Post by lemongrass on Nov 2, 2019 20:46:30 GMT -6
History of Tailia
Our story begins long ago, with three cat cubs and a dragon, each prophesied since before the earth was made. Tailia was once a great, vast ocean, an endless sea with no land in sight. Merfolk lived in the lush waters, ruling over their kingdom peacefully. Our four animals, however, were good friends with the merfolk. Each was a sailor, and would come to the ocean each year and trade all sorts of valuables. The first of our cats, a tiger, would bring gifts of gold and silver. His riches were boundless, and he was very, very generous. The second cat, a jaguar, would bring magical artifacts. Crystal orbs and glowing skulls. Most mysterious in its kind. Our third cat, a lion, would offer sacrifices of sea-bound prey, hunting what the merfolk could not. And finally our dragon, the most diplomatic of the four. He was cunning and instead of gifts as a trade for passage over the ocean, the dragon came up with the most stunning of plans. Carefully and kindly, he offered his kin to the merfolk, twelve sons and daughters. In return, the dragon asked that land be risen up from the ocean as a place for his children to stay. Seeing this, the three catfolk decided they, too, wished to live in this beautiful land.
Now the merfolk were intelligent, and knew that if they kept their friends close, their trades over the water would never cease. It was profitable for all parties, and an act of goodwill from the people of the sea to the people of land. That night, the merfolk unleashed their chains on the ground below the water, and four beautiful islands arose above the sea-line. Each was inspired by the gifts the merfolk had been given. Sallah, for the tigers. Filled with golden sands and profitable shores. Far Reach, for the jaguars. Most mysterious in its kind, hosting all sorts of wonders and secrets. Manehurst, for the lions. Inhabited with all kinds of wild beasts, each beautiful and exotic. And lastly, Yumi, for the dragons. Sophisticated and orderly.
Each of the four animals brought their kin to their islands, along with their subjects and followers. However the deal was laced with strings. The merfolk laughed and asked the four, "did you really think we'd trade you our land for your small treasures?" They put a curse on all who inhabited Tailia. No animal may leave Tailia unless they sacrifice their greatest treasure. Naturally, the islands were the largest treasure any of the animals had ever inherited, and they refused to give it up. Smiling, the merfolk disappeared beneath the sea, knowing they had trapped their friends in the land of Tailia. The tigers were stunned by this act, and vowed to become even better traders than the merfolk. They studied coin and the way of the deal, and became the swiftest merchants in all the land. The jaguars disgraced their law, and threw all to the wind. If the merfolk could be devilish and beautiful as well, why couldn't they? The lions grew angry and decided to hunt and kill the merfolk. The dragons were appalled, and made a promise never to trade with those outside their own kingdom, as they had been beaten in a game of wits.
Armed with cannons and harpoons, the lions set out to sea to seek their revenge. The most fierce of hunters, the lions killed all the merfolk they could set their paws on. It was a massacre, a travesty. However the curse was permanent, and could not be lifted. The lions returned to their island and grew ever more angry. Some of the merfolk survived, however. They learned to blend in with those around them. Some produced offspring with the land-dwelling animals, and soon they had been immersed into the culture. Still bearing some of the old water magic, the merfolk raised up two more islands as gifts for those who were generous to them. Cerulean and Palms. Those who loved the mermaids built a city on Cerulean, built with canals and pools intersecting it. The merfolk could live close to the animals they had fallen in love with.
But the lions were ever still angry. They knew of Cerulean, home of the "fish-tails" and launched an attack on those who had disgraced them so long ago. The lions were brutal and killed all who lived there. But the merfolk still resided below the water, ever so little in population. They summoned the last of their power to send a roaring tsunami over Manehurst, sinking the lion's home. They vowed never to let a beast so volatile reside in Tailia again. Most of the lions left Tailia, as their largest treasure, Manehurst, was gone. The curse allowed them to pass in the most horrid of ways. The merfolk no longer possessed their power, and Cerulean was destroyed in the battle.
Centuries passed, and Tailia only grew in culture and diversity. The remaining kingdoms flourished, and the merfolk became a myth to tell to children. The past rippled through this land like water, and the legends are as real as what you believe. Will you stumble across further stories in this world? Or perhaps something much more sinister?
Our story begins long ago, with three cat cubs and a dragon, each prophesied since before the earth was made. Tailia was once a great, vast ocean, an endless sea with no land in sight. Merfolk lived in the lush waters, ruling over their kingdom peacefully. Our four animals, however, were good friends with the merfolk. Each was a sailor, and would come to the ocean each year and trade all sorts of valuables. The first of our cats, a tiger, would bring gifts of gold and silver. His riches were boundless, and he was very, very generous. The second cat, a jaguar, would bring magical artifacts. Crystal orbs and glowing skulls. Most mysterious in its kind. Our third cat, a lion, would offer sacrifices of sea-bound prey, hunting what the merfolk could not. And finally our dragon, the most diplomatic of the four. He was cunning and instead of gifts as a trade for passage over the ocean, the dragon came up with the most stunning of plans. Carefully and kindly, he offered his kin to the merfolk, twelve sons and daughters. In return, the dragon asked that land be risen up from the ocean as a place for his children to stay. Seeing this, the three catfolk decided they, too, wished to live in this beautiful land.
Now the merfolk were intelligent, and knew that if they kept their friends close, their trades over the water would never cease. It was profitable for all parties, and an act of goodwill from the people of the sea to the people of land. That night, the merfolk unleashed their chains on the ground below the water, and four beautiful islands arose above the sea-line. Each was inspired by the gifts the merfolk had been given. Sallah, for the tigers. Filled with golden sands and profitable shores. Far Reach, for the jaguars. Most mysterious in its kind, hosting all sorts of wonders and secrets. Manehurst, for the lions. Inhabited with all kinds of wild beasts, each beautiful and exotic. And lastly, Yumi, for the dragons. Sophisticated and orderly.
Each of the four animals brought their kin to their islands, along with their subjects and followers. However the deal was laced with strings. The merfolk laughed and asked the four, "did you really think we'd trade you our land for your small treasures?" They put a curse on all who inhabited Tailia. No animal may leave Tailia unless they sacrifice their greatest treasure. Naturally, the islands were the largest treasure any of the animals had ever inherited, and they refused to give it up. Smiling, the merfolk disappeared beneath the sea, knowing they had trapped their friends in the land of Tailia. The tigers were stunned by this act, and vowed to become even better traders than the merfolk. They studied coin and the way of the deal, and became the swiftest merchants in all the land. The jaguars disgraced their law, and threw all to the wind. If the merfolk could be devilish and beautiful as well, why couldn't they? The lions grew angry and decided to hunt and kill the merfolk. The dragons were appalled, and made a promise never to trade with those outside their own kingdom, as they had been beaten in a game of wits.
Armed with cannons and harpoons, the lions set out to sea to seek their revenge. The most fierce of hunters, the lions killed all the merfolk they could set their paws on. It was a massacre, a travesty. However the curse was permanent, and could not be lifted. The lions returned to their island and grew ever more angry. Some of the merfolk survived, however. They learned to blend in with those around them. Some produced offspring with the land-dwelling animals, and soon they had been immersed into the culture. Still bearing some of the old water magic, the merfolk raised up two more islands as gifts for those who were generous to them. Cerulean and Palms. Those who loved the mermaids built a city on Cerulean, built with canals and pools intersecting it. The merfolk could live close to the animals they had fallen in love with.
But the lions were ever still angry. They knew of Cerulean, home of the "fish-tails" and launched an attack on those who had disgraced them so long ago. The lions were brutal and killed all who lived there. But the merfolk still resided below the water, ever so little in population. They summoned the last of their power to send a roaring tsunami over Manehurst, sinking the lion's home. They vowed never to let a beast so volatile reside in Tailia again. Most of the lions left Tailia, as their largest treasure, Manehurst, was gone. The curse allowed them to pass in the most horrid of ways. The merfolk no longer possessed their power, and Cerulean was destroyed in the battle.
Centuries passed, and Tailia only grew in culture and diversity. The remaining kingdoms flourished, and the merfolk became a myth to tell to children. The past rippled through this land like water, and the legends are as real as what you believe. Will you stumble across further stories in this world? Or perhaps something much more sinister?
