So here's the deal. None of this is mine; all I will be doing is some spelling and grammatical corrections. This is all from a thread on Alternate History dot org that became truly epic. I will include the names of the posters with their posts. You may miss some background information depending on how much I want to sift through the chatter between story posts. Well, without further ado…
Mr. Shine
Draft Timeline.
August 1498:
Christopher Columbus encounters a group of Arawak Indians on Tobago, having sailed away from Trinidad after his men reputedly began hearing strange cries in the night. The natives treat the newcomers warily but choose to try to warn them. They present Columbus and his crew with the skin of some sort of huge flying animal, mottled green, blue and black; and then show him a primitive bow and a set of three arrows, each far too large for a man to use (except as a siege weapon). They tell stories of flying giants that once strayed too far from Trinidad and drowned in the sea.
Columbus initially dismisses this as fanciful heathenry, but takes both the skin and bow and arrows back to Spain after... difficult negotiations.
Early 1500s:
Portuguese ships discover the eastern coastline of a large continent south of Trinidad. Early forays onto the coast bring back reports of huge trees, fierce beasts and fantastic plants and animals unlike anything else known. The animal life accounts for many fatalities but the prospect of turning even a few of the local resources into items of fantastic luxury prove too enticing. Logging, trapping and plant harvesting begin amid a climate of extreme danger.
Until the day that male stupidity ruined it all.
It had been considered curious that no Indians had been encountered, but the Portuguese entrepreneurs counted it as a blessing and a curse: less trouble but also less exploitable labor. A logging crew on the way to clear a new patch of forest encounters a group of female... creatures. They are blue, they have tails and are nine feet tall… but they otherwise look much the same as Indian women.
They are also bathing in a stream.
The men get ideas.
The gangling crew barely gets an opportunity to try to mob the group of women when a great arrow sails out of the trees, answering the women's screams and neatly impaling one of the lead men through the chest. The women take advantage of the shock to grab for their knives, sword-sized skeletal claws of some great bird, and the first blow cleanly cleaves another mans' skull down the middle. The terrified men begin to flee, arrows claiming more of their number as they try to get back to the river and the logging camp.
None of them make it.
The next day, screaming blue warriors riding dragon-things descend on the camp, impaling men on arrows like pigs on spits while others on giant, six-legged horses finnish off the survivors with their daggers.
News of the attack never reaches Portugal.
Late 1519:
Arriving in Tenochtitlan, Hernan Cortes hears more stories of giants to the far south. Asking the Aztec Emperor of this, the only reply he gets that a land of Gods and Demons lies there, though a translation error renders it as "Land of God and Demons".
The following is background chatter
Mr. Shine
I've done some thinking...
And based on what I know of South American Geography (climate and Geography are the same as OTL abut the biosphere is Pandoran), I can divide the Na'vi clans into four or five "cultures".
1. Classic "Omaticaya" type forest dwellers in the jungles of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. Clan settlements are based on large Hometrees which, depending on their age and size, form either the center or the entirety of the groups living and ceremonial space.
2. Semi-nomadic hunter-horticulturalists in the Atlantic forests. Settlements are based in communal dwellings built from trees cleared during horticulture (which focuses more on nurturing orchards producing sweet or starchy fruit than root crops). Like the Basin dwellers, Ikran and "direhorses" are important components in the local culture. The first European contact is believed to have been with one of these clans, specifically the "Red Shell" group (need a name in Na'vi)
3. (more of a subgroup) Nomads who inhabit the semi-arid palm scrub in the Northeast of OTL Brazil. Like the Amazonians and coastals, "direhorses" (Pa'li) are extremely important, but instead of bonding with Ikran, hunters bond with Thanators (Palulukan) for the advantages in hunting the local Hammerhead herds. They seem to a collection of smaller clans who have been pushed out of the forests after losing various clan conflicts over territory. However, the Ten Quills clan does hold guardianship over one of the three northern Soul Trees. In more peaceful years, they are able to move into the greener scrub to the east.
4. The "Horse Clans of the Plains". Much like the northern nomads, but more so, covering much of the OTL Argentine flatlands. This culture places a strong emphasis on the herds of the pampas, the hunt, Pa'li and mounted archery as well as personal bravery in inter-clan conflict and horse-raiding. Settlements are based around tall, spindly plants that possess water-retaining complex root systems as well as nectar-wells for the Pa'li. Unlike the scrub-dwellers, Palulukan are not bonded with, but are still important totemic animals based on their general badassery. Spiritual life is based around the continents one southern Soul Tree.
5. The "Stone-layers" of the Andes. Arguably the most advanced of all the Na'vi cultures; they practice extensive horticulture by nurturing food plants on artificial terraces on mountainsides, introducing plants to otherwise barren locations. As opposed to the monotheistic shamanism that characterizes most of the continent, many small sub-cults are formed around different aspects of nature. Also, there seems to be a primitive form of a written language in braided cordage. Both can be attributed to the relative distance of the nearest Tree of Souls (located on the eastern foothills of the Andes in the mountain forests of OTL Eastern Peru) from the main centers of confederated clan politics. An "Inca-analogue" if you will", though with heavy use of sure-footed draft-animals (including mountain Pa'li) and Ikran, with the largest rookeries located in the high Andes and the floating mountains that accompany them.
P.S. Thread Bump.
Story
Ephraim Ben Raphael
June, 5, 1532 Anno Domini
Just Outside the French Colony of New Marseilles
An arrow shot past Bertrand d'Ornesan , nearly taking his arm with it and he barely kept himself from flinching. This was going to work he thought. So far the bleus had beaten any European forces they came in contact with. But today that was all going to change. The Portuguese and Spanish had tried to fight les bleus as they would have a human army, meeting them head on in a battle line. The bleus (d'Ornesan neither knew or cared whether they were demons or simply animals) had simply cut the Portuguese to shreds with their devastatingly effective archery before charging and using their great bulk and the bulk of their mounts to smash the humans who remained. And that had been the end of the colony of Sao Vicente and the Spanish settlement of Rio de la Plata. The only remaining Portuguese outpost on the mainland of Vespucciland ; Pernambuco, survived by virtue of constant reinforcements from the Old World and staggering losses to the bleus and the monsters in the surrounding jungle.
But dye from the false-cycads sold for equal weight in silver back in Europe and cloth made from the pateboule trees was more valuable than silk. Not to mention the skins and heads of monsters, though far more difficult to get, were just as valuable. Which was why d'Ornesan had been sent, to get France a piece of what might prove a very lucrative pie. The colony of New Marseilles was just up the coast from Pernambuco; in theory so the two European settlements could help each other out, something that happened very rarely in practice. Though an admiral by training, d'Ornesan had taken to land warfare quickly, and had spent the past few months trying to figure out how to use the heavily armed troops he'd been given. After 3 skirmishes (not counting raids and ambushes on his men) that had ended worse for him he finally had an idea of his foe's tactics and a plan.
They were currently on one of the small flat-topped hills a short distance inland, the increased altitude hopefully mitigating some of the range of the bleus archery. Rather than make the same mistakes as the Portuguese and the Spanish, the French soldiers were spread out and hidden behind a mound of dirt piled for shelter. There was no cavalry, as horses, in addition to being slower and smaller than theterriblescheval the natives rode, were terrified of the native beasts and the almost supernatural control (indeed it might be supernatural) the natives had over their mounts made cavalry worse than useless. D'Ornesan had a few archers returning fire but that was just to keep up morale, they had no chance of hitting anything. In front of the archers was a line of French pikemen, crouching as low as possible to avoid taking any more casualties. In addition there were about 90 arquebusers, their weapons had a short range and were impossible to fire accurately, but the sound of gunpowder seemed to be the only thing capable of spooking the terriblescheval. So far this battle was like the last 3, the bleus would fire volleys of arrows and then their mounted warriors would charge.
The arrow fire slackened and the Admiral called out to his men; "Etre Prepare!" There was a pounding sound as if a thousand drums were sounding at once. D'Ornesan could see the enemy advancing as they charged up the slope. They continued to fire as they charged, and there were groans from wounded pikemen. Just a little closer… "Pour dieu et le roi!" He cried out the signal. Immediately the pikes leapt to the side. They had taken heavy losses but it would worth it if d'Ornesan could pull this off. It had taken a great deal of effort to move the two cannon into position, but now as they spoke it paid off. The grapeshot plowed into the advancing riders and the charge staggered. At his signal the arquebusers rose and fired. You get enough arquebusers together and you're bound to hit something. More of the enemy fell, but still they came on. The French archers fired two volleys before the cannon were reloaded. This time when the smoke cleared it showed only fleeing mounts and maybe half a dozen bleus running as quickly as they could. One rider, his mount crippled, crashed into the pikes and lay still. Beyond the bleus foot stared in shock then started to pull out.
D'Ornesan had lost a third of his men but it was still the greatest success any European force had experienced so far. "Strip the bodies of their weapons and skin the dead mounts." He instructed. "We can send it back to France." His mean cheered but their cheers ceased still born when the rider that had made it to the pikes groaned. One archer almost finished it off, but d'Ornesan stopped him. "Take it prisoner. We can give it to the priests to study." He sent his clerk, Jean de la Vega, to find chains.
I need European names for stuff!
bleus- Na'vi Any ideas for a better European nickname?
falsecycads- Pseudocycas altissima
pateboule- Obesus rotundus (puffball tree)
terriblescheva- direhorses
So what do you think? I figure the Portugese control the Fernando de Noronha islands and maybe there's a Spanish colony in the Falklands(or whatever their ATL name is). I am more than willing to make changes or throw this out entirely if you guys don't like it.
The chatter here discussed the possible religious implications and reception of the Na'vi, I thought you would be a bit lost here if I didn't explain that.
Ephraim Ben Raphael
January 9th, 2010 06:38 PM
June 7, 1531
Pernambuco, Portuguese Brazil
"There can be no doubt," Father Manuel de Nobrega told his colleague, "that these creatures are not the work of god and therefore must be the work of the devil." "But does the devil have that much power?" Father Jose de Anchieta wondered out loud. "No, of course not!" Nobrega gestured to the Amazonian chained before them. "Do you not see how the beast resembles man? Yet its size, the coloring of its skin, that it has four fingers rather than five, the clearly demonic tail, speak it otherwise. The devil cannot create new species, but he can twist those already existing for his benefit, hence the altered horses and other beasts he has marked with six limbs, six being the sign of his evil. Whatever ancestors of this creature were men, having given their souls to darkness, were mated to demonesses so to create the bastardized offspring before us. Let us not pity them for they deserved their fate." The being in question had been staring malevolently at the two priests ever since being brought from the French vessel and now closed its eyes arrogantly. Anchieta considered. "Perhaps if they are descended from men they can be saved? It would be a shame if so many souls were lost…" Nobrega dismissed this line of thought. "They are too far gone. It cannot be denied that christ died for humanity and if this is not human then all of our efforts would avail to nothing." "At least allow it to be studied." That was the Frenchman de la Vega speaking. "Admiral d'Ornesan wants to find out if we can learn its language. The bleus might provide a possible source of labor if we can learn to understand them." "Language? The grunting of animals." Nobrega dismissed the possibility and left.
"I think that I will attempt to examine the creature." Anchieta told de la Vega. "If nothing else I might learn invaluable knowledge about Lucifer's stratagems." He approached the Amazonian. How human it looked! It was studying him as well, the Jesuit realized. There was no anger in its gaze now, but rather…curiosity. "Peu nga pe?" It said. Anchieta shook his head to indicate that he did not understand. "What are you?" He asked the Amazonian. "What are you?
Mr Shine
Here's what I have,
June 5, 1532 Anno Domini
24 Miles from the French Colony of New Marseilles
The male Palulukan sniffed and prodded the carapace with its tongue, hoping to find some small morsel of gristle that the Hunters may have missed when they had butchered this Hammerhead calf three days ago. At its flank, a child sat practicing her cord-making with a length of palm leaf. To its far left, a mother sat with her baby, alternately scraping the calf's hide and nursing her infant. And All around the beast, the palm huts of the Ean Telem, the Clan of the Blue Cord, hummed with the everyday tasks of survival and Life.
But the news to come spoke mostly of death.
Clan warriors rose into sight, leading lone Pa'liby their tendrils while archers on foot straggled behind them. The Palulukan raised its head from the shell long enough to realize that something was wrong. Fewer hunters were returning than had left, and most of these horses he recognized; all the new horses that came back from raids smelled strange, he was smart enough to realize that.
He knew these horses... he'd dreamed of eating a few of them...
And their hunters were not riding them!
The Clan Leader emerged from one of the larger huts, and he too immediately knew that something was wrong. He stalked toward a hunter that was dismounting his Pa'li. "Where are the others? What happened when you attacked the Small Ones?"
The Hunter was... still in a daze, as if his entire world had just been shaken. "I... don't understand it." He tried to explain to his leader. "When we charged, they had some... new kind of weapon. Terrible noise, like the whole world had cracked in two. Smoke that smelled worse than from any fire. Something must have hit us, many small things." The rider cast his eyes down. "We've heard these things before... but never like this. " His eyes now travelled to the wound on his side, a glancing blow from a piece of grapeshot, but bleeding all the same.
Now another person approached the returning party. A young adult female wearing the blue threads in her braids that signaled all of her clans mated adults. "What happened?"she asked as she looked over the returning party.
"Mii'kali and his band were routed... some had to be left behind." Said the Leader. Captures and deaths were not unheard of in raids, but hostages could be bartered back and burial was a communal event between clans to bring (or force) a peace.
"Where is my mate?" The young woman demanded of the returned hunter. He didn't answer, but his gaze travelled ever to the ground.
The woman's next sounds were not really words, they were more anguished, grief-stricken screams. She did not collapse, but instead blindly ran to one of the huts and ingressed, exiting with a bow, a carapace knife and began running for one of the unused Pa'li. She was about to ride out toward the human settlement before the Clan Leader got between her and that general direction. "What are you doing?" the Leader demanded, strongly but more calmly than she had been.
"I am going to retrieve my Mate. Whether he's dead or merely captive, I will make sure that the Short Ones return him!" She was angry, but her anger could prove her doom.
"Are you insane, woman! See for yourself what their weapons did to seasoned hunters..." Another of the mounted warriors spoke up, dismounting his horse before the female interrupted him angrily.
"Do you think I am not a hunter, is that it? I was hunting just as long as you before Tyyn Sa and I were bonded!" The woman, Ey've, was very angry, and may have been beginning to let her grief overtake her before the clan patriarch spoke up again.
"ENOUGH!" The Leader bellowed before looking back up at the woman. "You cannot go against the newcomers." He thought hard on something. "You will ride... but it will be to inform the Clan of the Ten Quills of this development. If they can rout us, than the other clans are also at risk." He began stalking towards the Palulukan, linking his queue to a neural whip and mounting the beast. "And I will come with you. We have fought in the past and they may not wish to assist those who have been enemies... but if I am there, than they will, at least, know that our warning as sincere."
Some of the women were able to finally move the hammerhead calf carapace away to be worked on as the Pa'li carrying Ey've and the Clan Leader on the Palulukan began loping westward toward the dry scrub that contained the Clan of Ten Quills and one of the most sacred sites in their world.
(ooc: I sort of made the names slightly symbolic, as to provide friction during the translation)
Well, that's all I feel like transcribing right now. Until next time…
