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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4733972" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Fourteen, “The Timucuan People” September 1st, 1882, 7:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>As people are getting their drinks and becoming comforable on the couches and chairs James Parker begins with the introduction. "We are very fortunate to have with us as a member of the Timucuan Conservancy Professor Alsoomse da Rosa. Born and raised in New England, she is a graduate of the prestigious Dartmouth College where she also has served on the faculty as well as being Co-Chairperson of the History Department. She was also intrumental in helping bring about the Supreme Court's ruling in the Dartmouth College Case of 1819, which established that private institutions of higher learning can operate free of intervention from the individual States. </p><p></p><p>For the last seven years she has served on the faculty of Princeton University, where she was invited to teach at the invitation of it's renowned President of the past fifteen years, Doctor James McCosh. Upon the completion of her Princeton contract she has accepted the postion of Secretary for the AGELESS Corporation of New York which serves as the principal benefactor of the Timucuan Conservancy. Professor de Rosa, would you please share with us what you have learned to date about the remarkable people who preceeded us upon this location?" </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse stands and says, "You flatter me James." Turning to the others she adds, "And what our humble host has neglected to mention is that without the ongoing support of James, as well as his father and grandfather, none of my life's accomplishments would have ever been possible. It is through the determination of the Parker family that the barriers to race and gender have been removed for me." </p><p></p><p>James replies, "Now who is being too humble? The Parkers may have helped but it was you who stood up for yourself." He turns to the others and adds "Her Algonquin name of 'Alsoomse' translates into English as 'Indepenedent', something she has always proven herself to be." Sol interjects with a laugh, "Well, if the mutual admiration society is now concluded can we get on with the story?" "My thoughts exactly, Mr. Solomon..." Hardin tips his hat at Alsoomse with a grin. "Ma'am." Ruby returns to George with two glasses of bourbon and gets comfortable. She listens intently to Alsoomse's talk.</p><p></p><p>Alsoomse begins "The Timucua are a fastinating people and one that very little has been known of. At their height they numbered 50,000 and occupied northeast and central Florida as well as southeastern Georgia. They are also among the few truly extinct elvan groups in North America. Whereas other tribal groups were reduced in number and relocated, the people continued their culture, language and heritage, not so with the Timucua. For all practical purposes their culture ended in the sixteenth century, just eighty-two years after their first contact with the Europeans.</p><p></p><p>One reason that the Timucuan people were different from others of the elvan race is that they isolated themselves, wanting no contact with any non-Timucuan tribes. They were also physically different than other elvan tribes, up to a foot taller in height. They wore little clothing, kept their hair up in buns atop their heads and had heavily tattooed bodies. Their language was also unlike any other elves in North America. </p><p></p><p>For at least 3,000 years the elvan peoples from throughout North America have sent representatives from every tribe to the Great Conclave, held every seventy-five years at the intersections of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. These are held when the 'Great White Bird Crosses the Night Sky', which is now known as Hailey's Comet. But the Timucuan refused to attend the conclave, nor would they even allow the tribes of southern Florida to pass through their territory to travel there.</p><p></p><p>The Timucuan were not a tribe but rather a confederation of twelve semi-autonimous tribes. Each tribe had as few as one village to as many as six, each village with its own chief. There were a total of thirty-five chiefdoms. The Timucuan also did not completely share a common language either, with only around half the words being the same throughout the Timucuan region, with nine different regional dialects accounting for the other half of the vocabulary. </p><p></p><p>The first Spaniard to land in Timucuan territory was Juan Ponce de Leon who landed at Saint Augustine, approximately thirty miles south of where we are now, in the year 1513. The next visitor to the Timucuan was Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528 along the west coast. In both cases they were welcomed with open arms as brothers and showered with gifts by the Timucuan. </p><p></p><p>The next Spaniard was Hernando de Soto in 1539, again along the western coast but further south. He came as a conquerer seeking gold, and attacked the Timucuan villages of that region, stealing all the stored food, forcing men and boys as bearers and taking women for consorts. The Timucuan were confused by this treatment and slow to act. Two battles were fought with heavy Timucuan casualties by the time de Soto moved on. </p><p></p><p>All three cases of contact had been between Spaniards and with four different tribes of the Timucuan. And while the Spanish had visited, they did not establish colonies here or elsewhere in their claimed land of Florida. That changed in 1565. Spain’s first colony was established at the site of Ponce de Leon's landing at Saint Augustine, which became the capital of their Spanish province with Pedro Menendez de Aviles as the Provincial Governor. </p><p></p><p>In 1565 Menendez ordered that the Spanish establish fortresses at strategic locations and to make sure that no natives resided anywhere near these fortresses. Six of these Florida forts were established in the lands of the Timucuan, forcing out half of the twelve established Timucuan tribes in the process. On Florida’s west coast near Crystal Bay, one-hundred-twenty miles southwest of here they established the Castillo de San Lacanto, displacing the Ocale tribe. On the west coast ninety-five miles from here, near the mount of the Suwannee River, they established the Castillo de San Carlos, displacing the Utino tribe. </p><p></p><p>Seventy-five miles to the north at the mouth of the Altamaha River in Georgia they established the Castillo de San Federica, displacing the Icafui tribe. Twenty miles north of here at the mouth of the Saint Mary’s river, which now serves as the border between Florida and Georgia, they established the Castillo de San Fernandina and displaced the Oconi tribe. Near Saint Augustine, twenty-five miles to the south they established the Castillo de San Marcos, displacing the Aquadulce tribe. And here near the beginning of the Saint Johns River they established the Castillo de San Mateo here on this very hill, temporarily displacing the Saturiwa tribe. </p><p></p><p>This proved to be a pivotal turning point in Timucuan culture, as all but one of these displaced tribes accepted relocation and abandonment of their cultural heritige. They began to assimilate into the cultures of either the Spanish or other elvan non-Timucuan tribes, including the Oconee tribes to the north and the Miccosukee and Creek tribes to the west. Those were among the tribes later merged in the 1700’s and relocated to south central Florida into what is now known as the Siminole tribe. </p><p></p><p>The one exception to this cultural abandonment was the Saturiwa tribe, who refused to leave this area at the mouth of the Saint Johns River. The Saturiwa were always considered to be the elite of the Timucuan culture and this very hill that we are on now was considered sacred to their culture, a holy place. They saw the Spanish as defilers of the land. So three years later, in 1568, the Saturiwa joined forces with a French pirate named Dominique de Gorugue, and attacked the Castillo de San Mateo. They killed all of the Spanish soldiers and burned the fortress to the ground. </p><p></p><p>The Spanish chose to not rebuild the Fort or directly engage the fanatical Saturiwa warriors. Instead they increased their naval presence along the Florida coast to deter future French incursions. Their blockade prevented the Saturiwa from using the River to reach the Atlantic. They then began a decades-long program of relocating the remaining still intact Timucuan tribes other than the Saturiwa. They moved entire tribal groups to various Spanish held Caribbean Islands, and thereby prevented the Saturiwa from being able to obtain these tribes as future allies. At their new homes these tribes abandoned what remained of their culture and adopted that of their new homes instead, assimilating into the culture.</p><p></p><p>By 1595 both disease and scarcity of supplies due to the isolation had dramatically reduced the remaining Saturiwa population. An Italian missionary of the Roman Church visited the tribe that year, and estimated there to be only between 1,000 and 1,200 remaining, with no working firearms among them and no more than 250 males of fighting age. Hearing this, the Spanish immediately assembled a military expedition to attack and destroy them. </p><p></p><p>But when the Spanish arrived here they found that only deserted villages remained. The Saturiwa had not relocated elsewhere in Spanish lands, and it had been only two months since the Italian Priest had visited. The assumption was that a quick plague had swept through and killed them all, although no bodies were ever found.” </p><p></p><p>Luiz stands and says, "And thus would end the tale of the Timucuan people. During the summer and with the help of the students from Bradford Academy we have conducted archeaological digs on this site, finding considerable evidence of both the Timumuan people, but also metal and bone fragments from the Spanish fortress that also briefly occupied this site. However, one mystery still remained."</p><p></p><p>In 1821 Florida changed from Spanish rule to become a Territory of the United States. A thorough survey was conducted of the population, including detail from the elves as to what tribe they belonged to. Five individuals in the Tampa area, 175 miles southwest of here, identified themselves as being Timucuan. This was not a huge shock, for while Tampa is further south than traditional Timucuan territory it is not that far from the western coastal lands where the Ocale and Unito tibes had been. Furthermore, in the 18th century that region was heavilty settled by the tribes calling themselves Seminole, which including lineage from several former Timucuan tribes. It was just odd that they identified themselves as Timucuan rather than Seminole."</p><p></p><p>"Now that I think about it," says Fish to himself, listening intently to Alsoomse and Luiz, "that 'coin collector' that I 'did business with' in New Orleans? He may have had the only Spanish villa in the entire French Quarter!" </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse resumes the story stating, "I took a look at those census records and came to another realization that would have been lost on others. It not only asked tribe but also principle language spoken, and these five had identified themselves as speaking Mocama. That dialect was not spoken by any of the western Timucuan tribes or any tribes who became Seminole. Only two Timucuan tribal groups spoke Mocama, the Tacatacuru tribe who lived immediately north of the Saint Johns River and the Saturiwa who resided here along the river." </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse says, "As the census was a mere sixty-one years ago, and given the long elvan lifespan, we presumed that some or all of these five Timucuan might still be alive today. So in July we made a trip down to the Tampa area in hopes of finding them. What we found was both encouraging and discouraging, the last of them having left eighteen years ago. But we were able to find a lot about them from the Seminole who had known them. </p><p></p><p>It seems that these five were not only Timucuan but of the Saturiwa tribe. They had lived in the Tampa area since 1595, having gone there directly from here. The accounts differ among the Seminole as to how many Timucan arrived then, some say as few as eight while others as many as twelve. What is consistent is that this small group of Saturiwa were members of two separate families, in order to enable them to still live in isolation but still perpetuate for another generation. </p><p></p><p>These Timucuan stated that they were the very last of their tribe. They told the elves of that region of the lush fertile and well irrigated farm lands here, as well as the abundance of fish. They said that in anticipation of the Spanish attack and destruction they had hidden away their boats and farming equipment, and would provide this information to the Tampa area elves, so that they could resettle here. </p><p></p><p>In return they asked for only three things. First, for a small section of Tampa land so that they could live quietly amongst themselves; Second, that the Spanish not be told that any Saturiwa still survived; and Third, that if any non-Spanish humans ever came looking for the Saturiwa that they were to be told where to find this handful of survivors. According to the Seminole, we are the first people to ever come asking about them. </p><p></p><p>Hundreds of the Tampa-area elves did resettle here then, finding the boats and farm equipment where it had been hidden. Some Timucuan villages had been burned by the Spanish, but others still stood. Believing in possible bad omens left behind by the Timucuan, these elves disassembled the remaining buildings where they stood and then used them to rebuilt a new elvan village on what is now the southern riverbank opposite from downtown Jacksonville. The elvan fishermen who live and work there today are among those elves and their descendents. </p><p></p><p>Of the five Tampa-area Timucuan from the 1821 census, two were the sole survivors of the group that had departed from here in 1595, the other three being two males and one female of the next generation. According to their Seminole neighbors, these tall elves aged at a much faster pace than is normal of elvan tribes, so by 1864 the elder two had died of old age. </p><p></p><p>That was near the end of the Civil War, when the Confederacy was becoming desperate for soldiers, so was conscripting Indians of fighting age. The two male Timucuan were at that time in the human equivalent of their thirties so would have been considered of soldering age. They refused to fight in this ‘White Invader’s War’ as they called it. So the trio traded all of their worldly possessions for a boat. They then set sail south across the Gulf of Mexico, although the craft was insufficient for such a journey. They told the Seminole they were going away to rejoin their fellow Saturiwa, which the Seminole interpreted to mean they planned to perish upon the sea. Nothing more was ever heard of them." </p><p></p><p>"So do YOU assume they perished at sea?" Ruby asks curiously. "Because it seems very odd that the whole tribe of people would just drift themselves off to sea to end their lives." Alsoomse replies, "We don't assume anything, that was the speculation of the Seminole. We are investigating a number of theories about what may have happened with them and hope to have some answers in the near future." </p><p></p><p>"From your talk it sounds as if you've found all you can here? Yet you have built this grand house here and invited us all here." Ruby grinned and sat back in her seat. "There must be more to this story." Alsoomse moves closer to Ruby, so that the Sheriff and his wife are behind her, and says, "That's the extent of it for now, but we hope to find more." As she says that, instead of looking directly at Ruby her eyes dart to the side, in the direction that the visitors are sitting." </p><p></p><p>"Ah, I'm so not good at mysteries and impatient to know the endings!" Ruby laughed, understanding the look she had been given. "Well, hopefully with all the new smart people here we'll be able to find a new clue to help solve your mystery Professor." James stands and says, "Thank you Alsoomse." She heads over to the bar to get a drink. Fish slyly inspects her carriage. He sips his bourbon.</p><p></p><p>George had been taking careful notes in his ever-present notebook and had a few questions of his own. He was about to catch Alsoomse's attention when he caught her conversation with Constance. He promptly closed his mouth, jotted a few more notes and closed his book. He then headed to the bar for a scotch. Fish watches the bookworm. He sips his bourbon.</p><p></p><p>Fish leans over towards Ruby and says, “Actually, I do find history rather fascinating. Why, just last week I acquired a handful of these..." He spreads several worn coins across the bar. "I did some business with a coin collector in New Orleans, and he had a bucket full of 'em. Jemima probably found the one I left her when she cleared my plate. If I didn't think you'd be insulted, I'd leave you a tip too!" He offers a grin that's not quite a leer.</p><p></p><p>Ruby quirked a smile. "That's entirely not necessary, we're all friends here after all. And yes, I know how to pour an absinthe, though it is really a more rare drink where I come from. I have come across them and do enjoy them myself. Perhaps in the future we can enjoy one together. As for your coins... I'm not certain who this Aviles person is, should I know?" As they talked she poured him a bourbon then pushed the small crystal glass towards him. </p><p></p><p>James says, "And we have one more activity to cover before calling it a night. Those of you who were at my table this evening have already heard this, but I have had some concerns about security. Towards that end our good Sheriff had deputized both myself and Mr. Star. After interviewing Misters Hardin and Cantrell he has decided to Deputize them as well." The Sheriff stands and says, "Mr. Hardin, Mr. Cantrell, please rise, raise your right hand, and repeat after me I, state your name, do hereby swear to uphold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my ability and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." Fish carefully observes the lawman's posture. He sips his bourbon.</p><p></p><p>"I, John Wesley Hardin, do hereby swear to uphold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my abilitity and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." He thinks to himself “Well that was a bit strange... “</p><p></p><p>Lawrence raises his hand and repeats, "I, Lawrence Cantrell, do hereby swear to up hold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my ability and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." He adds, "So help me, Zeus. Thank you sheriff, I will try not to let you down."</p><p></p><p>Following the oaths, the Sheriff pins a deputy badge upon each man and shakes their hands. The Sheriff and his wife then say goodbye to the people in the room and depart out the front door. James stands on the front porch and watches until the Sheriff's coach is out of site before coming back inside and shutting the door behind him. </p><p></p><p>Ruby offers Hardin her hand to shake. "Congratulations Deputy Sheriff! I guess you never thought this would happen, huh?" Hardin takes Ruby's hand and shakes it, grinning foolishly. The grin grows wider and wider and then he starts laughing...just a bit at first, but that cascades into howls of unrestrained mirth. After a few moments, the gun fighter's eyes are filled with tears. "Oh the sweet, sweet irony of all this..." He glances over at James and shakes his head in mock disbelief. Hardin then looks at Lawrence and tips his hat. “Deputy..." He bursts into fresh gales of laughter and mutters, “I need a stiff drink...” Lawrence nods back solemnly before breaking into a huge grin. "The sheriff doesn't know what he's getting into."</p><p></p><p>Ruby laughed along with Hardin. "I suppose a celebration is in order tonight! Drinks on the house," she teased. "Up on the roof under the stars sounds perfect!" James smiles and tells Hardin, “Well John, I believe in second chances and I trust you, so this should work out well for all of us. I also didn't want Sol to have to shoulder the responsibilities of security around here by himself, as I suspect that I personally may soon have my own badge taken away from me. </p><p></p><p>Sheriff Hotzbrun is far less bigoted than most of the ‘Good Old Boy’ lawmen in most of these parts, due to his having immigrated to the United States from Austria in the years following the war. But Duval County regulations state that only humans may serve as lawmen. When the good Sheriff discovers that I am actually one-quarter elvan that may very well be the end of my brief law career." </p><p></p><p>Ruby also congratulates Lawrence. "Have you always wanted to be a law man Mr. Cantrell?" Nanuet listened quietly and politely to Alsoomse's talk after dinner. He made no comments but admitted silently to himself that he was fascinated with the story of the Saturiwas. He offered his congratulations to the newly deputized and then waited to see if there was an answer to Lawrence's question forthcoming. </p><p></p><p>Lawrence says, "Please call me Lawrence, Miss West. Can I call you Ruby? To answer your question, I never imagined I would. I've usually worked on the shadier side of the street , if you catch my meaning. Came in handy during the war."</p><p></p><p>Leaning on the bar, George turns to Alsoomse, "So with company gone, what do you suppose happened to the Saturiwa? It would seem to me you are proposing that those survivors got into a boat, the though the other Siminole expected them to drown, the Saturiwa did not? So did the other Saturiwa sail away across the Gulf? And to where? Mesoamerica? An island? Or some antedeluvian remnant you have yet to mention?" asks George sipping his drink. </p><p></p><p>She replies, "It's still too premature to say, James and Luiz have a rather outlandish theory regarding that. They still have a few things to check that Thomas, Lawrence and Benjamin will have provided, that might prove out their theory. We'll all find out the results at the meeting tomorrow afternoon."</p><p></p><p>After the sheriff and his wife leave, Lawrence asks James, "So what's the real story? You know, the one not meant for public consumption." James says, “Several things, first of all, having several deputies here is the single best way to maintain security, and also provides legal cover in the event that we have to ever use firearms within Florida. Our jurisdiction is technically limited to only the County but the Governor’s proclamation will allow us some leeway elsewhere in the State. For that matter, even in other parts of the United States lawmen tend to be more lenient towards their colleagues, especially if we can claim that we are investigating crimes committed here. </p><p></p><p>Another story not meant for public consumption is a continuation of the one I began at dinner regarding the Whig papers. Ruby and George had an opportunity to review the documents after they left my presence, and believe that they may have uncovered evidence of a four-decades old Presidential assassination. That is the real reason the Whigs and their descendents want those documents back." Ruby exclaims, "Oh and those guys were nuts! They lied about our identities so they could follow us and go through our stuff and we're pretty sure they would have killed us given the opportunity! I hope we don't have to tussle with them again." </p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "James, I am just DYING to know what's going on!! I hate waiting. I guess tomorrow will be here soon enough so no point in trying to drag it out of you." James smiles and says, "Well, I'll give you a hint. Luiz and I believe that there may be a direct connection between the Timucuan people and the ancient wizard population of the long-lost Island of Atlantis. I should have a more definitive answer by tomorrow." Thomas replies, "Most excellent -- my curiosity was definitely piqued as to the connections you might draw from the research tasks you asked me to undertake. I should be most interested to be part of the conclusion process." </p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Atlantis? Like the fairy tales? Now that would be... neat. George will be in heaven!" Ruby sipped her bourbon and pondered this new information. "Well, tomorrow will certainly be an interesting day. I think Sol mentioned going over membership to the guild with us. Will we have time to think about our decision?" </p><p></p><p>James looks to his colleagues and says, “Well, it appears obvious that our new arrivals are quite anxious to hear what this is all about. I had planned to wait until you were all rested from your long journeys here, but so be it. I guess that's what I get for surrounding myself with inquisitive people. Sol, please get the decanter. Luiz, the newspaper clipping please.”</p><p></p><p>Luiz heads into his office, soon returning with a large piece of newsprint. Sol goes behind the bar and returns with a decanter with a clear liquid which he places upon the coffee table in the center of the room. Ruby states, "Well... I didn't mean to be pushy... well, okay, I guess I did," she laughed, settling back into George's arm and getting comfortable.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 4733972, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Fourteen, “The Timucuan People” September 1st, 1882, 7:00 P.M.[/B] As people are getting their drinks and becoming comforable on the couches and chairs James Parker begins with the introduction. "We are very fortunate to have with us as a member of the Timucuan Conservancy Professor Alsoomse da Rosa. Born and raised in New England, she is a graduate of the prestigious Dartmouth College where she also has served on the faculty as well as being Co-Chairperson of the History Department. She was also intrumental in helping bring about the Supreme Court's ruling in the Dartmouth College Case of 1819, which established that private institutions of higher learning can operate free of intervention from the individual States. For the last seven years she has served on the faculty of Princeton University, where she was invited to teach at the invitation of it's renowned President of the past fifteen years, Doctor James McCosh. Upon the completion of her Princeton contract she has accepted the postion of Secretary for the AGELESS Corporation of New York which serves as the principal benefactor of the Timucuan Conservancy. Professor de Rosa, would you please share with us what you have learned to date about the remarkable people who preceeded us upon this location?" Alsoomse stands and says, "You flatter me James." Turning to the others she adds, "And what our humble host has neglected to mention is that without the ongoing support of James, as well as his father and grandfather, none of my life's accomplishments would have ever been possible. It is through the determination of the Parker family that the barriers to race and gender have been removed for me." James replies, "Now who is being too humble? The Parkers may have helped but it was you who stood up for yourself." He turns to the others and adds "Her Algonquin name of 'Alsoomse' translates into English as 'Indepenedent', something she has always proven herself to be." Sol interjects with a laugh, "Well, if the mutual admiration society is now concluded can we get on with the story?" "My thoughts exactly, Mr. Solomon..." Hardin tips his hat at Alsoomse with a grin. "Ma'am." Ruby returns to George with two glasses of bourbon and gets comfortable. She listens intently to Alsoomse's talk. Alsoomse begins "The Timucua are a fastinating people and one that very little has been known of. At their height they numbered 50,000 and occupied northeast and central Florida as well as southeastern Georgia. They are also among the few truly extinct elvan groups in North America. Whereas other tribal groups were reduced in number and relocated, the people continued their culture, language and heritage, not so with the Timucua. For all practical purposes their culture ended in the sixteenth century, just eighty-two years after their first contact with the Europeans. One reason that the Timucuan people were different from others of the elvan race is that they isolated themselves, wanting no contact with any non-Timucuan tribes. They were also physically different than other elvan tribes, up to a foot taller in height. They wore little clothing, kept their hair up in buns atop their heads and had heavily tattooed bodies. Their language was also unlike any other elves in North America. For at least 3,000 years the elvan peoples from throughout North America have sent representatives from every tribe to the Great Conclave, held every seventy-five years at the intersections of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. These are held when the 'Great White Bird Crosses the Night Sky', which is now known as Hailey's Comet. But the Timucuan refused to attend the conclave, nor would they even allow the tribes of southern Florida to pass through their territory to travel there. The Timucuan were not a tribe but rather a confederation of twelve semi-autonimous tribes. Each tribe had as few as one village to as many as six, each village with its own chief. There were a total of thirty-five chiefdoms. The Timucuan also did not completely share a common language either, with only around half the words being the same throughout the Timucuan region, with nine different regional dialects accounting for the other half of the vocabulary. The first Spaniard to land in Timucuan territory was Juan Ponce de Leon who landed at Saint Augustine, approximately thirty miles south of where we are now, in the year 1513. The next visitor to the Timucuan was Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528 along the west coast. In both cases they were welcomed with open arms as brothers and showered with gifts by the Timucuan. The next Spaniard was Hernando de Soto in 1539, again along the western coast but further south. He came as a conquerer seeking gold, and attacked the Timucuan villages of that region, stealing all the stored food, forcing men and boys as bearers and taking women for consorts. The Timucuan were confused by this treatment and slow to act. Two battles were fought with heavy Timucuan casualties by the time de Soto moved on. All three cases of contact had been between Spaniards and with four different tribes of the Timucuan. And while the Spanish had visited, they did not establish colonies here or elsewhere in their claimed land of Florida. That changed in 1565. Spain’s first colony was established at the site of Ponce de Leon's landing at Saint Augustine, which became the capital of their Spanish province with Pedro Menendez de Aviles as the Provincial Governor. In 1565 Menendez ordered that the Spanish establish fortresses at strategic locations and to make sure that no natives resided anywhere near these fortresses. Six of these Florida forts were established in the lands of the Timucuan, forcing out half of the twelve established Timucuan tribes in the process. On Florida’s west coast near Crystal Bay, one-hundred-twenty miles southwest of here they established the Castillo de San Lacanto, displacing the Ocale tribe. On the west coast ninety-five miles from here, near the mount of the Suwannee River, they established the Castillo de San Carlos, displacing the Utino tribe. Seventy-five miles to the north at the mouth of the Altamaha River in Georgia they established the Castillo de San Federica, displacing the Icafui tribe. Twenty miles north of here at the mouth of the Saint Mary’s river, which now serves as the border between Florida and Georgia, they established the Castillo de San Fernandina and displaced the Oconi tribe. Near Saint Augustine, twenty-five miles to the south they established the Castillo de San Marcos, displacing the Aquadulce tribe. And here near the beginning of the Saint Johns River they established the Castillo de San Mateo here on this very hill, temporarily displacing the Saturiwa tribe. This proved to be a pivotal turning point in Timucuan culture, as all but one of these displaced tribes accepted relocation and abandonment of their cultural heritige. They began to assimilate into the cultures of either the Spanish or other elvan non-Timucuan tribes, including the Oconee tribes to the north and the Miccosukee and Creek tribes to the west. Those were among the tribes later merged in the 1700’s and relocated to south central Florida into what is now known as the Siminole tribe. The one exception to this cultural abandonment was the Saturiwa tribe, who refused to leave this area at the mouth of the Saint Johns River. The Saturiwa were always considered to be the elite of the Timucuan culture and this very hill that we are on now was considered sacred to their culture, a holy place. They saw the Spanish as defilers of the land. So three years later, in 1568, the Saturiwa joined forces with a French pirate named Dominique de Gorugue, and attacked the Castillo de San Mateo. They killed all of the Spanish soldiers and burned the fortress to the ground. The Spanish chose to not rebuild the Fort or directly engage the fanatical Saturiwa warriors. Instead they increased their naval presence along the Florida coast to deter future French incursions. Their blockade prevented the Saturiwa from using the River to reach the Atlantic. They then began a decades-long program of relocating the remaining still intact Timucuan tribes other than the Saturiwa. They moved entire tribal groups to various Spanish held Caribbean Islands, and thereby prevented the Saturiwa from being able to obtain these tribes as future allies. At their new homes these tribes abandoned what remained of their culture and adopted that of their new homes instead, assimilating into the culture. By 1595 both disease and scarcity of supplies due to the isolation had dramatically reduced the remaining Saturiwa population. An Italian missionary of the Roman Church visited the tribe that year, and estimated there to be only between 1,000 and 1,200 remaining, with no working firearms among them and no more than 250 males of fighting age. Hearing this, the Spanish immediately assembled a military expedition to attack and destroy them. But when the Spanish arrived here they found that only deserted villages remained. The Saturiwa had not relocated elsewhere in Spanish lands, and it had been only two months since the Italian Priest had visited. The assumption was that a quick plague had swept through and killed them all, although no bodies were ever found.” Luiz stands and says, "And thus would end the tale of the Timucuan people. During the summer and with the help of the students from Bradford Academy we have conducted archeaological digs on this site, finding considerable evidence of both the Timumuan people, but also metal and bone fragments from the Spanish fortress that also briefly occupied this site. However, one mystery still remained." In 1821 Florida changed from Spanish rule to become a Territory of the United States. A thorough survey was conducted of the population, including detail from the elves as to what tribe they belonged to. Five individuals in the Tampa area, 175 miles southwest of here, identified themselves as being Timucuan. This was not a huge shock, for while Tampa is further south than traditional Timucuan territory it is not that far from the western coastal lands where the Ocale and Unito tibes had been. Furthermore, in the 18th century that region was heavilty settled by the tribes calling themselves Seminole, which including lineage from several former Timucuan tribes. It was just odd that they identified themselves as Timucuan rather than Seminole." "Now that I think about it," says Fish to himself, listening intently to Alsoomse and Luiz, "that 'coin collector' that I 'did business with' in New Orleans? He may have had the only Spanish villa in the entire French Quarter!" Alsoomse resumes the story stating, "I took a look at those census records and came to another realization that would have been lost on others. It not only asked tribe but also principle language spoken, and these five had identified themselves as speaking Mocama. That dialect was not spoken by any of the western Timucuan tribes or any tribes who became Seminole. Only two Timucuan tribal groups spoke Mocama, the Tacatacuru tribe who lived immediately north of the Saint Johns River and the Saturiwa who resided here along the river." Alsoomse says, "As the census was a mere sixty-one years ago, and given the long elvan lifespan, we presumed that some or all of these five Timucuan might still be alive today. So in July we made a trip down to the Tampa area in hopes of finding them. What we found was both encouraging and discouraging, the last of them having left eighteen years ago. But we were able to find a lot about them from the Seminole who had known them. It seems that these five were not only Timucuan but of the Saturiwa tribe. They had lived in the Tampa area since 1595, having gone there directly from here. The accounts differ among the Seminole as to how many Timucan arrived then, some say as few as eight while others as many as twelve. What is consistent is that this small group of Saturiwa were members of two separate families, in order to enable them to still live in isolation but still perpetuate for another generation. These Timucuan stated that they were the very last of their tribe. They told the elves of that region of the lush fertile and well irrigated farm lands here, as well as the abundance of fish. They said that in anticipation of the Spanish attack and destruction they had hidden away their boats and farming equipment, and would provide this information to the Tampa area elves, so that they could resettle here. In return they asked for only three things. First, for a small section of Tampa land so that they could live quietly amongst themselves; Second, that the Spanish not be told that any Saturiwa still survived; and Third, that if any non-Spanish humans ever came looking for the Saturiwa that they were to be told where to find this handful of survivors. According to the Seminole, we are the first people to ever come asking about them. Hundreds of the Tampa-area elves did resettle here then, finding the boats and farm equipment where it had been hidden. Some Timucuan villages had been burned by the Spanish, but others still stood. Believing in possible bad omens left behind by the Timucuan, these elves disassembled the remaining buildings where they stood and then used them to rebuilt a new elvan village on what is now the southern riverbank opposite from downtown Jacksonville. The elvan fishermen who live and work there today are among those elves and their descendents. Of the five Tampa-area Timucuan from the 1821 census, two were the sole survivors of the group that had departed from here in 1595, the other three being two males and one female of the next generation. According to their Seminole neighbors, these tall elves aged at a much faster pace than is normal of elvan tribes, so by 1864 the elder two had died of old age. That was near the end of the Civil War, when the Confederacy was becoming desperate for soldiers, so was conscripting Indians of fighting age. The two male Timucuan were at that time in the human equivalent of their thirties so would have been considered of soldering age. They refused to fight in this ‘White Invader’s War’ as they called it. So the trio traded all of their worldly possessions for a boat. They then set sail south across the Gulf of Mexico, although the craft was insufficient for such a journey. They told the Seminole they were going away to rejoin their fellow Saturiwa, which the Seminole interpreted to mean they planned to perish upon the sea. Nothing more was ever heard of them." "So do YOU assume they perished at sea?" Ruby asks curiously. "Because it seems very odd that the whole tribe of people would just drift themselves off to sea to end their lives." Alsoomse replies, "We don't assume anything, that was the speculation of the Seminole. We are investigating a number of theories about what may have happened with them and hope to have some answers in the near future." "From your talk it sounds as if you've found all you can here? Yet you have built this grand house here and invited us all here." Ruby grinned and sat back in her seat. "There must be more to this story." Alsoomse moves closer to Ruby, so that the Sheriff and his wife are behind her, and says, "That's the extent of it for now, but we hope to find more." As she says that, instead of looking directly at Ruby her eyes dart to the side, in the direction that the visitors are sitting." "Ah, I'm so not good at mysteries and impatient to know the endings!" Ruby laughed, understanding the look she had been given. "Well, hopefully with all the new smart people here we'll be able to find a new clue to help solve your mystery Professor." James stands and says, "Thank you Alsoomse." She heads over to the bar to get a drink. Fish slyly inspects her carriage. He sips his bourbon. George had been taking careful notes in his ever-present notebook and had a few questions of his own. He was about to catch Alsoomse's attention when he caught her conversation with Constance. He promptly closed his mouth, jotted a few more notes and closed his book. He then headed to the bar for a scotch. Fish watches the bookworm. He sips his bourbon. Fish leans over towards Ruby and says, “Actually, I do find history rather fascinating. Why, just last week I acquired a handful of these..." He spreads several worn coins across the bar. "I did some business with a coin collector in New Orleans, and he had a bucket full of 'em. Jemima probably found the one I left her when she cleared my plate. If I didn't think you'd be insulted, I'd leave you a tip too!" He offers a grin that's not quite a leer. Ruby quirked a smile. "That's entirely not necessary, we're all friends here after all. And yes, I know how to pour an absinthe, though it is really a more rare drink where I come from. I have come across them and do enjoy them myself. Perhaps in the future we can enjoy one together. As for your coins... I'm not certain who this Aviles person is, should I know?" As they talked she poured him a bourbon then pushed the small crystal glass towards him. James says, "And we have one more activity to cover before calling it a night. Those of you who were at my table this evening have already heard this, but I have had some concerns about security. Towards that end our good Sheriff had deputized both myself and Mr. Star. After interviewing Misters Hardin and Cantrell he has decided to Deputize them as well." The Sheriff stands and says, "Mr. Hardin, Mr. Cantrell, please rise, raise your right hand, and repeat after me I, state your name, do hereby swear to uphold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my ability and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." Fish carefully observes the lawman's posture. He sips his bourbon. "I, John Wesley Hardin, do hereby swear to uphold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my abilitity and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." He thinks to himself “Well that was a bit strange... “ Lawrence raises his hand and repeats, "I, Lawrence Cantrell, do hereby swear to up hold the laws of the County of Duval and State of Florida to the best of my ability and to carry out my duties in a thoughtful and respectful manner." He adds, "So help me, Zeus. Thank you sheriff, I will try not to let you down." Following the oaths, the Sheriff pins a deputy badge upon each man and shakes their hands. The Sheriff and his wife then say goodbye to the people in the room and depart out the front door. James stands on the front porch and watches until the Sheriff's coach is out of site before coming back inside and shutting the door behind him. Ruby offers Hardin her hand to shake. "Congratulations Deputy Sheriff! I guess you never thought this would happen, huh?" Hardin takes Ruby's hand and shakes it, grinning foolishly. The grin grows wider and wider and then he starts laughing...just a bit at first, but that cascades into howls of unrestrained mirth. After a few moments, the gun fighter's eyes are filled with tears. "Oh the sweet, sweet irony of all this..." He glances over at James and shakes his head in mock disbelief. Hardin then looks at Lawrence and tips his hat. “Deputy..." He bursts into fresh gales of laughter and mutters, “I need a stiff drink...” Lawrence nods back solemnly before breaking into a huge grin. "The sheriff doesn't know what he's getting into." Ruby laughed along with Hardin. "I suppose a celebration is in order tonight! Drinks on the house," she teased. "Up on the roof under the stars sounds perfect!" James smiles and tells Hardin, “Well John, I believe in second chances and I trust you, so this should work out well for all of us. I also didn't want Sol to have to shoulder the responsibilities of security around here by himself, as I suspect that I personally may soon have my own badge taken away from me. Sheriff Hotzbrun is far less bigoted than most of the ‘Good Old Boy’ lawmen in most of these parts, due to his having immigrated to the United States from Austria in the years following the war. But Duval County regulations state that only humans may serve as lawmen. When the good Sheriff discovers that I am actually one-quarter elvan that may very well be the end of my brief law career." Ruby also congratulates Lawrence. "Have you always wanted to be a law man Mr. Cantrell?" Nanuet listened quietly and politely to Alsoomse's talk after dinner. He made no comments but admitted silently to himself that he was fascinated with the story of the Saturiwas. He offered his congratulations to the newly deputized and then waited to see if there was an answer to Lawrence's question forthcoming. Lawrence says, "Please call me Lawrence, Miss West. Can I call you Ruby? To answer your question, I never imagined I would. I've usually worked on the shadier side of the street , if you catch my meaning. Came in handy during the war." Leaning on the bar, George turns to Alsoomse, "So with company gone, what do you suppose happened to the Saturiwa? It would seem to me you are proposing that those survivors got into a boat, the though the other Siminole expected them to drown, the Saturiwa did not? So did the other Saturiwa sail away across the Gulf? And to where? Mesoamerica? An island? Or some antedeluvian remnant you have yet to mention?" asks George sipping his drink. She replies, "It's still too premature to say, James and Luiz have a rather outlandish theory regarding that. They still have a few things to check that Thomas, Lawrence and Benjamin will have provided, that might prove out their theory. We'll all find out the results at the meeting tomorrow afternoon." After the sheriff and his wife leave, Lawrence asks James, "So what's the real story? You know, the one not meant for public consumption." James says, “Several things, first of all, having several deputies here is the single best way to maintain security, and also provides legal cover in the event that we have to ever use firearms within Florida. Our jurisdiction is technically limited to only the County but the Governor’s proclamation will allow us some leeway elsewhere in the State. For that matter, even in other parts of the United States lawmen tend to be more lenient towards their colleagues, especially if we can claim that we are investigating crimes committed here. Another story not meant for public consumption is a continuation of the one I began at dinner regarding the Whig papers. Ruby and George had an opportunity to review the documents after they left my presence, and believe that they may have uncovered evidence of a four-decades old Presidential assassination. That is the real reason the Whigs and their descendents want those documents back." Ruby exclaims, "Oh and those guys were nuts! They lied about our identities so they could follow us and go through our stuff and we're pretty sure they would have killed us given the opportunity! I hope we don't have to tussle with them again." Ruby exclaims, "James, I am just DYING to know what's going on!! I hate waiting. I guess tomorrow will be here soon enough so no point in trying to drag it out of you." James smiles and says, "Well, I'll give you a hint. Luiz and I believe that there may be a direct connection between the Timucuan people and the ancient wizard population of the long-lost Island of Atlantis. I should have a more definitive answer by tomorrow." Thomas replies, "Most excellent -- my curiosity was definitely piqued as to the connections you might draw from the research tasks you asked me to undertake. I should be most interested to be part of the conclusion process." Ruby exclaims, "Atlantis? Like the fairy tales? Now that would be... neat. George will be in heaven!" Ruby sipped her bourbon and pondered this new information. "Well, tomorrow will certainly be an interesting day. I think Sol mentioned going over membership to the guild with us. Will we have time to think about our decision?" James looks to his colleagues and says, “Well, it appears obvious that our new arrivals are quite anxious to hear what this is all about. I had planned to wait until you were all rested from your long journeys here, but so be it. I guess that's what I get for surrounding myself with inquisitive people. Sol, please get the decanter. Luiz, the newspaper clipping please.” Luiz heads into his office, soon returning with a large piece of newsprint. Sol goes behind the bar and returns with a decanter with a clear liquid which he places upon the coffee table in the center of the room. Ruby states, "Well... I didn't mean to be pushy... well, okay, I guess I did," she laughed, settling back into George's arm and getting comfortable. [/QUOTE]
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