NationStates Jolt Archive

The sun was setting, the sky turning dark purple with stars scattering across the moist warm tropical air. Deep inside this tropical jungle, sitting upon his throne, was a beast of considerable size. The throne made of the finest wood in the world, wood from the Bedu tree. These trees grew hundreds of feet high, and dozens of feet thick, being the strongest in the forest.

The beast himself was tall, taller than Man, having much broader shoulders and great muscled legs which detailed it's agility. It's muscles were coiled like great spirals of iron. His fur was that of mid-night blue, soft and sublte in the way of his kind and race. Sitting upon his brow with a majesty betraying his position was a mighty horn, a golden ring around it's base. This beast, was king of the Ronso race, ruler of Zanarkaand.

http://dark-cathedral.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ronso.jpg

Kamahri stood from his throne and brandished his battle axe. With his body filled with battle scars from those of previous battles, he walked from the royal room outside on his personal balcony, with two royal guardsmen at his rear left and right side, lightly armored with an axe-pike weapon, and tatood with thorn swirled art to show their rank. These guardsmen were the best of the best.

Kamahri looked out upon from his balcony, now the night sky totally black, with stars speckled everywhere. His fierce lion face, and his fangs were sticking out sharply as he looked out upon the dark sky. His cat like eyes accustomed to the moonlight. Kamahri king of the Ronsos, could see in the dark just as well as he could see in the light, perhaps even better.

Looking down, he could see the ancient, but still modern, city of Khamara. The city itself carved from rock. From ancient times when the Ronso's ancestors found the site deep in the jungle a great hill-mountain of sacred rock, bright white in color. Using their skills, and being led by the ancient king Mahkin, they carved from the very rock the giant walls that surrounded the city.

Kamahri grunted and turned around, heading for the exit in his hut, carved out from the very Bedu tree itself. His tree being one of the tallest, he started to climb down towards the Great Council's hut. Khamara was a city of Bedu trees, a system of huts (connected somewhat by bridges and vines)and stone buildings on the ground. Kamahri took no longer than a few minutes to reach the Council hut, for it was fairly close to his home. Entering, even more Royal Guardsmen walked next to his side. He walked through the main hall and came upon a giant room, encircled by dozens of seats (carved from the Bedu tree) in which the council generals sat at. In the center was his podium, the podium he always spoke at to tell his military what he planned to do. All the other Ronso's were seated in their seats, as he approached the podium. Each and every Ronso stood up, holding one hand on top of another in front of their body and bowed to their king.

Kamahri gave a great roar, the moonlight shining perfectly through the cieling on him, "Hello fellow Ronso friends! I have gathered you generals here today in order to tell you what is of Zanarkaand as of today! We own much of this jungle, defeating every other tribe that has questioned us in battle!" Every Ronso in the room roared with excitement! "We have found the great body of water to the east, and rule over a huge piece of this jungle, if not all of it!..... But what if we don't own it all!?" The Ronso now started whispering to each other questioning eachother!

"Quiet! There is no need to worry, for we WILL own this jungle! Our cities are expanding, our population rising! We need more food, more water, and which most importantly MORE LAND!" Now the roars of excitement could be heard from hundreds of miles away. "We need to expand West in order to become the greatest tribe in the world! Are you with me!?"

The hut roared as loud as it could.

"GOOD BRETHEREN! Now we shall take thousands of troops and head west as of tomorrow morning!" Kamahri whipped around heading for the exit, whipping his cape back around his body.

ooc: final fantasy much? tagging goes here.

taggeth.

As the sun started to raise, purple sky turning orange, a great royal guardsmen stepped up to face the horizon, equipped as if he were going to war. Red paint was painted over his blue fur on one of his breasts in the shape of a giant paw. Over the other breast was a detailed piece of armor crossing over his toned stomach and iron muscle. With his axe-pike strapped on his back, he tilted his head back and brought up his right arm, holding a grand horn and brought it to his mouth. His chest quickly filled with air and next blew out a thunderous wave of sound through the air.

The impressive sound was heard throughout the jungle. Ronso warriors prepared as if they were going to battle, equipping themselves with whatever protection and weapons they thought they would need. The average weapon being an axe-pike or battle axe, for that is the weapon most Ronsos trained with daily. Warriors emerged from deep inside the jungle, coming from various cities within a distance of Khamara. Many warriors came within the city itself. As hundreds of blue beasts started to gather at the city, Khamari was inside the Royal Hut, talking to one of his top notch generals.

“You do know why I picked you for this mission, correct General Mahkan?” Kamahri sharpening his claws on a sharpening table. Mahkan grunted and replied, “I do whatever you ask King.”

Kahmari swung his battle axe skillfully around himself, “There are dozens of generals that can lead my army that I could have chosen from. I chose you because you are my best. I know you can finish the job.” Mahkan stood straigt, one arm grasping around his specialized double headed axe-pike. His fur was shaggy on his mane but short everywhere else. He dropped his head as if he was not worthy of Kamahri. “Thank you your highness. With all do respect, you are the best warrior of the army. Not I.” Kamahri laughed and grasped Mahkan’s shoulder. “You are my oldest friend Mahkan! Look at me as if I were too,” Mahkan highered his head again and Kamahri made eye contact, “You shall head as far West as you think suitable for the nation. Then you shall decide to head more north, south or to return. Your aid will consist of 1000 warriors, and 50 scouts. You march today. Good luck.”

The two stepped out upon the Royal hut’s balcony and Kamahri raised his battle axe in the air. The wave of blue Ronsos did the same. Kamahri roared with all his might, pumping up his army, “We march today! Let the Ronso gods be with you!” Everyone Ronso in the crowd howled. The march had begun.

General Mahkan had been up all night. The sun was going to rise again which meant he needed to wake the troops soon. Mahkan was ordered to gain territory to the West of Zanarkaand until he was satisfied, and he wouldn’t be until he was able to bring something valuable back to Kamahri.

A couple days before his Scouts had found a village that belonged to a small opposing tribe of humans. Mahkan didn’t want trouble in the first place so he sent three of his head warriors in to negotiate for food and water, 30 scouts pointed arrows at nearby men. The Ronso language is similar to English, but very broken up, so negotiations can be…trouble. The warriors, axe-pikes in hand asked for the head of the tribe in order to speak. Unfortunately humans tend to be a bit hostile.

"Dozens of men charged the three Ronsos. The Scouts had no hesitations and nearly every arrow found its target. Men were pierced through the skull, torso, and limbs. In the matter of a quick second humans were screaming and falling towards the earth with warm blood spilling onto the soil. Women and children screamed, but Mahkan had no sympathy, for it was their husbands and father’s own faults. It didn’t have to be that way. The three warriors took stance with backs facing each other, axe-pikes up and legs into battle stance. Only a few men left, the three had no problem simply evading, blocking, and swiftly thrusting their weapons through their bodies of their opponents. Mahkan remembered laughing at how slow the humans were. As merely every brave man was dead and no Ronso casualties, Mahkan and the rest of the army started to enter the village and scrap up anything they could find including meat, water, and weapons they personally wanted. The general had entered the main tent only to find the king hiding under his throne. With one arm he lifted the petrified man up, and snarled into his face. The man pulled out a knife from his fur loins and plunged it towards Mahkans neck. The Ronso grabbed the mans forearm, clenching and crushing his bones. The knife fell to the ground, and the man was thrown against his chair. As he pleaded for life Mahkan put both arms behind his right shoulder and swung the specialized axe-pike. The human's head was smashed off his neck."

Mahkan stood up and started to roar.

“Wake up you bunch of good for nothings! We march in 10 minutes!” The sun was peering over the jungle. “Kamahri has asked us to claim land for Zanarkaand, and we march until we drop! Scouts ahead of the group like normal, report back to me if you see anything. Now lets go!”

OOC: The territory they have covered is from about half way between the Zanarkaand border and the West Coast.

(ooc: that should be up to the mountains by now I'd think. Time for my expedition to show up.)

Five Naroomese and five Kybarite hyrens continued to press their way along the rocky spine of the continent. They had passed the furthest region hyren had ever explored days ago.

Food was starting to run short, what they had brought with them on pack Guanacos would only last a few more days. They kept a sharp eye out for a pack of llamas or groups of monkeys or birds. Often a couple would leave the group and return later with a few small animals or some fruit. They were not in danger of starving, yet.

A Kybarite named Rayik was ahead of the group, he was scouting out the path ahead. A job that got tougher as the jungle grew thick and higher up the mountain side. Today something echoing through the trees caught his ear. "Did you hear that?" He turned and yelled back to the group. They stopped and listened, but shook their heads. "It sounded like someone yelling."

"Could be a jaguar." One of the Naroomese responded.

"I know what a jaguar sounds like even at this range. It was bigger, louder than a cat." Rayik replied. "It could be people. Come on, it's not that far. If there is a town, we might find food."

The others considered it, and agreed. The party headed east, trying to find their way to the inhabitants.

Centurion Malacar slapped at a mosquito irritably. Curse this jungle! What he wouldn't give for some good Caladonnian woodland or fields instead of this fetid, humid growth!

Nonetheless, Malacar and 100 Caladonnian Legionaries were ordered to march south until they found an advanced civilisation with which to trade with, or at least something vaguely elfinoid. Rumours indicated that such being existed, so despite the Centurion's doubts he continued slogging southward.

Progress had slowed down in the rugged and rocky terrain that the troops were hiking. Mahkan considered turning back several times, but felt there was something ahead that would be worth while to Kamahri. The scouts were now split up in a perimeter around the main group of warriors due to the slower advancement. His men were growing hungry, and as they climbed higher up on the mountains, less fruit seemed to grow. There were also fewer animals for the scouts to hunt and carry back to camp at night.

“My orders, general?” A scout bowed to his Ronso General. The troops had stopped at a waterfall on the mountains to take a break.
“What is our status?” The general questioned his head scout, Borehk. He was standing on a large white rock in on the side of the river, his mane blowing with the wind.
“We have been hiking for days, and the terrain just gets more rugged. With the vast number of us that are hiking, there will be merely no food left for us to eat.” The scout was a bit weary of expanding, but pressed on in the name of Kamahri. General Mahkan pondered for a bit thinking of possibilities he could carry out. Eventually he came to the conclusion. “We shall set up camp here at the waterfall. I will take 10 scouts and 10 warriors to press on for a few more days. The top of this mountain is not far. You shall stay behind in order to help organize food and temporary shelter. If you run into trouble I give you full permission to engage. Do you understand?” Mahkan turned his head towards the scout.
“Yes my general. I shall get your 20 Ronso you ask for.”

Just as Borehk had agreed, another Warrior ,on guard, came running out of the trees and with great agility leaped towards Mahkan. “General! Humans to the west! 10 of them!” The Warrior with axe in hand. “How far!?” “About 30 minutes!”
“Borehk! Grab 10 scouts and 10 warriors! You, warrior, show me the way!” The general sprung to life and using his coil like muscles and agility followed the Ronso Warrior.

(ooc: Actually they arn't human. Naroom (http://images.filecloud.com/95762/Trunnksmall.gif) and Kybar (http://images.filecloud.com/95758/Krag.gif) tribes are a race called Hyren.)

As they entered the thick jungle heading down the mountain, Rayik gave command of the party to the Naroomese as they were more comfortable in this terrain. The noise had stopped so they were no longer sure if they were going in the right direction anymore, but they had to be close. Palt, the oldest of the Naroomese scouts listened to the wind and the trees hoping nature would give some sign, but these woods were unfamiliar and different than the forests of Hyr.

OOC: Sorry bout calling them humans. What exactly are they? Pictures?

IC: Mahkan had been spying on the Hyren for quite some time now. They were headed straight for the Ronso encampment so he dicided to make a move.

The general signaled his scouts by throwing his claw in the air and clenching a fist. The 10 scouts readied arrows, being up in the trees so the Hyren could not see them very easily. Mahkan and his warriors hid in some cover given by nearby and bushes. The Ronsos waited as visible as the wind for the opposing creatures to appear.

As the 10 creatures appeared a Ronso warrior growled "Halt! You are trespassing on the land belonging to King Kamahri, ruler of Zanarkaand and the Ronso race!" The archers pulled back their arrows letting the Hyren know they were there. Mahkan and his warriors appeared out of the bushes equipped with their weapons.

(ooc: It's no problem, just clarifying. Pictures were in the last ooc, click the links.)

The Hyren froze. They got the just of what the other had said. Palt ordered the scouts to put down their weapons. He placed his bow on the ground and held his palms toward the inhabitants. "We do not seek to trespass. We are explorers from a land to the south. We are looking for others like ourselves and you. We are no threat to you."

Mahkan reviewed the situation and decided to threaten the Hyren no longer. "Scouts. Warriors. Put down your weapons. These creatures are of no harm to us." The bows were set back to normal position. "Now where were we? You come from the south? I must learn more about your land. For my king and beloved friend Kamahri has sent me in search for more land in order to stretch our kingdom. I think you have already figured that one out, though." A gentle smile escaped the generals mouth.

"I am general Mahkan, co-commander of the Ronso army. I have never seen such creatures as yourselves." All the Ronsos were studying the Hyren at this point. "You can explain in a little while, we have begun to set up camp about 30 minutes from this area if you would like to join us. I think we must have a talk. You never know, maybe our kings can become great allies someday." Mahkan turned around and signaled the Ronsos to head back for camp.

Back in Zanarkaand

Kamahri veered out into the jungle pondering what was of General Mahkan and his soldiers. How far had he gone? What has he discovered? All he could do now was watch and wait, continuing to rule."

Taggy

The hyren fallowed the Ronsos, after all, their mission was to find out who was out there in the world.

When they got to the Ronsos' camp they had much to talk about. "We have never seen creatures such as yourself before either. Our home is a land called Hyr, far south of here. We travelled many days to get this far. Hyr is a land of rocky highlands, and lush temperate forests with trees so high they could take much of a day to climb. We have seen vast grasslands, and days of jungle between our home and here.

"As for us, as you can see my brothers and I are quite different at first glance. I am a Naroomese hyren from the forests of the west, and my brothers there are Kybarite hyren from the wildlands in the east. Our two tribes were seperate long ago and grew apart, but now we are allied and united again ruled by the Twin Thrones.

"Now, I will answer any other questions you might have, but I would like to hear of your people."

Several fires were lit around camp, many of them roasting boar or any other animal that can bear good meat. General Mahkan and his guests were served portions of boar, along with fruits gathered around camp. Some Ronsos were sitting around fires and talking, telling stories that might make them laugh. Others were practicing with their weapons in order to become more skillful in battle. More just simply slept, tired of days on in hiking.

"We are known as the Ronso. As I mentioned before, King Kamahri rules over our nation Zanarkaand. The nation lies East of here in the deep jungle. He has asked me to search out the land in order to expand our borders. We have hiked many days in order to reach here, finally setting up camp here, as you see, to take a few days rest. I must make a desicion whether or not to press on or go back, claiming land that we have covered as ours. Do you know what is beyond this mountain top?" The General was very curious to know what the Hyren were capable of.

"As for ourselves, you can ask any question you want to. Our kind is not too fond of outside influences. King Kamahri has been victorious in wars against several tribes in the jungle. We Ronso's don't like humans very much for they have been hostile towards us ever since I can remember." Mahkan was afraid that he might have frightened his new friends.

"But do not worry little Hyren! We are of no harm to you. In fact why don't we arrange a meeting between our two kings? Trade can benefit our nations ten fold, as of support in battle could be very helpful too." The general started to gobble down his boar in huge chunks, tearing the tender flesh right off of the bones.

"Our Kybarites frequently climbed to the peaks to look around."

He turned to Rayik who spoke up now. "We have not seen anything other than desert on the other side of this range since we left Hyr."

Palt continued again. "Our Kybarite brothers are very skilled at climbing and living in harsh landscapes and high in the mountains. They have even built high mountains cities and long roads through the peaks. We Naroomese are not so comfortable, we need to be surrounded by trees. Your jungle makes us feel more at home than we have been since we left, though it is much too wet for our tastes.

"Our people have kept to themselves for most of our history since the alliance. We often fight with raiding tribes from plains and desert to the north and arctic tribes to the south, but have not expanded for many seasons. Allies are always a welcome friend, I am sure our kings would welcome a meeting with a neighbor as strong as you. Our mission is to find out who else lives around us. Do you know any other nations as large and civilized as Hyr or yourself?"

"No, the only neighboring people that our nation knows of are small villages in which don't take major parts, or were defeated by us in war. As for the North we have no idea to what lies there."

"I do not trust many. Not every nation will be as friendly as us you know." Mahkan had a very serious look on his face, almost as if he were angry. He looked into the fire that they were sitting around, looking as if he were in deep thought.

"You may stay here for a couple of days if you want. We will camp here to rejuvinate our stength. Then we must head back, and we will part. As for the meeting of our kings, we can take however many of you back to Zanarkaand in order to talk to Kamahri, unless you have another plan? It is your choice."

(ooc: they arn't going to look, they have been looking every so often. You asked if they knew what was on the other side, so they told you want they have seen so far.)

OOC: Edited the script haha.

"It would be nice to know where your capital is, that way we can send messengers to you in the future. Of course, we understand you may not be comfortable with this, so we offer the same to you. Anyone you wish may then return with us to our homeland so you may find us when you wish."

Map and city location (http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/Upum/zan.jpg)

General Mahkan described to the Hyren about where the city of Xahlga was. Giving precise details so they would know where to go. "...You then follow this main river until you reach the junctions of 4 rivers, 2 of which are waterfalls. You know exactly where the city is after you reach this point, for it is about a couple hours climb to the cliff above. When you reach the city, go to the main gate. The Ronso might threaten you but worry not, for I will give word of someone with the looks of you coming. Ask for me, General Mahkan. A guardsmen will show you the way to my hut." General Mahkan started to yawn, opening his furocious jaws, his row of fangs showing and tongue curling out. "And the directions to your capital?..."

To the North of Zanarkaand
The scouts were sut up in a formation so they could overlook miles worth of jungles. They sat in the treetops and had signals according to what they saw, or didn't see. A master scout was falling asleep in his tree when his accute hearing hear footsteps in the distance. He focused his eyes as much as he could and suddenly saw a good 100+ men marching in his direction. He quickly sat up and violently roared to the south. This would alert all other scouts of danger nearing. The scout stayed in his tree and readied his arrow, just in case.

__________


Kahmari was meditating out in his garden when a Ronso messenger rushed onto the grass. Kahmari snapped at him, "You had better have somethign important as you are disrupting my meditation!" He quickly whipped his head around and glared at the other Ronso, much smaller in size to him.

"I'm sorry your highness! But there was a scout about 100 nauts north of here signalling danger. Not too big in numbers, but still a threat."

Kahmari purred as he sat gently in front of him, "How many?"

"About 100 plus or minus, we think human."

The king took the situation very calmly. "Very well. We will put an end to this very minor threat and see what they want. I want 100 scouts and 100 warriors. We leave in one hour."

"Yes sir!" The messenger bowed and ran back out of the garder as Kamahri continued his meditation.

To the North of Zanarkaand
The scouts were sut up in a formation so they could overlook miles worth of jungles. They sat in the treetops and had signals according to what they saw, or didn't see. A master scout was falling asleep in his tree when his accute hearing hear footsteps in the distance. He focused his eyes as much as he could and suddenly saw a good 100+ men marching in his direction. He quickly sat up and violently roared to the south. This would alert all other scouts of danger nearing. The scout stayed in his tree and readied his arrow, just in case.
The Centurion stopped abruptly as he heard a roar from the jungle. He squinted upwards, but could not see anything. Damn this thick foliage. He ordered his elves into combat formation, shields out, longbows at the ready as they advanced cautiously.

Palt took out a map (http://images1.filecloud.com/119174/HYRpatagonia.gif) of Hyr and pointed out the bounderies and places of interest. "This is our land to the south. Here is Vash Naroom, the capital of my tribe. This is Kybar's Fang, the capital of our neighbor tribe. If you wish to seek an audience with our kings then you should go here, Eyrie. Eyrie is the joint capital of the Twin Kingdom. It has been an honor meeting you General, now I think we should return home and inform our people of the results of this expedition."

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