SPOILER!

I claim precedence in 2009 for the word «glaïole». You know what it is: it is the food thickener made from carrageenan, starch, and other ingredients, found in almost all dishes, even in organic food.

Despite this galore of weapons and cleverness, this epoch was very hard for the Likpas. They had to face cruel and unpredictable terrorists, extremely mobile, able to attack in any time and any place. The villages were seldom worried, but travels and working in isolated places were very dangerous, and disparitions a common thing.

So it is estimated that these four centuries of skirmishes and raids cost about 11000 casualties, which is more than the two Phallos Wars put together. This makes «only» two deaths a month, but some raids were especially bloody, when strong hosts of Black Guards attacked a fortified village. In other times, years passed without any attack.

It is specially nasty for a developing civlikzation to have 30 per cent of its working force and resources captured by the only defence. However this did not delayed the technology progress of the Likpas, mainly because it occurred into a safer zone, the Copper Hills. Still today, factories and workshops are still dispersed and hidden in nature.

But what really did the difference was the appearance of more and more numerous Reds, able to feel the danger, see to accurately tell where to expect the Black Guards. The later never recognized this fact, which however cost them more and more failures. So their raids were less and less numerous... until the town prepares the First Phallos War.

My apologies for the small text under, here is a more readable version:

THE WEAPONS OF THE LIKPAS CANNOT WORK!

Once more the Likpas astonish us with strange inventions. This one beats all the records of absurdity! As a matter of facts this strange rifle is much too large for a Likpa to use it! The mirlitary intelligence experts who examined this odd weapon -extralikpatian we should say- were awestruck by an incredible defect: quite simply the recoil is much too large, and it would break the arms of the Likpa who may try to use this weapon against a citizen of the town! It is anyway what happened to the soldier who tried this weapon to check its range, with in more some nice burns. So the Likpas, and all the youngsters in a general way, would be much better advised to study and swork under the command of responsible engineers and officers, rather than engare into perillous adventures and dangerous undertakings, see to help the terrorists. The inquiries in charge of finding the manufacturers of these weapons are under way.

Did they had to attack the town?

 

To reply to this tricky question, a council was organized in the Mead of the First Encounter. Curiously it is the only one ever to be held here, no other meeting took place since in this place, only festivals. But many other encounters between the Great Poetress and the Reds took place in secret, because of possible town spies.

 

Many had prepared attack plans, or studies on the defence potential of the town. However, as soon as the beginning, the Great Likpa appeared himself in public, under the shape of the blue spooklik. He immediately stopped any discussion.

«NO to attack town», he told with a curiously distorted metallic voice, however perfectly understandable. «I no support this project. If you do, I remove all support to you.»

 

Asked to explain his position, he expressed himself several times, by the mouth of Reds or Poetress, while confirming with light effects:

 

«To attack the town will create us a karma of war mongers and attackers. Even if we win, other much worse problems will come later. The total suffering would be much larger.»

 

Then:

«Anyway we could not win such an attack. We are still far of being as strong as the Phallos. Our industrial power is still one thousandth of the town»

 

And again:

«It would be a terrible confusion about what we are, and all the Phallos would feel this attack as an injustice. Even if we could military win, they would all resist to our governance. We would have to submit, not just the Black Guards, but all the People, which is impossible.»

 

And at last:

«The submission of the Phallos would be in contradiction with our liberation project».

 

 

Later in the evening, he likpated his famous prophecy of the three Phallos wars:

 

«The Phallos will attack the Likpas a first time in -776. Fights will be bloody, but victory will come to the Likpas. A second victorious battle will also take place in -774, and all the maps will have to be rewritten. However the Likpas will not be able to govern the town, and the alliance of the Peoples will fail.»

 

«The Phallos will attack the Likpas a second time in -709, with the intend to appropriate the gold of the fools, into the Blueberry Hills, and build an appalling weapon. Fights will be very short. The Likpas will still not be able to govern the town, but they will allow for a better government.»

 

«At last the third Phallos war will take place in -592 and -591. Fights will be long, but with relatively few casualties. The Likpas land will be partially conquered, and liberated. The town will be placed under guardianship of the Likpas. It will be the last war in this world.»

 

At last, this strange prediction was clearly heard by all: «The GREAT MOTHER will be found back during the second Phallos war».

 

Then the spooklik went out, and the Great Likpa was never again seen in public.