History Of XyraelThis delves into the creation of the people of Xyrael, dating back some 6,000 years ago. The destruction of Xyrael on the Lexicon created a rift in space time, transporting the Xyraeli people not only onto a different world, but back in time. Therefore this is not the modern history of Xyrael, but instead an RP leading up to the modern state of Xyrael. Essentially giving you a peek at what created my culture. Say what you will, I am writing this as a legend and not as a timeline. Each color represents a different post, I am creating one long post instead of spamming the thread. Make sure you read them all! If you actually care that is
Also, the glowing crystals that are mentioned are not a natural, or in anyway renewable resource. Instead, they will be other material transported through wormholes in the destruction of Xyrael as well, having their properties altered. They do nothing but look pretty, and have a spiritual value to the Xyraelites.
"God damnit Nehemiah, get the thing working!" shouted a scientist as hundreds of levers were thrust, sparking a giant engine to life. Xyraeli scientists were never regarded as the sanest, and often the number of successful innovations created by them was overshadowed by disasterous failures. Perhaps today would be different. The plant was located in a massive bunker under a hill near Megiddo, and was going to be testing the creation of black holes. Intensive research suggested that it was possible to create it, but there were skeptics that said the physics and equations were off. The scientists hoped to prove the skeptics wrong, and had a series of failsafes in case any flaw was detected.
Nehemiah put his hand on a level, and looked before him into a giant, poorly-lit, cavernous complex. Pushing the lever down, sparks shot out from a sphere in the center of the room, held in place by magnetic forces in the vaccuum. Energy readers began to beep rapidly as power levels surged, and the scientists looked on with excitement. Light appeared to disappear around where the sphere had been, a small globe on a few feet wide had formed. It was ready to be a successful, stable black hole. A cheer erupted throughout the complex.
"We've done it! I can't believe it, look at what we have created! A stable black hole, imagine the possibilities! Get me data damnit, I want data!" As the scientist demanded information a warning klaxon began blaring. They looked at the readings, the hole was growing larger, exponentially in fact. This did not bode well for the crew of the station. "Turn it off! TURN IT OFF!"
Several scientists lunged for a panel of buttons, but where blown back as energy surged through the circuit, electricity ripping through their bodies, fried blood splattering the walls. Taking cover from the wild raw power they could only water in horror as the darkness encroached upon them rapidly. "Fuck..." several scientists spoke in unison as the black hole began to phase in and out of what had to be reality. Nehemiah dropped to his knees in prayer to whatever God there may be, he knew it was the end. The black hole rapidly collapsed on itself and was gone for but a moment before a massive explosion ripped through the complex, out the hill, ripping a hole in the very earth itself. Hundreds of millions of peoples lives were taken in the massive holocaust, and a smoldering crater several hundred miles wide. No life remained within the nation known as Xyrael.
But, with a stroke of chance, or perhaps the hand of God, seven hundred and seventeen people had survived the disaster, brought to an alternate dimension by wormholes ripping rifts through space and time. At the end of these dimensional gates lay a new world, a lush jungle like nothing they had ever seen. The people, abhorred by the sheer death they had witnessed, could only lay catatonic in a small clearing in the jungle. For days they laid there, quickly drawing close to starvation. The threat of plague and unknown diseases was large, and they were sure they would soon join their kin in death.Posted on: January 05, 2007, 11:08:43 PM
They had spent two whole days laying in agony in their small clearance. Several of the men had gone to find branches, and pathetic tents with roofs of large leaves were all that sheltered the poor people from the drizzle that constantly came down. They had slept in mud, and had been bitten by mosquitoes countless times. Awful noises could be heard from the jungles, the roars of mighty lizards and growls of large cats. The people watched the forest edge warily as they struggled to hold onto what little life they had left.
On the third day, as the sun rose, a figure appeared at the edge of the forest dressed in an unblemished white robe, bearing a staff and several markings on his face. The people hid as best they could, but many were too sick to move. The man approached the camp, an aura of purity exuded from his pronounced figure. "Children, why do you suffer?"
The people looked amongst themselves, unable to believe they could understand his tongue even though it did not speak the same language as they. "We hunger, we thirst, we are sick and dying. Can you help us?"
"The Light can help all those who wish to be saved." The man looked upon a sad looking man who crawled his way to the robed figure. Gripping his staff, he planted it in the mud. A crystal at the tip glowed with blue fire, and his eyes seemed pure and free of evil. "Child, do you wish to be saved?"
"I.... need... food."
"Do you wish to be saved?"
"Yes, save me. I do not want to die."
The robed man smiled, closing his eyes. The markings covering his body seemed to glow, and the broken man at his feet began to tremble. "Kha'ta na'la fahadra."
The starving man looked up to the prophet, somehow inspired by the words spoken to him. "Khalida," he replied, before letting out a hacking cough. Above his left eye was etched a symbol, a blue tattoo similar to that of the Prophet.
"The Light has saved you, Brother. May the Light guide you and your Children, lead them in this savage world. Find salvation, and know that the Light will be with you." With these words the robed figure smiled, handing his staff to the man. "May your people know you by the name Uetzcayotl, for you shall be the vessel of the Light." He shimmered and disappeared from reality, and the man rose strong and proud. Looking to his people, he glanced to the forests.
"Come, Children, let us gather foods and medicines." The people watched in awe, and found renewed strength and a will to survive. At the end of the fortnight Uetzcayotl had helped his people create small huts, and gather enough fruits and berries to live. The sky was still covered in clouds and the rain never seemed to cease.Posted on: January 05, 2007, 11:51:20 PM
Many decades passed, and the people led by Uetzcayotl were happy. Much of the knowledge known by their ancestors had been forgotten, save the miracle performed by the Prophet. Uetzcayotl taught of the Light and the Darkness, and that one must be pure and good, honest and true, so than when the Darkness came they would be prepared to fight the evil. Beliefs in demons and angels became prevalent, and the guidance of benevolent angels was often sought before a great hunt of the might lizards of the land. The lizards were becoming rare, though, and Uetzcayotl knew his people would have to find a new source of food. Gathering his people, he led his tribe to a river. They quickly ate much of the fruits, and hunted animals, but they were too few to satisfy the hunger of the people.
"What can be done..." contemplated Uetzcayotl as he walked along the river. He could see fish swimming upstream and he pondered for a moment before returning to the tribe. Grabbing a spear, several men followed Uetzcayotl along the river where they watched him raise the spear with practiced ease. Within moments the spear was thrown, and a fish was impaled on it. Several other fish were caught this way, and so began the Xyraelite way of fishing. Several communities formed along the river, and the tribe grew larger with every passing day. Rafts were constructed and soon each village had it's own elders and leadership.Posted on: January 07, 2007, 12:49:18 AM
Uetzcayotl decided that it was time to draw together the elders of each village and discuss the future of the rapidly growing Xyraeli civilization. They had lived on their land for several hundred years, and had overcome many of the diseases brought on by the jungle, and had adapted to the monsoon season that came every year. No longer natives of the long forgotten Lexicon, they were natives of Taijitu now. And so a gathering of fifty men met within Uetzcayotl's village. Uetzcayotl kneeled upon a rug, and greeted his fellows warmly.
"Nahka ravajta. Good day, my friends. Let us pray," Uetzcayotl bowed his head, as did the others. "May the Light guide our path, may it grant us wisdom, free us from the blindness of ignorance. We are servants of the Light, and we will forever be faithful." In a ceremonial act, the men kissed their fingers before raising their hands, their open palms facing the air. "Khalida."
"I have called you, the chosen of your villages, to find out the concerns of the people. Those that bear this rod may speak, and none shall interject." He raised an otherwise meaningless stick and handed it to the man next to him.
Each man spoke of their villages, and each village seemed to be growing further apart. No longer were the Xyraelites one tribe, now they had become many. Each man spoke of different problems their village faced, each man spoke of the resources their village had, and agreements were brokered by Uetzcayotl in the name of the Light. Only one man spoke at a time, and every man reflected upon the statements made before him. Through this great meeting Uetzcayotl had ensured his people would prosper with trade. In time the Xyraelites would spread across the entirety of their peninsula.Posted on: January 07, 2007, 03:26:04 PM
Many more years passed, and Uetzcayotl seemed to be timeless. He had seen his people flourish, and he had taught them many things. It was his serene duty to watch over his people, to provide for them. Many people looked to his as an embodiement of the Light, living proof that the Light gave to those who believed.
By now the tribes had become numerous. The Xyraelites numbered in the tens of thousands, and the most prevalent tribes were the Xyraetec, Kapahua, Qatec, and Pazca. The Xyraetec had entrusted Uetzcayotl with total control over their tribe, and he was merciful and benevolent, providing what he could for his people. They occupied a small peninsula, easily defendable from the land, and created a vast city named Citiatlan. The other tribes migrated to various areas. The Kapahua ventured south to the frontier, and found only more jungles and mountains. They struggled to scratch a living for themselves, and founded their city Ilhuicapan atop a large cliff overlooking the eastern sea, known as the Gulf of Teotl. The Qatec and Pazca journeyed north across the channel. The Qatec founded their city of Atzintlico in a delta at the mouth of a river north of Citiatlan. The Pazca travelled further east, into the densest of jungles. Their people grew hardy and fit, journeying across mountains into a valley which would isolate them from the other tribes. Here belief in the Light was taught fanatically, and men sought to prove their worth in the coming battle against the Darkness. Thus, the warlike Pazca tribe waged war on the Qatec from their might city fortress of Teocallitica.
Many smiths forged swords and armor, and thousands of men clad in skins of mighty beats they had slain drove westwards through the jungles. Many men died of starvation as supply routes were tested, and the Qatec fought back valiantly, but the Pazca were indeed strong. Several thousand men died on each side before Uetzcayotl came to the Pazca. The Pazca believe Uetzcayotl to be the Light incarnate, and heeded his words with great respect.
"You are indeed noble warriors, men fit to fight for the Light. But this fratricide is against the teachings of goodness. You have damned yourselves to Darkness, and should you wish to truly prove yourselves you must redeem your dark deeds."
Ashamed of the acts they had committed against their fellow Xyraelites, they withdrew their armies, and in the seclusion of their valley they trained and became a warrior people, every man and woman able to bear arms, every man and woman both priest and warrior who's faith was unbreakable. The tradition of tattooing their people was nigh abandoned throughout the Pazca, but one tattoo remained, the mark of the damned. From the Pazca tribe the most holy order of the Fallen was founded, and it was their duty to fight for the Xyraeli people until death.
But Uetzcayotl knew all would not remain well as time continued forward. The Xyraelites continued to fracture and spread, until soon both of the peninsula's had come under their control. Beyond the familiarity of their dense jungles the Xyraelites feared to venture. Uetzcayotl grew weary with each passing day, and he could sense his end was drawing near. He drew together a final gathering of the wisest tribal leaders, and each looked to him, still young, with reverence and worry.Posted on: January 07, 2007, 08:13:16 PM
Uetzcayotl looked to the people around him. He had lived for nearly five thousand years. He alone remembered the Darkness that destroyed everything he knew. His form began to shimmer even before he spoke, and the men and women gathered around him gasped, taken aback by this. He looked at them, no sorrow hinted in his eyes.
"I go to join the light," Uetzcayotl looked to his followers as tears filled theirs eyes, "but fear not for me. I am pure, and my soul will find peace."
A girl rose before him, she was young, but he could see in her eyes the same spirit the Prophet saw in him. She was brave and fearless. "What will we do without your guidance?"
Uetzcayotl beckoned her forward. "I shall call you Eleuia, for you are my wish. You will bring these people the care, love, and guidance they need in the coming days." He grabbed a staff, a large gem radiated a beautiful glow and Uetzcayotl smiled, tapping the bottom of the staff against the ground. The sound echoed throughout the glorious halls as Uetzcayotl slowly began to fade away. Eleuia was shocked, she could still feel the hand that had been on her shoulder. Suddenly she was gripped by pain ravaging at her mind as memories that were not her own raced through her. She knew of the people around her, of their ancestors. She knew of millennia ago, when the people were faithless wretches laying on the ground. She could see Uetzcayotl blessed by the Prophet, and then she could remember the Darkness. The pain she could remember, how horrible it was. She could feel the death, the cold biting at her skin. She could remember horror, but she did not know why.
Collapsing to the floor, Eleuia's dirty blonde hair hid her face as she trembled. Her blue eyes weeped tears of sadness, and her fellows came to bring her to her feet. She looked at the staff laying on the floor, and she opened her palm and beckoned it to her. It rose to meet her hand, and she looked to the men around her and smiled weakly. "He has been chosen to join the light."
"And he has chosen you to replace him, m'lady?"
Eleuia smiled. "Yes."Posted on: January 07, 2007, 10:33:41 PM
Eleuia founded the Ecclesiarchy, and founded an order of priests to preach of the Light to the people. She personally chose these people, and such was their charisma that they were loved by the people's they guided. When one would die she would choose a replacement, often taking the time to consult with the village elders. The Xyraelites loved her benevolent rule, and she did much to bring the people into the modern world.
She ordered the construction of dam and fisheries to give a steady supply of foods and waters to her people. The land of Xyrael was far too heavily forested to be farmable without significant damage to the environment, and though the people could care less about the plants they found the sea a more appealing source of life. Many cities were constructed by the coasts and on various delta's and swamps, and waterways were as common through cities as roads. Temples were constructed in honor of Eleuia, and trade flourished with every passing century. The Ecclesiarchy organised through the temples a national education system that taught heavily in medicine, mathematics, science, and language. History was focused more on the religious, while science and mathematics were secular. The Xyraelites had no natural rival nation, but had contacted several other peoples and established extensive trading networks. The Fallen sent their zealots far and wide on various trials where they were to prove their worth. But Xyrael had still not founded a national army, and relied instead on tribal militias. The Kapahua had devoted much of their city to industry, and produced many weapons. Many of these were improvised copies of foreign made weapons, other were improvements, while others still were unique alltogether. The Divine Empire maintained its introverted perspective as new nations rose and fell, until finally Eleuia watched as the 6,000th year of her people approached. Many tribes still scratched a living, aided by the Ecclesiarchy, while the larger tribes had industrialized and grown into modern cities.
Eleuia observed as other nations took down their veil of isolation, but she could feel a new age was dawning upon the world. A more violent age, but also a more prosperous one for her people.
