A Different World: Civilization's Dawn [IC|Closed]

by **Novas Arcanum** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 7:56 am

中国

"The spirits are too busy running Heaven and earth we must rely on ourselves." That was the Huang way of thinking.The spirits would not give them food, only through gathering it, fishing from the Yu River, and hunting the water-buffalo would the Huang stave off hunger and ensure their strength. The spirits would not heal them only by cleverly refining the bitterroot and ingesting it's life giving properties would they restore the balance of qi to their bodies.The Huang believed that they could rely on their own tenacity and hard work to overcome the struggles and obstacles that the world threw at them.Still they had their own folklore and beliefs that went back countless generations. While eating communally around the fire, Liu Tao told the story of King Yama and his kingship over the realms of the dead and how a man had traveled to the nether realm and listed his grievances. King Yama told him he was too busy processing the dead and not to bother him with his mortal issues and figure it out on his own. While the Huang respected the spirits and indeed offered their respect to them they knew that in the end they could rely only on themselves.

by **Lazarian** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:00 am

The Corvidians, Year 5

Ceston's return had been a mighty boon, indeed. An extra set of helping hands truly made a difference for the descendants of Corvus, and there was more than enough food to go around. However, they had not figured out a good way to preserve and store food, and a good season one year did not guarantee another year of plenty. It was something that Cavon and Corvin would discuss from time to time, because they knew that times of plenty would not last forever.

Juna gave birth to another child, which her and Cavon named Janon. Another healthy strapping boy, with a head full of tangled red hair even at birth! He screams like a warrior's ferocious battle cry, and his cries make Corvin grateful to sleep outside of the dugout.

A point of contention among the Corvidians are the friendly wolves, or the "kin spirits", as Ceston and Cavon like to call them. Three in particular stalk around the campfire, eating spare scraps of meat and hanging around. These wolves are smaller than the others, and their nature seems to be less hostile than their larger brethren. They do not attack the tribe, and both Ceston and Cavon are eager to bring them on the hunt. Sometimes, from time to time, they even rub and scratch these furry companions!

However, the kin spirit wolves are much less popular among the women, Casa and Juna. They protest, claiming that it's unsafe to have wild beasts around their small children. This is a valid argument, and the children are kept close to their mother's breast at night and watched closely during the day. Juna in particular, exhausted from constant vigilance around her two sons, proposes the idea of constructing a small fence around the entrance to the dugout and keeping the children in there during the day, when the menfolk are gone.

Cavon decides that further training of the kin spirit wolves is the most pressing priority. More helping hands on a hunt is surely a guarantee of food security and prosperity. He goes out with Corvin during the evenings, rewarding wolves who bring down gazelles with extra scraps of meat and bones to chew. Juna is confident that they will have enough food for the year, and she puts her effort towards building a small fence around the campfire and dugout entrance, to protect the children.

While his brothers work to refine their animal companions, Ceston is sent away to wander once again. His heart longs for the open countryside, where his eagle eyes and swift feet belong. His spirit is one with the wandering crow, and with Corvin's blessing, he sets off into the distance once again.

by **Nuxipal** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:59 am

Nirari Tribe
Forests of the Sun, Habitation Year 2

Lilitu’s tales of the unicorns to the west make for excellent stories as the band readies themselves for the coming seasons. She decides that exploring to the northwest is best to find similar environments to what is directly west. It doesn’t take long for them to begin thinking of mystical things the horned creatures could do. Despite not seeing it for themselves, Niun and Melein just think about what they believe these creatures are capable of doing and how much more useful they would be to the tribe than the lands they currently inhabit. Niun continued his hunts, avoiding the local bears at all costs, to bring fresh hides and bones for Melein's constructions. For her part, Melein continues to build the shelter that they could transport with them during their travels. Once the first of the shelters were completed they would have a choice to make, remain in the forests with the bears, or continue on to a different land that they could find more abundant food.

As days grow longer, and the shelter is coming closer to completion, Niun and Melein find more leisure time. Knowing that the tribe will need more members, and the likelihood of actually finding anyone to join them was negligible with how empty the world was of people such as themselves. They would try to enlarge their tribe another way.

by **The GAmeTopians** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:15 am

The River Folk, at the Mouth of the Riverlands

The tribe fell into monotonous subsistence, little advancement happening in the face of unending illness. Despite food aplenty, despair abounded. There would be no rejoicing in the tribe this year.

Magnus (M, Scholar) - Caring for Katrina, attempting to get her back to full health.
Eliana (F, Scholar) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Katrina (F, Worker, Ill) - Does little but watch over her child and rest, in an attempt to stave off birth sickness.
Bronwen (M, Worker) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Varin (M, Scout) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Fiona (F, Child) - Does toddler things

by **The National Dominion of Hungary** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:55 pm

The Pennenthelli

They gathered by the fire set by the mound of stones clad in flowery wreaths they had piled upon the small grave. How could the Spirits have taken something so small and so innocent? Why did they give only to so arbitrarily take away. Little Kharyn's lifeless body was wrapped in hides and buried. It took both Henimen, Latozar and Jenwin hours to finally convince the grief-stricken parents to stop sitting by Kharyn's small, lifeless body as Kathildra sat clutching her tiny lifeless hand in hers. When they finally wrapped their baby in hides and laid her to rest in the grave that Henimen and Latozar had prepared, they found some tiny comfort in each other and the grief seemed to turn a little, tiny bit less heart-wrenching. They stood there, by the spirit stone in the dark of night singing a song, asking them Ancestors to care for Kharyn's soul and let her rest in peace and tranquility. As the others began to leave and go back to camp, Avunan and Kathildra stayed behind, on their knees in front of the grave, tears running down their cheeks as the fire died.

They had done all they could, truly, and come up with ways of treating their little daughter that seemed to make her feel better, at least for a time. But in the end it was naught but a cruel jest by the evil spirits that had come to roost and wreak havoc. That night, when Avunan and Kathildra returned to the camp they laid down by the fire, unable to go into the teepee where their little Kharyn had died, at least not yet. Not that either of them slept that night anyway. The start of the year is somber, Kathildra spends much of her time by the grave, drawing lines on her face and body with soot as she prays and meditates, attempting communion with the spirits, hoping for answers, to ask if her daughter's soul was in the care of the ancestors, if she was growing up in the spirit world. Avunan in the meantime dealt with the grief in his own way, trying to work and keep himself busy by keeping his mind present, working on how to best solve the issues with preserving food. Kathildra had tried to smoke and dry it for a long time without success, when they spoke, he tentatively asked her on how she had worked. It took many months of grieving until Avunan and Kathildra began to truly compose themselves again, finding comfort in each other's love and in the close friendship with their tribe-mates.

In the meantime Henimen and Jenwin hunted in the plains, Henimen hefting the mighty spear while Jenwin learned the sling and how to hurl deadly stones at her prey with accuracy. In a small way they blamed themselves for Kharyn's death, perhaps if they had brought home more food then Avunan and Kathildra had been able to think more clearly and found a way to save their little girl as some days they had complained that their sharp minds felt foggy, or that they had a hard time to focus. But they were happy that little Ronan was healthy and strong. Latozar worked on making another teepee for the clan, Avunan had spoken that perhaps, as more children would be born into the tribe, perhaps this land would not be able to sustain them and tents could be brought along should they need to migrate. But they had no knowledge of the land around them as the focus for the swiftest and most adventurous among them was helping her man to put food over their campfire.

by **Ralnis** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:10 pm

Jungles of Lo

The child, Carn'e, became one year old and even started to move with a healthy stride. Tes'la blessed the tribe with bountiful harvest of child birds as the tribe had to prepare the last of the needed foundations of their meathouse. Ing finally was ready to leave for the mountains with enough food so that she can be ready for the quest set before her. Ing is more or less excited for to see the Wall of Storms for herself.

Another thing that was about to be done was the smoke house as the vents and other shafts were being done. It was a feat of tribal engineering in order to preserve more meat and can store it for the people. Soon that can be done and they can dedicate their minds to the spark of figuring out this world that Tes'la gave them.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:11 pm

Fourth of Springtide, Year Five of the Reckoning

An unexpected boon. Jarn had been interrupted in his careful digging of holes and placing of seeds by his mate excited calling him over to their campfire, exclaiming over the wedge that she had beaten into a sharp point with careful strokes of her hammerstone on the heated sundrop stone. Exactly how the stone decided to respond to her she did not understand, but the two of them theorized that the heat within the fire called part of a memory of the origin of the stone to itself, which had clearly fallen from the beautiful sun overhead, and so it responded by bending to the wishes of the one that recalled this memory to it. Varya, more familiar with the substance, had her own theory when she heard of their thoughts - that the stone was stiff and cold, like the bodies of the tribesmen in winter after sleeping, and warming it allowed it to stretch and bend more easily under the blows of the inquisitive smith.

Either theory could be true, or neither. It matter little ultimately, save that Maria could repeat the technique, bludgeoning crude lumps of the sundrop stone into tool-shapes which the tribe could make use of. Most fortunate, certainly, was the immediate realization that this method could be repeated over and over. By warming the edge of a tool bent and dulled by work, be it cutting a branch or butchering a bison, Maria was able to carefully hammer it back into a facsimile of new keen cutting blade without destroying the material. It was clear that this sundrop stone was superior to mighty flint in this regard, for the flint did not mold and flow so easily when heated, instead merely flaking after its own manner.

There was so much they did not understand of this world. But slowly they would discover the wonders the Father had meant for them to command, and bring all things to order.

by **The Empire of Tau** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:29 pm

Machaka
Age of Mythos, Dawn of Man

No lore yet…

by **Elerian** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 3:04 pm

"It is time to wake up Cyhr, the day is upon us." spoke her mate, gently shaking his pale companion. She yawned as she slowly opened her eyes, and gave a weak smile in return. He kindly helped her sit up, and began feeding her some fire roasted otter.

"Sorry Llyr, did I oversleep?" she said, noticing that the sun was rather high in the sky.

Llyr smiled, "Not at all, I just wanted to get you moving. You need food to keep your strength." he said, looking down at his sickly baby quickly.

She looked at him, puzzled for a moment, before it quickly clicked. "She will make it Llyr, just as I will" she said assuredly.

He nodded, "I believe you" doubt clouding his mind.

He worked in silence for most of the day, doing his best to make Cyhr and the baby comfortable. Llyr wasn't sure if the girl would last the year, but he prayed to the gods that they would both make it through. Any birth was hard on the mother, but this one had been particularly difficult for Cyhr. Time would tell how she would fare.

Cyhr Ill (F, Scholar) - Rests in the Hut
Llyr (M, Scholar) - Looks After Cyhr and the Sickly Girl Child, and Investigates Methods of Food Preservation in his Spare Time
Cigfa (F, Worker) - Fashions Spear-Throwers and Gathers Reeds/Grasses for Food in her Spare Time
Gwynn (M, Worker) - Helps Pywll Hunt for Food
Pywll (M, Scout) - Hunts Otter and Deer for Food With Spear-Thrower
Child (F, Toddler)
Child Ill (F, Infant)
Child (M, Infant)

by **Holy Tedalonia** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:59 pm

Saladon Nomads
Another good year feeds the nomads. As Varrus brings home various foraged food, and slain creatures he had caught with the end of his spear. He didn't bother hunting the bigger more dangerous beasts, only aiming for small and harmless critters. As he returned to the sledge with his bounty, he noted Lana crafting another spear. He didn't see much use within such peaceful lands, but he knew that there might be those who would try to take their fortunes and tools. More weapons was always good. The lack of Fara was to be expected given her fascination with the beasts of this land.

He enjoyed living here, in a land filled with quiet peace, noting how different it was from their original tribe and clan. They were mountain folk, at least originally and had known little of the world beyond. They had lived in a large tribe burdened by a large population and a lack of food. They had left in hopes of a better life, one that left one feed with a filled belly throughout the year. Pleased with the results of their journey, one might assume the spirits had guided them there.

by **Theyra** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 8:40 pm

Huanca

Another year and another year, a child does not grace the Huanca. After three years of trying to have a child. Achik and Ninan are starting to worry about why they can't have a child. Is it the work of the gods or something more mundane. With little knowledge to go with, they turn to Koyakusi for help. Not sure of how he could help, Koyakusi suggested that perhaps to gain the god's favor and help with this matter. A proper shrine must be built, and maybe then will they will help or guidance from them so while her partner Achik continued to hunt and protect the tribe. Ninan set out to build a shrine to the gods, and hopefully, this might help with getting a child. While that is going on, Jaylli sticks to his routine, and Ynti decides to head further east to see what is there. And not sure if they will share will Achik and Ninan fate of not getting a child. Koyakusi and Ynti have started to have children of their own and have prayed and given offerings to the gods. Koyakusi interested in the arrival of horses into their lands. He departs the village to study these creatures and before attempting to try and tame them.

by **Olthenia** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:03 am

The Canyon-Dwellers
Year 5

“C’mon now.”

Slowly, gently, Harro eased another strip of mushroom flesh in Kadima’s direction. It felt strange, in a way – strange and alien – to see her in such a state. The previous year had been hard on all of them, with little food and hunger ever on their minds. But Kadima, damn her, had suffered more than most. Her and Harro's son, anyway - the eldest of the tribe's new litter. In Kadima's case, Harro suspected it was because she’d given more than her fair share to the younglings - always insisting that “Oh, I’ve eaten”. Or perhaps that ankle she twisted? Down by that water hole? It didn’t matter, in the end. Just look at you now, Kadi. Look at you. Granted, Kadima’s skin was as black as molasses – always had been – but her eyes looked sunken, her lips dry and shriveled, and when she tossed and turned? By the spirits, Harro was almost certain he could count her ribs beneath the blanket.

“Eat.”

It was only a word, that’s all. But judging by the look in Kadima’s sunken eyes, the war-woman resented him even for that. Or perhaps it was just that she prefered Wylla's berries over Harro's flesh-colored 'shrooms? Heh. Harro – lean and long-limbed as he was – had never quite understood Kadima. To wander and range was in Harro’s bones; be it along stony defiles or sandy dunes. He was the first of the Khortuun to walk this deep into the valley – even the first to see it empty into the vast, white silt-sea that stretched to the south. Kadima had never wandered like that. But she had fought, however. Wrestled. Kicked. Tossed and sprinted – with a fierceness and joy none of her tribesfolk had ever matched. It was odd, now, seeing hunger make her this weak.

Slowly, gently, Kadima took Harro’s proffered mushroom with calloused fingers. Put it in her mouth, too. And chewed.

That’s it. Chew yourself back to life, you beast, Harro thought. For inwards, he was smiling. You’re not done yet.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:42 am

Seasons come, seasons go...

It is a time of uncertainty for many, but perhaps for the Deepkin most of all. Turbulent storms have moved through the region, filling the sky with lightning, and for weeks now vast palls of smoke have covered the land, fires rising higher than the forests soaring to the east. The tribesmen are trepidatious, but fortunately the patch of land they call home is more grassland that immense arboreal landscape, and so the fires peeter out before they reach the Mother Tree. Still, it is a reminder of how easily disaster can assault their home.

The Ainu: There is ample food in the mouths of the Ainu, and they give thanks for the young girl child who now grows healthy in their midst. A boy child is born to the tribe, and another, though the second pregnancy is fraught with peril and leaves both mother and child weak indeed.

The Warclyfe: At long last the smokehouse is ready, and any great windfall or feast that comes to the people of Tes'la will not be wasted. It is a humble dwelling, little distinguishable from the mud-daub house that already shields the bodies of the tribe, but set about with pre-prepared racks for drying and allowing rollicking smoke from sunken firepits to touch all that might be placed with. With ample food in their bellies, Lu falls pregnant before the year's end, and bears a healthy boy child.

West Ing roams, up into the forbidding mountains that are known to the people of the Warclyfe. The peaks here are familiarly hot and wreathed in mists, and anon Ing summits one of the great precipices, giving her an idea of the lay of the land. To both north and west the glittering sea stretches, diving down from sheer cliffs into azure waters of deepest blue, while south more jungle lowlands akin to her home can be seen. This region has bones of deepest granite, a gray stone her people value for its stolidity. Trees with strange large brown fruits that are filling and sweet grow in the valleys here, and low bushes with brilliant red leaves, long thorns, and black berries.

The Deepkin: There is enough food for all, with a little bit left over - thought their reserves of smoked meat dwindle as rot and moisture claim the preserved food. Varya has gathered a small amount of timber with her axe, and a girl child is born to Maria. The child is born weak, but with a steady treatment of infused breathing from the prepared medicines of the tribe, strength returns to her body within a month or so of her entrance to the world.

Jarn's work on expanding the nut-grass patch has paid off, and he now feels confident he understands the basics of why plants grow where they do - how they require different amounts of sun, and moisture, and soils. A valuable discovery indeed, and it has allowed him to expand the planting considerably.

Of Sylvia's trip to the north, though fruitless in her search for a man, much can be said. Through a thick band of forest she passes, which stretches away in the direction of both sunrise and sunset, but beyond which there seem to be more wide rolling plains. Some of the land is burnt, no doubt from the forest fires the tribe saw in the spring. Boars rut under the trees here, and small creatures with black faces, shimmering glossy pelts, and hooves move in herds in the forest clearings. The Healer's Hand grows here as well.

The Corvidians: There is not quite enough food this year - mainly, in the eyes of many, on account of deliberately feeding the wolves good meat instead of scraps. Only Juvon seems to suffer on account of this shortfall, his small body growing weak with lack of nourishment, however, luckily. The small fence around the dugout shelter rises quickly enough, and is finished by the end of the year, though hardly a sturdy thing. No children are born to the tribe this year.

Ceston's journey up into the highlands is uneventful, and from there he can soon tell that the range runs away northward in waves of marching peaks. To both south and east, however, the land falls away again, into pale dusty plains that look thirsty even from this distance. Shale outcroppings are common here in great frowning masses, and strange red man-like beasts with furry chests can be seen occasionally staring at him from the heights. Immense cave bears also hunt here, each as tall as two men, dining on the mountain apes and making Ceston's journey a rather fear-filled affair.

The Aederfolk: There is enough food this year- just. But that is all that is necessary. Just. None go wanting, and all are filled with the strength of a good diet. Cigfa has fashioned another spear-thrower, though something tells her these devices might be more useful with spears more keenly crafted than the dubious lengths of wood that the tribe utilized. Both Cyhr and her daughter have recovered without incident, and it is a good time for the tribe - indeed, Cigfa has born a boy child to add to their numbers.

Despite only taking on the task in his spare time, it seems genius has touched Llyr's efforts. He has soon concocted a grid and method of turning meat and flesh over their low fire which leaves it smokey-tasting and holds back rot and insects for many months.

The Khortuun: Again, unfortunately, there is a lack in the lands of the canyon valley. Try as they might, the learned kindred of the tribe are not as good at reaping the bounty of the land as their fellows, and by year's end many have known hungry nights. Fortunately none suffer overmuch from this lack. Matha's son, well tended, has recovered from his fever, but Kadima's condition only worsens. She thrashes now with a fever that will not break, and when she does awaken she is delirious, thinking they live still in their old home. There is good news though - the nourished planting of beans has slowly grown larger, and is now perhaps vast enough to begin providing the tribe with a meaningful amount of food.

The Machaka: There is ample food for the Machaka this year. There is little else to report of their lives, save that the God-Spiders have begun approaching the tribe recently, apparently curious about the loud squalling of the children that can be heard throughout the forest at times.

The Huanca: There is plenty to eat for the Huanca in this season, a fact which frees many hands for curious labors. Perhaps a boon of having no children. Ninan has begun the laborious task of felling one of the immensely tall jungle trees which tower over the canopy in the lands of the Huanca, meaning to carve it into a shrine befitting the Spirits. With Ynti far afield any prospect of a child is remote, but not remote, it seems, as the continued infertility that plagues Ninan and her lover.

Koyakusi's efforts to pacify the strange loping beasts that have ventured out into the lands of the Huanca are not without success - when the herd departs in the dry season westward, two of the great creatures, accustomed to his presence and his habit of feeding them some spare potatoes, have stayed. They are not exactly tame by any means, and will not let him approach them, but seem content to remain near the tribe.

Beyond the eastern jungles great mountains rise anew, familiar terrain to Ynti. These mountains march in a great range both east and north of where she can see, but to the south she observes a strange land, a place of verdant green rolling hills and few trees, not thirsty like the great West, but not covered in vegetation like their homeland. These mountains have lapis lazuli in their cliffs, and a pallid ore like stone but shimmering can be seen in the small streams that fall from the snowcapped heights. Rice grows here in the mountain valleys, a tall grass with thin edible nodules hidden within.

The Huang: There is plentiful food for the Huang this year, and some is socked away against future need. The ailing child, treated with a decoction of bitterroot, is soon hale once more. No children are the lot of the Huang at present.

The Riverlanders: Plentiful is the larder of the Riverlands, and her people prosper. Katrina has now fully recovered, and feels as right as rain.

The Pennenthelli: There is ample food for all to eat in the coastal plains. Latozar's work on the teepee is progressing apace, greatly aided by a ready supply of furs and the supple saplings she is swiftly able to cut with her axe. It is all but completed by year's end.

Finally their experiments into smoking food have succeeded. Through a careful combination of timing, the right heat of fire, and air-drying once the process is complete, the Pennenthelli can preserve some of meaty foodstuffs into the next year.

The Nirari Band: The nomads have plentiful food for all to eat to bursting this year, and their small tent has been completed. It is not quite large enough for all to share, but still so much better than laying out under the stars in a storm. An unexpected blessing is also given to the tribe this year - twins! Two young boys are the progeny of Melein, and a gift to the Nirari indeed, a legacy.

North and west Lilitu has roamed, into a wide country like unto the western lands of endless plains and rolling hills. A great river has its start here, many streams gathering from the various hills and tumbling away north in a building torrent. To the east deep woods beckon like their homeland, but to both north and west the grasslands stretch to the horizon. Immense orange gourds grow between the streams here, and small fluffy black and white creatures feast on them. Gorgeous lumps of white silver metal can be glimpsed in the hills, almost blue in their complexion where they meet the sun, glinting with fascinating light. Some are as large as her, buried deep in the earth in divets in the soil.

The Saladonian Band: The Saladonians are well fed this year, living off of the fat of the land. Another spear has Lana turned out, fire-hardened wood that will pierce flesh and muscle easily enough. Of Fara's attempt to tame the horses, little good can said, sadly. They flee her approach, wary, and do not seem inclined to befriend the Saladonians.

So the fifth year of the reckoning ends, and another begins...

by **Novas Arcanum** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:17 am

中国

Last year....

In Haung culture names where very important especially the clan name more important then the given name since it was stated first. Luoyangs child would be named even when it seemed certain the child was destined for the next world. Liu Chao was a sickly child, his mother cried day and night fearful that her child would perish. But in the Huang culture there was a sense of family,love and community that they believed could pull them through anything. Ming dropped everything and stopped her beloved investigation of the water-buffalo to be at Luoyangs side comforting the grief-stricken woman and helping her care for the child has if it was her own. Liu Yan stopped her planned explorations and stayed in Zhongguo to help ensure the food supply was secure. Qing stood with his wife, and comforted her through the long nights.

Tao had labored day and night crafting the medicinal poultices out of the bitterroot and applied it to the sickly and pale Cao. The baby cried and his face became flushed with color. Luoyang cried has well and the entire clan cheered. From now on the medicinal poultices would be taken by the Huang women before birth to ensure that their qi and the qi of the child would remain balanced. The Liu would work diligently to ensure that this problem would never happen again.

Months had passed and Chao was now healthy.Liu Ming gazed upon the water-buffalo from afar her keen eyes watching their every movement. There had to be something useful she could learn from them. Liu Tao would also join her, it was imperative that the Liu Clan expanded their food base what with more mouths to feed.Her eyes perked when she saw the water buffalo grazing on grasses that grew in the shallow waters of the Yu River. They where verdant and green.It was the vast majority of the food they ate.She wondered if the Huang could benefit from eating such a substance. Liu Yan meanwhile grew restless. She wanted to explore but everyday life was a struggle of making sure there was enough food on the table. Liu Tao promised when the food supply was secure that she could spread her wings and explore the world. For now she aided Liu Qing in hunting, and fished in the life-giving waters of the Yu River sighing has she looked east and west, north and south to the endless expanse that laid before her.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 12:37 pm

Nineteenth of Redleaf, Sixth Year of the Reckoning

The small stand of brown, pleasant smelling grasses was growing nicely in the thick black soil near the river. Not too close - Jarn had noticed that several of the plants too close to the babbling waters had rotted away swiftly, which made sense. The hills where he had found the grass were not exactly a sodden bog. Between his fingers he idly rolled the half dozen kernels of the rich-smelling grain, thinking on the matter. It wasn't a very good use of time to cut the stalks with a hand axe and pull away the grains individually. Nice for a snack and a flavor of something different, but not something you would want to spend a season doing, or you would starve for lack of results.

It was a curious thing. In the years he had observed and studied the plants, he had noticed that some of the parts of the growing stand had heavier heads, stalks which produced more grain. The birds of the field were attracted to those in particular, eager to feast on the relative bounty compared to their cousins. The scholar thought, after much consideration, that there must be many families of the nut-grass which made up this particular field. Even as he could tell his children apart from those of Petyor and Varya, the blue eyes of their mother their own and not the brilliant emerald of his brother-in-arms, these families must be of different characteristic as well.

What exactly was to be done with this thought, Jarn hadn't quite figured out. He had discussed it with Maria, and she agreed with the principle, though a part of him perceived that she was too taken with her own investigations into the warming heat of the false sun to really consider his suppositions. That was fair. He didn't know much about her project, save what they would discuss at night when the children slumbered, and turnabout was fair play.

Really he was just grateful for Varya's efforts. Petyor's industrious mate had finally set about the task of enclosing their little encampment in a humble wall of sharpened log spikes, which every day seemed more and more necessary as the various children began to walk, talk, and get themselves into trouble. Even the eldest had not seen her name-day, but it would be soon. And then those rapscallions would need more than just swaddling to prevent them wandering off.

by **Elerian** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:27 pm

Once in the olden days, Balar was king in heaven. As long as Balar was seated on the throne, the mighty Gedymdeith, first among the gods, was standing before him. He would sink at his feet and set the drinking cup in his hand. Many in number were the years that Balar was king in heaven. In times antiquated even for the Aederfolk, Gedymdeith gave battle to Balar and he vanquished Balar. He fled before him and went down to the dark earth. Down he went to the dark earth, but Gedymdeith took his seat upon the throne. As long as Gedymdeith was seated upon the throne, the mighty Ard Feainn would give him his food. He would sink at his feet and set the drinking cup in his hand.

Many in number were the years that Gedymdeith was king in heaven. In the times of our forefathers, like Gedymdeith before him, Ard Feainn gave battle to his lord. When he could no longer withstand Ard Feainn, Gedymdeith struggled forth from the hands of Ard Feainn and fled. Gedymdeith moved like a bird through the sky. After him rushed Ard Feainn, who seized Gedymdeith by his feet and dragged him down from the sky. Ard Feainn tore from Gedymdeith his eyes, and ate them. Ard Feainn rejoiced and laughed at his victory. Gedymdeith turned back to him, to Ard Feainn he began to speak:

"Thou rejoicest over thine victory, because thou hast swallowed my sight. Rejoice not over thine victory! In thine inside I have planted a heavy burden. Firstly I have impregnated thee with the noble spirit Cahir. Secondly I have impregnated thee with the tempest Senuna, not to be endured. Thirdly I have impregnated thee with the Emyr who will unseat thee. Three dreadful gods have I planted in thy belly as seed. Thou shalt go and end thy suffering only by striking the rocks of thine own mountain with thy head!" When Gedymdeith had finished speaking, he went down in the Earth and hid himself.

Cyhr (F, Scholar) - Investigate Uses of Ghost Grass
Llyr (M, Scholar) - Investigate Uses of Ghost Grass
Cigfa (F, Worker) - Fashions Bone Spears and Gathers Reeds/Grasses for Food in her Spare Time
Gwynn (M, Worker) - Helps Pywll Hunt for Food
Pywll (M, Scout) - Hunts Otter and Deer for Food With Spear-Thrower
Child (F, Toddler)
Child (F, Infant)
Child (M, Infant)
Child (M, Infant)

by **The National Dominion of Hungary** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:49 pm

The Pennenthelli

Another year passes by, this would be the last one spent in ignorance about the lands that surrounded them. There could be lands streaming with milk and honey beyond the far horizons of the great plains and small woodland copses they called home. Land where food was abundant and other treasures granted by the gods and spirits above were equally plentiful. The young chieftain did not like the idea of leaving and wandering again, but if there was richer land nearby, where food was plentiful and the river not stalked by the fearsome water-serpents, then, then maybe it was best to move? It would be hard to leave a land they had called home for so long, a land they had buried one of their number in. Avunan's very own child. He was bound by blood to his land, as was his beloved Kathildra. If they moved, it would only be temporary, until they build up their strength and their skill and their number to come back and truly tame this land. One morning as the tribe took their breakfast, Avunan stood and spoke to them as he often did, giving some words of encouragement, good cheer and giving out the daily tasks. When he began to talk of the planned excursions, Jenwin nodded. A slight smile on her faced mixed with worry. "Keep that little guy alive while I'll be away." She said, looking at Henimen with loving eyes and ruffling his sandy colored hair. "On my life, on Ohrean the Storm-Father. I swear to you." He replied and kissed her hand.

Latozar was a strong, near tireless man. Very similar in appearance to Avunan, with the same light brown hair and brown eyes. People sometimes thought they were related and Latozar was Avunan's bigger brother even though he wasn't. Avunan could see that the man was feeling a bit lonely, he hoped to find someone to share what Avunan shared with Kathildra, what Henimen shared with Jenwin. Indeed, next year when Jenwin would go range beyond their homeland, he would have to remind her to keep her eye out for tracks left behind by human feet, perhaps she would find a fitting wife for Laz out there. While much of the world is empty they had seen proof that others were around in their travels. Occasional tracks, an old campfire. There were folk out there, perhaps some of whom were willing to undergo the Joining and become part of their tribe. Before that, this year would be one of hard work to prepare for the years ahead. Latozar went to work on finishing the teepee he had been working on last year, then he would labor at crafting a few flint work-blades to ease in their tasks. Henimen and Jenwin went off to hunt often, and when they weren't prowling the plains and forests they stayed in camp, smoking the leftover meat engaged in their never-ending conversation of japes, jests and hearty laughter. Avunan and Kathildra went to work side by side as Kathildra was impressed with Avunan success where she had struggled for a long time. They went around collecting loose rocks of Sundrop Ore in the hills, experimenting with the lustrous stones to see if anything useful could be made out of them.

As the pair of scholars sat together by the fire, heating the Sundrop rocks in the flame they often lost track of time and instead lost themselves in each-other, working and loving through the grief of losing their little Kharyn. But Inilla the Earth-Mother would surely bless them with life again. They held on to that as they spent many night's in each-other's warm embrace. Indeed, soon there would be a ritual of Houses, new families bonding together in a new land.

by **Holy Tedalonia** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:35 pm

Saladon Nomads
Happily living on the verdant plain the nomads continued their peaceful existence. Living in relative contentment, as they woke everyday met with the peaceful existence of the plains. Happily living off of the plants the land had provided. Varrus returned with plenty of food to last them through the week. The spirits smiled upon them, as they lived off the bounty they provided.

Regardless while them have had their thirst of adventure quelled by comfort, others sought new ambitions. Fara had become quite enamored with the hooved beasts of this land, and sought to understand the creatures more. Varrus was skeptical of the prospects of understanding such beasts, but he wavered. He loved Fara, and it was only right for her to follow her passions. He concocted a scheme that if successful, could provide them one of the beasts and hopefully quell Fara's curiosity. He told Lana to create some rope, and she began the task right away. He prayed to the spirits that his rather simple plan would work out just right.

by **Theyra** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 4:55 pm

Huanca

Stll no children for the Huanca and construction of the shrine has begun. Ninan does not know how long it will take to build but, she will put her heart into it. Making sure that the shrine to the gods is the best that she can build. Diligently praying and made offers alongside Achik. Koyakusi wondered if perhaps something was wrong with either of being infertile. How he could help with when the gods so not seem to help? Koyakusi is not like the last tribe's medicine man. Nor does he has access to any medical herbs that their medicine man used. Truely a problem if the tribe wished to grow unless Ynti goes out and tries to find someone to join the tribe. But, that sounds like a longshot but, if the tribe can not produce children.... then perhaps a longshot is not a bad option.

In the meantime, the village goes about their business. Achik hunts and on Koyakusi command, he does not try and hunt the horses that stayed behind. Koyakusi is planning on taming these horses and does not want anything to make them afraid of the tribe. Jaylli collects potatoes and Ynti descdies on heading further south. The sight of the plains from her last trip. It intrigued her that a land can be both green but, have soon few trees. Just a large expanse of a green plain, what could live in there and Koyakusi tries to gain the trust of the horses.

by **Olthenia** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:18 pm

The Canyon-Dwellers
Year 6

“Are you sure about this?” Zebas asked, for the third time that evening. “I’m not,” Wylla drawled. And left it at that. Zebas merely watched as his mate’s steps took her to the edge of the little pool.

Night had come to the Khortuun’s canyon, and behind them the rest of their little tribe had finally found sleep. Even Kadima – weak and feverish – breathed a bit easier now.

“It’s a spirit of some sort…” Wylla had mused. “Clouding her mind. Sapping her strength.”

For more than a year’s passing, life in the little canyon had been plagued by this hard fact: that Kadima – once swift and strong and sure – had sickened. And shivered. And did not get better. For a year! “We’ve fed her more ice-berries than there are fires in the firmament!” Zebas complained. Wylla’s mate did not raise his voice often. But he had then – and she did not blame him.

Before their very eyes – all of them, Harro, Matha and the children too – Kadima was fading. Dying.

Amongst the Khortuun, to be counted as wise was not the same as always having a sure answer. No man or woman, however wise, could always know the surest course of action. Wisdom, then, lay in knowing how to find the right answer; to whittle away the wrong and the false until the right path was the only one left.

“The berries can’t help her. ‘Shrooms and beans and water aren’t enough.” It was a grim conclusion, to be sure. But Kadima’s sickness was unabating. Unrelenting. Once, she had even asked Wylla why the pale crystals hummed so. “They’re so loud…” Kadima had murmured, and Wylla had just… stared. Until comprehension finally came. She thinks we’re back up in the old caves.

So! So, so, so. If berries wouldn’t help, and food and remedies were not enough by themselves? Well, they’d just had to try something new. Something like this: Before them now, at the bottom of the canyon, lay a cool, clear pool of water – shallow and black. Above it, slowly but surely, clouds parted like flower petals to reveal a moon – pale and eggshell white – reflected on the pool’s surface. Gleaming. Shivering. Watching.

And Zebas breathed in. And out. And sang.

Wylla – with her mate’s soft crooning purring in the night’s stillness – moved. Spun, shifting a foot forwards juuust as she moved backwards. It was an impossible movement, in a way - and it looked for all the world like she was walking forwards. Yet somehow, gracefully, gliding backwards! That, by the edge of the moonlit pool, was how Wylla slid her body into a slow, shimmer-shuffling dance - to please the fever-spirit in Kadima’s body. To charm it into leaving – receding – fading off. It’s the price we need to pay, they both knew. Spirits had sent them the great, cantankerous camel-beasts that fell over the cliffs and died. Spirits had spared Matha’s boy when he first came into the world from the Dream Lands. And now?

Now, by the light of the great, glowing moon, the Khortuun's wisest would dance the fever-spirit out. Away.

Forever.

by **The Empire of Tau** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:52 pm

Machaka
Age of Mythos, Dawn of Man

The God Spiders, those spiders of massive sizes and of human intelligence, stalker the outer edges of the Machaka tribe. The dense forests cannot hide those black tarantulas, given their unnaturally large figure, and the people of Machaka have noticed those creatures lately in the year. Very few men and women would have the guts to truly state that they are not afraid of the God Spiders, who can easily wipe the whole Machaka tribe in a few minutes. Nothing that the Machaka tribe can make can damage their thick furry black hide, and no one can outrun a God Spider as their thick legs can outrun anyone. Not even the Moon Panthers, a creature associated with speed, can run from those black spiders. Only the toughest of armors, one made from high quality refined metals, can stop the piecing fangs of a God Spider. Without a doubt, those creatures are very dangerous to say the least. Fortunately or unfortunately, the God Spiders are also gifted with human-like intelligence, with better logical thinking then the average human. The peoples of Machaka have every right to fear them, but all of them also worship them as some form of deity. Kwanza Azikiwe, the warrior, prays to the God Spiders for good hunts everyday, and has the most experience with the Spiderlings, albeit the feral ones, not the God Spiders. With the recent stalking of the God Spiders, Furaha Eze has taken the task, even with everyone else's rejections, of trying to communicate with the God Spiders in some way and form. Kwanza Azikiwe will go hunting as normal, being a bit more careful with their newer guests around, taking care not to trigger any hostilities from the God Spiders.

by **The GAmeTopians** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:12 pm

The River Folk, at the Mouth of the Riverlands

A new light shone upon the River Folk - their greatest gatherer now healed, their progress into a new age of prosperity could continue. Magnus, the scholar, sat hunched over a new protrusion in the otherwise flat plains - a mound from the earth that appeared to be some sort of furnace, the flames of a campfire burning underneath it. The hope, thusly, was to set casts of sand inside the maw of the furnace itself, into which molten copper could settle and form whatever shapes they wished. From there, anything was possible - perhaps spears to strike the fish that traveled down-river, perhaps blades to hack down trees - perhaps even a tool to excavate the greater copper that sits embedded in the earth. Those possibilities, though, sat behind the barrier that was their impending breakthrough.

"Hail, Magnus," the call of the gatherers came once more, armloads of free maize and other edibles joining them. The two returning River Folk curiously looked over the invention of the scholars, eyeing the furnace uncertainly.
"What purpose does this construction serve, Eliana?" Katrina whispered an aside, now looking over the sand cast that Eliana had been packing into place. The scholar smiled in response, not halting her work however as she responded.
"We will create tools using the Sunstone, that we may shape the Riverlands to our will. This furnace will let us melt Sunstone into this cast, where it will cool and keep that shape - at least, that's the idea."
Katrina blinked a few times, and nodded slowly, starting to comprehend what had been said. With a few more niceties exchanged, however, all returned to their separate tasks and the days of prosperity unfolded ahead.

Magnus (M, Scholar) - Fashioning a primitive furnace to work melted copper in, using sand to shape its spread. (Metal Casting)
Eliana (F, Scholar) - Assisting Magnus, forming different sand casts to test in the furnace. (Metal Casting)
Katrina (F, Worker) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Bronwen (M, Worker) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Varin (M, Scout) - Gathering food for the clan, a mix of maize and any other edibles available.
Fiona (F, Child) - Does toddler things

Magnus and Eliana try for a child.

by **Lazarian** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:44 pm

Sons of Corvus: Year Six

For the first time in recent history, the sons of Corvus have a year of strife and anger. Their stomachs growl and their hearts grow bitter at one another, due to a sequence of poor decisions. The guilt primarily falls on Cavon, who claimed to commune with the spirits. But despite this bold proclamation, the hunt is not much better than usual, with most of the dappled wolf kinspirits not contributing in any meaningful way. Corvin is furious at the waste of the prime cuts of gazelle to these furry creatures rather than his own son and nephews, and him and Cavon almost come to blows due to this. Additionally, to lay further injury to an already poor situation, their child Juvon grows sick and weak, clearly malnourished by a diet of scarce yams and slivers of meat. Juna refuses to speak to Cavon until their son recovers, believing that the wolf-spirits are tricksters that have misled him in his dreams.

Thankfully, not all is dire. Only one child is affected by this shortfall, and the fence to protect the children is successfully built. The gazelle still stalk through the fields in numbers as great as ever, the larger wolves leave their abode alone, and the other children are healthy and strong. Cavon begs his brother to continue the hunting experiment, and Corvin very reluctantly agrees. However, this agreement comes with a condition - the next two efforts of Cavon's will be Corvin's to decide.

This year is focused on recovering the shortage from the last. Hopefully they can recover their good health and hearty spirits. Once this is complete, then it is time to figure out the next objectives for the tribe. Juna claims that with the growth of the children, they must build a new shelter. Casa, tired of being assigned to gather year after year, insists that they must learn better ways of preservation. Hunting is by far the most consistent source of food for them, and if they could perhaps dry the meat...the troubling times of a poor harvest could be avoided. Tragically, the main thinker of the group is Cavon, who wildly inconsistent. Some days, his mind is like a sharpened spear, able to tear through problems with a frightening brilliance. Other days, he lounges about, accomplishing little to nothing.

Ceston, shaken by the fearsome creatures in the mountains, heads South. The thirsty desert lands look unappealing, but anything is better than the terrors of the man-faced creatures and the monstrous giant bears.

by **Ralnis** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:29 pm

Jungles of Lo

The very news from Ing at the Crown of the West. There was more sea beyond the Crown and even north but there was jungle at the south of the Crown. The birth of a child was marked with their windfall of more food variety and the finding of granite was of many discoveries. The scholarly couple had wanted to seek the idea of planting the Midnight Bushes in a way to actually have a farm and to not hunt so much. It was the first time that they wanted to do something other than hunting the child birds, no matter how much food they prosper from them.

The scholars believed that it was necessary to move forward for the tribe as more children would probably be born and they will need to have more concrete ways of gathering food and perhaps can go back to the means of trying to tame the flightless birds instead of eating them. Until then, the child birds needed to be hunted and the smokehouse needed to be tested to see how good it can smoke compared to their normal usage.

by **Nuxipal** » Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:55 pm

Nirari Tribe
Forests of the Sun, Habitation Year 3

With two good looking regions to move into, the final preparations had to be made. The lands to the northwest seemed to have large gourds that could help to feed the tribe. As they discuss the positives and negatives of each region, they decide that they will move to the riverlands in the Northwest. Both have good sources of food for the tribe, but the proximity to a large body of freshwater makes the northwest region that much more attractive. The sight of the twins gives Lilitu hope for the future, knowing that Niun and Melein will likely be busy raising the two boys, she wishes to find a mate of her own and requests to return to the region they will settle into the following year in search of that mate. Niun agrees and gives her the year to search out a mate while he and Melein give the twins one more year here in preparation for their journey to a new area.

Melein, knowing that the one shelter will not be enough, begins preparations on a second shelter, knowing that she won't be able to complete it until they move to their new home, but early preparations will make settling into the new area that much easier and doing this would keep her near their current shelter to nurse and care for her children. Niun for his part, continued collecting food and hunting. Bringing back fresh meat and hides to keep the adults well fed. With a little luck, Lilitu would find someone to prepare a site for them in the new region and perhaps start a family of their own before Niun, Melein, and the twins even made it up there. The world may have few people in it, but perhaps this new region would have someone wandering about it.

A Different World: Civilization's Dawn [IC|Closed]

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