Before the Dungeons : a D&D inspired civ quest

For long, the Watchers acted more like the flow of water or the fall of rains than anything else. It simply was a law of the world, for the Freesingers, that you were watched in the forest, like the trees had eyes, and if you took too much, or disturbed the land, monsters would come.
No longer.
Since the Freesingers began to come toward trees that they felt watched them more, in places still considered safe, and offered songs, meat, ashes, roots and crafted offerings, the Watchers have become utterly focused on us, and at all times, we can feel their gazes upon us, stronger than ever.
But…the monsters came less, and are less hostiles, more warnings than assaults.
And when our people act, sometime they can hear something like whispers in the leaves, whispers when we burned the dead woods without spreading our friend to the living one, whisper when build a new bonfire from fallen branches, whisper when we let the spirits of our dead go and give their flesh to embrace of fires.
The Watchers are confused, some say, acting less like something that is, and more like something that live.

Watchers : We have attracted the Watchers's attention…and their confusion ?
Yellow actions are new
Cyan actions are ongoing
Green actions are updated
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Once, there were dead woods near the migration paths of the Freesingers, a place where hungry and poisonous plants could spread, where only the brave or stupid dared scavenge.

And the Freesingers sang of the deadwoods, where none shall prosper.

Now, they are ashes, and we sing of new growth and safe lands.

For brave and prudent bands came each summer, led by their Firekeepers, the songs of Purple Tongue on their lips, to encircled those dead woods, and cut them out from the rest of the forest with mounds of earth and cut trees.

Then, from all sides, with cunning, prudence and sap, when the woods were bone dry, the wood were set ablaze, again, and again, and again.

Monsters came from the woods, already half burned, but the bands, united by messages of smokes, easily escaped and guided back toward the embrace of our first friend, those creatures.

Then, when summer turned to autumn, the wounded were left to rest into clearing made safe and good by the labor of the brave bands, to heal in sanctuaries, and the dead were remembered in songs and their spirits freed from flesh by our first friend.

The bands gathered each summer, despite the call of nay-sayers, those who had not the wisdom of the elders, to separate prudent bravery from foolishness, until the last dead, wicked places were burned, and where there was once darkness and dangers, there was but light and safety.

Remember, brave free singers, and see in the horizon the burned giant tree, where monsters once came, shining with the still burning embers of our first friend, how evil was cleaned, how we, united, unleashed fire, and focused it upon darkness and death, harming none of the living.

Remember, when you watch the tally, why since the woods were cleaned, there are more marks of life and food, and less of death and wounds.

Dead woods burned off with little collateral damage. Burned Tree and the cleaned woods unlocked. Massive growth in the power of the Firekeeper, and beginning of an association between them and the Virtuous.

Survival
Exploration, expansion, crafting and settlement buildings
SURvival Point (SUR) : 28
Arcana (ARC) : 1

Available Actions :


Spread the tribe : The forest is vast, with many paths filled with food to take.
Some say it would be wiser to spread the tribe in many clans, each with their own paths, so that they may each grow and that one strong blow does not destroy the tribe.
The voices arguing for this grow more numerous as our number increases.
0/8, +2 Survival, increase tribe resilience.

Keeping away the hungry plants : There are plants in the woods that hunger for flesh like beasts, and can rip our skin with thorns sharper than stone knives. We should ensure those plants, Serpentvines, Wolfbushes or others, do not spread in or near our shelters. 0/5, Hungry plants keep away, unlocking actions using what can be gathered from them.

Upward : Our gatherers have shared songs of how they have climbed on trees to sleep when away from the tribe and the fires, to protect themselves from the hungry plants and poisons that await on the forest's floor.
We could spread this,and create tents that can be set high on tree's branches, away from dangers. 1/8, +1 SUR, Reduce dangers

Deer hunting camps : Camps built around the paths taken by the deers herds in their migrations, used by the Freesingers to better frighten deers and hunt them down, before turning them into eatable meat and usable skin and bones in processing hut of bark and leaves.
However, the Freesinger shall only take worthies preys. 0/10, +2 SUR, +1 CUL

Fishing Camps : With the great rivers and the Greeneye Lake found, the Freesingers could create semi-permanent camps to fish the life in those waters by spears and hands. 0/8, +2 SUR

Toward the Greeneye : In the middle of a vast lake, there is an island, one that seems to sing a song of peace to all who see it. Perhaps we could find safety here…if we can reach the island. 0/40, send an expedition to the Greeneye isle.
Explore the land of mushrooms : Too dangerous

Clean the paths : The Freesingers have found the safest paths and the safest shelters for our people to travel and live. Perhaps those paths could be made safer, by guiding away dangerous beasts and hungry plants, digging out poisonous herbs and ensuring the paths are easy to treed. 0/11, +1 SUR, increase resilience.

Digging Hideouts : There are few parts of the woods where we can be safe from plants and the Watchers, one of these are the cliffs where we dig our knapping stone and the chalk we use. The Freesingers could begin digging hideouts in the soft chalk, as last resort shelters. 0/4, Begin digging-out underground shelters.

Recreate the First Fire : There is a song whispered amongst the Fire Keepers. Of how, by building a fire taller than the tree, the Freesingers could bring back the First Fire, our First Friend, in this place. 0/28, try to recreate the First Fire, VASTLY strenghten the Firekeepers

Hunting down the tusked boars : The boars are terrifying, but they are not smart, and easily angered. Those are beasts born strong, and that reproduce without care, until they are, again and again, culled by the wrath of the Watchers.
Our braves could easily attract them and guide them toward spikes-filled pits would be faisable for the Freesingers, and provide us access to their meat, and more importantly strong hide and tusks. We do not have to care with honor for those, for they are all worthies preys. 0/15, +3 SUR, +1 CUL

Birds shelter along the paths : The birds that now live around our camps have proven their worth, the Watchers paying less attention to our people when they do not venture outside of the places where the songs of the birds can be heard. Some have proposed we could spread this concept, by building shelters for the birds along the paths we use in our migrations. 0/10, create bird shelters along migration paths.

Raise the Sky-Poles : Up on the Chalks Clifs, there is a place without trees, where the sky can be seen better than anywhere else in the woods. Some among the Freesingers would like to raise poles of enduring wood here, to mark the course of the sky and better predict the change of the seasons and of the God's battles. 0/15, +1 CUL, +2 LEARN

Huts of Stones : During the digging of the Freesingers at the Chalks Cliffs, some have begun gathering broken bits of chalks and piling them together to make rough huts of stones to sleep in and protect themselves from the elements.
Such huts are far stronger than our semi-permanent huts of vines and wicker, and perhaps raising a few of those huts in our Chalk Cliffs camp could create safe shelter and stockpiles for the tribe. 0/9, Stone huts build at the Chalk Cliffs camp, Strengthen the Matriarchs

Hidden Shelters : In the most frequently used campsite of the Freesingers, people have begun to create new shelters, beyond huts of vines and barks. Low dwellings, half-digged in the ground and made from wood, those shelters are both well-protected from the cold and seem to be almost hidden from the eyes of the Watchers. Perhaps we should create enough of those dwellings for most of our people, at least in the most frequented campsite. 0/9, +1 SUR, ???

Further Hunts : The Freesingers have reached more prosperity than ever before, food in their bellies, tools in their hands and tents over their heads when they rest.
With this, more children are born, and more of them grow to adulthood, and become hunters.
However, only so much huntings may be done before our people must track dishonorable prey, such as young or pregnant mothers.
To prevent such unworthy hunts, let us explore lands further away from our migrations routes.
0/20, More lands are explored beyond the territories where the Freesingers live.

The Owlbear's Lair : Vast is the domain of the slain owlbear, deep caves hidden under a hill, filled with the bones of its many, many prey. Once, the beast rested here, hidden in the darkness.
Now, after the Virtuous laid low the beasts, it is our to claim.
What awaits in the dark realm of the bear ? 4/15, choose one, representing what is in the bear's lair and how it is used by the Freesinger.
-[] Strange whispers and Kind gaze.
In the lair, on the walls, there are bones, fused with stone and earth, parts of many, part of one. In the air, our people breathe the memories of salt and water.
There, we fell a gaze, like the gaze of the Watcher, but without danger, of something vast and forever asleep. When our people sleep, in their dreams they hear whispers, and sing of visions of this land, when the trees were not tall yet. We could learn from those whispers. +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, +1 ARC, ???

The Burned Tree : The tallest tree in the burned woods did not fall, despite the strength of our first friend. Now, the tree is a burned husk, with a blackened trunk, and in it, embers persist, unable to become true fire again and unable to go out. This is a place of power. A place that could be claimed as a sanctuary for the Firekeepers. 0/15, +1 LEARN, +1 CUL, unlock embercraft, strengthen the Firekeepers

Ashen Sancturaries : When the spirits of our people left their body, we offer their dead flesh to fire, and we remember them in our songs and by keeping their ashes. Some have proposed to go further, and create places where the ashes and prized possessions of the dead can be kept, and their achievement tailed for future generations. 0/10, +2 CUL, Ashen Sanctuaries build.

Our own woods : Where once there was dead woods, tangled weeds and dangers, there are now ashes, and new growths. Some of the Freesingers have begun harvesting from those growths, and sing to us that we should make sure no poisonous beasts or plants come back to these places, and that berry bushes and good roots may spread easily.
Around the campfires, they ask the people to raise barriers, dig out poisonous or overwhelming plants before they grow, and ensure no boars or hungry plants reach it.
0/25, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, Gateway action, Strengthen the Firekeepers

Places of Offerings : There are some places that could be sanctuaries for our peoples, but where the Watchers are strong and vigilants, their gaze prevents most FreeSingers from sleeping. However, despite this, they seem…more patient, and much must be done before monsters are sent toward those that live here.
Some say we could turn those places into sanctuaries for doing offerings, where those that can most confuse the Watchers with songs, ashes and meat could act will be sure to be heard. 0/5, +1 CUL

Places of Wisdom : Many of the most powerful plants found by our wises are not easily harvested, growing far from our migration routes, in places hard to reach and with little resources, and demanding extensive processing to be usable and not simply rot in our bags.
By preparing some of our sanctuaries and extending them, we could create safe havens where our wises could safely gather from and prepare herbs, before joining back the tribe when a band gathers near them. 0/5, +1 SUR

Places of Craft : Some of our crafters and matriarchs would like to use sanctuaries as place were they could isolate themselves and work on complex projects, temporarily spared from the need to move with their band, and reducing the conflicts between Freesingers seeking to stay in the Cliff Camp to craft. 0/5, +1 LEARN, strenghten the Matriarchs

Places of Vigilance : According to the Firekeepers, it would be easy enough to gather some dry wood and coloring herbs in our sanctuaries, allowing the people in it to easily warn us of coming threats or opportunities, and creating a chain allowing to more easily spread by smokes signals informations. 0/2, create a smoke signals network, strengthen the Firekeepers


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And when Blue Winds, our elder, who hunted long and suffered much for all Freesingers, could not hold breath anymore, his daughter, Blue Rivers, let her tears fall upon the earth, and from the bonfires, the black smokes of mourning were made.

And following the smoke-words of mournings, came Blue Rivers childrens, and children's childrens, and all beyond, and her mates, and her apprentices, and those that had swore oaths to her for the fruits of her crafts, and the woman that had helped her bring life in the world and she had helped in return.

Upon a great platform of wood the flesh of Blue Winds was set, with his trophies and spear, and his dutiful daughter laid upon it beautiful, scented leaves and roots from the deep of the woods, and gave to all present many beautiful gifts, born from her craft and the crafts of her kin.

Then the burial pyre was lit by the oldest and wisest of the Firekeeper, and many songs honoring the fallen elders came from many throats, to honor the spirit freed from flesh by the power of fire, and from the still warm remnants of the pyre, uncaring of burns, Blue Rivers gathered the ashes, giving respect to her father, who had suffered much in its hunt so that is daughter could live and thrive, who had abandoned wisdom to his daughter to give all to duties, the glorious sacrifice of all fathers.

When the dawn came after this lighting of the pyre, the Elders and people gathered, even as those who gave more to duty than wisdom leave, to gather and hunt, to burn far-away dead woods, for an elder had left, and so an elder was to be made.

The Elders, in their wisdom, choose the wise daughter who had given gifts to all and respect to her dufyfull father, and Blue Rivers become Elders, for even if her age was less than many others, she had the wisdom and respect of one, and bringing as much life as her in the world is worth more than fifty years of life.

So did Blue Rivers become Elder, and brough much respect to herself and to many wise mothers.

Matriarchs faction formed, the oldest, most respected matriarchs will become elders, slowly assimilating the Elder Council faction.
Emerging conflict between the Matriarch and the Firekeepers



Culture

Traditions, cultures practices and societal changes
CULture Points (CUL) : 26
Arcana (ARC) : 1

Available Actions :


Festivals : Songs are how our people find joys in their lives, and in the long, dark night, singing and creating new songs are how our people forget the pains of the day. It would be good if each year our people could unite in a feast, where the inventive amongst us would invent new songs and our best singers sharpen their art in contest against one another. 0/9, Festivals tradition, +1 CUL

Memories of Pain : The Freesingers remember the cruelty of the Firsts, each generation raised on the song of suffering of our people. It is said by some that those who put those songs of sufferings in their heart can see in their dreams memories of our time under the Firsts, born of sufferings so strong they are now carried by our blood. What could be learned from those memories ? 0/19, ???

Rites of Initiation : The young learn and play, protected by the adults. The adults craft, gather food and decide what the Freesingers should do. The transition between an innocent child and a responsible adult should be marked by rites and trials, to symbolically welcome the child into the circle of the adults and give them their first taste of the trials of adulthood. 0/5, +1 CUL, choose one ritual. Others will be buyable at higher cost.

Songs of Black Tooths, first slayer : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, there was a beast of shadows, bound to the masters of the lands. The beast was empty, and devoured the heat of our people, trying to fill this emptiness. So our people suffered, until one called Black Tooths made from a rock shining like the stars a knife, and took it without fear to the innermost of the beast, slaying it and losing their life from the heat the beast had stolen. Let us remember them, and remember how to fight monsters without fear. 0/8, the Songs of Black Tooths are known by all Freesingers

Songs of Green Hands, first gatherer : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our people at first took the fruits of the First's tree to survive, until our old master forbade this to us, and turn inside out the skin of those who disobeyed. Then, a woman called Green Hands found how to gather the roots below the gaze of the Firsts, things they did not care for, like us, for they were unseen in the ground. Let us remember her, and remember how to use what may be ignored. 0/10, the Songs of Green Hands are known by all Freesingers

Songs of Grey Nails, first makers : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our old masters once turned the ground too hard to dig, and our people despaired, breaking nails and making their fingers bleed as they sought roots to eat. Then, a man called Grey Nails tried to make something to dig stronger than a hand. He made many things, out of straws, out of leaves, out of woods, all breaking upon the hard earth. He did not despair after each failure, simply trying something new, until he made from a stone our first tool, and dug unto the earth with it, bringing roots to the starving people.. Let us remember him, and remember to not despair when we fail, and try again, in a different way. 0/10, the Songs of Grey Nails are known by all Freesingers

Songs of White Eyes, first elder : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our old masters once decided to hunt us down as prey for their pleasure,slaying the strong, and keepings the young to make new worthy prey.
With their hunts, they slain many, and without adults to teach them, our people risked to lose their songs, and what made them more than toys of the Firsts. Then, one called White Eyes, whose blindness made him an unworthy prey, and who should have died, worked as hard as he could to keep the children alive, and share our people's songs. He worked all day, and sang all night, never-stopping, no matter how many of the children he had raised became new preys for the Firsts, until finally, the Firsts grew bored of hunting us, and White Eyes finally breathed his last breath, all the songs he knew shared.
Let us remember him, and remember it is our duty to share all we know, for this is what makes us more than flesh. 0/10, the Songs of White Eyes are known by all Freesingers

Colors of life : The colors used by the bands scavenging to hide from monsters and the watchers could be far more. By using them, the Freesingers could mark their state of mind and their status. To the young no colors, to the adults the colors of hidings, to the elders the pale colors, to the Firekeepers the white of ashes and to the Song Keepers the vivid colors of the heroes of old. 0/3, +1 CUL, Body Painting tradition
Honor the hunters : It takes great bravery to slay the best of the forests, even if they are weakened. Let us celebrate those who dare face them, and bring back to the Freesingers meat, bones and skins. 5/5, +1 SUR, Create Hunters faction

Games for all : More than the children can profits from games, and slowly, game of skills, speed and endurance could spread in the leisure of all the Freesingers. 0/10, +1 CUL, +1 SUR

Virtue of Prudence : From the Rotting Spores, the Freesingers may learn the virtue of prudence, and to evaluate with great care what is new and may be dangerous. 0/5, Virtue of Prudence adopted

Hands and colors : Some Freesingers have begun using some of the powder we have found to mark the print of their hands on barks or on the chalk cliffs, by blowing the powder over their hand, as a way to mark their passing and their favorite parts of the lands. Perhaps we could encourage this… 0/3, Handprint tradition, +1 CUL

Warriors of Fire : Some of the Firekeepers, as they kept watch around the camps and carried the fire during the tribe's march, have fought off monsters by using flaming sticks as weapons. Others have learned how to spread fire, and use it to trap or burn away evils. 0/8, +1 CUL, +1 SUR, every Firekeepers is trained in how to use fire as a weapon and how to cause and control forest fires.

Sacred Birds : Some songs have begun to speak of the birds of the woods as protectors and bringer of good luck, showing the land that may be walked and the berries that may be eaten, lulling the monster of the wood to sleep. In time, birds may become sacred to the Freesingers, to be respected, observed and learned from. 0/9,Develop Sacred Birds tradition, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN

Honor the Crafters : Let us give songs of praise to the crafters, who transform stone, wood and vines into the tools that shield us and allow us to bring food to our children. One who makes well shall be listened to more, and their song better remembered. 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, will either strenghten or weaken the Matriarchs

Knots of Memories : Green Breath fulfilled his woven oath in death, and Violet Eyes preserved and wear every oath she ever took. We could spread theses practices, by keeping and preserving woven oaths, and by choosing and naming one way of knotting in the honor of those who died in the name of their oaths. 0/5, +1 CUL, Woven Oaths evolve into Preserved Oaths

Fire-Breathing : Let us remember the song of Green Breath, who sacrificed his life for his fellow Freesingers, who breathed fire against the beast. Let others Freesingers learn to imitate his final act. 0/9, +1 CUL, Fire-Breathing adopted by the Freesinger. Strengthen the Firekeepers

Listen to the Weaks : Now that the Elders are carried and cared for even when their bodies begin to fail, and that others that seemed condemned or useless have proven they can still help despite broken bodies or minds, perhaps the Freesingers could learn to listen to those who are not like the others Freesingers, for there is wisdom in a different view. 0/10, +1 LEARN

Seek the Omens : With the song of the sky and skywatching now part of everyday life for the Freesinger, the practice could evolve further, until every action done by them must be preceded by skygazing and interpreting the course of the sky. 0/10, +1 LEARN, +2 CUL

Virtue of Bravery : From Green Breath, the Freesingers may learn the virtue of sacrifice, and become ready to risk their lives for the greater good. 0/5, Virtue of Bravery adopted. Strenghten the Firekeepers.

Tally of Oaths : Witch chalks and colored powder, the Freesinger mark what matters to them, to keep tracks despite failure of memories and twist of songs.
Now, some even show their achievements and fulfilled oaths by adding marks to their clothes and tools.
This way, the respect they are own can be understood by all with one look.
This tradition could grow, until each Freesinger kept their own tallies. 0/10, +2 CUL, Woven Oaths tradition become the Tally of Oaths.

Spread the Inborn Songs : Violets Eyes has found a way to spread the Inborn Songs to those that are not born with them !
However, this way is neither simple or easy, demanding to listen to one song until you cannot stop hearing it even when trying to sleep, then pushing one's body to its limit until you are almost delirious from fatigue and lack of sleep. At this point, the song can engrave into the mind, ready to be used.
Currently, with effort, we could use this method to spread one song until one person per gathering band can use it.
0/5 and 1 ARC, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, choose one Inborn Song to spread amongst the Freesinger. Other may be spread after, for a higher price

Sounds of magic : The Inborn Songs are born from strange movements and sounds that a Freesinger's throat should not be able to make.
Some Song Keepers have proposed to spread those sounds in the songs, tales and spoken tongue of the Freesingers, helping our people to detect magic and learn the Inborn Songs. 0/15, +1 CUL, +1 ARC

Woven Memories : The tents of the Freesingers are their shelters, moving with them, and many have begun decorating them with marks of clay, coloring them with pigments, or putting the woven oaths taken by multiple people on their walls. In time, the tents of the Freesingers could become the woven memories of our people's lives. 0/5, +1 CUL, help knowledge transmission

Keepers for the Inborn Songs : Amongst the Song Keepers, a new movement is growing, inspired by the recent discovery of how to share the Inborn Songs, that think the Song Keepers, as keeper and spreader of the songs and memories of the Freesingers, should also dedicate their life to learning and spreading the Inborn Songs. 0/20, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, + ARC, change and increase influence of the Song Keepers faction.

The Squirrel and the Bear : The Squirrel is weak, the Bear is strong, so the Bear crush the Squirrel. This is the order of the world.
However, if the squirrel is fast and smart enough, if it can lure, distract and trap the bear, it can triumph.
This will be the lesson, shared in songs, of the Virtuous vanquishing the Owlbear. 0/6, hunting excellence becomes associated with cunning, planning and dexterity more over raw physical prowess.

In case of emergencies, use fire : As proven against the Owlbear, a good way to solve what seem to be unconquerable odds is a cunning application of the Freesinger's first friend. Let our people remember, if you do not know what to do, use fire. 0/4, Spread the concept of "in case of doubt, use fire". Strengthen the Firekeepers.

Protect the young and mother, beyond us : Even if we hunt them, and they sometimes hurt us in return, we respect the beast of the wilds, for like us they try to survive and spread in this world, and like us sometimes they fail. With those principles, we spare their young and mothers from our spear and traps.
Perhaps we could do more than spare, and share in our songs that all mothers, all children, no matter what they are, deserve protection, if less than our own ? 0/15, Protection over youngs and mothers extended beyond the Freesingers. Strengthen the Matriarchs.

A preference for meat : Meat is tasty, meat is filling, meat needs less preparation than roots…and eating meat does not attract the gaze of the Watcher. The Freesinger now favors the flesh of birds, deers and of the owlbear over other food. 0/5, +1 CUL, Freesingers adopt a predilection for meat, reducing the Watcher's attention.

New offering for the Watchers : Our people have begun to offer songs, meat and ashes to the Watchers, something that seems to…confuse them, as far as we can understand.
Their gaze now becomes more easily fixated on us, but they react with less harshness and rapidity to our actions, and almost no hungry plants were sent against us in the last years.
Perhaps we could try specific offerings, and see how the Watchers react. One sub-option can be done per turn.

Tally of Blood : To bear children, to give life is one of the more respect-worthy acts amongst the Freesingers, and such acts deserve to be tallied. Let us keep track of the tally-tents of our women's children, and their children's own children. 0/10, +2 CUL, Create the Blood Tally Tradition. Strengthen the Matriarchs

Trials of Matings : To bring life into this world is a harsh, long and dangerous trial, deserving respect. To be allowed to seed a woman's belly, men should accomplish a trial just as harsh and just as deserving of respect as childbearing. 0/10, +2 CUL, provide an easy source of respect-starved, eager youngsters.Strengthen the Matriarch

To raise Fire : Those that want to become Firekeeper shall be brought to a place away from the tribe, and given an ember. For one moon, they shall tend the ember, until it is a bonfire, give their sweat, tears and blood like Purple Tongue once did, and listen to the songs of fire and smoke. They shall carry the embers born of that first fire for the rest of their lives, as their friends, and remember what they learn from crackling wood and smoke-born visions. 0/10, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, +1 ARC, Strengthen the Firekeepers and make them more mystical.

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There are few new songs about learnings sung around the bonfires, those days.

For the songs that should honors those Firekeepers that spent sleepless nights experimenting with powder until they could create varied plumes of colored smokes and use them to communicate beyond the reach of voice are wrapped and bundled like furs with the songs honoring the whole of the Firekeepers, of the fire that cornered the Owlbear and the cleaning of the dead woods.

And the songs that should honor those brave, curious, perhaps foolish that were ready to test plants and draught for the use of the people, those ready to vomit their meals, become feverish, be covered in rash or be unable to sleep for days, have few throats willing to sing them.

This is the domain of the weird, the strange, those that care little for songs and Respect. Those like Violet Eyes, the obsessed woman who still throw herself boldly
in a thousand ventures, who came to the burning of Blue Winds out of Respect but gave none to Blue Rivers.
Those like Violet Stars, working relentlessly to help others and asking for neither rewards or songs, who now make many nervous when they think of all the unsung Respect she has gathered, for such a thing is almost unnatural to the Freesingers.
Those like Green Sky, a youngster who cares little for gaining respect, making friends and finding a mate, but only of his own interests.

It is natural, sing the Elders. As they are more Freesingers, they are more who cannot be simply like all others. In the times of old, such minds were plucked and used like shining stones by the Firsts.
Now time is better.

At least for now, for there are strange movements in the sky above. In the depts of night, when all are asleep, they pounders…

Something is coming…

Learning
Learning about the world, testing new tools and reaching new understandings
LEARNing Points (LEARN) : 17
Arcana (ARC) : 1

Available Actions :


The leaves of dreaming, refined : Atop hollow, dead trees, grows the Blueclimber, of a blue so dark it looks almost black. When the leaves of this plant are gathered, infused in warm water, and the water drinked, our people can dream awake, seeing many strange and wonderful visions. Our people are ready to climb for those leaves, and our wise to learn what they can from the visions they bring. 0/5, +2 CUL, +1 LEARN

Home of the Watchers : There are places in the Woods where the Watchers are more powerful and active , places where the trees are talls and the bushes bountiful. If we could learn to gather even a little in those places without angering the Watchers, and bring offerings to them, in places where they are almost omnipresent… 0/8, ???

First Rope : From weaving vines and bark, the Freesingers make clothing, mat and baskets. Could they make something more ? Something strong enough to support the weight of a Freesinger, and more flexible than their rough workings ? 0/8, +1 SUR

True Clothes : The Freesingers clothes are simple things, covers for the intimate parts, rough cape against the cold, wind and rains, wrapped skins and roughly weaved barks to shield the feets. Now that they have skins again, and have learned more of weaving, the Freesingers could make something better. 0/9, +1 SUR, +1 CUL

Trinkets : From the unused bones, woods and vines of the tribe, our people make trinkets, to busy their hands, to make themselves fairer, or to create mementos. The Songkeepers are known to use such trinkets as props for their songs, ringing bones to make sound their voice cannot produce, and too help their memories. Perhaps something more could be made of this ? 0/9, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN

The Pattern of Fire : Since Violet Eyes had the Pattern imprinted in her mind, and cast fire from her hands thanks to it, she cannot remember the Pattern completely, only bits and pieces, that she desperately marks on pieces of bark. Perhaps, with help, she could recreate the Pattern that has left the sky… 0/37, unlock the Pattern of Fire, ???

Falling Stars : From the sky and the battle of the Gods, sometimes stars fall in burning trails toward the ground. With enough skygazing, perhaps the Freesingers could find if some of those fallen stars can be found near the tribe… 0/9, Find the locations of fallen stars

The Course of the Sky and the dangers of Earth : The Sun and Moon rule over the weather of this world, and seem to affect the mood of the Watchers and the activity of the beasts in the woods. By adjusting our actions according to the sky, we could better protect ourselves. 0/9, ???

Gaze into the battles of the Gods : Above us, the battles of the Gods rage, visible in strange clouds and light that can hide the stars, and the booms and screams that can sometimes be heard if we strain our ears. From those battles came the Pattern of Fire. What more could be learned, if we spend the time to gaze upon them ? 0/9, trigger a random roll to see what is gazed upon in the battles.

Traveling the waters : To travel in the rivers found in the woods, some of our people have tried riding on the trucks of dead trees that sometimes can be found in the waters. Perhaps we could make some time better from floating wood ? 0/4, develop primitive canoes

Finner tools : The bands spending most time gathering knapping stones and making tools in the camps of the chalk cliffs have grown in their crafting skills, trying to craft ever better tools, smaller, more easily used and carried blades. With a little work, they could succeed… 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 LEARN, Freesinger reach the Aurignacian Industry

Spores and mushrooms : The rotting spores brough pain and death to the Freesingers, but before they came, some of the mushrooms brought back by our gatherers could be eaten without danger. The Elder are ready to try understanding the mushrooms of those woods 0/9, Will trigger a roll (potentially new projects or points gain, low chance of a new Rotting Spores outbreak)

A Smaller thrown ? : It may be possible to find a way to throw something smaller than a spear with more strength. Even if it will probably take many tries… 0/10, the Freesingers try to develop new throwing weapons

A better Axe : With the axes having shown their values both as a tool and against some of the hungry plants,a few of our craftsmen are working on perfecting them, to be more useful in their two uses . 0/5, tomahawk developed, +1 SUR

Why are the birds sparred ? : Some of our more astute people have noted that if gathering too much in some berries bush attracts the anger of the Watchers, they do not seem to care when birds devour every berries on them. Why ? 1/7, Find out why the birds can eat berries without fear. Gateway action

The Singing Stick : While listening to what he took were strange birds, one of our gatherers found the song came from a hollow branch, the wind flowing inside it. He brought the strange branch to our camp, and now some wonder if we could reproduce this…singing stick ? 0/10, +2 CUL, develop primitive woodwind instruments.

Throwing Fire : From the burning resin, rendered fat and the colored powder, the Firekeepers sometimes make a dense liquid that burns rapidly and strongly. By filling a small vessel of stone with this liquid before lighting it on fire and throwing the vessel, the Freesinger could have a way to bring fire to the hungry plants without too much risk to themselves. 0/9, Produce proto-alchemist fire, Strenghten the Firekeepers

Portable nests : Some Freesingers would like to carry some of the smallest birds with them at all time, some because they like their songs, others to lull the Watchers, and the wisest to be warned of dangers when the birds stop singing. Perhaps a vessel of wicker, made to lure the bird into staying and going back into it could be made for this… 0/5, +1 CUL, the Freesingers learn to make portable nests/cages

Travois : Since those that cannot walk have begun to be carried, some have pondered if there was not a better way to transport those that cannot walk and goods worthy of respect. Something with wood poles… 0/5, +1 SUR, the Freesingers discover Travois.

Sweating Tent : To learn the inborn song, one needs to exhaust themselves and clean both their mind and body. Violet Eyes did it with relentless effort and by breathing the smoke of fire, but some wonder if we could not reach the same results with heated rocks used to boil water inside a closed tent… 0/9, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, develop sweating tent/sauna

Marking the Songs : The Inborn Songs engraved themselves on the mind like the Pattern of Fire once did on Violet Eyes, if with far less strength and without dissipating when used. Some think the way they engrave could be…reproduced, in a marking of chalk or pigments, something that could exist beyond sound and mind… 1/10, 1 ARC, +1 LEARN, Develop Arcane Markings

Watchers and Songs : In the forests, in the sound of the winds through leaves, in the gaze of the watchers, there is something like the Inborn Songs, a power carried by sound and beyond sound. Perhaps those that have learned the Inborn Songs could spend their time listening to the woods, and see what they may learn ? 0/20, 1 ARC, ???

Secret of Drying : With the Freesinger learning the art of cooking, and learning from their FIrst Friend, some have tried to find a way to preserve meat and hides for longer, seeking to understand why scrap of meat left in the sun sometime do not rot but turn into tough, but edibles strips. 0/10, +1 SUR, unlock drying, gateway action

The birth of Fire : Fire is the First Friend of the Freesinger, bringer of warmth and light, defender against monster, the cooking friend, burner of monster. From the first ember given to us so long ago, all our fires are born, carefully cared for and preserved. However, some wonder, would it be possible to birth new fires, without the need for preserved embers ? 0/57, learn fire making, giving ??? bonus. Target number will reduce with fire and Firekeeper related actions. Will have majors consequences for the Firekeepers.

Understanding the Watchers : Why do the Watchers watch us with greater vigilance, but spare us most of their wrath since we began giving offerings to them ? We do not know, for the Watchers act not like the ever-capricious Firsts, that could only be temporarily distracted, or Fire, our ever-hungry first friend. We must learn. 0/???. Open the Green Path.

Glorious purging : Our wise men have perhaps found a way to better protect our people from harm, through a mix of herbs that allow one to…eliminate all the poison in their body.
It could also be used as a poison and for hunting. Or if we need something alive, but…incapacitated. 0/3, develop the draught of Glorious Purging

Watch the Growth : Where they were once dead woods, there are now growths, perhaps showing how land turns into forests. The Elders would like to spend time watching those growths, and try to learn how woods are born. 0/8, +1 LEARN, Kept a tab on the growths in the now cleared woods.

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We have reached our first cultural conflicts ! Bad news, it means that chosen actions can now have unexpected results. Good news, actions related to the Matriarch and Firekeepers will now be enhanced, and each faction now produces one free, floating point that I will attribute each turn (Unless someone can convince me to give them this power !)

Thanks to Stargazing, you will have some early warnings of ongoing major events, especially if they can affect the Freesingers.

Vote by plan, like this :
[ ] SUR Actions
-[ ] Action
-[ ] Action
[] CUL Actions
-[ ] Action
[] And so on

8 hours moratorium