The Dwarven Fortress of Kar Bozan, or Deepstone Keep.

Courtyard in Aurcalia, Myralis in Ostaria.

Biography and Selected Writings of Guckers Smoober:

Edited by: Amye Burk
p. 626 FC

Guckers Smoober was a trollish philosopher, inventor, and artist and is widely considered the to be the most influential figure in Abijungyan trollish culture. He was born sometime around the year 500 and lived in the eastern forest. To date, Smoober is the only troll to who has ever been known to express and complex ideas through writing. Though he is not the only troll to ever learn how to write, very few ever do and his writings are the only known example of trollish literature. Smoober’s philosophical teachings and inventions spread throughout the troll clans of Abijungya and have since become the basis for much of their culture. Because of this, Abijungyan trolls are sometimes referred to as “Smooberite Trolls” or “Smoobs.” Not much is known about Smoober other than what is contained in his writings, most of which were recovered from a cave during the Great Troll Hunt of 594 FC. It is assumed that Smoober was killed during the hunt, as the vast majority of the Trollish population was eradicated during this period, though some scholars claim, based on the life expectancy of Trolls, that Smoober likely would have died before the Great Troll Hunt depending on when he was born.

“All every troll like smash. But why all like? Why thing break make troll happy? Why thing break make not-trolls sad?
Is because not-trolls having lots stuff. When having stuff and breaks, it makes sad: even trolls. Trolls not having many stuff. When not having stuff, trolls not sad when stuff break, trolls happy because breaking fun. All every stuff break sometimes, and when have stuff is break it makes sad: means have stuff makes sad. Have stuff less, smash stuff more: makes happy trolls.”

Trolls revel in destruction. Typically, trolls do not destroy for malicious reasons, they simply have an uncontrollable urge to hit, throw, and break things. Since destruction of property would be such a common occurrence in trollish society, Smooberite Trolls instead choose to forgo material possessions altogether, and understand that any material thing one could possess is strictly temporary.

“Some trolls smashing with use rock, others trolls smashing with use smashing-stick. Rock are heavy, and smash more harder than smashing-stick, but this no mean rock better smash than smashing-stick. Smashing-stick no heavy, means trolls can more smashing before tire. Rock trolls no better than smashing-stick trolls, smashing-stick trolls no better than rock trolls.”

In Smooberite Troll culture, no single troll has power over another. All trolls are treated as equals (for better and for worse) and it is assumed that every troll is able to be both a teacher and a student to all other trolls, even trollish children are assumed to know at least one thing that they could teach other trolls. Some scholars believe that many of Smoober’s writings were not his original ideas, but rather he ideas he learned from other trolls that he simply wrote down first, though this topic is highly debated.

“Rock very good smashing. Troll can hold rock and use for smash, troll also can throw rock and rock still smashing. Throw rock is very good smash because when throw rock far away, troll not get hurt by pieces of smash. Throw rock far is very hard, even if troll is very strong, but what if troll no need use arms to throw rock?
I am invent rock-thrower. Put log on top of log: make ‘X.’ Put heavy rock on end of log and jump on other side of log. Rock gets throw very far. Very good for smash far away”

On top of being a influential philosopher to the trolls, Smoober is also a celebrated inventor. Some of his creations include the smashing-stick, the pound-grinder, the rock-thrower (a primitive catapult), and the foobler (a trollish percussion instrument).

“Other trolls no know how write. Other trolls no know how make art. I show trolls how write, trolls smash write-stick. I show trolls how paint, trolls smash paint. I show trolls how make sculpture and trolls make sculpture. Make sculpture is like smash: break rock makes pretty rock: trolls like.
Just because trolls no think they make art no mean trolls no make art.”

Smooberite trolls are not known for being connoisseurs of the arts (unless you count eating the artwork) however there is one art form that the trolls participate in and appreciate: sculpture. Trollish sculptors typically don’t concern themselves with trying to achieve a specific form or appearance for their work, instead, trollish sculptures are abstract expressions of their desire to destroy. Critics have described trollish sculpture as “nothing more than interestingly smashed objects” however it is the belief of the Smoobs that in their destruction there is creation.

December 4, 2020
To peasants in the Kingdom of Kymer, having a weapon for protection is a necessity, but purchasing one is a serious investment. Since attacks from bandits and wildlife were so frequent, but weapons were so expensive, it became customary for each peasant household to have only one weapon each, wielded by the head of the household. That weapon would be passed down from generation to generation, and each new head of the household who receives the weapon etches their name on it somewhere. These weapons are referred to as "family blades" and are now a tradition in almost all households in the Kingdom of Kymer, including the wealthy elite and nobility. Wealthier families can usually afford multiple weapons, so their family blades are typically purely decorative, ornate, gem-encrusted heirlooms, whereas the family blades of peasant families are typically still used day-to-day as the primary weapon of the household.

I wanted to cash in my one free dub of material for baron, and thought I could do quartz. Apparently quartz is not on the list but it seems like something that should be, so I think we should add it.

While we’re at it, we might as well add Blackstone & variants as well as the nether wood types to the available blocks list, since those have been added since the list was made, and also seem like they should be available based on the other blocks you can get. (Though you could probably technically request nether wood right now since it just says “any wood type,” we might as well clarify that they are options).

Of Thorns and Scorn is a historical black comedy written by Agyter Pointe, Abijungya's most famous playwright, towards the end of the Kingdom of Kymer's second dynasty in 668 FC. It was written about the transition of power from the first king of Kymer, Thevenyn Houdretus, to the first queen of Kymer, his niece, Jyuneh Houdretus. The first dynasty of the Kingdom of Kymer had no formal rules in place for succession to the throne other than declaring the position hereditary. Most monarchs of this dynasty would name an heir before they died, however none of their named heirs ever ascended to the throne. Typically the monarch's successor would be the last surviving member of their family, as the periods shortly before or after the monarch's death would usually result in anyone with a legitimate claim to the throne trying to kill everyone else with a legitimate claim of their own. The Wild Roses, a secret society of elite assassins, first rose to prominence during this era since they were frequently hired by royals to off other royals during these transitional periods.
This was the first of only four plays written by Agyter Pointe. It was first performed on the streets of Kymeroi with Pointe's traveling troupe. It was an instant hit and word of the play reached King Orivan Etynotio Auberver who demanded Pointe and his troupe perform a private performance in his castle. He loved the play so much that he immediately ordered the construction of a theater in the city of Kymeroi and gave Pointe essentially full control of the Kymeroi theater. He continued putting on shows of his own plays and many others until he was executed in 721 for writing a play that was "disparaging to the Kingdom of Kymer, its king, and all of its people."
This play is well regarded within the Kingdom of Kymer for its historical accuracy and entertainment value, however the play is still considered a work of historical fiction. The Wild Roses are an incredibly secretive society and so the inner workings of the organization and its members were totally unknown to everyone, including Pointe. It is not even fully known whether all of Thevenyn Houdretus's children were all killed by the Wild Roses, or various assassin groups, though the Wild Roses claim it was all them. Because so little was known about the Wild Roses, Pointe took some artistic liberties with their portrayal. One notable idea created by Point is the fact that in his play the Wild Roses referred to their weapons as "thorns." The popularity of the play led to not only the Wild Roses adopting this terminology for real, but "thorn" became a popular slang term for a bladed weapon all throughout the Kingdom of Kymer and other parts of Abijungya.

Without any further ado, I present to you:

---

Of Thorns and Scorn
by Agyter Pointe

CHARACTERS

Narrator: A Faerie.

Iberis - An elvish assassin. Member of the Wild Roses.

Muscari - A human assassin. Member of the Wild Roses.

Marigold - A human assassin. Member of the Wild Roses.

Thevenyn Houdretus - First ruler of the Kingdom of Kymer. Very old, sick, and on his death bed.

Unhyret Houdretus - First born son of Thevenyn Houdretus, chosen to be his successor.

Sauvgyr Houdretus - Second son of Thevenyn Houdretus.

Troysym Houdretus - Third son of Thevenyn Houdretus.

Jyuneh Houdretus - Daughter of Vysavysa Houdretus.

Royal Advisor - An advisor to the Kymeroi monarch.

Guards - Two guards tasked with protecting a member of the royal family.

ACT 1

SCENE 1

THEVENYN HOUDRETUS is lying in a bed. UNHYRET HOUDRETUS is kneeling at his bedside. They are both motionless, like statues. NARRATOR addresses the audience.

NARRATOR: In the past we set the stage, to tell the story of a long-passed age. Long before this kingdom great, A single city awaits its fate. Our first king, in bed he lies, a few short days before he dies. He summoned his first born and to him he said...

Exit NARRATOR. As NARRATOR Exits, THEVENYN and UNHYRET stop being motionless. UNHYRET is weeping.

THEVENYN: You will become king once I am dead.

UNHYRET: (Still weeping) Don't say that! You can pull through! I've searched all across Candarion for the finest doctors and potions money can-

THEVENYN: My condition is getting worse with each passing day, I fear I don't have much time left.

UNHYRET: If you just drink your potions-

THEVENYN: I have been drinking nothing but potions for weeks, but it seems they're only delaying the inevitable...

UNHYRET: (Wiping away tears) We will delay it as long as we can!

UNHYRET leaves the master bedroom and closes the door behind him. As he does, his expression immediately changes from intense anguish to complete apathy. He turns his gaze to a bottle with a pink liquid in it sitting on a table. He picks up the bottle and pours the liquid out of a window. He refills the bottle with water and then pulls out a small vial from under his shirt. He taps the vial and a red powdery substance falls into the bottle. He then shakes it up, making the water appear as pink as the liquid that was in the bottle before. UNHYRET stands in front of the door to the master bedroom and gives himself a moment to force out some more tears, and then bursts back into the room.

UNHYRET: I came as quickly as I could, father!

THEVENYN: Thank you Unhyret. Kymeroi will be in good hands once I'm gone, I know I can always count on you.

UNHYRET: Always and forever...

SCENE 2

Outdoors, dusk. IBERIS, an elf wearing a black cloak, is riding his horse on a trail when suddenly a man wearing a similar cloak blows past IBERIS riding his horse in the opposite direction.

IBERIS: Wait... Muscari is that you?

The man on the horse stops and turns around.

MUSCARI: Well I'll be. Iberis! How are you? I don't think I've seen you since-

IBERIS: Last Ice's Reign! It's been too long! How are you?

MUSCARI: Oh, you know, up until recently business has been really slow, but I just finished this one job that’s been a really big break for me.

IBERIS: Ah, how did that go?

MUSCARI: Oh you know, same old same old. Pretty standard stuff: poison this, stab that... You know how it is... but it's nice when I get to travel for work.

IBERIS: I hear that, I'm actually off to the East Woods right now to meet a perspective client.

MUSCARI: Nice!... Well anyway I'd love to chat but I actually have some more contracts I still need to get to. After all, people aren't just going to murder themselves, am I right?

IBERIS: I mean... technically they could.

MUSCARI: Well, it's not something you can really count on... Anyway I really have to go, I guess the guy I killed was pretty important. It was hard to get away and he had a funny name. (struggling to pronounce it) Un-hi-er Hodo-re-something.

IBERIS: Wait... you just killed Unhyret Houdretus?!

MUSCARI: Yeah, that was it! I knew it was something goofy sounding like that.

IBERIS: As in Prince Unhyret Houdretus?!

MUSCARI: He was a prince?!?! (he sounds shocked, but the shock dissipates quickly) Actually, that kinda makes sense… Anyway, seeing as he was so important and all I should probably get going before the city guard catches up with me. We should grab drinks together sometime, though!

IBERIS: Yeah, absolutely. Catch you later!

MUSCARI: Unlikely, I'm never caught (winks).

Exeunt IBERIS and MUSCARI, in opposite directions.

Scene 3

IBERIS enters a dilapidated shack. Inside he finds a wealthy-looking man sitting in an ornate chair surrounded by guards.

IBERIS: Saluta-

TROYSYM: (Interrupting IBERIS and yelling uncomfortably loudly) I am Prince Troysym Houdretus the first! Third son of Thevenyn Houdretus! State! Your! Business!

IBERIS: Well… Murdering mostly.

THE GUARDS draw their weapons. IBERIS pulls a letter from his pack.

IBERIS: (Nervously) This is the “random run down shack in the north-eastern corner of the east woods” that was looking for an assassin right?…

TROYSYM: Guards! Bring that to me!

One of the GUARDS snatches the letter from IBERIS’s hand and hands it to TROYSYM. TROYSYM looks at it and quickly recognizes it as a letter he had sent himself.

TROYSYM: So you’re one of the “Wild Roses” hm? I didn’t expect them to send an… (disgusted) elf.

IBERIS: (offended, but trying hard not to show it) What’s that supposed to mean?

TROYSYM: Nothing. I suppose you people are good at... murdering... But you don't look like a killer.

IBERIS: Well, every rose has its thorns.

IBERIS takes an ornate looking dagger out of a sheath and brandishes it. He pulls another dagger out of his boot, one from his cloak, and two from the his pack.

IBERIS: Each is coated with a different poison, each guaranteed to kill a different one of the major races in Abijungya within seconds. We Roses are the best at what we do.

TROYSYM: You better be, sparkles. This job is more important than everything you’ve ever done combined. My brother is a tyrant and a fiend. Kymeroi will fall into ruin if he becomes king. We cannot let this happen.

IBERIS: So you want me to kill-

TROYSYM: Prince Sauvgyr Houdretus the first! Second son of Thevenyn Houdret-

IBERIS: Why do you keep saying “the first.” None of you have any children.

TROYSYM: (Angrily yelling) Get your pointy ears out of my murder shack! And don’t come back until Sauvgyr is dead!

Exit IBERIS, with haste.

ACT 2

SCENE 1

IBERIS is standing in front of a door with his dagger drawn. SAUVGYR is sitting on a chair on the other side of the door speaking with a cloaked figure. They are both motionless. NARRATOR addresses the audience.

NARRATOR: This Wild Rose has a prince to kill, a test requiring all his skill. Spent so long on his plan devising, but what he found was quite surprising. Reaching Sauvgur was not that hard, he didn’t have but one guard. Iberis is now outside the room, ready to send a prince to his doom.

Exit NARRATOR. As NARRATOR Exits, IBERIS and SAUVGYR and the cloaked figure stop being motionless. IBERIS kicks down the door.

SAUVGYR: (to the cloaked figure) My brother is a tyrant and a fiend. Kymeroi will fall into ruin if he becomes king. We cannot let this happen. (Turns to see IBERIS approaching him) Ah good another, you didn't have to kick my door down, I was just telling your... associate here about the job I have for you.

IBERIS: What?

The cloaked figure turns around to look at IBERIS. It is MUSCARI, they both look surprised.

MUSCARI: (trying not to look or sound surprised to see IBERIS there) oh… um… ah… you made it… good…

Long awkward pause

MUSCARI: Can I talk to you for a minute

MUSCARI grabs IBERIS by the arm and walks him outside of the room.

MUSCARI: (furiously whispering) What are you doing here?!

IBERIS: (also whispering) What do you think I’m doing? Murder.

MUSCARI: You’re going to murder Prince Sauvgur?!

IBERIS: Yeah, is that a problem.

MUSCARI: Yeah it’s a problem! He just hired me to kill Prince Troysym!

IBERIS: Well… has he paid you yet?

MUSCARI: Yeah, he paid upfront (he pulls a comically large bar of gold from his pack, it was clearly the only thing in there) in solid gold.

IBERIS: So what I’m hearing is that it would be ok if I killed him.

MUSCARI: Don’t you think that would reflect poorly on our organization? If we took his money and then murdered him?

IBERIS: Wouldn’t it reflect poorly on our organization if I didn’t kill him like I was hired to do?

MUSCARI: Touché.

IBERIS: Look, I’ll go in there and kill Sauvgyr and then we’ll go see Troysym so I can get paid for this job and then you can kill him too. That way we both get paid and finish our contracts, plus Troysym was kind of a dick anyway.

MUSCARI: (shrugs) Works for me.

IBERIS walks into the room Sauvgyr is in. Crashes and screams can be heard coming from inside the room. MUSCARI is looking through the door and winces a bit at each sound. The sounds stop and IBERIS casually walks out of the room, spattered in blood.

IBERIS: Alrighty, one prince down one to go.

MUSCARI: Two down actually, I killed Unhyret too, remember.

IBERIS: Oh yeah, kinda crazy how we just got away with killing two Princes and are about to kill another.

MUSCARI: hm. (sounding only mildly impressed)

Exeunt MUSCARI and IBERIS.

Scene 2

TROYSYM is sitting in his chair in his remote shack surrounded by guards. Enter IBERIS and MUSCARI, they are both covered in jewels head to toe and are wearing much fancier (but still black) cloaks.

TROYSYM: You’re back. And who is this?

The GUARDS draw their weapons.

IBERIS: He’s an... associate... I guess.

TROYSYM: Ah good, I knew the wild roses were smart enough not leave this job up to an elf alone.

IBERIS: (visibly annoyed) actually, I did it myself.

TROYSYM: Whatever, at least I don’t have to pay you both now. Not that it looks like either of you need it.

TROYSYM tosses a sack at IBERIS, he catches it but it’s heavy and knocks the wind out of him just a bit.

TROYSYM: I’m sure you’ll find this payment more than adequate, it’s probably more money than you’ve ever seen in your lives. 1000 Fire Coins, genuine Kryizon Auros. Why, even a small fraction of this sum could make the poorest man very very rich.

MUSCARI looks at IBERIS and his sack of coins, and then he looks at the guards on either side of TROYSYM. He opens the sack and then starts counting out some coins.

MUSCARI: (Looking up towards the guards) So how much is he paying you?

GUARD 1: Huh?

MUSCARI: to guard him?

GUARD 2: Uh...

MUSCARI stops counting out the coins and just grabs two handfuls and drops them in front of the two guards.

MUSCARI: Alright, here’s your cut.

GUARD 1: What?

GUARD 2: What?

TROYSYM: What?

MUSCARI stabs TROYSYM in the chest.

TROYSYM: Oh, I am slain! (Dies)

The GUARDS are completely frozen and totally shocked. They look at each other, then back down at their respective stacks of coins.

IBERIS: We thank you for your cooperation

Exeunt IBERIS and MUSCARI. The GUARDS look at each other and their respective piles of money and shrug. Exeunt the GUARDS. TROYSYM’s body slumps over in the chair.

ACT 3

SCENE 1

NARRATOR: So as the king lied in bed, the princes ended up all dead. Assassins revel in their riches earned, and to the earth the king has returned. The royal family had not planned, who would come to rule this land. Thevenyn’s sister would be next in line, but only if she’s alive and fine.

Enter IBERIS and MUSCARI, both riding horses and both covered in more jewels and wearing even fancier clothes than last time. Coming the opposite direction is a woman on horseback also covered in jewels.

MARIGOLD: (from a distance) Iberis? Muscari? Is that you? It’s me Marigold!

MUSCARI and IBERIS: Mari!

MUSCARI, IBERIS, and MARIGOLD all excitedly meet up together center stage.

MARIGOLD: I feel like I never see you guys at the hideout anymore, but you both look like you’re doing well for yourselves. I just got done with the craziest job, you wouldn’t believe it.

MUSCARI: Oh man, you’re not going to believe what we just got done doing, it’s nuts!

MARIGOLD: Get this, I get hired by this girl right, she’s probably no older than 12 years old but it turns out she’s just flooded with cash. Apparently she is the daughter of the late king’s sister, but that’s not the craziest part. The crazy part is that she hired me to kill HER OWN MOTHER so that she could become queen of Kymeroi! Isn’t that insane?

MUSCSARI: Holy shit

MARIGOLD: Anyway, enough about me. You guys said you also just did something crazy, what was that all about.

IBERIS: Well… we just got hired by two brothers… and uh they both got us to kill each other… but they were also, like, princes too.

MARIGOLD: (There is a slight pause, MARIGOLD sounds unimpressed) Yeah… I guess that’s pretty crazy…

MUSCARI: You should have let us tell our story first...

MARIGOLD: Yeah… probably. Well anyway I have a ton of money I don’t know what to do with, so I’m going to see if I can get my horse plated in solid gold. Later!

IBERIS: Uh, goodbye!

Exit MARIGOLD

MUSCARI: That’s not such a bad idea.

IBERIS: What isn’t?

MUSCARI: Solid gold horse.

Exeunt IBERIS and MUSCARI.

SCENE 2

A Throne sits in the middle of the room. Coronation music can be heard. Enter JYUNEH HOUDRETUS: a child wearing a crown, holding a scepter, and dragging a cape twice the length of her body across the floor. She sits on the throne.

ADVISOR: Your majesty, now that you are-

JYUNEH: Call me that again.

ADVISOR: Your majesty… Now that you are queen of Kymeroi we should really draft some new laws for succession to avoid future ugliness.

JYUNEH: What’s that?

ADVISOR: Laws that dictate who becomes ruler after your… passing. We can decide which of your children-

JYUNEH: I don’t have any children!

ADVISOR: Yes of course, but these are things we should really be thinking about for the fut-

JYUNEH: We can worry about that later. There are more important things to worry about right now… Like earlier today, I saw a sold gold horse. I WANT one.

ADVISOR: (visibly annoyed) Your wish is my command, your majesty…

Exit ADVISOR, Enter NARRATOR. As the NARRATOR enters, JYUNEH freezes in place.

NARRATOR: A child without experience was the only royal around, and so the second ruler of Kymeroi was crowned. She ruled for many years and was adored, but those who live by the sword, die by the sword. New succession laws were never made, and killing royals kept the Roses paid. So the whole dynasty, the people would morn, when rulers were killed in whirlwinds of thorns and scorn.

THE END

December 2, 2020
In the Kingdom of Kymer, the week is devided into 6 days: Dawnvoch, Mornvoch, Dayvoch, Evoch, Duskvoch, and Nightvoch. Peasants and tradesmen typically work from Dawnvoch to Duskvoch, but Nightvoch is reserved as a day of rest and worship, though the less religiously inclined may spend their Nightvoch drinking, smoking, and gambling instead of praying.

The port city of Orsai was once a settlement of the Kingdom of Kymer and has always been known as a safe haven for pirates. In order to combat this, King Orivan Etynotio Auberver placed an extremely high tax on all goods coming in and out of the city in the year 652 FC, with the hope that temporarily crippling the city's economy would eventually drive all the pirates out. Of course, this greatly upset not only the pirates, but also everyone else living in the city of Orsai and anyone else in the Kingdom of Kymer whose livelihood was based around trade. In early 656 FC, Volyr Diepp, an admiral of the Kymer navy and Orsai native began drafting what would later become known as the Corsair Articles, a code of law for pirates within and outside Orsai. Diepp knew better than just about anyone else that the number of pirates in the Kymer sea greatly outnumbered the Royal Navy, however the navy was organized and efficient, and was able to quell all earlier pirate rebellions. He believed that an organized alliance of pirates would be able to run the city of Orsai themselves and easily defend the city from Kymer reconquest. For the rest of the year, Diepp organized clandestine meetings with pirate captains and members of the Royal Navy to gather support and further draft the articles. On the first day of Last Frost, 656 FC, the city of Orsai declared itself independent with the Corsair Articles as the only law of the land. The Kingdom of Kymer immediately sent a fleet to Orsai to try to take it back, however most of the fleet was destroyed long before reaching the city, as many ships' captains had already met with Diepp and agreed to desert the Royal Navy and attack the rest of the fleet. This event would become known as "the great sinking" and the Royal Navy was almost completely annihilated. Since then, the Kingdom of Kymer and the Corsair Republic have technically been at war, however the Kingdom of Kymer has yet to make another attempt to reclaim Orsai, and the pirates don't attack Kymer cities, instead opting to only plunder ships in open waters.

The Corsair Articles

I. These articles are in force perpetually within the port city of Orsai and her surrounding seas (Henceforth referred to as the Corsair Republic: a free state that is independent from the Kingdom of Kymer). Captains who sign these articles and their crew are citizens of the Republic and these articles are in force perpetually on any sea voyage of a Republic vessel.

II. Orsai is a port free from plunder. Should the Republic or any of her ships come under attack, they are to be defended by all available and able-bodied corsairs.

III. The Captain is to have two full shares of all prizes; the quartermaster is to have one share and one half; the mages, the doctor, the mate, the carpenter, and the boatswain, one share and one quarter. Every other member of the crew is entitled to exactly one share.

IV. All prizes with equivalent or greater value than a Republic Medallion are to be immediately delivered to the quartermaster. Anyone who finds a prize and does not deliver it to the quartermaster within 24 hours shall suffer what punishment the captain and the majority of the crew shall think fit.

V. If any person shall steal anything from their crew or the Republic, they shall be forced to repay the value of what was stolen tenfold. Any person who refuses or is unable to pay shall be marooned.

VI. Any person marooned will be given one bottle of water, one day's rations, and a dagger that is to be immediately sharpened before the marooning; no more, no less.

VII. Any person that shall strike another while these articles are in force shall receive lashings on the back equal to the number of strikes they took tenfold.

VIII. Any person who neglects their business shall be cut off from their share and will suffer additional punishment at the discretion of their Captain and crew.

IX. Any person that shall be found guilty of drunkenness in time of engagement shall suffer what punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit.

X. Any person that shall be found guilty of cowardice in the time of engagements shall suffer what punishment the captain and the majority of the crew shall think fit.

XI. Any person that shall have the misfortune to lose a limb in time of engagement, shall have the sum of six hundred Republic Medallions, and remain aboard as long as they shall think fit.

XII. Every member of a Republic crew has a vote in affairs of the moment on a vessel or within the city of Orsai. All votes are to be counted equally, regardless of rank or business.

The Tale of Time is the Abijungyan Merfolk's story of creation. The ancient tale predates writing and was preserved through oral tradition for many many years until eventually versions of the story were included in many of the earliest religious texts of the Merfolk. The Abijungyan elves also have an extremely similar creation story (likely based on the Merfolk's) and so the pronunciation of the names Abi and Oloigo are based on the elvish pronunciation. This translation of the story is based on the text inscribed on the walls of the Merfolk temple of Ikikaobila, the oldest surviving written copy of this story. The original text was in Deep Primordial, the ancient language of the Merfolk.

The Tale of Time
Translated by Dolmyt Skyphander, 597FC

Before there was anything, there was everything and there was nothing. All that ever was, is, or ever will be was everywhere at all times before it all existed. This displeased Oloigo (1), who manifested themself from the evernothing (2) out of spite. Oloigo was separated from the evernothing, but still completely immersed in it, they felt the most excruciating pain and the most euphoric of ecstasy simultaneously and always. This displeased Oloigo, who manifested (3) a state of being separate from the evernothing called time so that they could pull the evernothing apart and experience it at their leisure. This pleased Oloigo and they continued to pull the evernothing apart and manifest it into time for billions of years. Time existed only to serve Oloigo, and this displeased Abi (4), who too manifested themself from the evernothing into time. Abi traveled throughout time and pulled the manifestations of Oloigo together. At the beginning of time, where Oloigo had pulled emptiness (5) from the evernothing to experience, Abi organized (6) it into space so that there would be somewhere for them to put all of Oloigo's manifestations as they continued their journey through time. Next, where Oloigo had pulled fullness (7) from the evernothing to experience, Abi organized it into the world so they could keep track of everything they had organized. Next, where Oloigo had pulled happiness and sadness from the evernothing to experience, Abi organized it into night and day, so they could keep track of how far they had traveled into time. As Oloigo marched forward, experiencing new things, Abi followed and gave Oloigo's manifestations order and purpose. Eventually, once Oloigo had experienced most of what they had wanted from the evernothing, they tried to go back to reexperience that which had pleased them, but was surprised to find they could no longer go back in time, as time no longer existed to serve them. This displeased Oloigo, and so they started pulling the most unpleasant aspects of the evernothing into time to spite Abi. Abi continued to organize all of Oloigo's manifestations into the world, but at some point in time, all of Oloigo's manifestations involved some amount of hate, pain, or violence. This displeased Abi, however, they had to continue giving everything a purpose, as that was their purpose. Once Oloigo had pulled the entirety of the evernothing into time, they waited for Abi to arrive. At the end of time (8), Abi finally caught up with Oloigo. Abi was displeased with Oloigo for subjecting the world to everything unpleasant, and Oloigo was displeased with Abi for taking their manifestations and turning them into something they were never intended to be. Oloigo and Abi fought over whether the universe they had created (9) together should exist for gods like them, or the mortals born within it. Their fight caused time to crumble until eventually there was nothing left, and they had killed each other. At that point, there was everything and there was nothing (10).

(1) Referred to as "the maker," "the devil," or "the selfish god" in other texts. Pronounced "Ö!öìǁö" in Deep Primordial.
(2) Everything and nothing simultaneously. Referred to as "the space between worlds" in other texts.
(3) All the things Oloigo "makes" are referred to as "manifestations" that they "manifest" from the evernothing, the word for "create" is specifically not used.
(4) Referred to as "the organizer," "the benevolent," or "the selfless god" in other texts. Pronounced "Āʘí" in Deep Primordial.
(5) The word used in the original text specifically points to emotional emptiness.
(6) It is never said that Abi "creates" anything, instead they "organize" what Oloigo has already "manifested."
(7) The word used in the original text specifically points to emotional fullness of fulfillment.
(8) Time is referred to in this text as if it is a place, the literal translation of "the end of time" would be something akin to "the end of the trail of time."
(9) The word for "create" is only ever used in reference to Oloigo and Abi "creating" the universe together.
(10) The end of the story clearly mirrors the opening. There is much debate among theologians whether this implies that the existence go Oloigo and Abi is cyclical, and they keep recreating the universe endlessly, or if this implies that a totally new universe can be created at the end of time.

Also even if we have other planets in our solar system, nobody in Candarion would realize they are planets, right? It would just be a "huh, those 5 stars look and move really weird but we don't know why" sort of thing right? Or does our tech limit allow for good enough telescopes to actually observe these planets and discover their true planetary nature?

five outta five

Fifth vote, woot.

Vote 5/5!

You're formally invited to become a vassal of Abijungya! The best realm in Candarion!*

Abijungya is a relatively young realm, so I don't have too many builds to show off, I've started the capital of the human empire one of the merfolk cities, and an elven settlement. But I also plan on building a pirate state, a magic school, and more settlements for the humans, elves, and merfolk. If any of these ideas seem cool to you maybe they could be something you help develop, or maybe you have some other cool ideas. Check out some of the realm's lore on the forums or wiki, you can also ask me any questions you want about the lore, as I have lots of fun ideas that haven't been published yet (I'm ChewyPudding#7060 on Discord).
I'm in California so I'm in PST. I work most days, but am willing to tour/talk about the realm if we can find a time for that to work.
So yeah, I don't have any vassals yet and like I said this realm is still relatively new, so if you want to help shape the course of this realm lemme know, welcome to Candarion! Looking forward to seeing you around.

*Claim verified by the ChewyPudding official Candarion Association of Realm Rankings

You're formally invited to become a vassal of Abijungya! The best realm in Candarion!*

Abijungya is a relatively young realm, so I don't have too many builds to show off, I've started the capital of the human empire one of the merfolk cities, and an elven settlement. But I also plan on building a pirate state, a magic school, and more settlements for the humans, elves, and merfolk. If any of these ideas seem cool to you maybe they could be something you help develop, or maybe you have some other cool ideas. Check out some of the realm's lore on the forums or wiki, you can also ask me any questions you want about the lore, as I have lots of fun ideas that haven't been published yet (I'm ChewyPudding#7060 on Discord).
I'm in California so I'm in PST. I work most days, but am willing to tour/talk about the realm if we can find a time for that to work.
So yeah, I don't have any vassals yet and like I said this realm is still relatively new, so if you want to help shape the course of this realm lemme know, welcome to Candarion! Looking forward to seeing you around.

*Claim verified by the ChewyPudding official Candarion Association of Realm Rankings

You're formally invited to become a vassal of Abijungya! The best realm in Candarion!*

Abijungya is a relatively young realm, so I don't have too many builds to show off, I've started the capital of the human empire and one of the merfolk cities. But I also plan on building more human cities, some elven settlements, a pirate state, and a magic school. If any of these ideas seem cool to you maybe they could be something you help develop, or maybe you have some other cool ideas. Check out some of the realm's lore on the forums or wiki, you can also ask me any questions you want about the lore, as I havbe lots of fun ideas that haven't been published yet.
I'm in California so I'm in PST. I work most days, but am willing to tour/talk about the realm if we can find a time for that to work.
So yeah, I don't have any vassals yet and like I said this realm is still relatively new, so if you want to help shape the course of this realm lemme know, welcome to Candarion! Looking forward to seeing you around.

*Claim verified by the ChewyPudding official Candarion Association of Realm Rankings

5/5! That’s all the votes you need!

@TheValeyard Since you clearly have plans of what you want to accomplish this term, I'll cede the position to you. Let me know if you want to keep me around as deputy to keep doing interviews n such, though.