The Count of Years

Great TL, and a fascinating subject, of which I sadly don't know much. Hence, most of the time I can't make out head from tails on the history flow, the powers/kingdoms that be and other general information.

A map could possibly do wonders.

Also, I think that your literary parts are fantastic, especially since we see this wondrous world from the eyes of Spaniards which clarifies some stuff, and the native impressions regarding the pale strangers provide a further insight in their (mesoamerican) culture.
 
This is great! Got a little confused on the background at times, since the finer details of the Maya kingdoms escape me, but I got the main points. The descriptions, inclusion of indigenous terminology adds a lot of color to the narrative. Including Guerrero is a nice touch too, he's an overlooked figure in the history of this period.

Please keep going!:D:D:D
 
Since some people have had trouble following all this (I don't blame you, I should probably try to be more organized), I shall re-quoute my relevant second post and also provide some more, clearer, maps as well as a list of states with both modern and ancient/ATL names. So here's a clearer map, and here's a Polish map that gives a decent (if imperfect) view of the situation Mutul found itself in as of the last update (which follows OTL so far until the next post).

As usual, here are a few maps that should make the landscape easier to figure out. Here's a trade map, a neat map, and a detailed map. Unfortunately they all use modern names for things, whereas I'm sticking to ancient names as best I can. I'm zany like that. Or I should say stringent. Snooty. Whatever. I'll have footnotes posted to help out with things like that though. Unfortunately I don't have all the resources in the world though, so while I'll be sticking with books written by professionals in the fields of Maya studies as a primary source, I'll be using information from the Sacrifice Game trilogy and my own thoughts to back up vacant spots of data.

Oh, and so you don't get confused, here's a quick guide to pronunciation. People seem to have a hard time with Mayan. I will be using mostly the older orthography of the Mayan languages, at least for established place names, to make it easier. Basically, everything is pronounced as it would be in Spanish, with a few exceptions. 'X' represents a 'sh' sound, a double vowel (such as 'aa' or 'oo') simply represents an elongated vowel, and a lone apostrophe is a glottal stop. I'm not sure how much I want to use the 'j' sound, I'm paranoid that will trip up people the most. It's pronounced as in Spanish, with the 'j' being a guttural 'h' sound. For example, the word for lord, "Ajaw", is not pronounced like the English "A jaw". It sounds more like the old Spanish orthography for the same word, "Ahau", but slightly more guttural if you could call it that. I might just stick to using h's if it seems confusing though.

And for my grand list of important places (tell me if you want me to include less important but still possibly named places), with OTL's modern names followed by TTL's names:

Teotihuacan: Macuixco, capital of the Tamoan Empire.
Kaminaljuyu: Tulan Zuyua/Suywa. Subject to change.
Tikal: Mutul, capital also referred to as Yax Mutul.
Calakmul: Chiiknahb, capital of the kingdom of Kaan.
Dos Pilas: Mutul. Named themselves after the other Mutul. Capital of the Petexbatun kingdom.
Naranjo: Maxam, capital of Saal.
Caracol: Oxwitzha, capital of K'antumaak.
Copan: Oxwitik, capital of Xuxpi/Xwukpik.
Quirigua: Tzuy, or Sak Tzuy.
Piedras Negras: Yok'ib', also called K'in Nal.
Yaxchilan: Pax Chan.
Palenque: Lakamha, also called Tokhtan, capital of B'aakal/B'akha'.
Tonina: Popo'.
Seibal: Wakebnal/Wak Kab'nal.
Cancuen: Mula'ak.
Uaxactun: Siaan K'aan.
Tulum: Zama.
El Mirador: Oxte'tun, in the Chatan region.

If I didn't mention it but you see it in the TL, it's either a place that retained the ancient name (like many in the northern Yucatan), a place I didn't feel important enough to crowd the list well before it was mentioned, or a place I forgot. And why have I done this now all of a sudden, you ask? Because an update focusing on Teotihuacan itself is forthcoming. Hey, the premise of the TL is the Classic doesn't end and the purpose of rebooting the TL was because I can't forget the largest site in the entire period after all. ;)
 

Hnau

Banned
9FH, that's actually a really great aid to understanding this timeline! Thank you for posting it! This has the potential to become an awesome TL. :)
 
Chapter Two

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The Wasp Katun; The Era of the Land at War

The Kingdom of the Snake had seemingly achieved total hegemony over most of the lowlands. Mutul's royal family had been divided into two warring factions, the one not on their side having recently been humbled yet again. They had held sway over kingdoms from Edzna in the north all the way to the Petexbatun region of the south. In the west only Paxchan and Yok'ib' curbed their interests. The great ajaw of the B'akha', Janaab Pakal, was almost 80 years old and on his death bed. The king of Xuxpi, Mutul's other great ally, was even older than Pakal. Traders from Kaan covered an even greater distance than their king's network of alliances. From the isthmus far to the south all the way past the aging Tamoan nation, they brought goods to the towns and cities of Kaan. And even Macuixco itself, a city from which the kings of Mutul had traced their descent and had what was the largest empire any had ever known, had now plunged into ruin and shambles. These were some of the brightest years Kaan had ever known.

But Mutul had no intention of fading into oblivion as their idols far to the west had just done. On 9.12.9.17.16, 5 Cib 14 Sutz' (May 3rd, 682) the son of Nuun Ujol Chaak had ascended to the mat and throne of Mutul. He took the headband, the headdress, and the scepter of rule, and from this point on Jasaw Chan K'awiil (Lightning That Clears the Sky) was dead set on changing the fortunes of his beleaguered kingdom. He set out to make himself Mutul's greatest leader since Siyaj Chan K'awiil, and thusly began crafting this image for himself by building great things to show his power. He showed more strength and resolve than his predecessors Nuun Ujol Chaak and Wak Chan K'awiil ever did in defying the overlords of the Snake Kingdom. This led people to have more hope than ever, even if some among them believed he'd meet the same fate.

-a modern portrait of Jasaw Chan K'awiil based on an ancient banner stone (very big I warn you)-

In this year many other great changes were occurring. The defeat of Saal in a war against their eternal rivals in Oxhuitza led to Kaan having the daughter of Balaj Chan K'awiil, Lady Wak Chanil, take charge of that kingdom herself. Now they would be prevented from squabbling with Oxhuitza, both of whom were still considered important allies of Kaan. Eventually her son was installed on the throne, but since he was still a child she would continue to rule as a regent and take credit for their numerous victories. In this same year Itzamnaaj Balam would take to power in Paxchan, as one of its greatest rulers in its entire history. He too would have great influence over the course of the next coming winik haab [1]. And many lords died in the years surrounding the ascension of these three great lords. A year after Jasaw came to power, Pakal the Great of Tokhtan died at last and was entombed in a magnificent burial under his greatest temple, to be succeeded by his already aging son K'inich Kan Balam the Second. And a few years later Yuknoom Ch'een the Great of Kaan passed on and entered the water as well, succeeded by his son Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk'.

-the sarcophagus lid of Pakal, ruler of Lakamha-


Tensions would grow between these powers until it hit a boiling point at the dawn of the 13th Katun of the 9th Baktun. This marked the end of the Sixth Cycle. Kaan had seated the last cycle, and now Mutul seated this one, the Seventh Cycle, gaining the tributary rights, the holy tree, the holy well, and the title ziyan kan, "Born of "Heaven." Edzna seated the last katun, but now this one was seated by Coba, in the northeast. It was an 8 Ahau Katun. The prophecies for 8 Ahau were the most grim and severe of all the prophecies. It was said to be a time of destruction among governors, and end to greed but through much fighting and bloodshed. A time of settling in a new place. The international councils of priests and sages concluded that things were going to get bad, and they name this winik haab the Wasp Katun. It was up to the rulers to see if they wanted to abide by the word of the councils and the Spokesmen and the Great Sun Priest of the Katun and the Cycle, or if they wanted to put them to the test and fight it out for dominance of the land.

Jasaw Chan K'awiil was the one in particular who could and wanted to initiate the conflict to reclaim what was once his and more. He conferred with the priests, and with the rulers of the cycle seats. In the end, he decided that it wasn't up to any human to avoid what the katun prophecy said. He realized that the prophecy was not what might happen, but what would and what should. If the prophecy spoke of destruction, then he would bring destruction. Jasaw, Ochk'in Kaloomte of Mutul and Lord of the Thirteenth Tzuk', had decided on war.

-Jasaw Chan K'awiil on his palanquin with an effigy of the war symbol Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah Kaan (18 Images of the Serpent) above him also borne by the palanquin. Some details (like his mask) have been eroded-


He had two goals when he started his war. One was the destruction of the Petexbatun state led by his treacherous uncle who had so dearly cost both his father and his kingdom in pride and strength. Balaj's treachery was viewed with great disdain all across the Maya world, even in the kingdom of Kaan, as loyalty to one's family and house was of the utmost importance. The destruction of the Petexbatun would also cut the circle around Mutul that Kaan had created as a noose. To the north of Mutul was Kaan itself and it's allies of Chatan and Maasal. To the east, Saal and Oxhuitza. To the west, Waka and Hix Witz (the Jaguar Hills), and to the south was the Petexbatun, which despite having a lot of area was not as densely populated and the other cities in the region often were at odds with Balaj. They would be the easiest ones to destroy and break the tight grip Kaan was placing all around them.

But Kaan and Saal would attack if Jasaw went south, so to solve this problem he sent his younger brother and most important sajal, Siyaj K'awiil, north to fight them. His army would be just as strong as Jasaw's, and even more importantly Jasaw bestowed upon him the unprecedented honor of having the Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil [2] go bear him and lead his army. With this great power. he believed victory was inevitable. So he went south with confidence in his brother. Despite his brother's inexperience, he had every guarantee that their kingdom's great patron effigy would give him protection in battle as it had for his ancestors before him, stretching back to Tamoan itself, whose soldiers were peerless warriors under its gaze.

Under the effigy of Mutul's uay (personified/animal spirit), Jasaw Chan K'awiil went south to crush his uncle once and for all. Gathering forces from Ik' [3] on the way, they went through the swamps and marshes guided by the local road weasels (scouts/spies). He realized however that despite having far fewer men, Balaj might be able to harry him out in the thick vegetation of this swampy terrain, so Jasaw sought to get out as close to the open grounds of farmland as soon as possible. He also realized that in his old age Balaj would not be with any warriors in the swamp, instead he would either be at his palace or possibly with an army in an open field waiting, not taking the initiative. So Jasaw took his time, and sent out men to persuade and turn his lords of neighboring cities against him, just as Yuknoom of Kaan did to Balaj himself. And soon, with a new host of lords who grew hungry with jealousy from Mula'ak to Sak Tzuy, Jasaw's army grew.

It was in Balaj's capital of the Petexbatun kingdom that matters would be settled. The capital was also named Mutul, which greatly offended Jasaw Chan K'awiil and seemed to him a cruel mockery. He resolved to raze the entire city to the ground should he take it. They had built crude walls in haste, taking much stone from their own temples and houses to do so. Since there were no river routes in, he ordered the local lords of the Petexbatun who joined him to begin the assault, reasoning that people who betray their allies so easily should be the ones who first feel their wrath. They attacked the walls with great speed, using ladders to launch themselves over and assail the defenders. The assault was brutal, but swift enough that the attackers took few enough casualties to reach the wall. They ascended on pole-ladders with great haste and cast the outnumbered defenders down where they did not simply retreat.

Once in however, they found there was yet another wall surrounding the town center. They trapped themselves in a killing alley. The warriors of Balaj fought furiously and slayed many of their former allies, who were taken by surprise and felled in great numbers. But while they did this the men of Jasaw and his allies were patiently and calmly ascending the first wall and reusing the ladders to start scaling the second as soon as the defenders ran out of darts from their spearthrowers and were driven back. Exhausted, the defense was quickly overrun, and as Jasaw promised the entire city was razed to the ground. Most conquerors simply subjugated their takings and installed a client lord to rule them as a new leader, but this second Mutul would never exist again. The palace was taken last, and Balaj Chan K'awiil was taken alive. As punishment for his betrayal so many years ago, he was denied even the honor of being decapitated in Mutul itself. Instead, he was "adorned" for three days for sacrifice here in the ruins of his capital. He experienced much pain for these three days and was allowed to witness the looting of his short-lived kingdom, before Jasaw Chan K'awiil personally avenged his father's honor from the top of Balaj's own principle temple.

This triumph however was not reflected in the northern campaign as Jasaw Chan had hoped. His younger brother Siyaj K'awiil was experiencing much difficulty getting allies to join him, and even when he got some, he was outmaneuvered and caught in an open field by the combined armies of Kaan, Saal, Chatan, Waka, and Masaal at a place called Yellow Rabbit. It was the height of the dry season, and on this dry savannah his tired men were prepared to engage in the largest set-piece battle in the thirteen tzuk'ob for a long time. Both sides adorned and painted themselves in the designs of their Houses. The nobles and the young fighters blooded into warrior societies and highborn houses also adorned themselves with their finest jewelery. After the necessary preparations everyone congregated around the banners and towering palanquins of their own lords, with the Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil over Siyaj K'awiil, and the Yajaw Maan (Kaan's palanquin effigy, a supernatural jaguar) over Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk', each forming the center of their armies.

Kings and royals, nobles and highborn warriors, peasant militias and holcanes (professional soldiers), faced off across one another under the harsh sun, waiting for the time to attack. A hundred thousand men were on this one field. When Yich'aak gave the signal, the large, deep drums on Kaan's side started giving out a steady roaring beat that could be heard for miles. Mutul did likewise, and the people present could only barely make out the sound of the conch shells and trumpets that started sounding over this. It was around midday when the signal to attack was given, and both sides rushed each other. Now a new sound rose, the hard pounding of rubber sandals on sun-baked earth followed by loud battle-cries of the warriors, which each House and warrior society having their own unique shout.

When they were roughly two-hundred paces apart, both sides let their spearthrower darts fly, and many were felled by these. At a closer range the peasants started slinging fast and deadly rocks. But when they clashed up close was when the battle truly started. Both sides attacked from all angles, seeking to find a weak-spot or to expose their flank, both sides also watching for their own weaknesses and covering them. Back and forth they went, and the hot-blooded warriors and glory-seekers would start rushing at the enemy banners marking the presence of a noble whose capture would bring great honor to them. The continued shouts and calls rang out alongside the shattering glass of weapons, the stamping of feet as warriors charged and pushed. Smoke signals and mirror glares were made on both sides to signal out to the further reaches of the armies. The razor blades of the warriors' flint and obsidian swords, axes, clubs, and spears drew blood quickly and easily, and so it was splashed and spilled in great volumes upon that ground. Replacements didn't have long to wait before they had to be called up front and join the life or death struggle, with many braves rushing to their own deaths to give their comrades a chance to charge deeper past the enemy lines.

This went on for hours, until Mutul seemed to be gaining the upper hand when found a gap to exploit in the lines of the troops from Waka. With glee they went into this contingent, slaughtering many, and even the great Serpent bearing Siyaj was going into this fray. And this was the downfall of Mutul. When they saw the Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil going forth into their ally's flank, the warriors of Kaan saw an opportunity, and rushed it themselves. Everyone available went into this one attack, and the warriors of Mutul mounted their most valiant defense, but a great general of Kaan named Chan Muyal ascended the mounting pile of corpses, and with great strength and skill cut down all his opponents, until he stepped foot onto the Mutul lord's palanquin, and took him captive. When this was done, the warriors who had seen this slung their shields over their backs and fled, causing the others to flee or surrender as well. The Battle of Yellow Rabbit was over at long last. The death toll was staggering. Many lords and princes of Waka' in particular had fallen or were taken, with the contingent from Mutul itself suffering almost as many casualties. Besides the dead others were also maimed or otherwise permanently disables. The work of the bonesetters and especially the priests would last a long time. But Kaan had come off with a clear victory here at least.

-the captive lord Siyaj K'awiil-


Jasaw Chan K'awiil returned from his Petexbatun conquests to Mutul, praised as a hero. But in his heart he felt it a bittersweet victory. Kaan had not been humbled, and in fact had won a massive victory. It did not matter that Mutul did as well, for his younger brother was taken to Kaan and sacrificed. The noose surrounding Mutul was broken but at a great cost. Yet Jasaw was not defeated, and in fact he still only sought to grow stronger and make Mutul strong too. The Wasp Katun was not over yet.
Nevertheless, the year 9.13.3 (695) had been one of great changes for the people all across the Land of Turkey and Deer. The powers of Mutul and Kaan had yet again fought out a decisive battle to shape the face of the lowlands, but it turned out to be more inconclusive than either had wished. Kaan was still strong and dominant of the north, but Mutul had remained independent and had defeated their great ally in the Petexbatun region to the south. Both powers however had not yet exhausted themselves of violence and ambition, and the prophecies concerning the Wasp Katun were being fulfilled. Jasaw set his sights on more kingdoms to plunder and absorb, and Yich'aak sought to counter his every move.

Far to the south in the mean time, a great king of Xuxpi had died. K'ahk Uti' Witz' K'awiil had passed away, having recently become a 5-Katun Lord. His son Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil (18 Images of K'awiil) ascended to the throne. He was a great artist in addition to being a strong ruler, and under his reign his capital of Oxwitik grew to become a highly respected city, despite its remoteness on the frontiers. Further to the south, the ancient city of Suywa, long having fallen into obscurity, was now growing again and trying to establish rule over the highlands. Their greatest obstacles however were the growing number of tribes who spoke a variety of dialects moving in from the west. Among them the Forest People [4] were the worst, moving from place to place like vagabonds and with little knowledge of book-keeping, but fierce warriors all the same. And even Zaklohpakab [5] to the south, on the shores of the great western ocean, was trying to exert control on vital trade routes. These troublesome times were only exacerbated by the growing political intrigue in the capital as the ruling houses were starting to turn on each other.

Eventually, Jasaw finally made his next move. A year after the Battle of Yellow Rabbit, he personally sent his forces west, attacking Waka. He did this to further destroy the ring Kaan had created around his kingdom, and because Waka was the easiest target as much of their forces had been destroyed in the previous year's battle. But his advisers were more nervous, as an attack on Waka could make Paxchan nervous, as Waka was close their borders. Paxchan had been neutral in the big rivalry, and they were worried that this might push them close to joining the Snake Kingdom. The advisers were ignored, and Jasaw Chan K'awiil, under a new palanquin effigy, went west with ten thousand men, and soon Waka crumbled, and a new dynasty was created from the lineage that had long ago supported the warriors of Siyaj K'ak'.

Now Kaan was in a dangerous position. Not only were their chief allies to the south and west of Mutul now taken under their enemy's domination, Mutul was now freed from their choking grasp and could continue at will. And in the north many were feeling more important. Their northernmost ally of Edzna was now disregarding their will, and Edzna's subordinates followed suit. Military stratagems were of little use now, so Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ak' turned to diplomacy. Envoys were sent to many far places. To Ixtutz, Ixkun, K'anwitznal, and even as far as Popo', road weasels and high lords were sent with bundles of tribute to turn kings to the side of Kaan.

However, halfway through the katun, Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ak' passed into Xibalba, and was succeeded by Yuknoom Took' K'awiil. In the same year K'inich K'an Joy Chitam ascended to the throne of Lakamha after his older brother died. Under the guidance of his lords Took' continued his father's policy of trying to win over more kingdoms to try and stop the expansion of Mutul. In the east, Ixtutz joined the alliance, and together with Saal they attack many of Mutul's southern outposts. In the east battles raged between the vassals and allies of Kaan and Mutul, to the point where they started sending their own forces to stop the chaos. Oxhuitza was burned. The entire Petexbatun was ravaged again. There was no end in sight.

In the south the madness of the Wasp Katun spread to the highland tribes. The K'iche', the Kaqchikels, the Kekchi, the Tzutujil, and the Mam attacked the outposts of Suywa to establish more independence for themselves. K'an Jolom tried to send help, and his city therefore became embroiled in conflict as well. The most powerful lineages in his city became dissatisfied. Xuxpi was a lone bastion of calm in the storm that had engulfed the entire land. In the closing years of the Wasp Katun, Popo' had signaled their intent to ally with Kaan when they sent an army under their powerful warlords K'elen Hix and Ah Ch'anaah, nobles who controlled the kingdom, to sack Lakamha. This they did, and the K'uhul Ajaw of Lakamha was taken to Po', and adorned with paper strips through his ears replacing his fine jewelry, and here K'an Joy Chitam was decapitated, a sacrifice that cemented a new relationship between Po' and Kaan, and a major setback for Mutul.

But by the end of the Wasp Katun, Mutul had come out ahead. The grip on their city was broken, and Jasaw Chan K'awiil had established himself as one of the greatest rulers of his time. He had defeated and killed his treacherous uncle, and expanded his kingdom south and west. Kaan had lost much of it's control over the area, but it still continued going strong and dominated the east and north of the central lowlands. The far city of Puh, also called Macuixco, had now declined in power as a civil war was brewing between the rulers and the Nahua peoples immigrating from the north and no longer had any influence over the Maya. But immigrants from these western lands in Mexico now came east seeking new beginnings. The population of the area was reaching into the tens of millions. A new time had begun, and they would need a lot of luck and help in surviving the years to come.

___________________________

[1] Winik Haab is the Classic Ch'ol word for katun.

[2] This is the 18 Images of the Snake, an important deity and potent war symbol borrowed from Teotihuacan. When going into battle kings would be borne on massive, elaborate palanquins which had some symbol or effigy of a god that protects their kingdom on it. The 18-headed snake is just the most famous and possibly was regarded as the most potent. Maya warfare had a lot of spiritual elements and the "power" of these symbols was believed to be quite important and influential over the course of battle.

[3] Motul de San Jose. Situated around the lake Peten Itza, the Ik' polity was apparently influential and strong, despite its small size.

[4] The K'iche' people, nowadays I think the second-largest Maya ethnic group, certainly the largest in Guatemala.

[5] Cotzumalguapa and El Baul, a couple of sites with a somewhat distinct culture that spread over a large area.
 
Entr'acte, part two

11.14.17.15.2, 4 Ik, 0 Ik' Sihom
Santa María la Antigua del Darién, Castilla del Oro


Tekum found it a wonder he was still able to remember the date after having been kept here in captivity so long. For a little over a year now, his accommodations consisted of a dark, bare room of stone walls with a small, high window barred with metal poles of some kind providing the only light. His strange captors took him out occasionally but always spirited him to and from his cell very quickly and discreetly. It didn't take long for him to realize the ones who took him prisoner did not want his existence known. But what that could mean he had no idea. Were they pirates among their people? Bandits? Were the local tribes attacking or preparing to do so? Or were his own countrymen not far away preparing a rescue?

The last thought brought him the most solace, and at times like this he found himself wistfully thinking of home. Right now, Tekum thought, his house would be delivering the gods they must've carved last month to their proper places and feeding them with offerings of flowers and incense to prepare for the artisans' festival they must be organizing to celebrate the seating of Ik' Sihom. A chance for all the village showoffs to have their day in the spotlight, he thought with a smirk. He was a little glad none of the local artisans had to accompany him on his ill-fated voyage to the south however. Roughly a year ago he was dutifully leading a small mission to the kingdom's southern outposts to check on tribute, bring supplies, and secure the province from nonexistent threats, and in the process help elevate the K'iche' people and specifically the Cauec House in the eyes of their great kaloomte'.

But now he felt a failure. Everything had proceeded smoothly enough until they reached the boundaries of the southern jungle people and found a series of burnt villages with none of the locals to be seen. Briefly he wondered if the negotiations his people had overseen between the chieftains Cémaco and Careta had failed and one destroyed the other, but both peoples' villages and towns seemed shattered. By the time he got anywhere near what had been Cémaco's own village he found himself and his entourage ambushed by the most odd and foreign looking humans he had ever imagined, and very soon most of his fellows were dead or captive, himself included. He thought he saw at least a couple of the younger warriors with him escape into the jungle, and he kept hoping that by some miracle they got far enough north to call for help. But until then all he could do was figure out a way to make this imprisonment as bearable as possible.

Fortunately for Tekum, the captors were just as interested in teaching him their language and he was in learning it, and better yet they seem to had no inclination to learning his own speech. Being an expert hunter, he found it easy enough to imitate the odd sounds the pale foreigners made, though that rolling 'r' sound was somewhat challenging. Still though, he was a canny enough linguist to pick it up quickly enough to make out names as well as the fact that there were a few dialects spoken by these people, including one that one of the prison guards spoke that seemed entirely unlike the languages the other foreigners spoke in. Very soon he found himself meeting the leader of these people, who at first Tekum thought to amount himself to a king of sorts but in reality turned out to be more of a captain with lofty aspirations. The Captain kept his name secret at first, but Tekum eventually learned that it was Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

And on this day as he was imaging the Ik' Sihom festivities the guards saw fit to present him to Balboa once more, with the shifty-eyed foreign guard with his own language led him on his way followed by a particularly tall and wiry man with a groomed black beard. Tekum had to hand it to them, these guys knew what they were doing as he always had a blindfold put on prior to leaving the prison and as quickly and quietly as usual he was presented to Balboa in what seemed to be The Captain's impromptu audience chambers. Once the doors were shut the blindfold came off, allowing Tekum to witness the Captain arguably rather vociferously with some of his underlings. Apparently his plan to pretend he was a slow learner of the Castilob's language had pulled off as none seemed to mind Tekum hearing bits of this particularly interestingly debate.

"...and Dávila be damned if he thinks he can stop me now! That idiot acts like he's the King's loyal servant, but I know he really just wants the riches of Tierra Firme all to himself! If I don't do anything he's just going to make himself a king on his own in the New World..." Balboa continued to shout, wildly gesturing his extravagantly sleeved arms all the while. The officer bit back a grimace and tried to inform him that his goal was beyond the bounds of the province of Tierra Firme and Castilla del Oro but Balboa waved off such concerns and continued to rant, saying "And that's the problem, that doddering old fool Dávila seems perfectly content to just let Velázquez just take the riches of the Indies for himself. Do you know he's already commissioned Juan de Grijalva to lead another expedition to Yucatán? All the riches of the New World have to be there. Córdoba knew it, and even Cristóbal Colón knew it! Yucatán is our only real option, and don't even mention Córdoba's failure, it was a fluke and he wasn't even prepared, and I'm sure he was also an idiot. The fact is, if we remain in Darién doing nothing we'll lose any chance we have at glory and riches, my friend."

At this Tekum frowned, the news sounded vaguely concerning but none of these names sounded familiar. Yucatán logically had to be close by, but were they speaking of home? It was hard to tell but he couldn't imagine any rich lands to the immediate west or east of this place, assuming was still at Cémaco's former village. His presence still ignored by The Captain, the officer insisted that he'd have to go through some place called 'Veragua' to get to Yucatán, but Balboa did not find that concerning either, claiming, "Such things aren't going to be a problem for us. I already discussed it Diego Colón. Veragua belongs to him by rights and was taken from his father unfairly. Those charges of cruelty are meaningless, what does the King think we're here to do? Convert nations of savages? Colón has agreed to fight for his inheritance if need by and I'm sure the law will support him. He will lend us troops as we make our way north to the riches and glory we so clearly deserve. Once it's ours, the King will have no choice to replace Dávila with me and make me the Viceroy of Tierra Firme!" He grinned at the prospect, and satisfied enough the officer left to get back to work. That settled it in Tekum's mind, Yucatán just had to be their word for the Maya homeland.

Finally realizing the prisoner was present, and ignoring that he had been for several minutes, Balboa waved him over with a friendly enough expression. "Ah, Técum, I'm so sorry your stay had to be as such. I mean, sorry for bad visit. Did not mean to make you worried. But bad men are here and we had to protect you, I hope you don't mind?" Tekum had to keep from grinning as he realized just how much his deception had worked, evidently the 'Castilians' thought him a simple-minded barbarian. He exaggeratedly shook his head and said a simple 'no' and let Balboa continue. The Captain did so, saying in the most friendly and simple tone he could manage, "We wish to do what is right by God and bring you and your fellows back to your home. You would like that, right?" After an over-eager nod and smile, he continued, "We also will have to bring many warriors with us. We need many men to protect your people from the bad men here. We can also help your people find the true way and teach you things you'll need. We can save you from many things, yes? All we need from you is for you to guide us back to your home. How does that sound?"

Tekum had to bite back a grimace at his oversimplified speech and bald-faced lying. The man apparently did not have a knack for subtleties in dealing with foreigners, that much was obvious. But the act had to go on, and this was a golden opportunity for Tekum. Now not only did he know some of his comrades were still alive, but they had a chance for freedom and to restore their honor. Tekum immediately threw himself on the ground, postrating himself before Balboa. Bemused, Balboa beckoned him to get back up and Tekum imitated a perfect Castilian bow, looked him in the eye, smiled, and said, "We are The Captain's humble servants."
 
You might not update this frequently, but I'm always happy when you do. It's simply sublime.
Yeah, it actually kind of died after the previous update and I had no intention of updating it again until today when I did so on a whim more than anything else. On the bright side, it seems we have a whole new cast of characters for the Contact Era-chapters. I had intended on Maya civilization stretching further into Central America as a result of increased population from Late Classic levels (where the Maya had one of the densest populations in the world) but I seem to have completely forgot about that fact when writing the previous iteration of this TL and realistically their longer reach should've had consequences in the colonization of Panama, or Tierra Firme as the Spanish called the region back then. And the rivalry between Balboa and Davila is interesting in and of itself while providing interesting parallels with Cortez and Velazquez, so I felt I had to include it of course.
 
Very good! I like how you alternate narrative and historical updates. :)

Great to see this still alive.

Cheers,
Ganesha
 
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