Deep within the jungle are scattered stone ruins, clearly the habitation of a race of now-vanished humanoids. Throughout the ruins are many carvings and statues of human figures with feline heads. This fact has given rise to the popular belief that the ruins were the work of a race of cat-people. Scholars scoff at this notion and instead propose that the inhabitants worshiped some kind of jaguar god, who is the subject of the artifacts.
Regardless of who built the now ruined cities, artifacts from this vanished civilization have become very popular as decorations for the rich and powerful of the city of Kyrath. An organization known as the Benevolent Antiquities Lodge was organized to journey into the jungle and recover lost treasures. One of the most prized was a 10' tall obelisk with intricate jaguar carvings. Based on a rough translation of the hieroglyphs along one edge, it became known as the Zcrat Xeen Pozt.
Thus, the BAL (Benevolent Antiquities Lodge) organized a large expedition to carry the Pozt back to Kyrath. Teams of workers had to slash through dense jungle and build causeways across swampy ground. They were followed by wagons drawn by scores of horses. Finally, the archaeologists, escorted by trained warriors, brought up the rear. Once at the site, they were to supervise to ensure that the Pozt remained undamaged.
The trip to the site was uneventful (aside from the laborers and pack animals who fell ill to various jungle fevers). Once there, the archaeologists wasted no time getting to work. Diggers began undermining the obelisk's foundation so that it could be tipped over and then dragged onto the wagons.
Suddenly, there was a blood-curdling screech, like the cry of the lost civilization's jaguar god. After a short hesitation, the archaeologists shrugged and went back to work. So what if it was a jungle cat? That's why they hired mercenaries.
Another roar sounded, this time from the other direction. Then the jungle practically erupted with the sounds of screeching cats. The workers looked around in a veritable panic while the warriors gripped their weapons tight.
"Keep calm! We have protection!" announced the chief archaeologist.
Out of nowhere, a large jaguar rushed the chief, knocking him to the ground. It then stood upright, lifted a large club over its head, and pummeled the archaeologist into pulp. More cats rushed form the jungle into the Pozt's clearing. They stood on their hind legs and were armed with shields and clubs edged with razor-sharp obsidian shards.
"Cat-people!" screamed the laborers as they tried to escape.
They fled in all directions into the dense jungle. Unseen jaguar-headed humanoids pounced on the unfortunate men, dragging them down and dispatching them with blows or powerful bites.
The mercenaries hired by the league kept their heads, however, and formed a defensive circle in the center of the clearing. The surviving archaeologists huddled inside the perimeter. Scores of the cat-men emerged from the jungle, hissing and growling as they approached the human warriors.
Suddenly, one of the men rushed forward, sword and armor shining in the sun. His opponent leapt into the air over the warrior. Landing silently, it lashed out with its club, severing the warriors head. At this, the rest of the cat-warriors charged the defensive perimeter. The air was filled with yells and growls, as neither side would give no quarter,
Despite their superior armor, the mercenaries could not hold off all the attacks. One by one they fell to the feline attacks. Some of the cat-warriors made their way into the center of the circle, killing archaeologists until a mercenary was able to cut down the enemy. Soon, only a small band of humans was left.
"We can't hold out indefinitely." said one of the warriors.
"Then we must fight our way out!" And with a word, the remaining members of the expedition charged forward. They managed to cut their way through the wall of attackers and reach the jungle. But once there, the could not see the pursuit. One by one, they were cut down by sudden and silent attacks as a cat-warrior pounced.
Finally, only a lone archaeologist was left, shivering with fear in the midst of the jungle. He could hear the cat-men surrounding him, but he could not see them through all the foliage.
Then, one of the cat-warriors, the one who began the battle, emerged. He glared at the man, then spoke in broken Common Tongue.
"Go, and never come back. These are our homes."
The archaeologist turned and fled. As he ran, the leader of the cat-men roared a challenge: "Tell your people that the Me'owtzlan are back!"
And thus began the Me'owtzlan War.
OOC Notes
- The Me'owtzlan War was a series of battlegames that formed the theme of Kettlebaun's second reign.
- The idea of the Me'owtzlan began when Kettlebaun (Robb) asked what the theme should be and Shroudstar (much to Robb's chagrin) suggested cat-people.
- Kudos to Robb for giving the cat-people (the Me'owtzlan in Ember Shoals' parlance) a unique and freehold-specific backstory.
- Some of our members got into the storyline:
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| Me in some Me'owtzlan garb |
- Others not so much
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| Robb is not enjoying the cat ears |
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