#Amani Empire

[shakytailstudios]

Mde another 'token' for Wonderdraft , specifically a slightly revised version of Zul'Aman but as like an actual city and not a decayed ruin. Got a bit cavaliere with the ground textures as they aren't useful for token making but having it on a trandparent layer for this looked weird. Overall, pretty pleased with this.

[nofatclips]

First Responders by Dinner Party from their debut EP

[whencyclopedia]

Meroë

Meroe was a wealthy metropolis of the ancient kingdom of Kush in what is today the Republic of Sudan. It was the later capital of the Kingdom of Kush (c. 1069 BCE to c. 350 CE) after the earlier capital of Napata was sacked c. 590 BCE. Prior to that date, Meroe had been an important administrative centre.

The city was located at the crossroads of major trade routes and flourished from c. 750 BCE to 350 CE. Meroe is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. As no one yet has been able to decipher the Meroitic script, very little can be said for certain on how Meroe grew to become the wondrous city written about by Herodotus circa 430 BCE, but it is known that the city was so famous for its wealth in ancient times that Cambyses II of the Persian Achaemenid Empire mounted an expedition to capture it. The expedition faltered long before reaching the city owing to the difficult and inhospitable terrain of the desert (and, according to some claims, may never have been mounted at all). Still, the persistence of the story of Cambyses' expedition suggests the great fame of Meroe as a wealthy metropolis.

The city was also known as the Island of Meroe as the waters flowing around it made it appear so. It is referenced in the biblical Book of Genesis (10:6) as Aethiopia, a name applied to the region south of Egypt in antiquity meaning "place of the burnt-faces". Although there is evidence of overgrazing and overuse of the land, which caused considerable problems, Meroe thrived until it was sacked by an Aksumite king c. 330 CE and declined steadily afterwards.

Egyptian Influence & King Ergamenes

While there was a settlement at Meroe as early as 890 BCE (the oldest tomb discovered there, that of 'Lord A', dates from that year), the city flourished at its height between c. 750 BCE and 350 CE. The Kingdom of Kush, founded with its capital at Napata, was ruled by Kushites (called "Nubians" by the Egyptians) who, early on, continued Egyptian practices and customs and, though they were depicted in art as distinctly Kushite, called themselves by Egyptian titles. The historian Marc Van De Mieroop writes:

Meroitic culture shows much Egyptian influence, always mixed with local ideas. Many temples housed cults to Egyptian gods like Amun (called Amani) and Isis, but indigenous deities received royal patronage as well. A very prominent Nubian god was the lion-deity Apedemak, a god of war whose popularity increased substantially in this period. Local gods were often associated with Egyptian ones: in Lower Nubia, Mandulis, for example, was considered to be Horus's son. Hybridity is also visible in the arts and in royal ideology. For example, kings of Meroe were represented in monumental images on temples in Egyptian fashion but with local elements, such as garments, crowns, and weapons. (338).

In time, however, these practices gave way to indigenous customs and the Egyptian hieroglyphs were replaced by a new system of writing known as Meroitic. The break from Egyptian culture is explained by the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus who writes that in the time before the reign of King Ergamenes (295-275 BCE), it had been the custom for the high priests of the Egyptian god Amun at Napata to decide who became king and to set the duration of the king's reign.

As the health of the king was tied to the fertility of the land, the priests had the power to determine if the sitting king was no longer fit to rule. If they deemed him unfit, they would send a message to the king, understood to be from the god Amun himself, advising him that the time of his rule on earth was completed and that he must die. The kings had always obeyed the divine orders and had taken their own lives for the supposed good of the people. However, Diodorus continues:

who had received instruction in Greek philosophy, was the first to disdain this command. With the determination worthy of a king he came with an armed force to the forbidden place where the golden temple of the Aithiopians was situated and slaughtered all the priests, abolished this tradition, and instituted practices at his own discretion.

The archaeologist George A. Reisner, who excavated the cities of Meroe and Napata, has famously questioned Diodorus' account calling it "very dubious" and claiming that the Ergamenes story was a national myth which Diodorus accepted as historical truth. Since there is no ancient evidence contradicting Diodorus, however, and since there was clearly a significant cultural break between Meroe and Egypt with Ergamenes' reign, most scholars today accept the account of Diodorus as either certain or something close to actual events.

Continue reading...

[jordisblogg]

just a quick melody

producer!shuri.u x singer!reader

warnings: fluff, reader & shuri have a daughter

a/n: i’ve been obsessed with empire & producer!shuri like…it’s unhealthy atp. this is rlly short but, i just wanted to put something out while im busy.

it was in the middle of the night, you and shuri were working on a song in the studio room after just putting your daughter, amani, to bed. shuri had offered to help you with your new album, and who were to reject? your girlfriend saved your ass multiples times, you knew she’d do good on this.

as she was working on the beat, you were finishing up your lyrics when—

“MOMMY, MAMA!!” you heard your daughter from upstairs. you and shuri shared a look before dropping your work and heading to her bedroom.

“coming, baby!” you yelled as you both walked up the stairs. once you reached her door you flicked on her lights and there she sat, teddy bear in a tight grip, hair fresh out of her bonnet from tossing and turning, and tear streaks down her plump cheeks.

“what happened, tiny?” shuri asked as you both sat beside amani and she wiped the tears away with her thumb.

“i had a nightmare..”

“oh, mama,” you cooed, securing her bonnet back on her head then bringing her in a hug, rubbing her arm. “what was it about?”

“a big scary monster! and it was living under my bed!”

“any monster should know not to mess with amani udaku!” shuri commented, “they must not know how strong you are?” she pressed into amani’s side, erupting giggles from the 5 year old.

“if that monster messes with you, you know what you need to do?” you questioned, the young girl pondered for a minute before smiling.

“sing and it will go away!” she beams.

“that’s right, encinci, becauseee?”

“monsters don’t like music!”

“and don’t worry, we’ll help you.” you caressed her cheek and gave those pleading eyes as she asked you, “could we sing my favorite song?”

“anything you want, babygirl.” you smiled, and picked up a tv remote.

you and shuri started to snap your fingers in a melodic rhythm.

sometimes you feel insecure, trust me babe, i understand

even with no manicure, just know that i’ll still hold your hand

you and shuri made sure that you both would public radio-fy the song, just to make it more appropriate for her, and she still loved it.

you’re so beautiful,

(shake it, shake it)

give the world a show

(move it, move it)

go up down up down up down

you watched as your daughter started to visibly relax, as she mimicked your hand movements, going up into the air then falling down at her lap.

you’re so pretty when wear that

curly hair, pretty dress, ooo, where’d you get that?

beautiful heart, somethin’ like a bypass

you can go first, i can get you high class, baby

amani did always enjoy seeing you both perform, but you could tell she had a strong love for seeing her mama rap on stage. she would beg you to let her watch her whenever she would be on live tv. you would always have to tell shuri before she went on to use the censored version, to spare the children, specifically hers, she was always happy to oblige.

dang, you’re so perfect, underneath the surface and you got a (smile like the sunshine)

you keep it classy

your shoes are giuseppe, and dang it! (you got me tongue tied, baby)

you both hopped up from the bed, and as shuri began to tuck amani back in her covers, she lowered and slowed her voice.

amani yawned as her head hit the pillow, snuggling up as sleep overtook her.

youre so beautiful (shake it, shake it)

give the world a show

go up down, up down, up down

placing a final kiss to your daughters forehead, she finally knocked out.

you and shuri quietly closed the door behind you, leaving amani to go throughout the night without a single nightmare.

[kalisbaby]

Tweet from Amani @Aurorraz reads: "The earth is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal"

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

[wowtalesofadventurers]

OC-tober day 11 from the perspective of someone who hates them

A World of Warcraft fanfiction for @thepromptfoundry event OC-tober day 11 from the perspective of someone who hates them.

The troll leader of the Amani Empire would never forgive the elves for what they did to his people, even that elf paladin woman Melina whose killed his tribe past leader Zul'jin with a group of Horde heroes. The Amani leader is now waiting for the moment to get revenge for his people on Melina and the elves.

[vonnie422]

Africans teaching Europeans how to bathe 🤢

by Amani Sawari

on February 6, 2019

We often hear about Africans teaching Europeans how to bathe and the other hygienic rituals required in order to build a healthy society. Abu l-Hasan Ali Ibn Nafi, also known as Ziryab, was born in modern day Iran circa 789 CE to a freed Ethiopian slave. His nickname, Ziryab, means blackbird and was given to him in reference to his dark complexion and stunning singing voice. He is known as the innovator of those hygienic practices such as bathing, shaving and the use of toothpaste, perfumes, fragrant oils and deodorant. Moor was a term Europeans used to describe indigenous Africans and while many people may have heard of the term, Ziryab is not a name circulated in Western history and not many people understand the weight of his influence. During the 10th century these weren’t African leaders only contributions to European society.

Ziryab arrived in Cordoba, the Arabic Empire’s ‘Wild West’, in 822 CE. As a master musician, his musical talent dramatically increased his popularity in the region, introducing many of the earliest versions of several instruments, including the lute, guitar and the Lyre. He was so sought after for his musical talent that he later founded an influential music school in Cordoba, Spain translating Eastern ideas into Western European music.  Though he was originally known for his musical skills, his influences weren’t restricted to the music realm. His contributions to music culture in Europe led to his becoming a respected leader that people looked to in many other areas of their lives.

Spanish occupation by the Moors began in 711 AD when an African army led by Tariq ibn-Ziyad from northern Africa invaded the Iberian peninsula. From then the Moors ruled Spain for 800 years allowing African royals and other leaders to influence many aspects of Spanish society. Ziryab was a natural born leader and pioneer. Along with reforming music Ziryab introduced a new style of eating in Western Europe, set course meal. The new eating style began with a soup that was followed by a fish course, then a meat course and finally a desert. This is an eating style that can still be seen in Western society today. He also recommended the use of crystal, as opposed to metal, to serve drinks. Ziryab expanded Europeans diet with the introduction of a variety of new crops including hard wheat, sugar, orange, lemon, peach, apricot, fig, sugar cane, dates, ginger, pomegranate saffron and rice. All of these continue to be prominent in Spain today. Instituting these new crops in the region required the Moors intimate knowledge of irrigation and cultivation. They also taught Europeans how to properly store spices for up to 100 years.

 In addition to establishing new hygiene practices, founding a music school and introducing new crops in Spain, Ziryab was also considered a fashion icon at the time. Clothes became more than just modest coverings for the body as Ziryab used clothes as a form of adornment. He was unique in the way he would change his clothes according to the seasons and weather and even went as far as having different outfits throughout the day.

During the time that London had a largely illiterate population, unpaved streets with none of the technological advancement of the Roman empire that existed 600 years prior; the Moors advanced greatly in hydraulic engineering. During the 10th century the Moors had paved roads, street lighting, running water, hundreds of public baths, mosques and well stocked libraries. Because paper was needed in order to create documents to transfer knowledge the Moors also brought paper making to Spain, and under Moorish conquest the first paper mill is recorded at Xàtiva in 1151. Along with this, over 4,000 Arabic words and derived phrases were absorbed into the Spanish language. Spanish use of words like algebra, alcohol, chemistry, nadir, alkaline, cipher checkmate, influenza, typhoon, orange, and cable can be traced back to the Moors.

As we can see in the many examples presented, the Moors mastered several methods of survival that vastly contributed to European society from the 10th century into the 12th century. During this time the Moors introduced multiple new scientific techniques to Europe in astronomy, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography and philosophy. While conquest came as a result of war, during the Moors’ reign, the people flourished in Moorish Spain with paved roads, universal education and efficient hospitals. Leadership requires the effective transfer of knowledge and the Moors successfully transferred several methods and techniques of their high functioning society to Europeans. These contributions continue to go unnoticed and ignored in Western public education. It’s essential that we circulate these stories in order to better understand our history through a proper lens that honors the work of our ancestors.

[wowlorecraft]

The Darkspears have long been the black sheep of trolls. That is, until Queen Talanji allied with the Horde. Our actions in Tal'gurub have greatly influenced our forbearer's tribe, certainly so as our deeds are known through ancestors and common loa. Despite this renewed ... peace is not entirely the right word but so be it--with the Gurubashi, the Darkspears, like the Sand Trolls, and alongside other island and diasporic trolls determine that the time is appropriate to truly build an Island Troll capital to call their own.

Their island, at the foot of Durotar, uses the name "Echo Isles" in Common. However, in Zandali, the true name of the region is "E'ko Isles," referring to the life force, the spiritual power, that each creature possesses. These once-Jungle trolls, now inhabiting lands free of murlocs and sea witch nagas, call in the support of their Zandalari allies and construct a beautiful, modest yet perfectly Darkspear capital on the Isles. They call it: Zul'E'ko

Though some say Zul'Echo--and this is the accepted Common standard spelling--the proper and appropriate term is E'ko, Zul'E'ko and E'komari, that last one as an adjective to describe island trolls

E'komari Trolls (also: Ekomari, Echommari) decided their name in a troll council consisting of Islanders, Zandalari, diasporic trolls, and Horde representatives. It was decided that physical and cultural differences between Jungle and Island/diasporic trolls was significant enough and warranted a new identity forged in this time of peace:

As it had been the Horde--and notably the Horde centred at Orgrimmar--that had most ardently supported the Darkspears, the construction of the word is to use "-mar" (declined as "-mari") in recognition of those enduring bonds.

E'komari Trolls seek to stand amongst the Empires of the greats: Tall alongside the Zandalari, strong amongst the Gurubashi, honourable aside the Farraki and Drakkari, and more than capable afront the Amani. Let the E'komari era unfold as one of the great troll eras!

[juliaswickcrs]

BINARY STARS :: ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

Zoya Onasi:  the deuteragonist and main character of the narrative, Zoya is a former padawan of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi who watched the Fall of the Jedi Temple with her own eyes. Fearing for her safety, Master Kenobi hid her on Bogano, where the presence of the force masked her innate power and strong signature from the Empire, and more importantly, from Darth Vader.

Amani Navarre: A Captain in the Imperial Navy with little to her name, Amani was recruited at a young age for her intelligence and innate prowess in strategy. She is one of the most trusted soldiers under Director Krennic and Governor Tarkin, entrusted with Imperial secrets few would dare dream of. Secretly, she searches for her sister, who she lost in the onslaught of the Clone Wars.

The Twelfth Brother: A mysterious figure who emerged with many of the Inquisitors, his low rank and tenuous grasp of the Force make him unstable and unreliable, yet he is entrusted by Lord Vader himself to find and hunt down Master Kenobi’s former Padawan. His past hides a history of betrayal and rage that fuels what power he holds in his hand, to say nothing of his obsession with Zoya Onasi, who he refuses to let anyone but himself deal with. 

tag list: @bisexualterror​ @foxesandmagic @iron-parkr @jvstjewels @camiemendess @a-song-of-quill-and-feather @arrthurpendragon @villain-connoisseur @starcrossedjedis​ @drbobbimorse @noratilney @stanshollaand @kingsmakers @elmunson​ @darth-caillic @mystic-scripture @aliverse​ @misshiraeth98 @chrissymunson​ @asirensrage​ @eddiemunscns

[coruscqte]

“I am Waale’jah of the Ener’jaka, and I will never back down!”

-

new league oc because i was like ‘mannnn amani’s just an arcane oc, what if we make a fun little overpowered top laner’ and then waale’jah was born during my walk back from class the other day lol.

this is is obviously just concept art, looking at it less than 10 hours later i’m not incredibly pleased by it now but it’s the first digital work i’ve done in a minute, so i’m ok with it.

other fun stuff below the cut but otherwise like + reblog if you like it <3

- waale’jah is possibly an aspect host? but it’s more likely she was chosen by her people’s light goddess — najeleh, and given celestial powers that way. no one knows if najeleh (pronounced nah’jay’lay’) is an aspect of light, while her opponent sha’jaka is an aspect of darkness.

- najeleh has not chosen a champion in some time though, since being defeated after her reign over the ener’jaka many centuries ago. tl;dr the ener’jaka empire needs both light and darkness, not only one. but najeleh and sha’jaka have been in constant turmoil, and when najeleh won, the ener’jaka were blessed with immortality and wanted for nothing — but they could never die, never reproduce, and never leave their land. when sha’jaka defeated her in a moment of weakness, he plunged their lands into darkness, a plague spreading among their people that reduced their immortality down to quick healing, but often killed off their young and left many to die when they left ener’jaka lands.

- waale’jah however was selected by najeleh at birth, like many of her chosen in the centuries since she was defeated. she can still influence life on runeterra, and her chosen are marked by golden irises and strong minds and bodies. this doesnt mean they stay her chosen however, because at 20 years of age they are tested in ritual for their spirits, minds and bodies. not everyone comes out alive, and waale’jah is the first in over a 100 years to both be chosen and pass her trial.

- she is imbued with najeleh’s latent abilities, making her stronger, faster and close to immortal in terms of healing. she is to represent her goddess in the fight against sha’jaka, and is sent out into runeterra to find allies against him in their celestial war. more chosen by their aspects to put the ener’jaka back into balance.

- and thats why she joins the rift. currently she’s looking for leona (the closest to najeleh’s power as an aspect of daylight/sun), and afterwards diana (closest to sha’jaka’s power as an aspect of the moon). likely this follows as she tries to find aurelion sol, anyone who’s willing to follow her into the spirit plane to push sha’jaka back into his rightful role.

- other notable ments:

- meets sett in navori during her travels, goes toe to toe with him. loses, but they become friends.

- meets taliyah, k’sante and nasus at one point. while the ener’jaka have long been hidden, they were never far from shurima.

- considering their spiritual connection, goes to ionia for help in her celestial war, finds theyre at war with noxus currently. meets karma though, and karma shares her wisdom with her.

- met pantheon during her travels. curious about his aspect connection.

- is a top/tank support champ. can build mostly ap in the latter, but preferably ad in the former. her abilities allow her to dive and keep people on her rather easily, chipping away health through leaps or throw her auto attacks that are imbued with the strength of najeleh.

- (the ap version of malphite because the more mr she stacks the more damage she does)

[pluralzalpha]

Galactic Gazetteer: Utapau

Type: terrestrial planet

Moons: nine

Location: Utapau system, Tarraba Sector, Outer Rim Territories/Western Reaches

Capital: Pau City

Inhabitants (native): Pau'ans, Utai

Inhabitants (immigrant): Amani, Sugi

Official language: Basic, Utapese, Amani

Affiliation: Galactic Republic/Confederacy of Independent Systems/Galactic Empire

First appearance: Revenge of the Sith (2003)

Fun fact: riddled with sinkholes, in which the major cities are constructed

Another fun fact: Utapau was one of the original scripted names for the planet that became Tatooine

[this-tumbleweed-surecan-fish]

On Mezalea and Horses

While in most of the world horses are regarded as useful mounts and strong pulls, there are some empires that have unique relationships with them. Like Gilded Hilanthia, where horse breeding has a long tradition and the best of the best are seen working on the farms. Or the Lost Empire, where horses form the basis of amany magical ritual, a base that can be changed and transformed into more.

Or Mezalea.

Mezalea is famous for it's dislike of horses, though to say that they simply hate horses and move on would be an oversimplification. In Mezalea horses are regarded as omens. Not even always bad, though it's considered best to be wary. Killing a horse can be a good idea, though depending on what it is an omen for, it might just make things worse.

Killing a horse is a serious crime. One big enough to be brought before the ruler in chains and have them judge over the faith of the accused.

Killing a horse is a ritual. A sacred act. And there are very few who are allowed to carry it out.

The be a Horse Slayer is to be not only a religious figure, but a social one too. It's less about horses and more about committing yourself to your country and it's people, about putting their survival over yours.

To become a Horse Slayer there are a number of things one has to learn.

You are a child of the Mother Tree like any of us. Feel Her heartbeat, feel the pulse of the land. Be one with it. May your bones be metal and your flesh be stone, may your roots dig through the earth and flowers sprout from your soil, out of your finger tips. Listen to Mother, for She knows more than we do. Protect Mother, for She does the same for you. Protect your siblings, for you are the strongest, the one to carry their burdens, their pillar and their shade.

To teach a martial art to kill horses may seem odd, but once again. It's not about the horses. The fighting style characteristic for Horse Slayers is recognizable by the low stance, the contact to the ground that is near always maintained, the quick movement and the focus on taking your opponents balance, their contact to the ground. Whether unarmed or not, whether against a fellow Horse Slayer or not, a fighter without a strong contact to their land is considered lost.

That's not how you kill horses.

2. You will not speak for Mother, no matter how clearly Her voice rings. That duty is and always will be Her favoured's. The ruler must learn to be a Horse Slayer, must prove their connection to the land and loyalty to it's people. A sovereign that raises hands against Horse Slayers or claims themselves worthy of killing horses is to be executed. May their corpse fertilize Her gardens and feed Her children.

The Kings and Queens are chosen by the Mother Tree. Her choice is not to be questioned, for Mother knows best. The other Horse Slayers stand as supporters to the ruler. The vast majority speak multiple languages to connect to other countries and strengthen Mezaleans bonds with them. Despite her reputation as a loner, Mezalea knows the value of allies, knows that she must reach out to dispell other people's distorted notions of her. Knows not to spill her secrets, to keep herself guarded. A Horse Slayer on forgein land must know to speak but also when to shut thei mouth. There are centuries that no one needs to know of who isn't born of clay and bark.

3. Donkeys and mules are gentle creatures. They will not walk where it is unsafe, so trust their judgement. They will not trust who means harm and they will not carry more than they are able to. They are strong, the primary mount within Mezalea and take the heat much better than their less trustworthy cousins do. Donkeys and mules are to be treated with respect and not to be killed unless their suffering can no longer be healed. Every part of them can be used, from their fur to their bones. Do not however eat their flesh raw or unseasoned. It's simply rude. Take time to prepare it as a thanks for the animals work. Savour it. It did well.

Don't build build homes were donkeys refused to tread or sleep. They are Mother's as the rest of us and their instincts tell them where it is safe or not. The relationship between a donkey and its caretaker should be built on trust and care. Neither should betray that trust.

4. You must be wary of horses. Some are omens of death. Do not kill those. Send them away, where the death that follows them cannot befall your people. Others are symbols of change. Threat them kindly but keep them away from towns. If they bite, kill them before the blood hardens. Others are symbols of war. Of love. Of wealth. Of coming disasters. It is a Horse Slayers duty to identify a horse for what it is and act accordingly. The manes of dead horses may be woves into fabric or embroidered upon it by qualified hands. Do not wear the hair of a horse sou didn't kill. Their bones may be used for instruments or dice. Just don't let the children play with them. Their flesh belongs to the Horse Slayers and is theirs to eat. Theirs to judge safe to eat. What means good change for one could be death to another. Be wary. Do not trust them. Kill them quickly if you have to. Always chop of the head.

Do not kill a horse while it's asleep.

[celedyn]

May DWC 2023

Day 2: Divine, Tragedy

((For the characterizations in this story it’s important to note that this takes place decades prior to Hakkar’s rising obsession with sacrifice and the resulting Gurubashi Civil War. Aji is not a malicious character, and the things he says are true to his lived experience and understanding.))

Celedyn wrinkled his nose, shaking his head in startled displeasure like a kitten who had just been unexpectedly cuffed. “What do you mean, ‘loa of blood?’ I don’t want to go to go to a bloodbath! I’m not dressed for a blood festivity! A sanguine celebration! I’m dressed for a breezy tropical excursion to the shaded streams of the capital! This is polychrome damask silk! Do you know how difficult it is to weave polychrome damask silk? I don’t! But it looks very!!” 

Aji’s warm laugh rolled out like thunder and he tipped slightly in his saddle, prompting his raptor to sidle up to Celedyn’s own mount so that he could ruffle the high elf’s hair. 

“It’s not like that, little bird. The loa of blood is… he’s not something to take so literal.” He let his hand drop lower, briefly cupping the high elf’s cheek, then lower still, pressing the warmth of his palm into his chest. “Hakkar’s power is in the heart beat, the way your pulse races in passion, the thrill of being alive, the energy of a battle, he’s much more than… hm.” The troll stopped, his gaze on the path ahead. Celedyn leaned, following his gaze, but there was nothing more remarkable than a shrine bearing a quartet of masks, the foundation below piled high with flowers and offerings. Aji tipped once more and his raptor turned, its companion following suit. “… much more than simple blood.” 

Celedyn squinted, twisting  back to look behind them as the pair set off in the opposite direction. “What was that?”

“I like taking you on the scenic route.” The high elf frowned, leaning and ducking to make sure that Aji could see it. The troll tried to subtly avoid his face, shifting one way or another to block him off, but finally sighed as it became evident that Celedyn would not be dissuaded. “…They didn’t want to be seeing you.” 

“They who? The tiki traps? Am I going to be setting off the temple defenses?”

“Those ones aren’t tiki, little bird. Those rush’kah are honored guests from the Jintha’Alor ziggurat. Old fetishes.”

The high elf opened his lips, a dirty joke already on the tip of his tongue before the words caught up to him, chilling his blood. He sat up straight in his saddle, blinking, then leaned in with an alarmed hiss. “Jintha’Alor? You mean they’re Amani?” 

Aji gave a soft grunt as he gave one final glance behind them and steered their raptors around the bend and out of the shrine’s line of sight “Jintha’Alor hasn’t been part of the Amani Empire more than a thousand years, little bird.”

“And how old are those rush’kah? More than a thousand years?”

“Old enough to know the old loa. Old enough to know the ways of the lost city.” 

“You mean Zul’Farrak?” Celedyn’s brow creased as he tried to sort out history into its proper order, like herding a vast field of cats. 

Aji gave a soft sound of confirmation and climbed smoothly down from his raptor, placing a large hand on the high elf’s waist. “And old enough to have already been old when your flock first came to our shores, little bird.” 

The high elf reached down, rubbing his fingertips into the warm velvet of his lover’s arm. Bit by bit his ears stood back up once more, like a dial marking his rising confidence. Finally Aji gave a gentle tug to bring his attention back to the present and Cele turned in his saddle, sliding down from the raptor with the taller man’s assistance before being circled in his arms. “Why don’t they like me, though? Things should like me, I’m an extraordinarily likable elf!” 

Again that rumble of laughter “I don’t know, little bird… and I’m not asking them, so don’t you go trying for it. I’m sure Hakkar will like you, isn’t that enough?”

“Of course he will! I’m fun!” Celedyn grinned, leaning up just slightly. Aji caught the gesture immediately and stooped just enough for the elf to comfortably plant a kiss where his lips curled over a thick tusk. 

“Yeah… yeah, you are” he agreed, taking the elf’s hand in his own and planting a fond kiss on the back of his skinny fingers. Properly assuaged, Celedyn stepped down the path, giving a single tug before allowing himself to be caught up to, the pair settling into an easy, familiar gait as they made their way down the winding trails of the temple city. 

@daily-writing-challenge

[babydollscharm]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: FAIRY LOOT Mirage by Somaiya Daud Hardback Book.

[darkelfharlot]

Basically the lore of Humans and High Elves in Warcraft has them arrived to a new continent, the Eastern Kingdom and find land inhabited by the Amani trolls.

Even though the Amani trolls make it clear complete with stone markers, that this land is not only where they live, but is sacred to them, humans and elves still settle right in the middle of the Troll's holiest temples and predictably get attacked. Humans learn magic from the High Elves and together they start massacring the Amani trolls, destroying their empire and forcing the surviving trolls to live on the fringes of the land where they are treated like vermin instead of sapient beings.

The story, even today, unanimously treats the Amani trolls as the "villains" because they're "cannibals" and practice voodoo.

Warcraft has gotten worse about this too if you want to hear.

Yeah that's plain awful, and the justification of it with them being "savages" is insufferable as shit. By all means, if you can be bothered to tell me about it some more I'm all ears.

[wyrmguardsecrets]

" former Amani Empire being "sacred troll land" when there's no establishment for that in canon." See Founding of Quel'Thalas and pg 121 of Chronicles Vol 1, "They called their new land Quel’Thalas or “High Home,”... The trolls did not agree. The high elves had built their new kingdom atop ancient Amani ruins—ruins still considered hallowed ground by the trolls."

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