Strangers from far away
Once there was only Oromo, the sea, and all was Oromo. The Talan people had themselves once come from across the sea but how and from where had been forgotten. Thus many of those who lived on Talano'a, the great island, believed that there was nothing beyond it but the great sea, stretching to the worlds edge.
When sixteen great ships appeared from the east, those who first spotted them could barely believe their eyes. Larger than any ships ever seen and built in styles completely alien to the Talan and Nakan sailors. Those living in the west may have seen similar vessels before, sailing under a different sun flag, but little but sparse rumours and myths had reached the people here.
The strangers were many in numbers, clad in armour and wielding metal weapons as fine or perhaps even finer than those wielded by the elite warriors of northern city-states. They settled in at an estuary, cut down sacred growth and built fortifications. Fearing that they were raiders, a Nakan chieftain rallied a force from the neighbouring villages and set out against them. With the jungle for their cover they could move in close and launch quick attacks against the strangers. The strangers in turn had experienced and brave warriors among them, and their armour and shields protected them against arrows and axes alike.
Many brave Nakan warriors fell, their scaled, green bodies left behind as they retreated back into the cover of the forest. They had been bloodied and avoided another direct attack. Instead they watched from the jungles, ambushing foraging parties and taking some few prisoners away with them. They withdrew further into the jungle, out of the reach of these powerful strangers.
But this cold stalemate would not last long. The Talan chieftain Hue'moru who was the speaker for many villages along and around the river, gathered his warriors and set up a warcamp not far from the strangers landing. Envoys made cautious journeys to the strangers, and when they were not met with immediate violence they made further attempts at displaying good intentions. Gifts of food were presented to the strangers, and soon a cautious but hopeful trade had begun. A great diplomatic gift came also in the form of three prisoners, bought from the Nakans and given free return to their people. They had been stripped of their possessions and suffered violence in their captivity, but were alive and whole.
Under the protection of Hue'moru's warriors the camp grew as curious nearby villagers arrived and soon joined by merchants from further away. From their far travels they knew a smattering of words in the Solarien language from the strangers far the west, using this to make headway at translating between the two immensely different groups.
The Talans offered food, cacao, coffe, cotton cloth, jewellery with silver, gold and precious stones, bright and colourful feathers, and spices. They were interested, above all, with the strangers metal items but curiouss what else they had.
West meets East
Winca'uro had been among the first envoys. He had walked fearlessly towards the strangers camp to offer peace and already become fascinated with their strange ways, strange dress and strange - everything. He wished nothing more but to understand them, to learn about distant islands they must have come from. As time passed and the peaceful exchange continued, he took the aid of one of their translators to ask for one of the stranges to share their wisdom with him.
Winca'uro was a nearly two meter tall man, lean and muscular like most of the Talans and his brown skin was covered in swirling tattoos, reds greens and blues painting a tapestry across his body. The only clothing he wore was a knee-length skirt and a short cloak draped over his shoulders, though also adorned with gold and precious stones hanging from necklaces, bracelets and earrings. His long black hair was tied up in a topknot, leaving his long and pointed elven ears uncovered. Perhaps more disturbingly to the overseas guests, his teeth had been filed to sharp points, giving him a shark-like smile. This was common among the Talans, particularily the warriors, though not universally.
On a little hill overlooking the sea, in the shade of a simple pavillion, he had set out rugs to sit down upon and offered refreshments to the person who took up his offer.
"I, Winca'uro, of the Tala people, welcome you. Tell me of your people, and what guided you here."