Tsǫdzuń of 1612
30th of Hilaria-3rd of Lux, Leaf Lance Valley
Slowly would the Tsǫt'aan and his retinue ride through the mountain valleys, covered in the tallest of trees and the last snows of spring before summer, until they had reached what they called the Leaf Lance, a massive forested region in where the tallest and most ancient of trees resided and where the Dze had been created by the Mother of Moons more than three hundred generations ago, the cliffs and creeks were laid with shrines and totems still cared for and visited, older even than the trees. In a clearing of the forest stood a massive circle of 132 totems, depicting the original ancestors of the T'aaniq, be they Dze or human. A large, slate table and 147 main seats were arranged in a semi-circular formation, his seat at the center with innumerable seats in exterior rings, meant for prominent shamans who also attended the event.
One by one the T'aaniq of all clans and peoples subject to him, 15 newly subjugated human peoples included, began to arrive throughout the day and the next morning. A small camp would be established by all them for the three day event. By the time the sun passed the center of the sky, the first meeting would be held, with each chieftain knowing his seat, the newer ones arranged at the most inner line of the semi circle where they could be watched by everybody. And then the Tsǫt'aan spoke.
Tsǫt'aan Xanaaq̇ut: "¡Hail, hail all mightyT'aaniq who gather at the valley once more! I would like to begin this event by welcoming the fifteen chieftains who joined us in the Last War and whose ancestor's totems will decorate this circle too next year. At last we can call all the lands north of the Great Mountains, the Great Southern One and west of the Eastern Flow to be under our rule. ¡Here ten thousand years have passed, ten thousand years we struggled and now we triumph, witnessed by the sun, stars and moons at last!"
Cheering roars and chants came from the seats of the T'aaniq, for in his words he weaved the hope and ignited the flame of passion for the future, an entire era was finishing and they all knew, for the ecstasy in their voices was like the victorious cries of all who had lived were to gather and hear his words.
Tsǫt'aan Xanaaq̇ut: "It is both the old lineages who have won and the new ones who join us today and whose ancestors will bear witness to future meetings, ¿Will now they come forth and heed the call?"
The youngest of these, no older than thirty, would then slowly stand up and introduce himself, of swarthy skin and black hair he was, a small beard adorning his chin and cheeks and his presence was invigorating and cheerful.
Ƚysxalẋ: "I am Ƚysxalẋ of the Ṯirum people, I come here with a question, for my people inhabit the western edges of the Western Range and I fear for their wellbeing should the now empty lands surrounding us be flooded with upcoming invasions, the likelyhood of which I hope the Tsǫt'aan acknowledges."
His words met with approval from the other fourteen newcomers, who dwelt in the southern and western regions where lower altitudes and vast flatlands made it a gate for invasions, to which the Tsǫt'aan would answer.
Tsǫt'aan Xanaaq̇ut: "I heed your words, Ƚysxalẋ of Ṯirum, and I am glad to hear them; for the thing I wanted to discuss in this first day was of the distribution of the lands newly reconquered and now emptied, for most of our tribes have grown cramped in our original holds. Thus any invasion will be swiftly met, for these lands will not just be barriers, but where our people will dwell; for hundred and fifty thousand of our riders watch at the borders and no invasion will be met with a forgiving response"
A bow from Ƚysxalẋ would indicate his satisfaction with the answer. A guard would then bring a gigantic map drawn on parchment of great accuracy of the layout of the lands, covering almost the entirety of the table. Ink and brush would be given to the Tsǫt'aan, who invited all chiefs to join as they re-drew the borders of the confederation. Many an hour would pass, the sun set and the stars illuminated the sky and yet under the light of torch would they keep deciding and debating; most Dze clans that were expelled were given their ancestral lands and compromises between Dze and Human clans and peoples were made. Oaths of alliegance, of friendship and of brotherhood in arms were made between the leaders and at long last by the middle of the night would the map be finalized, a group of old Shamans would then be given the map for custody and for future printing on more parchments if necessary.
The second day would carry on as the movement of wild herds of animals, of the final touches to the map and so forth were discussed, one T'aan would then stand and request to speak. He was Quṕyċe of the Ŋǫłiníí clan, he who had harbored many guests from beyond their lands before, and he had a concern to raise.
Quṕyċe: "Many foreigners have arrived at our shores, old friend of mine, and you have seen them and their intentions. I have doubts in my mind, ¿what if the next to invade come from the seas beyond and not the land? ¿What will we do then when they arrive and push us to the hills?"
Another chieftain, Tẋeł̣eeq of the Ḳyxun clan, would support this motion, then quickly followed by Qiheetś of the Ċxqun, all of whom had also seen the arrival of foreigners and harbored similar doubts. The Tsǫt'aan would ponder still a few seconds, then he would speak of his answer.
Tsǫt'aan Xanaaq̇ut: "I see and hear the reason of your concern, it would be foolish to think an inmediate answer is to be had, but I will not ponder for long." -he then quickly turned to adress the T'aaniq of the few sedentary peoples, all human, to whom he spoke- "I have an idea in mind, let us assign land for us to build a place for them to arrive and force them to arrive there first before being sent to us. ¿What say you of this?"
Tẋeł̣eeq: "Their ships are large and powerful, we might need a large bay for it, my lands currently offer no such locations; yet I will support this motion if need be, let our mannish allies build a settlement by the shore for them, and us."
Quṕyċe: "There is a bay in my lands not frequented often by my people, though I am hasty of the idea, for I will not task my people to be solely responsible for making sure our laws are respected"
Tsǫt'aan Xanaaq̇ut: "In that you may not be worried, for I will personally provide a thousand warriors from my own clan to guard the area, if you allow for it"
Quṕyċe would ponder the offer, in one hand he would like foreigners to stop arriving at his lands, but if the other clans were to help his then it seemed like a good enough deal. He gave a slight sigh and then spoke again
Quṕyċe: "If the clans neighboring mine are willing to provide support to guard the area, I will follow suite and agree to it"
Four T'aaniq seated next to him would then individually agree and promise troops, ranging from a couple hundred to a few thousand, stars and the mountains as witnesses to their word. The Tsǫt'aan would raise a cup and nod in approval, declaring the matter settled, seven mannish clans would then pledge to build this settlement, a few dozens of square kilometres in size. And decrees began to be written stating this law to any foreigners who stumbled upon the wrong shores.
For the remainder of the day would festivities begin, for it seemed like all that had to be talked had been done so and both the Dzeii and the human peoples rejoiced in the start of this era. By nightfall calm would arrive at the valley until the morning of the third and last day of the event. Little of note was the last day, for a small last gathering was held in where shamans spoke, reporting the movement of stars, the appearance of new astral objects and the dissapearance of some, a group of them, consisting of the Five Noble Ones, would also showcase a pouch with a strange, dark grey powder. It wasn't as fine as dust yet it was not like gravel, a strange smell surrounded it and a showcase was made where with a torch a shaman lit up the powder, causing it to combust, all those who observed in awe of it. Explaining what it was, the shamans would convene later in their own council to discuss this creation that they had stumbled upon per their own words...as cheiftains and their entourages began leaving, the Tsǫt'aan would be the last to leave, pondering at this new material...¿what may be its uses? A question for later days, for his call was not there, but with his people for now, and so the dusk settled on the final day of the Great Meeting.
