The Evidence for the Existence of the Mythological United States by Norman X. Scozzafova

“It has been said that though God cannot alter the past, historians can; it is perhaps because they can be useful to Him in this respect that He tolerates their existence.” --- Samuel Butler (1835-1902) PREFACE and a brief explanation of this work: Man is a most curious creature indeed. Alone of the species on this planet, he has a burning desire to know from whence he came, nor has any other species the fear of what a search for such knowledge might uncover. Hence, there are many hundred “Dead Sea scrolls” waiting for some brave scholar to cast aside personal biases and be willing to learn something new, or at least be willing to have the wits shocked out of himself. And so, working with a base-date for ‘civilization’ of about 5,000 B.C.E., the modern historian guesses ‘appropriate dates’ for the major stepping stones of our aboriginal ancestors --- except for a few “crackpots” who ascribe very ancient dates for civilization whether home grown or introduced by some alien groups. I have studied much of history, primarily the ancient histories of Mesopotamia, India, and America. And all my studies have led me to the conclusion that archaeologists are “running scared”, but from what? Does it seem so unreal that an advanced civilization could have existed some 10,000 years ago and dwindled away, becoming the wandering tribes of migrant hunters-fishers-farmers that we know used stone tools and implements? Looking around at our greatness, it does appear a little humorous to think our grandchildren might be cave-dwellers fighting with survival with wooden clubs. Some legacy! Some generation gap!! So, this volume encompasses that possibility. In the event of a nuclear war in which certain anti-radiation gases were released to clean the air, the remainders of civilization would find themselves with not much more than clubs and stones, and their wits. Though knowledge of manufacturing would be retained, the facilities would have been destroyed. And I am almost certain that the people would be more concerned with raising enough food to eat than how to make safer seat-belts or better color TV sets. And even a concerned person could not be sure that his notes and writings of the past glories would survive the brutal stone-and-club wars that might follow. This situation is the one faced by a future historian, trying to piece together certain myths of an ancient great land known as the United States – a land of which no traces remain. I hope that his search through the rubble of time entertains, amuses, and perhaps even enlightens. Journey, then, some twelve-hundred years hence… the Evidence for the Existence of the Mythological United States - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From the ancient manuscripts and Recent archaeological discoveries - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - by MISENTI B. M. Saktarin Danels PUBLISHED 1207 f. k. Doloklan University Press Doloklan University Library Number – BMS-P-4 Publishing consideration filed by Doloklan University – 1207 and thus secured Approved for publication By the Proxmicenti Council for Chief Misenti Eshamunda No portion of this volume may be used in any other format Without proper authorization from the Chief Librarian, Doloklan University List of subjects within Introduction The First Part, being The Written Evidences Chapter One – The Tablet References 200-800 f.k. Chapter Two – The United States Myth Cycle 800-1000 f.k. Chapter Three – Til Poran’s Works (a.300 f.k.) Chapter Four – Nostern’s Works (a.200 f.k.) Chapter Five – Other Ancient Mentionings The Second Part, being The Physical Evidences Chapter Six – Ancient Porta, Danela, and Kanan Chapter Seven – Anaboraxus’ Ruins The Third Part, being The Misenti Hypotheses Chapter Eight – The Webika Question Chapter Nine – The Amcheta Question Chapter Ten – This Author’s Summation Appendices A – The United States King Lists B – The United States Chronologies List of Plates List of Maps List of Genealogic Tables List of Illustrations List of Reference Materials Index INTRODUCTION In the last printing of the Misenti World History (15 vols., Doloklan University, 1195 f.k.) only two volumes deal with the period of history prior to 350 f.k. Volume One has two sections: ‘Creations’ and ‘Migrations’. The first deals with various folk tales and myths dealing with early cultures explaining the creation of the universe, foremost among which is Salb’s Creation Tale. The latter deals with the various hypotheses put forward by Misenti scholars of the locations where all the various tribes originated, where they migrated, and how and when they finally settled. Volume Two is entitled Ancient Histories and deals with the period of time from 85 f.k. to 350 f.k., or from the conception of the Olon calendar in Porta to the inauguration of Amexikan King Tepelo’s Historical Index. Neither of these two volumes (nor do any of the remaining thirteen) mention the “United States”, not even to note it as an ancient myth or at least ridicule it as an obvious fantasy of purely primitive thinking. My grandfather, the late Chief Misenti S. R. Baltin Danels, had much to do with the omission. He considered himself a ‘historian’s historian’, a purist in the field. It was he who suggested all mention of the United States be removed, for it would only encourage daydreaming and time wasting, rather than serious historical endeavor. But no other mythical land was removed from the World History, only the United States. The Chief Misenti considered the United States myth cycle embodied the totality of fanciful stupidity and, as it had no historical relevance, had it removed. On the other hand, he did authorize many books for publication that mentioned the United States, so long as a valid historical purpose required its mention. My first introduction to the subject was during my studies at Doloklan. I was studying the ancient tablets of Porta and translating some for practice when I came across the cautionary tale of Riann I wasting his life away searching for the “great United States”. When the Chief Misenti heard of my quick fascination, I was reprimanded for being senseless. “Any conquered peoples would tell their conqueror of an older and greater land just to belittle his victory and bring ridicule to his own small glories. If you are going to study the ancient histories, learn the ways of their barbaric thinking!” I quickly gave up my chase for the United States. Later, however, I found further mentions of the same United States from more “reliable” sources, not at all conquered peoples ridiculing their conqueror. This information I kept to myself. My grandfather passed on in 1197, secure in his knowledge that I was engaged in the sane pursuit of ancient history. Surely he rails in his grave knowing that not only I but most of the historians in our family have been caught up in the magic of the United States and have aided my search as well as the preparation of these findings for publication. If all this work has been for naught, no more than a piece of fanciful stupidity, then the waste of this group of great minds falls squarely on my head – the spark of their interest resulting from my own burning desire. Even so, we all agree that it has been a great deal of fun. And we hope you may find it of interest as well. B. M. Saktarin Danels and companions: I. T. Istilik Danels K. B. K. Haliburtus Danels V. S. Palmas Danels P. B. E. Fornita Danels, pra-Duke of Travor mA. F. Ralvila D. Niliskan mR. I. Misra D. Braxia MAP 1 - The Mexo Area Today The First Part, being The Written Evidences The great majority of the written evidences of the United States came into existence between 800 and 1000 f.k. and these works are generally dramatic and moralistic writings, as well as not very factual. That seemed a period when Misenti became story-tellers rather than historians. Complete histories were written, but it was never shown where the facts ended and the writer’s hypotheses began. Evidences of a more factual nature come to us from the period between a.150 and 800 f.k. Until twenty years ago, the earliest known mention of the United States was dated 414 f.k. Recent excavations have unearthed even older references: Til Poran’s tablets (a.300), Nostern’s tablets (a.200), the Komenora tablets (a.180), and the Borigan tablets (a.150). From these writings we have gained a much better perspective of the United States, enabling one to comprehend it as a very real political entity rather than the “land of the gods’ golden cities” as the later writings claim. I invite you to examine the evidences for yourself. MAP 2 – The Amexikoan Religious Capitals, a.218-530 f.k. (being Lumultan and Tukul-Ashtan-Manatu) Chapter One – The Tablet References 200-800 f.k. Kalipe, King of ancient Amexiko at the opening of the third century f.k., built a city for the priesthood in the base of a cliff in the Laperta Mountains just seventeen kilometers from his Royal Palace at Tiklan. This religious capital, named Lumaltan, consisted of a palace for the King, three public buildings, five grim dungeons, five warehouses, and seventeen temples, seven built against the cliff so the most important Priestly and Sacred rooms could be burrowed into the mountainside. The Temple of Komitum, third largest structure in the city, had six such hidden rooms each entering into a long, low corridor leading to the outside. Walls of the rooms were covered with carved prayers and spells to warn intruders of certain death for entering the “Hall of Komitum”. One room, the bedchamber/study of the High Priest, was adorned with an oversize portrait of Komitum gazing upon a calendar of the annual religious ceremonies held at Lumaltan. And from this calendar, we learn of the dia kalamorta (Day of the Dead-Tongue) held annually at dawn after the fifth new moon of the year. A tablet found in one of the five public rooms in the Komitum Temple proper [Doloklan Tablet #AGXA-3471] explained some of these ceremonies, including this reference to the dia kalamorta: When the sun has appeared, after the night of Tanilasank, all those men who came in evil, invoking a glory of the seven hells of the accursed United States, spitting in the eye of Hengavela for destroying the riches of that unclean [ land ], should be gathered, all of them together, for the just will of Hengavela on his day of the dead-tongue. When those tongues have passed, then shall the land be cleansed and freed from the wraths [ of Hengavela ] and the crops shall be made pure and in abundance in the time before the harvest. Thus, every year around the middle of Salliman, the Ceremony of the Dead-Tongue took place, in which human life was sacrificed to Hengavela, those who had spoken the hated name of United States. A few ancient records of this ceremony have survived and from these records we discover at least 1,864 persons were sacrificed for this crime from a.218 to a.464 f.k. when the ceremony dia kalamorta was outlawed by King Wanda III. An inscription [Doloklan Tablet #AGXA-3583] from the second year of King Palo II (a.290) lists these sacrifices and their crimes: Nitala, the potter; for telling of the great cities of the United States. Kalipe, the wheat-thrasher; for telling of the great war of the United States with the land across the Morning Sea. One person was sacrificed in the second year of King Shangor (a.315) [Doloklan Tablet #AGXA-4112]: Watarna, the old man; for teaching his grandson of the United States at war beyond the great sea. The next oldest record found [Doloklan Tablet #AGXA-3691], that of the fourteenth year of Shangor (a.327), showed a major change in the mentioning of the United States: Shaki, the sailor; spoke of that forbidden land. Tutarba, the court-maker(?); spoke of that forbidden land. Renalo, the potter; claimed descent from the forbidden people. Katmulo; spoke of the forbidden land. From that last inscription onward, no further mention was made of the name “United States” the records using “forbidden land” instead. King Wanda I built the new religious capital (a.406) at Tukul-Ashtan-Manatu, and the Komitum Temple calendar there had the same celebration of dia kalamorta with the exception that the crime of mentioning the “United States” was replaced by “the forbidden land”. Apparently the Priesthood had come to believe that the name itself was a crime. Their vigorous sacrificial ceremonies of the following years saw men put to death for speaking of the “forbidden lands” of Sonlaki, Dalapar, Karush, Pinibal, and Orksha. The madness grew so intense, seeing forty-seven persons sacrificed in one ceremony alone, that Wanda III outlawed the ceremony in his third year [Doloklan Tablet #AGXA-282] on the grounds that no one alive even knew the name of the “forbidden land” much less anything about it. The United States must have been a very real threat to Amexiko at one time for the slightest mention of it to bring the highest penalty against man. But no record yet found leaves us even the vaguest clue as to the reason why the United States was so deadly to Amexiko of old. Still it is obvious that the ancient Priesthood did not consider the United States a mere childish myth. * * * * * * * * The ancient kingdom of Kanan also new of the United States and in fact spoke of it with reverence or high regard, exactly opposite the viewpoint held by Amexiko. Only two inscriptions, however, are known to exist besides the recently found tablets of Til Poran, which will be discussed in chapter three. The first of the Kanan inscriptions was a commemoration marker set up on the coast [Doloklan Tablet #ADEK-761], glorifying the victories of King Fecha I against the Frasor tribes in his thirteenth year of his rule (a.240): Seven years’ fighting from Fecha’s sixth year, Seven years’ fighting to the coast; Fecha, the great King, reduced his foes, The Frasor tribes against the coast; Like the tree-cat, he pushed them back, Like the hawk, he took the prey; Like great King Lankon united the states By conquering south toward the Dikh Sea, Has Fecha now made Kanan strong and whole To match those United States of old. To have likened a victory as great as this one was, Fecha must have idolized the memory of the United States. The other inscription [Doloklan Tablet #AKEK-13472] was from the fourteenth year of King Ka (a.287) and was a description of the wedding feast of Crown Prince Duka, his brothers Kabacha and Kafael, as well as their sister, who married Til Poran, son of Til Dau, scribe and sage to King Ka. Lengthy and descriptive, revealing not only what each couple wore but the presents received by each and from whom, all the dignitaries in attendance, and so forth. It was written by Til Dau himself and ends: The size of the feast gathered by great King Ka for his three sons and his daughter most certainly exceeded any celebration of any land before. For what day is greater than a father’s son’s day of marriage? Even more so when four-fold as was this day of days. It is said by several learned scholars of the western hills that the host gathered here surpassed even the greatest celebrations held many ages ago in the golden United States. What the ‘greatest celebrations’ of the United States was, we do not have a clue. But once again, the reference to the United States is almost reverent, as if Kanan were trying to surpass every greatness they knew of the United States. And they knew quite a bit, enough so to think of it as an existing land. * * * * * * * * MAP 3 – The “United States Campaigns” of Riann I Continuing the war begun by his father, King Riann I of Porta finally conquered Wamorhik in his fourth year of rule (a.420) and almost immediately set out on a twenty-four year journey which ended in his death, many kilometers from home without any further conquerings. The reason for this seeming waste of effort comes to us from a tablet [Doloklan Tablet #PVXP-7831] of the fifth year of King Todlama (a.449), son of Riann I, which explained the occurrences following his father’s conquest of Wamorhik: The sad waste of Riann, the King who brought the Wamorkan lands beneath his shield, began when he took the Royal Palace of Palisteda. It was here that Torlimtak, the wheat merchant, was brought before the King to repeat what he had spoken to Riann’s General, Rabet, saying, "Certainly this king has done a deed of great power, certainly a show of strength that he holds with the gods. But can any king claim such a god-union until he has bested the swords of the children of the gods?" Enraged, the King demanded to know more of this land of the god-children. Torlimtak answered, saying, "The great and powerful land which many know lay just a short distance to the north, the great United States, overlord of many lands, even unto those across the sea." Riann, the great King, went to the temple and asked the High Priest of Palisteda of these United States. Once the High Priest confirmed that the land of the gods existed to the north of them, although he had heard nothing from them for many years, Riann had both Torlimtak and the High Priest slain. Then he set forth to make his victory complete by conquering this previously unknown land. Several years of searching brought him to no United States. Once, Riann met a tribal leader in the Gortuyal Mountains who confirmed that the United States was indeed the land of the god-children but that it had disintegrated ages before. Blinded by rage, Riann ravaged the mountain lands and would not be stopped in his belief that the United States lie to the north awaiting his conquering sword. Thus did a great King wither in pitiful waste, dying in the valley of Higanti in the land of Puban* without ever achieving his quest. * - known today as the Karlonta Valley, location of the ruins of the Amcheta state, Nebaska Here again we see several cultures knowing of the existence of the United States while those around them have lost the knowledge. And though the Wamorhik account held that the United States still existed to the north, perhaps it was merely an invalidation of the king that conquered them, much as my grandfather surmised. Yet the knowledge gained from the mountain tribes does not appear to have the same motive. The one fact remains: the United States Myths were not localized in a small area as the ancient mentionings of other strange lands. That they were known to many ancient nations, many enemies of one another, seems more to indicate that it had actually been a real country to the north of the Mexo region, whose inhabitants had spread to other lands when it disintegrated. Those are all the first-hand accounts known of the United States of the period encompassed by this chapter (although there are 136 further tablets which make reference to “the land of the gods”, “that golden land”, “the great country to the north”, and so forth, but it cannot be known for certain that they refer to the United States). The remaining works are collections of myths accumulated by Misenti of old who searched for the United States. * * * * * * * * At the opening of the sixth century f.k., Chief Misenti Arlan Salb Danels gathered all the myths and writings dealing with prehistoric times, correlated the data, and compiled his greatest work, Creation. Unfortunately, only seventeen tablets of the work are known to exist, found in three separate locations. And though they are three separate copies of the manuscript, we still do not have a complete version. Three tablets found in 962 [Doloklan Tablets #BKDK-437, -489, & -574] were numbered by the unknown ancient copyist as 1, 9, and 11 in a set of 23. The remainder of the set was not to be found with its mates. Nine large tablets discovered in 1051 [Doloklan Tablets #HHFD-118 through -126] form a consecutive segment of the work starting before tablet #9 of the earlier finding, including the text from #9 and #11 but does not complete the tale. The remaining five known tablets were unearthed in 1118 [Doloklan Tablets #BDDD-789, -790, -791, -1023, & -1024] and in badly damaged condition. Two of these fill in some parts before the earlier tablet #1 and the beginning of the larger tablets, two others repeat portions of the larger tablets, one including a portion on the previous #11. The last of the five is the worse damaged, which is unfortunate as it seems to be last of the work [Doloklan Tablet #BDDD-791], ending with the inscription: Copied by the hand of Miltucha, scribe of the court, [ in the ] 21st year of Panta, King [ of Kanan ]. – (a.581 f.k.) These portions still existent today reveal to us that Salb was not guided by religious zeal nor did he intend to force his own concepts on others as the “real” story. He is not so bold as to state when or where the creation occurred, and gives no personal names to the primogenitors of mankind or of the gods (although he was a devout Decleissian), but gives a very logical procession of the most likely events leading up to the known world of his time, correlated from his myth collection. For its period, Creation is the outstanding literary work. His story consists of five major cycles laid out at the outset: the creation of the universe, the reign of gods on the earth, the creation of man, the era of the first kingdoms, and the breaking up of those first kingdoms. The writing is filled with notations of his sources, and ending at the point where “… the Migrations of King Michael begin…” (see chapter four). After the gods had created the seed of mankind and tutored them to rule the lands of the earth, Salb has the gods leave for parts unknown as the world entered the fourth cycle. After a great number of years, one tribe of people had gained almost total control of the lands north of the Mexo region (which he equates with present day Abikoratia, Hamil, and Porta) and they dominated all other tribes there for a period of 150 years. Toward the end of this Age of Domination, the over-kings taxed their subjects so heavily that dissent broke out in many of the tribes which finally led to a twenty year war of revolution. Thirteen tribes banded together and defeated the force of the over-king and freed all the dominated tribes, not just the thirteen in revolt. These thirteen remained banded together as the United States, under the leadership of the General Wasenton, who had led them to victory against the over-king. As king, Wasenton organized the tribes, setting up a system of leaders and judges for each, as well as establishment of an advisory group (called a “Cabinet”) drawn from their membership. He established a standing army and set up a hierarchy of merchants, who set their own quotas and apprenticed new members. After fourteen years of peaceful rule, Wasenton passed on and left the throne to his son, Jefarsan. In his twenty-five year reign, Jefarsan established a system of currency, organized schools, began the publishing of books, and attempted to free the slaves. This last item almost brought the nation to rebellion, so in an effort to regain favor he cast aside the slavery problem and persuaded neighboring tribes to voluntarily join their union. This success made him much beloved of the people, tripling the size of their land without going to battle. This success was to become a cornerstone of the country: expansion without conquest. This great king was also an accomplished artist, writer, and builder of many buildings. Madasan succeeded his father and was at once confronted with trouble from the successor of the former over-king. It seems they were jealous of the growing United States and wanted the riches to be had. War broke out in his fifth year almost destroying the land, primarily by reason of his military blunders. The capital was sacked and burned and other cities abandoned and left to the will of the invaders. A general, descended from a leader of one of the original thirteen tribes, succeeded in pushing the invaders back until he defeated their host at the city by the mouth of a great river. Encouraged by his troops and the thankful populace, Jaxon marched to the new capital, named Wasenton after their first king, and drove the luckless Madasan out, thereby winning himself the kingship. Because of his great victory, Jaxon soon persuaded more neighboring tribes to join under the banner of the United States, doubling his previous power and enriching his treasury with more gold. He continued the policies of Jefarsan: building, educating, and trading, and ruled for seventeen years in peace. GENEALOGIC TABLE 1 – The Kings of the United States (Salb, with revisions by Rivorn and Portlann) Jaxon was followed by his son, grandson, and great-grandson, two of them unnamed by Salb, ruling one after the other fro a thirty-nine Era of Peace. It ended with the accession of Jaxon’s great-great-grandson, Linkon. Linkon had been raised at a great distance from the capital, in a cabin set far back in the woods so that he might gain from knowing how to live a simple life before it came his time to rule, a practice repeated for many later of the rulers of the United States. His father died quite suddenly and Linkon was brought to the capital to take up his duties as king. Having been raised in a manner quite apart from his forebears, he could not see continue many of the policies deemed natural by those accustomed to wealth and power. So, this ‘backwoods king’ decreed that all the slaves of the land were to be freed. He immediately found himself in a civil war. The southern states, primarily the farming regions utilizing predominantly slave labor, broke away while the northern states, the predominantly merchant classes, stood behind the young king. The northern merchants persuaded the young king to gather an army to conquer the southern states in order that the nation might once again be whole. Their actual motive was not so patriotic, as they had tried for several years to gain control over the resources of the south to ease their expenses for manufacture, but had failed in all previous attempts. So it was in his fourth year of rule that Linkon gathered an army and began the fight which later trapped him on a course that permanently altered the vision of the nation. In his campaigns in the south, Linkon saw the beautiful land, as fertile and productive as the lands he was raised in, burnt and scarred by his invading forces. Sickened, he tried to stop the destruction, but found the mold had been cast. The blood-thirsty hunger-for-power had seized his subjects and, though he returned in disgust to the capital, they remained to fight under the powerful northern lord, now General Grent. And even though Linkon closed his treasury, refusing to finance the war further, the armies continued their fight backed by the gold of the northern merchants. That same gold paid for an assassin to sneak into the palace one dark night and leave the saddened King Linkon in a pool of his own blood. The crown was then offered to General Grent. He accepted and continued the fight in the south. While thus occupied, the northern merchants consolidated their hold on the capital so that Grent would be no more than a puppet when he returned. The southern states were soon captured and the former slaves set up as provincial rulers, reducing the former rulers to nothing more than a slave class. King Grent ruled twenty-six years, rebuilding the south he had spent the last decade destroying. He established laws which gave more and more power and freedom of action. Klevlan succeeded to his father’s throne and began further expansion, not by persuasion as Jefarsan and Jaxon had done, but by leading his army there to coerce or conquer. During one of these extended campaigns, General Herison was left behind to protect the capital. He went further and spoke ill of his King to the lords of the realm, blaming him for squandering too much wealth consolidating his conquests, and getting himself crowned king. His primary strength came from the southern lords who wished to rid themselves of the bonds of the northern lords. Herison was not able to consolidate his hold but had enough reserves to hold off the army of Klevlan for nine years and died peacefully in his palace. The power struggle that followed his death allowed Klevlan to re-enter the capital and reclaim the crown for another four years of rule. On his death, another was named king (unnamed by Salb) until the only remaining son of Klevlan would reach his ‘king-age’, a law that had been passed following the disastrous war of the young King Linkon. Wilson reached his age and received the throne without trouble. Peace did not last long as the northern merchants conspired again to force a war, as such activity always filled their coffers. This time the prize was the riches of certain lands beyond the sea. The war thus started, Wilson seemed powerless to do other than proceed. Once finished with victory, King Wilson attempted to form and international council of nations to allay further wars through negotiation and mutual cooperation. It did not last long as other nations distrusted the motivation of Wilson and his advisors. Before its flaws were revealed however, the advisors persuaded him to leave the headaches of kingship behind and devote his life to further good works. His eldest son, unnamed in the text, held the throne for barely one year before the merchants found fault with him as well. But though the assassination went off without a problem, they could not bring their choice to the throne, so violent was the public reaction of their continuing manipulations. Submitting to pressure, they instead crowned Wilson’s younger son, Ruzelt, though he had not yet reached king-age. Distrusting the powerful merchants, Ruzelt devised a plan to rid himself of their meddling in his reign. Unfortunately, the plan would create many enemies. He drove the economy higher and higher, prices inflated, the merchants were endeared to him until the bottom fell out. Fortunes were destroyed and unable to strike at the source of their woes, many of the wealthy ended their own lives. The remainder of the population suffered greatly from this depression, fearing the nation would dissolve in the pestilence of poverty that followed. Ruzelt soon gained the friendship of the people again as he stabilized the currency and pulled the economy and the country back to its feet without the puppet-strings of the merchants. Thinking the United States now weakened nation of half-starved peasants, the overseas territories overthrew the United States’ control and ceased paying tribute. Forgetting the plight of his ancestors, Ruzelt raised an army and journeyed across the sea to bring those lands back into subjugation. Shortly after this victorious campaign, he was stricken by a paralysis from a wound received and forced to abdicate. Lacking sons, the throne passed to his General, Yizinawer. While the new King Yizinawer consolidated and stabilized the nation, Ruzelt was busy plotting from his estate in the north. A new powerful merchant class was created and sent abroad to finance rebellion in the foreign provinces. The puppet regimes established there began to hound the United States and sapped their reserves. Weakened by age and turmoil, Yizinawer organized a group of generals to continue the war during his convalescence. These generals contacted the new merchants to finance and outfit the wars abroad, those same merchants who secretly aided the enemies. They grew wealthier playing one side off against the other. Yizinawer did not recover, but died and was succeeded by his intellectual son, Kinidi. This new king had studied history and suspected the merchants of Ruzelt were up to no good. So he cultivated a different group to aid the council of generals. Unfortunately, he soon discovered the new merchants were puppets of Ruzelt’s merchants, and so were the council of generals. King Kinidi enlisted the aid of his brother, Bahbi, to investigate the generals. Bahbi called on a friend, Marta, a leader in the secret underground slave rebellion. When Kinidi learned the complicity of all these various groups, he ordered the armies home, declaring the war to be finished. Unknown to Kinidi, the merchants and generals counseled together and hired assassins to remove King Kinidi as well as Bahbi and Marta. Jansan, son of Kinidi, succeeded while still young, and listened to the sound advice of the generals to continue the war. The populace clamored for an end to the wars abroad and pressured the council of lords to petition the king on their behalf. Advised by the generals, Jansan refused, but was wise enough to distract the people with a program of great works to beautify the land, celebrations of their greatness, as well as freeing the slaves in the South (descendants of the former slave masters). Years passed, the treasury dwindled, and taxes rose. The people became uneasy again, but King Jansan did not have to deal with it again, as he died before the tumult began. His son, Nexon, like his grandfather, was an intellectual. He also saw the behind-the-scenes manipulations of the merchants and generals, but knew any attempt to interfere would bring only an assassin in the night. So, he plotted and manipulated on his own, bringing more and more reigns of power back into his hands. When he felt strong enough, he ordered the wars over and summoned the generals home. Foreseeing something like this, the generals implemented a plan to put Nexon in a scandal, accusing him of stripping the power from the various lords of the realm. Nexon had to clear himself of this charge while the merchants manipulated the markets and created a new depression. And as if all this was not enough, the generals convinced the recently freed slaves to fight for their rightful place. The capital was stormed, the palace burned, Nexon killed, the lords massacred, and the city sacked. The generals stepped in when the government collapsed to take charge and set up the Kings of their choice. Knowing they were the next to be attacked, the merchants had their wealth taken abroad and unleashed a pestilence on the nation as they left. The United States was reduced to a memory. * * * * * * * * At that point, Salb’s story is interrupted by missing tablets. The extent of the pestilence, the plight of the survivors, and where they may have escaped to are all missing from our copies of Creation. Most scholars and Misenti have disclaimed the entire story, stating that the growth of the merchant class and the treachery of the generals sound too much like excerpts from the histories of Aztekan and Torka combined to make one colossal myth, created entirely from the imagination of Salb. Unfortunately, the sixth dynasty of Naisan was brought about from a consolidation of the merchant class as was the twelfth dynasty of Aztekan. And there are many ancient lands whose kingships were usurped by military leaders. Historians will have to arrive at a more substantial disclaimer to invalidate a work that carries as much weight as Salb’s Creation. No ancient writer wrote a disclaimer of the work, so far as the records show. * * * * * * * * Only two other scholars of the period 200-800 f.k. had anything more to say about the United States. The first of these was Salb’s great-grandson, Andra Paklavna Rivorn, who seems to have discovered more of the story around 565 f.k. His addition follows [Doloklan Tablet #BKDT-3984]: It has rightly been related by Salb, this history of the United States, for no man has spent the time accumulating the various portions of the history and weaving them together so the tale could be complete. Yet there be this one thing which perhaps had not been brought to his attention, and I add it here so the tale may be even more complete. Surely Salb has stated the weaknesses of King Madasan and how it brought almost complete destruction to the land. But when the General Jaxon had driven the King from his throne, Madasan had not died but rather slunk away seething with revenge. Thus it was he who established that powerful merchant class. The first merchant class caused a depression during the reign of Jaxon’s son, whose name has come to us as Fanbyurn. So it seems the Era of Peaceful Existence was only peaceful because the people could afford naught more than existence. This same group of merchants helped get the country back on its feet after a time, just enough time to destroy their competition, and later went on the incite the great civil war and assassination of King Linkon. Yet another addition was added by Stana Darla Portlann around 625 f.k. and states as follows [Doloklan Tablet #BKDT-762]: It has been recently discovered that, unlike it has been related in Salb’s work, that the King Ruzelt of the United States died in the Royal Palace at Wasenton of the paralysis he developed from a wound in his war across the sea. So it was not he who had started the second merchant power but his father, Wilson, who had abdicated the throne years before, and his brother, Rafela, who was born in the third years after Wilson’s abdication. And it was this Rafela and his descendants who controlled the United States, even unto its destruction. And that brings to completion all the writings concerning the United States from 200-800 f.k. None of the sources mentioned as by Salb have ever been seen. Hopefully, one day, at least one will come to light and verify his claims. Although he attempted to use every source known, Salb missed several other ancient sources which have come down to us from later writers Koyle, Bansha, and Banorda. These new sources came from the next period under investigation, 800-1000 f.k., and became part of the United States Mythology cycle. But that is the story of chapter two. MAP 4 – The Growth of the Ramidian Church Chapter Two – The United States Myth Cycle 800-1000 f.k. Religion has been the most powerful instrument of politics yet discovered by man. Armies may conquer areas, kings may think they control the hearts and minds of their subjects, but what lies in any man’s mind and heart are only known to him and the gods. And that which rules a man’s heart is often found to eventually rule mind and hand as well. A primary example of this theory is the basis of this chapter: a Misenti, turning his back on the high ideals of the Misenti school of thought and honor, to promote the precepts of a religion through the perversion of historical fact. This is why Misenti today, for the most part, have no religious affiliation (Misenti being called the “bastard religion” for the same reason). A study of the course of religions through the ages, their inception, usefulness, and demise, one develops a different view of the supposed differences of religions past and present. But this chapter is not to be about purposes and values of different religions, only one in particular do I wish to discuss, and its affect of the myth cycle on the current study: the religion of both Koyle and Bansha, the Ramidian Church. During the eighth century, the Ramidian Church had spread from its birthplace in the mountains of northern Hamil, throughout the kingdoms of the northern Mexo area: Porta, Kanan, Danelan, Brenan, as well as the northernmost provinces of Amexiko itself. Its success could be attributed to the fact that it was the religion of the Hamil rulers at the time and they were in a period of successful expansion. The story of Lol, a missionary of the church, breaking away from his father, the Misenti Korva, to preach in Flakon has been told and retold in countless versions both good and bad. But all authorities agree that Korva was much disappointed in his son, then tried to make things right by enrolling his grandson, Koyle, in the Doloklan College of Misenti training. This turned out to be an unwitting disaster of such magnitude that it almost destroyed the entire Misenti altogether. Korva would probably have died of shock to see his grandson grow to become such a powerful force in the church’s expansion, had he not died shortly after Koyle began his studies. Korva’s death as well as his father’s missionary absence during this time that drove Koyle to graduate at the top of his class. Lol returned from his missionary work in time for his son’s graduation. Rather than showing pride for the accomplishment, he spoiled the happy reunion by cursing his misfortune. Declaring his son’s achievement as misguidance, he called upon the gods to strike him dead for his disgrace. And according to the tale, he fell dead at that moment at the feet of his son. Koyle spurned all offers for scholastic works and became a recluse, wandering the hills of southwestern Hamil, living in the wild, and spending his hours in soul-searching. Here he met Nostra, a missionary of the Ramidian church, who helped ease his tormented soul and make some sense out of life. They became friends and lived in a cabin set far back into the woods. After several years, Ranal, son of Chief Misenti Dinar I, searched for his old friend and classmate and found him in the wilds. Nostra told his disciple to go and minister to the people in the way he was best equipped, so Koyle accompanied Ranal back to Doloklan and began his work in historical research. Dividing his efforts between history and his church, Koyle was so energetic that he soon attained positions of importance: Proxmisenti* at Doloklan as well as Duabli** of the Church. And in due time, he rose to the position of Chief Misenti, but never achieved his heart’s desire: Ramadan of the entire Ramidian Church. * - In the early days, Proxmisenti organized the projects undertaken by Misenti the world over. Today they serve primarily as editors and college administrators. In this position, Koyle could force researches into a certain direction. ** - The Duabli was the director for a region within the Ramidian Church. Koyle’s influence grew. His writings concerned primarily the downfall of nations in the past for not keeping up proper worship of the gods. Although many Misenti objected to the ‘religious-coloring’ of these histories, Koyle’s influence helped in many ways to cancel the objections. Under his leadership, Misenti were allowed into areas and countries previously off-limits to Misenti research. His talents made the curriculum at Doloklan become more well-rounded and interdisciplinary. Small Doloklan College grew into a major University under his direction. But more far-reaching was his effects on the Misenti mode of operation. At no time since the Misenti of old dropped their royal standing to be mere scholars had any Chief been succeeded by his son. Yet, when Koyle died, his son Nostra took his place. On his death, his son Bornad rose to command, who was followed by his son, Rosmar, who in turn was succeeded by his son, Bansha I. All these men had graduated at the head of their classes, as well as being powerful members of the Ramidian Church. The history of the United States which follows is the later version of Koyle’s Tragedy of the United States, with a few revisions by Bansha I. * * * * * * * * Tragedy of the United States (condensed by B. M. Saktarin) Ramakan and Diannia, Supreme Creators of all that becomes day or night, took all the Gods and Goddesses of their making from the face of the earth and left all the lands in the hands of the human race, which were also of their creation. One land, lying across the eastern sea, grew and prospered because of their reverence to the Gods, keeping their Days and their Nights, and came to rule many lands across that sea. And in a vision of promise, they sent some of their peoples to the land on this side of the sea, where those colonists grew and prospered by their reverence to the Gods, spreading the Greatnesses of Ramakan to the natives which they found here who had already forgotten of the Days and Nights of the Gods. And Sancha, God of the Sown Seed, saw the works of reverence by the natives and further blessed the land, causing such an abundance of rich harvest that both natives and colonists alike built even larger temples to the glory of the Gods. And these people found gold and other precious things in the earth and offered it up to the temples to greater expand the abundance of their prosperity. But the king of the land across the sea grew jealous of the gold found by his colonists, thinking that he himself should receive portions thereof as he was responsible for them being sent there in the first place. And so he issued taxes. Enjoying their good fortunes, the colonists happily sent a portion to their king as well as to the Gods. The king, angered by his meager portion, demanded more and more of them. Despite the warnings of the High Priests, he pressed more and more taxes on his subjects abroad. And so it was that these colonists grew fearful of their king and his armies, and they sent the gold to him forgetting that Ramakan had promised them protection if they remained in His House. Soon the king died, but his son continued the oppressive taxes. In one of the cities of the colonists was born a boy names Aliksander. As he grew to manhood, he wondered at the poor conditions of the temples and the apathy of the priests who could do nothing more than sit and watch the treasures being shipped abroad. So Alexander took to studying the ways of the Gods and keeping their Days and Nights and asked of Ramakan some guidance by which he might safeguard his land and his people in this time of their oppression. Ramakan appeared to Aliksander in the form of a shipman and told him the way to lead the colonists back onto the righteous path. Thus, in his eighteenth year, Aliksander went among the people and spread the words of the Gods in the streets of the villages rather than in Temple service. His travels and teachings brought him to the farm of Wasenton, who welcomed him to stay awhile and teach him of Ramakan’s message. Wasenton was so moved by the young man’s words that he also went to spread the message. Soon the news of the two teachers’ great following reached the king, who watched his gold shipments decrease as their followings increased. And he gathered his armies about him and promised them much of the gold if they should go with him and put down this rebellion against his word. Word came of the mighty host approaching over the waves and the people grew fearful, but put their trust in Ramakan for guidance. Aliksander took up wisdom for a shield and righteousness his sword, and entrusted Wasenton to lead them of the thirteen tribes of Ramakan’s children. The war began in Aliksander’s twentieth year, and though the people tried they could not withstand the might of the king’s army. Nearly crushed by winter, they stood together in the snows and prayed Ramakan’s assistance and He sent them His son, Reskaft, God of Wars, to counsel Wasenton’s army, aiding the battle strategies that soon turned the tide of victory to the colonists’ side. Thus it occurred at Yerikatun that general Wasenton killed the king, drove the king’s army from the land, and presented Aliksander with the kingship of the colonists. Ramakan spoke to Aliksander and he spoke to the people saying he would not be their king, but that Ramakan had chosen Wasenton. The general took on the burden of kingship as Aliksander set about rebuilding the Temples of the land, both aided by the grateful people they had saved. Several other tribes adjacent to the thirteen victorious brought gifts of gold to Aliksander and petitioned Wasenton for his protection. Thus did Wasenton designate the lands of each tribe to be ruled by a tribal judge who would also hold a position in his advisory chamber so that all these United States could prosper under the protective eyes of the Gods. All this in the twenty-first year of Aliksander. Meanwhile, Aliksander gathered the gold of the lands and built Temples throughout the United States, so that the gold might be gathered in each area for the use of the Gods. And the Priesthood was rebuilt to its former glory. Both the people and the Temples of the United States prospered as before the war and happiness was in abundance. Wasenton ruled with wisdom and saw his land regain its former strength and courage up to the day in his thirty-seventh year of rule when he left this world behind and sojourned to the Halls of the Gods. And then, still in the fifty-eighth year of Aliksander, did Wasenton’s son, Edomz, ascend the throne of his father and rule as righteously as that great general. High Priest Aliksander requested permission of Reskaft, God of War, to honor their great leader, and so built the capital of Wasenton on a peaceful river near the sea, filled with many bright white buildings of meditation and reverence including a separate Temple for each of the Gods. Edomz ruled barely ten years, in which time he saw the capital city completed, before he joined his father in those great halls. He left the kingship to his son, Jefarsan. Now this Jefarsan was the most pious of the righteous of the land and as he stepped forward to be crowned he found himself opposed by general Burra. This general had an army more faithful to him than to the throne, so Jefarsan turned to Ramakan and Reskaft for aid. Since he had never wavered in his faith to the Gods, his prayers were answered swiftly. In a matter of days, Burra was disarmed and Jefarsan free to take his throne without contest. He began his reign by sending missionaries into the western tribes, which soon led to their petitioning to join the United States and become embraced by the good of Ramakan. No sooner had Jefarsan tripled the size of the nation than Aliksander built Temples in all the new territories so that the enlarged land prospered with even greater abundance. But then, in the fifth year of Jefarsan’s reign, being Aliksander’s seventy-third year, general Burra dwelt with one of the western tribes. And as Aliksander came through, blessing the new Temples which had recently been erected, he became the target of Burra’s revenge. He fell to Burra’s black sword, and the miscreant was driven to the south, never to be heard from again. The word reached the king of the death of the High Priest, and Jefarsan commanded a time of national mourning for all his subjects and the followers of Ramakan and Diannia. And he caused a religious capital to be built across the river from Wasenton, and called it Aliksander. The works of Jefarsan were truly great, for he organized the schools of the land, set up systems of barter and trade, expanded the Temples of the land, and gave more freedom to the slave classes of captives from the wars. And the buildings of the United States he made grand with a beauty comparable to those of the greatest nations anywhere. Abundance filled the realm. Lastly, he commanded that the years of the calendar be numbered from the year of Aliksander’s birth, and finally passed onto the Halls of the Gods in the year 101. The throne fell to his son, Madason, who took up the building and teaching and prosperity where Jefarsan had left it. Nothing could be seen to hinder the growing United States. And Madason grew lax, taking to wife a young Priestess of the Love Goddess Oliani, though it be forbidden to do. Yet his heart was so enraptured, he could not do elsewise. So the country gradually became corrupt, following Madason’s lead, in the eyes of the Gods, little evils were done here, there, and soon everywhere. For any man was as mortal as the king, and so every man should be able to do as the king. Across the eastern sea, a great king ruled the land which had once dominated the colonies-turned-United States, conquering the lands surrounding his kingdom and becoming awesome to the neighboring lands, gaining tax and tribute he had never before had. This king heard of the prosperity of the United States and, recalling the defeat of his ancestors, decided to re-conquer the United States, and so gathered his fleets. The attack took the sacrilegious United States people by surprise and they were fearful of the reports that the capital of Wasenton burned, killing the king and his queen. Other seaboard towns were captured before the crown prince Edomz could set up a new capital further inland and be crowned Edomz II. As this young king took up the reigns of a disintegrating government and its army, the country was at the mercies of the pillagers, mercies which were few indeed, save for the brutal kindness of retaining the lives of their rape victims for further use. Then came Morilias, fair Goddess of Harvest, traveling through the fields and forests of one western state until She came to rest at the house of one young farmer named Jaxon. And She watched as he reaped his crops, singing the Hymn of Morilias’ Abundance. His singing stopped when he noticed Her resting on a fence-post and bid Her rest more easily in the comfort of his home, calling forth his wife to set a place for Her at their table. At dinner that evening, Jaxon set a place at his table for himself, his wife, the young woman visitor, as well as a separate place for the Goddess of Harvest, Morilias, which was the custom even in those times even as harvest came upon them. The young guest took the place of Morilias, and Jaxon bade her take the other portion reminding her of the blessing required for the crops. Morilias then revealed Her true self to the astonished pair, performing such feats as only a true Goddess could, then begged the couple rise off their knees and sup with Her. With the dining complete, She told Jaxon there was an even greater harvest to be reaped to the east and She astonished them again with the news of the war, which had been so recent that word had not reached them. She said that though the cities of the east had become wicked following the ways of Madason, so that Ramakan had grown angry enough to send his son Reskaft to aid the invaders, She and others of the Gods knew the majority of the farmers and townspeople to be righteous still and offered Jaxon the opportunity to help the land regain the greatness which it had attained in Aliksander’s time. Jaxon accepted without hesitation. Aided by Piljitao, God of Beasts, husband to Morilias, and Sancha, Protector of Farmers, Their son, Jaxon went to all the towns surrounding towns gathering an army of farmers, armed with the tools of their craft, riding astride beasts of the realm which Piljitao coaxed into carrying the burdens. And soon they were carried into the fray, losing many of their number against the more powerful host led by Reskaft. Edomz II led an army as well, better equipped and trained, though their losses were more horrible for no God was aiding their fight. Ramakan, so blinded by rage that He did not see the intervention of several of His own house aiding the farmers, sent Tustarka to bring a mighty storm against the land and Lamika caused a mighty wind to force the armies back. The war slowed mightily in this time. Finally, Diannia related to Her husband, almighty Ramakan, the plight of the farmers and bid him open His heart to their pleas. And He did listen and was heartened to learn that these people He had turned from had not lost their faith in Him though He had not bothered to answer their prayers. So He called Reskaft away from helping the invaders and sent Him to aid Jaxon. When the snows thawed and the grounded hardened in that 135th year since the birth of Aliksander, the invaders again pressed against the farmers but to no avail. They found themselves repulsed into the sea where many fled, but many more died. The beaches remain cluttered with their bodies until Tustarka caused the ocean to swallow them up. The victorious farmers threw a victory feast, with many blessings and sacrifices to their Gods, before they would return home and tend their crops. But king Edomz II had already found his treasury empty and levied a burdensome tax upon his people to help the recovery from the war. Jaxon angered the people against this unrighteous leader and the king was driven away. The reigns of kingship were offered to Jaxon. His first actions were aimed at rebuilding the war-torn nation, especially the capital of Wasenton and the Center at Aliksander. And good were the years of his rule and prosperous the people as well. And when he passed on, the crown was passed to his second son, Tallor, as his eldest son had joined the Priesthood. Thus was Tallor crowned in the 169th year of Aliksander. Tallor was also a great general like his father, for he held off an invasion from Mexka, the country to their south who worshipped a god of wickedness and wished the south and western portions of the United States for their own. Blessed with abundance and security, the United States brought much gold and sacrifice to the Gods and the peace and security was with them for many years because of their piety. Tallor passed on after only six years of rule and his son, Byuknan, was yet a boy. So the crown went to his older cousin, Filma, son of Fanbyurn the Priest. He ruled for four years only, until his cousin came of age and he could return to his priestly studies. So Byuknan came to rule in the 179th year of Aliksander’s time, carrying on the good works of the kings who preceded him, expanding the size of the nation and setting up new Temples in all the new states. Then it was in his second year, Byuknan was blessed with a son. Remembering the goodness that came upon the nation from a farmer king, his grandfather Jaxon, he sent his son to be raised in the simple life of the backwoods, learning of earth and sky and the relation of the Gods to every simple thing of life. So the infant prince Linkon was turned over to the former king, Priest Filma, so that he might learn the ways of the Gods and the ways of Kingship from one person. GENEALOGIC TABLE 4 – The Kings of the United States according to Koyle and Bansha Thus while Byuknan did the deeds worthy of a king of Ramakan’s land, Filma raised a farm on which he tended the education of prince Linkon as well as his own son, Grent, who was five years older than Linkon. But few alone knew Linkon’s true identity. Only when Linkon had reached the age of countenance, that being age eleven, was he taken to learn of his true father. The Grand Feast was held at Wasenton and all, especially Linkon were truly blessed by Lamika with happiness, except one: Grent. Grent was raised in righteousness as was Linkon, but in the ways of farming he had bested Linkon although the younger cousin was swifter in thought. And though Linkon had more lessons, his father could not bear to depart from him again, and so said farewell to his cousin Filma and enlarged his estate ten-fold. And it came to pass in the following year, a pestilence attacked the capital of Wasenton. King Byuknan called his council of lords and his chamber of judges together and asked for an explanation: what evils had been done in the land to cause the Gods to turn from them thus. The High Priest of Ramakan said the truth had been revealed to him at the Oracle and the pestilence would rid the king of those close to him who had worked against him treacherously for their own greed. The testing of Linkon would begin as he was to shortly become the king. That evening, Byuknan called his son to him and spoke of many things, bidding him walk in the steps of righteousness as his grandfather had done. And when father and son had departed for the evening, Diannia appeared and took the king to the Halls of the Gods. Dawn came with the crowning of Linkon. And the young man bravely took on the harness of the United States and strove to continue in the ways of his forebears. In his ninth year, his young wife gave birth to a son, Jansan, and the king’s thoughts turned to the slaves living on the great farmlands to the south. And so he called his lords, judges, and advisors together and said, “Should men be able to take upon themselves the role of Gods? Should one man be able to hold the life of another in his hand day to day, controlling his very life?” So the king decreed that every person in the land was to be given more freedom and the slaves of the nation were to be raised to a free position. But the hearts of the southern men closed to this entreaty, refusing to release what they considered their property. Even the Temples in the south refused, saying “How might the Temples remain full of the grains of harvest were not the slaves to reap the crops and keep the Gods’ bins filled with the bounty of Morilias?” And Linkon replied, “Let them then be servants to the Gods, as all men are, but not slaves to men? Surely, how can a servant claim to have servants of his own? It is unnatural.” But their hearts were hardened, and the states to the south withdrew from the United States, becoming a new nation with their own king as the Dikh Sea Nation, being bordered on the south by that sea. Filma the Priest went into the south to bring the word of the Gods to those who claimed the rights of Gods, but he was slain by the southern king’s hand. Grent heard of the death of his father and rejoiced in secret, for he had grown to hate his father for the raising of Linkon. But he pretended heavy sorrow when he went to Linkon and pleaded for an army to lead against the Dikh Sea people not only because they had slain his father but also because they defiled the Gods and the Temples with their wicked ways. So he took his army and went to pillage the southerners, while Linkon prayed to the Gods for a speedy victory without much killing or destruction to the fertile lands of the south. Yet the fighting continued for many years. The land was burned, cities and Temples destroyed, and many lost their lives. In anguish at the loss, Linkon bid the army stop and return home. General Grent replied that they must continue as Reskaft was surely on their side, for the losses were few and the spoils were many. Feeling there must be some righteous left in the south, Linkon prayed to the Gods beseeching their aid in ending the terrible loss. Reskaft appeared before him saying, “King, your armies do indeed dishonor your name. Most of the realm hates you for the actions of the self-righteous Grent, who proceeds in this war without me. For his purpose is greed and jealousy for the throne and its power.” Linkon wept for his misguidance. Diannia appeared to him, “Misguided you have been, dear king. Cloaked in the dark secrecy of night are those who have advised you to continue finance of this war of Grent’s. And those have the same desires as the general and will let nothing stand in their way of complete victory.” So Linkon pleaded to Ramakan for aid, and the Almighty of the Gods appeared to him saying, “It is time, my young one, that men learn more from the mistakes of their fellows than from the guidance of their Gods. The lessons have been taught too many times and the testing time has come. The righteous will be welcomed into Our Bosom, the others will be cast aside. The burden has fallen to you and I trust you will do honor to My House.” Linkon then prayed for strength to do Their bidding and be worthy to enter the Halls of the Gods when his time be done. On the morrow, Linkon decreed all aid would cease for Grent and the ravaging forces he controlled. He again ordered them homeward, and sealed the treasury. Yet they did not stop their marauding, receiving succor from other quarters. And Linkon soon discovered from where: many of the lords and judges and advisors of the realm, who were wealthy merchants as well, were supplying Grent with the gold required to continue the war in the south. Temples were also sending aid, many of the Priests having become corrupt in this religious war. Linkon wept at how far his nation had fallen in the eyes of the Almighty and resolved in his heart to end it all. The work he set in motion to rid the land of the evil-doers was quickly discovered by the agents they had in all places. They decided it was time to end the reign of this useless king. And so in his thirty-third year of rule, Linkon lay dead in a pool of his own blood by an assassin’s blade. His son, Jansan, was raised to the throne without ever knowing the treacheries discovered by his father, and continued the war. The assassin was caught and killed be Jansan had a chance to question him as to who had paid him for the evil deed. And so Jansan was not led to suspect his advisors. But those advisors and lords and judges had invested too much time and trouble to allow someone not of their own creation to sit upon the throne, so as soon as the war was brought to a successful conclusion they persuaded Grent to claim the throne. The armies were overjoyed at the prospect, knowing that Linkon had withdrawn his support in their cause and eagerly obeyed Grent’s order to attack the Capital of Wasenton and slay the king. Whereupon Grent was crowned for the betterment of the nation, and especially the betterment of the merchant class. But Grent never realized he was a mere puppet for the rich merchants, so blinded was he by his own greed and jealousy. And that greed and corruption which he had perpetrated continued throughout his reign and that of his son, Garfel. Garfel’s son, Klevlan, did not rest content with the wealth inherited from his fathers and he turned his greedy eyes to the west when he took the throne in the year 251 of Aliksander’s time. He declared that those lands of plenty should be under his hand as well. But the tribes therein could see the wickedness of the merchant powers and the deceit promulgated from the throne. In these regions, the Temples were still pure and righteous. Their refusal angered Klevlan. His advisors, those same despicable merchants, said he should rightfully conquer those tribes for not accepting his largesse. So he set off at the head of a large army, leaving the Capital of Wasenton under the command of his brother, general Herison, because he was suspicious and a little afraid of the power being wielded by the merchants. Knowing of that suspicion, the merchants plotted with general Herison to take control of the land. Before the plan could get underway, Klevlan returned home after conquering a few tribes to the west. Hearing certain rumors, the King passed a few laws to restrict the merchants he feared so and enlarged new Temples to thus constrain the merchants, playing one corruption off another. The he gathered his armies again to conquer further westward. More determined and with more haste than before, the merchants set their plans in motion. As soon as Klevlan passed through the recently conquered lands, they urged Herison to claim the throne while they supported the new tribes in revolt. They hoped to trap the King, cutting off his retreat home, and planned to be more careful in their actions so their new puppet would not become suspicious. However, the new King Herison had already concluded what the merchants were up to and passed even more restrictive laws against them. They grew fearful of their position when word was received that Klevlan was returning. He had not only but down the revolts but had conquered even more lands to the west until the news of his brother’s treachery had brought him home. Herison was more righteous than most in the land and called upon Ramakan for aid. But Ramakan showed him his own death decree, signed by that king’s own hand: being the restrictive laws against the merchants. Learning what other treachery the merchants had planned to make their case look good to Klevlan, Herison went to the corrupt Temple of Ramadan and slew the High Priest. Then entrusting the religious goods to a righteous Temple Helper, he ordered him to remove to a safer tribe in the west untouched by the greed of their lands. Then he took himself into the Temple of Oliani, where he wept and fell upon his own blade. The armies of Herison, not knowing their leader was dead, moved to intercept the returning force of Klevlan. And here the merchants did exactly as Herison had foreseen: they sent an army to assist the weary army of Klevlan. Upon his triumphant arrival in the Capital of Wasenton, he found the merchants in such a piteous state of affairs, he concluded, as they had hoped, that his brother had planned the usurpation all on his own. Therefore, because of their aid to him on his return, he ended the restrictive measures against them. The remainder of his time passed quietly. Following in his father’s footsteps, the new kin Nikinee continued the conquering in the west. And when he grew sickly, his son, Rosifel, took command of the armies and sailed southward to conquer the islands of Ispanya in the time before Nikinee died. King Rosifel helped the traders and merchants build ships and sell their goods across the sea. And soon the land which had once dominated the United States became an ally and a profitable trade partner. And when Rosifel died, his hand was passed to his own son, Wilson. King Wilson became closer allies with the land beyond the sea and when that land came under siege, it was Wilson’s duty to send aid. Most victorious kings would have occupied the lands conquered, but Wilson saw no use in attempting such for those lands were a great distance from the Capital of Wasenton and control of them would be difficult if not impossible. The merchants certainly had no use for such a king as this. Pressure was brought to bear and before they could move against him, he abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Hadin. Then Wilson and the remainder of his family retired to the estate that had once belonged to Filma, the Priest-King. Hadin ruled two years and was found to be a hindrance to the merchants, so an “accident” was arranged in order to be rid of the pest without casting suspicion on them, in all eyes except those of Wilson, whose second son, Kula, now advanced to be crowned. But he too died conveniently after a two year reign and his brother, Huva, took the throne. By this time, Wilson had seen enough of the merchants and their wicked plans and dismayed at the thought of losing yet a third son to their machinations. So he took to meditating much of the time, walking the estate until he came upon the well-hidden private reading-room of Filma. Within, he discovered the writings of Filma on the Ways of the Gods and their history in the United States. He knelt in submission to the Gods, and served a penance of several weeks’ fast. During this time, he continued his meditations and prayers to Ramakan for forgiveness and a guiding light. And then came a young man to the estate of Wilson, making his way to the reading-room, and presented himself to Wilson. This young man came from the Gods and showed Wilson many strange and glorious things, relating to him what must be done. He proclaimed that Wilson would have yet a fifth son, though Wilson scoffed and claimed to be too old to sire yet another offspring. He did not understand the powers of Ramakan! “As surely as my name is Yizinawer,” spoke the young stranger, “and as the winter leads to spring, you shall surely live to have and rear a fifth son, which is to be taken as a sign to all that the Gods give this nation another chance.” And when Wilson’s aged wife did bear him a fifth son, Wilson sent Yizinawer to advise his son on the throne, the king Huva. Huva listened to the many wonders related by Yizinawer, acknowledged the many miracles and said, “What would the Gods have me do that I might yet gain the favor of Their House when I pass beyond this world?” And Yizinawer instructed the king. Huva, obeying the word of Ramakan, caused a great depression to fall upon the land which was a sore grievance to all the subjects of the United States, but which destroyed the powerful and wicked merchants, many taking their lives by their own blades. But, as the Gods would have it, one such blade found its mark on Huva and the crown passed to Wilson’s fourth son, Ruzelt. Now, Ruzelt had been very close to his brothers and, being the youngest of the clan, had idolized each of them in his turn. Since it was that he did not completely believe all the words of Yizinawer, he did the things instructed him by the Words of Ramakan but many other things of his own as well. During his reign, the depression was relieved and another merchant class established under the hand of Yizinawer, to be turned over to Wilson’s last son, Rafela, when he had been trained. And then Wilson died, filled with hope that his land might once again bask in the sunlit favor of the Gods as in the days of old. Rafela reached his age and was established as the controller of the merchant class, in order that Yizinawer might be the Supreme Commander of the Armies. Preparations were made for war: armies gathered, trained, fleets built, and supplies readied for a long fight. Ruzelt believed it to be a force to conquer the lands across the sea, but Yizinawer instructed him differently saying, “This land is bountiful enough for one man’s hand. We fight not to conquer but to complete the destruction of that merchant class for they had established themselves across the sea before your brother destroyed their traces here. Now they plan to gather an army in order to fight our allies abroad, and then sail here to defeat us. We are planning to meet them on their own ground so that the United States will remain untouched.” When the news of the war across the waters arrived, the army of the United States was ready to sail. Under the combined command of king Ruzelt and general Yizinawer they drove the enemies back into their own lands. Ruzelt was sorely wounded and returned to his home stricken with paralysis, leaving his only son, Truman, to rule the land. News of victory after victory came home from across the sea while Ruzelt rested at his estate in the north. Rafela was busy directing the new merchant class as well as organizing the Temples to work hand in hand with them. And Truman’s only son was with Ruzelt, who was training him in the ways of kingship. The war ended and Yizinawer returned home. At this point, Ruzelt put his plan into operation: first he killed his son, king Truman, then instructing Rafela to tell general Yizinawer to take the throne. Yizinawer heard of this and went to question Ruzelt about it and found the estate burned to the ground, supposedly with the bodies of Ruzelt and his only grandson, Simai. During his coronation feast, Yizinawer was visited by several of the Gods, each in His own turn telling the new king of Ruzelt’s deeds and what actions should be taken in the future. And so it was that Yizinawer worked very close with Rafela’s merchant class, safely and secretly establishing them abroad to replace those powers whose defeat had so recently occurred. And with the merchants, Rafela sent Priests and Temple Helpers to those lands, as instructed by Yizinawer. The day arrived in the 363rd year since the birth of that great prophet Aliksander, when Yizinawer walked among the Gods and left the United States in the hands of his son, Kinidi. It was during the reign of Kinidi that a certain young man entered the military service of the United States, a young man by the name of Simai. The merchants and Priests of Rafela entered into fighting with many wicked ones beyond the great sea and Kinidi dispatched an army to help them. And it was in this war that Simai became a hero, being promoted again and again until he became the Supreme Commander of the armies of the United States. And the fighting continued even beyond the reaches of the Temples. Kinidi recalled the armies, but only Simai returned. He explained to the king of the great and numerous evils abroad needing to fight. So Kinidi allowed the war to continue, but instructed his brother, Bahbi, to find out where Simai had come from and what his plans in truth were. Simai remained in the Capital of Wasenton, directing the armies from a headquarters he had built for himself and his staff of assistants and advisors. There Bahbi spent most of his time, uncovering a network of spies and intrigues that staggered his wildest imaginations. King Kinidi was also astounded when it was revealed to him that Simai was in fact the same son of Truman who it was believed had died when the estate burned. But before any action could be taken on the information, both king and brother were killed, for the spy network knew it was under inspection. So by Simai’s order, two assassins ended the threat. Kinidi’s son, Jansan, took the throne and was much relieved when Simai’s spies brought forth the two assassins. Such was his relief that the two were executed before any further investigation could be made, and Jansan II felt safe in his new position. Trusting Simai, he now allowed the war to continue and never thought to question his motives. The discoveries of his uncle and father were unknown to him, and he died after a short six-year reign. Jansan II’s only son, Nexon, had been a student of the Temples and of history before the crown fell on his shoulders, and it was with many suspicions that he took up the kingship for he saw too many similarities between the killing of his grandfather, Kinidi, and the assassination of Linkon so many years before. His first and only suspicion fell on general Simai. But Nexon visited Simai often, concealing his suspicions from the spy network, and allowed the war to continue as before. And Nexon also visited Rafela, who was a very old man at the time, and learned of the last instructions given him by Yizinawer before he took his walk with the Gods. So it came to pass that Nexon worked closely with the merchant class and the Temples that were being established abroad, and then decreed that the lands of the Temples across the sea were safe. Therefore, he summoned the armies home as their task had been accomplished, thus scoring a victory over the villainy of Simai. But the general had expected such a move, for his grandfather Ruzelt had instructed him well in the Ways of Men and Power. So, Simai led the armies home to a tumultuous noise of celebration. Sacrifices were offered throughout the land to the Temples for Peace and Victory. And no one but Rafela and king Nexon knew what must surely shortly come to pass. Another depression impinged upon the land, though king Nexon and Rafela did their best to halt it. Simai had planned much too long for this victory to allow even the king or merchants to prevent it. Yet what he did not know was that Ramakan had instructed Yizinawer and Rafela of this plan when Ruzelt had stolen away with the young man and instructed him in the conquest of the world. And so Simai’s simple plan to destroy the merchants’ power and the kingship as well to establish himself as ruler of the United States as well as all the defeated lands abroad and set up puppet kings of his own choosing was already undermined by Nexon and Rafela beyond the inquisitive eyes of any spy. And while the United States followed a reign of confusion, Nexon, Rafela, the High Priesthood, and the pious merchants of the land sailed across the sea. The agents of Simai had already been removed from their thrones in the defeated lands and there the Temples were cleansed and the reign of the Gods continued in the realm known as Krimlim*. *- This Krimlim is the same as that from which we derive our current dating system. Its fall was calculated by scholars of the Ramidian Church, and that used as a base line for the current dating system we use: f.k. = since the Fall of the Krimlim. The fate of the United States was forever sealed. Simai passed the crown to his son, general Fora, who passed it to his son, general Ringa, who in turn was succeeded by his son Busa I, who attacked across the sea to regain his power. His short time was followed by his brother Klinta, who was succeeded by his son Busa II who took up the war again to no avail. As a madman attacks the wind, his actions brought no good. He was followed by a cousin, general Pora, and then by his son, general Edomz III, who saw the growth of the Temples and prosperity across the sea and cursed the Gods and all their creations. This act angered the Gods and a pestilence was sent to the United States, floating on the winds of the fair Goddess Lamika’s heels, spreading across the land, destroying all the wicked life in the corrupt United States. And so ended the glories of that great land, which had turned from the righteous ways to travel the dark road of greed and avarice to their tragic destruction. * * * * * * * * Ironically, Bansha I died in 931 and in 934 the Ramidian Church finally expanded into the upper regions of the Pantorakan Mountains in northwestern Amexiko where both Koyle and the church met their fate. This area was the last stronghold of the ancient kingdom of Kanan which had been conquered by Amexiko in 699 f.k. The mountain folk met by the church there were already worshippers of Ramakan and Diannia, though not in the role of Supreme Gods, Rulers of Day and Night; their Ramakan was a minor god of the hearth, Diannia the goddess of sleep and dreams. What might seem a simple religious conundrum had actual farther-reaching effects. An investigation in the archives of the Ramidian Church revelaed its origin was actually from the pantheon of the ancient kingdom of Kanan. It seems the gods that had led Kanan to all its victories quarreled among themselves over the marriage of Ramakan, a minor god, to Diannia, a minor goddess. This tale is verified from ancient tablets of Kanan and has interesting moral ramifications which will not be entered unto in this volume. It was one of the last of the god-myths to be written in Kanan. To solve the problem, Gafkanda built an eternal fire which Ramakan was made to tend, making his leave to marry Diannia impossible. From the Ramidian archives, the story is continued. Ramakan solved the problem by putting too much wood on the fire, thereby making it burn longer so he might steal away and marry Diannia. Unknown to him, the fire grew beyond its normal bounds and reached to the timbers holding up the rook of Gafkanda’s hall. The gods rushed forward to extinguish the flames but they had already reached the shields on the rafters, including the Poison Shield of Lothokra, the fumes of which sent the gods into fits. Seeing the plight she and her love would soon be in, Diannia cast a spell on the weakened gods and they all fell into a deep sleep – and were all devoured by the flames. Ramakan and Diannia fled the mountains in Kanan and dwelt in the regions of northern Hamil. From there, they watched Kanan fall, now without divine aid, to the armies of Amexiko. And it was during this sojourn in northern Hamil that they revealed themselves and their offspring to Fedsinuo I, founder of the Ramidian Church. How the story moved from one locale to another, or who was responsible for bringing the tales to Hamil is quite beyond the scope of this work. What DOES matter is that Ramakan and Diannia could not have been the gods guiding the United States through its darker days, because they did not yet have the role of Supreme God and Goddess. This news was bad for the Ramidian Church. It soon was broken apart into many separate churches each taking a different slant on the stories but ALL unified in their denunciation of the “Tragedy of the United States” by Koyle. It may have been a good morality story, but it was not the history he had claimed. The Misenti as one denounced the entire story as a fabrication of Koyle’s religious zeal and since that time only one mythical writing of the United States has been entered into the Doloklan Library, and that being an unpublished manuscript by Hubadsa Yituya Ilanoster. The reason it went unpublished was not because it dealt with the United States but rather because the work was undocumented – a criteria somehow disregarded in Koyle’s work above, as you have probably noticed. Impressive as Ilanoster’s work had been in the summer of 983, uncovering and translating almost 100 Loriso* tablets, the largest horde ever found, he failed to get them to a safe place before a skirmish started less than 500 meters from his tent between the Ducal armies and the Hamil Royal Regulars. The Ducal cavalry retreated directly through his camp, destroying his tent and all within. He barely escaped with his notes and his life. After the battle, he returned to sort through the wreckage for any surviving artifacts. *- Loriso – A tribe of people of unknown origins living in the mountainous regions of Hamil until their extinction a.700 f.k. See: The Loriso by A.L.B. Sharta Krilinkta. Arriving back at Doloklan, he had only seventeen beaten and reassembled tablets plus hundreds of fragments of the remaining ones. He had notes and translations of ALL the tablets including those that had been destroyed. He received wide acclaim for the publication of the seventeen tablets discovered and translated. The translations of the remaining seventy-six tablets were registered at Doloklan as an unpublished work as there was no longer any documentation. A few thought Ilanoster might have simply created the text on the “missing” tablets. To prove such was not the case, he used data from one of the lost tablets to unearth an even larger horde of Loriso documents, three hundred and sixty more. This did not get the lost tablets published, but did increase interest in their unpublished form. Considering Ilanoster is responsible for 379 of the only 414 Loriso tablets known, it is easy to see why he was made Chief Misenti in 1019 for his contributions. ILLUSTRATION 1 – the Loriso inscription at Iluthrisor (being the invocation of harvest-song) Of interest to us is one tablet in particular of which not even one fragment was recovered by Ilanoster. This tablet was the Loriso king list of “that group of states which were greatly united in this realm before the Loriso came to sing upon the Earth”. This listing of the rulers of the United States is even longer than that given by Koyle, which is interesting in that his detractors claimed Koyle had invented the names not found on other known listings. MAP 5 – Location of the Loriso tribes (a.600) shown on a map of Hamil in 1200 Ilanoster’s Loriso king list: This is a list of those foolish men who ruled the foolish-land, that group of states which were greatly united in this realm before the Loriso came to sing upon the earth: Wazineta the father, seven years; Admans the elder, twenty-five years; Chafas the book, thirty-nine years; Madsansan the student, twenty-one years he sang; Muner the absent, seven years; Chasan the monger, sixty-four years from his song; Fenbun the closed, a two year squat; Horsan the father, three years from a song; Tiller the quiet, six years; Pol the dark horse, twenty years; Tiller the son, forty-one years from a song; Felmer, three years; Pis, eleven years; Biyanman the start, ninety-three years; Lanhon the bird, twelve years he sang in the south; Chonsan the first, three years dying; Dranit, seventy-three years from his southern song; Hez, fifty-nine years; Darftel, twenty-two years; Ritha, five years; Livalan the only, eighty-five years; Horsan the grandson, one fast year; Livalan the same, three years more; Minle, seven years; Rozelf the first, five years from a song; Tyef, two years; Wulzasan the teacher, twenty-two years singing afar; Harden the man, nineteen years; Yulich, thirty-one years; Huf, thirty-seven years without; Rozelf the second, forty-four years; Terumsan, one-hundred years of word-time; Zinwer the leader, eighty years; Indi the active, fifteen years; Chonsan the second, forty-eight years; Nisasan, forty-seven years; Foda, fourteen year; Rinchaa the illuminated, thirty-eight years; Vusha the first, twelve years from a foreign song; Elintan the handsome, twenty-eight years; Vusha the second, eighteen years from the same song; Zimi and friends, sang thirty-nine years; Yana and friends, sang twelve years; Motan and friends, sang eight years; Dazin and friends, sang twenty-three years; Pora, sang fifteen years; Chilina and friends, sang thirteen years; Vainz, sang twenty-six years; Admans the last, two years only, At which time All sang into the clouds Ending that land of fools Seventy-seven years before Joy entered upon the earth. Comparing this list to the others shows not only a diversity of names, but also the attributes given them in different histories. It is also interesting to note that the term “sang” seems to indicate warring. We will have further use of the history of the Loriso in a later chapter, but first we need to consult the relatively recent additions to our archive in the corpus of the works of Til Poran. This will be discussed at length in the following chapter. MAP 6 - the Location of Til Poran’s Tomb (after Forbat) Chapter Three – Til Poran’s Works (a.300 f.k.) As mentioned in chapter one, Til Poran was the son of Til Dau, scribe and sage of Kanan, and was married to the daughter of king Ka in a.287. The only other information about him that we had until a decade ago was the fact that he took over for his father as scribe and sage of Kanan when Til Dau retired. Also that he was the grandfather of Tipor, the first king of Misenti. With the discovery of the Library of Dubla, Misenti Palmas uncovered several works of Til Poran concerning the administrative history of Kanan from a.293 through a.309, when Til Poran’s death during his forty-third year was recorded by his brother, Til Bistred, who succeeded him in his positions. Yet, still little was known of the man’s life. After three years of excavations at the Library, Palmas was joined by Misenti Forbat in 1197. Together they began diggings on the hill between the Library and the site of the ancient city of Roka. Early indications seemed that they might find tombs in this location, and that is exactly what they did find, one being the tomb of Til Poran. If you have questions or comments, please let me know: nxscozzaova (at) verbotham (dot) com. Would you like to see more of this volume? Any comments or suggestions: All content Copyright © 2012 by Norman X. Scozzafova