Thousands of years ago, when the world was still hardly inhabited, and if inhabited, then little civilized, the ancient Mayas experienced their golden age.
A vast territory, populated by numerous tribes, stretched from the dense rainforest in the north to the fertile Lowland in the south, from the Great Lakes in the west, and to the Highland in the east. It was divided between large empires and small kingdoms, independent city-states, and the Nordic nomads.
One of the largest and prosperous empires of those times was the Eagle empire, that covered many thousands of miles and gave home to hundreds of thousands of people in its numerous settlements. It is said that those lands were handed over to the first ruler by the Eagle god Ahau Koot, who appeared to him as a gigantic eagle. Since then, the eagle became a symbol and a protector of the empire, and each sovereign was crowned as Eagle emperor.
Nacumal, the splendid capital of the Eagle empire, did not have any rivals: monumental palaces of white limestone, giant pyramids and spacious avenues were built to impress both the enemy and the sovereign's own people. In the very center of Nacumal, a beautiful temple proudly stood out from the rest of the buildings: it was the holy Sun Temple, the architectonic pearl of Nacumal and the depository of the imperial treasures. But far more important was the real treasure guarded inside the thick temple's walls: the wisdom and knowledge of the Eagle empire collected over many generations. Close to the temple's main entrance, a giant statue of a golden eagle was set up, embellished with precious jade and turquoise stones, and six guards keeping watch over it day and night. The legend says that it was the first ruler who ordered to build it after closing his alliance with the mighty Eagle god. Since then, the statue became a holy relic that symbolized that alliance and reinforced the union of the nine tribes who had pledged loyalty the Eagle emperor.
But the capital was not only famous for its architectural miracles. You would find there any comforts to make up for the merciless tropical sun and the proximity to the jungle: from an excellent water supply system via aqueducts, shadowy groves and highly popular taverns, up to spacious public baths, built as per special order of the current emperor Ikal Koot IV.
Nacumal was also a home to an enormous market, the largest and most important of all the known trading places from the Great Lakes to the Highland. It was there where merchants Pochteca used to arrive with their caravans, bringing exotic articles from foreign lands; it was also there where local traders Polom used to close their deals. The market offering answered any wishes, sophisticated as they might be: endless market rows presented an abundant offer of fresh corn harvest, heavy yellow squashes and sweet paprika, colorful feathers of the bird quetzal and amulets with mysterious glyphs' inscriptions from the Lowland, as well as pearls, green jade stones, extravagant turquoise jewellery and sharp obsidian knives from the Highland. Merchants favored cacao beans as a means of payment: for example, a housewife with some experience in haggling could get a big turkey for some 20 cacao beans or a fat rabbit for some 10 beans.
But as it often happens, wealth and prosperity go hand in hand with jealousy and envy. It is therefore not surprising that enviers have always thrown greedy glances at the imperial granaries, fertile lands, palaces and their treasures. Nomadic tribes, who have never been very friendly-minded, have started again crossing the imperial borders and harassing the local population. But they still avoid open confrontations with the imperial troops, well knowing that to defeat the owner of the highest pyramids and the thickest defence walls is not that simple. And there are many who have heard about the alliance with the mighty god Ahau Koot...
But frontier conflicts are nothing in comparison with a more serious and pressing problem posed by the archenemy of the Eagle empire, the Balam dynasty from the Valley of the Great Lakes, known as the Valley kingdom. The last king of the Balams, haughty and jealous Wakatel Balam II, was the owner of vast lands conquered and incorporated into the kingdom's territories by his forefathers. Though wars have always been waged between both great empires, no one of the adversaries has ever managed to completely defeat and destroy the other.
Some moons ago Wakatel Balam II was forced to accept a humiliating defeat, leave his booty behind, and cede the conquered lands to his enemy. Those were the terms of the Eagle empire, whose troops made a great booty by capturing the prince Chan Balam, the only son and heir of the Valley kingdom. Besides, an unheard of ransom for the prince's liberty was to be paid if the king of the Valley ever wanted to see his son alive. To humiliate his archenemy, the Eagle emperor wanted to see Wakatel Balam II on his knees, begging the winner to release his son and heir.
Notwithstanding the truce closed for the next 24 moons, Wakatel Balam II could not swallow his humiliation and defeat. And he took a terrible oath, swearing by his own honor and by the honor of his forefathers, to take an unheard-of revenge on the Eagle emperor, his satellites and allies. He swore that he would not rest till all the royal family is wiped out from the face of the earth, till droughts and plagues destroy the enemy's lands. But how to carry out this dreadful oath? Wakatel Balam II learned well his lesson and knew that to defeat the enemy in an open battle was not the strategy to go for. As soon as the ransom had been paid and his son set free, Wakatel Balam II sent out his spies, ordering them to report about the frontier fortifications of the Eagle empire, the number of troops and their dislocation. Then he thought of winning clever and artful allies who would help him to trick the Eagle empire with witchcraft and scheming.
To start with, he approached the coyotes - wild tribes who have earned a very bad fame all over the jungle for being very cruel, ferocious, and little civilized. Also, they have an issue not yet settled with the Eagle emperor's family who rejected the declaration of marriage of the coyote leader Utiw Kabih for the hand of the beautiful princess Itzamal. For that reason, Wakatel Balam II's diplomats felt quite sure that the coyotes would be eager to take any opportunity of revenge on the royal family, especially if there was a chance of pillaging and robbery.
It must be said that the coyotes don't build their own cities; neither do they erect pyramids of white limestone, nor plough the land. The only area they are experts in is warfare and pillaging. As a reward for the coyotes' participation in the defeat of the Eagle empire, Utiw Kabih was promised a quarter of the future booty, and the princess Itzamal as a special prize on the top of it.
Apart from getting the full support of the wild coyotes, Wakatel Balam II managed to convince a formidable folk of black naguals, undoubted experts in the arts of black magic and very dreaded by everybody. Black naguals are able to send plagues on their foes' lands, or turn themselves into any physical form, be it animal or human, and catch the enemy unaware. As a reward, the king of the Valley had to promise the naguals the holy Sun Temple of the Eagle empire for their sole pillage. The naguals have attempted many times to get the access to the temple, but so far in vain. It was not the treasures that they were so much after, but the wisdom and knowledge of the Eagle empire guarded in the Sun Temple over many generations. It seems like this time they have at last got a real chance to gain the access to this sanctuary.
Sometimes a mistake, small as it may be, must be paid very dear for. And sometimes it must even be paid with life. While being on the mission in the Eagle empire, two spies from the Valley kingdom fell into the trap, were caught by the border watchmen, and brought to the emperor himself. And so the emperor learned about his archenemy's revenge plans. It seems like despite the recently negotiated truce, the king from the Valley of the Great Lakes is back on recruiting troops, luring them with a rich booty.
In vain did the spies attempt to conceal the name of the third ally whom the king from the Valley had tried to win. When at last they were made to talk, the Eagle emperor learned that his enemy had sent messengers to the land of the Caves, to get the support of the Cave dwarfs for the upcoming battle. These dwarfs are very feared for being able to send all kinds of physical and mental illnesses on their foes, and torment them till they give in. But whether the dwarfs accepted the Valley's offer, the captured spies could not tell for sure.
With great concern did the emperor lkal Koot IV listen to the spies' report; it became far too clear that the fragile peace was going to fall apart long before expected. Great anxiety came upon him, for nobody of his court has got any clue about how to fight against his archenemy's formidable allies, since neither conventional warfare tactics nor weapons would be of any avail in a combat with such creatures. Black magic, tricks and scheming were their weapons. The situation has gotten even worst for nobody could predict in which form the enemy would appear and what tricks he would use.
Meanwhile, the enemy from the Valley doesn't lose time: his troops have already conquered some city-states and settlements known as not very loyal to the Valley and located on the way to the Eagle empire. Their disloyalty has became a thorn in the flesh of the Valley kingdom, because Wakatel Balam II wouldn't like to lose time on putting down resistance when his great campaign starts. Though he is still far away and not yet ready for the fateful battle, the war is already in the air...
The Eagle empire has also begun its war preparations: defense walls along the imperial border have been fortified, more troops deployed to watch the frontiers, town guards and watchmen doubled. Any moment the merchants Pochteca should be back from the southern Lowland, with their caravans full with additional supplies for the case of a lasting siege.
At last, the Pochteca are back. But, alas, they have returned with empty hands. Gesticulating wildly and speaking all at once, they at last managed to tell their story about a terrible misfortune happened to the southern tribes. Over years, the southern folks have always supplied the Eagle empire with the best sorts of cacao, sweet paprika, species, corn, and other prouct, and received arms and animal furs in exchange. But this year a disastrous drought has befallen their lands, and the entire harvest has been lost...
This is how it began: the chief of one southern tribe rejected to pay a rise in tribute to Chan Balam, the prince from the Valley kingdom. His father sent him to the southern territories annexed by the kingdom to provoke discontent among the local population, and create a ground for an attack on the Lowland tribes. The strategy behind it was a simple one: to cut the Eagle empire off its food supplies, because those territories were the only way for the caravans to pass through from the Lowland, the breadbasket of the Eagle empire.
Encountering resistance, Chan Balam immediately applied to black naguals, who sent a devastating drought on all southern lands. Water vanished from channels and lakes, soils dried up, and crops died. Hunger and starvation broke out. After that, it didn't cost much effort to Chan Balam to make the famishing troops surrender, and destroy the Lowland's capital Uxabé.
Those who survived and escaped the fate of being sent away as slaves to the Valley kingdom, flew to the southern frontiers of their lands where the enemy has not yet advanced. But they didn't feel secure, for they very well knew that the enemy could any moment be there, and sooner or later he would come. The survived delivered a message with the Pochteca for the Eagle emperor, asking his permission to cross the imperial territory on their way to the Highland. They would seek refuge in the high mountains, since it was the only place where black naguals' vile powers wouldn't reach them. They already set off, leaving all their possessions behind, and the jungle started to devour the abandoned settlements...
The emperor Ikal Koot IV has completely lost his sleep when he heard the Pochteca's report. Since then, not even a day has passed without news about new abominable deeds of black naguals. It was time to summon the nine tribes who had sworn loyalty to the Eagle emperor many generations ago. In great hurry the messengers were sent to the tribes, to hand over the emperor's note about the Tribal Council summit. For vile naguals had to be stopped, though nobody as yet knew, how.
At last, the day came when the chiefs of all the nine tribes arrived at the imperial court. The greetings ceremony being over, they were asked to proceed to the Tribal Council palace where exotic foods and beverages already expected them. Scarcely did they taste a thing, then a newcomer was announced, wishing to meet the Eagle emperor and his guests. The new visitor was an Atlant.
Everybody has heard about the Atlants' existence, but up to that moment nobody has ever had a chance to meet them in person. The Atlants are said to be the descendants of the Warriors of the Lost Land. It is also said that from those warriors they have inherited the skills of the ancestral martial arts that only a very few still have the knowledge of. The Atlants are the only ones who would be able to challenge black naguals, since they are also great experts in the arts of magic, with the difference, though, that they do not use it for vile purposes. The Atlants are able to communicate with each other over large distances, and precisely spot their enemy's location at a distance of many villages. They are also able to attack their foes from a distance, which, however, they only do in exceptional cases, for they see themselves as the balance keepers. They would only interfere if there is a danger that the balance may get broken. The Atlant messenger was sent to inform the allies about an ancient prophecy: once the balance is broken, devastating plagues would be sent to the lands, which would end in a great catastrophe. Then the time would stop, and the Sun set. And finally, the eternal darkness would cover the world.
The messenger's arrival was a sign that the catastrophe was approaching. The Atlants wanted to warn the Eagle emperor and his allies about what might happen in the upcoming conflict, since the participation of black naguals, coupled with the danger of their pillaging the holy Sun Temple, would break the balance forever. The naguals, however, whom another Atlant messenger was sent to, rejected to retreat: it seemed like the chance to get into the Sun Temple made them forget that they were not allowed to use their powers on behalf of any party. For this reason, the Atlants consider it their obligation to step in and challenge black naguals in order to at least mitigate the impact of the pending catastrophe. For to prevent it would no longer be in their power.
And it happened as the Atlants had predicted: guided by emotions and thirsty for blood and booty, both parties assaulted each other in a self-destroying war. While both giants waged their battle, many folks and tribes were reduced to misery and famine; many lost their homes, being forced to abandon their lands because nothing could be get out of the infested soils. Those who joined in the war on either side for fear of being swallowed by the giants, didn't escape the same fate. Those who could flee, fled to the mountains, where the rest of the southern tribes had already found a temporary shelter.
The dwarfs of the Caves finally rejected the Valley's offer, preferring staying away from the quarrels of the humans, while the Atlants, after a long and enduring duel, managed to overcome black naguals. However, many vile actions had already been committed by the naguals, sending drought, pest, mosquitoes and poisonous yellow frogs that exterminated entire regions. In expiation of their deeds, the naguals were banished to the underworld Xibalbá to pay for their sins.
Neither party managed to leave the battle holding their heads high, for the losses were too many for them. As a result, both empires lost control over their depending territories. They finally fell apart shortly after the war end, while a great many city-states, weak as they were, arose their heads from the imperial ruins. Nothing has been heard about the principal adversaries, the great rulers of both empires. Some people say that they destroyed each other; others believe that they must have been banish to Xibalbá together with the naguals.
In Nacumal, formerly a beautiful capital of the Eagle empire, the golden eagle statue got lost in the street fights and uproar. At the very moment when it was removed from its place, a sudden darkness overcame the land. It was the sign that the Eagle god abandoned the empire. Wise men believe that as long as the eagle statue is not returned to its rightful place, the empire destined to disintegration will never regain its power, territories, riches and well-being. Some people make the naguals responsible for the robbery, but nobody can tell for sure if it is really true. Consequently, the nine tribes left the alliance that used to bind them to the Eagle empire, and started to define their borders anew. That, in turn, triggered severe quarrels between the tribes about where the borders should be drawn. But nobody proved to be strong enough to consolidate the territories under their leadership and unite the feuding tribes.
The rest of the southern tribes, who, together with other refugees were waiting for the war end in the high mountains for the war end, returned to their ruined homes and began to rebuild their settlements.
Last events have demonstrated what could happen to the humans if they break the laws of the world created for them. Though the Atlants managed to stop the execution of the ancient prophecy, the balance has not been regained. Disintegration of both empires, famine and destruction have produced commotion and chaos. Thus, the danger that the current chaos may trigger execution of the ancient prophecy, is still there.
Now the tribes need a strong hand that would stop the chaos, regain the order and save people from famishing. Don't let the land descend into chaos! Search for strong allies, unite with other tribes and create a strong empire that would save the land from setting of the Sun!