Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Episode 1 Recap
> Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Recap
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The continent of Kyushu is a land of wonder divided into nine states—Shang, Han, Ning, Zhong, Lan, Wan, Yue, Yun, and Lei—corresponding to nine stellar regions. Civilizations are further grouped into the Northern, Eastern, and Western Lands, inhabited by six races: humans, winged people, wingless people, Quafu, Heluo, merfolk, and spirits. In the 15th year of the Yongning Era of the Grand Duan Dynasty, a profound crisis looms.
Disasters began in the 2nd year of Yongning, specifically on June 19th, when the Grand Duan Emperor Muyun Qin’s sixth son, Muyun Sheng, was born in the Heavenly Capital Imperial City. Muyun Sheng, half-human and half-spirit, born to Emperor Muyun Qin and a spirit named Silver Bloom, was the subject of a prophecy: "If Muyun Sheng wields the sword, the world will descend into chaos." Consequently, Muyun Qin distanced himself from Muyun Sheng, keeping him virtually imprisoned in the palace.
Since Muyun Sheng's birth, the consequences have been dire: Hanzhou winters have grown harsher and arrived earlier each year, the southern state of Yuezhou suffered catastrophic floods, coastal regions experienced earthquakes that raised new islands, tsunamis ravaged coastal counties, and eastern counties were flattened. Meanwhile, in June of the 15th Yongning year, in the expansive Hanzhou, a disheveled and wild-haired man, a fortune-telling monk named Zhu Aqi, traversed treacherous peaks, deserts, ice mountains, and snow seas.
Exhausted, he collapsed by a river in northern Hanzhou, only to be found and rescued by Shuofeng Heye, a vigorous and brave youth who was the future lord of the Shuofeng tribe, and his companions. Shuofeng Heye brought Zhu Aqi back to their settlement, pleading with his mother, Longgedanzhu, to let him keep Zhu Aqi as a slave so he could learn about the outside world.
Longgedanzhu, reminding Shuofeng Heye of his duties as a future lord, initially resisted but eventually softened, using their meager salt to revive Zhu Aqi and ordering he be given water multiple times, stating that his father Shuofeng Da's approval was final. Soon after, Shuofeng Da, the tribal leader, returned from hunting, supported by his people. Despite increased hunting efforts, his harvest was meager, filling him with worry.
He confided in Longgedanzhu that he had entered a forbidden land during his hunt. Longgedanzhu, alarmed, tearfully begged him not to disturb whatever lay there again, which Shuofeng Da solemnly promised. With the persistent abnormal weather, including snow in June, Hanzhou's grasslands became barren, and prey scarce. As the tribute date to the imperial court drew near, Shuofeng Da grew increasingly burdened. To prevent his tribe from starving, he decided to slaughter the sheep intended as tribute for their sustenance.
Shuofeng Heye then presented Zhu Aqi to Shuofeng Da, hoping he would permit Zhu Aqi to stay. Shuofeng Da initially refused, unwilling to shelter a seemingly useless person. However, Zhu Aqi, with a piercing gaze, began to reveal his secrets. He declared that the tribe's misfortunes began on June 19th of the 2nd Yongning year, coinciding with the birth of Muyun Sheng, the Grand Duan Emperor’s sixth son.
He detailed how the Emperor had desperately tried to conceal Muyun Sheng's half-human, half-spirit heritage, but since that day, natural disasters had plagued all of Kyushu. Zhu Aqi added that Muyun Sheng's mother was a spirit, and the Muru family harbored an even greater secret. He warned that Kyushu was on the brink of destruction, and the only hope for survival lay in finding "that person" in the Black Forest.
Shuofeng Da, realizing Zhu Aqi's words would bring calamity upon his tribe, attempted to silence him and expel him. However, at that very moment, the Muru Iron Cavalry appeared, powerful and fierce, directly seeking Zhu Aqi. Overwhelmed by fear, Shuofeng Da knelt submissively, trying to conceal Zhu Aqi's revelations. The Iron Cavalry, feigning ignorance of Shuofeng Da's knowledge, tied Zhu Aqi to a pyre and brutally burned him alive as a fugitive.
They then confiscated all of the Shuofeng tribe's property, including their horses and sheep, for harboring a criminal. As Zhu Aqi burned, he frantically cried out that Kyushu was perishing and everyone would die. The tribe was distraught, many blaming Shuofeng Heye. Enraged, Shuofeng Heye attempted to retrieve their stolen livestock but was restrained by Shuofeng Da.
Shuofeng Da recounted the legend of the Northern Land's Eight Tribes, whose elite warriors once repelled the Quafu but were weakened in the process, subsequently losing to the Muru and Muyun Iron Cavalry. He spoke of the past glory of the Shuofeng name, which once commanded awe across the Northern Land but had now fallen into disgrace.
He expressed his desire to restore the Shuofeng legacy and the Northern Land's honor in his lifetime, or else pass that hope to Shuofeng Heye, urging him to value his life above all else. That night, Shuofeng Da ordered all remaining livestock to be slaughtered for a communal feast. He revealed his plan: they would migrate to the fertile and beautiful central region of Hanzhou before the imperial tax collectors arrived.
Though this land was currently under the control of Suqin Liefeng and other tribes, it was their ancestral territory, and they would reclaim it, even if it meant fighting. Despite an old man's reluctance to leave, preparing for death with traditional face paint, the tribe, their longing for a better life overcoming their fears, unanimously pledged their loyalty to Shuofeng Da.
The next morning, amidst drumbeats, the Shuofeng tribe, filled with both hope and sorrow, burned their camps, bidding farewell to their homeland, and embarked on a perilous journey across ice mountains and snow seas towards central Hanzhou. During their migration, Shuofeng Da intervened in a conflict, saving Helan Dao, the leader of the Helan tribe, and his two siblings from another tribe.
Impressed by Shuofeng Da's courage and righteousness, Helan Dao swore a blood oath with him, establishing a brotherhood between their tribes, promising to share both fortune and hardship. As the Helan and Shuofeng tribes journeyed further into central Hanzhou, the landscape grew increasingly beautiful. Shuofeng Heye, during an archery and wrestling competition with the Helan tribesmen, discovered an enemy camp ahead.
Shuofeng Da decided to launch a surprise attack on the Suqin tribe at dawn, understanding that in this world, tribes must fight to expand and claim land.
To mark Shuofeng Heye's coming of age and his role as a future leader, Shuofeng Da, before the assembled tribes, presented him with a battle-axe made from a Quafu leg bone and a battle robe once worn by Quafu, entrusting him with the hope of leading the Shuofeng tribe back to its former glory. Shuofeng Heye accepted these symbols of leadership. At dawn, all able-bodied Shuofeng warriors, armed, charged towards the Suqin camp.
The Suqin tribe, caught completely off guard, consisted mostly of ordinary tribespeople who stood no chance against the assault. The Shuofeng warriors massacred almost everyone, their battle cries echoing amidst the screams. However, Suqin Ziyan, a princess from the Suqin tribe, who had secretly left her camp to kiss her lover and was at a distance fetching water, witnessed the horrific scene and fled in terror.
