Ningo

From Felaguria: The Struggle for Power
Jump to navigationJump to search
"We will do whatever it takes to survive."

OOC: This faction is currently unavailable for Application.
The Northern Barbarians/Nation of Ningo

The northern barbarians as they are known to the people of the Kingdom of the Two Rivers, refer to themselves as the Ningo. Certainly, there is little known about the Ningo to the peoples of Felaguria. Mostly all that is known are rumors and legends.

The Origin of the Nation of Ningo

The Ningo are a group originally from the Old Empire of the Unknown World. The first generation were colonists sent from the Old Empire to settle the lands that lie along the coast, north of what is now known as the Kingdom of Estoria and the Kingdom of the Two Rivers. After landing the colonists recognized the potential of these new lands and also recognized the freedom these lands presented as well. As their leaders were not part of the original ethnic group of the Old Empire they were low ranking in the hierarchy of that nation. Though full members of the Old Empire for generations, they were only minor nobility, at best, from the fringes of that same nation. Now farther from the eyes of the elite of the Old Empire than anyone else had ever been, they decided they would be their own nation.

As a sign of this, they took apart their ships and used the material to build wooden towers at every place the ships came ashore; as many ships were sent to ensure success. These were intended to be temporary fortifications, used until permanent settlements could be established. They knew, however, that eventually the Old Empire would send more when the colonists didn’t report back, as the Old Empire would assume them dead or lost. Yet no one from the Old Empire ever came. Unknown to the colonists at the time, though learned later, the Old Empire was struck by a plague not long after the colonists departure which eventually led to the fall of the Old Empire. The colonists would soon have other problems, however. The Natives of their newly settled lands attacked. Though the Ningo had their wooden towers and palisades, the natives knew how to use fire and burned the structures to the ground, killing many of the Ningo. The survivors, unable to return home as they no longer had ships to cross the sea nor the ability to make them, were forced to move deeper inland.

Having little time before the attacks to explore their surroundings they did not know which direction to go or how far they would need to travel. They set out east. Over time further attacks by the natives would kill more of the Ningo. Yet groups of survivors would also find each other as well. Finally they passed out of the lands of the natives, who stopped their pursuit of the Ningo. Deciding to settle, the Ningo used what few resources were left to them after their departure, and used what they had in abundance-snow and ice-to create a new settlement.

Survival and War

Small domed structures would provide housing to the commoners and large blocks of ice were stacked like stones to create a fortification for their rulers. Due to the harsh conditions, the Ningo had to adapt what technology they had to survive their new home, though additional settlements were built to varying degrees of success. In the end, they were forced to conduct raids on lands to the south to survive. Initially, these raids were small, and at night, leaving the locals of these new lands unaware of who, where, or what was raiding their lands. As time passed the raids kept getting larger and larger as the abundance of the lands became known to the Ningo. So it was that in the year 470 a force was assembled by the Ningo; not to raid, but to conquer. Crossing into the borders of what had become known as the Kingdom of the Two Rivers, the Ningo began an invasion that would last for nineteen years.

For three days starting on May 25th of the year 488, the Great Battle of Dragons; as the Two Rivers know it; when dragons appeared as though sent by the gods to help the Ningo. The mightest of these dragons, which the Ningo believe to be the Dragon-God, did battle with Melgrath the Mighty. God versus god, it finally ended with the great dragon’s neck being snapped and Melgrath being mortally wounded and carried away by other gods of the Two Rivers. The Ningo believe that Melgrath died soon after and the other gods were too scared to aid the Kingdom of the Two Rivers lest the dragons kill them as well. So the gods of the Two Rivers abandoned their followers; though their followers remained faithful. Through the work of a magical artifact the other dragons were defeated and the mountain range known to the Two Rivers as The Dragon’s Scales was created. This made raids harder for the Ningo, but they were not willing to give up so easily. Since that time, the Ningo searched their southern borders for safe passage into the abundant lands to the South, giving them alternative routes.

Aftermath

Dragons came over time from The Rumorous Island, the native lands of Dragons, and settled in The Dragon’s Scales. The Ningo don’t know why the dragons came, but they believe they nest in the remains of their god. Since that day the Ningo have avoided The Dragon’s Scales at all costs, making their way south around one side of the mountains or the other. Due to the defeat of the dragons, the Ningo believe the Dragon-God was in fact an evil trickster god which has only brought them suffering. To this day, dragons are viewed to be the spawn of an evil god and are both hated and feared. Both the Ningo and Felagurian word for dragon has not been spoken since the defeat. The Felagurian word was learned from the soldiers of the Two Rivers who pointed the creatures out, or fled from them shouting the word. The Ningo hate and fear the dragons so much to this day that speaking either word aloud is highly likely to result in one of the Ningo violently attacking the one who said it, if not outright killing that individual. The written word for dragon in the Ningo language however is permitted, the Felagurian word for the animals is recorded phonetically as well so the word is known in some form. Since this defeat the Ningo have continued their raids, this time through the area the Two Rivers calls the Dark Forest. The sizes of the raiding parties did increase initially. They eventually reached a set size and have not increased since then. Around March or April of 675, raids of significant size have been reported in the northern part of the region known to the kingdom of the Two Rivers as Granville. This has caused concern within the Two Rivers. The feeble resistance from the weakened population has led many to fear that the Ningo may once again attempt to conquer the Two Rivers; a rumor that is looking more and more to be true.

"The End of the Age is A-Coming Now" - Gavin Dunne (Miracle of Sound)

A resourceful handmaiden from the kingdom of the Two Rivers named Esther is captured by the Ningo, yet they soon discover she's not a threat to them and interests them instead. After hearing about her the Patrician of the Ningo, Agostino of Family Cornelia takes a personal interest. Teaching Esther the Ningo language, a plot is soon developed to form an alliance between the Ningo and the Two Rivers. Agostino travels with Esther to meet Princess Barbeta of House Brais, and approving they agree to wed to form the alliance. The small group consisting of Agostino, Barbeta, Esther, and accompanying guards and another handmaiden return to the capital of the Two Rivers. Over the next several days an alliance is agreed upon giving the Ningo access to the abundant resources they have sought for so long.

Nation of Ningo
Ningo Map.jpeg
Kingdom: Nation of Ningo
Capital: Perfugium
Cities and villages: 4-8
Vassals: Commoners
Population: Uncertain
The Ruler: Patrician Agostino Cornelia
Cultural Niche: Offshoot branch of the Old Empire of the western continents of the Unknown World, survival-driven raiders.
Religion: The Old Gods
Resources: Ice, snow, leather, pelts, wood, wild fruits, local medicines, anything they can steal during raids.
Wealth: Very poor
Important Links
CURRENTLY PLAYED CHARACTERS

Active characters:

none

NPCs:

REGIONAL MAP
NingoRegions.jpg

Region names listed as known to the Ningo. Names in the Common language of Felaguria where applicable found in parenthesizes.