THE ATRILIAN CAMPAIGN E-JOURNAL by MC Gianni giannieanna@infonie.fr Issue no 7, January 1997 Hello all We are welcoming three new players to the Atrilian campaign. James (Phoenix@metrolink.net) will be playing a Kleshite clan chieftain. Jean-Louis (natsu@lac.gulliver.fr) will be playing Shm'é, the Ntemi (king) of the Bambole. Rodolphe (rodolphe.rodrigues@lpma.u-psud.fr) will be playing Nero Bih Ad'Shitith, the Mwani (king) of the Ad'anti. Also, the home page of the Atrilian campaign is going to move from its present URL to a new one. It will still have the old features (rules, guidelines, etc.) but it will also be greatly improved, hosting: * a full-colour map of the Atrilian continent * a page for each character/country I hence invite each player to send me a short description of his character, of his country, whatever (for those who haven't already done so). You can also send me GIF or JPEG format piccies of your character; they'll appear on the page as well. CAMPAIGN JOURNAL Being a summary of the events which took place in SE Atrilia during the 2nd month of Shemu in the 1st year of Lalibêa's reign (2nd Shemu, 1 L). 1/ THE GITHZERAI PLATEAU The nomadic warriors of the allied Xola tribes and 'the Nation', led by Sheikh Suppiluliuma of the Kwagga Xolas, are besieging another Githzerai tower. Strangely enough, they haven't met any resistance. The tower seems uninhabited. The besiegers have received supplies from several rulers of neighbouring countries (Xola and Ndogo). Apparently, everyone wants to get rid of the invaders. 2/ THE RED COAST Mercenary leader Maummar located the 'Hump' commando which had kidnapped Djyi, a prominent Gyptian merchant. A battled ensued between Maummar's Meshuesh unit and the Xola rebels (see previous issue). The rebels were beaten by a bold manoeuvre, and fled. Using their superior knowledge of the area, they managed to leave the Meshuesh behind. During their search in the labyrinthine gorges of the area, the mercenaries found the rebels' abandoned camp. Djyi's corpse lay there, his throat slit, and still warm. 3/ SOUTHERN PUNT After their dispute about the treatment of the alleged Pheacian spy, a 'silly war' broke out between the Coastal Xolas and the Hammonite Meshuesh. The latter claim it is all due to some strange madness that has come over Abú. The Hammonite Meshuesh fear it may be some sort of Pheacian sorcery. They claim that they will not yield to Abú's "pathetic blackmail" (we're quoting) and that it is a judgement on him for his betrayal of his own faith. The Hammonite Meshuesh said they would try to contact other Xola groups who may be hostile to Abú Djâfar. On the 13th of 2nd Shemu, briefly after dawn, on a calm blue sea, a Xola ship sailing north from Southern Punt and Meshuesh galleys sailing south from the Dioscuride Islands spotted each other. The Xola ship promptly turned and, taking advantage of its better rigging and lighter hull, sped away. She seemed to have lost her pursuers when a sudden, as if magical, wind suddenly propelled the Meshuesh galleys toward their prey. As the three Meshuesh galleys neared their prey, a storm of insects suddenly appeared amongst the Xola sailors, stinging them and preventing them from manoeuvring out of the Meshuesh vessels' range. That's when the Xola ship desperately approached one of the Meshuesh galleys in order to board it, but a barrier of blades appeared out of nothingness, preventing them from assaulting. A group of courageous Xolas hence leapt into the waters and started climbing aboard the Meshuesh vessel -- they were promptly flame stricken by a magician on the Meshuesh galley and fell screaming into the water. By this time, one of the two other Meshuesh galleys had gotten near the two battling ships and boarded the Xola ship. Surprisingly, the Xolas were a good match to the Meshuesh and were on the brink of defeating them, when the blade barrier disappeared, enabling the sailors from the first Meshuesh galley to board the Xola ship. At this time, the Xolas had no choice but to surrender. The captured ship and the prisoners were then escorted to Búr Hammon. When news of the naval defeat reached Abú Djâfar, he took several decrees. 1. People were asked to store food for protection, and were required to fortify all their houses and cities. 2. A body of volunteers was to be set up in order to "stop Meshuesh exploitation" because "it was time to strike back". (we're quoting) 3. Pilgrims to Imám Suheil's shrine were also asked to form a body of fighters amongst them. 4. A magic school was to be founded, and magic-users to be hired from foreign countries. 4/ NORTHERN SERENDIB The revolt in Qart 'Attíq has been put to rest by Al-Khardun's soldiers, but the city is now in ruins, all of its wooden buildings and fortifications having been burnt down by the fire set up by some die-hard rebels. Only the governor's palace, a brick building, and the major stone temples are still standing. The citizens of Qart 'Attíq are now homeless refugees. Most of them will try and settle further south on Serendíb; some of them want to found a new town on the coast of Dogobar or to get back to mainland Pheacia. 5/ UMBOLE Shm'é has decided to create, in the very heart of the Mbole land, a sanctuary dedicated to the worship and the knowledge of the Mbole gods, which is to be called: the sanctuary of Dran'Ba. This vast land (2500 Km2) will be bordered with some gods carvings. Some shrines will be erected in several places, where the Mbole should come to ask for some great favour. Shm'é will then select 50 great warriors, 50 skilled craftmen, 10 scribes among the people who came to the Ntemi's Return Festival (see below). Beeing chosen by the Ntemi is the greatest honour a man could achieve in Mbole society. Shwa'Nga (Golden man), a Mbole diviner from the Dôgu college, is to create and lead the new Úmbole sanctuary. Shm'é has chosen him because of his uprightness, willpower and charisma. He will leave Dôgu as soon as possible. Shm'é (currently residing in Dôgu at Lalibêa's court) informed Lalibêa that during 3rd Shemu, 1 L, he planned to move back to Úmbole in order to support his people. Moreover, he ordered a great Return Festival be organised in Úmbole for his return there. All the Mbole chieftains shall attend it. During 3rd Akhet, 2 L, most of the Mbole diviners shall move back to Úmbole, since contacts with spirits are easier and stronger there than in Dôgu. Shm'é also decreed that hospitality should prevail among the Bambole. War is strictly forbidden for the common men, the only caste allowed to wage war are the Wa (royal warriors), who settle claims between rival tribes. This kind of warfare is ritual, and seldom leads to death. Embassies are allowed only if the Ntemi is in Dran'Ba, most often during the dry season, otherwise strangers are not allowed to enter the sacred forests of the Bambole, but in the border tribes hospitality should prevail until the council of spirits (M'Danga Do) gives or does not give a permission. ENCYCLOPAEDIA ATRILIANA This is the fifth in a series of regular instalments of encyclopaedic information about the continent of Atrilia. *Mbole religion* INTRODUCTION The Bambole do not care about the other peoples' distinction between Lawful and Chaotic Gods. Theirs have always been and shall always be, independently from the cosmic struggle between Law and Chaos which -- they presume -- shall never affect them. The Bambole believe they and their land were created by their high god Niamye whereas other peoples were created by other gods; this is why they believe the defeat of either the Lawful or the Chaotic gods won't affect them. MBOLE RELIGION A. The Mbole Pantheon Niamye the creator god Álurwa god of air, and his wife Ásîse the scorpion goddess Mbotumbo the god of diviners B. The Elemental Gods Álurwa (god of air) Áger (god of earth) Sát'u (goddess of water) Zaqme (goddess of fire) C. Worship of the ancestors, the dead, and the Lwa (spirits) of the Kongo nation (there are three spirit nations, rival to each other) MBOLE PRIESTHOOD A. Priests of the Mbole Pantheon Niamye, Álurwa, and Ásîse are worshipped but do not have any established priesthood. Mbotumbo is the patron deity of the diviners, who are the Bambole's highest caste. The diviner combine shamanic and magical powers. B. Priests of the Elemental Gods These gods are feared more than they are worshipped. Álurwa and Sát'u do not have any established priesthood. Áger and Zaqme do have specialty priests who are shunned by the population and live as outcasts in the remotest areas of Úmbole. C. Spirit worship Shamans worship the ancestors and the Lwa, necromancers worship the dead. Both are influent members of Mbole society (not as influent as diviners though), yet necromancers are greatly feared and usually must live in taboo areas where the dead are left by the tribe.