-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
Burn! Loot! Pillage! Salt the Earth and build a road of skulls!
Why can't we have a convocation of both male and female elders, actually?
@ManusDomine - can we decide our sex without having large-reaching cultural repercussions, because the sex of the protagonist is primarily an aesthetic choice?
Well, it is a choice that influences how other societies will interact with you, and how you will appear in the lens of their mythologies and understanding of the world. You cannot choose egalitarian, mainly because I forgot the possibility of it, although it will turn up again later under certain choices.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Male - It has always been tradition for the old men of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who can no longer hunt and fight meet to deliberate upon the future. The hunt is not easy, and many never reach an age like yours, they die from wounds, curse, disease or simply in duel with another hunter like themselves. Those who do survive might end up simply dying of an exhausted body, and sitting in the tent of the elders is thus a just reward for a life well led and lived.
No SV, you are the nomad invasion. Play the Mongol Montage!
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
So, interesting note. Depending on the culture, women councils of elders are actually really really common. Manus gave us good and totally historical reasons for why either would work, so *applause* for Best Doll.
The wander option may, or may not, depends on how Manus wants to run this, anger several families in the tribe so I expect some to stay and some to go elsewhere. This is fine with me. I don't really have any way to judge how big this pro-traditionalist response may be, but I'm willing to take it as the first of many potential events in this particular path. I think I like this path for the options it opens up, both for Manus and us.
Beyond that, we seem early, but not super duper fire is a new and interesting thing early. I'm curious what we can pull off from a Nomad start in the time we have.
Adhoc vote count started by BungieONI on May 28, 2018 at 5:59 AM, finished with 43 posts and 30 votes.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Wander - It is not in your way to travel, but even the ancestors of your ancestors came here from far away. You would have to suffer the many tribulations that they themselves suffered through, but perhaps, beyond the valley and away from the river, mountains and land, another hope for your people lies. If you fail to find any such hope, however, you are no better off than when you started, and must seek and search through hundreds of tribulations until you are all dead or find something.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Male - It has always been tradition for the old men of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who can no longer hunt and fight meet to deliberate upon the future. The hunt is not easy, and many never reach an age like yours, they die from wounds, curse, disease or simply in duel with another hunter like themselves. Those who do survive might end up simply dying of an exhausted body, and sitting in the tent of the elders is thus a just reward for a life well led and lived.
-[X] Raid - When the ancestors of your ancestors found that the valley had grown sparse and that the hearts of the other peoples beyond, had grown cold and their minds had grown scheming like the wolf, from which the cloak that the hunters wore on their shoulders came, they took their spears and their slings and took from them their game and foreign brides, which they returned to the people and celebrated with. Success is not assured, however, and a failure would slay many hunters that could also have gathered food, as well as make you a target for their own raids.
-[X] Appease - When the ancestors of your ancestors were still among the hunters in their youth, and ran in the steppe with wolven cloaks upon their shoulders, the beasts fled the land for many days, until their own elders performed a great sacrifice and bid the young hunters and women dance in circles around a great bonfire for an entire day. And in the dark of the night, the beasts returned to the valley, as they had before. The river, mountains and land were satisfied. The valley is hard to satisfy, however; sometimes sacrifice and celebration are not enough, you are aware that it may simply result in a more hungry people with even less to do.
-[X] Appease - When the ancestors of your ancestors were still among the hunters in their youth, and ran in the steppe with wolven cloaks upon their shoulders, the beasts fled the land for many days, until their own elders performed a great sacrifice and bid the young hunters and women dance in circles around a great bonfire for an entire day. And in the dark of the night, the beasts returned to the valley, as they had before. The river, mountains and land were satisfied. The valley is hard to satisfy, however; sometimes sacrifice and celebration are not enough, you are aware that it may simply result in a more hungry people with even less to do.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
Until proven otherwise I am absolutely certain the spirits are real and causing our problems due to lack of sacrifice.
-[X] Appease - When the ancestors of your ancestors were still among the hunters in their youth, and ran in the steppe with wolven cloaks upon their shoulders, the beasts fled the land for many days, until their own elders performed a great sacrifice and bid the young hunters and women dance in circles around a great bonfire for an entire day. And in the dark of the night, the beasts returned to the valley, as they had before. The river, mountains and land were satisfied. The valley is hard to satisfy, however; sometimes sacrifice and celebration are not enough, you are aware that it may simply result in a more hungry people with even less to do.
-[X] Male - It has always been tradition for the old men of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who can no longer hunt and fight meet to deliberate upon the future. The hunt is not easy, and many never reach an age like yours, they die from wounds, curse, disease or simply in duel with another hunter like themselves. Those who do survive might end up simply dying of an exhausted body, and sitting in the tent of the elders is thus a just reward for a life well led and lived.
No, what I meant to say if I hadn't been quickly posting on a phone was in essence, that I considered egalitarianism (I also had a weird gender option like India's hijiras), but ultimately decided against it due to wanting to reduce complexity from the start. You are a fairly settled mid-to-late Neolithic culture; not quite a polity yet, but definitely settled enough to have developed an informal hierarchy that tends toward leadership. You can also see this in how the council only consists of elders, due to your society greatly prioritizing the experience that comes with age as a result of high mortality. "True" egalitarianism would require something to balance this already fairly settled hierarchy out, or another kind of great upheaval.
With regards to the comment about matriarchy, the primary problem here is that matriarchy is a term that only really exists in opposition to patriarchy, as no historical "true and unambiguous" matriarchy has ever really been documented. It is, in many ways a speculative term of something that might theoretically exist, although some political systems allow for more woman-held power than others; notably the (in)famously influential Spartan wives and mothers that could dominate their husbands and sons with household influence. However, do note that while history and the commonly-held anthropological consensus may disagree with the assumption of the unambiguous matriarchy, I think counterfactuals are interesting, and as thus allow it to develop as a political system, if only to explore the concept.
Beyond that, we seem early, but not super duper fire is a new and interesting thing early. I'm curious what we can pull off from a Nomad start in the time we have.
You are, in essence, a mid-to-late Neolithic culture, which is to say that you know of fire and possess complicated language and sophisticated technology; your idea of advanced technology is massed agriculture and houses built with clay bricks, which is not something you yourself engage with, but some of the people outside the valley and far away do, although they are strange people anyways. Writing has emerged with some cultures, although you do not possess it, and the very few that exist are essentially proto-writing ideographies.
-[X] Trade - When the ancestors of your ancestors were poor of game to hunt, and of low means, they went out beyond the valley, to the highlands beyond it where they would trade their wolven cloaks and return with riches and strange meat with no equivalent on the valley. Thus, the people were preserved in a time of need. Not all people want to trade, however, and if they saw your plight, they might be moved to consider you an easy target of raids, rather than a partner for trade. It is not the first time that the people outside the valley grow cold and indifferent to your plight, after all.
-[X] Female - It has always been tradition for the old women of the families to assemble in the tent of the elders, where those who have led their families well, now continue to lead the entire people. Childbirth is hard work, and many die in the infancy of their burgeoning families, or exhaust themselves to death over caring for a thankless family. And even if they do survive these many labours, the valley might simply cut a woman's life down with disease. Those who live to sit in the tent of the elders receive their just reward for a life well led and lived.
