Excerpts from the Parallel - Establishment

...After the schism in the Great Council of the Tribal Nations, multiple splinter groups took up what they called "the traditional nomadic lifestyle". Of these splinter groups, three bear immediate attention:

1) The Bloodhands are a group that seek to use the technology of the United States and the shamans of the New Magic to purge the land of "the intruders", namely the United States, the People's Dominion of Eniyan, New Avalon, and Rising Moon in the west. They are actively considered a threat to all four countries, as well as to the Tribal Nations. Their symbol is a hand pierced by an arrowhead.

They have attempted to break the barrier set by the Founding Fathers three times as of this publishing; the third time was successful but quickly repulsed by General Carroway, who anticipated the threat. Their current location and plans remain unknown.

Magic use: high.
Mechanical use: high.

2) The Kizes Nomadics are a group that seek to record history and stories of all peoples; their calling has lead to a few branches being established in various places around the world, though Europe is still too hazardous to risk, according to their current reports. This group has been labeled safe by the United States and the People's Dominion; Rising Moon has yet to allow them entrance, though negotiations are underway. Of the nomadic groups now present, the Kizes Nomadics are the only ones to hold a seat on the Council, and one of six tribes to use solely Westspeak as their language, as their group is formed from former members of over three hundred tribes. Their religion has been recognized by the United States.

Magic use: high.
Mechanical use: medium.

3) The Seacalmers are a group that have settled in the Gulf of the Sun's Mirror, south of the People's Dominion. Little is known of them, as they only trade with the People's Dominion, the Kizes Nomadics, and a few small tribes, and do not discuss their own culture. They allow free traversal of their seas, though it is custom to leave a small float with gold coins once you enter the Gulf. It is unknown how they receive such gifts.

Magic use: unknown, believed medium.
Mechanical use: unknown, believed low.

The Kizes Nomadics deserve special attention, as they have been one of the key factors in spreading Westspeak across the Americas, and, indeed, the creator of Westspeak, Wishing Star, was also the founder of the Kizes Nomadics. This language has greatly supplemented and, in some isolated cases, supplanted, the native languages, and is a second language of both the United States and the People's Dominion.

The principle of Westspeak is simple, but elegant; adapting multiple major tribal languages, English, the collective tongue of the People's Dominion and some parts of Rising Moon to the shared land we live in, and further aiding the spread of the language by one of the largest rituals ever performed in the Tribal Nations. The magic affected the entirety of this land, and was fueled by Wishing Star's desire to ensure peace amongst the people of this land. Indeed, the gift seems to have worked; with the advent of this shared tongue, the strife between the countries of this land have slowly begun to fade into a mutual alliance...

- Excerpt from John Blackwood's Of The Tribal Nations, published in 1988.

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God's soldiers, welcome; spiritual guardians of the Truth and the Light, we bid thee, come. Our doors are open to all who preach the Way of the Spirit and the Way of the Savior.

Today -

- the war efforts in reclaiming the Holy Vatican is progressing slowly. Ten brave men were slain in the defense of our current stronghold in Northern Venice's water mazes. However, we are planning a elimination of all the heretics and pagans within the city by an active show of Our Lord's grace, so that our march may gloriously advance.

- No more attempts by the armies of the dead in the Eastern Wastes have been made. The priest-generals at the front lines report an additional drop in the Corruption, but we are always ever-vigilant in our defenses.

- The rebellion by the Sangue Debito is under control. There are isolated pockets of resistance in Vieux Paris and Lisbon that are under siege as this report goes out. With God on our side, victory shall be assured.

Holy God, whose words granted us vindication in our greatest time of trial; Grant us the strength to stride forth with power, and the will to drive out all wickedness in your holy name. Bless us with the perseverance to fulfill your duty, and in the final days, open the gates of your holy city to us, we pray to thee, through the Spirit's Way and the Savior's Way, oh Lord our God. Amen.

-Priest Francesca Marino of the Order of St. Thierry, in the Year of the Lord 1990, 4 April
-Recovered from the Three Crosses Monastery Library in St. Gallen by Kizes Nomadics member and trader Allen Mercutio Warsch

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The chaos of this world is but an ancient memory given life forever. A resurrection of ancient stories, ancient lies, ancient destinies.

It is said that our world is but a reflection of a world which did not 'awaken'. How could such a miracle have been possible? Such a world must truly have been free of bloodshed.

All I know is this.
Change is the only constant.
Change is the only right.
Change is the only destiny.
Change is the fixture of man, the lone, bitter star which all life is focused upon.

And change is our promise and our doom. The final toll of man's soul; our summoning onto this earth; our life's blood, gathered and spilled.

Great daughter of the Raven, watch over us; Father Moon, Sister Sun, Mother Stars, I beg your blessing for the days and years ahead.

-Rushing Eagle, After the Awakening 216/1988 AD, Moon's Frost, Second Waning, spoken into the Conscious Wisdom
-Recorded by the Kizes Nomadics member Nina Westwind