Part 1 - Claiming Story: The Beginning of a New Season

It had been a week since Tazra and her family had left their village, considerably earlier than the others of her clan. This was for a few reasons - her father had finished the harvest early, the weather had been unexpectedly good for travel, and her mother was potentially days from giving birth. Because of the last small issue, her father had opted to flag down a Sasnak clan coming by instead of her mother walking all the way back to the Morekah. Her father had sent her, the firstborn though only having seen nine storm-seasons, to set up the meet. She had waved at the small flotilla, and their chief had rowed ashore.

Tazra remembered that day a week ago, entirely because of the wide range of emotions that she had from that meeting. She did not know how to respond to this, as the man was twice her height, and she'd been expecting to negotiate with another child. When she asked to talk with her kid, their chief raised an eyebrow, laughed, and beckoned his daughter Donton to negotiate by proxy. Right in front of him. To add to the discomfiture, Donton was easily a decade older than Tazra, and echoed the exact things than the chief spoke, line by line. Eventually, as Tazra was coaxed along in the conversation, Donton broke off with the chief. A calm conversation that Tazra did not hear, and Donton came back to her. "You're doing well," she said, "just relax. Tell your Pa that my Pa is ready to meet him, and that we're ready to help you."

"My... Pa?" asked Tazra.

Donton chuckled, "your father, yes."

After that, the meeting had gone smoothly and Donton's 'pa', Chief Mangal as Tazra learned his name was, had ushered them to come along. They had been journeying for a week now, with Tazra's father aiding in the sailing; their village had only been established when he was Donton's age, and he still knew a thing about being Sasnak rather than Sasnak-ra. Donton had even shown Tazra the parts of their boat - a Rusak, as Tazra learned it was termed - and Donton took her on the bamboo boat - Ti-Rass - to pick up a crab trap. She explained how they followed the sea birds and the wind to come home before the Storm season, and that the sea birds had been given the gift of always knowing to get home. Donton had told her stories about the animals they pointed out, some Tazra had never seen before. Tazra had even seen an shark for the first time! "Be careful, or he'll gobble you up!" she said, causing the giggles of Tazra. They had made camp ashore that night, as Tazra's younger brothers were becoming rambunctious and her mother had aches from sitting all day.

But at long last, Tazra's family finally arrived at the Morekah - a good sight, and one that Tazra had missed from the previous season. They passed through the field of boats, dwarfing Tazra's own home village in its own right, from the other Sasnak clans of their tribe. That's where they bade Chief Mangal good luck, and left so that they could present the offerings. From there, they passed through the Morekah village outside the walls, with the thatch buildings and potters and weavers. Her father and mother had talked about getting some extra pots and blankets, and perhaps a bracelet or two from the artisans. Tazra was always fascinated by the way their hands moved, as if they were nimble little crabs that scuttled across their work. They had arrived around noon, so they were hard at work preparing their last offerings.

It's great stone walls seemed to tower over her, as if built by giants. In front of the gates, just as last year, was the Mare's proxy. He was much taller than last year, a boy no longer and with a touch of scruff on his chin. His crown had been polished, his cape was clean, and his chest was shaved and oiled. Tazra recalled him being scolded last year for leaning on his spear, and he must have recalled too - his back was straight as bamboo, and his spear thrust up towards the sky.

"Welcome, welcome," said the proxy. "Leave your gifts over there," he pointed the spear to a stone building, a warehouse that already had many offerings. It could have housed Tazra's own home four times over, and had a second story besides! Her father nodded, and walked over to leave the offerings he had hefted: several gourds from the fields they had worked this year, each filled with cornmeal that had grown among it. Others had brought similar goods: usually food or dried meats, occasionally fresh catches, and sometimes an amphora full of Hanyil with berries.

The long fire had already been lit across the center of the Morekah, and dancing was already taking place - the dance of Creation, Tazra remembered. The dancer embodying Itiah was in the process of creating the world already, and the man who would play Atook was putting on his anklets and bracelets. Others were dancing around them too, joining in as minor spirits in the creation of the universe. Soon, they would all fall to the ground as Itiah drowned Takinirt (or did she eat it?) Tazra always wanted to join in, but her father told her to help her mother while he dealt with the matter of tribute and setting up their living places. Tazra had never gotten to participate in the dancing, her two brothers running off to do so. She always had to tend to 'ma.' Her mother explained some of the stories and dances she didn't know, and the meaning of the songs that 'Itiah' and 'Atook' sang and the other dancers sing-echoed back, line by line. The mural behind them was, as her mother explained, the skies with waves and storms that came with Itiah's anger.

At last, her mother was satisfied, and her father had returned from his duties. Tazra only had to rescue her brothers from a fight (by beating down the other six-year-olds that they had antagonized) once, and the clouds were growing a bit heavier. They had made the right decision coming early, and their fellow villagers would likely get stuck in the rain. But now the dance was done, men and women were beginning to drink, and the Mare gave his speech from the top of his stone pedestal,

"We have returned once again, to present our offerings of the year. I have seen the gifts you have given, and Atook has been good to us!" The crowd cried a cheer. "But now we must beseech Itiah, and ask her for grace and patience. Bring out the best offerings!" He lifted his spear, and pointed it at the proxy. Several boys had already taken stock of the gifts, and Tazra's father's gift was among them! It had been a bounteous year, and ten of the best offerings would be selected. Her family would be rewarded for this, by the Mare and by the Gods! The Mare went on, chanting in a secret language that the crowd joined in. Finally they came to an end, and the crowd went silent. The families that had offered the best tribute were beckoned forth, and came near the fire.

The Mare said, "Itiah! World-maker! Taker of Souls! Storm and sea and fire herself! Take our offerings to sate your hunger, and let us serve you again through the years and through the storm! We are your humble children, and in all things we ask for your love!"

The offerings - gourds, fish, gator, hanyil - all through into a fire, which roared. Black clouds of smoke came from the wet fish and gator, and the fire seemed to glow ever hotter and brighter. Tazra thought her skin would burn, but her father held her in place. It would not do the balk before the gods, especially not Itiah.

At last, the fire died down, and the Mare sipped from a large bowl. He passed it down to one of the tribute-offerers, each taking a sip themselves. Finally Tazra's mother took a sip after her father passed it to her, and winced a little. She passed it to Tazra, who forced down a small drink. She had never drank from the bowl before - they have never an offering good enough! - and it was sweet like cane juice, but also spicy and bitter and burned her throat like smoke. One of the leaves in the juice slipped down her throat! Tears came to her eyes as she tried not to cough and splutter. Her mother handed her a chunk of moist black corn cake (tasting meaty, somehow) that helped in a way. Eventually, she managed to compose herself, though her head throbbed, and the bowl had made it down the line of tribute-offerers.

"It is done," cried the Mare, "now let us rejoice and be merry!"

Tazra was allowed to join in the merriment here. Her arms and legs and neck moved a bit more freely, as did those of the adults. Tonight there would be no sleeping. She looked out into the crowd, seeing other members of her tribe who had arrived earlier. She saw Donton make off with a boy, grinning. She saw the Mare speaking to her mother and father, and painting on her mother's belly. She remembered little else of the night, besides the bitter flavor of the drink, and the joy that she had.

—

Part 2 - Foreword, Map, and Culture document

This post represents the directory and the claiming of the Sasnak and Sasnak-ra culture! They are a twinned people, the Sasnak being boat-dwelling nomads and the Sasnak-ra being settled agricultural people. The Sasnak as a whole are comprised of tribal moieties: one half of the tribe being a number of roving Sasnak clans and the other being a cluster of Sasnak-ra villages, who return to a larger Sasnak tribal center, the Morekah, at the start of every monsoon season. The Sasnak wait out the monsoon season at the Morekah, and then leave to rove again. Here's a very professional diagram I made.

The Sasnak peoples occupy the mouth of the Sea of Itiah (named for their creator god) and traverse the seas surrounding it. Sasnak-ra are settled originally on the North Peninsula, but have grown into the South peninsula when bands of Sasnak find a spot they do not want to leave and establish a village. This is a map that I did not make because I stole it.. The Sasnak are in magenta here.

Learn more about it in this Google Doc, which will evolve as the Sasnak peoples grow.

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Part 3 - Technologies

Against the better sense of being purely agricultural I'm going to spend the first like 4 weeks of dawn doing boat stuff. Tech justifications for additional starting techs will be in the comments below

Major Regional Starting techs:

• Animal Domestication: Turkeys

• Basic Carpentry

• Basic Irrigation

• Crop Domestication: Maize

• Intercropping

• Masonry

• Mattocks

• Plank Boats

• Tournettes

Minor Regional Starting Techs:

• Adzes

• Atlatls

• Crop Domestication: Beans

• Crop Domestication: Bell Pepper

• Crop Domestication: Cassava

• Crop Domestication: Chili Pepper

• Crop Domestication: Squash

• Crop Domestication: Sweet Potatoes

• Domed Ovens

• Irrigation Canals

• Nixtamalization

• Pit Ovens

• Raised Fields

• Sickles

Additional Starting Techs:

• Key Tech: Wind, Current, and Seabird Navigation

• Main Tech 1: Advanced Carpentry

• Main Tech 2: Sewn Plank Hulls

• Minor Tech 1: Boat Design - Rusaks

• Minor Tech 2: Steering Oars/Basic Rudders

• Minor Tech 3: Fishing Traps - Sunken Basket Traps

• Minor Tech 4: Oarlocks

• Minor Tech 5: Thrown Nets

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Part 4 - Posting Directory

This post will also serve as my directory of postingness - diplomacy, technology, warfare, settlement, boredom-fueled roleplay, and much more - as well. See all the stuff below:

-Tech Post: Wind, Current, and Seabird Navigation the Legend of Samahab