A wonderfully detailed and beautiful representation
of the Council of Ulangi's statements of purpose.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Grook Coat of Arms, by Pahnna
A wonderfully detailed and beautiful representation
of the Council of Ulangi's statements of purpose.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Grooks and Seleucar, as told by Asara Eslofe, by Bwoomp
I wrote a letter to Lord Neraeos regarding the origin of the Grook race.
He told me to contact those in His order to ask them of Tritonic lore.
Following the response of Neraeos, I sought out His Order, first
speaking to Horatio, who pointed me in the direction of Asara, The Voice
of Neraeos.
The following is the story she told me as well as the answers to
questions I asked. I am including the parts about Seleucar, for those
who don't know it:
~~
Well, Seleucar is how the story begins. At least this one.
Sapience was ruled by the Seleucarian Empire...so great was its
influence that we count time from its demise.
So anyways, the Seleucarian Empire was rather powerful...there was not
really much that could contest its might.
Seafolk and landwalkers never really have gotten along...we'd like to
change that.
But anyways, the Seleucarian Empire knew of the ocean kingdoms, and grew
jealous over the growing power of the merfolk.
Merfolk had quite the monopoly over things such as the shipping lanes of
the Empire, etc.
At least historians say so anyways...others say Seleucar needed a war to
focus their dying empire instead, but who really knows.
The merfolk would not capitulate to the demands of the Empire to join.
The Emperor of Seleucar sent legions of grooks into the undersea...
...trained shock-troops (grooks withstood underwater combat better of
most of the landbound people)
They destroyed many merfolk cities, and sacked them.
Only Riparium remained one of the largest ones, and only because it was
not in any major shipping lanes...
You see, there are two main kinds of seapeople: triton and merman.
Merfolk live on the continental shelf, which is easier to plunder since
it is the shelf closest to the surface of the sea.
Tritons on the other hand retreated into their own deeper cities...they
hid themselves, became a paranoid, isolationist people.
While the grooks continued to raid the mermen, all began to hate the
grooks and landwalkers too.
From that point on, all of them who wandered into triton territory were
either killed or captured, to work in the undersea silver mines for the
rest of their days.
It pained them to do this at first, for seafolk are good-hearted people.
But they could not let anyone escape, you might understand, else the
escapees might lead more landwalkers to undersea city locations.
So enslavement was necessary...and this emnity has remained for about
500 years.
You can see the reason why the seafolk don't like the landfolk...all
their experience with them has been from plunder and looting.
Oftentimes people only see the sea as something to exploit. To use...for
whatever benefit.
The sea though is also a realm and a home to many creatures and beings
those on Sapience may still not yet understand.
If we only knew how much more vast the ocean is than our little
continent...
The oceanfloor harbors great tritonic kingdoms that would make any city
of ours look like peasant villages.
Friend, the sea is home to a much richer and even more ancient history
than Sapience itself.
Riparium is the only charted merman kingdom as of the present.
However Scyros is at the moment the most powerful city-state there is
under the waves. It's a political city that is home to a great Senate.
Phocia is a warrior city that lies to the south east... Aegos, Lemnos,
Caspia... Many kindgoms indeed.
-Bwoomp- What can landwalkers or Grooks do to make peace?
I do know now how or what we can do to change their perspectives on us.
We have been able to get some to at least listen.
Lord Aeolos, the Hand of Neraeos, is a triton who is dedicated to our
cause.
People like the General Eridanus, who lives in Lord Neraeos' temple at
the moment as an ambassador visitor, is Aeolos' extreme opposite.
-Bwoomp- Does Tritonic lore mention any knowledge of Grook origins?
The triton race is dignified and ancient... not sure about their origins
though in relation to the rape of Maya and the times around that.
But it could also be the work of Agatheis, working elemental magic, or
anyone else. Perhaps a spawn of a thought from Aeyr.
-Bwoomp- What can we do to help the Mermen?
Well, if all we can do is to influence the attitudes of mortals away
from seeing Riparium as just a bashing grounds, so be it.
Death is a part of the cycle of course, we all know that, which is fine,
but Riparium must also be respected. King Nissander...what things he has
to put up with.
~~
At least we have a middle now.
Further research into Lady Lorielan's Library, and speaking to the
Elders in my guild and Church, I have found the following basic
information so far.
Grook, as a creature, have been around as far back as anyone can
remember.
So has the community on Ulangi.
Following the Death's Heart Saga, Grook were given the gift of carrying
souls within them. This was Daedelan, 242 AF.
Grook were not, to Asara's knowledge (which many know is great indeed),
created by any creature of the sea, as postulated by Ikiepu. They have
always been land-dwelling, if amphibious, creatures.
Penned by my hand on the 1st of Daedalan, in the year 360 AF.
He told me to contact those in His order to ask them of Tritonic lore.
Following the response of Neraeos, I sought out His Order, first
speaking to Horatio, who pointed me in the direction of Asara, The Voice
of Neraeos.
The following is the story she told me as well as the answers to
questions I asked. I am including the parts about Seleucar, for those
who don't know it:
~~
Well, Seleucar is how the story begins. At least this one.
Sapience was ruled by the Seleucarian Empire...so great was its
influence that we count time from its demise.
So anyways, the Seleucarian Empire was rather powerful...there was not
really much that could contest its might.
Seafolk and landwalkers never really have gotten along...we'd like to
change that.
But anyways, the Seleucarian Empire knew of the ocean kingdoms, and grew
jealous over the growing power of the merfolk.
Merfolk had quite the monopoly over things such as the shipping lanes of
the Empire, etc.
At least historians say so anyways...others say Seleucar needed a war to
focus their dying empire instead, but who really knows.
The merfolk would not capitulate to the demands of the Empire to join.
The Emperor of Seleucar sent legions of grooks into the undersea...
...trained shock-troops (grooks withstood underwater combat better of
most of the landbound people)
They destroyed many merfolk cities, and sacked them.
Only Riparium remained one of the largest ones, and only because it was
not in any major shipping lanes...
You see, there are two main kinds of seapeople: triton and merman.
Merfolk live on the continental shelf, which is easier to plunder since
it is the shelf closest to the surface of the sea.
Tritons on the other hand retreated into their own deeper cities...they
hid themselves, became a paranoid, isolationist people.
While the grooks continued to raid the mermen, all began to hate the
grooks and landwalkers too.
From that point on, all of them who wandered into triton territory were
either killed or captured, to work in the undersea silver mines for the
rest of their days.
It pained them to do this at first, for seafolk are good-hearted people.
But they could not let anyone escape, you might understand, else the
escapees might lead more landwalkers to undersea city locations.
So enslavement was necessary...and this emnity has remained for about
500 years.
You can see the reason why the seafolk don't like the landfolk...all
their experience with them has been from plunder and looting.
Oftentimes people only see the sea as something to exploit. To use...for
whatever benefit.
The sea though is also a realm and a home to many creatures and beings
those on Sapience may still not yet understand.
If we only knew how much more vast the ocean is than our little
continent...
The oceanfloor harbors great tritonic kingdoms that would make any city
of ours look like peasant villages.
Friend, the sea is home to a much richer and even more ancient history
than Sapience itself.
Riparium is the only charted merman kingdom as of the present.
However Scyros is at the moment the most powerful city-state there is
under the waves. It's a political city that is home to a great Senate.
Phocia is a warrior city that lies to the south east... Aegos, Lemnos,
Caspia... Many kindgoms indeed.
-Bwoomp- What can landwalkers or Grooks do to make peace?
I do know now how or what we can do to change their perspectives on us.
We have been able to get some to at least listen.
Lord Aeolos, the Hand of Neraeos, is a triton who is dedicated to our
cause.
People like the General Eridanus, who lives in Lord Neraeos' temple at
the moment as an ambassador visitor, is Aeolos' extreme opposite.
-Bwoomp- Does Tritonic lore mention any knowledge of Grook origins?
The triton race is dignified and ancient... not sure about their origins
though in relation to the rape of Maya and the times around that.
But it could also be the work of Agatheis, working elemental magic, or
anyone else. Perhaps a spawn of a thought from Aeyr.
-Bwoomp- What can we do to help the Mermen?
Well, if all we can do is to influence the attitudes of mortals away
from seeing Riparium as just a bashing grounds, so be it.
Death is a part of the cycle of course, we all know that, which is fine,
but Riparium must also be respected. King Nissander...what things he has
to put up with.
~~
At least we have a middle now.
Further research into Lady Lorielan's Library, and speaking to the
Elders in my guild and Church, I have found the following basic
information so far.
Grook, as a creature, have been around as far back as anyone can
remember.
So has the community on Ulangi.
Following the Death's Heart Saga, Grook were given the gift of carrying
souls within them. This was Daedelan, 242 AF.
Grook were not, to Asara's knowledge (which many know is great indeed),
created by any creature of the sea, as postulated by Ikiepu. They have
always been land-dwelling, if amphibious, creatures.
Penned by my hand on the 1st of Daedalan, in the year 360 AF.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Grook acrostic, by Ikiepu
Uttering prayers in ulangian tongues, he goes
Leaving the mother-island of the Grook, westwards on.
As he reaches the Sapience shore, what great visage!
Never 'd he seen such beauty, and he bows in awe
Greater that he'd ever dreamed in many a ulangian night
Its grandeur crafted by gods, shimmering in silver light.
Greeting the people of the continent, this grook smiles
Rushing on to explore these foreign parts, he flies
On to know this continent of beauty, in magic and in art
Only exhausted he stops, at a seashore, then he cries
Key to his memories, the moon and the sea, touch his innermost part
So far away, he is in Sapience, but in Ulangi is forever his heart.
Leaving the mother-island of the Grook, westwards on.
As he reaches the Sapience shore, what great visage!
Never 'd he seen such beauty, and he bows in awe
Greater that he'd ever dreamed in many a ulangian night
Its grandeur crafted by gods, shimmering in silver light.
Greeting the people of the continent, this grook smiles
Rushing on to explore these foreign parts, he flies
On to know this continent of beauty, in magic and in art
Only exhausted he stops, at a seashore, then he cries
Key to his memories, the moon and the sea, touch his innermost part
So far away, he is in Sapience, but in Ulangi is forever his heart.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Our (unofficial) Creation, by Ardus
Under waters deep, before our time,
Legions of Evil did reside.
A single creature dared oppose...
Never surrendering to his foes.
Great genius this being possessed,
In concocting plans, he was the best.
Grooks were his divine invention!
Race that could defeat ANY contraption!
Over time, and much shed blood,
Our race prevailed! I knew we would.
Killing villains is our calling,
So lets give evil a SUPREME mauling :-).
Legions of Evil did reside.
A single creature dared oppose...
Never surrendering to his foes.
Great genius this being possessed,
In concocting plans, he was the best.
Grooks were his divine invention!
Race that could defeat ANY contraption!
Over time, and much shed blood,
Our race prevailed! I knew we would.
Killing villains is our calling,
So lets give evil a SUPREME mauling :-).
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Grook acrostic, by Grumaul
Undeniable faith in each other...
Longing for a higher standard of excellence...
Always ready to defend the Ulangi cause...
Never wasting time on foolish goals...
Groping through the darkness, searching for light...
Immortal in mind and in spirit...
Giving themselves up for their beliefs...
Righting all the wrongs in this world...
Opening the door of freedom to others...
On and on we march in this war for success...
Keeping close to each other so we won't lose hope...
Searching and findiing the truth in every possible way...
This is what we stand for and what we must remember to hold on to...
We are the Grooks of Ulangi.
Longing for a higher standard of excellence...
Always ready to defend the Ulangi cause...
Never wasting time on foolish goals...
Groping through the darkness, searching for light...
Immortal in mind and in spirit...
Giving themselves up for their beliefs...
Righting all the wrongs in this world...
Opening the door of freedom to others...
On and on we march in this war for success...
Keeping close to each other so we won't lose hope...
Searching and findiing the truth in every possible way...
This is what we stand for and what we must remember to hold on to...
We are the Grooks of Ulangi.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)