The Haudenosaunee Imperium

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

432: Great Peace. By the Hahnunahese Calender

Onondaga Region, of the Haudenosaunee Confederation

​

It was the Moon-of-many-colours, the time of year when the leaves on the trees had all changed and would soon leave them naked as the winter snows started to cover the land. Walking along new wide well worked earth path Deganawatha made his way to Onondaga, the capital, and great centre of the Haudenosaunee Confederation. The Five Nations had come together, many generations before the Kanien'gehaga, the Seneca, the Onayotekaono, the Guyohkohnyo and the Onondaga stood united and powerful. "The Great Longhouse" it was called in their tongue with each nation serving a role. Defence, religion, agriculture, or diplomacy, together, they were unstoppable. One arrow was weak, but many bound together were strong. As it was taught to them by Deganawida the Great Peace maker so many years ago.

A cold wind picked up catching in Deganawatha's cloak. Using one hand he clenched shut the cape over his shoulders as well as the thick brown leather shirt. His blue head dress tightly holding his mass of black hair to his head, keeping him ever so slightly warmer. He looked up to the sky, the cloud were growing dark far to early in the day. His moccasins were warm, but would not stay so if they were to get wet. Putting more effort into his stride the young Onondaga man hurried to the capital. What ever it was, this meeting was important, or at least it was said to be. Theyanoguin of the Kanien'gehaga had called a meeting, many moons before they were to start again. Theyanoguin was a good man, and a strong Chief for the Kanien'gehaga, and well respected among all the nations.

Finally Deganwatha walked through the open gates of the capital. Some of the guards nodded to him as he passed. "Hurry brother!" One of them called down. "The meeting is already begun!" Deganawatha then started off for the Longhouse where the meeting would be held, upon entering he saw Canassatego the Great Chief of the Onondaga. The man was walking around the fire burning at the heart of the Longhouse and the Confederacy.

"Chief Theyanoguin has said that he has found something profound. And yet, gives us no evidence of this "Great Canoe" this "Ship of the Dead"." He looked up seeing Deganawatha. "Come brother, sit, join us. We have all been waiting with baited breath for you." Canassatego smiled as the counsel laughed. Canassatego was very aged, his hair long and grey, his skin cracked and wrinkled like bad leather, but his eyes, bright and youthful as sharp as a well cared for tomahawk that would stop even Theyanoguin in his step.

Theyanoguin stood, among his Kanien'gehaga. He was almost the exact opposite of he was tall, and strong. His skin a dark red, his hair long but wiry, low other than a strip down the centre of his head. The only thing the two men had in common were their eyes. Theyanoguin's eyes were as sharp as Canassatego, but there was something else. Something, frighting, about the eyes of the Kanien'gehaga man. Theyanoguin stepped into the centre of the Longhouse, facing Canassatego on the opposite end of the flames as the fire light flickered up casting dark shadows on their faces.

In the next instant Theyanoguin turned and with a single motion swung a tomahawk from his side towards one of the wooden pillars lining the structure. It had a short plane wooden handle, and it's head dispersed deep into the wood. It sung for seconds after the impact, in a pitch similar to the sound of birds calling out in the morning to the bright sun. The Kanien'gehag turned, at first to Canassatego then the rest of the assembled men and women.

"There are many more weapons as that one." He said pointing to tomahawk now buried into the wood. "And many other weapons of a nature I have never seen. As well as strong, solid, shining skins that our weapons can not pierce. Yes, this is a Canoe of the dead, but I have no care of the bodies left aboard. No more than I would if I were to find a dead Wyandot in the forest. But if we can learn of these weapons, we will never need to be worried about the Wyandot or their Algonquian pets again."

The room was silent. People looked back and forth from the tomahawk to the two Chiefs. One of the Onondaga near Deeganawatha stared to laugh.

"So, This is about war then."
 
Prime Minister

Prime Minister

Occupied Pennacook Territories, of the Haudenosaunee Confederation​

Deganawatha and other representatives of the Five Nations cut through the thick grown of the woodlands leading to the Great Eastern Waters. All were bound tightly in leathers and furs to fight of the biting cold from the howling winds storming off of the oceans, where they were to meat with Theyanoguin and his Kanien'gehaga warriors. They made Deganawatha as well as others in the Confederation uneasy, nearly as uneasy as the Pennacook who's lands their feet now fell upon. The lands had been taken from them, and their Algonquin friends ten years before. When the Confederation was led by Abhay of the Fox Clan, of the Kanien'gehaga, and father of Theyanoguin. Deganawatha rubbed at a long deep scar on his left shoulder, his mind falling through time, back to his younger self fighting in the war. All that death, all that blood, all the widows and orphans, just so the Haudenosaunee had more lands to grow maize and beaches to fish, and dry their catch in the sun.

Deganawatha, lost in memory, walked into Canassatego, nearly knocking the Elder to the earth, but the old man stabled himself quickly giving the younger man a disgusted look. Then his eyes, and the eyes of each of the men and women with him turned to the sound of crashing waves before them. Their Kanien'gehaga guide stepping to the side, revealing what could only be the "Great Canoe", resting buried deep in the sands. But, this great wooden structure could no more be called a "canoe" than Holy Lake Ontario could be called a puddle. It was the size of a small longhouse, made all of smooth wood. As the Haudenosaunee moved closer, the men and women ran their hands along the curve of the structure. It was cracked, and stained, with strange hard white rocks attached to its bottom. A long singular branch jutted forward from its face, a carving of a woman rested beneath it, naked from the waist up, her hair long and cascading over her body.

"Be alert!" A voice called from above. The Onodaga moving aside as a long knotted rope fell to the beach. One by one they made their way up to the surface of the canoe. It was even more stunning, and awe inspiring to see. A single large tree grew from the centre of the structure, two long branches extending from near it's top, one snapped in half, the other still clinging to a large stained cloth that waved as it caught the growing winds. The damage to the surface of the canoe was extensive, the wood, slippery and moulding making it hard to keep one's balance. But even admits the devastation, the power of the vessel, and the people who constructed it spoke wonders.

Deganawatha walked slowly, carefully around the surface of the vessel, making his way for the dark opening near the end of the wooden surface. He could hear voices from with in. Several men, all Kanien'gehaga warriors, including Theyanoguin pushed against a wall, with a slight crack, sending in shimmering rays of the dying light. Theyanoguin looked up seeing Deganawatha he called him over. "You! Onondaga, come and assist us!" Deganawatha joined the others, but even with all their combined effort, the opening would not widen. They all stood back, looking at the wood as if it were a mountain, unable to be passed.

"What have I been thinking?" Theyanoguin asked to himself. He turned to one of his warriors. "Get me the shining stick that we found." The warrior ducked off, before returning moments latter with a long, flat shining object. Theyanoguin raised it above his head bringing to meet the wood. Instantly, chips flew in all directions, cutting through the wood faster than anything Deganawatha had before seen. Finally, the wood gave way, and the men pored into the newly opened room. Deganawatha could see shining bits of gold and other stones. But there was something else that drew his eyes. Ledges filled with leather bindings. Some had fallen to the floor showing drawings that could not be made out. Deganawatha knew he must be able to see them, take them, before Theyanoguin and the Kanien'gehaga take them for their. He could never answer why, but he knew somehow, they would be important.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top