Project Umbrella Translation
NO. 07 NDIPAYA TRIBE
They constructed the uniquely styled wooden structures in the marshlands and reside there.
Their advanced architectural skills are widely known and play an active role in the restoration of damaged ruins around the world.
That's the Ndipaya Tribe's popular image in society.
But they had a secret they never spoke of to anyone other than their fellow tribesmen.
The existence of a vast complex of ruins sprawling underground.
Long ago, the Ndipaya Tribe ruled this region and founded a giant monarchial political state.
Legends indicate the megalithic archaeological site was where the king resided at the time.
What's particularly noteworthy is their method for electing their rulers.
While this state was a monarchy, it was no hereditary system.
Rather than the certainty of their birth, those who wished to become king are said to have needed to undergo a certain ritual to demonstrate their capabilities and innate attributes to all the people.
The ritual involved using a certain plant that grew only in the "Sun Garden", supposedly located within the royal capital's depths.
In the local language, the plant was called "Stairway to the Sun."
The Stairway to the Sun was extremely virulent and most who consumed it died.
But rarely, a man of valor would appear, capable of overcoming its virulence.
It's said that someone able to triumph over its virulence would acquire the people's acclaim, the king's throne, and powers far surpassing man.
(Traces of this ritual can still be seen today in a festival the Ndipaya Tribe holds once a year to comfort the spirits of their ancestors)
Legend has it that a single king ruled the kingdom for several hundred years since no other such men of valor emerged, as none had the exceedingly rare ability to resist its virulence.
At present there's no way of knowing for sure whether this is mere legend brought about by inaccurate oral tradition, or proof the king lived hundreds of years after acquiring new powers.
It's a clear fact however that this once prosperous kingdom fell into decline and perished.
Why did the Ndipaya Tribe abandon their royal captial and move their homes to the swamps?
Only some uncertain folklore remains, so the reasons for this aren't well-established.
Even after leaving the royal capital though, the Ndipaya Tribe regarded the land as sacred and didn't reveal its existence to anyone outside the tribe.
Furthermore, Ndipaya tribesman safeguarded this land by making a custom of dispatching thirteen to twenty-five-year-olds as soldiers to guard the royal capital for two years.
These enormous underground ruins, which if publicized stand to rewrite not only Africa's history but all of global civilization, have continued to lie undiscovered until the present day thanks to their efforts.
But a certain company uncovered the secret of these ruins. That was in the 1960s.
They entered the area by force of arms hoping to obtain the plant used in the previously mentioned ritual.
Naturally the Ndipaya put up a desperate resistance.
In times of peace they were astounding engineers, but in times of war would transform into valiant soldiers. That was who the Ndipaya Tribe were.
They fought bravely, armed with their own weapons and superior physical abilities.
But they were overwhelmingly outnumbered.
(This is said to be due to many young people eating the Stairway to the Sun to gain superhuman abilities)
As a result, they were forced to cede the area behind the Sun Garden to the company.
But they haven't given up yet.
They eagerly await the day a new king will appear and take back the entire royal capital.
They constructed the uniquely styled wooden structures in the marshlands and reside there.
Their advanced architectural skills are widely known and play an active role in the restoration of damaged ruins around the world.
That's the Ndipaya Tribe's popular image in society.
But they had a secret they never spoke of to anyone other than their fellow tribesmen.
The existence of a vast complex of ruins sprawling underground.
Long ago, the Ndipaya Tribe ruled this region and founded a giant monarchial political state.
Legends indicate the megalithic archaeological site was where the king resided at the time.
What's particularly noteworthy is their method for electing their rulers.
While this state was a monarchy, it was no hereditary system.
Rather than the certainty of their birth, those who wished to become king are said to have needed to undergo a certain ritual to demonstrate their capabilities and innate attributes to all the people.
The ritual involved using a certain plant that grew only in the "Sun Garden", supposedly located within the royal capital's depths.
In the local language, the plant was called "Stairway to the Sun."
The Stairway to the Sun was extremely virulent and most who consumed it died.
But rarely, a man of valor would appear, capable of overcoming its virulence.
It's said that someone able to triumph over its virulence would acquire the people's acclaim, the king's throne, and powers far surpassing man.
(Traces of this ritual can still be seen today in a festival the Ndipaya Tribe holds once a year to comfort the spirits of their ancestors)
Legend has it that a single king ruled the kingdom for several hundred years since no other such men of valor emerged, as none had the exceedingly rare ability to resist its virulence.
At present there's no way of knowing for sure whether this is mere legend brought about by inaccurate oral tradition, or proof the king lived hundreds of years after acquiring new powers.
It's a clear fact however that this once prosperous kingdom fell into decline and perished.
Why did the Ndipaya Tribe abandon their royal captial and move their homes to the swamps?
Only some uncertain folklore remains, so the reasons for this aren't well-established.
Even after leaving the royal capital though, the Ndipaya Tribe regarded the land as sacred and didn't reveal its existence to anyone outside the tribe.
Furthermore, Ndipaya tribesman safeguarded this land by making a custom of dispatching thirteen to twenty-five-year-olds as soldiers to guard the royal capital for two years.
These enormous underground ruins, which if publicized stand to rewrite not only Africa's history but all of global civilization, have continued to lie undiscovered until the present day thanks to their efforts.
But a certain company uncovered the secret of these ruins. That was in the 1960s.
They entered the area by force of arms hoping to obtain the plant used in the previously mentioned ritual.
Naturally the Ndipaya put up a desperate resistance.
In times of peace they were astounding engineers, but in times of war would transform into valiant soldiers. That was who the Ndipaya Tribe were.
They fought bravely, armed with their own weapons and superior physical abilities.
But they were overwhelmingly outnumbered.
(This is said to be due to many young people eating the Stairway to the Sun to gain superhuman abilities)
As a result, they were forced to cede the area behind the Sun Garden to the company.
But they haven't given up yet.
They eagerly await the day a new king will appear and take back the entire royal capital.
Official Japanese Transcript
NO. 07 ンディパヤ族
沼地に独自様式の木造建築を作り、そこに居住。
高度な建築技術は広く知られており、世界中の破壊された遺跡の復興で活躍している。
それが、世間でよく知られるンディパヤ族の姿である。
だが彼らには、部族の者以外には決して漏らさぬ秘密があった。
それが地下に広がる大遺跡群の存在である。
はるか昔、この近辺にはンディパヤ族が治める一大王政政治国家が存在した。
大遺跡群は、その当時の王とであったと伝えられている。
特筆すべきは、その統治者選出方法である。
この国家は王政でありながら世襲制ではなかった。
王になろうとする者は、生まれの確かさではなく、その能力と資質を万民に示すため、ある儀式に挑戦する必要があったというのだ。
儀式では、王都の深部にあるという「太陽の庭」でのみ生育するある植物を用いた。
その植物は現地の言葉で「太陽の階段」と呼ばれていた。
太陽の階段は非常に毒性が強く、食する者のほとんどを死に至らしめた。
だが、稀にその毒に打ち勝つ猛者が現れた。
毒に打ち勝ったものは、その対価として人を超えた能力と人々の賞賛、そして王の座を得ることができたという。
（この儀式については、現在でもンディパヤ族が年に1回行う祖先の霊を慰める祭りの中で、その名残を見ることができる）
ただし、その毒に対抗しきれる者は極めて稀で、そのような猛者が現れなかったため、一人の王が数百年王国を統治したという言い伝えも残されている。
この伝承が、新たな能力を得た王が数百年の時を生きたという証左なのか、不正確な口伝によって生み出されたただの伝説なのかは、現在では確かめるすべはない。
しかし、繁栄を極めたであろうこの王国も衰亡し、滅亡したのは確かな事実である。
なぜンディパヤ族の人々が王都を捨て、沼地にその住居を移したのか。
その理由については、いくつかの不正確な伝承が残されているのみでよく分かってはいない。
だが、ンディパヤ族の人々は王都を離れた後もその地を神聖視し、その存在を部族外の者に明かすことはなかった。
さらには、ンディパヤ族の男は13歳から25歳の間に2年間、王都を警備する兵士として派遣されることをしきたりとしてこの地を守った。
公表されればアフリカだけではなく、世界の文明史さえも書き換える可能性があるこの巨大地下遺跡群は、このような彼らの努力で現代まで誰にも知られることなく存在し続けた。
だが、ある企業がこの遺跡の秘密をかぎつけた。1960年代のことである。
彼らは件の儀式で使われていた植物目当てに、武力をもってこの地へ進出してきたのだ。
当然、ンディパヤ族の人々は必死で抵抗した。
平時は優秀な技術者だが、戦時には勇猛な兵士へと変貌する。それが、彼らンディパヤ族である。
独自の兵器と優れた身体能力を武器に、彼らは勇敢に戦った。
だが、数の面で圧倒的に不利だった。
（人を超えた能力を得るため太陽の階段を口にした若者が多くいたためとも言われている）その結果、彼らは太陽の庭より奥の地区を、その企業に割譲せざるを得なかったのである。
だが、彼らはまだあきらめてはいない。
いずれの日か新たな王が現れ、王都全域を取り戻す日を待ち望んでいるのである。
沼地に独自様式の木造建築を作り、そこに居住。
高度な建築技術は広く知られており、世界中の破壊された遺跡の復興で活躍している。
それが、世間でよく知られるンディパヤ族の姿である。
だが彼らには、部族の者以外には決して漏らさぬ秘密があった。
それが地下に広がる大遺跡群の存在である。
はるか昔、この近辺にはンディパヤ族が治める一大王政政治国家が存在した。
大遺跡群は、その当時の王とであったと伝えられている。
特筆すべきは、その統治者選出方法である。
この国家は王政でありながら世襲制ではなかった。
王になろうとする者は、生まれの確かさではなく、その能力と資質を万民に示すため、ある儀式に挑戦する必要があったというのだ。
儀式では、王都の深部にあるという「太陽の庭」でのみ生育するある植物を用いた。
その植物は現地の言葉で「太陽の階段」と呼ばれていた。
太陽の階段は非常に毒性が強く、食する者のほとんどを死に至らしめた。
だが、稀にその毒に打ち勝つ猛者が現れた。
毒に打ち勝ったものは、その対価として人を超えた能力と人々の賞賛、そして王の座を得ることができたという。
（この儀式については、現在でもンディパヤ族が年に1回行う祖先の霊を慰める祭りの中で、その名残を見ることができる）
ただし、その毒に対抗しきれる者は極めて稀で、そのような猛者が現れなかったため、一人の王が数百年王国を統治したという言い伝えも残されている。
この伝承が、新たな能力を得た王が数百年の時を生きたという証左なのか、不正確な口伝によって生み出されたただの伝説なのかは、現在では確かめるすべはない。
しかし、繁栄を極めたであろうこの王国も衰亡し、滅亡したのは確かな事実である。
なぜンディパヤ族の人々が王都を捨て、沼地にその住居を移したのか。
その理由については、いくつかの不正確な伝承が残されているのみでよく分かってはいない。
だが、ンディパヤ族の人々は王都を離れた後もその地を神聖視し、その存在を部族外の者に明かすことはなかった。
さらには、ンディパヤ族の男は13歳から25歳の間に2年間、王都を警備する兵士として派遣されることをしきたりとしてこの地を守った。
公表されればアフリカだけではなく、世界の文明史さえも書き換える可能性があるこの巨大地下遺跡群は、このような彼らの努力で現代まで誰にも知られることなく存在し続けた。
だが、ある企業がこの遺跡の秘密をかぎつけた。1960年代のことである。
彼らは件の儀式で使われていた植物目当てに、武力をもってこの地へ進出してきたのだ。
当然、ンディパヤ族の人々は必死で抵抗した。
平時は優秀な技術者だが、戦時には勇猛な兵士へと変貌する。それが、彼らンディパヤ族である。
独自の兵器と優れた身体能力を武器に、彼らは勇敢に戦った。
だが、数の面で圧倒的に不利だった。
（人を超えた能力を得るため太陽の階段を口にした若者が多くいたためとも言われている）その結果、彼らは太陽の庭より奥の地区を、その企業に割譲せざるを得なかったのである。
だが、彼らはまだあきらめてはいない。
いずれの日か新たな王が現れ、王都全域を取り戻す日を待ち望んでいるのである。
Official English Transcript
"Due to errors or changes in localization, the following may contain inconsistencies with the official Japanese text."
NO. 07 NDIPAYA TRIBE
The Ndipaya reside in unique wooden structures in the wetlands. Their advanced architectural techniques are used throughout the world to repair and maintain many damaged ancient ruins.
This is how the world at large knows of the Ndipaya.
But the Ndipaya possess a secret that they do not wish to share with the rest of the world: That the ancient ruins of the Ndipaya Kingdom reside beneath their land.
In ancient times, the surrounding lands were all under the control of the sovereign Ndipaya Kingdom and the city of ruins was the seat of that monarch.
Special attention should be given to the way the sovereign was chosen. While the Ndipaya did have a monarchy, the king was not decided by birthright, but by the abilities and qualities he displayed during a certain required ceremony. This ceremony employed a special plant that grew in the Sun Garden residing in the deepest area of the royal city.
This plant was known as the Stairway to the Sun.
The Stairway to the Sun was an extremely poisonous plant, and its effects were fatal if consumed. Though some individuals possessed a natural resistance to the poison.
The Ndipaya people believed that a man who could prevail against the poison was destined to become king.
(Vestiges of this ceremony are still carried out once a year by the Ndipaya for the continual peace of their ancestors’ spirits.)
Even with a natural resistance, finding an individual that could survive ingestion of the powerful poison was a rarity. It is said by the Ndipaya people that one such man reigned as king for hundreds of years. Whether this legend has any validity to it cannot be ascertained at present.
What is known is that this once flourishing kingdom fell into decline and was eventually abandoned by the Ndipaya people.
It is not known what made the Ndipaya abandon their city for the wetlands. Any information regarding these matters comes from oral traditions and hearsay, which obviously calls to question the validity of the information.
What is known though, is that after leaving the city, the Ndipaya viewed it as sacred ground, and vowed to keep its existence hidden from outsiders.
All Ndipaya males between the ages of thirteen and twenty-five are required to spend two years in the city to guard and protect it.
It is through their continued vigilance that this great city's existence has been kept undiscovered by the outside world.
There was, however, one instance of outsiders discovering their secret city. In the 1960s, a corporation went into the sacred city to find the plant used in their ceremonies and take it by force.
The Ndipaya fiercely resisted this incursion into their land. in time of peace the Ndipaya are builders of great renown, but when the need for war arises, they can become stout warriors. This adaptability is the essence of the Ndipaya.
Their physical prowess in battle was their greatest weapon, and they used it to fight bravely. But they were overwhelmed by the enemy's technological advantages.
(During this time many of the Ndipaya youths consumed the plant in an effort to fight off the invaders.)
In the end, the Ndipaya were forced to cede the area of the Sun Garden and beyond to the corporation's control.
But the Ndipaya have not yet given up hope of one day reclaiming their sacred land and returning it to its former glory.
NO. 07 NDIPAYA TRIBE
The Ndipaya reside in unique wooden structures in the wetlands. Their advanced architectural techniques are used throughout the world to repair and maintain many damaged ancient ruins.
This is how the world at large knows of the Ndipaya.
But the Ndipaya possess a secret that they do not wish to share with the rest of the world: That the ancient ruins of the Ndipaya Kingdom reside beneath their land.
In ancient times, the surrounding lands were all under the control of the sovereign Ndipaya Kingdom and the city of ruins was the seat of that monarch.
Special attention should be given to the way the sovereign was chosen. While the Ndipaya did have a monarchy, the king was not decided by birthright, but by the abilities and qualities he displayed during a certain required ceremony. This ceremony employed a special plant that grew in the Sun Garden residing in the deepest area of the royal city.
This plant was known as the Stairway to the Sun.
The Stairway to the Sun was an extremely poisonous plant, and its effects were fatal if consumed. Though some individuals possessed a natural resistance to the poison.
The Ndipaya people believed that a man who could prevail against the poison was destined to become king.
(Vestiges of this ceremony are still carried out once a year by the Ndipaya for the continual peace of their ancestors’ spirits.)
Even with a natural resistance, finding an individual that could survive ingestion of the powerful poison was a rarity. It is said by the Ndipaya people that one such man reigned as king for hundreds of years. Whether this legend has any validity to it cannot be ascertained at present.
What is known is that this once flourishing kingdom fell into decline and was eventually abandoned by the Ndipaya people.
It is not known what made the Ndipaya abandon their city for the wetlands. Any information regarding these matters comes from oral traditions and hearsay, which obviously calls to question the validity of the information.
What is known though, is that after leaving the city, the Ndipaya viewed it as sacred ground, and vowed to keep its existence hidden from outsiders.
All Ndipaya males between the ages of thirteen and twenty-five are required to spend two years in the city to guard and protect it.
It is through their continued vigilance that this great city's existence has been kept undiscovered by the outside world.
There was, however, one instance of outsiders discovering their secret city. In the 1960s, a corporation went into the sacred city to find the plant used in their ceremonies and take it by force.
The Ndipaya fiercely resisted this incursion into their land. in time of peace the Ndipaya are builders of great renown, but when the need for war arises, they can become stout warriors. This adaptability is the essence of the Ndipaya.
Their physical prowess in battle was their greatest weapon, and they used it to fight bravely. But they were overwhelmed by the enemy's technological advantages.
(During this time many of the Ndipaya youths consumed the plant in an effort to fight off the invaders.)
In the end, the Ndipaya were forced to cede the area of the Sun Garden and beyond to the corporation's control.
But the Ndipaya have not yet given up hope of one day reclaiming their sacred land and returning it to its former glory.