Chuma Kalejaiye woke up just before the crack of dawn, “Today will be yet another trail” He thought to himself. With a bit of effort, he got up from his bed and stretched his bulky body, then proceeded with the rest of his morning routine. Chuma was a well-built man, 1 and a half metres tall and clean-shaven, with a short afro, He was dressed in the formal green and white robes of his clan along with the customary golden string pattern. Chuma had worked hard for a whole year to get the threading; scrounging, eating light, and working odd jobs to afford such an intricate robe. When the day came to choose his personal pattern, he chose a pattern of large interlocking gears, rather than the more common plant-based pattern the Dumuu are known for (to the chagrin of his mother and sister). Continuing he covered himself with a layer of cheap bizigo and sprayed himself with some fragrant wood oil. Lastly, he sharpened his Iron glaive, it was the first thing he ever bought and to this day he could feel the liberating feeling of being in control of his future every time he held it. Finally leaving his room he could hear the muffled commotion of the forming city.

Today his prototype Wooden Golem would be tested in front of the city Clan heads and he got to look as best as he could. He grabbed his satchel and took a deep breath,

Chuma: “Today, I will make my Ancestors and Clan proud”

And with that, he stepped outside into the burgeoning city of Mafanikio and headed to Shaba ya Umeme Workshop while careful of the incomplete steam vents and spare electro-lines everywhere.

With the death of the previous Kabaka his Only child remaining, Aziza ‘The innovator’, Built this city intending to mimic the Kuvumilia Shirikisho Nation’s Practice of “Mixing Clan Skills'' as a way of centralising the Kingdom’s source of Innovation and technological innovation. Much of the city was still under construction and the sky was constantly full of cargo ships full of construction equipment, Materials, and likely hundreds of debt slaves. The area was originally a forest crossroad too close to other cities to justify living on it and too far from any resource for anyone to want to work near it but the Nabagereka flooded the area with grants and started building government facilities. And not just a small town tax office, a whole Skyport! That development on its own caused people to start moving in on the assumption that ‘if a skyport is being built then the city must be important’. Most people who came arrived intending to start anew, even slaves would try to be sent so that once they earned or re-earned their freedom they could start fresh. Considering that the city was full of construction sites, it would be near impossible for debtor slaves to not work off their debts unless they continued selling their freedom for quick cash.

To this day Chuma couldn’t understand why some would be willing to sell their freedom for something as small as wealth and an experience gain boost.

He looked up and saw an advertisement for once such an arrangement ‘Break your back for a month for a week in heaven (and maybe more)!’ the sign proudly proclaimed while depicting a man being served on hand and foot. Everyone knew it was nothing more than cow dung but some people were desperate to boost their skill improvement speed and gain perks faster by living life on the edge. Chuma, however, had seen where that path ends; the hardest or most dangerous jobs were often done by slaves and while they did get more job safety requirements thanks to the crown’s laws, they still got the worst tasks. Death was never advertised but always present.

In the distance Chuma could see several decorated sky nyangumi pulling yet another floating island into the city limits, their massive tails pushing the air as if it were water. That can only mean another powerful (and clearly wealthy) clan wanted to establish their influence in Mafanikio. The fact they were using something as rare as sky nyangumi spoke volumes of their wealth.

Chuma sighed knowing that this would make his demonstration of his Wooden Golem More important to his clan.

Chuma: “Ouno give me strength for the trail that lays before me”

A while later Chuma arrived at the Workshop, Three Brass-furnished smoke stacks towered in the centre of the large lily pad-shaped structure, its solid red clay walls reinforced with steel rebar, and its overall size was comparable to a temple. Due to the importance of keeping steam and electro-powered tools and machines working while the city gets built as well as making new ones, the Shaba ya Umeme trading guild’s workshop was given top priority when the city was founded and so far is the only permanent structure that is complete. As if to prove its worth, outside lay 3 broken electric mules and a steam crane undergoing maintenance with Shaba ya Umeme engineers working on them. Chuma rushed by them, past the sleeping receptionist, and into the showroom. A large open space greeted him, currently filled with similarly skilled innovators doing the last checks on their devices, diagrams and even presentations. The outer wall was simply a large carved wooden door that made a 6th of s circle that opened outwards, the opposite wall a similar shape with a single 4x4 metre door labelled “Main forge”.

As expected, 5 of the most technically skilled Clan members were present, one from each of the 5 clans currently present in the city, and then there was Chuma, the ONLY member of the Dumuu Clan. If he failed he would become an embarrassment among his family and Clan, he might even be banished once a Clan Head was appointed for this city. He could not fuck this up. Across from them were the 5 clan heads Arrayed along a long table with coloured sticks at their sides they could raise to show their approval. All the Clan heads were dressed immaculately in their traditional formal wear;

The Opambwa Clan head wore Blue robes with a jewelled turban, the man was playing with a trio of polished jewel balls, a confident expression on his face. He must have thought that his candidate was guaranteed to win. Judging by his bulbous body, he likely expected victory to be served on the same silver plate as the many meals he likely took to maintain his less-than-ideal physique.

The Jindaji Head red painted shell necklace a single jacket made from a Red Lion and a body that looked like she just killed three of her coat's brethren on her way here. Paired with her blood-red long dreadlocks, she commanded an air of fear and respect. She looked over all of us with predatory eyes; inspecting us for any possible flaw. She scared me.

The Isaam Head wore a gold-trimmed white and black striped scholar's robe that clearly denoted that he, not only was a learned man but one of great value. He must have only been half a metre tall, though despite his size he carried himself like a giant among men. That towering afro he had also helped. He seemed eager and elated as if the fact that this was happening at all was enough for him.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The Huisi Head was an old Fisidamu woman. Chuma had never really seen a Fisidamu, and to his silent astonishment, the descriptions he’d heard as a kid and in the pubs were correct; they were like a mix between a Hyena and a Human. She had a greying pelt and a shrinking snout but she walked like she still had 40 more years to live. She wore at least 30 colourful rings around her neck, a single large light blue robe and carried a cane that looked more for whacking than for walking. She had the expression of someone who was forced to be here.

Lastly, the Shima Clan head and local garrison commander. It was completely expected that he would have to be here seeing as the Shima Clan is a military clan that pledged their loyalty to the kingdom and he is the highest-ranking one here. He was wearing a long leather combat coat layered with hardened lead beads. On his left shoulder was a single steel-scaled pauldron painted with the kingdom's colours(Golden yellow, coal black, and blood red.) On his right arm, he wore a badge with his clan’s Icon of twin Shotals behind a black jackal on it. He had the famous Shimani stoicism on his face as he sat down with a level of control and purpose only a military man could have.

As soon as the Royal Representative and the Governor Arrived 6 Inventors and innovators would need to convince at least 4 of the Heads, including the governor and Representative, to fund their Idea with the new “Innovators” budget the Capital was sending. No one really understood what was specifically supposed to be done with the money, so 10 months after the city's founding, this competition was prepared and inventors within the city were given 10 days to prepare diagrams or a demonstration to show off their idea and it would be funded.

However, the more people succeeded the less funding to go around but, at the same time the fewer people were chosen the more reputation was on the line for the corresponding Clans and their inventors. In the end, all the clans in the city agreed to only send one of their best and since Chuma was the only Dumuuni both present at that meeting and the city as a whole. He had to go, lest he shame his Clan.

“Don’t feel bad, my friend. The cards were stacked against you from the start” a Fisidamu woman said before letting out a Hyena-like laugh and running to her invention, Chuma could have sworn that she was holding her snout shut.

“She must have been the Huisi candidate,” Chuma concluded.

She was about 2 metres tall and only wore simple undyed cloth robes and short flax pants(which was weird as it was completely different from formal wear from her clan head). Furthermore, she wore a set of bronze-rimmed spectacles and a turban despite us being nowhere near any deserts. Her fur, noticeably, was a ghostly white colour.

Chuma thought to himself ”Is she an albin-”

but before he could finish his thought a voice behind him arrogantly proclaimed

“Even the Beast-girl knows who the thrown man is”

Chuma turned to the new voice and saw a human man dressed in fancy blue robes and covered in golden finery, behind him a giant human slave was carrying 3 sealed chests.

Chuma: “Aren't we all supposed to work on our projects alone?”

The Opambwa candidate: “Why yes, my agrarian countryman. But I can’t ruin my appearance with sweat, can I? The governor and a Royal Official are coming, don't you know.”

And with that, the young man continued to his area.

“Bastard.”Chuma quietly spat. “With the amount of blatant funding, he clearly received from his clan, what would he need the funding for? Greedy asshole!”

Chuma approached his area and began doing some final checks on his Wooden Golem. It had a bulky form and many parts were missing. At this stage, it could only move one of its arms but still had an energy consumption problem and it was because of this weakness that Chuma had had to live frugally enough to afford the Shtukoamba rod and Jotoadhi coolant required for the demonstration today.

Just as the Golem’s last checks were done a giant 2-and-a-half metre royal guard appeared Carrying a shock spear in his hands and a collapsing gold trimmed bow on his back, He wore leather armour with gold plating on top, his legs protected by a painted and engraved leather robe depicting the Royal Family’s Clan insignia as well as a thin strip of colours signifying his own. He lacked a helmet and thanks to that, everyone could see the many scars that riddled his face in an oddly appealing fashion…almost as if he earned them from an artist rather than a battle. A single tied set of dreadlocks sprouted from his head and dropped just long enough to pass his ears, each lock capped with small silver crowns

He then pulled out a paper seemingly from nowhere.

Royal Guard:” Announcing the arrival of the Governor of Mafanikio; Njowga Akinyemi and Royal Representative, Third to Her Highness, Nabagereka Aziza and- *Sigh* Do I really have to read all of this ”

”Jamba, it's part of the job!” A female voice hissed loudly

Jamba, the Royal Guard:” But there are like 20 different titles”

”Jamba you lazy-” the female voice was quickly cut off by the Royal Representative fast-walking past Jamba to the Judge tables where the Clan heads waited.

The Royal Representative was a human with Side-Swept Braided Dreadlocks and painted black lips and eyelids. She wore long black pants with intricate circular golden patterns sparsely placed on them, on top of them were 2 gold-plated armoured half skirts that only covered half of each of her legs and went down to her knees. On top, she was wearing a black formal suit with a similar golden pattern as her pants. Covering it was a black open jacket with a Royal official badge secured right on top of her heart. If you looked closely, on her back an ornate handle was slightly sticking out. Considering that everyone was expected to be able to fight if we were invaded by a neighbouring nation, it made sense why she was armed despite having 2 Royal guards protecting her (even though it was overkill).

Royal Representative: “Jamba, stop embarrassing yourself and follow. Tish, leave your brother alone and Follow. Governor, Follow.”

Jamba, the female voice from before(which must have been Tish) and the Governor all chorused “Yes, Mam” and followed the strict woman.

The portly short form of the governor quickly appeared and trailing behind him was a similarly giant Royal Guard, Tish, who quickly smacked the back of Jamba’s head with an audible Thwack, unlike her brother, she was wearing a Royal Gold Scaled leather helm that hid her face.

Jamba:” Ow, bitch!”

”That's what you get for misplacing your helmet.” Tish said in a sing-song voice.

The Royal Representative just loudly sighed at the two’s antics and pinched the bridge of her nose as they went to their positions.

Jamba & Tish:” Sorry Mam”

Everyone, including the clan heads just stared at the two Guards. Chuma could have sworn he saw the very air part when she slapped her brother and not only was he still conscious but he barely moved. “How high are the attributes and levels of Royal Guards?!?” Chuma thought.

Their behaviour was also very weird for Royal guards as they are normally extremely strict.

Looking at the Shima Clan head. A level of barely contained rage could be seen. Clearly, someone was in trouble.

Royal Representative: “I am Royal Representative, Nya Diya. I have been sent here by Her Majesty to make sure the Innovators Budget is used correctly. Now I understand that the governor has worked with the clans here to display their best and brightest to amaze me into funding them.”

Nya Sat down in the central chair.

Nya Diya:”Well, Amaze me!”