Welcome to The People! Lead your People to greatness...or starvation but don't worry, every bad decision is a group effort. Deal with...scarce food, scarce civility(in-game), scarce water, scarce people and very scary horse nomads/vikings/drought/flood/storm...where was I? At least you'll have boat memes to tide you over.
The People have lived in the forest since time immemorial. When rivers were first poured onto the world from the mountain, the People were here. When the great fires raged in the fury of the spirits, the People were here. The oldest of the people, the wisest elders, couldn't remember a time before. Not just not remember, no one they knew of in their long-ago childhoods could remember before.
Miri thought as she trudged through the dark woods. Sunset brought looming shadows spilling onto the ground. Her tough, calloused feet nimbly dodged roots and rocks alike. A very faint shrill of bird call could be heard from the canopy, barely reaching her ears. Miri's pack gently pushed against her hip with every step. In the distance, her dark, straining eyes picked out a figure amidst the thick underbrush.
Instantly, Miri's hands drew her long bow from her back, a wicked thing of sturdy oak passed down from her father and his mother before him. The arrow was tipped with sharp flint, ready to rip it's way through flesh.
"Show yourself!" Miri yelled. She never stopped moving, to stop was to risk death. With a rustle, The figure burst its way brush, yelping like a child...probably because it was a child.
"Sister, stop! It's me," Sakin called out. Just ten winters and he was already getting into trouble. Miri sighed and put her bow back.
Cocking her hip and raising an eyebrow, "I can see that, little brother," she said with an unspoken question. For a moment, she just continued looking at him, not moving an inch. Sakin fidgeted with his skirt of leaves until he finally said it.
"Fine, fine! I know I'm not supposed to be out this far!" he yelled, still with defiance, crossing his arms.
Miri rolled her eyes, turning her head reflexively to scan her surroundings before speaking again, "Yet, I haven't noticed a reason for your rule breaking, Sak." She had started tapping her fingers against the dappled green and black of her leather forearm guards.
Sakin looked around nervously before finally spilling, "I just wanted to provide!" he yelled with frustration, his eyes appeared misty. The woods fell silent. Miri softened instantly, her arms wrapped around Sakin in just moments.
They stayed like that for a while before Miri broke the silence with a whisper.
"You know that it's not your job yet, right? Don't worry," she said with a tremor in her voice. She had meant to be reassuring but…Sakin pushed her away suddenly, pointing a finger at her.
"Even when you tell me that, you doubt. I saw your pack, it's empty," he said on the edge of crying, his tone wavering.
Miri could not find the words to say that, the river of her thoughts just dried up. Much like their actual river come to think of it.
"Whatever," he spat out, "let's just go back to camp," turning his back and marching away with angry stomps.
Miri just plodded along in silence.
The People have lived here for eons. Maybe no more, one way or another.
_____________
Later that night, Miri sat around the large bonfire with much of the tribe. Their empty eyes stared into the fire, mesmerized as all People are by the spirit. dancing in red and yellow cheerfully. She watched its black breath curl its way up the sky above, barely visible through the immense trees.
Miris feels the urge to hiss as a familiar dull pain radiates from her stomach, empty and starving. A decade past, before her father's death, when the woods were plentiful with game and life was bright; she had played Hunter and Deer around this exact spot with her friends.
Now, they were fewer and there were certainly no happy smiles or raucous conversation. Only pangs of pain from their stomachs and abortive, awkward attempts at jokes to break the quiet. All of which were met with exhausted walls of silence from sullen faces with hollow cheeks. There was no need to pretend in this sacred space with old games and acts for the children. It was so much worse than they showed to them.
"What are we doing here?" Kosu drawled out, listlessly. His once stocky muscular frame now long decrepit by hunger compared to back then like the rest of them. When no response was heard except a few heads slowly turning, his brow furrowed, his teeth grit, and he exploded.
"I said, what are we doing here!?" he screamed out, taking in deep lungfuls of air. Everyone looked at him, a few worked their mouths trying to answer but Miri beat them to it.
"Dying," she said tonelessly before her voice started wavering as she spoke, "We shou-we should move."
That immediately brought uproar as people started yelling and getting up before Kosu silenced them with a stomp. He looked at her as if he had received a revelation.
"She's right," Kosu said, looking around at each and every person. "She's completely right."
Yuto spoke up with anger, "And go where? We've lived here since forever, this is our home. The foolishness of youth," she spat. A wiry old woman, her hair long since white and half her teeth falling out. The rest started nodding at her, Elders have wisdom after all.
"They might have a point, Yuto," Gahi rasped. He was even older than Yuto, perhaps the oldest in the tribe. His clothing had the bones of many a beast from a long, long life of hunting.
Yuto's eyes turned to him sharply, "You're really agreeing with thi-this foolery, Gahi?"
Gahi shrugged, the small motion seeming to tire him, "I don't know but what I do know is that we stay here and die or we move."
Kosu chimed back in, "I've heard Black Teeth and White Eyes hunt upstream. They say that it's lush and full of game."
Yuto didn't take kindly to the idea, "Upstream is also full of tribes for that exact reason, boy. What's the point of having game to hunt if we have to fight every day just for a spot to camp," she pointed out.
"Isn't it then better to just take a chance?" Miri asked. "I don't know how much longer we can keep going like this. Perhaps the plains of the west will be better. I've heard they have huge herds of deer."
The tribe was getting around to the idea of moving and were proposing different ideas. A matronly woman was for the plains, under the open sky with endless deer sounded perfect. A young man for down the river, where it flows into the lake with poison water bitter as rock but teeming with fish.
Yuto looked around, incensed, "We'll make it through, the spirits are just testing us, you'll see!" she shouted.
In response, Kosu stood up as well.
"Cease!" Gahi yelled, grabbing his cane from beside him, it was carved out of Tusker ivory and painted with red and thumping the ground. He raised his left hand. A signal.
"I call a vote!"
[] Upstream to the lush forest?
--Temperate Forest. Lotta tribes here to fight. Fighting everywhere. Lotta game to hunt as well. Maybe agriculture.
[] Downstream to the poison lake of fish?
--The Ocean. Trade, boats, storms, boats, fish, and boats. Not much agriculture, very fishy.
[] Endless Plains with herds of deer?
--Prarie. Le Horse Nomad. Them deer ain't no deer. Also agriculture, big-boy agriculture china style...if you can defend against very scary horse nomads.
[]Stay and perseve
Welcome to yet another quest of mine. Man, I really should stop starting new ones. No clue how long this will go on. I have tried writing a civ quest before but ran into some bad luck (and a troll) which forced me to abandon it. Starting over on a new site on this second attempt. Btw, I would love any recs, partially am writing this because I haven't seen any POT-style civ quests in like, years, lol. Would appreciate feedback. Otherwise, have fun! and pls vote.
First, Higher rolls are always better for the thing that it's being rolled for.
Second, be aware that you're essentially seeing things from the ruling classes' perspective (when a ruling class does emerge.) Take all these stats with a grain of salt. If your civ is being currently invaded and your Spirituality says Happy, your rulers might be in a state of copium/delusion.
Food Security: One of the most important stats in the entire quest. This shows how much food your civilization has. Generally, the higher this stat is, the better off you are. This goes from -1 to a changeable cap. -1 means complete starvation, civilizational collapse imminent. When you get above said cap, the surplus contributes to Wealth. This is your foundational stat, everything comes from this. Low FS means low Spirituality, no wealth and no martial.
Wealth: This stat is tied to FS, Wealth is your semi-disposable resources. Tools, surplus grain (that can't be stored), unique resources (dyes, metals, obsidian, furs), etc. Generally, you want to build a small bank of this just in case but otherwise, you spend this stat on diplomacy, war/raids, construction, etc.
Spirituality: This represents the mood of your people and partially, the civil stability of your civilization A.K.A how close everyone is to stabbing each other. How happy they are, how sad they are. I don't use numbers here. You'll get a detailed description. Just be aware of what I said at the start.
Martial: Essentially your military. It can take many forms and the exact mechanics will differ with whatever form you choose to take. Until chargen finishes, there isn't much more that's useful to say at this moment.
Beliefs: They basically explain your cultural pillars. These have massive narrative effects and some mechanical effects as well. Just depends on what Belief it is. Beliefs are not all equal, new ones can fade if you don't act in favor of the belief but if you've had one for a long time, they are practically impossible to shake off.
That's it (for now). Everything else is narrative or background stuff like roll tables.
AN: Mostly preliminary in chargen because you don't have stats right now. This will have a lot more once the quest starts proper.
The People
-Known as the People of the Rocky Waters by the Clans of the Forest. (Double meaning, Rocky for the coast and rocking waves for the tides.)
Food Security: 6/6 (Drain = 2 a turn, 85 a turn currently. 2 goes to FS, 6 go to Wealth)
Wealth: 12, +6 Per Turn
Spirituality: The White River has been conquered and it's people enslaved. The People rejoice in the wealth that flows from the salt.
Martial: Militia (Semi-professional fighters sourced from hamlets and villages) (Good Offence, Good Defence, no particular weaknesses or strengths either way.)
Description: A thriving hunter gatherer tribe who has settled on a rocky coastline next to the White river, a branch of the large Pink river. Boats and canoes abound. The People elect a Chief everytime a Chief dies, Chiefs generally come to power by being skilled and more importantly, being charming. Homes are mainly made of stone from the shore, wood has become much more available as White River was conquered. The tribe is one of the first to start practicing slavery, using slaves to mine/harvest salt from the ocean.
Beliefs
Me and Mine
The People believe in ownership, personal/private property. You have to protect what is yours and yours. Let no one steal from you. Take care of what is yours, who is yours.
Benefits: The People gain a bonus to defending and taking care of their sea/land/possessions/people.
Downsides: The People can be very fractious and divisive. Only caring about your family/clan and not the larger tribe is applauded in domestic matters altthough looked down upon in dealings with foreigners. Beyond that, they are prone to being insular and disapproving of outsiders as well.
(When the People are dealing with other clans in the People, they are the outsiders. When the People deal with other tribes, others clans are part of the inside, foreigners outside.)
What Makes Us Us is Us
All Humans are born unshaped, unknowing and ignorant. This state is neither bad nor good, only an inevitable part of all of our beginnings. We all enter the world as a blank log. Over time, that log is carved and colored, imbued with memory and experience becoming a person, a part of a people. The People are no different, we carve those blank logs into more of us, who will then do the same, hopefully unto eternity.
The People have a very, very wide tolerance for what constitutes a part of the People. Cultural drift to the point of separation is hard to happen. Essentially, the natural variation in personality are counted as part of culture so it has to be an extreme polarizing shift in both directions on a value to split.
There is very little discrimination based on heritage, who your biological parents are has exactly zero relevance to the People. This has a couple of knock-on effects, for one, if you ever transition to a monarchy or something like that, succession crises based on child legitimacy would be very rare.
Integration is both easy and hard. Easy in that once accepted, they are accepted. Hard in that populations, especially large ones, will resist, you know, having their culture changed irrevocably and their separate identity completely denied.
To expand on that, the People can integrate small minority populations extremely well, they would be a part of the People in only two generations or so. Big, major populations are far more difficult though once accepted, there is almost no risk of resplitting.
The tribe had packed up in the early hours of the morning. Tents were disassembled quickly, twine ropes untied, sticks bundled up and hide folded. The fires were beaten out if they were still burning. Children gathered from the surroundings. All of the hunters had been counted to make sure that no one was accidentally. The People were used to moving.
Never permanently though.
Of course, some, like Yuto, had chosen to stay. Mostly Elders who could never let go of the forest after dozens of winters. Others couldn't make the journey, too frail in their age to do so such as Gahi. They would be well cared for by the few families still left.
Miri looked around, taking in deep breaths as if to permanently etch that woody scent into her lungs. The dark shadows and dense green canopy had been where she had grown up her whole life. She had known no other companion as constant as these trees.
Her heart was heavy and doubt warred with survival in her mind. The pangs in her stomach reminded why she was moving but the lump in her heart couldn't help but feel she was abandoning her home. Over by that bubbling brook, her father had first taught her to fish with a spear. Tiny little minnows, she had been so happy when she finally caught one after weeks of trying. Her father had ruffled her dark brown hair and smiled proudly. Miri's mother, wiry and nimble, had taught her how to mend one's leathers. The delicate art of sewing with a little bone needle. A needle she still kept in a bag on her waist just in case.
They had died young, leaving Miri and a very young Sakin all alone in the world. The tribe pulled through for them of course even though her parents were outsiders. Miri knew once she left, her memory of them would start going. To say nothing of Sakin, he already was forgetting, how much worse would it become once the physical reminders were no longer there? The Elders say that a man dies twice, once in the body and once when his memory is no longer held by those close to him.
It was clear that Miri wasn't the only one having this crisis. She could see Kosu, such a proponent of moving, quiet and contemplative. None of them truly wanted to leave, even the man who had first proposed the lake wasn't truly happy. The People grieved.
For their home, for their buried loved ones they would have to leave, for the sheer loss of it all.
Miri forcibly turned her head away from the now-abandoned camp. The decision was made by vote at the Bonfire. They were leaving, so said the Tribe.
"Sakin!" she called out as she noticed him looking over the camp. Miri jerked her head to the main group. He ran over, packs heavy on his pack to join his friends.
Miri sighed, the children were much more on board with the whole plan than most. She still didn't know if that was good or bad.
Nothing for it. She had to go. Taking one last look around the old campsite, taking in the memories before resolutely turning and marching away. Never to return.
_______
Moons later, Miri took a deep breath in as she gazed upon the endless rippling blue waters. Waves crashed onto the rocky beach sending great white plumes of foam into the air. Salt was on the breeze, well, they had found out why the poison water was poison. It was salt, so much salt. The water tasted of it, it was so constant that she found herself having to focus to even detect it anymore.
She wrapped her furs tighter around her, it was cold too. The sea breeze had no mercy, it chilled Mira's bones, the cold seeping its thin fingers in to hook her flesh. Winter was fast approaching, she had no idea how bad it would get but she was definitely not looking forward to it.
She heard footsteps behind, the rattling of bones and the panting of someone very tired.
"Miri?" Kosu called out, hands on his knees. "What are you doing so high up?" raising his head up to look at her. Cheeks flushed with blood from exertion.
Miri pivoted to face him on her foot, "Enjoying the sights, it's beautiful, is it not?"
He shrugged as he stood up straight up again, stretching a little, "I wouldn't say it's worth the climb."
Miri laughed, clear and bright, "You're just lazy, Kosu." He smiled in response.
For a moment, they just stood there watching the scenery around them. It was truly mesmerizing like nothing else. The sea went on and on forever. They had explored a little around the area, asked some other tribes, and none knew the other side.
Miri sighed, "I feel guilt, horrid guilt gnawing at me for saying this but I prefer Seaside from the Forest."
Kosu reached out his boneless right arm and hugged her to his side. He had regained some of his muscles from the plentiful fish and Miri leaned in seeking the warmth and comfort.
"Don't, there's no reason for it. The Spirits clearly wanted us gone and here," he shrugged again. "That's all I think about it, you make things too complicated, Miri."
She huffed, "You don't think enough," she hesitated then, "but, maybe you're right this time."
"I told you so," Kosu said with a grin, bumping her playfully.
Miri rolled her eyes and stood up, grunting as the stretching pain set in from sitting too long. She kicked Kosu lightly with her moccasin covered foot.
"Let's go."
___________
Simo, son of Miri, stared at his reflection from the little pond left over from the tide. His hair had turned white now, he noted as he chuckled a little. Simo's knees complained as they always did so he had found a boulder to sit on and look at himself. Simo had been lucky enough to inherit Kosu's long beard. It used to be brown like his mother but had since turned white as well. His face was craggy and stiff, weather beaten from long days in the sea with the salty wind and water.
Little heads of black and brown, his grandchildren and other young relatives (truth be told, he couldn't keep track), hunted for crabs and leftover fish in the tidepools that dotted the beach. Simo was too old and frail to head out on a raft and fish these days. He didn't mind, much. It had stung, quite a bit, when he had to accept that he couldn't ride the waves anymore but that was just age. Inevitable and unstoppable, his father always said. No use dwelling on it.
One little black head came running up to him, Simo squinted to see the child properly.
"Paspa, Yuya hit me," she complained, face scrunching up. Simo took in a deep breath and let out a very, very long sigh, children, he thought before fixing his expression into a smile.
"I'll be sure to tell Yuya off for that, Miri," he pointed towards the rest of the children, "help your old Paspa to her?"
She folded her arms, "You're not that old, Paspa."
Simo felt the urge to jump off the boulder into the rocks headfirst at this point but somehow restrained himself. "Well, take me to them and you'll get a story," he said a bit shortly.
Her face immediately brightened, at this point, he was suspecting that Yuya hadn't hit her at all and she just wanted to hear stories. Oh well. Miri immediately began climbing the boulder with her little hands, already calloused from playing in the rocks.
"Slow down, Miri. I'll come down myself," Simo wasn't so far gone that he couldn't climb down a damn boulder without a child's help. He had gotten up here himself after all.
"Let's go, let's go, Paspa," she said impatiently as she climbed down and started marching towards the others.
"Yes, yes. Give me your hand and guide me, Miri. Or no stories," Simo said and Miri immediately came rushing back. The rest of their 'journey' was spent with Simo's patience getting worn down as Miri wanted to run there. Out in the distance, little rafts could be seen, their fathers and mothers fishing.
When Simo and Miri arrived, the whole gaggle of children piled around him on rocks and boulders. Simo knew it at this point, the whole thing was just for a story.
"Fine, fine," he climbed atop the largest boulder, a moss covered gray beast. With the sun shining down behind him highlighting his form in golden rays, Simo began to an adoring crowd of children.
What does Simo say? More importantly perhaps, What does he mean?
[] The Sea is kind and provides all, so we must protect it from any others less scrupulous.
What is ours is ours, what is theirs is theirs. There are boundaries, let all who break them be damned. We must care for ours and ours alone, our family, our tribe, our water, our land. Most of all, they must remain ours.
[] The Sea is Endless and we must strive for more until we reach the End. There is no End, the Journey and the End are one and the same.
A…reverence of dedication, of ambition. The Sea is Endless because it strove without end to its glory. The best fisher, the best father, the best mother, the best sibling, the best explorer. In striving to do so, one achieves said goal. Obsessive at worst, excellence at best.
[] The Sea gives us all, takes from us all. There is no need to worry when the sea will either give or take. It is out of one's control.
Resignation, laziness, and apathy in its worst form but wise acceptance and tireless endurance at its best. There is no need to dwell on unchangeable facts, one must simply endure and let it pass. All struggles and all bliss will eventually pass.
Our first passing of the generations, *sheds tear*. Anyways, y'all are choosing your belief. Very important. The one you pick here is gonna be your first one, the one hardest to eliminate. Basically impossible. Government next then stats come into play and prolouge/chargen is over. Btw, I love Flort. Thanks so much.
Jaki grinned as her canoe flew for a moment, lifting her up briefly in the air as well before she slammed down into the wood. Her knuckles were white from the grip on her paddles, she was soaked and cold but the happiness in her heart was enough to warm her up. That giddy feeling suffused her entire body like water soaking fur, she let out a celebratory whoop as the energy kept flowing.
I finally got my own canoe! Mine and only Mine.
Belief Developed!
The People believe in ownership, personal/private property. You have to protect what is yours and yours. Let no one steal from you. Take care of what is yours, who is yours.
Benefits: The People gain a bonus to defending and taking care of their sea/land/possessions/people.
Downsides: The People can be very fractious and divisive. Only caring about your family/clan and not the larger tribe is applauded, not looked down upon in domestic matters. Beyond that, they are prone to being insular and disapproving of outsiders as well.
Jaki breathed deep in the Sea-salt breeze, savoring her first time on her own personal canoe. Father was only a few moments behind her but for the first time, she didn't have to share a cramped canoe with her brothers. The canoe lurched as her powerful, muscled arms started rowing again. Back and forth, a rhythm that all in the People knew by heart.
She looked down for a moment and smiled at the sight that awaited her. A good hand of pink fish. A great haul for her first fishing trip. Better yet, it was Jaki's haul to do with as she pleased. Of course, she would give some to her family, it was only right but otherwise she foresaw a very pleasant bonfire for her tonight.
She heard the slaps of paddles behind her as her father came rowing up. Turning her head, his weather-beaten face looked back at her with a stern look. Jaki knew he was proud though.
"Daughter!" he called, "Time to go back now," Father said, jerking his head towards the shoreline.
She simply nodded. Jaki raised her legs up and swung her body around, switching hands on her paddles quickly.
They paddled in strong, steady strokes. She slowly lost herself in the rhythm of the paddles striking the water. It was pretty much a straight shot back home. Father hadn't allowed her to go too far on her first trip.
As they started to see the little collection of huts far in the distance, her father spoke up.
"We will have to paint your pattern, what do you want?" he asked.
Father's canoe was painted with vivid reds, yellows and blues. From light blue sky flew a fish made of fire leaping into a dark blue Sea.
Jaki had been dreaming of her own pattern for a long time now, she enthusiastically answered, "A white half moon over a dark green tree with black roots floating on the Sea."
Father chuckled, "Odd choice but certainly unique."
"Well, that's the whole point, isn't it?" Jaki shot back.
He just hummed in agreement before they fell back into a comfortable quiet, punctuated by the slap of paddles on water.
Just a while later, Jaki's boat slowly hit the rocky beach, she quickly stuck her paddles down anchors into the ground. No need to scratch up the new canoe. A hand grabbed her old, ratty bag and stuffed the hand of pinkfish into there. She put the strap around her shoulders and sighed, rolling them and flexing her arms.
The hard part was only just waiting. Jaki jumped off the canoe with a soft splash into the knee deep water before tying her paddles to the boat. She bent down, reaching across with one arm, grabbing the boat with both then grunting in effort as she lifted it up using her legs. Jaki's body burned comfortably, this was something she had practiced for a while and her canoe was a fairly small one anyways. Jaki wasn't keen on spending much time like this so she walked quickly to the family huts. Beside her, she saw her father doing the same, without a single sign of strain on his face.
Relief welled up in her as she saw her family's hut close up, grey stones from the beach stacked on top of each other with a binding in between as well as some wood to make sure everything stuck together. A yellow straw top rose out of the square building. Nearby, they could see the rest of her family, her aunts, uncles, cousins who had their own huts in their little collection.
The rest of the People spread out a little bit across the coast but they were all within easy walking distance, one could travel from the most outlying hut to the opposite end within a quarter of a day.
Jaki groaned as she set her canoe down, her spine and arms tingled strangely after such exertion. She instantly plopped down on the ground, spread-eagled, breathing heavily.
Father looked down at her with a smirk though clearly flushed and tired himself, "This is why you need a partner in fishing trips, Jaki."
"Yes, yes, Father," she forced out, exhausted. Father just chuckled as he opened the little fur curtain to the entrance and walked inside.
Jaki just took a moment to look up at the sky. It shone dimly, covered by gray clouds perpetually. Far overhead, a speck flew through the sky, an eagle. She reached her hand upwards, looking at how the light shone around, breathing out. Her eyelids felt tired…
_____________
"Jaki, wake up!" a distant voice called for her, deep and masculine. Her head felt so foggy, it was like she was swimming deep. A heaviness weighed her head down.
An insistent shake snapped her brown eyes wide open. Jaki groaned, seeing the form of Bora before her. Short and stocky like most of the People, he looked at her with urgency, brows furrowed.
"It's nearly night, we must go!"
Bora was already turning away and jogging after he saw her eyes open. Jaki took a few moments to gather herself and grab her pinkfish before running to catch up to him.
"I can't believe you almost missed the Bonfire," he said. They were making good time but it really was close.
"Yes, thank you for that."
Bora just waved it off as they crested the hill to reach the Bonfire. Many of the People were already present, milling around and talking. Some good spits being cooked. The black smoke rose high to the sky, the sun had already set, just some residual light was left.
Bora and Jaki split from there. Jaki went to find some friends and cook the pinkfish while Bora went to meet with that boy. Oh, he thought that he was keeping some grand secret but everyone kind of knew they were together.
After some revelry was had, the Bonfire meeting was held. Time for serious business. There was...a bit of an issue. Jaki could barely see the Bonfire, having to jump to even catch a glimpse of the two-man high fire. As the night went on, more and more of the People had come. More than she ever thought existed. Nobody could speak and nobody could hear those speaking.
Something new must come.
[] Elders Vote
They've been around for a long time, they have wisdom and experience, surely they'll lead us right.
[] Elected Big Man
Instead of having everyone vote all the time, what if we just vote for a person to lead us all the time?
[] Clan Vote
How about each family send us a person to speak and vote for them? They would have as many votes as the number of people they spoke for.
[] Write-In (Subject to approval/modification)
Some other way? It should make sense though.
Hi, after this government vote (which I'm allowing write-ins on), we finally get to the meat of the game, the stats are gonna come into play after this. Last chargen.
[x] Council of Equal Voices : Each clan elects a leader to be on a council, where everyone gets the same respect and vote. There must be an odd number, or a village wide vote for someone to represent the tie breaker
[X] Council of Clients : People get to speak at the bonfire by the number of those willing to stand behind them. The more supporters, the closer one gets, the greater ones voice. It is understood that the leader of each such faction, the patron, will reward their supporters (the clients) with gifts snd support from their personnal wealth, as well as adressing their concerns.
I think it's a clear victory for Elected Big Man. Fair. Um, this update will take a little longer. I'm busy and really about to get busier. Expect every couple days to a week for most updates from now on (my college starts next week). Thanks for voting 👍
The dark forest trees swayed in the heavy wind close to the coast. A sunbreak hadn't come today, inauspicious but not a bad omen either, simply neutral. The sky was gray and cloudy like it was most of the time west of the mountains. Charms and markers of feathers and what looked to be the bones of men jingled in the branches.
Macabre things.
Maboz felt uneasy here, the hair on his long arms rising. The tall, lean man disliked how the trees prevented him from seeing anything. Nothing like the Sea where one could simply raise their head and see everything. A rough, calloused hand rose to caress a necklace of colorful stones and pearls. His most prized possession (aside from his canoe of course).
"Chief, have they changed their minds?" His brother, Warnek, asked from beside him. Warnek was wrapped up in the best armor they could devise, a leather and hide assembly of thick clothes. A fearsomely large club with a wicked sharp stone at the end was strapped to his hip.
"They called us here for a meeting. It would be very discourteous of them to not appear," Maboz reassured then his mouth twisted to a sneer. "Then again, that would just be like the Clans." The men around Maboz nodded in agreement. The Clanners were not to be trusted, secretive and cruel in nature. The Chief had brought his personal retinue here to the clearing. Family and supporters of strong body.
"What must they need?" wondered Yoken aloud. A fisherman like most of the People, Yoken had been an easy vote to secure. A good fishing trip, feast and some charm was all that was needed to sway him to Maboz. "They leave us alone and we have left them alone since the time of our grandfathers."
Narm spoke up in response, "I heard from an Oak Arrow cousin that there were some quarrels going on. A bit of raiding between the Clan with the Deer Bones in ascent," Eyes turned to him with some hostility, Narm spoke the Clan's language, his mother was a Clanner who fled to the People as a young girl. Outsiders were not to be trusted, the Elders had said but to turn away a child alone in the world was a little too heartless for the People. Two men had taken her in given their evident lack of capability to have children.
Yoken scowled, "Outsiders dragging us into their business, pah," he spit out before returning to diligently scanning the forest.
Then, in the distance between tall pines, Maboz saw them, Clanners. A rail thin, tall woman led them with short-cut dark hair and a longbow on her back. She was adorned with all manner of decorations and trophies. Weasel fur around her neck, bands of yellow fur from a deer wrapped around her limbs intermixed with the black of a bear. Her most prominent feature however gave her Clan away, Deer Bones. A six-point antler, gnarled and charms strung to it sprouted from her head, affixed by rope around her head.
There were others with her as well, a Sky Scale marked by the fish scales sewed onto his leathers. A Cone Run with their cones on the legs. Beyond that, Maboz didn't know about the other Clans, even that was stretching the knowledge of the People. There were countless more Clans but these were who the People dealt with most. They soon arrived in the clearing with the gray sky above, all were nimble through the forest, simply melting out of the woods without the slightest trace of exertion on their faces.
The Deer Bone spoke first, "Well met, People of the Rocky Waters. I speak for the Matriarch of the Deer Bones, Yubiska." After a moment of waiting, Chief Maboz knew he was to respond. The fact that the others didn't speak out was strange though.
He narrowed his eyes, "Well met, Clanner. You're late. What business do you have with us?" Blunt, straight to the point. Trying tricks and sly charisma with Clanners was futile and would only result in misfortune to befall upon you so the elders had told him.
She seemed surprised, eyebrows rising, nearly affronted but schooled her expression back into a neutral mask. "No pleasantries?" she asked rhetorically, "Very well, I will get to the point too. The Matriarch Yubiska wishes to form a Great Council amongst the Clans of the Forests. Led by us, Sky Scale, Cone Run, Oak Arrow and Bear Thunder."
She took a deep breath and waited a moment to let that settle in. Maboz was reeling slightly, for as long as he had known, Clanners governed themselves. If there was something that everyone, all Clans would decide. This was…different, a few Clans over everyone else, forcing the others to their knees. Still, he didn't quite see how that had anything to do with the People. He didn't care what they did so long as the People weren't harmed.
His question was swiftly answered, "We want you to help."
Maboz laughed, sharp and hacking, surely that was just a bad joke. The look on the Deer Bone's face didn't change, neither did the faces of the others. They…they really were serious.
Still chuckling, he asked, "Why should we? Clanner business is Clanner business and the People don't interfere. Same the other way around since our grandfathers." His men nodded along.
"We'll give you White river," she said immediately.
Maboz's eyes widened in shock before he restrained his expression but Warnek and the rest couldn't pick their jaws off the ground. White river was a branch of the Pink River so named for the pink fish that swam in huge numbers every year, the largest river. In the oldest stories, it was told that the People had flown down the Pink seeking their own lands to find the Sea.
"Truly?" Maboz asked, skeptically. Clanners–outsiders in general really–were not to be trusted, cruel and secretive they were as the elders said.
The Deer Bone nodded, "Truly. The White River clans are troublesome," she replied. "We both get something out of this deal."
The woman held her hand out, "Yes or No?" Gazing into his eyes.
"I will confer with my men first," Maboz said back. This would be a controversial decision either way. Being prudent demanded some more time thinking. They fell back slightly out of ear shot in silence, everyone walking along.
"So, White river?" Warnek said. "That's definitely a good catch." He seemed eager.
"No, I say this whole deal is a trap. Clanners are deceitful and cruel, the elders say," Yoken threw his opinion into the ring, crossing his arms.
"Think about it, Yoken. Endless woods for canoes without having to be cautious the entire time," he raised a good point, Maboz thought. That wasn't even counting the fresh water, the Sea provided many things but good wood–for fire, canoes, homes–weren't one of them.
Narm spoke up next, "It's a risk but I also say go for it," he barely got that out before Yoken and Warnek both glared at him.
"You're on their si-" Yoken got out before Maboz gripped his shoulder lightly in warning. He turned his head to Maboz, staring at him. He went quiet.
Narm glanced nervously between them then continued, "Even if they try to hold White river, they'll be weakened enough that we could likely take it."
Warnek nodded in approval, "Water, more land, fish, and wood. There are many good things to come out of just a bit of fighting with help."
Yoken had gathered his courage to speak out again though not looking at Narm, "Clanners are cruel and deceitful. Chances are high that they betray us, the People won't stand for this. If we take White river, we should take it without needing the deceptions of Clanners."
They turned their heads to Chief Maboz.
Chief?
[] Yes
-[] # Wealth (3 required)
Chief's Men go on canoes to help the Great Council also known as the Fingers conquer the rest of the Clans. They have said they will give the People of the Rocky Waters the contested White river. If yes, how much wealth is allocated? In this context, they are expecting three Wealth at least.
[] No
Chief Maboz decides not to do it. If the Fingers win, they will surely not look kindly upon this rejection. On the other hand, the Fingers could lose as well though that's unlikely.
[] Seize White River while the Clanners are fighting.
-[] # Wealth
Chief's
Other Projects? (The number of actions all depends on how much Wealth you have. There are minimum requirements but you can add more wealth within reason to boost success. Everything is narrative, there are no dice rolls. This isn't a CK2 quest.)
[] Chief Maboz schmoozes with the People, reassuring them and soothing conflicts. (Bonus to Yes if you do this.) 1 Wealth Required.
[] Perhaps Chiefs should have a special hall for them and their men to train in and for the Chief to receive guests? 2 Wealth Required.
[] The Sea provides salt and it's rare inland. Nobody really wants to do it, too back-breaking, but there might be some use in harvesting salt to sell. Where to find workers though?
-[] Write In (Take outsiders as workers, Wrongdoers (Criminal workers), Other way??]
Food Security: 5/5 (Drain = 1 a turn, +4 a turn currently. 1 goes to FS, 3 go to Wealth)
Wealth: 5, +3 Per Turn
Spirituality: Ongoing tensions between woodsmen, crafters and the Clans of the White River. Nobody has died, yet.
Martial: Chief's Men (Small group of unprofessional fighters offensively) (Defensively, Everyone, civilians)
