NES stands for Never Ending Story, however they do end ;-). At the moment I am participating in an NES run by aaminion00 at CivFanatics. IT is called TribesNES and updates about every 2 days. The thread can be found here but I am going to write the stories and histories of my people, the Aphraeans, below, hopefully illustrated with beautiful pictures.
This table below will take you to whichever time period you want to go to so you don't need to scroll down to look for it, at the bottom of each bit there is a link which will bring you back to the top.

Aphraean History	Aphraean People	Where in the World?
Creation Myth	Pantheon of Gods	The Old Tongue
Other Myths, Beliefs and Teachings
0 f.c.	100 f.c.	200 f.c.
300 f.c.	400 f.c.	500 f.c.
600 f.c.

The Aphraean History

Today, the Aphraean Tribe control a small amount of territory, but that wasn't always so. The Godess Aphrael lived on an island in the midst of the River Iskador, drinking from its waters and living with her companions, the beasts of the forest. Later, she left the world to remain forever more in heaven, and her people built Xiwolvae and nominated her high priest to be the ruler. These people expanded, researched and traded, building cities throughout the world before disappearing, possibly due to internal strife, possibly due to an extreme ice age by the passage of the Mother Sun too close to another star, for indeed it was said a bright light was witnessed all over the world, although this may have been just the gleam of the ice. The people gathered at Xiwolvaé to rebuild, but tropical disease in the newly grown jungles ensured they never expanded further, until that old Empire passed from memory. The city fell down slowly over the intervening centuries and without the skills necessary to rebuild in stone the people simply carted the rubble away replacing it with mud baked bricks. This was the situation at the year 0.f.c. by the Fimbrian calendar which marked the date of the appearance of all the major cities of the world and the date the High Priestess of Xiwolvaé, Aphrael MCCLXXV ordered her people to create a pyramid in honor of the Goddess and sent some on a long march to the river source to found the second city of what would become the Holy Aphraean Empire, upon the site of a similar city, traces of its passage long since eradicated from the face of the World.

Back to top

The Aphraean People Originally

The people themselves are slightly tanned, with blue eyes, occassionally green and blond, light brown or red hair. They are of athletic build due to intense outdoor activities, well educated but abhor violence, the small Army is used as a more organisational, explorational and constructional than military tool. Aphraea is a Theocracy and all control rests with the High Priestess who adopts the name Aphrael upon ascending to power. The sophisticated Aphraens have a complex language and religious system with all the power resting with the Priests and Priestesses, for example, the Army is commanded by the Priest-General, and the Priest-Beurocrats run the government.

Back to top

The Aphraean Creation Myth

In the beginning, there was the Universe who was Mother to all, and she gave birth to Eru and Gemi. The father was the Purpose of the Universe, and by their combined wills Eru was produced and he set about creating the World, and when he was done he asked his Mother to give him the power to imbue his creation with life, however his father spurned him, and he raped the Mother and she gave birth in due time to Gemi. Now Gemi, being the progeny of a rapist father had a personality completely apart from that of benevolent Eru who loved beauty above all, but being brothers, they got along, Eru forgave his brother his sins through love, and Gemi saw ways only in which to exploit Eru's love. Now Gemi was his father's favourite, and when Eru asked him to ask their father to give him the gift of life, he went to his father who gladly gave his son that which he wished. Eru and Gemi then worked together to bring forth life onto the world. Eru wanted to create something beautiful, Gemi wanted dominion, and in due time they had created all the plants and beasts which ran on the Earth or swam in the Sea or flew in the Air, and they set about to create one final species, one with extreme intelligence and close to perfection. Eru created a beautiful form for the creature, but Gemi, being twisted as he was began to put imperfections in the creature, he created the genitals and imbued the person with lust, then Eru created the heart to give it the capacity to love, Gemi gave it a brain which sought self-advancement above all else, Eru gave the creature capacity for honour and loyalty, and so it continued, where Gemi created flaws, Eru gave the creature the potential for the opposite aspect. Finally, Gemi grew bored and gave the creature life and he would become the first 'Ora' meaning Man in the Old Tongue. He then went apart from his brother, who helped the creature he named Manoro grow and develop, and created a second creature, similar in form, but with stunning beauty in order to destract the man from his noble side, and he breathed life into her and she became the first 'Inla' meaning Woman in the Old Tongue. And the woman was sent to meet Manoro, to seduce him with her body. Upon seeing this, Eru became sad at this betrayal by his brother, and he gave the woman whom he called Woeminla a brain not so clouded by emotions as Manoro's was, and she started, as if she awoke from a dream after a revelation and she went to Manoro and she helped and guided his learning and feelings, and in time they grew to love one another and had children to perpetuate the race. Meanwhile, Eru banished his brother from the Universe, and created a race of Gods, similar in appearance to himself to look after the world while he guarded the Universe from his tormented brother and father.

Back to top

Some of The Aphraean Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses

Aphrael - Principal Deity of the Holy Aphraean Empire, Goddess of Luck. Raphe - God of Triumph Inti - Sun God Iskador - God of the River Iskador Eru - The Creator refer to The Creation Myth Gemi - The Banished One refer to The Creation Myth Gaia - The Goddess or Entity of the World Isis - Goddess of Spring and New Birth, daughter of Gaia Yes I am allowed to nick some deities from 'the real world'

Back to top

The Holy Aphraean Empire's Rebirth
0 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXIII Government: Theocracy Economy: 2 Army: 20 Culture: Backwardsc The High Priest Aphrael recieved a vision from the great Godess herself, she was taken to the Holy Grove surrounding the Temple in which the Godess was supposed to have lived whilst inhabiting the World. Behind here, she saw a great stepped-pyramid rising into the sky, the sun just rising above it crowning it in golden light. She climbed to the top and saw the surrounding lands spread about, covered with fields and what looked like rivers of rock, and in the distance a second city to the West in the hills. She turned her gaze North and saw a river of rock following the course of the River Iskador, entering the city by a gate in great walls of silver-white rock. To the south also the road extended, and to the East there was a great bridge, wide enough for 50 men to walk abreast, soaring over the river onto the other side. 'This is what shall be,' spoke the Godess in a harmonious voice, 'You shall begin to bring this to pass...'

Back to top

100 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXV Government: Theocracy Culture: Backwards Large amounts of stone and mudbrick are taken to the center of Xiwolvaé. There, under threat of expulsion from the community, people work day and night on the completion of a great building. It reaches out to the sky... an artificial mountain, where the Aphraeans worship their main godess, Aphrael. The High Priestess Aphrael, conducts daily prayers to her namesake as she leads her tiny city. The sophisticated Aphraeans have a complex language and religious system, but their army is not enough to enforce the building of the pyramid. As a result, a large portion of workers abandonds the city and forms their own kingdom in a nearby village, declaring open hostilities between the two states. The Aphraeans decide to conscript an army to subjugate the rebellious schism and raze their would be city to the ground, then endeavor to advance on the commands of the Goddess. Some Settlers were sent to explore to the source of the River Iskador and build a city there. The Army was increased the army and a large enough force sent to destroy the rebellious workers and raze the city, building a temple to the God Raphe - God of Triumph. The people were induced to breed 'like rabbits' by the High Priestess to increase the population so as to support a lrager Army and replenish the population lost to the settlers going North.

The High Priestess Aphrael stood outside her Temple, behind which the half-finished pyramid stepped up to the sky before stopping above the horizon. She announced to the people that this rebellion would not go unpunished, that the army would be expanded and sent to punish the culprits. A colony will be buil at the source of the River - Iskador Springs, and a new age of expansion and enlightenment would arrive.

Back to top

200 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXIX Government: Theocracy Culture: Backwards After council from their High Priestess to have more children, the Aphraean populatin has taken a noticeable upturn. Within years, young men are drafted into the army, repleneshing it's ranks. They are then sent to bring back the renegade workers, which had by then established a small state of their own. At first the numerical superiority of the Aphreans results in victories in battles surrounding the worker city, however when they get to the city the Aphreans find something spectacular! The workers have joineed together mudbricks and piled them on top of each other to form an enclosure around the city. Baffled at the sheer size of the wall, the Aphreans turn back and look to their High Priestess for guidance. The Aphraean Army lost 45 men, 55 workers died. Meanwhile, an expedition is sent to the source of the river, but has yet to reach it. People are confident that the source is near though. The Aphraeans decided that now they had grown large they could send some expeditions to explore the land around looking for ruins or other small towns of indigenous people.

The Army continued to be expanded, and Diplomat-Priests were sent to meet with the rebels and try to offer them certain benefits if they rejoined the Aphraeans - if force didn't work, diplomacy might was the theory, and if they didn't want to come back to Xiwolvaé, they were offered the chance to accept the rule of the Temple in their new city. A seige would be enforced without being too threatening, so they didn't hate the Xiwolvaeáns, only feared them. The Army was sent to begin explorations downriver, to loot any ancient ruins and to bring any indigenous people under our influence. Women were sent with them so they could establish a port at the river mouth. The High Priestess prayed to Aphrael for guidance as to how to defeat the workers and their walls if the diplomacy fell through. 'Great Goddess hear my pleas, your people are in need of your infallible guidance. In order to continue your orders which you gave to my predecesors I must defeat the rebel city, they have dared to challenge your power and must be punished, help me do your work here.' Prayer of the High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXIX recorded by Priestess-Scriber Hedora

Back to top

300 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXXI Government: Theocracy Economy: 1 Army: 255 Culture: Backwards The Aphraeans almost entered depression this turn only the timely discovery of silver in the hills near Aphreea has created a new trade in the realm and saved the economy. In Aphraea, the Northern expedition to Iskador Springs still hasn't found what they are looking for. But everybody is certain they are very, very close. In the South, a similar expedition is launched, but it quickly grows tired. They forget their orders and instead establish a city at the farthest extent of their Southern penetration called Iskadria. Small pockets of indigenious people are discovered around the river, but they are different from the Aphraeans themselves.

Back in the city of workers, attempts at diplomacy fail. A final conflict looms. The high priestess spends a large amount of money financing an army and sends it crashing at the rebellious city. The battle is ferocious but in the end the Aphraeans are supreme. Tall trees were cut from the forests and rammed into the doors of the city repeatedly till the Aphraeans entered. Inside, the Aphraean army was far superior to the workers, but lost a great number of men all the same. 70 soldiers died, as did 125 workers. For many days there was celebration, but then it dawned upon those in power that the money spent on the army had decimated the economy. For a decade, Aphraea entered a horrendous depression, and it seemed it would never get out. Fortunately however, near the end of this last century, deposits of silver were found not far from the workers city of Aurela. These have provided the spark necessary for Aphraea to climb out of depression... just barely. Now the Aphraeans had three towns from which to command the surroundings they can concentrate on their economy. The silver would be mined and tributes paid to the great Goddess in thanks for the discovery of the silver. Miners were sent to mine the silver veins in the hills, and this would be minted into a coinage to improve the economy and pay the miners. The Philosopher-Priests began experimenting with building in stone rather than the mud previously used. Standing in front of the Temple, the High Priestess looked at the gathering crown filling the plaza, when many were gathered, she ascended the platform erected for the occassion and stood listening to the ovation of the crowd. Behind her, the sun was setting above the pyramid bathing her in duck-red light. 'People of Xiwolvaé,' she said in a loud clear voice, 'Today is the Summer Solstice.' the crowd cheered again, raising her voice she spoke over their calls, 'Today is the Summer Solstice when the World is closest to the life giving Inti*, this will not happen again for several thousand years, today is the day when Inti's presensce among us is greatest, thus we offer up our prayer that he smile down upon the lands of the Aphraeans and bless us with our bounty!' As she finished, the sun set over the great pyramid, so aligned for the summer solstice, and darkness fell over the crown in the shadow of the monument. Festival of Inti, Sun God, occurs every 7400 years when the world is closest in its orbit to the sun. this occurence in 307 f.c.

Back to top

400 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXXV Government: Theocracy Economy: 2 Army: 185 Culture: Rudimentary In Aphraea, the first coins in the history of the world appear. They are silver and highly valuable, meaning that they are very rare. Most families only have a few and prefer to barter, but the wealthy have dozens and use them freely. The High Priestess had had a statue of the Goddess constructed out of silver in front of the great pyramid, which is close to completion. Recent advances in construction have brought about marble, which has completely changed the look of Xiwolvaé. To the North, the Iskador Springs expedition finally sets up a city, but communication is hard between them and Xiwolvaé. In the surrounding area, many tribes copy the Aphraeans' civilized ways and form small tribes. They speak a similar language. The ferocious Iskadrian tribes to the South are engaged in continous warfare. Recently, two factions have become prevalent, both occupying different sides of the Iskador river.

It was decided to approach the northern tribes of Iskadrians in a militray alliance to subjugate the tribes on the southern banks of the river and take control of their land. The northern bank being covered in heavy jungles would make an expedition there futile. The combined forces would then sweep down on those tribes on the Southern Bank, pillage loot and rape, try to take many slaves to force to farm so it would be possible to concentrate on expansion and worshipping the multitudinous deities. Meanwhile the economy needed to keep growing and the Philosopher-Priests, began to think about making roads of rock so that the merchants could travel easier between the cities in all weather. Standing on top of the great pyramid, the High Priestess surveyed her lands. The vision given to one of her predecesors over 300 yeas ago now was coming to pass, to the West the great city was built, 'rivers of rock' called eadors, a derivation of two words from the Old Tongue, 'dora' meaning river and 'eai' meaning ground. These stretched away North and South, although they were still under construction, and the great city of Xiwolvaé was now built from marble, in the heat of the midday sun, the city shone white, at dawn and dusk, it had a faint copper tinge to it. She looked Eastwards, it was here the vision's effects were yet to be seen, no great bridge, and nowhere for a road over there to lead to...yet.'

Back to top

500 f.c.

Nation: Aphraea Ruler: High Priestess Aphrael MCCLXXXVII Government: Theocracy Economy: 3 Army: 135 Culture: Rudimentary The Aphraeans attempt to subjugate the people they have come to call the Iskadrians. They propose an alliance to the Iskadrian tribes on the Northern banks of the Iskador river, who more than happily agree. Upon reaching this agreement both attack the Southern Iskadrians. However, the Aphraeans had made a serious miscalculation. Although the Northern Iskadrian land is easier to defend, it is also harder to grow crops in. Thus, the Southern Iskadrians have a far greater population than their Northern neighbors. Two battles ensue. In the West, after heavy losses, the Aphraeans advance into the Iskadrian land. Farther downriver, a Northern Iskadrian assault on Southern Iskadria proved futile. The Southerners pushed back the assault and are now in Northern Iskadrian territory. The Aphraeans lost 50 men in total, their allies lost 135, and the enemy only lost 85.

Meanwhile, some advances are made in Xiwolvaé. The world's first orginized roads appear in and around the capital, as engineers lay stone blocks on top of the dirt roads. Crafted so that they fit together they allow for far easier transportation and look better combined with the Aphraean marble. After this miscalculation, the militant-priests in command of the army decided that new strategies must be employed. The army would double its sentries and scouts so as to remain safe from attack. Battles would be fought only on favourable terms, otherwise they would retreat from the field, carrying whatever loot they could with them. The atttack would be continued however into Southern Iskadrian territory. All the loot would be sent from the small hamlets and fields back to Iskadria to increase the economy, also funding the training of new recruits to replace the losses...in theory. The lazy workers would begin building roads connecting the four cities. And the philosopher-priests under the leadership of Philosopher-High Priest Antipater, having made great engineering developments would attempt to develop new weapons. With the charitable nature of the Aphraeans it was also decided to send some aid to their allies, although without putting any Aphraeans in danger. Looking up from the desk where he worked, it was possible to see the shadow cast by the Great Pyramid moving across the plaza. Soon he would have to light the fires so he could continue working through the night like he often did. All the younger Philosopher-Priests had already left, but he would remain throughout the night, catching whatever bits of sleep he could while waiting for his experiments to finish whatever they were doing. Currently the High Priest was working to improve the weapons used by the Aphraean Army. He had wild ideas of rocks being thrown through the air, devastating armies, of large bolts of wood as thick as small trees being fired into ranked masses and killing dozens at a time, but the materials he was working with were just too weak, all the prototypes continued flying apart under the tension built up. If he could build it out of stone....but that would be too heavy to move and not have enough give in it. Maybe if he used wood reinforced with stone, but how do you do that...? He drifted off to sleep before the sun disappeared from view, and slept through the night undisturbed with visions in his head as to the future of warfare, tormenting him in that he couldn't replicate that which he saw...

Back to top

600 f.c.
Yet to happen.