[Forum Game] The Long Winter

[aedan777]

The Elder of Clan Cuallitechichic spoke up as well,

"Such greed! The land should be divided between those who are most familiar to the area, and those closest to the deceased. That is the clans of Cecuecacayotin and Xiuhcoatl. Giving it to the Tlatoani or some other random clan is nothing other than base greed by men who seek power. What right does the Tlatoni have to seize land from a clan? None. And what right does any clan far away have to take said land? None. Proximity is far more important than greed when determining the proper course of action here. We support the clans Cecuecacayotin and Xiuhcoatl dividing the lands of the deceased."

 

[alexander23]

Xipil stood up, "What is this talk? To give these lands to the haves when there are still the have nots or to give these lands to the Tlatoani while there are still clans who must live in the forests? Clan Yolotli claims the lands in the capital and is willing to rescind all rights to any land we previously held. Our people cannot live like we have. We deserve this land. The Hill of Acaluaccaquixti is important to our religion as it is on this hill where Aamitinemi and Ayahuitlitzon first sprung from and where they first instructed man. Such a holy place should be protected by the most devout and none follow the gods and spirits as closely as we do. As for the rest of the lands, I'm willing to allow Xiuhcoatl and Cecuecacayotin to inherit the lands in the Camotlalpan and Zacatla."

We in the Xiuhcoatl are pleased to hear the words of the Xipil and Cuallitechichic. As both have said we and Cecuecacayotin have the right to divide the lands of our deceased friedns for proximity, knowladge of the land and family bonds. We support the plan of the Xipil for the lands of Hill of Acaluaccaquixti.

 

[Ironhide G1]

Quixpix was deep in thought. He saw a situation that had no really good situation. However, he did think of a compromise plan.

Here was the first plan:

-The Hill of Acaluaccaquixti shall remain a sacred place, owned by the Clan of Yolotli

-The lands of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh:
1/5 to the Tlatoani and government
1/5Clan of Tlanextic
1/5Clan Achtopochtecapiltzmeh
1/5Clan of Necuametztli
1/5Clan Tonatepotztocah

-The lands of the Coaxoch:
1/5Clan of Xiuhcoatl
1/5Clan Cecuecacayotin
1/5Clan Cuallitechichic
1/5Clan Eztli
1/5 to the Tlatoani

Second plan:

-The lands of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh:
Go to Tlatoani and government except for The Hill of Acaluaccaquixti, which goes to no one.

-The lands of the Coaxoch:
Split between Xiuhcoatl and Cecuecacayotin, with a small part going to government.

***

"Now I ask you to please keep in mind several things.

Firstly, this is not finalized. This is an idea. We can still work this out.

Secondly, this is a compromise. It may not fully satisfy everyone, but it should partially satisfy everyone.

Thirdly, this is not for my own or my clan's personal gain. Clan Maximotl gets no land- especially if we are not Tlatoani again, we do not get land. All the Tlatoani's land also belongs to the government.

Fourthly, this is a hard situation to manage,

and lastly, hopefully we can altogether find a solution."

 

[Luftwafer]

No
We built the wall that protects you!
We want the atlatic lans!

 

[Rovsea]

No
We built the wall that protects you!
We want the atlatic lans!

So you are saying that you deserve these lands more than another clan? Why do you think that you deserve them? It's not as if your wall has ever done anything for anybody, whereas the trails that Clan Cecuecacayotin established are actively helping the altepetl.

 

[Luftwafer]

Tear down the walls, fill in the Moat.
The look and the men from the south, and see how easy it would be to invade

 

[Emilersej]

Chapter IV: The Reign of Tlatoani Quixpix
Compared to the two preceding reigns, the reign of Quixpix saw much fewer changes and upheavals. It was not without conflicts though; the clan leaders couldn't quite agree on what to do with the fertile lands of Clan Coaxoch and Clan Atlaticquipiltzmeh. The Necentlaliliztli gathered many times and the Tlatoani put forth many proposals in order to solve the issue, and they were making progress. But then, the Clan of Yolotli decided to take up residence in the neglected house of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh and cultivate their overgrown gardens, further complicating matters. They cited the decreasing amounts of game to be hunted in the forests of Copallan as the reason for their migration.

Trade remained stable throughout Quixpix's reign, despite the cool relationship between Atlauhtipan and the surrounding altepemeh (plural of altepetl, town/city or maybe in this case just village). Relations with the Tlatoani of Dancuaxochtli warmed up slightly after emissaries were exchanged in the early years of Quixpix's reign, as did the relationship with Inglatlalpan in Quixpix's last years, after emissaries were exchanged with them too. While the cool relations with other altepemeh didn't cause any problems (yet), better relations could result in more trade.

The government also ran on a small deficit due to increasing maintenance costs for the Necentlaliliztli. The population kept increasing steadily, as more and more land was cultivated in Camotlalpan and Zacatla, and it seemed that the Cechuecacayotin and the Clan of Xiuhcoatl would have to find more lands to settle once again in around 40 years or so.

((I'll give you some time to solve the land issue before Quixpix dies and we start the trials again. we have established diplomatic relations (embassies)with Dancuaxochtli and Inglatlalpan on their initiative, increasing relationships slightly and allowing us to see their settlements and more easily conduct espionage against them. Of course, this works the other way around too.))

Orders update
The Necuametztli Clan sought to increase their production of tannin, but with the small amount of hides from larger animals available in densely forested Atlauhtipan, there wasn't much demand for anymore tannin to tan hides. More hides could perhaps be obtained by sending hunters into the frozen wastes.

((No production points spent this turn))

In the Clan of the Cecuecacayotin, Chief Matzatl initiated a project that would increase the fighting skills of the warriors of Atlauhtipan. He died before the project could be carried out, but it was continued by his son Atiexchicahualiztli and his nephew Achiaxotol. Their training sessions with the other young warriors of Atlauhtipan was very beneficial for all, and a new house was built so that the training could be continued during the cold months of winter.

((Built Warrior's Hut (+1 xp for archers, +2 xp for melee units, and +1 cultural influence for the Cecuecacayotin.)))

As always, the Tonatepotztocah from the southern woods of Atzalan were very busy with a wide range of projects. They formed something they called a merchant company of the clan members who were traders and assigned some other clan members to be guards for them on their trips. This was supposed to increase the safety of the traders, and maybe it did, but no traders from any clan or foreign Altepetl were hurt during the reign of Quixpix. They also dug ditches in order to irrigate their fields in Atzalan, but this had little effect, since they only cultivated a very small garden.

More succesful were the attempt of the Tonatepotztocah to build bigger boats for trading. Most clans had just used rafts, but now the Tonatepotztocah began carving out trees into long canoes, which were much easier to maneuver while they were still able to carry a lot of trade goods. The Tonatepotztocah became quite good at making them, and also sold several to people from Atlauhtipan and beyond.

The Chief of the Tonatepotztocah also wanted to establish a body of guards for him and his clans, but this was stretching the limited resources of the clan too much, and was never carried out. Furthermore, while the selling of canoes decreased the size of their deficits somewhat, the Tonatepotztocah continued to become more and more indebted.

((Canoe Building (+1 production, +1 wealth, cannot actually build in-game boats due to our inland location)))

Concerned by the proximity of Atlauhtipan's neighbors, as well as the cool relations with them, Clan Tlanextic armed themselves with bows and trained extensively in the use of it, both through hunting and by training with the other young warriors at the warriors' house of the Cecuecacayotin.

((28 Archers recruited by Clan Tlanextic))

Seeking to increase their income from trading, the Clan of Cuallitechichic began using travois for carrying goods over land, handy for trading with people not living by the sea or any of the rivers.

((Travois making (+1 production, +1 wealth)))

The Clan of Xiuhcoatl was ridiculed for their attempts at introducing bugs as a currency.

((Not enough production points to build anything this turn, but next turn you might have more luck))

The Achtopochtecapiltzmeh were busy tending their gardens and their trading post.

((Not enough production points to do anything.))

---------------------------------------------------------

 

[Galren]

After much rechecking of their work, the Cecuecacayotin have made a report that details how the settled lands would be distributed if the clans were to go with Quixpix's ((Ironhide's)) first plan that he had proposed.

Atlauhtipan

6/25 to Clan Achtopochtecapiltzmeh ((barkardes))
6/25 to Clan Necuametztli ((Kaiser))
6/25 to Clan Tlanextic ((Rovsea))
5/25 to Clan Maximotl ((Ironhide))
1/25 to Clan Tonatepotztocah ((Luftwafer))
1/25 to the Tlatoani and Government

Camotlalpan

6/15 to Clan Cecuecacayotin ((Galren))
6/15 to Clan Xiuhcoatl ((alex))
1/15 to Clan Cuallitechichic ((aedan))
1/15 to Clan Eztli ((Jerman))
1/15 to the Tlatoani

Zacatla

6/15 to Clan Cecuecacayotin ((Galren))
6/15 to Clan Xiuhcoatl ((alex))
1/15 to Clan Cuallitechichic ((aedan))
1/15 to Clan Eztli ((Jerman))
1/15 to the Tlatoani

With the report, Atiexchicahualiztli, the new leader of clan Cecuecacayotin, would comment on the assumed objective of Quixpix's plan.

"This plan seems to be a compromise, distributing lands among the clans and the Tlatoani evenly, although there are two clans that are not getting a piece of the lands being distributed: the Maximotl and the Yotoli."

 

[happycats517]

"This plan seems to be a compromise, distributing lands among the clans and the Tlatoani evenly, although there are two clans that are not getting a piece of the lands being distributed: the Maximotl and the Yotoli."

"Except the Maximotl are getting parts of the land in Atlauhtipan under your proposed plan. Why do you leave the Yolotli out of these plans, despite the fact that we currently live in some of these lands and the lands that are contested in Comatlalpan border us? These plans have been designed by our enemies and are simply built to shut out and weaken the Yolotli and slowly constrict and crush us. While you leaders sat on your thumbs, it was us who came to the Hill of Acaluaccaquixti and guarded and protected and tended to it. It was us who recultivated those lands and brought civilized life back to them. And now this is how we are repaid, by being forced out of these lands with not even a thank you. We reject this supposed compromise and will not move from this Hill. We stand here in the name of Techihuani and all the gods to guard their heritage and keep this place holy."

 

[Luftwafer]

You disgust me.
Your self serving plan is plain to see

 

[Kaisersohaib]

I must agree with the proposal made by Quixpix.

 

[Emilersej]

The clan chiefs of the Necentlaliliztli were unable to reach an agreement over the inheritance of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh and the Clan of the Coaxoch. While the Hill of Acaluaccaquixti, along with the huts and gardens of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh had been claimed by the Yolotli Clan, the fertile fields of the Coaxoch Clan lied fallow, as no one, not even the Snow Wanderers or the Clan of Xiuhcoatl, both of which laid claims to this southern part of Camotlalpan, moved into the area.

Thus, the dispute was still not settled when Tlatoani Quixpix died after having ruled Atlauhtipan for 69 years. It was time for the trials again.

----------------------------------------------

None of the proposals reached a majority of votes (the Tlatoani distribution plan got 3 votes, the solution where Camotlalpan and Zacatla would be shared between the two other potato clans and the land of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh (which some refer to as Hill of Acaluaccaquixti, aka Acaluaccaquixtepetl) would be granted to the Yolotli clan got 3 vote, and galren's last compromise plan got only his own vote.) so nothing happens. Perhaps it'd be a good idea to set up some guidelines for voting, such as deciding on how to reach a decision (simple majority? Tlatoani approval?) if the Necentlaliliztli is to work more efficiently.

Anyway, legally or not, Clan Yolotli takes possession of all the holdings of the Atlaticquipiltzmeh and you may continue discussing the issue or perhaps actively taking possession of the land during the trial period.

It's time to sign up for the Tlatoani trials! Remember mentioning your strategies for the mock battle and hunting trials!

 

[Galren]

Cecoceloto, the current leader of Clan Cecuecacayotin and grandson of Atiexchicahualiztli, looked quite confused at first at the reaction that the clan's report got. It got yelled at then somehow was interpreted to be a proposal on how to divide the lands. To Cecoceloto, the report's meaning was clearly known to him. Cecoceloto then realized the lack of clarity in the report and made a few changes to it as well as explained what the numbers actually meant.

"I have just noticed the lack of clarity in the report that my clan had put out recently. First of all, this report is not meant to be any kind of proposal on how to divide up the lands of the Coaxoch or the Atlaticquipiltzmeh among the clans. It's meant to show how the lands would be distributed among the clans if we pick Tlatoani Quixpix's plan. Now, I have to clarify what the numbers are in this new report I'm putting out. The total land that will be owned by a clan in the region is the number on the left while the number on the right shows how much land each clan will gain with Quixpix's plan."

The Settled Lands After Quixpix's First Plan

Atlauhtipan

6/25 owned by Clan Achtopochtecapiltzmeh ((barkardes)) (+1/25)
6/25 owned by Clan Necuametztli ((Kaiser)) (+1/25)
6/25 owned by Clan Tlanextic ((Rovsea)) (+1/25)
5/25 owned by Clan Maximotl ((Ironhide)) (±0)
1/25 owned by Clan Tonatepotztocah ((Luftwafer)) (+1/25)
1/25 owned by the Tlatoani and Government (+1/25)

Camotlalpan

6/15 owned by Clan Cecuecacayotin ((Galren)) (+1/15)
6/15 owned by Clan Xiuhcoatl ((alex)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by Clan Cuallitechichic ((aedan)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by Clan Eztli ((Jerman)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by the Tlatoani (+1/15)

Zacatla

6/15 owned by Clan Cecuecacayotin ((Galren)) (+1/15)
6/15 owned by Clan Xiuhcoatl ((alex)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by Clan Cuallitechichic ((aedan)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by Clan Eztli ((Jerman)) (+1/15)
1/15 owned by the Tlatoani (+1/15)

"I apologize for not realizing that this report could be interpreted so differently than what the clan had envisioned and I apologize for unintentionally offending the Yotoli clan. We just simply wanted to let the clans see how Quixpix's plan would affect land ownership in the regions it affected."

((And the reasons why these numbers are small is that we're taking lands that are already fractions of the regions and taking fractions of them. Ironhide divided up the lands into fifths and distributed them. So 1/5 of 1/3 is 1/15 and 1/5 of 1/5 is 1/25.))

--
​

Cecoceloto was making some final preparations before going out to declare his intent to take on the trials when some of his clan try to stop him. Like many before them in his clan, Cecoceloto heard many of the same things before.

"Axohuicitlalin!" they cried. "Why have you adopted the cursed name? Do not go! Do not throw your life away!'

Ah yes, the curse. It seems that the Cecuecacayotin now believe that anyone named after a Snow Animal is doomed to fail in the trials for Tlatoani. Cecoceloto thought he knew the reason why it actually happened. Ceccuetlachtli, Snow Wolf, had a desperate and more timid performance at the trials and was unable to pass the hunting trial. Ceccuauhtli, Snow Eagle, had faltered and panicked when Quixpix surprised him with a quick blow that knocked away his weapon and paid the price for doing so.

Cecoceloto thought that the clan's roots, once surviving in the harsh north, were nowhere to be found in the clan now. The Cecuecacayotin had grown fat and complacent from the bountiful harvests on their farms. He would make a stand against silly superstition and show that curse was not about names. It was the ambient life that the Cecuecacayotin had gotten so used to.

After tossing back the last of the ankle-grabbers, Cecoceloto gave his response to so many others that had cried out the same words. "I am no longer Axohuicitlalin. I am Cecoceloto! If I am struck down in these trials, you can have your little curse. But if I come through, you must give up these silly superstitions right away!"

Cecoceloto then made his way to the necentlaliliztli. Once he got the attention of the clan heads, he began to announce his intentions.

"As you all know, I am Cecoceloto, clan head of the Cecuecacayotin. I am announcing my intention to take the trials of the Tlatoani."

Cecoceloto suddenly drew out a stone axe and threw it into the ground, with the axe head embedding into the ground so that the handle was in the air.

"And I challenge the fate of my ancestors that have taken these trials!"

((Cecoceloto will be aggressive for the battle and aggressive during the hunt.))

 

[Ironhide G1]

Brutus Maximus Fortis, grandson of the first Tlatoani, stepped forward in front of the clans. "I will honor my clan and grandfather by stepping forward to compete in these trials. My clan has wisely guided the clan before, but I will not throw my life away recklessly. I will fight and hunt cautiously." He turned to Cecoceloto and said, "Your plan is correct, just remember that he said this in the original, "The Hill of Acaluaccaquixti shall remain a sacred place, owned by the Clan of Yolotli". But other than that I think it should work. I vote aye!"

***

The axe stuck the tree. The unsettled Quaquahuicalla was now Maximotl land. Well, the Maximus Fortis branch at least. The clan had grown much larger since they had first arrived, and while the Maximus Rex and the Pontifex Maximus branch had decided to stay in the capital with their successful lumber business, The Maximus Fortis decided to settle to establish their own lumber camp thing there. This would be the Maximus Fortis' branch to live in and work.

 

[Rovsea]

Truly, does it make sense to deny the Yolotli lands in Quixpix's plan? I think not. If we are going to evenly distribute the lands, let us not leave out any of the clans.

 

[Ironhide G1]

"I said before that Quixpix said "The Hill of Acaluaccaquixti shall remain a sacred place, owned by the Clan of Yolotli" in his original plan."

 

[Emilersej]

Chapter V: The Third Tlatoani Trials

For the third time, it was time for the Tlatoani Trials in Atlauhtipan. This time, there were only two contenders - the Snow-Wanderer Cecocelotl and Polototl, the latter of which was known as something as unpronounceable as Brutus among his own clansmen, the Maximoh, the clan which had held the position of Tlatoani for over a century. Thus, being the grandson of Tlatoani Yoliotl, there was a certain pressure from his clan that his participation in the trials would end in a success.

From the side of the populous Cecuecacayotin, there was little confidence their candidate would win. Their candidates had never done so before, and the last one even died. Cecocelotl had taken up the challenge entirely on his own initiative, and the fact that he had taken the name of a snow animal like all the former Cecuecacayotin candidates didn't exactly make his kinsmen more confident that he would win.

The trials once again attracted most of the citizens of Atlauhtipan, which now numbered well over a hundred people. Once again, the participants were very well-prepared, and both performed most of the trials perfectly. Cecocelotl excelled greatly in the more intellectual first series of trials, while Polototl actually struggled somewhat, particularly in his own clan's trial, to the point where some thought he should have been eliminated from the contest. However, rules were rules and his clansman accepted Polototl's answers.

Otherwise, both Polototl and Cecocelotl passed all the martial trials without problems, both bringing home a king beaver from the hunt, and although Polototl won the mock battle after Cecocelotl broke two toes because of a sharp stone, Cecocelotl also performed splendidly and passed the test due to his courage and endurance, being forced to fight with bleeding feet.

Both of them also passed the last few trials, and thus, once again, the winner would be decided through single combat, this time on a level field which had been repeatedly been combed for even the smallest pebbles by the Cecuecacayotin.

Tensions were high as the duel began, but only two strikes were landed that day. The first was by Polototl. After having circled one another for a few minutes, he lunged at his rival with all his force, but Cecocelotl dodged the blow and landed a shattering blow on Polototl's right shoulder. The strike rendered Polototl incapable of lifting his arm, and he reluctantly yielded to Cecocelotl.

Atlauhtipan had a new clan in power: The Cecuecacayotin. What new things would this change in management entail?

--------------------------------------

Orders due in 48 hours!
The lands of Zacatla and Camotlalpan are once again too tightly populated and the two potato clans (Cecuecacayotin and Xiuhcoatl) need to consider where to settle their expanding populace... Again. (You need to agree on a new tile to settle. I don't have a map right here with me, but nothing has changed since the last screen i took, except Zacatla of course. Do note that the Maximoh have claimed Quaquahuicalla, so moving there or to any of the other already owned tiles would likely cause disputes.)

 

[alexander23]

((Hello! it was fun guys but i will have to resign from the game, and its preferable to do it officially than just dissapearing without a word. Good luck to all and have fun!!! Would love if it in the end my clan merged with galren one after all pretty close, and well same lands and so on.))

 

[Galren]

((I don't think the other clans would have your clan merge with mine ...))

 

[Rovsea]

((I don't think the other clans would have your clan merge with mine ...))

((Well, it would give your clan 29.XX Food production, which is some ridiculously large proportion of the total, so...))