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Post by Shark a' Pult on Feb 10, 2013 3:24:05 GMT -5
The year is 483 of the Second Era, and in the land of Erindath, there is only war. Different forces vie for control of the known world, but four have risen to prominence above all the others, and are poised to achieve dominance over their domains. These groups are; ~~~ The Kriss CollectiveDescription;Flag; Coat of Arms, and Motto; Capitol - Monopol; --- The Kingdom of MaplefordDescription;Flag; Coat of Arms; Capitol - Eloras; --- Tallaria, the Relentless StormDescription;Flag; Coat of Arms, and Motto; Capitol - Silvershore; --- ArrakisDescription;Flag;Essentially the coat of arms, but, not on a shield. Coat of arms: Capitol - Dune;~~~ Between these widely varied groups, the endless power struggles and clashing sides make the future unclear. What is certain though, is that each of these forces has a story to tell, and a reason for fighting this war. |
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Post by Kuro on Feb 10, 2013 11:48:33 GMT -5
In the language of the Kriss, there are 21 words for the concept of "nothing".
Were you to travel into their snowy and barren wasteland, you would see the same thing for most of your time there: A flat, white plain of snow with a blank, gray sky above. There are very few hills or valleys; a single pile of snow a few inches above the rest could serve as a marker. All of the animals are white to match with the snow, meaning that a new resident could be looking at vast supplies of meat in front of them and not even know it. Anytime unrecorded vegetation is found, it is to be reported to the government immediately. The winds are calm. It is usual for anyone to be walking in such territory to find themselves wading through snow up to their waist.
Kriss itself is a word that has to do with "nothing". The term "Kriss Collective" is the most well-known and used translation of the intended meaning of what they call themselves in their own language, the Frol Sik Kriss Kai, which in full detail means "The Growing Spread of the Oblivion of Disorder". Because of the sheer difficulty of surviving in such a wasteland, the original inhabitants of the Kriss lands learned to survive off of one another and rely on each other. The current culture of the Kriss reflects this; the citizens are very close-knit and mostly unified in mind and goal. They devote their lives and efforts to the Collective, to the group, in order to survive and prosper. Their patriotism is so fervent that it is almost religious, like a nation of fanatics. There is little ambition in the majority of the population, for such things are left to the leaders. In the wasteland, strength and ability are valued.
While there is certainly a nobility, it is unlike the stereotypical image of a slovenly and useless man who uses unearned power. The nobility in the Kriss Collective are, for the most part, intelligent, cunning, and ruthless. If one of them were to show weakness for too long, if he or she were to seem unworthy to the people, if he or she seemed undeserving of his or her position, that noble would be fed to the rabid dogs that is the working majority. To the Kriss Collective, the only purpose of the nobility is to think and rule. They exist only for government positions and must devote their lives to such things lest they be destroyed by an ever-bloodthirsty public. At the very top of the government is the Conduit, the man who is in charge of seeing what public opinion is and how it should be implemented. The resulting power and possible corruption of such a position is obvious, but so far the system hasn't sent the whole group into chaos.
Although their culture is based on trusting one another, they are hesitant to rely on other nations. Thus, while some trading was necessary, the Kriss Collective was mostly isolationist because they did not want to rely on resources controlled by another nation.
The Kriss Collective sees the war as the opportunity to forgo all such risky trusts and alliances. If they simply dominated all of the land, then they would not have to rely on anyone but themselves to get the resources they need. The alnds of Erindath are too varied in culture and people; they must be unified and brought to order. To see such a display of countless different viewpoints, people, languages, and ways of life is offensive to the Kriss, who live in a land where the environment is the same almost everywhere you go, where everywhere you go you see nothing.
The people who live in nothing have the duty to destroy everything.
All Shall Fall.
Vice-Controller 3 closed the book with a sigh. The latest chapter of their story. He looked at the title of the very large and heavy tome in front of him. The Absolute Appendix of the the Kriss History: Part 8. And what he had just read had only been the prologue to thousands of pages and millions of words about the workings of the Kriss, how their way was the only possible way to function, how only they knew the truth of order, the only way to survive.
He always read out of such textbooks whenever he couldn't sleep. Most of the time, such a bland reading could make him go to his dreams on the spot. Now...he thought of what was going on. Out there. The war. The spread. The endless bloodshed that was going on at that very moment, countless acres away, all around him, in foreign lands of yellow, green and blue, of trees and sand. Lands of such color and...beauty?
He shook his head. He had only ever read about it, and what he read usually told him that such sights were disgusting and against the Kriss Imperative. Still, it couldn't hurt to simply see such different lands, yes? If he could just go there and actually see and hear and smell the differences, the oddities, the change...
He realized that he had been reaching out towards the window and the night sky beyond it. He sighed. Perhaps some more chapters would suffice.
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Post by Hitotsumami on Feb 10, 2013 22:44:45 GMT -5
"What are the plans?"
The general looked at an unfurled map in front of him. They were currently in a small sector in the southern most region of their kingdom, and tension was high with the enemy Arrakis.
"Do not worry about them for now," said the General, his finger running along the coast. "We have surprises ready. As for the snow in the west... I've heard whispers of a fierce battle going on with them and Tallaria. Their conflict keeps them busy."
"Then we have a chance to expand."
"Nay," responded the general. "The cold is too much for our race. We will expand, but not now. First, we must send orders to travel south, to a small island off the coast of Arrakis. I'm aware of the risk, but I'm wiling to take it."
The general then rolled up the map and then stepped outside the green tent. Their battalion was currently on a peninsula looking over Arrakis. Even from where the general stood he could see the tents of the enemy in the distance. He knew that sending that ship of warriors to the south would cause chaos here, and he may lose his life in the battle, but it was necessary.
"The forest has been threatened for many years. Our race is one of the earliest of all of Erindath. Now is the time to end it."
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Post by Hitotsumami on Feb 10, 2013 23:03:48 GMT -5
A group of warriors from Mapleford sat on an island in the south. It was very different than what they were used to and wanted nothing but to return home. But they knew they were here for a reason.
"We attack in the morn," said the leader of the group, standing in front of a fire as the warriors gathered around.
"Are we?" asked one of the warriors. "I've heard that Mapleford and Arrakis formed another alliance. They are planning to go through the snow together."
"That was just a lie we told to Arrakis," said the leader. "We're in a new land, with new conditions. It will be like something you have never seen before. We need every advantage we can. Even now, in our homeland, terrible things are about to happen."
"The leader looked out towards the ocean and saw the coast of Arrakis. "If we want our families safe in the north, then we attack."
---
Up in the north, Mapleford was preparing for battle. They had set up a second treaty, but only to give them more time. It was now to really start the war. The general put on his helmet and threw his bow over his shoulder and, with a force of over a hundred warriors behind him, they charged into the sector below, ready to destroy it no matter what the cost.
"For Mapleford! For the forest!"
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Post by crocoduck on Feb 10, 2013 23:34:20 GMT -5
"They've moved again! Sir, this is the second time they've broken our alliance rules! They're attacking, sir!"
The newer officers whispered furiously with one another, frustration clear on their faces as they pointed with fear towards the map stretched out on the large table. The more veteran of the officers stayed quiet, watching their leader instead.
A hush fell over all, even the rookies, when he finally spoke.
"This is no surprise. We knew this was coming when the forest dwellers moved east towards the coast, and we knew it was coming when they took the island. It meant nothing then, and it means nothing now."
Now standing, his hand gestured towards the south-western and north western portions of the sand quadrant.
"The foreigners are not yet a concern. They're in our domain, a domain their weak constitutions can't dream to handle. They are no threat so long as we occupy the surrounding sectors. Which is why we need to focus on the sectors that we don't yet occupy. Once we gain our numbers, we'll focus on retribution. For now, we focus on fortification."
With his trademark ability to switch atmospheres at a moment's notice, the leader smiled a foolish smile. His voice altered entirely and was filled with joy, no longer touched with the dominance and severity it held earlier.
"Go on! Tell our brothers to stay strong while we go adventuring. We have a country of children of the sand waiting to welcome us! There are many feasts, treasures and all sorts of women just waiting for us to pull into our beautiful nation."
The room was still awkwardly silent, but no longer as tense. They could never seem to grow accustomed to his personality, but they trusted his judgment and they drew security from his commands.
Surely, this was not even close to the end of Arrakis.
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Post by Hitotsumami on Feb 11, 2013 0:37:51 GMT -5
"Sir, your attacks on Arrakis are proving to be in vain. Perhaps it was foolish to send in only one ship to try and attack their capital."
The location was in the snowy mountains of Kriss. "We will try once more. If not, at least we still have a presence there. Arrakis will know we are not going to just run away."
"Then what is the current plan?"
The captain took a wolf-skin cloak and tossed it over his shoulders. The snow was harsh, but in the distance they could see the lights of Monopol. "The enemy capital is in sight. It will not be long before we can attack."
"But this snow," muttered the foot soldier.
"I know. Nothing grows in this cold wasteland. We cannot let them spread into our fertile forest. We will put an end to them immediately. Tallaria is also battling them in defense in the south. Perhaps we could make arrangements for a treaty. I will send someone posthaste."
With that, the leader went back inside the tent and closed the flaps to keep out the biting cold.
---
Elsewhere, a single messenger from Mapleford had traveled long and far to the capitol city Silvershore. Never had the young messenger see something so beautiful and different from his foresty home.
He wandered up to the castle and asked one of the guards that he had news from Mapleford and asked to speak with their king.
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Post by crocoduck on Feb 11, 2013 1:04:50 GMT -5
"Oooohohooo, this is splendid. Splendid indeed. We gain more brothers with each day. We're moments away from a united sector." The General beamed down at his map, a sensation of pride and happiness emitting from him like light from the sun. ALl in the room couldn't help but share his elation.
All but one.
A messenger had just entered, panting with a force fitting one that just ran faster than ever before.
"SIR! They've taken the sector!"
Were this any other commander, the messenger would have been wetting himself with fear. Such bad news was usually not delivered so abruptly and loudly, but everybody knew The General was eccentric and aloof. He had nothing to worry about, right?
Once again, the atmosphere switched in the blink of an eye. The proud smile vanished and was replaced instead with a venemous scowl. The bright eyes darkened as The General stared with rage at his map as one of his councelours placed a green block on one of the sectors.
With a voice that apparantly belonged to a completely different man than before, The General spoke.
"I'll leave you here, my trusted council. See to it that we continue to unite the rest of our peoples. Meanwhile, I'll return to Dune. It seems some vermin has slipped through our sands."
Without wasting any time, The General swung on his coat and marched out of the room, stopping momentarily and whispering into the ear of the messenger.
"Tell all the other messengers this as well. If anybody ever bursts into my room and shouts to all my guests every single piece of information, be they good or bad, I will see to it that they lose the ability to speak to anybody ever again about anything. I appreciate your service, but I do not appreciate your service being halfassed. Now go and spread the word; The trees are about to bleed."
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