Deganawatha (Haudenosaunee Imperium restart)

[Prime Minister]

400 GP/Great Peace (1721 A.D.)


Deganawatha walked along the new dirt pathway to the great meeting at Onondaga the leading village of the Haudenosaunee people. The Onodaga people kept the sacred flame in the centre of their Confederacy. As it had been since the five peoples first came together. The Kanien'gehaga and the Seneca were the guards of the East and West doors, the Onayotekaono lead the people's connection to the great spirt and the Guyohkohnyo people helped to farm the food for the Confederation. Thus they formed the Great Longhouse, a symbol of community and freedom against their enemies to north, the Wyandot and Algonquian.
But this meeting was not for war. The Kanien'gehaga claimed to have had a great canoe wash up on its shores. No living sole of man or beast was present, but there were bones wrapped in odd skins, never before seen by any of the people's. Deganawatha had been chosen as one of the Onondaga from his village to be on the council. He entered the Onondaga Longhouse as the others were gathering.

"Why have you called this meeting Theyanoguin? What could a canoe of the dead hold of interest?" Asked Canassatego Great Chief of the Onondaga.

Theyanoguin of the Kanien'gehaga said not a word, but with one move flung a Tomahawk with a short plain handle deep into a wooden beam. Its head disappearing mostly into the wood. It rang with the pitch of bird song though the Longhouse. "There are many more as that one. And other weapons and shining skins that an arrow can not pierce. I know not and care not about the bodies on this canoe. But if we can learn of their weapons. The Wyandot and Algonquian will never be able to harm us again." No one spoke for a great time. Then Deganawatha heard someone say with a laugh from behind him.

"So, this is about war then."

Deganawatha's stomach was unsettled. His eyes did not leave the weapon as Theyanoguin removed it from wooden poll. He hated war and had hoped to avoid it further. But if this Great Canoe had more weapons such as this, there would be war, and it would be soon.

[Muwatalli']

Interesting start...

[robertp6165]

400 GP/Great Peace (1721 A.D.)

One big issue...the Iroquois had already been in contact with the French for nearly two centuries, and the English and Dutch for nearly a century prior to this date. Indeed, they had just recently been involved in King William's War and Queen Anne's War as allies of the English. They would already have been well familiar with iron tomahawks and probably most of their warriors would already have been armed with them, not to mention English and Dutch trade muskets.

So you probably want to move the date of this back a considerable way.

[Prime Minister]

One big issue...the Iroquois had already been in contact with the French for nearly two centuries, and the English and Dutch for nearly a century prior to this date. Indeed, they had just recently been involved in King William's War and Queen Anne's War as allies of the English. They would already have been well familiar with iron tomahawks and probably most of their warriors would already have been armed with them, not to mention English and Dutch trade muskets.

So you probably want to move the date of this back a considerable way.

Thanks you. But I knew that part of North American history. Let me just say that the finding of the "Great Canoe" isnt the POD

[robertp6165]

Thanks you. But I knew that part of North American history.

Let me quote from your introduction.

Theyanoguin of the Kanien'gehaga said not a word, but with one move flung a Tomahawk with a short plain handle deep into a wooden beam. Its head disappearing mostly into the wood. It rang with the pitch of bird song though the Longhouse. "There are many more as that one. And other weapons and shining skins that an arrow can not pierce. I know not and care not about the bodies on this canoe. But if we can learn of their weapons. The Wyandot and Algonquian will never be able to harm us again."

You introduce a character who makes a big show about a tomahawk as if it is something the other Iroquois have never seen before, and then says "if we can learn of these weapons, we'll be safe from our enemies." If you are aware they already knew about and possessed these weapons in 1721, why would you write this?

Let me just say that the finding of the "Great Canoe" isnt the POD.

Your introduction doesn't make much sense if it's not. Did the Iroquois find such a "Great Canoe" in real history? Because if they didn't, then it IS your POD. You may have other PODs coming, but this IS a POD.

[Prime Minister]

The "POD" or Point Of Divergence, is the initial instance where the two timeline become different correct? That being true the POD in this time line is many years prior to 1721

[Prime Minister]

400 GP/Great Peace (1721 A.D.)


Deganawatha travelled behind Canassatego and other representatives of the Five Nations. They we're to meet with Theyanoguin to see the Great Canoe. The party was now in territories formerly of the Pennacook. They we're an Algonquian people and had lost much of their lands in the last war, the Kanien'gehaga people had taken the lands to the sea so that the Haudenosaunee had more room for farms and could take the fish out of the salt water and dried them on the beach.
Deganawatha had seen the sands and great waters only once before when he was young during the war. A scar in his shoulder reminded him everyday of the fighting and the savagery of the Algonquian. He had lost himself in his memories and walked into the back of Canassatego. Deganawatha looked up past the chief and saw what must be the Great Canoe that the Kanien'gehaga Chief had spoken of. But it was no more a canoe than a puddle was to the Holy Lake Ontario. It had been battered by weather and the sea colours had smeared and the wood in many places had chipped and broken off. The carving of a woman sat worn and broken at the head of the canoe, her features were different that any woman Dganawatha had seen, smother; her face rounded her hair long and flowing. But the wood was scuffed and battered as the great canoe, making her look as though she suffered some horrible sickness.
They moved closer to the canoe, the Kanien'gehaga had lowered rope to climb up to the floor of the great canoe. A great tree sprung from its centre with two branches extending from near the top, one had snapped as though under great strain, the other was tied to a white cloth as large as a home that now hung lazily catching the breeze from the waters. Kanien'gehaga walked carefully across the slanted floor scavenging what items of use they could find.
"What people made this?" Canassatego asked as if to no one. He ran his hands over the floor. "How could they have made such a thing?" Deganawatha took his first steps across the uneven landing. He move towards an opening where Theyanoguin's voice could be heard. He stood with others attempting to force open a door.
"You! Onondaga! Come and help us. There is something jamming the door on the other side." Even with the worriers working as a single force they were unable to move the door. Theyanoguin looked at one of his worriers. "Get the shining staff that we found." He ran off and moments later returned with a long sharp looking staff. Theyanoguin took it and lifted it over his head swinging at the door. The staff splintered the wood causing chips too fly across the hall. The shining staff cut a whole though the door faster than the sharpest stone axe. Though the otherside Deganawatha could see the shining of gold and other stones. But there was something else that drew his eyes. Ledges filled with leather bundles. Some had fallen to the floor showing drawings that could not be made out. Deganawatha knew he must be able to see them, take them, before Theyanoguin and the Kanien'gehaga took them for their own.

[AuroraBorealis]

Obviously in this TL the europeans have never made landfall or established any permanent presence, and they have now simply found one of their wrecks off the coast...

poor Columbus, I guess he never got funding or never returned from his initial expedition...mind you that simply delays discovery but doesn't prevent it. Something else must be preventing the establishment of European colonies.

[Prime Minister]

400 GP/Great Peace (1721 A.D.)

Deganawatha was second past the door. A large wooden structure filled with coloured skins had fallen on the door and now lay with its contents scattared on the floor's ornate coverings. The skins distracted the Kanien'gehaga and their chief giving Deganawatha the time he needed to collect the leather bindings. What he had thought were drawings were instead odd flowing markings covering page after page. Only on occasion was art to be found. Dark lined pictures of men in fields flanked by wolves or guiding great beast dragging behind them weight great enough to turn the earth in mounds. Deganawatha took several of the bindings and placed them in a bucket he found near a large wooden platform.
He stood and a pulse of fear ran though him. Looking into the empty eyes of a man's dead face, he fell back to the floor. The Kanien'gehaga laughed at his fright. "The Onondaga jump at dead men!" One of them laughed.
"Yes, but at least he did not run in fright as your son Akhilesh." Theyanoguin siad looking down on his worrier. "Dispose of this one with the rest. Show him the respect he must deserve." Theyanoguin looked over the skins the man wore and thumbed though gold jewels on his chest. "The others did not have these. He may have been their chief." The man's fingers over lay another binding, a feather sat between them, its end carved to a point like that of an arrow and was died black. More flowing markings covered the bound sheets. But one became less and less orderly and fine until it lazily and snobbishly ended near the middle. Dganawatha took this binding as well. It must mean something, why else would any man spend his dieing breath making such art?

[Krall]

I like this story so far; I've recently become fascinated with Native American culture in pre-Columbian North America, so I'm eager to see how they've developed and what kind of changes would take place after a couple of hundred years without any European contact! :)

That said, your writing's not the best. It doesn't seem bad - just a little bland at the moment. I'd suggest trying to mention the emotions and dispositions of characters more, maybe including descriptions of any distinctive features or clothing to make them easier to visualise. Longer updates would be nicer too - you don't necessarily have to have more happen, just explain a bit more about what's happening and the history of the world around them ("infodumps" are generally a bad idea, but working in a few notes about cultural mores and how characters perceive people or things due to the history surrounding them shouldn't be boring). I'd also appreciate it if you separated all your paragraphs with a blank line, as it would make your posts look nicer and make them a bit easier to read.

Anyway, sorry for having more criticisms than praise, but I will be following this timeline/story and I look forward to seeing what the Haudenosaunee do with the treasure from this "Great Canoe"! :D

[Prime Minister]

400 GP/Great Peace (1721 A.D.)

Sitting in the Great Longhouse the leadership of the Haudenosaunee meet once again. Most of the treasures from the Great Canoe had been stripped and split between the Five Nations. Deganawatha held in his hands a binding he had taken with him, at his feet sat three more, many sacks full waited back at his home. His fascination, with them had grown over the last weeks. His sleep and eating were suffering, all of his time was spent trying to understand just what they had found. The structures, weapons, armour and the Great Canoe itself could never draw his mind and soul as great as the bindings that had been collected. He turned a page of the binding tracing his fingers, once again the was art of a man in odd skins being trailed by a wolf in a field and a great building in the distance that looked to be made of stone.

"DEGANAWATHA!"

With a jump Deganawatha snapped the binding shut, his eyes darting around the fire. Canassatego and Theyanoguin both looked down on him the rest of the room sat in silence.

"I'm sorry."

"As I was saying." Canassatego turned to the leadership. "We must learn how the Great Canoe was constructed. It is a gift from the Great Spirit and we must not turn out backs too it."

"No." Theyanoguin said standing. "The weapons and armour we have collected must be studied. How the could be made, and made so well. Once we know this we can create them our own and arm our men. The Wyandot will kneel to us as their masters."

"We must...." All attention was now on Deganawatha he found himself standing level with the two chiefs. He still held the binding he had gone over in his hand using it to point at Theyanoguin. "We must learn everything we can. The Great Canoe, the carvings, the armour. Each is only a small part of the gift. If we master them all." His heart was pounding in his chest, all he could think was that it was a mistake to stand up, all he wanted was to look over the bindings and be left alone.

"Deganawatha is right." A Senica chief said nodding. Others joined voicing their agreement.

"Very well." Theyanoguin said taking his seat.

"We must elect councils for study." Canassatego added. After much debate five councils had been formed. Each lead what was being called a Minor Chief.

Walking back to his home, holding his bindings Deganawatha felt happier than he had since his marriage too Seca years past. He was made Minor Chief of the Bindings. Walking into his home he set the bindings down and wrapped his arms around his wife. Tonight will be a good night. Tomorrow work must begin.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Months had past with little success for Deganawatha and the group assembled to decipher the bindings. Several wolf pups had been found by traders on rout to Onondaga, their dead mother near by; likely killed defending her young. The idea had come from the wolves in the bindings. Deganawatha knew not what service they could perform, but that did not bother him, there was another Minor Chief in charge of taming the animals.

The Kanien'gehaga we're fairing little better at reproducing the shining material that had been used in the tomahawk's and other items that had been found. They had learned how to melt and break up the material found, and that had proved mostly fruitless. Stories we're going around that they had found rocks that could also melt and they we're now playing at them.

The Seneca and others we're working on other projects, but nothing-

A growing chatter from outside stole Deganawatha's attention from his bindings, looking at his team he could see they two were distracted; several were moving towards the door way following the chatter to the centre of the village. Thaonawyuthe, the Seneca Chief that had spoken on his behalf at last council stood along with Canassatego and a Seneca Minor Chief, with them was... something. Something from the bindings, almost.

Deganawatha hurried over to examine the wooden structure. It was a very large woven basket with one end cut out replaced by protruding handles. It rested on three large thin round wooden plates standing on their sides allowing for the basket to stand on its own. The Seneca Chief placed several other baskets filled with dried maze and then a child into the standing basket, he then garbed upon the handles and walked forward. The Wooden plates turned and rolled along their sides effortlessly moving along.

Happiness nearly overwhelmed Deganawatha, this was something people could see, something they could touch, make, use. This was the progress he had been hoping too see.

[Prime Minister]

The Known World of the Haudenosaunee:

[Cuāuhtemōc]

This is interesting. No permanent European settlement? Me rikey! BD

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)


His heart pounding with terror Deganawatha ran though the woods crossing untamed lands, his mind forgetting about the dirt road he had left behind. His moccasins protecting his feet from the forest floor and its trappings. He leaping over a small stream he stumbled and rolled not noticing a new cut on his upper arm, nothing; not even the bindings were near his mind now, only fear.
Fear that he may be too late.

Normally it would be nearly a days walk from Onondaga too Buckaloon, his home town, but after several hours running Deganawatha was nearly there. He had been working at the capital when a runner came up the dirt path. Delivering too Deganawatha a message from the healer in Buckaloon. "Come quickly, there is not much time." it was a message about his wife Orenda. She had been unable to get out of bed for days, she had been getting more and more tired over the past months; and her eating habits had changed massively.

Leaping out from the forest Deganawatha found the dirt road once again, just as the wooden walls of Buckaloon came into view. Bounding through the gates he ran too his home. His eyes fell on Orenda laying upon their bed. His eyes filling with tears, the Healers had left. Next too the bed Deganawatha fell to his knees.

"She is at peace now son." His father Otetiani said. Deganawtha stood as his father walked closer. Handing him a bundle of cloth. Showing from an opening at its top was a small wrinkled face, its eyes shut, its mouth toothless and only a few strands of black hair upon its head.

"It is a girl." Otetiani said with a smile. Orenda named her Genesee after your mother." His father smiled even brighter. Once Orenda wakes I will leave the three of you be." Tears of joy streamed down Deganawatha's face some landing in small drops on his daughter's cloth. He reached out with his free arm and hugged his father careful not to disturb the young one.

"I tried too-" He choked though the tears.

"I do not blame you son. Nor does Orenda. I am personally pleased to see you so soon. I had not expected your return until tomorrow."

"Hmm...? Degna?" Orenda said weakly and sleepily from the bed. "You made it back my love." With that Deganawatha's father kissed his forehead, then that of the baby's, and lastly Orenda.

"I will leave you be." He whispered too her.

"Thank you for your help, and your presence today." She whispered back in a smile. Otetiani nodded then left the home. Deganawatha sat next to his wife placing their child in her arms. The thee sat for sometime in silence, the loving family, now complete. Deganawatha could only think of how this, this was the greatest day of his life.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Awesome update. Now will there be more anytime soon?

[Prime Minister]

Awesome update. Now will there be more anytime soon?

I generally update Friday or Saturday.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

"It is not our way Deganawatha, you know this." The Wolf clan's Mother spoke too him softly as if too a child. "The child Genesee will be raised by her mother, and her aunts and uncles. That is our way." Deganawatha had wanted to take his daughter with him to Onondaga but the clan mother had refused. He was an only child, his mother died giving him life. He wanted to be involved in the life of his daughter. He was going to be, that he had already decided on. In the end Orenda would decide. Deganawatha then stood nodding and leaving the Wolf clan's Longhouse. His eyes fell upon a Kanien'gehaga running though the city gate.

"Worriers! Worriers! Chiefs! Please follow at once!" The man was out of breath he as hunched over holding his knees as he found his breath. Then Deganwatha noticed something he did not like, fear, fear in the eyes of a Kanien'gehaga was never good.

"What is it brother? What is the matter?" Deganawatha asked taking the man by his shoulders, trying to calm him.

"Chief Deganawtha. The Great Canone. The Algonquin have attacked it. It, has been burned." Before the man had even finished Deganawtha was running towards the coast as Onondaga worriers followed after him. It would take days, and the Kanien'gehaga would be there already. Deganawatha did not want too fight, he did not want to die and did not want to kill. But if the canoe was gone, war would come. And he would fight.

[Prime Minister]

Sorry for the wait. Been busy with a game and a bunch of personal stuff. Update will be tomorrow I promise.

[Berserker]

dammit...you did it again:mad:

now I'll be following this..again!!
(gladly XD XD XD )

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

The council of the Haudenosaunee met late into the night. The men and women of the council were growing tired, some even sat with eyes shut or resting their heads upon the person next to them. Theyanoguin thundered around the longhouse with the Kanien'gehaga warriors standing at attention along the walls. Deganawatha watched as Canassatego eyed them nervously, they were not elected and had no place in the longhouse. But Theyanoguin would not take the council's "no". The light of the sacred fired reflected off their tomahawks, some were taken from the Great Canoe, others were dirtier, almost of a red or brown colour and reflected the light much less. The Kanien'gehaga had done... something.

Deganawatha thought back to the Great Canoe. It had been badly burned and chard in parts. But thankfully nothing important had been harmed. The wooden carving of the Woman now stood in the centre of the Great Longhouse, her face chard and darkened from the flames, her round eyes set into an impossibly round face looking down upon the Haudenosaunee as though she were the Great Spirit itself. "We must act!" Theyanoguin said suddenly, startling a few to wake and drawing Canassatego's eyes from the tomahawks. "The Algonquin attempted to destroy a gift from the creator! They killed our warriors on holy ground!"

This grabbed Deganawatha's attention. The ground was not Holy... no one had ever even hinted at that thought. It seemed to resonate with many of the council who were now all sitting at attention. Deganawhatha thought back, his mind walking around the Great Canoe as Theyanoguin spoke to the assembly. There had been something wrong, something he couldn't but his finger on. His mind traced the beach and up the side of the chard canoe. His eyes looking over the line of the dead, from all of the Five Nations. From the Five Nations... That was -

"....DECIMATE THEM!" The yells took drew him back into the real world. Many of the council were cheering as Theyanoguin stood in the centrer of the crowd one arm raised. His warriors along the walls brandishing their tomahawks crying out in war chants. "We will decimate them! And take the lands we left too them in the last war! A mistake brought on too us by the weak peace loving Chiefs of the past. Too weak to do what must be done! Too weak for the Haudenosaunee! Too weak for their ways! It must be war! It must be victory for the Haudenosaunee! Victory in the name of the Great Spirt! Victory!" The Kanien'gehaga's war calls filled the longhouse, but only for a short time as the chant of "Victory! Victory! Victory!" Came up from all nations.

Deganawatha's head hung low. Only at that time did he see Canassatego. His head pressed to his chest. Tears streaming down the old man's face. It had been his work in his youth, his life's mission for peace. And now in the end, he had failed.

[Prime Minister]

(Since I still owe one for this week)

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Fall was beginning to set in. Nature's cold touch would sweep though the air and wind. Deganawatha found it refreshing, this was his favourite of the thirteen moons. At least it had been in the past. Now he stood alone in the woodlands, his only partners a tomahawk from the Great Canoe, his bow and arrows. He took an arrow from its quiver examining the head. It was made of the same red-brown material as the tomahawks the Kanien'gehaga had at the last council. "Skin-stone" they were calling it, for its colour and strength.

Deganawtha had been to Kickenapawling the Kanien'gehaga leading village. There had been earth mounds made outside the town similar too the pits used for cooking. But the Kanien'gehaga kept them hotter and were using them to melt some stones they had traded from the Algonquin. The Skin-stone was flawed not nearly as strong as Water-stone, that was the name now given too material from the Great Canoe. Deganawtha placed one of the arrows into his bow letting it fly into a tree. It was far better than the bone or stone arrow heads used in the past.

His armour was stronger too. A weaving leather with Skin-stone replacing bone or wood that was still the norm with most Haudenosaunee. Deganawtha was given this armour because of his rank. He felt ill at the very thought. Their society was based on all people being equal, no one standing above any other. He could not take part in the raising of his daughter. "For it is our way" Deganawtha mouthed. But their other ways seemed to be changing. Slowly, by the hands of Theyanoguin. Theyanoguin the warmonger. Theyanoguin who tried every moon to be named as undisputed chief of his people and his clan.

A sound from behind.

Deganawtha placed a second arrow in his bow rolling his back along the tree he rounded on the direction of the disturbance. An Algonquin stone arrow flew through the air striking one of the exposed sections of Skin-stone on his chest. If it were the old armour Deganawtha would be his prisoner, or worse. He released his arrow feeling the feathers glide between his fingers as the Skin-stone head cut through the air, then the leather wood armour of the Algonquin as though it was water, penetrating through his shoulder. With a scream the man gripped the arrow attempting to pull it from his body but with no luck.

Deganwatha approached to take him. With his remaining arm the man flung an old tomahawk past Deganawtha missing him but leaving its mark on a cheek. With that in an instinctive single move another arrow flew from Deganawatha's bow and through the throat of his Algonquin adversary. The man struggled from a moment with his fingers around the arrow, his hands covered with blood until the life and fear left his eyes.

"It is better this way." Deganawtha thought. Nothing is worse than being captured alive. He prayed over the man, "Brother, forgive me." It was not the first life he had taken. Running though the forest he searched of his war party. They were no where near the Algonquin home land along the Great North River. But here in the lower settlements or the higher settlements depending what view you took, villages of the Haudenosaunee and Algonquin dotted the land everywhere. Scouts would soon report to the Algonquin lead village, and thing will very soon, get very bad.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Awesome series of updates, PM. As always, you always do a good job.

[Berserker]

very nice update:D

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Waking with a cold sweat in the middle of the night Deganawatha jolted up right. His breathing was heavy as though he had returned from a long run. Glancing around in the dark he could make out the shadows of other sleeping warriors, there were other shadows moving in the distance, patrol keeping watch. His dream, he looked around for Theyanoguin's shadow. He dreamed that Theyanoguin had been named as an Unquestionable Chief of the Haudenosaunee. Deganawatha slid one hand along the handle of his Tomahawk. He glanced around again before returning to sleep. He would not have to worry about standing guard. That was for the lower ranks to do.

"Damn it Theyanoguin." He muttered as sleep returned too him.

A foot on his back shook him awake. His eyes opened before having to be shut again saving himself from the early morning sun. He didn't want to wake, he felt a genuine affection for the patch of earth and grass he had found for himself the night before. He turned too see Kateri a fellow Onondaga standing over him.

"Come, we must talk." Deganawatha stood and slowly walked along side. Kateri was a few years younger than he, but they were from the same village and had known one another for years, if hardly ever speaking. "Watch for the Kanien'gehaga." Kateri said looking ahead of him. Keeping an eye for the Kanien'gehaga Deganawatha turned too Kateri.

"What is this about?" He asked.

"Keep your voice down Deganawatha." Kateri snapped. "We were both at the Great Canoe, Deganawatha. What did you see?"

Deganawatha thought again. "I saw the canoe was burned. And I saw the dead."

"What dead?" Kateri asked watching him from the corner of his eye.

"The Haudenosaunee and the Algonquin warriors." Deganawatha stated coldly. He knew what he had seen. But he had not thought about it since the last council.

"The Algonquin?" Kateri said. Deganawatha had expected him to leave it at that but he went on. "There we're no Algonquin. I saw them not. Nor did you. No one did. People from all five nations know this. Even some of the bastard Kanien'gehaga speak of it. But they go quiet when some others come near."

Deganawatha said nothing. He looked forward not looking for anyone anymore. Kateri's words running across his mind.

"This war is the doing of one man." He went on. "The Haudenosaunee must not stand for this. You are a good man Deganawatha. When it comes to it you will do what is right for our people. First you must be honest with yourself about what you know." With that Kateri went to rejoin the lower ranks. Deganawatha watched him go, his mind racing in the past.

[Petike]

Was the POD already in the Late Middle Ages ? I'm just curious, because I want to add it to the chronological list of ongoing TLs.

[Prime Minister]

Was the POD already in the Late Middle Ages ? I'm just curious, because I want to add it to the chronological list of ongoing TLs.

yes, the POD was in the later middle ages.

[Petike]

yes, the POD was in the later middle ages.

OK, I've moved it here (http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/timelines/dark_ages_and_medieval).

BTW: http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/timelines/deganawatha_-_the_haudenosaunee_imperium

[Prime Minister]

OK, I've moved it here (http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/timelines/dark_ages_and_medieval).

BTW: http://wiki.alternatehistory.com/doku.php/timelines/deganawatha_-_the_haudenosaunee_imperium

ah thank you kindly!

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Thunk, thunk, thunk! The sound of Algonquin stone arrows hitting a tree brought a smile to Daganawatha's face. They were panicking. The weapons and armour the Haudenosaunee used allowed them to cut swaths up the Algonquin lands. The full force of Algonquin warriors were upon them now and they fell like leaves before the snow. A Haudenosaunee covered so it looked as he were made of Water-Stone ran forward, the sun reflecting off his armour blinding all around. Deganawatha watched as arrow after arrow bounced off the Water-Stone as the man swung a long handled wood and Water-Stone mallet.

With only a matter of moments he cleared the way for the following Haudenosaunee. Deganawatha approached in time too hear the cracking of ribs as the armour clad man brought the mallet down onto the chest of an Algonquin.

"What are that?" He asked as he reached the man, shading his eyes from the reflecting light.

"I am really not sure." The man said with a laugh. Deganawatha recognised his voice as one of the Kanien'gehaga close too Theyanoguin. "But it is one of my favourite things in the world." He laughed loudly, the armour amplifying its power. He walked over to Deganawtha placing a armour clad hand on his shoulder. "Move quickly Onondag, we will be on the banks of the Great North River by the next moon!" He then turned pushing north again with the others.

Deganawtha could not believe they would be in the home land of the Algonquin with in such a time. Their resistance was getting stronger, even if it remained useless. They would surely fight harder the further north they pushed. But what then? What if Algonquina fell? Theyanoguin wanted to keep it. Was that possible? If so, then what would that make of the Haudenosaunee?


What would they become?

[Berserker]

nice update:D

[Prime Minister]

(No update this week. I have all 10-12 hour days at work *sigh* and am too tired to write and plot. I may get something small up sunday, I'll try, sorry if I do not.)

[Prime Minister]

I have bad news, good news, and great news.

Bad news:

I don't know what I did, but I f**ked up my leg. Going to the hospital tomorrow to see what it is.

Good news:

I wont likely will not have to work for a few days.

Great news:

There will be updates at some point this weekend. Promise.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

The forces of the Haudenosaunee stood together, gazing upon a sight few of their people had beheld in the past. The Great Northern River lay before them, the Algonquin retreating to the northern banks the previous night under cover of the clouded moon. Their forces now stood on the distant shores looking past the burned remains of their canoes on to the Haudenosaunee, thinking them stranded on the south bank.

As one the Haudenosaunee warriors broke into a war cry and whoops. Raising their weapons in the air or pounding their armour with fists or weapons. The sight and sound must have inspired terror in their foes, many breaking lines to flee. The lights of the sun reflecting of the skin-stone and water-stone must have looked as though a massive glowing creature of fire rested across the waters. Some men fruitlessly fired arrows at the Algonquin, non were harmed but many more broke away to join their fleeing companions.

Once the sun had set the warriors made camp near the fresh waters of the river. Men walked up from the waters with nets filled with fish taken form the waters, jugs of water were brought with them. Others came from the woods with corn, fruit and meats taken from the Algonquin towns taken in the war. The spoils of war shared by all as equals. This was their way. But it was not.

They ate Algonquin foods, drinking Algonquin water, on Algonquin land, their weapons and armour stained with Algonquin blood. Things were indeed changing.

The sounds of axes hitting trees broke Deganawtha's attention from his meal. But as he stood Theyanoguin took a place next to him. Placing a hand on his shoulder he spoke. "Come Onondaga sit and eat with me." Felling as he had no choice Deganawatha dropped back to the sands he sat upon. Theyanoguin had a kindness to his voice that Deganawatha had never heard in the past. He wanted something.

"Yes Chief Theyanoguin." He said flatly.

"You, Degnawatha. Reports have reached my ears of you this war. You have proven yourself a capable warrior. And many of the Onondaga speak favourably of you. You may not yet see it but you are a leader among them." Theyanoguin then stopped stripping meat from a fish with his fingers and running it though mashed corn before consuming it.

"Thank you Chief." Deganawatha retorted. "There are no leaders among the Haudenosaunee we are all as one." He flatly said as he too tore at his fish.

Theyanoguin coldly looked at Deganawtha before a smile, like that of a predator took its place. "Words Deganawtha, only words. Deganawida, Hiawatha there have always been leaders for our people. And there always shall be. You, and I are leaders." With his open palm he hit Deganawatha on his back and began to leave. "We should always be sure to be on the same side. It is... good. To have unity among us." With that he walked to join another fire, that one with mostly Seneca. None of the Onondaga spoke too Deganawatha after that, if they did he could not hear them. Deganawtha simply poked at his fish and corn, not even the water seemed tempting. Deganawtha simply put his food down and lay on the sand, hoping sleep would come and clear his mind.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Weeks after the taking of the south bank of the Great North River, Haudenosaunee warriors approached from the woods carrying wooden canoes over their heads. They were ruff and sloppy and did not looks as fast or capable as the leather canoes used normally. But they would allow the Haudenosaunee to cross the river for the first time in their history. Cross and strike at the heart of the Algonquin.

The warriors turned the canoes over placing them in the waters of the river. Deganawatha was handed a ruff carved wooden paddle. Finally they were ready to move again. As Deganawatha moved towards the canoes he looked around at his fellow warriors. Many of the men who had come out of the woods looked down sadly at their weapons. Even from this distance Deganawatha could tell they were horribly dulled and chipped. The weapons may prove to be more or less useless in the coming battles.

Theyanoguin, and the armour clad Kanien'gehaga sat in a canoe and with other warriors stated to paddle north. Deganawatha took a canoe along with other Onondaga and Seneca. Slowly and shrinkingly the canoe made its uneasy way north. Suddenly Deganawatha heard screams from behind, he turned to see a canoe of tip throwing it occupiers into the waters of the river, few of them even surfaced, even less were able to scramble back onto the canoe. Looking down at his armour Deganawatha felt great fear rising in him. The deep dark waters of the river now seemed to no longer be a wall blocking their expansion north. But rather raging pit of death, or an animal hungry to consume any careless or unlucky warrior.

Looking forward keeping his eyes on the north bank Deganawatha nearly kissed the sand after the crossing. Looking around he knew many others felt the same. The was no sign of the Algonquin, their scouts would have run to tell their chiefs that they had crossed the river and were now on the north bank.

"Paddlers go back to fetch other warriors." Two or three warriors for each canoe returned to the south bank. The remaining forces began to set up defences if the Algonquin were to attack. With in a day, if not hours they would be ready again to move on. The shortest war, and final battles with the Algonquin, were nearly at an end.

[stubear1012]

I am enjoying this timeline. I am wondering if the Northern river is the Hudson?

[Prime Minister]

I am enjoying this timeline. I am wondering if the Northern river is the Hudson?

no thats well under Iroquois control at the start if the TL. The Great Northern River is OTL's St. Lawrence.

[Malta Shah]

Go On......

[Cuāuhtemōc]

I believe I said my most recent opinion over our PM. You're doing a fine job with this and I'm looking forward to more updates on this.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

It was getting cold. Deganawatha wrapped himself in thick leather clothing over his armour. The air was crisp and cold in his chest. Before the sun would rise thin frost sat on the grass, stones, trees and the warriors sleeping far from the camp fires. The warriors who's whole bodies were clad in water-stone shook in the cold, many abandoning their casings for the lighter leathers and skin-stone of the lower ranks.

Clasping his leather coverings closed Deganawatha walked across the early morning frost and fell into step with Theyanoguin. Theyanoguin, had asked the Onondaga warriors to name Deganawatha their war leader. To his great disgust they did, now Deganawatha stood as one of Theyanoguin's Lieutenants. Theyanoguin smiled hitting his back as he came up, together they walked towards the lean-to that had been erected.

The four Lieutenants stood around a fire watching as the two approached. The water-skin clad Kanien'gehaga, Deganawtha had learned his name as "Kirit", held his head-covering under his arm. The had a shape drawn into the dirt with several other shapes around it. "Chief Theyanoguin!" He saluted, then turned to face the markings. "This is the Stadacona village. They call it Kanata. We have spoken to their leaders and told them we have no blood feud with the Stadacona people."

"And?" Theyanoguin said tracing his fingers above the markings.

"They stand next to their Algonquin allies. They refuse to lay down their arms." Kirit's voice held a hint of pleasure as he spoke. "They have more honour than the Wyandot." News had reached them that the Wyandot had invaded the western regions of Algonquiana as "friends".

"This is the last strong hold?" Theyanoguin asked.

"Yes chief." The Seneca Lieutenant Kaintwakon spoke. "We have men surrounding the village. Archers, here, here, and here. We can rain fire down on them at your word."

"What of their walls? Defences?" Theyanoguin looked up.

"They have dug a large ditch around the village, and erected walls of earth the hight of two men. We have no ideas on the number of their warriors."

"Burn the village tonight."

"What? They have women and chil-" Deganawtha started, but was silenced with a single look from the three higher ranking officers.

"Burn the village tonight." Theyanoguin said leaving the lean-to.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Deganawatha stood along the Onondaga warriors late in the night. The air was crisp with the full moon hanging high in the night sky surrounded by the twinkling stars gazing down upon the Haudenosaunee and the act they were about too commit. Pacing in-front of the Onondaga warriors he could see only a few uneasy looks, only a few sharing his feelings.

"Light!" Theyanoguin's voice came from out of the night. The Onondaga, as well as others surrounding the Stadacona village Kanata. With that Stadacona and Algonquin warriors warriors appeared along the high walls of the village. A hail of arrows flew from along the wall in all directions towards the Haudenosaunee. Several men fell along the lines but the Skin and Warter-stone armour held up. A man standing near Deganawatha took an arrow to the eye falling first to his knees letting out a whimper before falling dead on the ground.

"Protection for the head and face will be necessary." Deganawatha scared himself with such a callous reaction. But he brushed the fear away. "Take them down!" He ordered. Onondaga archers dropped to their knees firing as the Stadacona rose from the protective barrier. He stood watching as several men along the wall fell to the skin-stone tipped arrows, the new stone and bone weaved armour worn by the defenders tore like bare flesh. No orders could be heard from Theyanoguin. Deganawatha turned to his warriors waiting with their torches. "LAUNCH!" The first line of torches were flung over walls, some falling to the ground in the trench along the defences. The trench had been filled with wood was dried grass. Smoke rose from all around the outsides of the wall encasing the defending warriors in a thick black cloud of smothering fiery air.

"Second line!" Deganawatha called as a second wave of torches flew over his head and over the walls. He heard at that time Kirit's voice call the same order from out of site. What looked like red gold stars fell onto the village from the Kanien'gehaga lines nearly invisible though the wall of smoke. The glow from the flames with in the village grew brighter and brighter as the flames spread.

A new sound arose for the night to consume, carried by the smoke and flames. Screams. Men and women and children. Deganawatha could hear them all screaming for help, screaming for their loved ones and for the creator to spare them this suffering and take them now. A door flew open, its large wooden gates shining light between the Onondaga and Kanien'gehaga formations. Stadacona and Algonquin poored out into the night. Their skin and clothing burned, some with skins or hair aflame.

"Kill them!" Kirit ordered screamed from the far formation. Kanien'gehaga moved onto the the fleeing population.

"NO!" Deganawatha called out. "Protect the innocent ones!" He ordered the Onondaga. The two Haudenosaunee peoples collided on their enemy population. The Onondaga were closer to the fleeing population, forcing the women and children to fall into their lines. The Kanien'gehaga were given their way with the warriors, who fell like trees in a heavy wind. The Kanien'gehaga stood over them, their tomahawks and clubs rising and falling on the broken bodies as the warriors whooped war cries into the night.




As the sun rose late in the morning the Haudenosaunee entered the burned ruins of the Stadacona village. The Onondaga protecting the former population waited out side the walls, along with other civilians protected by the Seneca and Guyohkohnyo. Deganawatha walked alongside Theyanoguin who's face had carried burn marks from the battle the previous night. There were bodies everywhere, some chard others others looked as though they were simply asleep. A group of twenty stood in the village centre far away from the burned husks of great round buildings of the Stadacona.

A man late of age walked forward towards Theyanoguin, his head held down in shame. "I am Domagaya. Stadacona-Algonquin war chief." The man's eyes weakened and his hands trembling he choked out he last words as chief. "We surrender too you. Oh great Theyanoguin of the Haudenosaunee."

"Bow." Theyanoguin said emotionless as a stone. And they did so. The surviving defenders took to their knees pressing their foreheads to the ground at the feet of the Haugenosaunee War Chief. Theyanoguin then turned to Kirit. "Take all the Algonquin warriors to be held until preparations can be made." With that the Haudenosaunee took the brave Algonquin binding their hands together with rope or skins, marching them off into the early day.



With the war over the worst fate possible, was to be captured alive.


OOC: Please, at this point I would like as much criticism and review as possible. Since Im looking at turning this into a novel.

[Prime Minister]

401 GP/Great Peace (1722 A.D.)

Deganawatha along with other Haudenosaunee warriors, Algonquin civilians and Stadacona, sat in a newly constructed Longhouse in the village of Kanata. The Stadacona village was named by Theyanoguin as the leading village of the fallen territories. A ceremony was about to begin, one as old as time, one preformed by the Haudenosaunee, Algonquin and Wyandot alike.

It was the fate awaiting men captured alive.

Theyanoguin had been merciful to most after this great war and the fall of the Algonquin nation. The last of the captured men knelt before a Seneca priest. Both painting their faces in preparation. The man, a Seneca warrior and chief was tide in standing position to two sticks forcing his body into spreading his arms and legs. The Seneca priest was given a skin-stone knife fashioned to replace the old bone tools of the past.

"Brother," He began. "you have come to die in the land of the Haudenosaunee." The Stadacona man's face remained cold. This was the code of the warriors, all knew that if the fortunes of this war had been different, any one could have been in his place. A code of retribution had always bound them in their ways. The Stadacona man's eyes scanned the watching crowd. His calm and the fearlessness in his eyes made a mark on Deganawatha that he knew he would carry for all of time.

The Seneca pushed the knife into the hand of the warrior, twisting it cutting the hand down to the wrist, stopping before reaching to deep. The Stadacona sung out in a mournful warriors song so as to not scream out dishonouring his ancestors, and his death, be tainted by failing courage. This was the day his long and painful death began. It would last for many days.




End of Part One

[Prime Minister]

Part: Two

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


It had been ten years since the fall of Algonquina, into the hands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. And now the Confederacy was experiencing a new age, the likes of which no one had seen since the coming of Deganawida and the Great Peace. Special stones from the lands of the Algonquin fed in the fire pits of the Kanien'gehaga and Onondaga, and created more and stronger Skin-Stone, though Water-Stone was yet out of their reach.

New roads connected the Haudenosaunee Confederacy with the occupied lands too the north. Over which new trade streamed, north and south. Special-Stones, squash, maze, even clothing and ideas moved over the new roads. New settlements were built along the roads supporting and protecting traders and travelers both Haudenosaunee and Algonquin alike. There were even several "shared" settlements along the road. A new carting structure made of carved soiled wood that could hold far more than the woven carts made by the Seneca.

Deganawatha was spending his time now as the head of Buckaloon, at the Great Longhouse arguing for his village. When he could he would spend all his renaming energies poring over the bindings, his help had grown smaller and smaller and smaller over the years. Now the only thing left were the waving arts that took up most of the pages between the pictures. They had learned so much, better wall building, better armour, they had started to tame wolves with advice from the Cree. The Cree also had helped the Haudenosaunee to capture the young kutcha to work the fields, like the great creatures from the bindings.

Yet, the bindings had not yet given up to him all their mysteries. With great frustration he slammed shut a binding he had gone over and over for all these years. Before slamming it to the floor a little voice called out behind him.

"DADDY!" Genesee called out. Deganawtha spun around as his little girl ran to his arms. It may not been their way, but Orenda wanted Genesee to be part of his life. "Daddy! I went on my first trip today! Mommy took me too see the Cree people. And we talked to them and I played with a little boy, and there were no trees and lots of grass and mommy was talking too their chief, and I saw a butterfly, and mommy got two little baby kutcha to bring them back here! How are you?" She added with a smile. Deganawatha laughed and his daughters excitement. "Im very good now that you are back with me my little Gengen." Orenda walked into the room hugging them both.

"My little one and my her daddy." She said. "Genesee helped me a lot on our trip didn't she?" Their daughter nodded strongly with a very serious look on her little face. "She helped me to carry things for the Cree, and even helped by making the Cree Chief laugh and laugh and made friends with his son. Oh, and go on show daddy what you learned." Orenda stood, looking at her daughter with pride. Deganawatha turned to face her not knowing what to expect.

"Tawaw, tansi!" She exclaimed smiling at her father. "Now daddy you say 'Namoya. Kiya maka?"

Startled he replied to his young one. "Nay moy eh. Kaya maka?" Genesee broke into a giggle it.

"You don't speak Cree well daddy." She giggled. Her mother patted her on her shoulders.

"Why don't you run along and go see your friends?" She whispered.

"Okay." She said sadly hugging her mother and father before running off. Orenda walked over wrapping her arms around Deganawatha's neck.

"Now... where's my really hello?" She said leaning in and kissing him.

[othyrsyde]

I've just skimmed it, and it sounds cool. But if you mean Deganawatha, the prophet of peace, he was around looooong before the 1700s. We started our league centuries before the Europeans landed (of the Post-Columbus era). Don't believe me, it's in our wampum records.

[Prime Minister]

I've just skimmed it, and it sounds cool. But if you mean Deganawatha, the prophet of peace, he was around looooong before the 1700s. We started our league centuries before the Europeans landed (of the Post-Columbus era). Don't believe me, it's in our wampum records. Also the Wyandot didn't call themselves that yet, it was more pronounced Wendat, but that's just a minor thing.

Deganawida, was the Great Peace maker. Deganawtha is a name I made up by slamming together the names "Deganawida" and "Hiawatha".

I know you just made a quick skim though, so I don't blame you for this. But I actually mentioned Deganawida in this last post. And I am very pleased that you like this so far! Im very happy to get a good response from a Haudenosaunee! Anything you wish to share with me, or any corrections you want to point out on places I've gone wrong are more than welcome! Thanks for your input!

[othyrsyde]

Tight. Can't wait to read more. Though this reminds me of the shame I have for all the people my ancestors all but exterminated in real life.

[Talwar]

Interesting read so far!

I've been pondering a story idea with some conceptual similarities - set some time after the Europeans would've shown up OTL, but with little to no Europeans showing up in ATL. Any chance you'd be able to point me at some good off-site references on the nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy?

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


The sky was dark as a storm rolled over the Haudenosaunee from off the Great Waters to the East. Cold winds blew across the lands swaying the tall trees around Buckaloon as though they marched along in mourning as the cold night fell. Slowly and first as a murmur, then building into a thunderous roar rain broke through the trees forming small streams that ran across the ground and between the homes of the Onondaga village.

This night people, from all across the confederation braved the storm to come and pay respects too a great Hero of the people. Even the loud and booming Theyanoguin held still his tongue and waited in place among all others. Rain mixed with tears of the mourners as they filled the Long House of the Onondaga Bear Clan where the body of Canassatego lay for his friends and family to say their farewell.

His leadership had been undisputed for many years, the Onondaga had loved him for his kindness, for his love of the people and his dedication to peace. It was these things that came to make him a great leader among all all Haudenosaunee and beyond their lands. So much that even leaders of the Wyandot and Algonquin came through the storm to Buckaloon.

Deganawatha supported his father helping him into the Long House.

"He was my oldest friend. Have I told you that?" Otetiani said weakly to his son. "As he died his great love of life never left him. He talked with his sons and myself all his last days and nights. So many things he remembered I could not." Deganawatha could tell his fateher was fighting back tears. "He was a good man."

"Yes father. A very good man." Deganawatha said as the moved closer to the body. His father was very weak and his breathing was laboured. "You should have stayed at home father."

"You only get to say goodbye once young man. I would not miss this." He looked around in a start. "Where are we?"

"We are in the Long House of the Bear Clan father." This was not what Deganawatha had hopped tonight would be like.

"The Bear Clan? I had a good friend in the Bear Clan. Canassatego his name was." His father turned to him with a smile. "You seem familiar. I have a son about your age." All Deganawatha wanted now was to get to Canassatego's body and get out. "He is a good man. Brilliant. I, I don't think I ever told him I thought that. He is my hope for our people. Not like that damned Theyanoguin, who only things with a Tomahawk. Why... Why can I not remember his face? I can not picture my own son." The look on Otetiani's face as they approuched the body of the Great Chief was one of intense pain that had little to do with his friends death. When finally he noticed where they were Otetiani surged. "He seems to be sleeping. We should come back tomorrow." He said looking back at Deganawatha. "Come help me to find my son. I think you two would like each other. He has a little one now so adorable.........."

As his father talked Deganawatha carried him back to their long house. Hopefully he would soon sleep, and both their pain would end for the night.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Deganawatha angrily tossed a binding to the floor. He had been doing that more and more often as time passed. Only he now worked on the bindings. Others said they had given up all their secrets, but Deganawatha knew otherwise. The waving pictures were everywhere, in ever binding, many were filled only with the waving art. Deganawatha had filled many tree barks with the most common of the waves. The "The" was was very important, it was the most common as far as he could tell. Other bindings had other common words "Christ", "Crown", "Witches", "Dog", "Field", "England" all odd common pictures. Some groups of pictures started off with part of the first drawing larger than the rest, others did not. Some were more artistic, others simple lines.

"WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?" Deganawatha knocked over a table the pottery resting upon it shattering as it hit the ground. Grabbing his tomahawk from another table he dug its head deep into a wooden post several times causing wood chips to fly out hitting his face. Falling to his knees, he breathed deeply dropping the tomahawk and wrapping his hands around the back of his head.

"I. Feel better now." He breathed. He stood to right the table and salvage what pottery he could. As he finished his cleaning and stacking the binding again at his work place, a knock came at the opening to the long house. He turned to see the Clan Mother of Buckaloon. Deganawatha smiled walking over too her. "Clan Mother. What can I do for you?"

She cleared her throat. "The votes have been cast Deganawatha. And the Clan Mothers have spoken. It is now confirmed."

"Oh creator no." Deganawatha thought to himself.

"You have been chosen by your people to take the place of Canassatego. You Deganawatha have been given the great honour and named Chief of the Onondaga people."

"I... I am honoured Clan Mother." He said slowly.

"Tomorrow you leave for the Great Longhouse. Tonight You will be named before the people." Deganawatha nodded as she left him wit his bindings. He may never finish his work now.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Amazing, just amazing. :)

[Zireael]

Worriers! Worriers! (pg. 2)

Shouldn't it be "warriors"?

Otherwise, fine TL, will be following!

[Prime Minister]

(pg. 2)

Shouldn't it be "warriors"?

Otherwise, fine TL, will be following!

Ah yes. I wanted to fix that, but they were posted too long ago. Thank you.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Deganawatha sat in the front of a wooden cart pulled along by, a horned creature the Inuit called a "tuttu", it had a rope tide around its neck with two mean on its sides guiding her along. A third man sat up next to him with a long stick dangling maise over its head guiding the beast along. Deganawatha looked up from his the binding he held on his lap, others as well as more of his belongings rested in the back. The Tuttu Guider as he was called noticed his glances.

"It is ok Chief Deganawatha." The Kanien'gehaga man said with a smile. "She is our best behaved tuttu. We have been training her since she arrived too us twenty eight seasons ago. We let the Algonquin train the others." The man laughed deeply.

"So, she has never run wiled? No one has been hurt?" Deganawatha asked closing his binding.

"Not.... Not exactly." He said quietly then muttered something. Looking back at the tuttu, Deganawatha put a hand under his seat reopening the binding for study. He was uncomfortable doing this the carts may move slower than walking, but they could carry far far more than one man's back. After a day and a half the village of Onondaga finally came into view. To hi great happiness no one had been hurt on the trip. Getting his things out of the rear of the cart Deganawatha waved and thanked his guides. He walked off to the Longhouse he would be staying in until the next Moon came. As he organised the bindings, a voice called out behind him.

"Deganawatha." Kirit's voice called out. Turing to see the imposing Kanien'gehaga towering over him. "Chief Theyanoguin wishes too meet with you in private. To... congratulate you on your ascension above your fellow Onondaga."

Raising an eyebrow Deganawatha pushed past the man heading for the door. "No Haudenosaunee is above another Haudenosaunee. It is not our way."

"We will see Deganawatha. Our ways are changing. Our ways are Changing." With the chilled voice of Kirit hanging in the air, Deganawatha made his way to the Longhouse of the Kanien'gehaga near the East End of the village.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

There are a few typos here and there but nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this latest update.

[Prime Minister]

(I'm bored and can not sleep. So, here is some more.)

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Standing in the centre of the Great Longhouse Deganawatha stared into the great fire. Theyanoguin and thrown a small celebration in honour of Deganawatha's election to Chief of the Onondaga. There were others there, and it twisted at Deganawatha's stomach. The new chief of the Seneca, Shenandoah a powerful woman among the Onayotekaono and daughter of the High Priest, she sat very near the lap of the Kanien'gehaga Chief, with them was Ohstahehte another Onayotekaono and a young powerful priest who also seemed to hold the attentions of the woman on Theyanoguin's lap, she rested her feet upon his lap. With them were others from all the Haudenosaunee nations even several powerful chiefs from the lands of the Algonquin.

Together they ate, and smoked. They played drums and sang to thank the creator for his gifts. Then Theyanoguin made a small speech of congratulation to Deganawatha. Then everyone left. It made him every uneasy. It simply was not what he had expected to have happen. After his encounter with Kirit, he had expected, something else. Theyanoguin always had something hidden, something planed, some way of getting his plans into action. Maybe this was it, to distract Deganawatha from other thoughts.

Anger started to take him now. He stood there staring into the flames, so lost in his thoughts he did not notice as people started to fill the Longhouse for the first meeting of this moon. As Deganawatha walked to take the seat he had occupied since his first day on council, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Come Deganawatha." Theyanoguin said from behind him. Turning Deganawatha saw instead it had been Kirit who stopped him, but then Theyanoguin continued too speak. "Sit with your equals." He motioned to an empty seat near himself, Kirit and the young priest. Not knowing what else too do, Deganawatha took the seat, as Theyanoguin smiled like a wolf.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Theyanoguin walked up to Deganawatha early one morning. "Put down your bindings Onondaga." Looking up just in time to catch a bow that was flying towards him, Deganawatha snatched it out of the air. "We're going hunting you and I. Get ready, I will return." Theyanoguin hurried off back to the Kanien'gehaga Longhouse. Deganawatha looked around at his bindings. "I have work." He thought to himself quickly. But ignoring Theyanoguin would have consequences. Reluctantly Deganawatha collected some bone arrows, the skin-stone and water-stone arrows were to be used strictly in times of war.

Later the two of them walked side by side in the forest. Theyanoguin was the first to speak. "What is it you want most Deganawatha?" Such a normal question took him aback.

"To spend more time with my daughter." He said flatly. "And too understand the bindings." Theyanoguin laughed.

"You are a good man Onondaga." He patted Deganawatha on the back in a friendly manner. That made him very uncomfortable. "It is too bad our ways do not allow you to do this thing." He said letting his words hang in the air. "If you assist me. I can change that for you."

"What do you mean? You could change that for me. No one man has that power." Deganawtha stated looking the Kanien'gehaga chief in the eye.

"All I am saying is that when the time comes we can help each other. If I can get what I need, what is do to me though my father's bloodline, I can give you your daughter, and all the resources you need for your bindings."

"And what is it you want most Chief Theyanoguin?" Deganawatha asked.

"Power Onondaga. I want power." The smile that came over theyanoguin's face scared Deganawatha slightly. His mind raced, he wanted to raise his daughter......

[Prime Minister]

any comments or advice on my writing/the story would be great by the way. I love feed back.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Your writing style seems rather fine. It's detailed enough to imagine the characters' appearance and actually conversing with one another but at the same time, it's not detailed enough that you spend countless paragraphs describing everything which is just fine by me. I like Theyanoguin the most so far out of all the characters; he seems to be ready to gather power in the Haudenosaunee all for him. It would certainly change a lot of things but I'm a sucker for those who crave power.

Continue!

[othyrsyde]

Going to get caught up on this tonight. Just spent all my free time rewriting a post in my own TL to beat the close of the 30 day edit rule. Literary endurance trial.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Going to get caught up on this tonight. Just spent all my free time rewriting a post in my own TL to beat the close of the 30 day edit rule. Literary endurance trial.

You and Prime Minister are making me look awfully lazy when it comes to my own timeline! Heh.

[othyrsyde]

You and Prime Minister are making me look awfully lazy when it comes to my own timeline! Heh.

Well to be fair, I did wait two years to restart mine.

[othyrsyde]

It seems Theyanoguin wants to overthrow the matriarchal lineage based society. Hope Deganawatha can stop him, but he seems tempted too...

As the raising of children, it's true that the uncles were more of a father figure, but that was because the fathers were usually gone all the time hunting and such. The only males in the village would be the children and the elderly, which lead to the age old saying "villages are run by the women, while the forests are for the men." Overall, a lot of Native societies of the more chiefdoms and hunter/gatherer type had their children raised by the grandparents. There's another teaching that "The children leaned to be adults by the elders, so the adults could learn how to become elders."

I'll have to ask some of my older relatives about this, they might remember more on family dynamics back then. Though most likely I'm going to have to consult some of my books.

Also we had dogs, and loved them very much. Early Europeans that came to us were really weirded out how good we treated them; except we'd often clean our hands by rubbing them on the dogs. There's a funny fact for you. If they bred the wolves more with the dogs, to produce a stronger canine, defiantly see that and it keeps with what you're trying to accomplish.

It's really good though. Love seeing my peeps as the stars and in a more traditional setting.:D

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Theyanoguin roared through the Great Longhouse, beaming in his victory. He had been named as Indisputable Chief of the Kanien'gehaga. Not even the Clan Mothers were now able to question him. As Deganawatha survaid the assembly at the Longhouse he saw many Kanien'gehaga cheering for their Chief, but others kept their heads low, some yet looked at their Chief with loathing venom in their eyes. Yet Theyanoguin seemed not to notice the vile from some of his own tribesmen. Finally he sat, taking a free spot near Deganawatha.

"You seen Onondaga?" He said in a too friendly manner. "It is simple and natural that I lead. Simple and natural that," He looked over to Kirit and the others near by. "that we lead." Deganawatha nodded despite himself. He was yet to decide what to make of Theyanoguin's offer. Theyanoguin once again turned to Deganawatha, once again to ask him to take his side, but at that moment a messenger ran into the Longhouse stopping before Deganawatha.

"Chief Deganawatha. I have been asked to find you by the Healers of Buckaloon. You're father's spirit is leaving the world. There is not much time."

The fear on Deganawatha's face must have shown, he was atracting attention from the others around him. Theyanoguin nodded to him, and Kirit lifted him to his feet. "Go Onondaga." Theyanoguin said. "I could not be with my father when his spirit departed. You must be with yours."

A short while later Deganawatha entered his village, heading for his clan's Longhouse. Upon Entering he saw his father laying on skins, his face covered in beads of sweat despite the cool air. Around him were other clan members, Deganawatha's aunts and uncles. Orenda stood when she saw him, walking over wrapping her arms around his neck, her face hot and wet with tears. "There is not much time Degana." She whispered her voice heavy with sorrow. With out a word Deganawatha moved away from his wife and walked over to his father. His eyes were grey and unfocused, he spoke loudly almost as unto himself. "Deganawatha! My son. Where is my son. I must see my boy." Taking his father's hand in his own Deganawatha fought to hold back tears.


"I am here father. I have come for you." He said running a free hand over his father's forehead, keeping the sweat from his eyes.

"My son. My only child." His hands were thin and weakly clasped his child's hands in his own. "I must speak with you. You, you must remember my stories my son. As I remember my father's words...." He spoke, for so long, past the setting of the sun and as the moon hung high in the night sky. Until late in the night, as the first hints of the sun's return broke in the far distance. Otetiani of the Wolf Clan of the Onondaga mumbled, repeating the names of his wife, and his friends his last spoken words hanging in the air. "...Deganawatha, my son. Remember my words." As his grip on his son's hands fell, and his last breath left his body. His face falling to his father's chest for the first time since he was a child, Deganawatha wept, staining his fathers wrappings with his tears.

"A man's last hope is always to be heard, one last time. To be remembered." The elderly clan mother said softly placing a hand on the weeping Chief.

He had not known it then. But the words of the clan mother had already begun to work their way deep into the mind of the Onondaga Chief.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

That kinda almost made me tear up. It's sad to see Deganawatha's father to pass on; let's hope he can put a stop to Theyanoguin's plans. :(

Good job.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Deganawatha had not returned to the Great Longhouse since his father's soul passed from this world. He instead had left the world staying in his work room in Onondaga, lost among the bindings. He sent runners to the Longhouse to preform his duties there. Theyanoguin, Kirit, Orenda and others had come to see him. But he had turned them all away.

It was not just his father. Something else had been bothering him as well. Some rot in the back of his mind working it's way towards killing him, if he could not let it be free. His father's words weighed heavy on him, Theyanoguin's words weighed heavy on him. "Words." He thought to himself "So many words."

He thought again about his father. He had told Deganawatha about his youth, had spoken more about his mother than Deganawatha had ever heard. Had talked of Canassatego... Canassatego had spoken for hours before his death. So had Deganawatha's father. He could feel the weight lifting some how. He raised his head looking around the room but lost in thought as his mind raced.

"A man's last hope is always to be heard, one last time. To be remembered." He repeated the Clan Mother's words. Jumping to his feet Deganawatha ran around the room throwing bindings to the floor. Opening another tossing it aside. He spoke his father's words to himself as he did. Mumbling other things all the while yelling in frustration as time passed with no luck. He opened a sack, tossing aside skins and models. Opened boxes and pottery.

"ONE binding!" He yelled in frustration. "Just one! Where is it?" His hands rubbed at his temples, then slid down his face stretching his skin into a face sure to have made little Genesee laugh. Then he saw it, simply sitting behind some sacks, somehow falling out of its place. He had only looked through it a few times, many had avoided the binding that the dead Chief of the Great Canoe had rested on. But no longer.

Deganawatha opened the binding, flipping through it page by page. Each started witch the waving marking in a top corner, all similar, sometimes changing to a new form, reaming like that for some pages, then changing again. He counted them, there were twelve markings, each appearing near thirty times. He looked though the markings seeing other patterns among other common occurring. He felt dizzy, his mind was spinning as he ran his fingers over the art.

But it wasn't art.

He reached the last page. Where the markings got worse, sloppy, failing to stay in lines, before waving off into nothingness.

"Why would a man spend his last days making such art?" Deganwatha said to himself. "To be heard. To be remembered." He lay the binding down open at his work place. "To make his words." Resting his hands on the table, looking down at the binding. Tears of... an emotion Deganawatha would never name, nearly over took him. He ran his fingers across the markings. Thinking of the man who wrote them. Imagining what they may say.

"Words. They are words."

[Martinus Paduei]

YES! YES! YES!

[brokenman]

I should say...

IT'S ALIVE!

I hope this pulls through to the modern ages.

[Prime Minister]

I should say...

IT'S ALIVE!

I hope this pulls through to the modern ages.

I'm not sure how far I will bring the time line forward. Though, "modern ages" I assume you would me a modern level of technology and society. Seeing as they really are about two hundred years away from the "modern" world really.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Nice update, Prime Minister. Hope to read more soon.

[Prime Minister]

(Just a short one I know. But I promise things are coming to make up for it.)

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Deganawatha sat with his leg crossed grinding another piece of charred wood into powder, in a bowl placed in his lap. He added small amounts of water mixing up the powder until it was looked as though it were ready to use. He stood walking over to several pieces of birch bark laying across a table along with several open bindings. Placing everything down he lifted a feather he had sharpened to look like the one from the Great Canoe.

He looked over the words drawn onto the binding. He had no idea what sounds they were to make. Or why. So he started to assign meanings to them from what he could see. He looked at the "S" he pictured at snake in his mind. Writing out the letter giving it the sound "Ony", for "onyare" the Mohawk word for the animal. Then the A brought to his mind an arrow head. And so he worked on and on for all fifty different symbols that he saw. Giving each a sound, as best his mind could create. Until finally he had finished. But it would not be enough. No where near enough to gain the attentions of the Great Longhouse.

Taking another, longer piece of bark he... He needed to think of a word for this... He marked out the words to the Great Peace. The story of Deganawida and the forming of the Confederacy. This, this would be a perfect gift.

[Prime Minister]

(Screw it, can't sleep, here you go)

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)


Deganawatha carried his scrolls of birch bark in his hands and his arms as he walked towards the Great Longhouse. It was full, and some members were holding others back from striking down their fellow council members.

"The Great Peace must be respected!"

"...this scum has not respect for the Great Peace how dare you talk to me...."

"Ladies! Warriors! Please! Take your seats! The hatchet was buried long ago!"

"I'll bury a hatchet!" This man made a lunge for Theyanoguin but was stopped by other men. Finally someone noticed that Deganawatha had walked into the room. "Chief Deganawatha. It is Theyanoguin! He has demanded the right to be named Undisputed Chief of the Haudenosaunee! You must speak some sense into him!"

Deganawatha approached the Kanien'gehaga Chief, but as he did Theyanoguin's eyes met his. "GOOD!" He called out. "Now that all the High Chiefs are assembled we can start this meeting in truth! Take you seats and let us be civil about this matter." To his great astonishment Theyanoguin sat down behind his normal forward seat. In his stead Ohstahehte stood to address the Longhouse.

"My fellow Haudenosaaunee!" He spoke clearly. "Surely you must have come to see what has transpired in these last years. Under the guidance of the Great Spirit took Thanoguin's father Tarageorus, and the Kanien'gehaga warriors to claim the great salt waters! Right at the very site where the Great Canoe would come to rest..." As the priest spoke Deganwatha was suddenly aware of someone leaning over his shoulder. His eyes swung to the side to see Theyanoguin. Deganawatha went to speak but before he could he felt the sharp cold of a Water-Skin blade press upon his back.

"There is no more time for your games Onondaga. You will support me now, and I will have what is mine by right. Or I will have your bindings. And I will have your wife, and your child in front of you. And when I am done I will send them to be with your father and that pathetic old man Canassatego. And then, just when you beg for me to let you join them... I will break your legs and give your body to the wolves." He pulled back as the priest ended his speech. Deganawatha's stomach turned as all the hairs of his body stood on end. His mind raced not knowing what he could do.

"....so clearly. Theyanoguin's line is a blessed one! And it is my honour. On behalf of the priesthood. To say to you, that we hold it to be true, The Creator has sent him. And Him alone! To guide our people!" Hisses and shrieks broke out from some of the members. But most sat and looked sickly at the man or woman next to them. "Why do you so thumb your insults at the will of the Great Spirit? Ask of your Chiefs!"

Theyanoguin stood. "Yes! My fellow Chiefs, who among you will support me! Support the Great Spirit's will?"

"I will support you Theyanoguin." Called out the Seneca Chief.

"I....I will... support you." The voice of the Guyohkohnyo Chief was filled with fear. Kirit sat behind her. Deganawatha wondered what had been whispered into her ear.

"You have my utmost support Theyanoguin!" Roared the Chief of the Onayotekaono standing among near the sacred fire.

With that Deganawatha felt all eyes fall upon him. His eyes moved up, meeting the lifeless wooden eyes of the carving taken from the front of the Great Canoe. Then tracing along the assembly his eyes again met Theyanoguin's.











"I support you."

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Deganawatha sat again alone in the dark. Staring down at nothing. What had he done? He had betrayed his father. He had betrayed Canassatego.

"But I saved my wife and child." He mumbled into the darkness. When at that moment the hangings over the door way that had been holding back they day were torn aside. Kirit stood there looking down upon him. "Come Chief. Council is assembling, the Karahkwa demands you attend this time." He walked away again, returning Deganawatha to his dark solitude. "Karahkwa" The Kanien'gehaga word for the sun. Theyanoguin's pride and arrogance knew no bounds.

Standing, taking with him several scrolls Deganawatha walked to the Great Longhouse. The bright lights of the... Karanhkwa... stung at his eyes. His leather shirts and pants were dirty and torn, he had slept in them for the last few nights. Upon entering the Longhouse he was forced to stop. Where was the council? Only Theyanoguin and the High Chiefs sat around the sacred fire.

"Ah Deganawatha! You join us!" Theyanoguin called. He wore leather woven with Water and Skin-stone, with two great sashes, and upon his head rested a circle of Skin-stone, carve to look as though it were five interwoven arrows. "What do you have with you Chief?" Theyanoguin held out his hand.

"They are, they are my final works on the bindings Chief Theyanoguin."

"Please, Chief. Use my title." Theyanoguin said with anger in his voice.

"Karanhkwa Theyanoguin." He said back, handing Theyanoguin his scrolls. Theyanoguin looked over them, holding them to the side, and upside down, before apparently settling on the side so that the words seemed to move from the bottom of the page up towards the top.

"What is it?" He asked confusion on his face. Deganawatha started to explain what he had found and how he found it. Then how he decided to mark words down on the bark. Unimpressed Theyanoguin tossed one into the flames. Anger and hate boiled in Deganawatha's mind.

"What use could this be? We all know the old stories. Since we were children."

"They, I, if." The other chiefs looked at Deganawatha. "You can use them! My Karanhkwa! Think, your laws, your ideals and ways and words. Not told as others remember them, but, but, but as you say them. As you mark them. Your voice, your words, lasting on forever." He wasn't sure why he was drawn to say that. But this was his life's work. And he felt, as if he knew, they were important. Even if used by Theyanoguin.

Theyanoguin smiled. Then smiled wider. "Very good Deganawatha. Very very good." He looked down at the paper. "And I like how the words grow up in this way. Like the trees." Deganawatha didn't correct him. "I now grant you what I promised I would. You may now form your own Clan, you are freed from the bonds of the Wolf Clan, and your wife from hers. You are now Deganawatha of the..." He looked down at the scrolls. "...Wordmaker Clan, of the Onondaga. Now!" He handed him the scrolls. "Mark down my words, and my laws."

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Aw damn it, Theyanoguin got what he wanted but at least Deganawatha does not have to worry about his wife and child being harmed by the likes of the Karanhkwa. I wonder what sort of changes Theyanoguin would be bringing now that he is the undisputed leader of the Haudenosaaunee! Will the League now consider declaring war and expanding their reach to other tribes? Or will you now focus on something else?

As for your writing, I like it but again, please try harder with doing more longer and perhaps more descriptive updates. If it's difficult for you then just ignore me and continue with your style of writing; I'm enjoying it and I hope to read more from you soon.

[Prime Minister]

Aw damn it, Theyanoguin got what he wanted but at least Deganawatha does not have to worry about his wife and child being harmed by the likes of the Karanhkwa. I wonder what sort of changes Theyanoguin would be bringing now that he is the undisputed leader of the Haudenosaaunee! Will the League now consider declaring war and expanding their reach to other tribes? Or will you now focus on something else?

As for your writing, I like it but again, please try harder with doing more longer and perhaps more descriptive updates. If it's difficult for you then just ignore me and continue with your style of writing; I'm enjoying it and I hope to read more from you soon.

I have been trying. :( Which is a reason I have been working on other TLs too. Practice, I may be stuck in a habit with Deganawatha. And if I cant break it I will try harder with the next part of the Haudenosaunee Saga.

[Cuāuhtemōc]

I have been trying. :( Which is a reason I have been working on other TLs too. Practice, I may be stuck in a habit with Deganawatha. And if I cant break it I will try harder with the next part of the Haudenosaunee Saga.

That's fine. Just understand that I do not critique out of harshness but because your timeline is quite a read (concept and execution is great). Just remember that you can do a little bit better, not to say that this is bad but you can always improve upon your skills as a writer. If you're comfortable with what are you doing now, just continue on. I'll still read it. I find it great! :)

[othyrsyde]

Damn I need to get caught up.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Things could be better. But they could also be worse. The words, their fate, and their power were now in the hands of Theyanoguin. Deganawatha looked over his piles of bark, then at the rows upon rows of others marking words, learning how to write the sounds of the languages. He walked down the rows of people in the Longhouse, looking at the groups of two. One man and one woman from each village in the Confederacy, even several Algonquin had been allowed to attend.

"No, no. Like this." He said as he corrected one man's work. He continued to walk watching as his class marked out the Story of the Great Peace Maker. Near the head of the rows were ten people, who had moved on, already memorizing the symbols and their related sounds. Now they marked, creatively some marked down their own stories, some the old stories, several marked down the Laws Theyanoguin had declared.

"...only my line, my sons and their sons may be named as Karahkwa..."

Deganawatha shook his head, suddenly feeling ill in his guilt for supporting Theyanoguin. But his wife and daughter were safe. And he was able to share his knowledge with others, who would then share it with yet others. It would take a few years, they would start with the children, leaving the adults to to their duties. He looked down smiling at his best student approvingly as he marked out a conversation he and a friend had earlier in the day. His way of making each speaker distinguished was interesting.

Mentally Deganawatha added the man's name to his list. He had a special project in mind. He wanted to copy every word, and picture in every binding in the smallest detail they could manage. Already their pages were wilting and the words fading. He had to keep them alive.

"Chief Deganawatha, come quickly!" A voice said from the doorway.

"What is it?"

"Some one has tried to kill Karanhkwa Theyanoguin!" The man, another Onondaga ran off in the direction of the Great Longhouse. Hopefully the assassin had done more than simply try.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

All the members of the Great Longhouse was assembled for the first time since Theyanoguin had taken power. The Karanhkwa stood behind seven people, all with their arms tide behind their backs, their faces covered with sacks. Theyanoguin quietly paced behind them, his face twisted into a deep rage.

No one was speaking. It seemed like no one was breathing.

Theyanoguin rubs his arm, a deep gash was bound under cloths and bandages. "This is how I am repaid?" He said gesturing to the bound people before him. "Onayotekaono, Guyohkohnyo, Seneca, Algonquian, Onondaga and even my own precious Kanien'gehaga." He put a foot on the back of one, bound captive kicking them to the ground. From the sounds they made hitting the dirt floor, Deganawatha realised they were female. "Show the faces of the traitors!" Warriors ran up removing the sacks from their faces. As soon as they were exposed Deganawatha's eyes met with on of the bound men.

Kateri the man from his village, was bound his eyes eyes burned hate into Deganawatha's chest. He had two small children, and another coming soon. Deganawatha's mind returned to when they had spoken during the Algonquin war. Theyanoguin took a large wood and skin-stone club from a near by ledge.

"I will not tolerate this treachery." He nudged one of the women bound before him. She let out a small scream, rivers of tears of fear pored down her face. She tried to reach out to take Kateri's hand, who tried to take hers as well.

"No." Deganawatha thought. He had to do something, he wanted to do something. But his legs locked, and his heart pounded in his chest so hard he was afraid others could hear it beating.

Theyanoguin placed the ball of the club at the back of the woman's skull. Kateri stood, lunging himself at Theyanoguin. But he was stopped by the wall that was Kirit. He forced the smaller man back to his knees.

"It seems..." Theyanoguin said turning to face the Great Longhouse. "that we have volunteer." They went and stood behind the man from Buckallon. Kateri looked up again. His eyes, forcing all his hate into Deganawatha's soul, nearly looking as though he were snarling at his fellow Onondaga.

Theyanoguin raised the club high above his head......

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Come on Deganawatha! Get your shit together! Make a stand and stop Theyanoguin from killing Kateri and the women! :(

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

He didn't move. No one had. Warriors, Chiefs, Holy Men and Women could only sit and watch as Theyanoguin...

Deganawatha forced the image from his mind again, but it quickly returned to dominate his thoughts. He jolted upright in the Longhouse of the Wordmaker clan. Looking around as the fires burned down he could see the others still asleep. Several families had come to join the Wordmaker Clan in the last Moons. Orenda made a small sound as she moved closer cuddling up to her husband. Slowly Deganawatha moved from the bed and out into the cold night air, taking a tomahawk at his side. He had to do something. Theyanoguin was insane. He would destroy the Haudenosaunee if he could not be stopped. He would drag them into oblivion never to be seen in this world again.

Rubbing his eyes Deganawatha tried yet again to force the image of the executions from his head. Looking up into the village centre his eyes focused seeing the Priest Ohstahehte leaving through the gates flanked by two Kanien'gehaga guards. Ohstahehte, one of Theyanoguin's most trusted men. One oh the men that brought this travesty upon the Confederacy. One of the pillars holding Theyanoguin in place, in heights before unresearched in history or story. Deganawatha watched the men for a short time longer. Then, almost with out thought of his intentions, he returned into the Longhouse and found his bow and several bone arrows. He painted his face with charcoal, binding back his hair and coving his skin in armour. He would kill the tree by attacking the roots.

Silently Deganawatha moved though the thick woods. They would follow the road, where it was safe this deep into Haudenosaunee lands. But that would leave them well into the open. He knew he would need to be fast. Ohstahehte being who he was to Theyanoguin would be protected by some of the greatest warriors that could be offered. Degnawatha followed along behind them for a time, staying low and staying hidden, but not once losing site of his target. Running along a fallen tree he crossed over a small stream finely getting ahead of them. He stood with a his back to a tree, notching an arrow he let all the air and fear free from his lungs. He could hear the mean freely speaking, giving way their positions as they neared.

"...that's all really." The priest said as the two Kanien'gehaga laughed hardily.

"How long have you and the Karahkwa been sharing this one?"

"Well, she is mine really. We've been together since we we're kids on the elders heels. But, its good to share with close friends sometimes. It isn't as though she is the only one." The three men laughed again. Deganawatha rolled along his back fired off a single arrow and then feel back again rolling along a second tree. He heard one of the guards stumble and falls with sounds of strained bloodied breaths. No one had improved the armour around the neck yet.

"What was that? You! Defend me!" Deganawatha glanced out from behind a tree watching as Ohstahehte fell behind his one remaining guard. The man held a tomahawk in one hand and a small skin-stone knife in the other. He scanned the forest but could not seem to see Degnawatha. Again he let out a breath rolling on his back he exposed himself to the man and the night. Before he could react he let lose a second arrow which cut trough the night air finding the Kanien'gehaga's eye. He crumbled like a stone on a hill. Leaving Deganawatha and the priest standing staring the other down. Dropping his bow taking his first steps into the moon light Deganawtha removed his tomahawk from his belt, his eyes never leaving the eyes of his target.

The priest scrambled along the dirt road until finally standing holding the skin-stone dagger. "Stop! STOP! I SAID STOP! You Wyandot scum! I know- I know how to use this!" The knife shook in his hands as fear started too over whelm the younger man. Deganawatha simply walked forward never looking away from his eyes. The man had likely never seen battle, never killed in his life. "Stop! I... I...." The fear was slowly replaced by confusion, and betrayal. "You." He asked. "You?" His eyes widened as he spat the question a second time. "What? Why? We're on the same side! We're on the same-" Deganawatha's tomahawk finished the man's sentence for him. He struck once. Only once, keeping with in him is hate and rage to be let lose on Theyanoguin when the chance came. For now, his quest had started, there were many roots that must be cleaved before the tree would fall.

"But the tree will fall." He thought to himself. "As surly as the eagle stalks the rat. The tree will fall."

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Running across a field as the Kanien'gehaga chased him down, all shouting and waving their sticks. Deganawatha ran further as his lungs began to burn. He had been keeping this pace for hours, and he was not as young as he had been. He stopped for a moment grasping his stick attempting to catch his breath.

"There he is!" One Kanien'gehaga shouted. Deganawatha's eyes darted upwards, falling on the man pointing at him. Again he turned and ran, his quick rest would have to do. But just as he returned to his running pace something came from his side knocking the wind from his longs. The earth was hard and solid as he fell against the grass floor. Kirit stood menacingly over him before swinging his own stick down towards the fallen Onondaga chief.

The basket at it's end scooped up the small leather ball Deganawatha had be attempting to get to the Kanien'gehaga goal. "You're a fast one Deganawatha!" Kirit said laughing as he ran off towards the Onondaga side of the field, far out of site.

"Really?" The Onondaga chief thought to himself. "Nearly a thousand Onondaga playing and I haven't seen anyone else since I got the ball." As Deganawatha moved to stand he felt a hand land on his shoulder, then another take his hand to help him stand. Theyanoguin stood there, his hair long and streaked gray, his face growing more wrinkled. He smiled hitting Deganawatha on the back.

"Do not feel bad Chief Deganawatha." He said through a strained breath. "This is a young man's game. Well, and Kirit's game." He laughed. "Come let us get water." The two men walked off the field towards a small near by lake.

"I want the war with the Wyandot." The Karahkwa said flatly. Deganawatha looked up at him.

"But why? Why another war? Why now?" Anger boiled in him. Then more anger but at himself for not having a Tomahawk with him.

"We obliterated the Algonquin in shortly more than a Moon. The Wyandot are closer. They have less lands. And we have more skin-stone armour and weapons now. Why should we not remove our last enemy?" The man hunched over the water simply looking at Deganawatha in a questioning manner.

"There is no need for war. We have not had to face the Wyandot since the fall of Algonquina. There is no reason for it. There is finally peace."

Theyanoguin went to speak again. But with at the moment another man ran up to them. "Karahkwa!" He said. "Priest Ohstahehte and his guards have been found sir. They were attacked in what looks to be a Wyandot raid near Buckaloon." He held up a broken bone arrow head and parts of a bone tomahawk. Theyanoguin looked back at Deganawtha, for a moment, just a moment Deganawtha thought he may have known the truth.

"We have been attacked Deganawatha. We must strike back. For our honour."

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Yes! Finish off the Wyandot! Spare the women and children and have them basks in the glory of the Karahkwa!

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Haudenosaunee warriors assembled in Owaiski, the Seneca town resting a half day from Wendake. Warriors from all nations, including the Algonquin rallied with one another. The small group of Algonquin were being trained on the use of their new skin-stone armour. All warriors now wore the skin-stone armour over their chests (with improvement along the neck for some), armoured head coverings as well as pants, which lacked armour on the back of the leg and the heel.

The weapons were made of skin-stone, many of the bows were a new model, thinner and longer able to fire arrows with greater strength. Kirit, clad entirely in his water-stone armour holding in his hands his two large water-stone hammers, several Algonquin shot him uneasy looks. Deganawatha could understand how they felt, many may have fought Kirit in the last war. Or seen him fight. Deganawatha knew you would need problems with your head to not be afraid of the man. But he knew he would have to fight him soon. The mountain of a man was chief of Theyanoguin's guards, who were tasked with keeping order in the Kanien'gehaga lands, and were now now, invited, into other nations when situations required it. He was probably the most important pillar holding the man in place.

Deganawatha hid a small skin-stone knife under his armour. Theyanoguin walked up clasping a hand on his shoulder. "Come Onondaga. Gather your warriors and let us move out. Soon all the threats to the Confederacy will be removed, forever." Theyanoguin started to move to the head of the army.

"Actually." Deganawatha started. The Karahkwa stopped looking back at the Onondaga Chief. "I wish to scout ahead. Not many of our warriors have seen Wendake with their own eyes. I have."

Theyanoguin seemed to think for a moment. "You were very lucky in your youth." He smiled. "Very well, the scouts are already ahead. Move with them Chief. With that Deganawatha moved into the woods, then quickly moved south along the Southern Great Lake. He would circle around the armies, picking off Theyanoguin's supporters one at a time. And avoiding the Wyandot. And possibly the Kanien'gehaga. And be ready to fight a fully armoured Kirit.

"I'm mad." Deganawatha thought to himself. "I must be." He knew deep inside that he would likely die. If not by the Wyandot, then by his own people. He had left a note, something explaining, everything to Genesse. She did not have her words yet. But she would. And if he did not return, one day she and Orenda would know.

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

Heading west through the forest Deganawatha did what he could to keep track of the movements of his fellow Haudenosaunee. He was also at all times aware of his surroundings, looking out for the Wyandot who would surly be coming. Just as the Haudenosaunee had learned from the Algonquin War, so would the Wyandot.

He moved along a small stream when he heard screams carried on the wind. They were from a woman in the Wydont language, but Deganawatha knew a call for help when he heard one. They were his sworn enemies, and enemies of his people. Again the calls came flowing down the river as if riding the waters. He took off in a sprint towards the voice. Rounding a bend to see the Wyndot woman struggling for her life against a very large man clad almost totally in Water-Stone armour.

"KIRIT!" Deganawatha called out as the sky darkened. The Kanien'gehaga turned to face him, still holding the woman.

"Ah." He said, his eyes cold as his armour. "Deganawatha." He twisted the woman's arm turning her to face the Onondaga chief. "Would you like some?" He laughed loudly. Deganawatha's hands gripped tightly around the hilt of his tomahawk. He wasn't sure if he could kill Kirit. We wasn't sure if he could even land a single blow.

"Let the woman go." Kirit smiled, twisting the woman in his arms again.

"She is filth, she is Wyndot. They are only good to be used by our men." The large man's eyes scanned over Deganawatha as if sizing him up. His eyes rested for a moment on his Tomahawk. His smile grew wider. And he broke out laughing. Kirit tossed to woman into the stream before picking up a rock throwing it at her as she ran, laughing all the while. Finally he turned back to the Onondaga.

"So. It was you." He reached down for his Water-Stone mallets. "The Karahkwa trusts you. But, I know better. I thought you may have killed the Priest. Are you trying to take power for your own little man?"

"These are not our ways Kirit! One man can not rule for long."

Kirit tilted his head from one side to the other cracking his bones. His hands, each nearly the sized of Deganawatha's head lifted his mallets. "Our ways have changed Deganawatha. And you helped, to benefit your own. You are simply as guilty as the men you plot to kill." Rain started to fall upon the two men. Kirit's mass lunged at him throwing water up into Deganawatha's face blinding him. One of Kirit's massive water-stone clad fists found Deganawatha's chin knocking him high into the air, landing hard on his back.

He rolled just in time as on of Kirit's mallets shattered the earth where his head had been moments before. Another and another and another hit followed as Deganawatha rolled back to his feet. He jumped back as Kirit dug the point of a mallet into a tree where it lodged deep into the wood. the larger man simply left it there. "One is fine. I could crush you with my hands if I needed." He lurched forward garbing Deganawatha by the arm. Twisting in back bending him down. "Foolish!" He kicked the man in the ribs. "Little!" Again. "ONONDAGA!" Again this time wish a loud painful crack as Deganawatha felt his ribs break. Kirit lifted him by his arm throwing him back towards the stream, the water from the rain blurring his vision. He started to stand as Kirit kicked him in the side of his head, this time cracking his jaw.

"You are weak! And tiny. Frail and small. The Onondaga have no idea what leadership is. No idea what power is. No-" Deganawatha tossed a large stone which found Kirit's nose. The larger man stumbled back dropping his hammer in the running waters. As blood started to poor down Kirit's face Deganawatha stood, his fists landing again and again on Kirit's unprotected face.

"Your leader threatens my wife!" He punched Kirit's mouth. "My DAUGHTER!" He felt something give as a hit found the larger man's left eye. "My life's work!" Another fist found Kirit's already broken nose. "And you dare to blame this growing hell on me!" He raised a leg to meet with Kirit's chin but it was blocked. He grabbed Deganawatha's ankle throwing him against a muddy embankment. He then rounded again lifting Deganawatha by his shoulders. Kirit pulled back his head, then rammed it forward into Deganawatha's face. Again and again untill dropping him back into the mud. he spat blood down into his face. "Useless miserable excuse for a warrior." He walked back lifting his water-stone mallet from the stream. He returned standing over Deganawatha. Raising the mallet about his head with both hands. "Good bye Deganawatha of the Wordmaker Clan. I'll be sure to comfort your wife for you."

His one good eye opened looking up at the very large man. Rain poring down his armour, his leather pants soaked in blood and water.

"Leather pants." Deganawatha's eye opened wide. "He isn't fully armoured." Quickly he felt around for the skin-stone blade he had taken with him. He found it covered in his own blood but still in one piece. Then as Kirit swung down, Deganawatha lunged forward. Kirit's mallet missed it's mark. But Deganawatha's blade did not. The red, blood covered blade duge straight up cutting through Kirit's manhood and digging into the bone far behind.

He dropped his mallet his hands falling upon his body parts that the Wyndot woman had been resisting so strongly. He screamed in pain, screams the likes that he had never heard. Worse then that of a diying man or animal, worse that a woman bringing new life. As Kirit struggled to stand he brought some of the muddy earth down on him. Deganawatha took up the water-stone mallet turning back to the fallen Kanien'gehaga.

"Good bye Kirit." He brought the mallet down on the man's chest again and again until his screaming stopped. Then he turned to muddy wall, striking it hard until Kirit's body was covered, lost forever under the earth. Deganawatha dropped the mallet and struggled out of the stream. His Tomahawk lay on the shore. He placed it back on his side liping into the forest.

He would need to be careful. With the Wyndot woman here, there must by a Wydont town near by. He fell resting his back on a fallen tree. He would need to rest too. He knew he was lucky to be alive. That was a gift from the creator. He laughed to himself. He was alive, and Kirit wasn't.

A sound from ahead. He struggled to his feet and leapt over the fallen tree, but fell crippled as his feet met the earth. He looked down as pain shot up his leg, slowly weakening as shock dulled his senses. He looked down seeing a bone arrow head lodged in his ankle.

"NO!"

Lifting himself lightly, trying to not raise himself above the fallen tree. He couldn't let this happen. Not now. But as he neared a stone which could defend him another arrow cut through the air finding his shoulder. He fell to the Earth. Panting in pain.

Foot steps. Coming closer. He reached for his tomahawk and rolled back onto his good shoulder. But as he did a foot kicked it from his hand. Two men, in skin-stone armour running from shoulder to waist, rather than shoulder to shoulder stood over him. Their panted faces, and head dresses told him they were Wyndot. One notched an arrow, skin-stone, pointing it at Deganawatha's head.

The Onondaga raised his hands above his head, his mind blank in shock, fear, and pain. The only thought running in his mind was one he had heard over and over in all his wars.

"The worst fate, is to be captured alive."

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Cool updates; Deganawatha's taking down of Kirit sort of reminds me of Ratonhnhaké:ton. Don't know why but it just does. :D

I hope for more!

[Prime Minister]

411 GP/Great Peace (1732 A.D.)

It had been a number of weeks since he had been taken by the Wyndot. There were rules, rules that dictated what was going to happen. Now that he was healed, more or less, it would be happening soon. A few of the Wyndot children would run in and look at him, before running away screaming.

It would have been a funny little game had then not been treating him like a monster. One brave little boy would often stay longer than his friends. He once made fists and struck an aggressive stance. Deganawatha simply sat up, and the boy took of like an arrow. Deganawatha could not help but laugh. It was only a little funny. But it was a bright ray of light. The doorway opened again, a woman holding a pitcher of water, normally it had been a Wyndot warrior how would bring Deganwatha food or water.

Behind her came a warrior, holding a boy about the age of Genesse. Deganwatha's confusion most have shown. The woman touched her collar.

"I... called... Orenda." She said in an attempt at the Onondaga language.

"My wife is named Orenda." He said with out thinking. She seemed to think for a moment before smiling.

"You... save.... me." She said touching his hand. Deganawatha nearly pulled back, but stopped. This was the most kindness that he had been shown in Wendake. "I.... debt.... with.... you."

"No I-." Deganawatha tried to break in but the woman kept talking.

"My... husband... debt... you. My... child... debit... you." She turned to her husband and said something in their language. He nodded and said something back. He placed the boy on the grown, the little one walked over to Deganawatha. He smiled. "Sgádah Domagaya."

Deganawatha blinked. He touched the boy's shoulder. "Domagaya?" He nodded. Deganwatha put a hand on his own chest. "Deganawatha." The boy smiled. Deganawatha looked up at the adults. "Deganawatha Wordmaker." They nodded to him. The woman, Orenda. Added something too the water she had brought him.

"It... dull... the pain." She held out the water. "It.... stop.... the pain." He nodded smiling too her. She stood, and kissed Deganwatha's forehead. "Goodbye, Deganawatha Wordmaker." The Wyndot family then left Deganawatha to his own thoughts. He readily drank down the water. As the sun set two warriors walked in.

"It's time." They helped Deganwatha stand, and walked him to an odd round house. There was a fire lit in it's centre, Wyndot men and women sitting along the sides. Deganawatha was made to kneel before the fire, as a Wyndot warrior knelt opposite him.

Each man painted his face. All the while looking into the sacred fire. Deganawatha was calm. In total acceptance of what was about to happen. He marked along his eyes, and along the top of his chest. Before the Wyndot man nodded to him. The Onondaga chief returning the motion. Then, with a second nod, two Wyndot lifted Deganawtha tying him, with his arms raised above his head facing out to the crowd. The painted man approached.

"Wenachataka, ota ray, ono mayhata, Wendake." Deganwatha did not know the words. But he could guess their meaning. he had heard them before in his own language. "Brother...." He muttered under his own breath. "You have come to die in the lands of the Wyndot." The painted man took up an old stone blade. A sacred item, never to change. Degnawatha wondered how many of his people, how many of his fellow warriors that blade had taken from the world.

The man cut into Deganawatha's arm. And rather than scream out, tainting his own death with the dishonour he so felt had tainted his life. Deganawatha Wordmaker sang the mournful death song of a true Haudenosaunee. The song of a true warrior of the Five Nations. Lifting his spirit above the pain. In the hope that his courage would not fault or fail.


Cold water, meant to help calm and sooth Deganawatha sat near by. They would show him kindness, as was tradition. Deganawatha continued to sing. In his mind returning home, playing with little Genesse. Holding Orenda. Still he sang on, lifting his spirit ever higher. The memories would have to last him.

A true warrior could endure for days.


End Of
Haudenosaunee Imperium: Deganawatha



COMING IN APRIL:
Haudenosaunee Imperium: Tagnaguya

[Cuāuhtemōc]

I can't wait to see what follows in Haudenosaunee Imperium: Tagnagiya.

[Petike]

Question for the author : Are there any agricultural PODs involved in this TL ?

[Ganesha]

Very cool job, Prime Minister. Nice work. :)

Cheers,
Ganesha

[Prime Minister]

Question for the author : Are there any agricultural PODs involved in this TL ?

Some... ish. The Cree OTL had started to develop Agriculture before the arrival of the European. I'm not sure how wide spread it had become, but it has spread far wider in the TL, as well as a few "other" cultural developments for the Native people's. And, as trade increases as nations expand and search for new technologies to combat other developments, just like in OTL Europe and Asia, its going to get interesting.

Very cool job, Prime Minister. Nice work. :)

Cheers,
Ganesha


Thank you very much Ganesha, I'm glad you enjoy it.

[Prime Minister]

The next part of the story is posted here (http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=272535). I hope you guys like it.