Konar, The Wooded Land

[BluieGamer]

KONAR
The Wooded Land​

Long ago, longer than anyone of this land can remember, longer than their ancients texts even record, the region was covered with forest. The treetops stretched as far as the eye can see, with nary a break in the canopy. In this wooded land, lived a tribe of gatherers. They had no name = for why would they need one? As far as their limited knowledge went, they were the only ones of their kind. Fifty strong, they lived off as much as they can off the limited edible plants and lichens on the forest floor. Often, the resources around their dwellings dwindled quickly, and so they were forced to keep moving in search of new gathering sites.

This fate was not meant to last, however. On a particularly unassuming day, a gatherer noticed that the area seemed much brighter. Excited by the prospect that this brought (it could mean that more edible plants are there, whose growth is unhindered by the shadowy tree leaves), he instead stumbled upon what seemed to be nothing but flat grassland. Quickly, he headed back to the tribe, and brought them out to the plains. Gazing out in wonder, they beheld flora and fauna - though mostly the former - that they have never seen before. Joyously, they elevated the man who discovered the new land - the man called (in the closest approximation to our tongue today) Konar.

Years passed, and as the tribe discovered that the combination of the plains, the forest, and a nearby stream that they soon discovered, they had everything that they needed. And so, the tribe quickly grew, to 60, to 75, to a hundred strong. Soon, their encampments took more and more space, and small villages cropped up everywhere. Decades flew by, and the people of Konar grew more civilized as technology progressed. Bronze was first smelted, and trade routes were established.

Soon, the plains were fully mapped out. It was discovered that what Konar (though his name and origin are long forgotten, except on a small tablet in some old crypt) thought were endless fields was incorrect; instead, it had merely been a clearing. Konar (the land) is actually a massive circular clearing, surrounded by trees. Numerous expeditions were made by intrepid adventurers, but none have yet to break through what seemed to be an impassable wall of forest. The people, while they cut down logs for their use, always took only as much as they needed, and replanted more than they took down. For in every Konarian soul, they held a respect for the trees, their primal self remembering the time that the forest sheltered their ancestors. Thus, the leader (who is sat in the center city) forbade large logging operations, nor cutting through the trees for exploration. And so, the fledgling nation of Konar simply assumed that the whole world was covered by trees, and that they were the only people to have found a clearing and thrived.

More scores came and went, and the industrialization of Konar is truly ongoing. Steam technology is everywhere, and electricity is starting to become more than just a fad. Little did they know, however, that their world was about to get turned upside down. While they still did not clear away the forests that border their nation (though some have wanted to, but never went for it), a select group still went on expeditions, searching for an end to the endless sea of trees. Rothan Bagumboy, a 43-year old trekker, decided to wander off for a bit. His particular squad of five have reached their limit, and had set up camp nearby. Still having some proverbial gas left, Rothan decided to have himself a walk. Quickly, however, he found himself quite lost (though in reality, his group was just barely out of range, his shouts mere whispers of the wind). Trying to trace his steps, what he found instead was a break in the trees. With wonder, he stepped out of the tree line, and found what seemed to be a small settlement in the distance. Deeming it too far, he instead ran back and (luckily) found his squad. With this new discovery, the king quickly ordered that a path through the trees be created, and none were in opposition. Working quickly, the nation waited with bated breath at what new discoveries were to be found. To their amazement, they stepped out of their small little world, and into the brand new world.

That was fifty years ago. The prince has since replaced the king. Rothan has been awarded, died, and recorded in the history books. A large road has been constructed through the path. The Konarians discovered that they used to be surrounded by the most massive forest anyone has known of. However, because of the changes in the world, the trees have slowly been thinned out, until only a thick border, surrounding the nation, is left. New technology and imports from the other nations (for there were other nations, the source of the loud white birds that light up at night, "airplanes" as they were called) flowed and helped modernize Konar, though steam is still heavily utilized. The nation has a population of around one and a half million, though the national population census is still being revised. Landlocked in the Iterian continent, most of their water came from the rains and the river flowing from the forest. Konarians are generally amiable, though they have a preference for relatively older technology. The general cost of living is fairly low, with the minimum wage of 100 Chukas, and 5 Chukas being able to buy a loaf of bread (Assuming a loaf costs $2.50, this would value a Chuka at around 50 cents). However, luxuries such as gold and jewelries are priced extremely high, with a pair of gold earrings being a million Chukas. Their king is named Bikfurg Kira, and he rules over his nation from the central capital city of Esmwe. Religion is nearly non-existent, and most cults that pop up are tree-related for some reason. Small amounts of natural resources such as iron, coal, copper, silver, and the like have been found, though it is mostly iron and coal.

This thread will serve as the general notification thread on the on-goings within Konar, any major events, or even just a day in a citizen's shoes. The nation's history will also be kept here for posterity.

 

[BluieGamer]

Major Cult: Riwa

The thick wall of trees lay silent. Nary an insect buzzed, and the wind did not dare breathe. The leaves themselves stay still as the moon shines down with all the soft light it can muster. The quiet is all around, encompassing, pressing down on anything that exists.

Then suddenly, movement.

"HRMMMMMM....."

Deep, thrumming voices hum out in the silent night. Hulking figures arise from within the grass blades, an almost otherworldly dirge emanating from their throats. Soil and grass coat their fronts, from their faces down to their toes, but they pay it no heed. Gripping flint spears, the beings stalk slowly towards the forest, not yet at their full height, but tall nonetheless.

A beat. Two. Simultaneous inhaling of air, and the night echoes again with their monotonous song. No other soul is present, but the earth itself watches as her children make their way into the treeline. They walked steadfast, hunched over, slowly and surely. Towards a certain spot in the forest they go, the only sound the rustling grass they walk through, the haunting melody they hum. With a practiced beat, two, they draw breath, and resume their task. Soon, they reach their destination. An ominous silence echoes out, louder than the noise that just vacated the clearing, as the people, men and women, take their positions.

A beat. Two, three, four. Sweat starts to drip from the leg of a man. He has just reached forty yesterday, yet the magnitude of this event all but eclipsed that, so much so that instead of gallivanting around the village in celebration, he has been preparing for tonight.

Five, six, seven beats. The tension thickens, veins show themselves on the wrist of a thirty-something woman as she grips her spear tightly. Eight, a third-

"OROROKO KAR TANO, RIWA LETES PIGGHWA!"

The others respond,

"REPRO JU LOVE, FAROST ETHRA!"

A pregnant pause follows-

And the people, as a unit, thrust their spears into the sky. They pierced the low hanging branches of the trees above, and these immediately began to drip a golden, clear sap. With trembling hands (except for the first person who shouted, an old man whose white hair belies his powerful voice), they strike their spears into the ground in front of them, and turned around to behold:

A tall pile of dirt, shaped almost like a cocoon, with a wide, gaping hole at the top. Carefully, as not to ruin the earth's shape, they climbed into these voids, and waited as the elder went about the space marked out by circle of soil mounds. He fills them in, trapping the bodies of those who stand in them, leaving only their heads above the ground while sap falls in small droplets upon their crowns. He ignores the fearful whimper let out by one of them - he was sixteen, and was wishing he wasn't there, that he was back in the village - and dutifully finishes his task. Once complete, he moves back under his own dripping tree-blood, and slides himself into his own dirt coffin. Unlike the other mounds, this one was laid on the ground, allowing the old man to lay on his back, with the sap dripping onto his lips. With one last exertion, he pushes his body against the top of his hole, breaking the earthen mold and allowing the soil to fall on him. He lets a final, wordless hum, signaling the others that he is finished. Thus, they settle into their dirt cages, and go to sleep for the night.

(Excerpt from Terrik Lartneg's "A History of Konar's Cults".)

 

[BluieGamer]

Warteer
"Konar's Ancestor"

Scientific name: Faustus ricci strike Perrer
Conservation status: Somewhat in danger
Habitat: Forest

Description: This animal is around one meter long, with a major arm span of about one meter, and a long, lean body. It is quadrupedal. It has two sets of arms, the shorter pair around the middle of the body while the longer pair is above it. Each arm ends in a paw, with short, hard, curled claws. Two feet are situated at the end of its body, although it does not have any legs. It is usually colored a dirty white, with a few small brown streaks adorning its fur. Its head is a flattish affair, with eyes sunken into the front of its face, directly under its green nasal area, which are nasal cavities going into the head. Its mouth is a small hole with lips situated below the eyes, with flat teeth meant for grinding plant matter.

Lifestyle: This creature spends its entire life exclusively in trees. With its four clawed hands, it almost seems to slither around trunks and across branches. It feeds on tree bark and leaves. A single tree can feed up a single adult warteer without much ill effect to the tree, although it will be more susceptible to diseases. A warteer does not have a singular designated home. It will usually stay on a tree until the tree is too denuded to support it, a predator is spotted in the area, or sometimes completely on a whim.

Miscellaneous: Although jokingly referred to as "Konar's ancestor" because of its utter dependence on the forest, no genetic evidence has been found to link Konarians to the animal. The animal itself is not particularly smart, more so of average intellect. Likeness to foreign animals (most often sloths) have been noted, although it seems most probable that both evolved on their own, with no common ancestor.

 

[BluieGamer]

Dancer
"Oldest profession"

The twirl of sashaying fabric, the beating on hollowed trunks for percusssion, the mesmerized breathing of the crowd, all these are common experiences with Konar's dancers. Trained at a young age, these men and women often endure harsh training daily. A strict exercise routine and diet must be followed to ensure that dancers have high endurance, pain tolerance and strength, yet still supple. All the hard work pays off, as it allows them to flow like water across the stage.

Many different styles of dancing have evolved through the years, but the traditional form is one that is still favored by most. A female and a male dancer wear flowing garments, from the neck reaching to the floor. The chest portion is leaf green, while the rest of the clothing is fire red. Gold lines run through the fabric, giving the feeling of flowing whenever the dancer moves. A headdress reminiscent of the sun adorns their heads, with the females being larger. Satin sheets trail from their arms, and a brown band constricts the garment around the waist.