Djekhet Fallen
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:19 pm
A Morning Like Any Other
The High Priest put out his fire, and walked out of the hut to see the villages dotted around the hill and throughout the desert. The peaceful atmosphere allowed him to relax, and he closed his eyes for the minute he had until he must deal with the stresses of the day. Trying to keep a failing nation from fully dying out in the inhospitable desert.
Like every morning, the tiredness almost overcame him and sleep nearly took him, but he forced himself awake. His shoulders clicked like an old man's bones always clicks, and his feet were sore just as any hard-working desert dweller's feet would be. As if the gods cursed him with this life, they curse him with the ever-growing fear of death that any old man has.
"Sios, we need to talk." A voice said in desperation. The High Priest jumped, and almost fell off the hill.
"Do not startle me like that, Abasi." Sios sleepily mumbled, holding back his anger. "What in gods' names is going on?"
He was right to be shocked. High Priest Abasi never addressed him by his name, and his tone of voice suggested something grave.
"The other priests have been discussing things. I have been present in their conversations, and though my alignment is neither with them or you, I've decided to warn you as a friend."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your reign is ending soon. They shall depose you. Look at these villages, they are run down and full of famine and disease. The Herafs had the smart idea of keeping to their nomadic ways, and it seems to be working for them. On the other hand, death has been common for us and there seems to be no end to the suffering."
"Do you not think I know?!" his voice was raised, his anger grew and Sios became fully awake. "The fools would destroy the villages further. Our way of life will come to an end if they take over, with their disgusting prejudice and their hate for the Herafs. They will ban the tribes, effectively ruining the little patronage anyone has for each other."
"What do you propose?"
Sios stared in thought, and looked down at the bottom of the hill from a steep edge. "We could just jump."
"Be serious!"
"What do they aim to do?" he asked, almost disappointed with himself for considering it and also disappointed for not doing it.
"Half of them want to ban any type of enjoyment, and the other half want money." Abasi said, confused for what his old friend has in mind. Sios sat in thought, then smiled.
"We can start a bazaar! We'll invite people here and sell to them as much as we can. I'm sure plenty of Herafs will arrive and with them foreign merchants. The money shall flow. Come, Priest Abasi, we shall plan together."
"No, I won't help. I'll just watch from a distance. I cannot trust either you or the priests to control the chaos in the villages." Seconds passed as Sios became visibly angry.
"You shall regret this." he said, before turning to the closest village to make the usual announcement and shouted "People of Djekhet, find what wares you wish to sell. We shall start a bazaar here in Djekhet, and activity will bustle for many years."
The High Priest put out his fire, and walked out of the hut to see the villages dotted around the hill and throughout the desert. The peaceful atmosphere allowed him to relax, and he closed his eyes for the minute he had until he must deal with the stresses of the day. Trying to keep a failing nation from fully dying out in the inhospitable desert.
Like every morning, the tiredness almost overcame him and sleep nearly took him, but he forced himself awake. His shoulders clicked like an old man's bones always clicks, and his feet were sore just as any hard-working desert dweller's feet would be. As if the gods cursed him with this life, they curse him with the ever-growing fear of death that any old man has.
"Sios, we need to talk." A voice said in desperation. The High Priest jumped, and almost fell off the hill.
"Do not startle me like that, Abasi." Sios sleepily mumbled, holding back his anger. "What in gods' names is going on?"
He was right to be shocked. High Priest Abasi never addressed him by his name, and his tone of voice suggested something grave.
"The other priests have been discussing things. I have been present in their conversations, and though my alignment is neither with them or you, I've decided to warn you as a friend."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your reign is ending soon. They shall depose you. Look at these villages, they are run down and full of famine and disease. The Herafs had the smart idea of keeping to their nomadic ways, and it seems to be working for them. On the other hand, death has been common for us and there seems to be no end to the suffering."
"Do you not think I know?!" his voice was raised, his anger grew and Sios became fully awake. "The fools would destroy the villages further. Our way of life will come to an end if they take over, with their disgusting prejudice and their hate for the Herafs. They will ban the tribes, effectively ruining the little patronage anyone has for each other."
"What do you propose?"
Sios stared in thought, and looked down at the bottom of the hill from a steep edge. "We could just jump."
"Be serious!"
"What do they aim to do?" he asked, almost disappointed with himself for considering it and also disappointed for not doing it.
"Half of them want to ban any type of enjoyment, and the other half want money." Abasi said, confused for what his old friend has in mind. Sios sat in thought, then smiled.
"We can start a bazaar! We'll invite people here and sell to them as much as we can. I'm sure plenty of Herafs will arrive and with them foreign merchants. The money shall flow. Come, Priest Abasi, we shall plan together."
"No, I won't help. I'll just watch from a distance. I cannot trust either you or the priests to control the chaos in the villages." Seconds passed as Sios became visibly angry.
"You shall regret this." he said, before turning to the closest village to make the usual announcement and shouted "People of Djekhet, find what wares you wish to sell. We shall start a bazaar here in Djekhet, and activity will bustle for many years."
To the interested throughout Osiris wrote: Salutations, Osirans
The ancient tribes of Djekhet have no use for their valuable artifacts available at cheap prices. We invite you to trade, buy, and sell to you heart's delight. Come to the north, and follow the maps. If you witness a Heraf tribe on the way, they will gladly guide you to their home land.
Along with our artifacts are devices and papers from famed Djekhet scholars, who have gladly donated many of their possessions over the years. Whether you are a collector with a hobby, or a merchant looking for customers, come by our shops.
We hope to see your faces,
The Priests of Djekhet
Spoiler
Anyone can join this RP to trade and such, but also keep note that this event chronicles the fall of Djekhet and the nation turning to their nomadic cousins as refuge, and will continue after the Bazaar ends.