Psalms of an Exile

By James Vursur

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Untitled Haiku

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Greatness

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Moon Poem II

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History and I

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The Kings

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To Ledicort de Senna 

An Elegy

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God of Owyn

A Hymn for the Establishment
of the Empire of Mankind

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ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘʀᴏᴡᴇꜱꜱ: ᴘᴀʀᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ, 

ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ: ᴍᴀɢɴɪꜰɪᴄᴇɴᴛ,

ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄʀᴀꜰᴛ: ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ.

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The Warband of the Kondorisi maintains a simple and clear display; there only lies the Apu, his Kondorisi, and the Awqaylli that follow him. 

☀ The Apu: The Leader of the Warband, the Lord of all his Kondorisi. Such a Leader grants coordination towards his Kondorisi and Awqaylli, working to ensure they all work towards their end goal of slaying their foes and forwarding the Tawantinsuyin way of life.

☀ Kondorisi: The Kondori are the veterans of combat entrusted with guarding the Apu with their lives. They are brothers-in-arms, true Tawantinsuyin who follow such a path in life. They are made blood of the Apu, a family forged through their ideas of honor, bound by it completely.

☀ Awqaylli: The Awqaylli are known as the simple warrior, those Tawantinsuyin or otherwise who are not yet bled into the Apu’s Kondorisi. These are those not inducted, those who are allies yet not of the Tawantinsuyin Warrior way of life. 

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ᴀᴋɴᴀɴᴀ ᴋᴀʏ ᴡᴀɴᴋᴜʀɪʏ | ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ɪɴᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

The Kondorisi are not ones to mindlessly accept any within their fold, as such a Rite was born long ago to forge such a bond. The Rite of Joining the Warband of the Apu is one of ritual and sacrifice for this bellicose people, the sacrifice of blood. Forth in front of all within this Warband, the one who wishes to join will move face to face with that Apu, that lord, and they both will slice their palms in unison- and in that same effort, join them both. Forging a bond of Blood. A creation of brotherhood.

ᴀᴋɴᴀɴᴀ ᴋᴀʏ ᴀᴡQᴀʏ | ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴀʀ

War. War is an art form, and these Awqaylli and Kondorisi are the practitioners of such vibrancy. Before battle, there is a ritual to commence, which all Tawantinsuyin conduct. It begins with the consumption of the Sacred Teas of the Tawantinsuyin, “Bah’say”, to invigorate their very being. Then would be the anointment of their weaponry within the warmth of that divine liquid, bathing their armaments within the oils of the sun, quenching their metaphysical forms. Finally, upon the end of such baptismal rites, these warriors would garb their bronze visage in warpaint. With all finished, conflict is ready to commence, the Warband will sally to destroy their foes.

ᴀᴋɴᴀɴᴀ ᴋᴀʏ Qʜᴜʀᴜʏ | ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇᴀᴅʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ

In tandem with war are the results of what comes of it: death. The way of the kill is known to the Tawantinsuyin, and it is the Kondorisi who specialize in such, and they are the ones who gain these trophies through sacred rite. As armed warriors of their faith and people, every hour of the Kondorisi’s life is marked in ritual, especially the art of destruction. Those warriors remove the heads of their foes, holding the head aloft by a braid of their own creation, then boiling the amputated artifice within the oils of the sun, allowing it to shrink to the size of a pygmy. Finally, this trophy graces their person, worn always as a symbol of pride in their work; their art.

ᴀᴋɴᴀɴᴀ ᴋᴀʏ ᴡᴀÑᴜʏ | ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ

Sadness, such is normal upon the fall of an ally, though such is not true for that of the Kondorisi. For the Tawantisnuyin, it is merely the death of their physical being, whilst their soul lives onward. As such, to keep this soul resplendent under the gaze of the Hatun Kuntur, do these people mummify their dead. Brought to the chambers of the Kondorisi, these warriors conduct the ritual for their mummification; The dead are bathed within the oils of the sun, and left to sit within those sit within their chilling rooms near their commune, sitting until their creation is completed, and brought back within the crypts of these warriors. From this ritual’s zenith are these allies, friends, and kith allowed to bask in celebration, drink, and converse with the others.

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Should any wish to join, loose a bird towards the direction of Tupaq Amaru, and you will be answered.
[IGN | MonteGiant]

[Discord | fruitgushers6019]

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 ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴꜱᴜʏɪɴ 

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ᴀ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴꜱᴜʏɪɴ

ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄʜᴀᴋᴜᴛᴇQ

History began with the greatest cataclysm of the known world, known to the Tawantinsuyin as the “Pachakuteq”, or “The Great Change of the World”. In this Pachakuteq, it nearly brought the world to its end, for the Sun had turned crimson, the earth was broken and cracked, with red-hot rivers strewn all around, the heavens were made into a void, for the moon had been destroyed as the stars above crashed down upon the earth en masse. All seemed lost; none could fight this cataclysm, their gods of the past were brought to their knees, until that fearsome cry broke throughout the world. “ALALA!” did those people of bronze and copper alike hear, and within the heavens did that shimmering Titan wrought of crimson soar with its mountainous wings. There, it was given a name by the people: The Hatun Kuntur. As it soared, it flew into that blood-red sun and swallowed it whole, killing its poisoned form, bringing it to rest. Next, it perched itself amongst the highest of mountains within the lands of Tawantinsuyu, and did it beat its wings akin to a hurricane, blowing away all those hostile rivers and angered seas. Thereafter, it cried in sorrow, tears flowing onto the earth to aid in its fertilization as it then vomited its bile, restoring that once-torn earth. And in consequence to the moon did it rip out a singular eye, placing it amongst the skies, those additional tears forming the new stars of the night sky. As it finished its restoration, it leapt to the skies and shepherded a newly formed sun, now blessed to never fail again… 

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏɢᴍᴀ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴꜱᴜʏɪɴ

From this newly saved world, did those Tawantinsuyin begin to live by 3 commandments, oaths given unto them by the Hatun Kuntur.

☀ TO MAINTAIN BRAVERY

☀ TO MAINTAIN DILIGENCE

☀ TO MAINTAIN TRUTH

This dogma is the backbone of the Tawantinsuyin, marking a path within their lives always; as such, the “Rule of Three” became a significant force amongst that bronze-hued people. 

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ʀᴜɴᴀꜱɪᴍɪ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ’ꜱ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ

The Tawantinsuyin speak a bizarre language that is different from all languages known amongst Heartlanders, Highlanders, and even Farfolk, for it bears little resemblance to any other tongue but its own. Their language is called Runasimi, a direct translation would be “The People's Language”. Common is a hard thing for Tawantinsuyin to learn, and it takes quite some time to master common in its entirety. When they first start learning common, they will speak as if having no emotion at all, very straightforward at all times. This method of speech is to their detriment; people adept at using common language can recognize its metaphors and mannerisms, but the Tawantinsuyin cannot. Even further, their dialect of common would have that air as if they are always translating what they state, with many errors along the way.

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ᴛʀᴀɪᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴꜱᴜʏɪɴ

The Tawantinsuyin are of their own ethnicity and culture; a collective overall appearance, though with certain outliers. They tend to grow fairly tall and muscular whilst keeping to a broad build, and age slowly and peacefully despite their bellicose nature. A Tawantinsuyin typically gains their first white hairs around 120 years of age, but soon after the age of 135, they age rapidly until their death.

Their skin is the color of bronze or copper, a metallic look with red undertones, a reflection of the lands they name home. Their hair is usually of two compositions: straight or curly hair. Oddly, their hair maintains a silk-like texture with a most wondrous sheen, a gloss ever so evident. The colors of their hair are one of two hues, with one being far too rare; nearly all Tawantinsuyin have deep brown or black hair, though there are a few born with a vibrant crimson. This strange hue is not like that of those gingers, for this is something of an unknown phenomenon that is believed to be connected with the Hatun Kuntur. Their eyes are plain, near black as coal, a deep brown, unless of mixed heritage.

With facial hair, the Tawantinsuyin have a strange function of not being able to grow a full beard in the slightest. Even if you are to find a Tawantinsuyin with a display of facial hair, it is so lacking in volume and so light that it is undeniably ugly, and they are encouraged to shave such disgust from their visage.

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ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʙᴇʜᴀᴠɪᴏᴜʀꜱ

The Tawantinsuyin hold a stoic behavior, honest in all regards, rugged like stone in their harsh speaking. These people value martial prowess and strength above everything else; their youth learn to fight from birth, and are commonly seen upon the backs of their fathers in the middle of battle. Only the Strong; Weakness is not Tolerated. Scholarly pursuits are discouraged unless in the regard of faith or poetry conducted alongside warfare. Words are a coward’s substitute for weapons, laws, and corruption cannot settle disputes when a blade is faster than the wagging of a tongue. Through it all, however, these people, despite their stoicism, are ones of depth able to embrace the arts of life with respect, though their tongue remains one to be seen due to their need to translate all they say. 

Honor is a matter of diligence, and such is a vice to these people in tandem with its act as a virtue. It is born, but it is also gained and lost via the deeds of one's own. The pursuit of glory and honor requires the avenging of slights; it allows the child to transform into that Awqaylli. That Warrior. The Tawantinsuyin are immensely violent, known as barbarians for their practices within war. It is common for these people to scalp, skin, or amputate the foes they have defeated. These people do not whelm in the face of adversity, for even if their head is upon a block with an axe raised above, they remain rocksteady.

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ᴄᴇʀᴇᴍᴏɴɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴꜱᴜʏɪɴ

ᴡᴀʀᴀᴄʜɪᴋᴜʏ, ᴀ ᴄᴇʀᴇᴍᴏɴʏ ᴏꜰ ᴀɢᴇ

The Tawantinsuyin rise to adulthood upon the age of sixteen, their ceremony one of reflection, a delve into the past of their people. These youth are placed amongst the peaks of a high mountain, where they drink the sacred tea of their people, “Bah’say”. Upon the consumption of this tea, the youth are placed within a trance, and the visions they witness would be those of the very Pachakuteq. All would be revealed to these transitioning youths: the destruction of the world around them, the falling of the stars, and that bleeding sun. Such chaos would ebb through their form, causing great violence to stir, and they would be brought to fight those among them. After such a duel, win or lose, they prove themselves ready, and from such will they bear witness to the Hatun Kuntur. Born Again Under The Sun.

ᴛᴀᴋᴀɴᴀᴋᴜʏ, ᴀ ꜰᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴜᴛᴀʟɪᴛʏ

During the times of summer, for the Tawantinsuyin, anger grows and festers in a way unseen by many others. Deaths were once plentiful during this time, murders alongside such. As such, a grand festival in honor of their faith within the Hatun Kuntur was formed. Born to deal with this pent-up aggression. Takanakuy, in common “The Fight”, where all Tawantinsuyin gather within the square of their community, and brawl until their ire is smothered. Duels or mass fights, quarrels, disputes, all shall be settled upon that day.

ɪɴᴛɪ ʀᴀʏᴍɪ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴄʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴀʟ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜɴ

During the ages of great peace and happiness for the Tawantinsuyin, there is a call for ceremony and festivities; For when the Sun shines, the Tawantinsuyin shines back. This festival is a celebration of the Hatun Kuntur and its victory over the great Pachakuteq. In this festival, the Tawantinsuyin dance from dawn to dusk, drink their sacred teas, play games of simulated battles, and sacrifice llamas in honor of those many Huaca. This festival is the truest symbolization of those four realms made whole, granting that feel of security and home, a grace of the Hatun Kuntur.

✠ PREFACE;

In the Imperium, might often makes right. The Imperium is a militaristic entity whose entire bureaucracy is built upon the strength of its arms. Employment in a variety of fields, such as construction, mining, lumber, and smithing are all under the purview of the Imperium Industrium, the industrial arm of the Imperial Military. Because of this, oftentimes the law, which is handled by the military and a select few Justiciaries, can be a harsh force. The Lex is expected to be upheld, although many times, the executor of the law: a Guardsman, Knight, or even the Grand Knight or Lord Marshal, can deliver harsher or laxer sentences to the common man, and it is due to this that many in the Imperium take to settling their disputes through dueling

✠ I: ON THE LAWLESS DUEL

A lawless duel is a duel that does not have an Imperial Official present to ensure its legality. This is a duel wherein two individuals have set up their own boundaries for oversight; perhaps one figure is forcing another into the duel, perhaps they both have agreed but simply did not take the steps to have Imperial oversight, or perhaps two individuals wish to settle an argument over something which would gain too much attention from Inquisitors. Regardless, this duel is outlawed in the Imperium and can result in anything from a fine to a death sentence; though often these duels can be overlooked.

✠ II: ON THE SANCTIONED DUEL

The Sanctioned Duel is any duel that has been proposed by two individuals in an agreed fashion and approved by an Imperial Justiciar. This duel is usually to the first blood; however, if an argument is important or dire enough, it can even be to the death. A sanctioned duel is always proposed by both individuals involved in an argument and always has Imperial oversight in one form or another.

✠ III: ON THE FORCED DUEL

A forced duel can take place when a Knight or Imperial Justiciar orders such. These duels are often a form of resolving petty disputes. If a member of the peerage or a citizen, with the Justicar’s approval, demands a trial by combat, then this is also considered a forced duel.

The weapons of dueling vary widely, especially amongst the many cultures of the Imperium; however, some are more prevalent than others. In any armored duel, it is highly likely that the pair engaging use longswords, as they are the most common and effective blades for such encounters. Upon horseback, lances may be permitted as well until both opponents have fallen. Unarmored duels are much different, usually resulting in far more damage to both individuals if not more deaths. These duels often make use of weapons tailored to do such offenses. More common in the heartlands is the Rapier, a sign of a gentleman’s warrior spirit. In the highland and fringe areas, sabres are much more common as they are tools of the frontiersman’s trade.

Duels do not always need a blade as well, oftentimes especially amongst the army, where losing a good man is much worse than settling a minor score. Duels of fists are forced, with the victor receiving an apology from the loser.

✠ IV: A DUEL OF SIX

When a Trial By Combat is demanded by a member of the peerage, or an approved citizen of the Imperium, they might then demand a duel of ‘six,’ in honor of the Three Exalted and Three Scrolls. If this should take place, a date must be set between the two disputing parties and their five compatriots to join in battle. If the day should come and one side should lack in men, the side with full numbers shall be considered the Victor.