``I am working'' replied Frido, ``I'm collecting sun rays for the cold and dark winter days''. And as they saw Frido sitting there, gazing at the meadow, they said ``And now, Frido? We are all working, what do you do?'' ``I'm collecting colours'' he said, ``as the winter is long and grey.'' And once it looked like Frido was half asleep while all others were working hard. ``Are you dreaming, Frido?'' the frippos asked with contempt. ``Heck, no'', he said, ``I'm collecting words. There are long and dark winter days and we will not know what we shall talk about.'' As winter was approaching, and the first snow fell, the five small Frippos retreated into their hide-out between the roots and branches. In the first days they still had plenty to eat and the Frippos told many stories about singing Varinx and dancing Tyranchas. The whole family of Frippos was happy! But more and more of the nuts and Jubula eaten, the straw ran empty and the grains were only a remote memory. It suddenly became quite cold between the roots and branches of the old root, and no-one felt anymore like talking. Then they suddenly remembered when Frido talked about sun rays, colours and words. ``Frido!'' they called, ``what abour your provisions?'' ``Close your eyes'' he replied and climbed a large root. ``Now I'm sending you sun rays. Do you already feel how warm they are? Warm, nice and golden?'' And while Frido was telling about the Sun, the four Frippos already felt much warmer. Was it Fridos voice? Or was it some magic? ``And what about the colours?'' they asked excitedly. ``Close your eyes again.'' said Frido. And as he talked about blue Liosta and orange Gonji in the yellow fields of Ba-Che and of green leaves of the Jubula bushes, then they saw the colours so clearly and vibrantly as if they had been painted within their small Frippo heads. ``And the words, Frido?'' Frido cleared his throat, waited a moment and then told from a small stage: ``Who scatters the snow flakes, who melts the ice?'' Who makes the loud weather, who makes it silent? Who brings the lucky clover in Frutor? Who dims the day, who lights the Moon? Four small Frippos like you and me, live in heaven and think of you. The first Frippo in spring makes the rain laugh. The summer Frippo is the painter and has to colour the flowers. The autumn frippo sends his regards with nuts and Bac-Che. The winter frippo needs warm shoes for his cold feet. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are the four seasons, no more, no less. Four different happiness``. As Frido finished all Frippo clapped jollily, laughed and shouted ''Firdo, you are a poet!`` Firdo blushed, bowed and said humbly ''I know, you beloved Frippo-faces.``]]>
But the stanza itself appeared to be affected by the same alteration, as confirmed by the temple bonzes. Through gaze meditation on the amber, they determined that the fragment expressed a profound disharmony, a corruption of matter, a supernatural power.
We then turned to the Magnetizers. Qai-Zhan, the master magnetizer from Jen-Laï, wanted to harmonize the amber of the stanza with the thoughts of a group of homins who would have brought peace, harmony and kami goodness. In theory, this should have stopped the amber destructuring and allowed the opening of the stanza.
But despite all our efforts, the stanza exploded. Qai-Zhan maintains that he had the impression that the Kamis' conjuration was aggravating the situation just before the stanza exploded. This is, of course, strictly impossible. On the other hand, our group's inexperience in the practice of meditation must have resulted in fatal disharmony.
When the explosion occurred, some of those present thought they saw the silhouette of a kirosta. For some, it was black. Others saw it as red. But it was all a blur, and only lasted as long as the blink of an eye.
After the explosion, I searched in vain for the pieces of the kirosta dart. All I could find was a black liquid, of which I took a sample. But the behavior of the amber of the stanza never ceases to worry Qai-Zhan, and I'm afraid the analysis of this liquid won't give us much more to go on.
Haido Xuan
Dynastic Gardener]]>
• The Lost Little Boy
• The Unwary Ranger
• Song for Anlor Winn
• The Fall Of Old Matia
• The Inphantom
• The Underworld Boss]]>
7h - Tria, Nivia 27, 4th AC 2619
]]>
"Ne me demande Laye ce que Ne vais pouvoir mettre?
N'ai que mon grand uniforme : Le Grand Blanc ou mes tenues de travail...
...en ce qui concerne l'apparat N'ai nec l'habitude."]]>
At the invitation of Namcha (Lore Team), several players gathered on the evening of August 13, 2021, at the Thesos Research Center to learn more about Atys and its sky.
The distances
In game, the compass tells you how far your character is from a creature or character you are targeting. It also tells you the distance to any place of Atys when, on the map displayed (key M), you click on the flag that indicates the place in question. But in this case, the distance is wrong. Indeed, for long distances (greater than the maximum distance for direct targeting), the compass is not realistic: the New Lands are a bit larger than they seem!
The real distance, between two cities for example, must in fact be calculated from the Atysian time taken by your character to actually cover it in a straight line, which can be calculated from the clock displayed on the map. However, multiplying the distance indicated by the compass by 20 is a good approximation of this real distance within each country (country = area delimited by vortices), but not between countries.
This being said, the New Lands cover an area of about 120,000 km² (a square of 300 to 350 km on each side), which is still quite small, much smaller than the Old Lands in any case. Let's remember that what we call New Lands is the set of countries mapped by the in-game maps, countries that the homins have joined after the Great Swarming. In fact, since the beginning of the game, the homins live on these New Lands and only know about the Old Lands, which are not mapped, what the texts say of them.
But let's go back to the question of using the compass to evaluate the distance between countries. Indeed, with the compass you can play the funny game of triangulating positions to obtain a "server map" which is very different from the map displayed in game. The fact remains that it is the latter that is the authentic one for the story: the "server map" is just computer science. Or if it had a meaning, it has long since been lost by the developers who succeeded one another on Ryzom.
Q: So the countries are correctly positioned on the map?
A: Yes. Except that the map is a "split" view, like an orange peel that you would have opened up, which also shows the countries under the Bark, the Primes Roots, which are under the New Lands.
Q: You talk about a square of 300 to 350 km on each side, but the northern edge of the Desert seems to be only 80 km long. So there would be a large distance "hidden" by the vortices?
A: Yes, and also some of the surrounding areas, like the old newbie islands, your guild islands, etc. It's all "around here".
Q: OK, the countries are not really stuck together. There's some sort of buffer zone is'nt it?
A: The vortices do make a small jump, yes. But not hundreds of miles.
Q: So from the southwestern Desert to the Whitherings, it's not that far?
A: No. In fact, you could say that, on a planetary scale, the New Lands are very close together.
Q: Does this mean that there are still unexplored countries around the known countries?
A: Yes, a lot, in fact. However, it is normal that homins do not venture too far.
Q: But... are Almati Wood, the Nexus and Silan part of the New Lands?
A: Yes, although I know that, as for those, some rumors have it that they are not, as the Powers have said homins that they are part of the Old Lands. These places were indeed "opened" during the Temple War, by the Powers.
Astronomy
If the sky is not at all coherent in game, the celestial objects that we see there do exist in history. There are four of them and, since night has just fallen, I will review them before describing their interactions.
- Let's look to the east. A nebula is rising there, it will soon be at its zenith. This celestial body is the star of the Atysian system, its center. It is a sun then, but which radiates very little in the visible spectrum. Moreover, it is veiled by a cloud of celestial dust.
- To the north, we have a magnificent planet with a ring. It is a gas giant, it revolves around the star (normally). And Atys is a satellite of this gas giant that the gaming community has named Sagaritis.
- To the southwest, we see a "red moon". It is moving southwards (I remind you that the movements in game are completely wrong). It orbits Sagaritis, like Atys, but with a more elliptical orbit. It is always full and it emits its own light, weak.
- Last of the list of four, the one that does not move, in the east. It is the only star that is "correct" in game: indeed, it should not move.It is the star that makes the day, the luminary. It is a satellite of Atys, geostationary. And, as scholars know, in the Ancient Lands, this star is at the zenith, upright.
Q: There is one thing I don't understand. If it is geostationary and makes the day, shouldn't night never fall?
A: No. Because it pulses. It turns on, it turns off. During the night we see the afterglow.
Atys, I said, is a satellite of Sagaritis, the gas giant planet with its ring. Atys always presents the same face to Sagaritis (it is called "synchronous rotation", like that of the Moon around the Earth). It goes around Sagaritis in one cycle, the Atysian cycle.
Q: Does this mean that in some places on Atys, neither Sagaritis nor the pulsar can be seen? So it is always dark there?
A: So... it's true that we could be on the wrong side of Atys and not see Sagaritis at all. And if we went far, far westward, yes, we would end up seeing the luminary no more. But... maybe something is planned to solve this problem!
Q: The Karavan is from another planet than Atys, but is this planet in the Atysian system?
A: No, the Karavan myth says that she comes from another world. This is why humans have the concept that there are "other worlds". The word "planet" is also part of the myth.
When the game was designed, the celestial bodies did not have names. You could almost say that they were there just to look pretty. As I said, the community named the gas giant Sagaritis (mnemonic: SAGA of RYzom, aTYS). This name, since "officially" adopted, refers to an Earth legend, of the Phrygian people (antique occupant of the present Turkey). Sagaritis is mentioned in the chronicle titled Chrysalis, which tells of the escape of Yrkanis from Jino. It was also mentioned by the player Dalcini in one of his poems. Both texts refer to the Terran legend, with nuances. That's why, to stay in this legendary reference, I propose the name of Cybele, or Cybel (masculine or feminine, you decide, both are acceptable) for the nebula. The legend says, roughly, that Atys is son of Cybele, and Sagaritis his lover (in Chrysalis, the genders are reversed), which carries a secret meaning for the story of the game.
And what makes the seasons on Atys, it is indeed the nebula, or Cybele. In fact Atys goes around Sagaritis, and Sagaritis goes around Cybele. For half a cycle, one should not see Cybele. When she rises, spring begins. Most of Cybele's radiation is not in the visible spectrum, but it contains enough energy to create, in addition to the luminary's, the seasons on Atys.
Q : Is it the one who brings heat then?
A : No. It is mainly the luminary that brings heat and light to the planet, Cybele's radiation is added to it when it is visible, that is to say present in the sky of the New Lands.
On the other hand, the light that Sagaritis sends back to us is that of Cybele. There would be a lot to say about the appearance of Sagaritis! It should be a show in its own right, throughout a cycle. It should be fixed in the sky, I already said it, but it has nothing to do in the north. The homins don't really know it, but the habitable lands, Old and New, are on the equator of Atys, at least its "equatorial belt" (don't rely too much on the image representing the planet here and there: it's an "artist's view", not a satellite photo).
Sagaritis would, if it were "correct" in game, be positioned to the west, a little higher on the horizon and, as we are in the equatorial belt of Atys, we would see its rings vertical (more or less, since Atys is not exactly in the equatorial plane of Sagaritis). So during one half of Atys' turn around Sagaritis, we would see one side of the rings, during the other half the other side, and at each half-period, their edge.
Q: This also depends on the inclination of Atys with respect to its orbital plane, right?
A: Yes, the latter is about 20°.
Sagaritis, like the Moon seen from the Earth, should also have its phases: full, dark, rising, falling, etc. In the night zone, one would often see flashes of lightning and at the poles, huge aurora borealis. In the illuminated zone of Sagaritis we would see curling and unwinding wisps (similar to the one we see on the surface of Jupiter and Saturn... as long as we get close to them). Its rings would always shine, whether it is black or not, but sometimes a part of it would be hidden by the shadow of its mass. Conversely, the shadow of the rings would sometimes be projected on Sagaritis. Finally, as Cybele could pass behind Sagaritis, one would sometimes observe an eclipse.
To continue the comparison with our solar system, I specify that Atys, satellite of Sagaritis, is of a size similar to Mars and has a gravity slightly lower than 1G.
Q: Does this mean that the proportion of hidden territory is huge?
A: Yes. *smile* That leaves room for lots of creation!
Q: Ah, how about that! Have our homins have any idea of sa taille ?
A: No, the homins don't think it's that big. On the other hand, Oflovak did achieve some things.
Q: Are homins able to measure great distances with precision?
A: Yes, thanks to the fixed stars. But especially the distances along the parallels. For medium distances, it is more difficult, because the observable displacement of the star is not sufficient.
The Red Moon, as for it, is also called Amber Moon, or Karavan Moon, Kami Moon, Tryton Moon. It is always full (no phases) and its size is variable. If it were "correct" in game, it would only be visible at night for three quarters of each cycle, since for the remaining quarter it would be positioned above the other side of Atys.
Q: It's moving away and getting closer?
A: Yes.
Q: Does it have a particular orbit?
A: It is in the same plane as Atys, but different from it.
Q: More elliptical?
A: Yes, and there's a kind of chase between the two.
I'm not going to tell you exactly what the nature of this celestial body is. Just know that it is neither rock nor ice. In fact its mass is very low compared to that of Atys. Perhaps the trytonists would know another name for it. A name that would sound like "Ryzom". But I'm starting to talk too much...
Q: You still need to explain how it radiates its own light.
A: There is a kind of energy that emanates from it, but not enough to be seen by day.
Q: Oh OK: it's always there, even in daylight, but then not bright enough to be seen?
A: Yes, except when it is behind Atys. During a cycle, it rises and sets. But when it is at the zenith, it seems for several months to move in slow motion, it is very strange!
To finish with astronomy, a word about the starlit sky. If it were "correctly represented" in game, it would not rotate during the night, but much more slowly, on a cycle. In addition to shooting stars, we would sometimes see bright objects moving quickly and flashing.
Q: When I look at the moon, there seems to be a light shining directly below it... does anyone know what it is? Do we know the source?
A: No. I think it's like a not quite properly realized effect. In fact it's a mistake: the light on Atys comes from the horizon like on Earth. In the same way, when the day comes, the light should not come from the horizon but from the luminary whose brightness increases progressively.
The Canopy
I would now like to go down a notch in altitude and say a few words about the Canopy. Its branches run between 1 and 2 kilometers in altitude and are between 200 and 500 meters thick. If we were to stick to the "artist's view" of the planet mentioned above, they would be at least 300 km thick! It would be night below.
Q: Have homins ever been on the Canopy?
A: Climbing the start of a Canopy root would be possible in principle, if it is not too steep. But, assuming one reaches the top of the Canopy, there would be health complications!
The surface of Atys
To represent the surface of Atys, imagine the same thing as the Canopy, but placed on the ground. It is made of compartments, and these compartments draw like a map of the game.
Q: Is the "ground" of Atys roots? Or is it something between roots? And if so, what is it?
A: The subsoil of Atys is composed of many layers of roots on top of each other.
Q: So the roots form the edges and bottoms of kind of compartments?
A: Yes, and each compartment fills with debris. And the last layer is at the top: that' s the canopy.
Q: We are on a root mat with sawdust between the roots to give an illusion of continuity?
A: Yes. But in the Old Lands there are larger compartments. The New Lands, around the Nexus, is special.
Q: What do you mean? What's so special about it?
A: The fact of having several different biotopes in a very small area, and small extents.
Q: The plants we see on Atys, are they epiphytes of these roots that form the compartments or are they connected to them?
A: They are epiphytes except for the crolices (which are indeed connected to them).
Q: Why has no explorer tried to see what lies beyond the horizon? Beyond the cliffs? Fear of not being able to be relieved by the Powers?
A: Yes, because the New Lands are an El Dorado, since the Powers offer there resurrection for all. This was not the case in the Old Lands, before the Great Swarming.
The years of Jena
As you know, in the calendar we have cycles, and Jena years and there is an equivalence between the Jena year and the earth year. But not only: in fact, to say more, the current date 2614, is indeed the future of our 2021.
Q : Atys is the future of the Earth ! Did I understand correctly?
A: The story is set in the future of the Earth, yes. But that doesn't mean that Atys is the Earth. That's why the fantasy approach of Ryzom hides a SF reality.]]>
"So, Serae Liosta! To what do we owe this untimely demonstration?", exclaims the Karae, deceptively severe.
The young Matis blushes, still too young to perceive the subtile nuance in the voice of the Karae.
"I was thinking, in a few weeks, that Jena will have blessed me with 21 years of life and I haven't done much with it. It makes me despair."
"Come on, you are still young."
"I'm sure that you'd already done great things at this age!" Liosta shakes her head.
"Twenty-one years old..."
"Oh yes, Nae Karae, tell us about it, naete!"
The gaze of the Karae, as caught by the twilight of the evening, becomes distant while she begins to reminisce her youth:
"I celebrated my 21st birthday with my father and family in the great hall of the Torani dwell-tree in Davae on 6 Harvestor 1st CA 2553. We danced and heckled with my friends and brothers. However, my fate was already sealed. The Nobles had decided.
As you may remember, Serae Ayala, I was not the first choice of the Nobles, but I have never felt resentful nor grateful for that.
My whole childhood immersed in this mix of feelings."
The Karae shook her head before continuing:
"My father, although proud of his title and high responsibilities in the management of the kingdom, was totally lacking in political ambition. My mother had ambition for two. It was she who pushed me and educated me for it - to make a great marriage.
"Courses in deportment, dance, poetry, mateis, good-manners, Court composition.... My days were very busy, but my father had managed to impose a limit: every day, he took me from my mother and my governesses so that I could accompany him for two hours in his kingdom, the kingdom of hunting and the life of the subjects. There, with my elder brother, he would take us around our domain and it was during one of these escapades far from my mother's eyes that he gave me my first dagger and said: ‘Miela, you must know how to defend yourself! Even locked up in a palace, you must be able to protect your life and that of your children. The Great Swarming taught us that! So take this dagger, learn how to use it and wear it at your side at all times!’
Those two hours a day where my saving grace!
And how proud I was when I managed to beat my brother in a training duel."
The Karae, as if transformed into a child for a brief moment, smiles in front of her ladies-in-waiting before her countenance regains its formal elegance.
"In 2544, things began to change. First, with the birth of my little brother. The late pregnancy was harsh on my mother. She never really got over it.
Then, in 2545, rumors began to reach my mother's ears. The Karan Yrkanis wanted to stabilize his son and marry him off. My mother's dream was within reach. In spite of her weakened state, she insisted on my father getting me presented to the Court. No more getaways in the forests of Davae. With my mother, I no longer had to leave Yrkanis and frequented the court daily. At the tender age of 13, I was still a little girl, and despite the efforts of those around me, the procrastinations of Karin's were very convenient to my mother.
I still remember those long days. As my mother had never been part of Karae Lea's inner cicle, she had to put up with a lot to promote me. All this while her health was on a constant decline.
Although, after three long years, she finally received recognition. At the age of 16, I was presented to Filira Rodi di Varello who admitted me into the ranks of the young Matis who could aspire to marry the Karin. I was later told that he was very impressed with my dagger-wielding abilities."
The Karae's displeasure erupts into a brief laugh, bordering a bark.
"So, I hope my mother wasn't aware in-before Jena called her back to Her. Because shortly after my acceptance, my mother was found lifeless in her bed. Was it the result of that painful pregnancy? Or the beginning of the accomplishment of a life-long ambition? Either way, she joined our Goddess before she saw me take the throne. Over the years, I've come to believe that the Goddess, in Her mercy, spared us by calling her back prematurely. For the cohabitation with Karae Lea would have been, at the very least, problematic.
Then I returned with her remains to Davae, where I resumed my former life with delight. But I was no longer a little girl and my brother had begun to assist my father in the management of our estate and its protection. As for the youngest, still a little boy full of life his housekeepers had hard time channeling. I could no longer find my place, so my father took matters into his own hands. He arranged a professor to teach me more about the art of war and entrusted me with the management of a portion of land that had belonged to my mother.
Many rumors circulated concerning my relationship with the professor. I should clarify that I was not yet 17 years old, that he was young and as beautiful as the day is born. He was of lesser nobility, educated at Court and of infinite patience. My heart mesmerized, but the strength of my first love could do nothing against the loyalty he had towards my father, nor, I confess, little against my mother's ambition which sometimes flared up inside of me. Though he was an admirable professor, he has ever been just a professor, and he was even the one who insisted that I would attend to the ball in 2550.
The rest is history: Maelya attempting to assassinate Karin, the attack on the Marauder's camp, the election of Nobles and the wedding which sealed my fate in 2554."
The night had invaded the palace as Tamiela falls silent.]]>
— Ils ont aussi obtenu quelques résultats, signala la scientifique qui lui avait transmis les documents.
— La belle affaire… Nous n’avons pas attendu les gibbaïs pour savoir comment rendre les homins plus forts. Et plus agressifs.
Le zoraï ne montrait qu’un intérêt très limité pour le Nexus et ce qui s’y déroulait. Il y était passé quelques fois, à la recherche d’une quelconque présence de goo, sans en découvrir ; à partir de là, cela sortait trop de son champ d’études pour qu’il y perde du temps. Mais ses collègues n’étaient pas du même avis.
— Ils n’ont probablement pas tout trouvé, reprit la Matisse. Nous avons là un phénomène nouveau, et nous dépendons des miettes que les Académies mettent à jour avec leurs méthodes primitives.
— Nous avons des gens à nous chez eux, qu’ils fassent leur travail pour ramener des données pertinentes.
— Ils ne sont pas à des postes de pouvoirs, ils ne peuvent pas décider de grand-chose et sont tributaires des choix de leurs supérieurs et de la bonne volonté des homins.
— La belle affaire ! Tout seul, je me débrouillerais mieux qu’eux !
Mazé'Yum pris conscience qu’il avait dit une bêtise en voyant le sourire narquois de ses collègues.
— Justement, Maz', tu pourrais nous ramener quelques échantillons.
— Un instant. Je pourrais… mais pas seul. Ça grouille de gibbaïs, là-bas. Trop pour moi, et je ne joue pas avec ces bestioles.
— Allons… Tu n’as quand même pas peur de ces boules de poils ? Ou bien tu aurais plus de considération pour tes lointains cousins que pour ta famille ?
— Stupide. Les gibbaïs sont toujours source de catastrophes.
— Nous avons des protocoles pour ça.
— Je n’ai aucune envie de sentir le torbak pendant des semaines !
Les gibbaïs avaient de la mémoire et une certaine intelligence. Et une rancune tenace. Les membres du Cercle avaient appris à leurs dépens que les expériences sur eux amenaient des représailles longues et pénibles. Mais c’était quand même des sujets utiles à l’occasion, et l’une des méthodes consistait à se parfumer à la glande de torbak pour éviter que les gibbaïs ne reconnaissent leurs tourmenteurs à l’odeur.
— De toute façon, reprit Mazé'Yum, j’ai déjà largement de quoi m’occuper. Certaines expériences ne me permettent pas de m’absenter bien longtemps.
— C’est à ça que servent les apprentis, Maz. À surveiller les expériences le temps qu’elles mûrissent. Et puis tu n’as pas lu nos idées, encore… Ça va te plaire.
Elle tendit un cube d’ambre au zoraï, qui prit ainsi connaissance des réunions qu’il avait pu manquer durant ses absences. Il finit par lui rendre, songeur :
— Intéressant. Il y a effectivement quelques théories passionnantes à expérimenter. Si cela donne des résultats, ce sera bien mieux que quelques allégories boostées. Mais cela peut aussi déclencher une réaction en chaîne. Nous n’avons pas assez d’éléments pour prendre ce genre de risque.
— Une chose à la fois, intervint un tryker qui avait suivi l’échange en silence jusque là. Tu sais ce que tu dois chercher, tu nous ramènes les bonnes données, on analyse tout ça et on avise.
— Ou tu profites de l’occasion pour tester quelques trucs simples après tes prélèvements, reprit la Matisse. Tu n’auras pas assez de matériel pour que ça tourne mal, ces arbres ont l’air vraiment énormes. Si nous avons quelques résultats, nous pourrons organiser une plus grosse expédition, persuader le chef d’engager plus de ressources.
— Il n’est pas au courant ?
— Si, mais à peine plus convaincu que toi.
— De toute façon, est-ce que vous avez des résultats sur les salinas communs ?
— Ils n’ont pas une sève spéciale. Ça marche un temps avant de les tuer, comme pour la plupart des végétaux, mais c’est sans grand intérêt…
Mazé'Yum était pensif à présent. L’idée faisait son chemin peu à peu.
— Vous parlez de ça comme si j’avais déjà accepté de le faire. Les gibbaïs ne me laisseront pas approcher, je n’ai plus assez de fonds pour payer des mercenaires pour m’escorter…
— Et tous ces amis que tu as ici et là, Maz' ? Ils t’aideront pour rien.
— Aucun allié ne bouge facilement, il faut trouver de quoi les motiver. "Rien"… personne n’agit "pour rien". Vous avez assez de ressources pour vous passer de moi.
— Mais tu es une de ces ressources, Mazé'Yum, susurra le tryker.
Le zoraï était suffisamment sensible à la flatterie pour apprécier. C’était vrai qu’il était un atout important pour la tribu, après tout. Et l’expédition ne prendrait pas si longtemps ; les frippos l’attendraient quelques jours. Il repensait à l’intérêt que les Maraudeurs avaient pour le Nexus. De ce côté-là, peut-être…
— Il y a une possibilité… J’aviserais suivant les circonstances. Je ne promets rien, mais si j’en ai l’occasion, je ferais ces prélèvements. Et j’aurais peut-être même une opportunité pour greffer un de ces Salinas.]]>
Goo infections are rare but most often fatal. In general, we only have rare treatments at our disposal to relieve the pain of infected homins.
The case of the Sage Sorrow is, of course, exceptional. In this case, we must manage to relieve his suffering without breaking his link with Atys.
My bibliographic research led me to the discovery of a plant, the Puo-Kean, whose flower contains an active principle that is a kind of "retardant". Then, I thought I could, by using it, prolong the efficiency of his current treatment.
The flowering of the Puo-Kean is very rare and its habitat very difficult to access: it is found only in the Prime Roots, in the rare places where it can benefit from both the light of the surface and the constant humidity of the depths.
Thus, it is only thanks to many brave and generous homins that I dispose of a dozen flowers, carefully preserved in a bark box, since I do not wish to have to ask for such an expedition again. The one of 20h - Dua, Medis 14, 3rd AC 2612(*) has indeed been more than perilous and many homins only owed their safeguard to the Kamis. May they be praised here!
To return to the Puo-Kean, you have to make an infusion with the chopped flowers to release the active principle.
But the dosage is difficult. Because if the Puo-Kean slows down considerably the metabolism of the patient and thus prolongs the effectiveness of the treatment, it turns out that it also slows down the patient himself.
But this I discovered only after my first test, the result of which was mixed: if Sorrow had said he has been relieved by the decoction, his speech and his movements have been enormously slowed down too...
Considering the slightly angry look that Sorrow had shot me after this first one, I carried on my tests of the Puo-Kean by diluting the active ingredient very significantly. I am hoping to succeed in finding the right dosage.[...]
[OOC] (*) On Saturday, 13 March 2021 20:00:00 UTC (4 years ago). [/OOC]]]>
Melga Folgore's diary
]]>Winderly 16, CA2 2612
Apocamus is inconsolable. He still performs his duties as an Instructor correctly, but he is more severe and demanding than before with the teams he trains.
Orphie… Orphie, but why did you have to go there, and alone in addition? Why were you interested in Tepsen? Because we found his amber cube in the Kitins' Lair? If I'd known, I would have held you back. I'm sorry.
You've left a great emptiness, and the atmosphere in the camp is gloomy. The Rangers are much affected, myself first.
Winderly 22, CA2 2612
Today, we received Daeronn Cegrips who came to share his conclusions after first analyses of the kirosta sting found near the lifeless body of Orphie. Of course, he asserts that no kitin of such darkness has ever been seen on Atys, either on or under the Bark.
Some Rangers want to return into the depths of the kitins' lair in search of the kitin this stinger was arming. Well may I tell them that, as her first-rate Ranger seal was not enough to protect Orphie, they don't know what awaits them, they persist in their desire to go and see. That's sheer madness: such a search will only end up making us mourn other deaths. I am tired of all this.
Winderly 25, CA2 2612
Routine matters have been piling up. Orphie had neglected them a bit to devote herself to her research. I have a lot to do.
"sharük dies off..."
Denatys Deukos, the Ardent Master, was watching Lykos. He had expected many things but not this...
The news he brought was bleak, for sure: the Marauders had attacked the convoy carrying to Pyr supreme materials extracted in the Nexus. The few defenders had been wiped out, and the materials would be in the hands of those cursed raguses now.
But sharükos could have raged, asked for the heads of those responsible, or even his own head, demanded an immediate attack, but no...
It seemed like something had broken inside him.
When he learned that hardly any patriot had answered the call of Daeronn Cegrips, the great Fyros scholar, coordinator of the researches at the Nexus, all the blood had deserted his face. The resemblance to his father's face at the height of his illness had struck the Burning Master.
"sharük dies off..."
It was only a whisper but Denatys Deukos shuddered, as if struck to the heart.
For a few long seconds a silence heavy with doubts and fears lasted, but the Burning Master’s training took hold.
"Shall I summon General Icaphotis Dydilus to receive your orders, sharükos?
— What's the use? The orders don't change. Continue to protect what's left."
Lykos, morose, disappeared into his apartments, without adding a word.
Denatys Deukos stood there, dazed, torn between despair and revolt.
sharük= the Empire.
sharükos= the Emperor.]]>
Even though he redoubled his efforts to highlight the value of his actions and those of his troops, the one he was giving tour of the Marauders' camp of the Hidden Source did not deign to born the shade of a smile.
Disconcerted, it was with some assurance that, once the visit was over, he brought the visitor into his tent for a private conversation, closely followed by The Scarlet.
Chei bowed with deference to the Fyros homina and invited her to sit at the table that stood in the center of the tent.
But Akilia Ash Storm, the Warlord Chief of all the Marauder Clans, who arrived from the Old Lands that morning, remained upright, impassive, while The Scarlet, her trusty lieutenant, stood back in the shadows, helmet on.
The Zoraï launched itself: "See at the advances we have made on the New Lands! And first of all this camp where we are now, which we conquered by humiliating our adversaries who have not been able to dislodge us from it since!"
Akilia, arms folded, replied: "And the rest of the region? Why don't I see the Marauder flag flying on its borders? You dare to call this an advance?"
Uneasy, Chei continued: "We have also rallied a Zorai tribe! And, after they pledged their allegiance to us, we attacked the Theocracy together in Zora itself, with a new weapon using Goo!
— Only one tribe turned Marauder? And you dare to brag about it!
— But… We also almost succeeded in convincing the Theocracy to let us install a small camp near the Zorai capital, after these attacks!
— Almost? Convincing? These words are not acceptable."
The Zorai fired his last shot: "We just won a great victory by robbing the Fyros of supreme materials that a convoy under powerful escort was bringing them from the Nexus!
— It's a start. But a start only. Never rely on one victory, prepare right away for the next."
Chei Pui-Yan fell silent. He, the tall Zoraï who made his enemies tremble in battle, felt very small in front of the scathing words and the fierce, determined and icy look of Akilia Ash Storm.
The latter showed his lieutenant with her chin, who silently watched the scene before going on, dryly.
"The Scarlet had warned me. You were the best to lead the ancient Synod of Despair, at the dawn of the birth of the Clans on the New Lands. But you never knew the wildness of the Old Lands. You didn't dare enough. Or not yet."
Chei stared at her, puzzled.
"What do you want from me, Akilia?"
The Fyros answered in a categorical tone: "That you make my orders enforced. The Marauders vegetated enough waiting for this world to come to them. It's time to reverse the roles. So we will attack on several fronts.
I demand that the Marauders take outposts to take over their precious materials. And no way, you hear me, using to extract those one of those hideous drills designed by the so-called Powers! I brought the plans of the only drill worthy of the name: a marauder drill. I want to see this drill running. Quickly."
Chei nodded his head.
Akilia went on: "I also want to see our ranks grow. Recruit the most promising homins within the Nations. And rally other tribes to our banner. No matter which way.
You also mentioned a camp to be built near Zora. I want one to be erected near every capital city, each hosting a zinuakeen. And don't think for a moment about begging for the Nations' permission! Build them, occupy them, use them. The rest does not interest me."
She beckoned The Scarlet to approach.
"The Scarlet told me about strange events and new riches discovered in the Nexus. And also about the fact that the lame Nations are present there, but we are not. Or so little. That has to change! Let the Marauders be present and active in the Nexus. Its riches and the future discoveries it promises will be ours.
Chei, who was about to bow, followed The Scarlet who was just nodding his head.
"Now get out! You both have work to do."
Chei Pui-Yan quickly left the tent that had been his, torn between anger and admiration. The legendary Akilia had undeniably taken possession of the place and of their destiny.]]>
Amber cube compiled by Pyphollo Zeps in his book "Treasures of the Nexus".
…
I don't exactly know anymore what day we are. Probably the 13 thermis CA2 2608. For several days, I remained confined in my tent, near the abandoned camp, anguished by the wait for the next tremor.
And then, one day, nothing more! Just as suddenly as the barkquake had started, calm came back. I went out to see… The sight that the Nexus offers is now terrifying but as tormented as it is, the landscape remains majestic and the colors lighting the dawn still as soft as ever.
…
16 Frutor CA2 2608
I feel like I'm losing my sanity in this landscape that I no longer recognize. I can no longer find the location of sources that I have been extracting from for years. The vegetation is disturbing because of its strangeness in these places. The animals are nervous and aggressive. Fortunately, the Company of the Eternal Tree carries on its patrols. They have rescued me more than once. The Kamis have not completely abandoned us.
…
30 Fallenor CA2 2608
Kami-lor! I think I found it! That's the terrain specialized stanza. Hochi kami no! The sources of the Nexus are no longer under the influence of the Forest! I managed to extract materials using a Desert specialized stanza and all of them were of supreme quality!
…
1 Pluvia CA2 2608
I sang victory too soon. The Desert stanza didn't work today, though I searched a large area in the southern part of the Nexus.
…
3 Pluvia CA2 2608
I decided to test all terrain specialized stanzas... and I found Lakes' supreme materials! Alas, drilling quickly exhausts their sources, and they are useful especially for handcrafts. I must have to find something to feed us.
…
5 Thermis CA2 2609
It will soon be a year since the barkquake occurred. I'm just starting to find my footing again but my technique is well established and I'm moving fast.
I use only a terrain specialized stanza when looking for food. This has allowed me to identify the areas of influence of the different terrains, areas that I am gradually delineating. These materials, unlike those intended for craft, are permanently present, but their areas are the same. The drawing of these areas takes shape but the work will still be long and I have to move further and further away from my campsite.
…
28 Pluvia CA4 2609
Some homins, ne-kwai mainly, came to the camp. They told me that they had been sent by Ma'Kwai to find "all the seasons of Season" (that is, the place at the crossroads of all the terrains). The Head of the Company of the Eternal Tree had advised them to come and question me for this purpose. I believe, indeed, that my technique of detection of the areas is right because I succeeded in locating a spot of this type, a mound surrounded by berries, dandelions, pearls and mosses, each of these plants coming from a different terrain. If they correctly followed the directions I gave them, they must have found it. In any case, they didn't come back to ask me more questions.
…
1er Winderly CA1 2610
First day of spring… I went to meditate at the top of the hill that I had indicated them and where, they told me the other day, a Kami spoke to them this winter. Peace invaded me. I think the Sage will be fine there…]]>
The waves rippled gently,
someone laughs in the distance.
But with clammy thoughts
I'm standing here on the shore.
For many legends entwine
around the heralds,
that announce the Kitin.
Not just the final quake,
shows that they are rising
to haunt those who are with sin.
Thus keep watch well,
so that also tomorrow homins still laugh.]]>
When we arrived over the crowded tiers of the auditorium, all eyes turned toward us and a dull rumble swept through the audience. Further down, we made out a male silhouette clad in a long purple dress. We understood that it was the master of ceremonies when he struck the ground with a long stick to ask for silence before solemnly declaring: "May the source of our trouble advance towards me!"
When we heard these words, we went down one after the other to the center of the building and sat before him. I noticed the paintwork that decorated his mask of kinship. It was of a particularly light sort of blue that reminded me of the crystal purity in the sky after the passing of a shower.
Slapping his stick on the ground again, the master of ceremonies said: "We are gathered here to progress together on the path of Enlightenment. May Wisdom guide our words on this day. We are nothing but humble buds on the Bark, and aspire to become powerful Doraos. May the Kamis protect us along this perilous path from the Void that gnaws and destroys. My name is Wan Fai-Du and I will be the Kai-ho (2) of this Laï-le Ban. I am here only to remind everyone of the principles that enliven our sap: the Preservation of Atys, Wisdom, and the search for Enlightenment. May the Great Mask Mabreka-Cho be the model who inspires and guides me, as I stand before you and act in his place. Ochi kami no (3)."
A respectful murmur ran through the crowd who repeated in unison "Ochi kami no".
Lifting a cloth, Wan Fai-Du then revealed three electrically sparkling objects resting on a base: a scepter, an amber shield and a short spear. He grabbed the latter before moving towards the main stand.
Only three Zoraïs were there. I immediately recognized the youngest, whose long blond hair cascaded down on the frail shoulders. It was the Sage Sap, the very one we had decided to follow to reintegrate our people. To her left, a homin of venerable age was scanning each of us with intensity. I later learnt that this Sage was called Sens and that he was the brother of the Great Mask, Dean of the Theocracy. At his side was his disciple, a discreet Awakened with a shaved head and a painted mask with long horns.
Respectfully handing over the spear to them, the Kai-ho addressed them: "It is up to you, the Voices of Judgement, to find the path that will lead us out of this dark swamp."
Wan Fai-Du then seized the scepter before joining the right-hand bleachers to question the few Initiates who were sitting there: "Who among you wants to point out the trouble that worries us?" A Kwaï (4) grabbed the object and spoke up: "The Pai-ho'I (5) took part in an attack the Masters of the Goo launched on our City during which the Goo was used as a weapon to spread death."
Once the facts had been recalled by the prosecution, the Kai-ho took the amber shield, headed towards the left tiers and asked the Initiates who were there: "Who among you thinks that the bolts should strike elsewhere?" A Kwaï accepted the buckler, before indicating: "Against all odds, the Pai-ho'I opposed their leader and chose to join our ranks. This must count in their favour."
Once we heard this statement from the defence, Wan Fai-Du came back to stand beside us and began to give the floor as the debates began.
The accuser waved his scepter and, with a nod, Wan Fai-Du allowed him to question us
Accuser
"Did you or did you not deal with the Goo Heads Sect in order to obtain the Goo weapons that were used to attack Zora?"
Len Fai-Cu
"We did, but we did not agree with the choice made by our leaders! We wanted to fight these fanatics, not to seek agreement with them. Unfortunately, we have not been listened to."
The defender in his turn raised his amber shield and waited for a sign from the Kai-ho before questioning us.
Defender
"You say you haven't been listened to but what exactly did you do to dissuade your leaders?"
Len Fai-Cu
"According to the custom of the Marauders, I had to face the leader of the Clan of Hopeless in single combat to have our disagreement heard, but my defeat compelled us to abide by their decision."
Accuser
"Why did you comply with the customs of the Clan of Hopeless?"
Len Fai-Cu
"When our leader died, his daughter succeeded him. She is the one who forged the alliance with these Marauders on behalf of us all. Many of us disapproved of this new allegiance, but we had no choice but to submit to it as long as we were members of the tribe."
Defender
"Can you tell us more about the context that led to this alliance?"
Len Fai-Cu
"When the Goo started its growth in the Void, we were the first victims. Our camp was submerged and many of our tribe were contaminated and perished. Marauders and Rangers came to help us reach a refuge on the border with Maiden Grove. Our tribe was therefore particularly vulnerable when the chance of an alliance appeared."
Defender
"Pai-ho'i, you have chosen of your own free will to repent and rejoin the Theocracy. What prompted this decision?"
Len Fai-Cu
"Beyond our doubts about the actions of our tribe in response to the Goo's spread, it was the words of Luoi Dua-La that convinced us to take this plunge that none of us had taken so far. To us, she represents the essence of what the Zoraï ought to be: united and indivisible as they used to be in Zoran's time. To see her enshrined as Sage by the Kamis has proven us we were right to believe in her to guide us towards that age of amber that we wrongfully believed to be lost for ever."
After several hours of debate, Wan Fai-Du took back the scepter from the hands of the accusers and the shield from the hands of the defenders and rested them ceremonially on their base before addressing the central tribune: "It is now up to you to see the light in shade, the path across the bushes, the amber amid the bark".
He bowed with respect and then turned to the rest of the audience to announce: "We got lost to better find us back. May the Kamis guide our steps and lead us on the path of Enlightenment. We will meet again to hear words of Wisdom."
His stick struck the ground and the stands emptied of their occupants. We followed the crowd out of the building, leaving the Kai-ho alone with the three Voices of Judgement.
The deliberations extended long after sunset. It was under the light of lanterns that we returned to the auditorium to hear the verdict. As we took our places again, our attention was drawn to the Sage Sap who was standing in front of Wan Fai-Du. With gravity, the latter questioned her.
Wan Fai-Du
"Sister, what is this disorder that has spread to our hearts?"
Sap
"On Fallenor the 5th, in the third Atysian cycle of the year 2600, we witnessed a dreadful crime: the Masters of the Goo spread the Scourge in the heart of our Temple City for the purpose of sowing death and chaos."
Wan Fai-Du
"Sister, how are our Pai-ho'i brothers responsible for this?"
Sap
"The Pai-ho'i tried to dissuade their leader from spreading the Goo but felt compelled to obey her despite their disagreement. The Path to Enlightenment is sometimes tortuous! Just as the butterfly must succeed in tearing its chrysalis to spread its wings, it took the Pai-ho'i to take part in this attack for them to decide to abandon their old life to join us. We, the Voices of Judgement, believe in their sincerity."
Wan Fai-Du
"Sister, what must we do to soothe our saps?"
Sap
"The repentants will have to be purified of the Marauders' stain and then they will be required to work for a year to relieve patients contaminated by the Goo under the supervision of the Dynastic Healer and myself. This is how the balance will be restored."
The Kai-ho then respectfully bowed down and stated the consecrated formula, which the whole assembly repeated in chorus: "Ochi Kami no".
Wan Fai-Du took the spear from Sap's hands and said: "May the Kamis protect you, brothers and sisters, for having shown us the path". Then he put the weapon back on its base and folded a cloth over it. Turning to the audience, he struck the ground several times with his stick and solemnly announced: "What has been lost has been found. The errants have found the path again. The flower has found the sun again. May we be taught from all this. Before putting away his stick, he humbly finished with: "My name is Wan Fai-Du and I am now only a brother among his brothers".
The cold dawn was casting light on our masks while we left the auditorium to head for the jungle. As we arrived in front of a cascade, we left our loincloths and entered the icy water without hesitation. In the posture of meditation, we opened our hearts to Ma-Duk with confidence. As the waterfall carried away our past mistakes, a feeling of fulfilment seized me. The path to redemption was finally opening up to us.
* Excerpt from the book Luoi Dua-La, The Call of the Sap,
* by Din Ha-Zhia, 2601
[OOC]
(1) Laï-le Ban: Traditional Zoraï trial (lit.: the ceremony where the light appears)
(2) Kai-ho: Observer. Its neutrality allows him to fairly distribute speak between tribunes.
(3) Ochi Kami no: So be it (lit.: So the Kamis want)
(4) Kwaï: word meaning "mask" in Taki Zoraï, i.e. "Zoraï from birth" in this context.
(5) Pai-ho : the accused (lit.: the one who is a problem)
[/OOC]]]>
A: When a homin cuts himself, a red fluid flows out of him: blood. There is no other fluid of green colour or other. Sap is their blood, often named so because of this predominantly plant world.
However homins also designate by the word "sap" something which is tangible, though invisible, and which magic practitioners know well. Some claim that it is this same sap which determines the race of a homin.
Q: Do resurrections erase scars and amputations?
A: By nature, homins have considerable regenerative ability, simply by resting. The resurrection, just like the healing magic, erases any wound which immediately preceded it. However, if a homin being is recovering from a serious injury slowly, the after-effects will be "part of him", and will be retained in subsequent resurrections.
Q: Apart from the variations of natural resistances to magic, are there other differences between homin races?
A: The differences are mainly cultural. For example the Fyros were the only ones to cook their food and eat meat. The Trykers ate a lot of fish, while the Matis and Zoraï ate insects.
But during the time of the Exodus, after the first Great Swarming, when most of the surviving homins lived in a close confinement, differences between them lessened, out of necessity and also curiosity.
The Lore texts sometimes evoke physical differences or competences according to the race: the warrior Fyros, the magician Zoraï, etc. One can also find these traits in the way in which the four tutors of Silan are embodied. But the gameplay choices put everyone on a par.
Q: Does the death penalty make sense in roleplaying?
A: It is a particular trauma left by the process of resurrection. It does not affect the body physically (once treated homin beings finds themselves in possession of all their capacities) but it temporarily inhibits their ability to learn, as if they first have to "resynchronize" themselves with their bodies.
Q: Are the Zoraï masks fused to the skull or only hooked to the muscles and skin and of what material are they made?
A: The Zoraï mask is inseparable from the skull at the forehead, but covers the face below like the nail covers the tip of the finger.
The mask is made of organic tissue, bone and cartilage.
Q: In what situation is a Goo infection definitely fatal?
A: Dying from Goo contamination implies a definitive alteration to the Seed of Life and therefore the impossibility of resurrection. Absolutely lethal (without the possibility of resurrection) are the ingestion and injection of Goo. On the other hand, as long as one has not reached the final stage of the disease, an infected homin being can have access to resurrection if, for example, he is killed by a predator or an enemy. However, do not trust in the longevity of Supplice or Lenja (characters of the Zoraï rite) or even Pei-Ruz, to deduce that one can live long while being contaminated. This is not the case! Supplice is a totally unique case that we absolutely can not use to generalize. Normally, contamination causes death much more quickly. That said, we will not risk to specify a time limit that would certainly be too restrictive for you. Just keep in mind that you will not survive such an infection for very long.]]>
This amber cube was created in Jen-Laï in 2533. In 2597, it was restored during the academic summit in Pyr.
To know the true history of the Great Dragon Cult, we have to trace back in time to the year of Jena 2435, when, under the reign of Abylus the Learned, the Empire authorized a mining expedition to go to the plains of Coriolis in order to carry out excavations in mysterious ruins.
The excavations lasted for more than two Atysian cycles, during which the miners' families lived to the rhythm of the news that reached them through the caravan linking the town of Coriolis to that of Fyre. The hope of these families was shattered when the news of the Great Fire reached them. The town of Coriolis as well as the site of the excavations were ashes, leaving no doubt as to the fate of the mining expedition.
The story of the fallen miners then took on a sacred quality. Their families formed the basis of a secret cult practiced in Fyre: the Great Dragon Cult. Thus, over several generations, the followers of this cult kept holding assemblies and revering Fyrak, the Great Dragon, without the rest of the Empire considering it otherwise than as a duty of remembrance. However, the way the Fyros looked at this sect was due to be altered by the darkest event in the the History of Atys...
As the kitins swept over the Bark, sowing death in their wake, the leading members of the Great Dragon Cult saw in them the appalling materialization of the Great Dragon and knew that he was sending them his offspring. It is assumed that they were all decimated as they prayed to Fyrak to spare his followers.
The Great Swarming could have signed the end of the Great Dragon Cult, but that was not the case.
- One day, Liriope was helping her mother to get meat, to dry on the roof. All of a sudden they heard a strange buzz, soon followed by panic in the streets of Fyre. At that moment, Liriope was unaware that her whole life was about to change... Only one season had passed since then, but there was nothing left of her innocence as a child. Unbearable images now haunted her nights. What would they all have become without the help of the members of that obscure organization, the Karavan, which had allowed a handful of them to escape genocide? And yet, more than ever, the Karavan were the object of suspicion because many of them had perished during the Grand Essaim. Thus those who proclaimed themselves divine emissaries were as mortal as any other homin! Even in those dark hours, when each was crying over their loved ones, Liriope could feel that this fact was delighting the Fyros survivors, who were opposed to the Karavan by an ancestral rivalry.
What can we say about these years of Jena spent under the Bark, in precariousness and sick with fear? Exhausting years when hominity only found its salvation in an unfailing hope in better morrows. Never as much as during the Exodus, faith did unify homins... Liriope would not forget those nights of insomnia when she was observing the Zoraï survivors, those masked beings, proceeding with strange ceremonies. On those nights, she too was praying for the horrors she had witnessed to never happen again : "May the Great Incendiary spare us!"
As the everlasting blaze of Cerakos' Pyre raised in the desert of the New Lands, the haunting melodies of the fyrakists rose again under the canopy. From the unspeakable horrors witnessed by the Fyros survivors, a feeling had been born the other peoples could not yet understand. The fyrakists were convinced that they had witnessed the fulfillment of some profane prophecies anticipated by the martyrs of the mining expedition in plains of Coriolis.
The state of grace of the fyrakist community ended when Regent Leanon died. Two years after taking office, the young sharükos, Dexton, granted protection to his friend, Mabreka Cheng-Ho, who had been banned from Zoraï lands by the Great Sage Fung-Tun. The sharükos was moved by the Kamism of Revelations professed by the disciple of Hoi-Cho, who, during his exile, converted a large number of patriots to this new branch of kamism. The fyrakists took a very dim view of this mass conversion to Ma-Duk and resorted to violence in an attempt to maintain their position among the patriots. The sharükos, fearing an outbreak of violence, then decided to banish the fyrakists from the desert. Upon his order, a caravan of exiles was escorted by the Imperial Guard to the Zoraï border.
Once in the Witherings, the fyrakists had no choice but to seek asylum from the Theocracy. After conferring, the Council of the Sages answered favourably their request and settled the refugees in Jen-Lai. Several cycles passed, during which the Fyros community became part of the masked people. When a fire devastated the jungle, fyrakists were the first to point out the traders of the Empire crossing the country. Viewing it as a sign of the Great Dragon's judgment, they took up arms to defend Zoraï frontiers against the Empire. The imperial troops repeatedly tried to break through the Zoraï defences with no success. Until the day when the sharükos in person came to the borders, escorting his friend Mabreka Cheng-Ho. All the Zoraï soldiers lowered their weapons in front of the disciple of Hoi-Cho. All except the fyrakists, who still held fierce hatred against him and had to be subdued.
- Liriope was racing through the jungle. She had entrust her shop to her daughter, to get to the Temple City of Jen-Laï quickly. The news spread like wildfire in Zora's districts: the young Mabreka Cheng-Ho was returning home and a peace treaty was about to be made with the Empire. "Fyrak Almighty!" swore the old Fyros, while redoubling her efforts. As she reached the gates of the Temple City, where the Fyrakists had made their home, a guard asked her: "Liriope Miko, what’s happened to you? Isn't today market day?" Catching her breath, the Fyros panted: "Mabreka Cheng-Ho has been spotted on the border! He is acclaimed by the people who see him as their new guide." The guard stared penetratingly at her and turned on his heels. No sooner had his figure disappeared than a young mask came out from behind a grove. Liriope was startled: "Nuo Tun, did you hear it all?" Nuo Tun looked gravely at the Fyros: "It's a good thing. Father's state of health keeps him away from his responsibilities. I imagine his abdication will only be a formality. However..." Nuo Tun laid a hand on the older one’s shoulder. "However, I have a favour to ask of you."
Liriope held her breath as she entered the floating buildings of the Me-Smer Order.
Recognizing a familiar face, she met a fyrakist who was crossing the hall. This one, respectful of her old age, gave her his arm and accompanied her to the archive room. As they went through the various amber cubes lockers, a rumour came from the hallway. The news of the arrival of Mabreka Cheng-Ho had reached the Order. The fyrakist went out to see what was going on, leaving the elderly Fyros unattended. Following scrupulously the indications of Nuo Tun, Liriope grabbed the most precious cubes and stepped out unnoticed. Already, soldiers of the Guild of Cho were taking over the city, arresting members of the Order.
Nuo Tun was waiting for Liriope at the gates of the city. He smiles imperceptibly as she approaches. "I knew I could trust you," he said in laconic fashion. The impassive mask of the young homin bowed as a sign of respect.
Once again in disgrace, the fyrakists experienced their first internal dissents. The moderate fyrakists, having become integrated, sometimes even to the point of becoming low-level civil servants, recognized the legitimacy of Mabreka-Cho and refused to follow the most fanatical fyrakists who left the Theocracy to sink into the Prime Roots. In these depths, the exiles discovered a Fyros city called Leron where they led a clandestine life for several years. The mystery remains about what caused the downfall of Leron but it is whispered that the Great Dragon Cult would have played a leading role.
- The more they progressed under the Bark, the more the presence of the Incendiary was felt. The Karavan had long since forbidden homins to go down into the Prime Roots for fear they would draw the Dragon out of its secular sleeping. Yet Fyros had always braved this prohibition in their quest for the Dragon. Aetis was now guiding his family through increasingly obscure landscapes towards the city, which, according to his prediction, would offer them the fresh start they were longing for. It was in these depths, as close as possible to the Incendiary, that the Cult would be born again, he was convinced. By the end of a long journey, Leron finally appeared before their eyes and the gaunt features of Aetis were suddenly illuminated. His gaze met the eyes of his companions and he exclaimed "Let's greet the Dragon". A whole new life opened up to them…
At the instigation of Aetis Mekops, the Leron's fyrakist branch turned its back on the teachings of the Zoraï people to embrace an unholy destiny. They called themselves the Initiates of the Great Dragon Cult, worshipping only the Great Incendiary and going as far as sacrifice of innocent homins to hasten the advent of Fyrak. The madness that seized Aetis Mekops and other Great Dragon Cult Initiates remained unexplained, but it led them to commit many atrocities.
- The purifying fire of the Great Incendiary had done his relentless work of destruction and, among the ruins of Leron, Aetis was brandishing the Book of the Dragon, symbol of the rebirth of his Cult. Galvanized by Aetis' message, the followers around him were, from now on, ready to see his ignoble designs through to the end. It was no longer time to step back. The future of the Cult was sealed. Leaving behind the ashes of their former shelter, the fanatics set out to reach their next stop. Jen-Laï would the first to pay its blood toll…
- Liriope's daughter was holding herself on the doorstep beside her husband, tenderly watching their sleeping son. Turning to her mother, she smiled at her. "Take good care of him!" She had never been separated from her son before, and she was choking up as her husband was already dragging her to the exit. Liriope was proud of her daughter and son-in-law. The armour of the Dynastic Guard befitted them wonderfully. They would come back victorious from their campaign at the Knot of Dementia, she was convinced. She briefly waved at them as they headed towards the stables, and then prepared to go to bed. Lying on her bed, the dean couldn't sleep. Suddenly, the old homine shuddered. Her instinct was alerting her of a foreign presence in the apartment. As she painfully sat straight, she saw a shadow leaning over her desk. When she acknowledged the intruder, Liriope could not suppress a surprised exclamation but the shadow swooped on her at once, fast as lightning. The dean then had the dreadful impression that one was entering her mind and she lost consciousness. When she emerged from her sleep, Liriope rushed to the door of the apartment to call for help. On the threshold, her feet bumped into a child's body. The dean's mouth deformed in a scream. When Jen-Lai's initiates rushed, they found her wandering in the first glimpses of the dawn, carrying the atrociously mutilated child's body at arm's length. The child's skull had been shaved and a terrible dragon has been drawn there with his blood. The attempts to remove the dead child from his grandmother's arms was unsuccessful. Liriope had just sunk into dementia.
When I came to offer my condolences to the dean, I found her prostrate, entrenched in her inner world. Drowning in my grief, I sat beside her, hoping to thus pass my support onto her. My brother and sister-in-law were to fight the kitins at this time, totally ignorant of the tragedy that had befallen their home. Remembering the words of my master, the Curator Nuo Tun, I got up and walked towards the desk of Liriope where I cautiously opened the chest of wisdom. My master's fears were confirmed: the chest was absolutely empty. What a desecration! Only an homin familiar with our traditions could have stolen the precious documents and drawn this unholy seal on my nephew's skull. Would he then be one of us? After a last look to the elder, I left the apartment to join the building of the Archives of Jen-Laï where Nuo Tun was waiting for me. He put one hand on my shoulder silently. The Curator of Jen-Laï asked me to listen to what he had to tell me up until the end without interrupting him. Of course I granted the request of my master, but I cannot describe how difficult it was to not tell all the horror that filled me as the reasons for the tragedy affecting my family appeared to me. By Jena and Her guards the Kamis! How could such impieties be perpetrated? The true face of the Plague appeared to me then. The counterpart of all creation that creeps into every seed of life and consumes it. Would Goo's emanations be nothing but the expression of the Great Destroyer?
Fyrak reserves for us all a part of his purifying fire. When his judgment falls upon us, we must accept it because Jena's magnificent creation could not exist without a natural counterpart. I had never seen such despair on my brother's face before… Facing their son's fresh tomb, he supported his wife's collapsed body. How could they ever accept what Fyrak was imposing on them?
Two seasons elapsed before Liriope joined her grandson as closely as possible to the Kamis. The dean had gradually faded away as if her seed of life had renounced light. A dire intuition had insidiously taken hold of our small community and, as if to confirm our fears, we soon were hearing reports of a series of suspicious missings on each continent. Homins of various genders and origins seemed to have been kidnapped. We had reason to believe that some of them would endure the same fate as my nephew did. Somewhere on the Bark, one century after the Great Fire, half a century after the Great Swarming, dangerous fanatics were attempting once again to unleash the judgment of Fyrak upon hominity.
The first sign of his judgment fell upon Pyr in the shape of an invasion of kitins. Soon the wrath of Fyrak would rise under the canopy. Fortunately the nations organized themselves and the Dragon Cult was dismantled in time. But I remain convinced that a threat still looms around us, lurking in the shadow of the Goo's emanations of the Witherings…
Extract from an amber cube entitled "History of the Great Dragon Cult",
created by Jezeba Dumuzi, 2533.]]>
- "Mistress, you wanted to be warned when your niece returned from her walk.
- "Well, what are you waiting for? Send her to me!" said the Royal Embalmer impatiently.
After the hasty retreat of the maid, the light footsteps of a young homina soon sounded on the staircase. Bebi stood up immediately to greet her niece. The two hominas performed graceful curtseys, then Bebi took her protege by the arm and invited her to sit by her side.
- "My dear Chiaera, Master Perinia has just written to me and he agrees to train you! If you still want to study botany, you can go and find him in the Royal Greenhouse and he will officially make you his apprentice.
- “Fila, my aunt!" replied the young noble girl immediately, with measured enthusiasm.
- "That said, do not harbour too many delusions! As I have always told you, your sole concern must be to meet a rich suitor to marry!”
- “Well, my aunt. As you wish!"
Clearing his throat, the imposing Freldo Cuirinia inclined his wide chest and gauged his daughter with a dry and aware eye.
- "We shall have to find her a pretender without delay!"
His sister seemed to share his opinion entirely. She added with a smile:
- "The young Sibre di Varello would be a good match! He will soon be Duke, like his grandfather."
A fleeting gleam passed across the amber gaze of the young Chiaera. She questioned her aunt, not without irony:
- "So then, the Count di Bottirri is no longer to your liking?"
The slap she received in response stunned her for a moment. Bebi Cuirinia was livid.
- "I do not want to hear that name under this roof again! Is that clear?”
- “So be it, my aunt."
Chiaera turned towards her father, but he went one step further:
- "Is this the way you show your gratitude to your aunt for all the effort she has put in to assure you a future worthy of your rank? Rather, prepare yourself to meet Master Perinia and let us take charge of finding you a husband!"
The young homina stood up, bowed, and left the room with catlike stealth, her eyes glaring with anger.]]>
LEGEND 1. Advisory power • The Emperor can delegate simple decisions to it but remains the only decicison-making power • The laws apply to all patriots, therefore also to members of other institutions • akenak can request missions to the army but not impose 2. akenak is the name of the assembly • akenakos is the name of its members, but the Fyros tend tp abbreviate the term by simply saying akenak 3. Guards of the city + patrols 4. Role of research and teaching • The political institution can call on the Academy to carry out research or put its knowledge into practice in the field • The Master of a discipline is named talumetimos (teacher) • talumetin = teaching ; talumetinos = the teacher ; talumetimètos = the student ; talumetimak = the academy ; talumetimakos = the chancellor ; talumum = the library 5. Justice can judge all patriots, members of other institutions included • Only the Emperor and his family can not be judged 6. shamofirètos: The Burning Faces (temporary term not to be used yet) • Personal bodyguards of the Emperor • Obey only the Emperor • The Emperor may entrust them with special missions.
A. Lykos B. Graphybus Ceros (Formerly: Lyan Cexius) C. Ibiphan Dynix D. Dios Apotheps E. Icaphotis Dydilus F. Pimokos Lyion G. Ibiritis Ibirus H. Teaching the Imperial Law I. Craftmanship To be filled J. To be filled K. Combats, tactics To be filled • Proposal: Chair of the Sword instead of Chair of the Axe. L. Logistics, siege, morale To be filled M. To be filled N. Entomology (Kitinology) To be filled O. Aeryx Xan P. atalùchtalos = truth tellers To be filled Q. Denatys Deukos R. Formerly: Abycus Zecops To be filled
[p]]]>-“ Father, you send for me ? ”
-“ Yes my son. It’s time for you to prove yourself. It is essential if you want to take my succession leading the tribe. I send you then for an undercover operation in Yrkanis. Monitor the dissident Nobles for me and try to integrate to the Kingdom. ”
The young matis had a look full of apprehension to Scrappy’s daughter whom he guessed the body in the shadows. After a brief silence he dared to speak again.
-“All right Father. My stanzas will give you information, be certain.
Rocho approved with a nod et concluded.
-“Take particularly care: nobody should suspect who you are!”
Later this night, a hooded homin left the First Deserter’s camp to go deep in the forest toward Yrkanis.
Extract from an amber cube titled “The Price of Freedom”]]>
-Kamia'ata, li-sen'o aribini ! (1)
-Ata'kami.
Supplice’s voice is weak and full of pain. Season seats sits next to him.
-Lu ochi kai nu, ochi ne ochi? Lu'o sokna-ito Wan Fai-Du taki tawa nu akaba. (2)
-Yui. Nu goo-le. Atys goo-le.
-Nu gan itou goo. Nu li-kai Foo-Kea'o talao akaba, su ne taki akaba. Nu li-kai Kyo'o taleng akaba, su li'boo.
-Kyo. Nu'o qi-zi kyo nu'o fuu-zi.
Supplice’s voice finishes in a whisper. A pearl of sap oozes from his mask.
Season remains silent for a moment, then, feeling the right time, resumes the discussion:-Niu ne den kai lu no. Jia den ? (3)
-Tao Sian Kwai sok...
Supplice doesn’t finish his sentence: concentrated on his meditation, he fights his inside pain inside. But the essential is has been said. Season stays for a moment on at Supplice’s side, silent, trying to share his meditation. Finally, Wan Fai-Du enters the room and prostrates three times before Season, silently. He says to his master:-Tao Sian Miko wang lu'o mizu oko kai lu ke. (4)
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The Tria, 22 Frutor, 4th CA 2593
oren pyr sel ûr malaka (*)
That's it, I managed to isolate myself in order to write to you. We arrived in Pyr early in the morning. The celiakos Ibiphan Dynix is participating at this very moment in a special session of the Senate. I was not allowed to know the agenda, but it must be a serious matter because a close guard was attached to us as soon as we arrived in the capital. The same treatment seems to have been reserved for all political in charge. You should see all these guards at the Imperial Palace! Between the security department and those who have been ordered to rummage each nook... I can not help thinking so many precautions are not of good omen! I will write to you as soon as I know more.
el ûr atalos, (**)
Pephosse
