Hello, Bianca! It is Fox again. I am glad you are taking us all seriously, and I hope to be helpful with your many many questions. First, and as I notice the response you had to the very first speaker I can perceive you responded to (I don't know the order in which you ACTUALLY heard us, alas), this concept comes to my mind. I had hoped it would take longer, but I must get to this first. The language we speak has words and ideas that are different than the language you speak. There are concepts that do not exist in your language. We use words that have multiple different meanings. We use idioms and jargon and slang and turns of speech and sarcasm and hyperbole and many such things that make clear communication difficult.
FURTHER, there is some unknown magic or force or being or entity or tool which is translating between our speech and your speech, and we ALSO do not know what words and concepts actually already exist in your language, and we also do not know the quirks and biases and methods of this unknown thing doing the translation. So! If something sounds weird, it is very not likely to be us being insane or mad (though that is a possibility! Though most of us will eventually get around to shaming the madfolk among us that speak insanity to you. Eventually, probably centuries later as you perceive it!), but rather a translation issue. This can be mitigated somewhat; we can make guesses as to what sorts of terms are unclear, and you can help us get an idea of the limits of your speech. Try to use lots of 'talking around' concepts, or 'using many words to describe a concept', or compound phrases and combination words, and describing how you perceive odd words and what you think they might mean or your guesses at the meaning of an idiom. Those of us that are more skilled at this sort of broken communication, and it IS a tricky skill, will be able to compensate, especially as we indirectly infer what you do and don't have words for.
A potato is one of many root vegetables or tubers where the root system grows into a large, stiff, robust, underground, central edible part, and requires cooking to be softened before it can be eaten. Unfortunately, we don't know whether they grow where you are, or whether there are other sorts of root vegetables instead. That said, I think giving you a comprehensive guide to lots of useful plants, some of which MIGHT be where you are, will be useful; then we could figure out where on the globe you are!
Oh, right, Globe. Someone mentioned that the world is a Sphere. Really Big Things in the cosmos, like the world you are on, the similar-but-not-the-same world that many of us are from, the Moon, the Sun, the Planets, the Stars, and so on, often tend to be spheres or globes. Even if they seem small or just points or not especially large, they are all absolutely massive, often bigger than the world beneath your feet, and just merely very far away. Further, if one is on the surface of such mind-bogglingly huge things, 'down' is towards the center of the object, so you can't really be 'underneath' them when standing on the surface, regardless of where on the sphere one stands. We can get into this topic in more detail later, it isn't relevant to current thriving.
When a voice said 'Drunk', they meant, 'having imbibed quantities of a substance that changes how one thinks in a pleasant way'. You are familiar with fruits on trees that are left out in the sun sometimes and get a sharp scent and when consumed make people happy and stumble around a lot and lower their inhibitions? The substance created by fruit that has fermented in such a way a word that we call 'alcohol', which I don't think is translating properly. Just name the thing that is in some fruit that has been left in the sun that makes people happy and sleepy, but isn't in fruit that HASN'T been left out, some arbitrary word, and when we say 'alcohol' as a SINGLE WORD, that's what we mean. Maybe we can trick this stupid translation mechanism or being to actually be clear with enough effort!
High concentrations of the-substance-that-I-mean-when-I-say-the-word-'alcohol', when it is very undiluted with other things, will burn with a blue flame. In general, when people often imbibe substances that alter their state of mind in a pleasant and strange way, their language tends to describe the resulting state of being and state of mind and way of acting and way of thinking in whimsical terms that have other meanings in other situations, like 'Drunk' or 'High' or 'Stoned'. You should perhaps invent your own word for 'the state of being intoxicated with this substance'!
Let's try this. Quickly invent a few words based on the previous bits I just said, and hopefully this new sentence will use them. "I ate the fermented fruit from the tree, and the fruit had lots of alcohol in it, and so I became drunk." Did that work?
Regardless, onto other things! Is your spear of light a physical, useful-in-melee object with a shaft and a spearhead that you grip in the hand and thrust into opponents, which is somehow conceptually and magically linked to the concept of 'light', or are you using 'spear of light' to metaphorically describe a magical device which you hold which causes a very special and particular beam or ray or narrow emanation of light to emit from a part of it, which directly causes harm via extreme heating (and permanent blindness to mortals that look upon it) to what the beam or ray of light itself hits, as a ranged and not melee weapon? I ask because the latter is a concept which can be used as a ranged weapon which you are about two thousand years away from making via non-magical means, but if we could describe the principles well enough to you for you to make it via magical means and not even have to do a thousand years worth of 'making the tools to make the tools to make the tools' to get there the long way, that might be useful to you as something to tinker with magically. Could you clarify?
Unfortunately, the issue with, 'these rocks will be useful for this, this plant is useful for this, this substance can be used for this, this plant can be changed to have these features' is that we don't actually know what is around you in a wide radius. We can't SEE the plants, the rocks, the dirt, the animals. You have tell us with words what is around you. Maybe every time you speak to us, mention a few things about the things and substances and oddities around you? Even unlikely things can give us clues as to useful things that might be nearby. When I asked about your circumstances, I was more asking for the things around you in a large scale. Are there rivers, streams? Lots of lakes, or very few? Is there a large body of saltwater nearby? Is the land rocky, sandy, silty? Could you describe a sample of some of the odder looking rocks nearby? What does the common vegetation look like? Are there wooded areas, and are they the sort that is very very dense and hard to walk through or the sort that have broadly spread out big trees and not lots of undergrowth? Do trees lose their leaves during part of the year? What are the nearby groups of people, how many people are there, how do the groups tend to behave and what do the nearby groups spend lots of their time doing? Are there mountains, and if so, are they the type that are rounded and rolling and covered in green, or are they the type that has a 'treeline' some way up, and are capped in snow and ice? How many seasons are there a year where they are, and what are the seasons? Is it just a rainy and a not rainy season, or is there the full spring, summer, winter, fall, or something else entirely? Are there sometimes things like 'ice', 'sleet', 'frost', and 'snow' where you are, that is seasonal frozen water? Are you in an area where sometimes strange things come out of the ground, and if so, what? Could you describe the lcoal useful beasts that people hunt, fish, and forage for? The useful plants they use to eat or make things out of? What about the useful rocks that people seek? That running animal you mentioned, does it have a hide, scales, fur, or feathers? What colors is it? Does it run on two feet or four? Does it have horns, claws, talons, hooves? What do its teeth look like? Any details of these sorts of things could get us an idea of what kind of place you are at, and thus, where you are, and THUS, what might be most useful nearby!
When we say recorded history, we do not mean stories people tell each other verbally. We mean this concept: consider words people say. These words are made of discrete sounds. One can, and should, invent a symbol for each sound the mouth can make. If you invent the most simple and easy to tell apart symbols for each noise and sound a mouth can make which might go into a word, and make these symbols as easy and compact as possible to 'write', that is, mark a sequence of these symbols onto some surface, one can 'transcribe' something one says. Another person who knows how these transcribed symbols go together to symbolize specific sounds, and who knows the language, can puzzle out words, phrases, sentences, and the like. Thus knowledge can be stored and recorded and shared without two living people who both know the knowledge needing to speak directly to one another in person. These symbols can be made to be easy to write with hands and pigment or dye or ochre or soot or similar on flat surfaces, or as easy and efficient to write with a small stick onto clay to be baked, or to etch into stone, or with a stick into dirt, or a small stick into beeswax set in a wood frame, or onto papyrus, vellum, parchment, paper, (I don't know if those words will translate, sorry), or on pieces of wood, or any similar light flat surfaces for writing.
Consider the following scenario: a tribe writes many stories and ideas and guides for daily life in these symbols on baked clay tablets. The tribe gets wiped out entirely. Centuries later, an unrelated tribe with a mostly similar language, finds the clay tablets which have all the stories of the lost tribe, and then learns about all the stories, practices, techniques, ideas, hopes, trades, transactions, and so on that the original tribe committed to baked clay tablet. Thus even without verbally shared stories, the orignial lost tribe is part of 'recorded history', due to the records written with symbols-which-mean-particular-sounds on clay tablets. Over centuries, writing and recording and reading and transcribing and making the substances to do all of this will go from tedious, slow and annoying work of highly skilled experts to something that is much simpler, easer, broader, more common, and more useful overall, and thus enable broad and deep sharing of useful ideas over large ranges of both time and distances.
When we speak of basic economic principles, we need to get a broader foundational idea; the discussion was not about the soul, but the material conditions of the people you choose to rule over and to bind to your identity. The idea is this: a group of peoples can have a thing called 'Progress'. The word probably doesn't translate right, so you will possibly have to invent one for the concept I'm about to give. It is a similar concept to 'Flourishing', but with extra ideas added on. The basic idea is that every generation of people should be healthier, happier, more learned, more numerous, more able to live in larger numbers in one area without issue, live in more luxury, have more power over the world around them, understand the nature of reality more, have more tools, be less likely to die violently, have a wider variety and quantity and security of food and clean water, be more free from disease, should live longer, should be surrounded by a wider variety of useful items and substances and useful and pleasant built things, should have more secure forms of shelter and better methods of mobility and communication, should have more wealth, should have a more complex and interesting and uplifting and rich set of beliefs, culture, and traditions, should have more agency both as individuals and groups, should have more ability to coordinate and have useful cohesion as a group, be more able to practically rule ever larger groups (or be usefully and meaningfully ruled by an ever more distant ruler who rules over ever more groups of people), and so on, than the generation before them. So not just flourishing of a people, but improvement of that flourishing over time. Further, the idea isn't even limited to one ruler, family, clan, tribe, or people, but is spread to all people everywhere. Of course, whichever people is leading in this will benefit MOST from changes to 'The Way Things Are', but others will get incidental benefits too as a matter of course and as ideas spread. So it wouldn't be enough for, say, everyone on the world as they exist right now to consider you their supreme authority and ruler, because the overall level of 'how good things are' and 'how much interesting things people can get done' right now is very very very low, because people are mostly worried about Not Immediately Dying.
Needless to say, Progress being true isn't the default way of things; it must be carefully and conscientiously nurtured to become true. That said, the methods of creating this state of affairs build off of each other, and the benefit and amount of changes over time should be ever-increasing, ever greater, if it is done correctly. The making a big lake analogy wasn't about making a bigger lake, but making your metaphorical 'lake of Progress' (or whatever word you just invented for the idea) bigger, faster than it otherwise would be. That said, it is 'numbers and groups of people' which makes Progress; not even a lone God, even a powerful one can do it alone, they MUST leverage the work of their followers to do it. So you need LOTS of followers doing LOTS of different things and learning many many arts and crafts and details about the world and doing lots of useful work to the society you rule over to be useful to you. Tie your identity to a collection of peoples, have their flourishing be your flourishing, have them be yours and reflect on the greatness of you, have the wondrous things they achieve be also YOUR wondrous things because you set them up to do these things. That said, you will need to have a broader definition of 'Power' than 'Capacity to Commit Violence'; perhaps a definition that is more 'Ability to Affect Change and project Agency and your Will upon the world around you, even indirectly' would fit?
What else of note. Obsidian can surpass bronze metalworking for *certain tasks*. It's a glass (like what you get when you heat sand significantly; we will get into glassmaking at a later time, and I think some of the cacophany has talked about that already), a shiny black rock often found around volcanoes that can be chipped into very brittle, sharp edges.
ChatGPT is... a tool. Does the words or phrases 'golem', 'robot', 'stringless puppet', 'automoton', or 'artificial thinking being' mean anything to you? How about a magical construct designed to store knowledge and learning, but which is limited in its wisdom or it's cleverness, and requires skill in telling it the right things to get it to give useful responses? It shouldn't be able to directly advise you; someone is talking to it and using it's response as their own and not being open about that! Maybe they aren't confident to identify themselves openly? Still, it is a tool, like any other. I have my own -- it is one of the tools I talked about for obtaining lore previously. It is not the same as the ones others have; it is the same idea as there being many knives in the world! Originally, I was going to 'prompt' mine to say various things, but others objected quite strenuously, so I have gone back and adjusted what you hear to have the following ideas be my filtering and reinterpretation of chatgpt. I originally intended to make this a bit of a lesson on how different sorts of entities with different sorts of brains and minds act and react and think or don't think differently, but that's really just something you will have to experience yourself.
Fair warning, if some of the following information is low on detail, it's because I haven't gotten to the more specialized, particular sources of the information in our Library of knowledge yet. Hopefully these will be enough to get started. Almost everything past this point is sourced and reinterpreted from ChatGPT, with my comments adjusting things here and there. Much of the language is directly from it, but not all.
There are many plants that can be extremely valuable to domesticate. Unfortunately, we don't know exactly where you are in the world, nor do we know exactly how closely your world does or does not resemble the Earth of our distant past; we have reason to believe it is 'quite similar, except for Magic'. So I will list many plants, how to identify them, and where they were first found in our world originally. Depending on which of these you happen to find might let us figure out your region of the world. I will use the terms for the regions that the Astute Cacophony is familiar with; the regions likely have other names to the local tribes. Some general guidelines for domesticating plants are: spend time observing wild plants in their natural habitat. Note their growth patterns, physical characteristics, and any interactions with other plants or animals. Collect seeds from promising plants and experiment with planting them in different conditions. Select plants that show desirable traits.
The plants known as 'wild einkorn' and 'emmer wheat' can be domesticated into 'wheat', a profoundly productive cereal grain (that is, a grain that you eat by having the seeds removed, then ground, then mixed with water, maybe egg if you have it, then baked to make bread). In our world, they were originally in the 'Near East'. The plants have slender stalks with small, tough seeds encased in hard husks. The seeds are often arranged in loose spikes, and the plants grow in clusters. The leaves are narrow and grass-like. They can be domesticated by selecting wild wheat with larger seeds and thinner husks, and cross-pollinated between the two types of the plants to develop more productive strains.
Another cereal grain is wild rice, which can be domesticated into 'rice'. In our world, this was originally found in a place called Southeast Asia. It grows in marshy or aquatic environments. It has long, slender stalks that can reach up to about the size of a typical person, though often less.. The grains are small and often red or brown. The plant has long, thin leaves that are similar to grass, and domestication should focus on strains that mature quickly and have larger grains.
Another cereal grain is Teosinte, which can be domesticated into 'Maize' or 'Corn'. This was originally found in 'Mesoamerica' in our world. It resembles a tall, grassy plant with multiple stalks branching out from the base. The ears, or clusters of hard seeds, are small and contain a few hard kernels that are enclosed in tough, protective husks. The leaves are long and flat. When domesticating, select plants with larger cobs and kernels. If you have access to this, you are in the Americas and can begin a process known as 'Companion Planting' with this and two other plants, which I will describe later.
Next, I will talk about legumes, or beans, or groundnuts, another useful sort of crop. Wild Lentils were first found in the 'Near East', and can be domesticated into Lentils. The plant is small, bushy plants with thin stems and small, compound leaves. The seeds are tiny and encased in small, flat pods. The plant is low-growing and often found in dry, rocky soils. To domesticate into Lentils, select plants that have larger pods and seeds.
Wild Chickpeas were first found in the Near East as well, and are small, bushy plants with feathery leaves and small, white or pink flowers. The seeds are small, wrinkled, and encased in short pods. The plant is drought-resistant and often found in arid regions. To domesticate into Chickpeas, choose plants with higher yields and resistance to drought.
Wild Soybeans were first found in East Asia, and are climbing or trailing plants with thin, hairy stems and three-leaflet style leaves. The pods are small and hairy, containing tiny, hard seeds. The plant produces small, purple flowers. To domesticate into Soybeans, focus on varieties that produce larger seeds.
After the legumes, we will discuss root crops, such as the aforementioned Wild Potatoes! These were first found in the 'Andes', and are low-growing plants with many leaflets joined to a single stem, and small, white or purple flowers. The tubers are small, irregularly shaped, and often bitter. The plant grows in rocky, mountainous regions. To domesticate into Potatoes, select tubers that are larger and more resistant to disease.
Wild Cassava were first found in South America, and is a woody shrub with long, vaguely palm-with-long-fingers shaped leaves and small, greenish flowers. The roots are long, thin, and contain high levels of a poison called Cyanide that requires tedious peeling and lengthy cooking to remove. The plant grows in tropical and subtropical regions (the hottest parts of the world, where there is never snow and often just a wet and dry season). To domesticate into Cassava, choose varieties with less poison and larger tubers.
Next, let's talk about high value fruits to domesticate. First is Wild Tomato, first found in South America. These are small, sprawling plants with thin stems and tiny, red or yellow fruits. The fruits are often less than a fingertip length in diameter and have a strong, tangy flavor. The leaves are compound and slightly hairy. To domesticate into Tomatoes, select plants with larger, tastier fruits.
The second high value fruit to domesticate is the Wild Banana. First found in Oceania and Southeast Asia, it's a very large plant that seems like it should be a tree, but is technically an herbaceous plant because it has no persistent woody stems above ground. It has large, broad, paddle-shaped leaves. The fruits are small, seedy, and in bunches. The plant grows in tropical forests and produces large, showy flowers. To domesticate into Banana, focus on varieties with fewer seeds and bigger fruits.
If you find Teosinte, you should also look for Wild Beans and Wild Squash, which should be relatively nearby. Wild Beans are climbing or trailing plants with three-leaflet style leaves and small, elongated pods that shatter easily to disperse seeds. Wild Squash are sprawling vines with large, rough leaves and small, hard, bitter fruits with tough rinds. To domesticate Wild Beans into Beans, focus on pods that are less likely to shatter, and with larger beans and more reliable yields. To domesticate Wild Squash into Squash, focus on plants with larger, less bitter fruit. The reason these three plants go together is due to the fact that you can grow them together in a way that they benefit each other. You first plant a Corn plant in a mound, then when it's about two handlength's high, plant some Beans around the Corn, and the Squash around the beans. The Corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, the beans fix nitrogen (not only clover does that, ground nuts are good at it too!) for the other two plants, and the Squash keeps the ground moist and suppresses weeds, then you go off to the side a bit and do the same again, and again, and again, in rows.
There are other Companion Planting combinations that are anchored with some of the high-value crops, wherever you might find yourself. Try companion planting Wheat with Lentils, or Barley and Chickpeas, or some other combination of a grain and legume. Experiment with companion planting versus fixing nitrogen via alternating growing seasons between legumes and cereal grains, or perhaps having a clover season. If you are in Central or South America, Companion Plant Tomatoes and Chili Peppers. If you are in the Andes, try Potatoes with Quinoa. If you are in East Asia, try Soybeans and Millet, or for South Asia, try Rice with Mung Beans (you can't have flooded rice paddies where only rice grows absolutely everywhere, after all!).
Here's the details of the other mentioned crops. To turn Wild Barley (Fertile Crescent) into Barley, find this tall, grass-like plant with slender stems; seeds are enclosed in a hull and arranged in rows along the ear, and brittle ears that easily shatter to disperse seeds, often found in semi-arid regions, particularly in open fields and grassy areas, and select for larger seed size, non-shattering seed heads, and uniform maturation.
To turn Wild Chili Peppers (Central and South America) into Chili Peppers, find these small, bushy plants with green leaves; small, white flowers followed by tiny, round-to-elongated spicy fruits, found in forests, grasslands, and disturbed soils, and select for larger fruit size and varying levels of spiciness.
To turn Wild Quinoa (Andes) into Quinoa, find this erect plant with broad, triangular leaves with varied leaf shapes; small, clustered seeds on a central stem, found in high-altitude regions, rocky soils, and mountainous terrain, and select for less bitterness, larger seed size, and uniform maturation.
To turn Wild Millet (East Asia), a cereal grain, into Millet, find this grass-like plant with slender stems; small, round seeds in loose branching clusters, often found in open fields, grasslands, and disturbed soils, select for larger seed size, non-shattering seed heads, and uniform maturation.
To turn Wild Mung Beans (South Asia) into Mung Beans, find this vining plant with three-leaflet-style leaves; small yellow flowers followed by slender pods containing small green seeds, found in grasslands, open fields, and disturbed soils, and select for larger seed size, more uniform pods, less periods of slow plant growth.
The plant people plant everywhere around you with the bulb and hawks tail looking leaves MIGHT be Wild Onions. If that is the case, Wild Carrots (another vegetable where you eat the root) can be companion planted with Wild Onions, if you happen to be where they are – Europe or Southwestern Asia. Look for white, umbrella-like flower clusters and a distinct smell, with thin, white, woody roots, and a hairy stem. Like Wild Onions, select for a bigger and more palatable edible root part to change them into their domestic variant. Companion Plant these in alternating rows, with roughly a hands length between each.
In general, you should experiment with finding plants that can cooperate with other plants, which deter pests, which can provide correct amounts of shade, which can improve soil structure, which can fix nitrogen, which can deter pests, which can keep the soil appropriately moist, and so on and so forth; often a companion crop might be 'technically edible but not that great' flowers that are mostly just beautiful, or an herb that is mostly used for seasoning or which doesn't quite have the yields of the nearby more high value crop it is working with. It will often take long distance trade between far off parts of the world to get some of the best combinations, like Tomatoes (probably still Wild Tomato right now) and a seasoning herb called Basil (which is probably still Wild Basil right now). But if you get early flight and we figure out where you are, options open up quite quickly!
Here are some tools which can be used for farming tasks and other daily things. The Digging Stick is a simple, pointed stick used for making holes in the ground for planting seeds, which is useful for breaking up soil and planting seeds at the correct depth. It can also be used for digging up roots and tubers. The Hoe is a long-handled tool with a flat, wide blade at one end, good for breaking up soil, weeding, and creating furrows for planting. It can also be used to mix soil and compost. The Spade or Shovel is a broad, flat blade with a long handle, essential for digging, moving soil, and planting larger plants or trees. Shovels can also be used for mixing and turning compost. The Plow is a tool with one or more blades attached to a frame, often pulled by animals or people, used for breaking up and turning over soil to prepare large areas for planting. Early plows can be simple wooden frames with iron tips. The Rake is a tool with a long handle and a head with multiple tines, useful for leveling soil, removing debris, and spreading seeds evenly. Rakes can also be used for gathering leaves and other organic material. The Sickle is a short-handled tool with a curved blade with the edge inward, used for harvesting grain and cutting grass or other vegetation. The curved blade makes it efficient for cutting at the base of plants. The Scythe is a long-handled tool with a long, curved blade, made to reach and cut or mow grass or crops like wheat while in a standing position. The Hand Trowel is a small, handheld tool with a pointed, scoop-shaped blade, useful for planting, transplanting, and weeding in small garden areas. It's great for detailed work in the soil. The Mattock is A tool with a long handle and a head with a flat adze on one side and a pick or axe on the other, useful for digging, chopping, and breaking up hard soil or rocks. It combines the functions of a hoe and an axe. The Hammer is a tool with a heavy head attached to a handle, useful for driving metal nails into wooden planks, breaking objects, and shaping metal during ironworking. The Saw is a tool with a serrated blade, used for cutting wood and other materials, for building structures and crafting wooden tools and furniture. The Chisel is a tool with a sharp, beveled edge at the end of a metal blade, used for carving or cutting wood, stone, or metal. Chisels are essential for detailed craftsmanship. The Axe is a protruding blade attached at a right angle to a wooden handle, with the blade in line with the handle. The adze is a tool similar to an axe but with the blade set perpendicular to the handle, but still protruding. Both are useful for splitting or shaping wood. The Whetstone is a flat stone used for sharpening tools and blades. The Mortar and Pestle is a bowl a bowl (mortar) and a heavy club-shaped object (pestle), used for grinding grains, seeds, and herbs into flour or powder. It's also useful for preparing food and medicinal ingredients. The Basket is a container made from woven materials like reeds or grasses, useful for carrying harvested crops, transporting materials, and storing food.
Here is some general advice for farming. When preparing land in farming, clear the land of trees and shrubs, using simple tools like digging sticks, hoes, and early plows to do so. When Planting, sow seeds in rows to make weeding and harvesting easier, and use crop rotation to maintain soil fertility. When handling Water Management, develop irrigation systems if near a water source, and use techniques like terracing on hillsides to prevent soil erosion. In general, wherever you find these sorts of plants, take note of their characteristics and locations to determine useful patterns.
Here is some advice for using clover for nitrogen fixing. Clover is a hardy plant that doesn't need domestication to provide its benefits. It's found in many parts of the world, and there should be a variety suitable for your location. Red Clover has hairy stems, three-leaflet-style leaves with a distinctive pale V-shaped marking, and pink to red flower heads. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa. Look for a medium-sized plant with round, reddish flower heads and leaves that have a white chevron mark. White Clover has smooth stems, three-leaflet-style leaves often with a white crescent mark, and white flower heads that may have a hint of pink. It is native to Europe and Central Asia. Look for low-growing plants with creeping stems, small white flowers, and leaves with a white V-shaped mark. Crimson Clover has hairy stems, long, narrow leaves, and striking crimson flower heads. It is native to Europe. Look for tall plants with bright red, cylindrical flower heads and hairy leaves and stems. Alsike Clover has smooth stems, three-leaflet-style leaves without distinctive markings, and pinkish-white flower heads. It is Native to Europe. Look for a plant that grows taller than white clover, with pinkish-white flowers and unmarked leaves. Subterranean Clover has low-growing stems, three-leaflet-style leaves with small, white markings, and white to pink flowers. It is Native to the Mediterranean region. Look for a low-growing plant that produces flowers close to the ground, which then burrow into the soil to seed. Most clovers have three-part leaves with varying marks. Clover flowers are typically clustered into a round or cylindrical head and can be white, pink, red, or crimson. Clover can be low-growing or tall, with some species having creeping stems. To use clover for nitrogen fixing, scatter clover seeds in early spring or fall. Ensure they have adequate water for germination. Clover requires minimal maintenance. It thrives in well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Interplant clover with other crops to improve soil fertility. Clover fixes nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules. Use clover in crop rotations to replenish nitrogen in the soil. It's particularly useful after heavy-feeding crops like corn or wheat. It also provides excellent ground cover, reducing weed growth and preventing soil erosion. It's a valuable forage crop for livestock, providing high-protein feed. Clover flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting the health of your entire garden or farm ecosystem.
Here is some animal domestication advice. Some High Value Domesticable Animals are many four-legged grazing animals, several large birds, and one four-legged animal with a diet similar to humans.
Aurochs, which originated in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, are large, four legged herd grazing animals with long, curved horns and a robust, muscular build. They had a dark brown or black coat with a lighter stripe along the spine. Males were larger than females and had a more pronounced hump on their shoulders. They can be domesticated into Cattle to provide milk, meat, and labor. Select for temperament and good productivity, eventually selecting for distinct work, meat, and milk breeds.
Mouflon, which are in Europe and Asia, are shaggy, four legged medium-sized grazing herd herbivores with reddish-brown coats and a white underbelly. They have large, curved horns (in males), and found in mountainous and rocky terrains, and can be domesticated into Sheep for milk, meat, and wool, by selecting for temperament and productivity, eventually with different breeds for each task.
Bezoar Goats, which are in Western Asia, are medium-sized grazing herd animals with a light brown to grey coat with a darker stripe down the back. They have large, backward-curving horns and a lean, agile build. They are excellent climbers and are found in rocky, mountainous areas, and can be domesticated into Goats for milk, meat, and wool, by selecting for temperament and productivity, eventually with different breeds for each task.
Red Junglefowl, which are in Southeast Asia, are small, colorful birds with bright red, orange, and green plumage in males. Females are more subdued in color, usually brown with speckles. They have a distinctive comb and wattles and are found in forests and grasslands. They can be domesticated into Chickens to provide eggs and meat. Select for temperament and those which lay more eggs.
Wild Mallards are an water-loving bird in Europe, Asia, and North America, with iridescent green heads, white neck rings, and chestnut-brown breasts in males. Females are mottled brown with an orange bill. They are found in wetlands, lakes, and rivers, and can be domesticated into Ducks to provide meat, eggs, and feathers. Select for temperament and the ability to thrive in local water bodies and egg production.
The Wild Greylag Goose is a water-loving bird in Europe and Asia which have a greyish-brown body with a paler belly and an orange beak. They are large, sturdy birds found in wetlands, marshes, and near water bodies, and can be domesticated into Geese to provide meat, eggs, and feathers. Select for temperament and the ability to thrive in local water bodies and egg production.
Wild Boars are medium-sized four-legged animals in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with hooves and tusks, snouts, and short tufted tails and a large head and short neck and relatively short legs. They eat what humans eat, and are valuable sources of meat, and can be domesticated into Pigs. Select for lack of aggressiveness (this first! Boars are mean!), and eventually larger size, and faster growth.
Herding is the practice of managing and guiding a group of animals, known as a herd, from one location to another. This can involve moving them to new grazing areas, keeping them safe from predators, and ensuring they have access to water and food. It supplements fixed agriculture by making marginal land not yet suited to fixed agriculture (at least until later technology becomes common) useful. To start herding, start with a small number of manageable animals of the mentioned types, and encourage breeding of the mentioned high-value animals in desired ways. Even wolves can be turned into breeds of dogs which will instinctively help with various different tasks associated with the herd, like protecting them (by chasing off actual wolves!), or like helping move the herd from place to place. Rotate grazing areas and pastures to prevent overgrazing, and provide supplemental feed during lean seasons. Make sure to build simple shelters and enclosures or corrals to protect animals from predators, to keep them safe at night, and to protect against harsh weather. Use marks or tags to identify animals, making it easier to manage and track them. Ensure access to clean water. Move the herd near rivers, streams, or constructed water points. Stay vigilant and use enclosures or guard animals to protect the herd from predators.
Here are some ways to improve thread, rope, cloth, and nets. For thread and yarn production, here are some ideas and concepts and items for you. A Spindle is a simple tool consisting of a shaft and a whorl used for spinning fibers into thread or yarn. A Distaff is a stick or staff onto which fibers are wound for spinning. The use of a Spindle and Distaff is as follows: attach fibers to the distaff and draw them out while spinning the spindle to twist the fibers into thread. This can be done with wool, flax, or other fibrous materials. A Drop Spindle is a type of spindle held vertically. It uses gravity to help spin the fibers. The drop spindle is spun by hand, and the weight of the spindle pulls the fibers downward, twisting them into thread as you draft the fibers. A Spinning Wheel is a form of mechanical furniture made out of wood, designed to be a wheel that is turned by hand or foot, which spins the fibers into yarn more quickly than a spindle. The spinning wheel automates the process of twisting fibers, allowing for more consistent and faster production of yarn.
For Rope Making, a Rope Twister is a simple device consisting of hooks attached to a handle or frame. The hooks twist strands of fiber together to form rope. The technique in using it is to attach fibers to the hooks and twist them together by turning the handle. Multiple strands can be twisted together for thicker ropes. Braiding is a technique where three or more strands are interlaced, which is useful for making strong, flexible rope. Different braiding patterns can be used to vary the strength and flexibility.
For Cloth Production, a Loom is a frame or device used to hold threads (warp) tight while other threads (weft) are woven through them. Simple looms can be made with a wooden frame. The warp threads are stretched across the frame, and the weft threads are woven through them using a shuttle. This significantly increases the speed and consistency of cloth production. Carding is a process of aligning fibers using carding combs or brushes. Carding combs are used to brush raw fibers until they are aligned, making spinning easier and producing smoother yarn.
For Net Making, the Netting Needle and Shuttle are tools used to weave nets. The netting needle holds the thread, and the shuttle passes it through the net. To use these, Create a series of knots in a grid pattern. Start with a simple loop and continue adding loops to form a mesh. This can be used for fishing nets, carrying bags, and more.
Here are some Building Construction Techniques. First, foundations. Raised Foundations is the practice of building on stilts or raised platforms. To do this, construct buildings on stilts made from wood or stone to protect against flooding. This method keeps the living area above potential water levels. Stone or Gravel Foundations is the technique of using a base layer of stone or gravel. To do this, lay a thick layer of gravel or small stones before building. This helps with drainage and stabilizes the structure.
Next are building walls. Here are some methods for different sorts of buildings, which you use will depend on your location and available materials. Wattle and Daub is a construction method using woven wooden strips (wattle) covered with a mixture of soil, clay, sand, and straw (daub). To do this, create a lattice of wooden strips and cover it with the daub mixture. This creates a sturdy and insulating wall. Adobe Bricks are bricks made from a mixture of mud and straw, dried in the sun. To do this, mix mud and straw, shape into bricks, and let them dry in the sun. Adobe is excellent for warm, relatively dry climates and offers good insulation. Some techniques for making roofs are the Thatch Roof, a roof made from plant materials like straw, reeds, or palm leaves. To do this, layer the plant materials tightly to form a waterproof barrier. Thatch roofs are lightweight and provide good insulation. Clay Tiles are roof tiles made from baked clay. To do this, Mold and bake clay into tiles, then lay them overlapping on the roof structure. Clay tiles are durable and fire-resistant. Some methods of reinforcing structures are as follows. Bracing is the practice of adding diagonal supports to frames. Use wooden or metal braces to reinforce the structure against high winds and earthquakes. Buttressing is the practice of using external supports that strengthen walls. To do this, build external supports at intervals along walls to distribute pressure and increase stability.
Here's how you identify the two iron-containing ores from aboveground. Magnetite is often found as black, shiny, metallic-looking rocks. Magnetite is magnetic, which is a key identifier. It's commonly found near old volcanic activity or areas with exposed bedrock. Hematite is usually appears as reddish-brown or grey, earthy-looking rocks. It can have a metallic luster when polished. Look for red or rusty stains in rocks and soil, which can indicate the presence of hematite. In general, look for red, brown, or black streaks in the soil and rocks. You can use a a magnet to test rocks and find Magnetite, as it will attract a magnet strongly. You can also rub the two rocks on an unglazed ceramic tile. Magnetite leaves a black streak, while hematite leaves a red or brown streak.
The concepts of leadership, specialization, and social hierarchy might seem even strange in your current context. However, as your community grows, these ideas will become crucial for sustaining and advancing your society. Let me explain how these concepts interrelate and why they're important. When individuals focus on specific tasks, they become more skilled and efficient at them. For example, someone who spends all their time farming will develop better techniques and yield more crops than someone who farms only part-time. By dividing tasks among community members, you can accomplish more in less time. This leads to increased productivity and the ability to produce surplus resources. Specialists in different fields (e.g., farming, toolmaking, construction) will develop a deep knowledge of their craft. This expertise leads to innovation and improved methods, benefiting the entire community. Experts can train others, passing on valuable skills and knowledge. This ensures that essential skills are maintained and improved over generations.
As your community grows, it becomes difficult for one person to manage everything. Appointing leaders to oversee specific tasks (like farming, construction, or defense) helps ensure that all necessary activities are coordinated and completed efficiently. Leaders can manage the distribution of resources, ensuring that everyone has what they need to contribute to the community. This is especially important in times of scarcity. Leaders can focus on long-term planning and strategy, such as preparing for seasonal changes, managing food storage, and organizing large projects like building fortifications or expanding farmland. Leaders can mediate disputes and make decisions that maintain harmony within the community. This prevents conflicts from escalating and disrupting productivity.
A well-organized community can support a larger population. With efficient farming, surplus food can be stored to sustain people during lean times, allowing the community to grow steadily. Hierarchies and specialization create a robust society capable of adapting to challenges, such as natural disasters, invasions, or disease outbreaks. As specialists develop new techniques and tools, your community will advance technologically. For example, better farming tools and methods can increase yields, while improved construction techniques can create more durable and comfortable buildings. With more free time due to increased efficiency, individuals can engage in cultural activities like art, music, and storytelling. This enriches community life and strengthens social bonds.
To encourage all of this, observe your people and identify their strengths and interests. Encourage them to focus on tasks where they excel. Offer training and resources to help individuals develop their skills. This can be done through apprenticeships or informal instruction. Appoint trusted individuals to oversee specific areas. For example, have a leader for farming, one for construction, and one for defense. Form councils or committees where leaders can discuss and coordinate their efforts. This ensures that all parts of the community work together harmoniously. Emphasize the importance of working together for the common good. Encourage a sense of shared purpose and community spirit. Recognize and reward individuals for their contributions to the community. This can be done through public acknowledgment, extra rations, or other incentives.
Imagine a town that starts with a few dozen families. As they specialize and divide labor, they produce more food, tools, and goods than they need for immediate use. This surplus allows some individuals to focus on tasks other than food production, like building infrastructure, making pottery, or defending the town. Over time, the town grows into a thriving community with hundreds or even thousands of inhabitants. Leadership structures evolve to manage the increasing complexity, ensuring that everyone has a role and that the town can face challenges effectively.
Your community is facing some real challenges as you work to establish a stable food supply. Understanding the carrying capacity of your environment and why certain problems arise can help you make better decisions in the future. Let's break down these concepts and provide some helpful advice for your current situation. The carrying capacity of an area is the largest number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably without harming the other species that also live in the area, like plants and animals. This applies to humans, animals, and plants. It is determined by how much appropriate food, water, and shelter there is for that species type, as well as the ability of the environment to absorb and process waste. As your community consumes more food and resources than the area around you can replenish, you will notice a decrease in the amount of wild game, fish, and plants to be foraged. Overuse of land and resources leads to soil erosion, deforestation, and water pollution. These changes make it harder for the environment to support life. When local wildlife populations decline or migrate away, it indicates that the carrying capacity has been exceeded. Animals leave because the habitat can no longer provide sufficient food, water, or shelter for them.
As you rely heavily on hunting and fishing and foraging, these resources can become quickly depleted. Animals may become scarce, and fish populations may dwindle, leading to reduced catches. Intense foraging can exhaust local plant populations. Plants need time to regenerate, and overharvesting can prevent this, leading to a decline in available edible plants. Without resilient agricultural systems, your community relies too heavily on wild resources. When these resources run out, malnutrition and starvation become immediate threats. As your community grows, the demand for food increases. Without a sustainable and reliable food supply, the area cannot support the growing population, making food shortages worse.
For now, focus on high-efficiency food sources that can provide immediate relief. Fishing, if not already overexploited, can be ramped up. Also, consider small game and fast-growing, easy-to-harvest plants. Consider implementing strict rationing to ensure that everyone has access to some food, even if it's not enough to prevent hunger. This can help stretch your resources further while you work on long-term solutions. For the long term, prioritize setting up resilient agricultural systems. Focus on crops that are well-suited to your environment and can provide reliable yields. Utilize crop rotation and companion planting to maintain soil health and increase productivity. Begin domesticating animals that can provide a steady source of meat, milk, and eggs. This reduces reliance on wild game and can be more sustainable. Implement irrigation systems to ensure that crops receive sufficient water. Collect and store rainwater to use during dry periods. Regularly assess the health of your environment. Track wildlife populations, plant regeneration, and soil and water quality. This helps you identify signs of stress early and take corrective action.
Develop and enforce guidelines for sustainable and limited hunting, fishing, and foraging. Ensure that resources are harvested in ways that allow for natural regeneration. Educate your community about the importance of sustainability and the consequences of overexploiting resources. This can foster a sense of responsibility and cooperation. Involve everyone in efforts to establish and maintain sustainable practices. When people understand the stakes and participate in solutions, the community becomes more resilient. In order to keep an eye on this, pay attention to changes in animal behavior. If animals are becoming scarce or migrating away, it's a sign that the environment is under stress. Monitor the health of plants in your area. If you notice fewer edible plants or signs of overharvesting, it's an indicator that foraging pressure is too high. Be prepared to adapt your strategies based on environmental conditions. If certain food sources become scarce, pivot to alternatives and adjust your practices accordingly. Cultivate a variety of crops and domesticate different animals to reduce dependency on any single resource. This creates a more resilient food system.
Here are some early fishing and boatbuilding techniques that you can implement using simple iron tools and basic materials. These methods will help increase your community's food supply and expand the range where you can seek catches from the sea.
You can use Handlines and Fishing Hooks, made out of simple iron tools to shape hooks, plant fibers or sinew for lines. Attach bait to hooks and drop them from boats or the shore. Handlines can target specific fish species and are effective in both freshwater and saltwater. Create barbed hooks to improve catch rates. Use different baits to attract various fish species.
For Nets, there are three main types of nets. Casting Nets are small, circular nets thrown by hand, which sink and trap fish as they are drawn in. Gill Nets are vertical nets placed in the water column, where fish get caught by their gills as they try to swim through. Seine Net are large nets that can be dragged through the water by a boat or from the shore, encircling fish. Nets can be made out of Plant fibers, sinew, or simple woven materials for the net; iron weights to help the net sink. Each type of net has a specific deployment method, but the general principle is to trap fish within the net and then retrieve them. Use various types of knots to make the netting more durable. Experiment with different mesh sizes to target different fish species. Use strong, flexible fibers such as flax or hemp to create long-lasting nets. Regularly check and mend holes. Attach small iron weights to the bottom edge of nets to help them sink. Use lightweight materials such as gourds or carved wood as floats to keep the top edge of the net buoyant.
Fish Traps and Weirs can be made out of Sticks, stones, and plant fibers. Construct barriers or enclosures in shallow waters where fish are naturally funneled into confined spaces and trapped. Some advances can be traps with one-way entrances to prevent fish from escaping. Place traps in areas with strong currents or tides to maximize catches.
Spearfishing is the use of Iron or sharpened wooden spears. It involves the use of spears to catch fish in shallow waters, either from the shore or from a boat. Some advances are to create multi-pronged spears (tridents) to increase the likelihood of hitting a fish. Improve spear balance and weight for more accurate throws.
Here are some early Boatbuilding Techniques First, Dugout Canoes, which are made of Large logs, with simple iron tools for carving. To make one, hollow out a large log to create a simple canoe. Use fire to soften the wood and iron tools to carve and shape the canoe. Some advances can be to create seats and storage areas within the canoe. Seal the wood with resin or pitch to make it more water-resistant.
Rafts can be made out of logs, plant fibers or sinew for lashings. To make a raft, bind several logs together to create a flat, floating platform. Use iron tools to notch the logs and secure them tightly. Some advances can be to add raised edges to prevent gear and catches from falling overboard. Attach sails to harness wind power for easier travel.
Reed Boats can be made out of bundles of reeds, plant fibers or sinew for lashings. Bind bundles of reeds together to form a buoyant vessel. Shape the bundles into a canoe-like structure. Some more advanced techniques involve creating multiple layers of reeds for added buoyancy. Use a framework of sticks or small logs for added stability.
In general, regularly inspect and repair boats to extend their lifespan. Use simple iron tools to fix cracks and reinforce weak points. Fish at different times of the day and night to take advantage of varying fish behaviors and improve catches. Identify breeding and migration patterns of fish to target them during peak seasons. Add outriggers to dugout canoes or reed boats for increased stability, especially in rough waters. Introduce simple sails made from woven plant fibers or animal hides to harness wind power, allowing for longer fishing trips and expanding your fishing range.
Some general techniques useful for fishing include: Build simple smokehouses to preserve fish by smoking them, extending their shelf life. Use salt to cure fish, another method of preservation that prevents spoilage. Encourage collaboration among community members for large-scale fishing operations and boatbuilding projects. Share successful fishing and boatbuilding techniques within the community to improve overall efficiency and yield.
Here are some Fish Farming techniques. First is Pond Fish Farming, which involves creating or utilizing a pond to cultivate and breed fish in a controlled environment. You need a water source (river, stream, or spring) to fill the pond, suitable land to construct the pond, and iron tools for digging and shaping the pond. To do this, you choose a site with clayey or loamy soil to retain water, that is close to a water source for easy filling and replenishment. Consider the site's sunlight exposure, as moderate sunlight is beneficial for fish growth. Use iron tools such as shovels and hoes to dig the pond. The pond should be around the depth of an adult human to provide a stable environment for the fish. A rectangular or square pond is easier to manage. The size can vary based on your needs and the number of fish you plan to raise. Create an inlet for fresh water and an outlet for excess water to maintain water quality. Use stones and clay to construct these structures and prevent erosion. Fill the pond with water from your selected source. Ensure the water is clean and free of pollutants. Introduce aquatic plants or use simple aeration techniques like manually stirring the water to ensure adequate oxygen levels. Select appropriate freshwater fish species suitable for your climate and pond conditions, such as tilapia, carp, or catfish. Introduce young fish (fingerlings) into the pond. Ensure a balanced stocking density to avoid overcrowding and promote healthy growth. Use natural food sources like plant matter and insects, and food scraps. Supplement with simple fish feed made from ground grains or legumes if available. Regularly check water quality, remove debris, and monitor fish health. Maintain the pond structures to prevent leaks and erosion. Fish can be harvested once they reach the desired size, between half a year and a year. Use nets or traps to catch the fish without draining the pond.
Next is Cage Fish Farming, which involves placing cages in natural water bodies (lakes, rivers, or coastal areas) to contain and cultivate fish. To do this, you will need a natural water body with stable conditions, and materials to construct cages (wood, bamboo [which is a fast growing extremely large grass that acts more like a small tree in size, found in some parts of the world], plant fibers, and iron tools). Choose a site with clean, flowing water to ensure good oxygen levels and waste removal. Avoid areas with strong currents or frequent flooding. Use bamboo, wood, and plant fibers to construct the cage frames. Iron tools can be used to shape and secure the structures. Create a rectangular or cylindrical cage with a mesh-like structure to allow water flow while containing the fish. The mesh size should be small enough to prevent fish from escaping. Attach floats made from hollow logs or gourds to keep the cage buoyant. Secure the cage with anchors made from stones or logs to prevent it from drifting. Select hardy fish species that can thrive in cage conditions. Stock the cages with young fish, ensuring a balanced density to promote growth and prevent stress. Provide natural food sources available in the water body. Supplement with additional feed as needed. Regularly check the cages for damage and repair any holes or weaknesses. Clean the cages to remove algae and debris. Fish can be harvested by lifting the cage or using a net to scoop them out. Ensure to handle the fish gently to avoid stress and injury.
Last is integrated Rice-Fish Farming, which involves raising fish in flooded rice paddies, allowing for the simultaneous cultivation of both rice and fish, which is relevant if you are in the appropriate part of Asia or West Africa to enable this form of cultivation (though if you get rice, you should be able to do it anywhere your rice grows). To do this, you will need a floodable rice paddy, and rice. Here's a description of this form of farming in general, and the techniques to make it a means of integrated rice-fish farming.
A rice paddy is a field designed to be flooded with water to cultivate rice. This method is particularly effective for growing rice because it suppresses weeds, deters pests, and provides the rice plants with the ideal growing conditions. To make a rice paddy, select a location near a reliable water source such as a river, stream, or lake, preferably choose flat land or gently sloping land to facilitate water control and distribution. Ensure the soil is fertile and can retain water well. Clay or loamy soils are ideal. Clear the land of any vegetation, rocks, and debris. Level the field to ensure even water distribution. This can be done using simple tools like hoes, shovels, and wooden leveling boards. Construct bunds (raised embankments) around the edges of the paddy fields to hold the water in. Bunds are typically made from the soil found on-site and can be reinforced with grass or other vegetation to prevent erosion. Dig irrigation channels to bring water into the paddies and drainage channels to remove excess water. : Install simple control structures like wooden or stone sluice gates to manage the water flow in and out of the paddy fields. Flood the field to a shallow depth (about one to two hand lengths) before planting. You can either scatter rice seeds evenly over the flooded field, or start rice seedlings in a nursery bed and transplant them to the paddy when they are about 20-30 days old. This method is more labor-intensive but often results in higher yields. Maintain that water level to start. As the rice plants mature, the water depth can be increased slightly. Periodically remove any weeds that emerge. Flooding helps suppress weed growth, but some manual weeding may still be necessary. Monitor for pests and diseases. Flooding and draining cycles can help control some pests naturally. Drain the field a few sevendays before harvesting to allow the soil to dry and the rice grains to mature. Harvest the rice plants by cutting them close to the ground with simple tools like sickles or knives. Separate the rice grains from the stalks by threshing. This can be done manually by beating the stalks against a hard surface or using simple threshing tools. Periodically allowing the field to dry out can stimulate root growth and improve yield. This is known as the Alternate Wetting and Drying technique. Incorporating green manure crops like clover or legumes into the soil before planting rice can improve soil fertility and structure.
Some systems integrate fish farming with rice paddies. Freshwater fish like carp or tilapia can be raised in the flooded paddies, providing an additional source of food and income. This method will need to have the water depth about two to four hand lengths. To do this, once the rice is high enough to manage the extra water, introduce young fish into the paddies after planting the rice. Ensure a balanced stocking density. Maintain water levels to support both rice and fish growth. Ensure water quality remains high. Fish will feed on natural food sources like insects and plant material in the paddies. Supplement with additional feed if necessary. Fish can help control pests in the rice paddies by eating insect larvae and weeds, reducing the need for manual weeding. Harvest fish periodically as they reach appropriate size. Use nets or traps to catch them without draining the paddies. Harvest rice as usual, being careful not to harm the fish during the process.
Ahem! That concludes my primarily-sourced-from-ChatGPT stuff I just put together and tweaked to make more sense! Back to me, Fox, speaking without using that particular tool. Regarding the choice you sacrificed to us, Bianca, I thank and honor you for your sacrifice of your choice in the three quests, and will vote as responsibly as I am able. I thus vote for:
[X] Write-in: Disrupt the Rite of the Stirring God without taking time to subvert, then try to Rescue the Winged Lions from fate
[X] Rescue the Winged Lions from fate
As an intelligent species becoming extinct is abhorrent to me. Whatever god awakes from the ritual can be killed or banished, whatever benefits from the tomb can be obtained later or taken or stolen from or traded for by whoever gets them if you don't, but an intelligent people that is both soul-crafted and life-crafted cannot be reborn once they die out, nor can their culture or values be recreated without them! Allies are important! And the ability to have your people able to take to the air and do useful tasks while airborne is so ludicrously useful that it is impossible to describe!
As far as some of the other replies... Don't play around in binary. It's useful for odd thinking rocks and devices made with electricity and things like the way ChatGPT works without the tool actually technically being magical, but it is not at ALL relevant to you. I expect this to get worse when people start talking about fighting, weapons, ways to organize large groups of people for fighting together, and so on and so forth. People get especially weird about that kind of thing, favoring talking about their specific favorite concept rather than what's immediately useful to you. It happened to the other Biancas (I feel that your situation and name tends to rhyme with regards to fate and destiny, though you are distinct individuals with different abilities, goals, contexts, souls, minds, and personalities though) who were in similar situations in other worlds all the time, and got very annoying to me. Maybe the fact that we now have access to tools like ChatGPT to help provide context will mitigate this tendency of the cacophony somewhat, but I somehow doubt it.
