A tale of a city

The people were affraid. It was a dark rainy night. The ragtag of men, women and children was moving slowly despite bordering panic. The city of their ancestor was being destryoed at this very moment; it wasn`t sure that they would escape themselves. How foolished had they been! they fought they could rely on barbarians to use and gave up their professional armies, and relaxed beyond their earth walls. They thought they were reaching a golden age of science and art; potery was now being decorated; temples were built with rock statues instead of wooden icons; science evolved as well with the first catapults ever built. They should have realized something when after a generation the foreigners asked for that technology to "plunder surrounding cities and bring back wealth". Instead, they had turned against their allies that had come to consider themselves as masters. And now they were paying for it.

It's true that when they saw the horsemen first arriving, they were impressed by the stirrups and saddles. They barely master leather themselves, and were impressed by the work they saw. Their own military might was barely wooden spears and light cavalry. Luckily, those were survivors; the barbarians were allowed to build a village, which quickly grew as more people arrived.

And know this. A flock wandering through a forrest, hoping to get away from the patrols. The militias back in the city was doing its best to hold up; but a betrayal and a night attack had prompted the citizens of Poropince to flee with what they could grab and their loved ones. Or less. The population, which numbered a staggering 10.000 at the beginning of the war was barely reduced to 500 people running for their lives after they had been attacked over and over again. Now they were worried about patrols and the distant noise of horses. The smoke of the Poroprince was left behind.

Days went by, with the people walking desperatly, trying to escape their old life. Needless to say, as soon as immediate danger was escaped and the former citizens were faced with the harsh and scarce food, as well as with their own inexperience at hunting animals or fruit, tension within the group rapidly arose. A talented hunter was attacked for not sharing his food; a young boy who could barely walk was almost killed by his parent for not bringing back enough food. Some died of exhaustion or disease; their carcass was preyed upon by those that considered themselves as family or friend.

It was in this situation that the ragtag gathered themselves. Had it been a month, a year since they had been chased from their home? Seeing this situation, a man got on a rock and started speaking. His name was Camilick; he had been a peasant whose land had been destroyed and whose family had been slaughtered in the war. In his sleep, he had a dream about a place where they could rebuild what had been lost. Then, the gods spoke to him; and said that if they continued they would find this place. They then procedeed to dictate some rules to him: no more cannibalism, even on the dead. No more right to not share and make stock of food until they had found the place. No more unnecessary noise louder than a normal voice.

Camilick between the de-facto ruler of this hord. He had accomplished a miracle; he had not only got them to live together by certain rules, he had restaured hope they would be a people or even citizens one day. And if not them, their children. Or their children's children. And that alone was giving strenght to the people to keep moving forward through the plains and the forrest. People died less often, a few birth were expected. Celebrations were held occasionaly to appreciate the life they were now fighting everyday to preserve. Yes, they were still vulnerable. But they had hope for the future.

That feeling didn't last very long. Soon, tensions arose again within the group. Some even went as far as contesting Camilick authority. But he did his best to appease the group; either through speeches, or through interventions in dispute. But it wasn't enough. The situation worsened after a pack of wolves launcehd a night attack on the people; they left numerous dead and more wounded. One night, a pair of people intended on murdering Camilick and taking over. He quickly arose, and slayed them with his sword; the yell had woken up the people who were confused and listend to their leader. He said he had been saved by the gods; (in fact, they had just tripped and fell on him before being able to kill him) who promised him that they would find the land within three day after one last trial.