Kelam sat back in his seat, and looked out over the water. He enjoyed these little meals that he had with some of his colleagues - some having been his friends for his whole life. Solkar, the burly clam farmer, and Narak, his little and lean brother, made excellent conversationalists. Ashiro made a great hanyil, and her son was friends with Kelam's daughter (and may marry!). And Mellis - the tall gray-haired stinky beauty that he was - was always quick with a joke. As they so often did after rituals, they watched and gambled over their children playing Taklah-Mat. The game had already been going on for a while, as had the conversation, but both had entered a lull. Kelam was trying to start it back up.

"Sea Rebirth Ceremony went well, eh Solkar?" said Kelam. Today had been a rejuvenation ceremony in which Raham, the king of the Crowned City of Nacah-itoyet, had invoked various blessings and spilled some blood from his arm (as well as a few other offerings - a bull shark being the most handsome of them) in order to bring new life back to the sea for another year. And hopefully stop the rains.

"I thought so, too," said Solkar, still looking out to the children. As Ashiro's son launched himself into the water after another youth to start a new assault, Narak continued, "I would have preferred if King Raham bled his arm a bit more, he's always been too light with the knife."

"I would have preferred if he jumped in and chummed the waters himself!" said Mellis. They all had a chuckle over that.

"Even still," said Solkar, "he said the words and invoked the gods - the shark sacrifice must have helped too. It should make for a good clamming this year. Or 'snailing'."

"Aye," said Ashiro, "could always use more snails for dyes, yes." She looked to Mellis, the dyer of their clique, who nodded with a smile.

"You may get more than you ask," said Narak. Narak's children had left only one friend on their boat so as to chase armbands under the water. A daring play.

Kelam let out a low whistle. He was just a fisherman (albeit a respected one, managing the nearby fishing weir, owing his position among his fellow elites on the council), "you're playing risky there, aren't you Narak. Just like your kids."

"I can control them," said Narak.

"I keep telling you, Nar," said Solkar, "if you keep tolerating that many snails in your garden, they'll eventually kill all the clams. Then what will you eat, what will you trade?! You'll have no snails, no clams, and no garden! I'll help you out of course, but I don't want my baby brother to end up like Sanaro."

Kelam remembered Sanaro. He had been an avid clam farmer about 20 years ago, when all of this group hadn't even been in the city assembly of Nacah-itoyet. Or rather, the man decided he would prefer snails to farm, owing to the many riches it would produce in trade with dyers. Kiimar, the ageless bambooweaver, had paid him handsomely for those snails but warned him. And of course, the sharks came for Sanaro - the snails ate up all his clams, and then it all came apart. After that, he lost his standing. A typhoon came, and after that he lost just about everything else he had, and had to strike out to a new city.

"I'm not going to be the next Sanaro, I'm just trying to do better in trade. There has to be some way to balance the snails and the clams to farm both," said Narak. One of his children had claimed an armband but another lost his after taking a blow to the other arm by an oar, and both were squirming back to their boat to fend off a different offensive.

Kelam thought on this, took a sip of Hanyil, and spoke "the clams and snails balance in the sea, just as sharks and fish, and men and all other things."

Mellis responded with a joke, "great, so all Narak needs to do is own the whole sea!" More chuckles among the friends.

"Maybe," Kelam continued, "maybe not. There must be a way to balance it on a small scale."

"You forget, Kelam," said Solkar, "it's not just clams and snails in the clam gardens. Eels, Octopi, urchins. There's all kinds of sea life in them."

"I was just giving an example," said Kelam. He took a drink of hanyil.

Ashiro spoke up, "Knew a Sasnak who knew a Sasnak-ra lad - clam farmer lad - in Otoyk." It was a nearby city, subservient to Nacah, and Kelam knew some people from there. Ashiro went on, "the man divide his clam beds in two. 'kept one free of snails, and let some snails live in the other. Some clams he moved from one side to the other, so he could farm both."

"Well, what did he eat?" said Solkar.

"'spose he ate off the first, and trades from the second," said Ashiro. Ashiro's children were playing cautiously, and staying on their boats - venturing nothing.

"We could join our beds, and do the same, Sol," said Narak.

"No way. If you want to continue this foolishness, keep it on your own bed. My family isn't starving," said Solkar. His burly children were fending off wild attacks from their cousins.

"Regardless, there needs to be some rule for how many snails and how many clams to harvest in order to keep the balance," said Kelam.

"Maybe I'll try something different from year to year," said Narak, "one year I'll harvest one in five snails, another I'll harvest one in two, and see what happens." His other child lost his armband, and was struggling to get it back. He continued, "Yes, I think I will."

"You'll starve, Nar..."

"I'll be fine, brother."

Kelam drifted off in thought as the brothers bickered, watching his own children beat other children with oars. Thankfully, they were wearing bamboo armor - during his own youth, they wore no armor during Taklah-Mat. Some elders claimed that the old ways made tougher youths, but Kelam knew too many youngsters turned stupid from a wrong hit to the head. He himself had too many bones broken by oars, and would never play again. This was better.

Kelam interrupted the brothers with his musings, "Let's not forget that this balance rocks like a ship on the waves. Some years may be lean, some may be fat."

"Of course," said Solkar and Narak in unison. They looked at each other, and Narak spoke on before Solkar could say something, "I'll need to keep a careful watch on populations. Adjust my sails, as it were."

"Adjust your snails," Mellis corrected. Eyes were rolled.

"You've never sailed a day in your life, Nar," said Solkar.

"Even Sasnak-ra can adjust their sails to the winds. I just need to figure out the best way... Ah, here comes Takodo."

Takodo was a farmer with three-and-a-half Tahanuk beds. He'd inherited his seat at the assembly from his mother. So far, he was living up to her legacy adequately. He himself had no children yet but had two sisters to whom he was a good ten years older, and with them maintained the farm. His sisters who had already been playing in the Taklah-Mat game. Unfortunately, they were largely outsized, but were tenacious enough to keep up with the big ones.

Takodo came in with the food - he always liked to cook. He uncovered a large bowl of ceviche, salted, sprinkled with spices and rubs, and with Zhilnn allium and corn corn. He had also brought some bean paste and flatbread, and a smattering of other sides to pick at. Kelam preferred his fish to be dusted with cassava and seared, but still ate up the dish happily. The salt and spice went swimmingly with the spiced hanyil.

"So," said Takodo, the youngest of the group, "the ritual went well."

"Yeah, we said so a bit ago. Hopefully Itiah will be appeased, and the rains will die down," said Kelam.

Takodo nodded vigorously, "Something needs to be done about the rain. It's getting worse every year!" said Takodo.

Ashiro rolled her eyes, "farmers say that every year. Already reinforced twenty more fields outside of town, and getting tribute from a dozen lesser cities. Rain's just how things are now, I gather."

Ashiro went to drink some hanyil, but found the jug had run dry. She shot a dirty look at Kelam, who gave a sheepish shrug, then went off to fetch some more.

"I heard Taa-Rokna has been doubling their rituals, and their king had new temples built in every city they command," said Takodo.

"Raving fanatics that they are," spat Solkar. He hated the king city of the great rival of Nacah-itoyet. Kelam never knew why.

"It's a wonder he has any blood left, what with all the rituals," said Mellis.

"True, his arms must be scarred and pale," said Takodo, "but at least he's doing something."

"All we can do is keep planting more crops and making more Tahanuks," said Kelam.

"Just what do you know about Tahanuk," snapped Takodo, "I have three beds to worry about - four if you count the cane one I share. Canals to shore up, silt to monitor, fertiliser to put in!" He was always snippy about this, but Kelam knew why. Though he would never show it, Kelam knew that he was living beyond his means to try and give his sisters the luxuries he wanted them to have. Kelam admired him like a son. Had he been younger, Kelam might have married his daughter to him.

Ashiro returned with two new jugs of hanyil as Takodo's sisters went toe to toe with the other children, proving their toughness. Kelam responded, "Peace, Takodo. I meant no disrespect. I'm just a humble fisher."

"You always say that," said Takodo, taking a glug from the jug, "but fine. I'll drop it."

"It's all I ask," said Kelam, "and hey, you've been bearing this issue like a champion. In farming, I'll always be a humble fisherman to you. Your mother would have been proud."

Takodo grunted in acknowledgement, and turned to watch the game. Kelam's daughter and Solkar's daughter were currently in the lead, having collected all armbands from three other ships, and at least one from the other three. But this was a gruelingly bout, and all were getting tired and desperate. It would only get more violent.

"We'll need to come to a consensus for the assembly, anyways. It's in a few days, right?" said Kelam, continuing the previous discussion.

"Four days," said Ashiro.

"It's better to work it out now," said Kelam. Takodo grunted again in agreement.

"Aye, but chief Konak is going to be in from his clan," said Ashiro.

Kelam sighed. Konak had a habit of barging in on meetings, and Kelam had a particular distaste of his shitstirring. He wouldn't mind beating him over the head with an oar. Naturally, Konak had put in seven days previous, and had stayed for an unwelcome amount of time.

"I wish we would get rid of Konak," said Kelam.

"We could always send him off to raid one of those new Taa-Rokna temples. Put those new sails to speedy use, going all the way over to Akinimod," said Solkar.

"He's a coward, and King Raham loves him as a brother. No chance. Best we can do is tell him to go up to Aluda territory and do some trade with him" said Kelam.

"Not a bad idea," said Ashiro, "could always tell him to right at the start of the meeting."

"Yes yes, then we can move on real topics," said Mellis. Takodo nodded. "Like the Tahanuks," he said.

Kelam smiled, "like the Tahanuks." He may have just volunteered members of his family and promised many favors to aid in making these raised fields and canals, but he did not mind. Those favors would go rotten like old fish if he didn't use them. Anything to get Konak out of here, and besides he could probably arrange something else with Takodo. The balance would come back eventually, as the favors go around. His daughter assisted Takodo's sisters in a joint assault on another ship at that moment.

A snap, and Takodo jumped up, and ran over. A defending boater cracked his oar over one of the arms of his littlest sister, and the game had to pause while her bone was set and another player donned the armor to step in her place. Ashiro went over and gave her hanyil - brusque as she was, she was still motherly and loved children even if they were not hers. The game resumed as medical assistance was given.

"I keep coming back to the balance of nature," said Narak.

"This again," Solkar rolled his eyes, "brother, you can't mean to do this. It's not smart."

"I can do it, it'll work," said Narak.

"You can't, and it won't!"

"I can and will!"

"You can't and won't!"

Kelam saw them as the two bickering brothers of their childhood, always in competition and at loggerheads. When their eldest brother had died, they had done a lot of growing up and growing close, but sometimes they were still little kids again.

"Fine then. If it works, I'll follow you right along to it. I'll even get King Raham the waters himself," said Solkar, looking at his own arm.

Mellis smiled, "I'm sure you'd like that. It doesn't matter to me though, I'll make the dyes however. We need a lot of snails."

"Can't you just milk them?" asked Narak.

"Sure, if you want me to spend an eternity on a single bamboo shirt," Mellis snorted, "no, crushing the snails is the best."

"Is that why your hands always stink?" said Kelam.

"You know it!" laughed Mellis.

By now, the food had finished in its entirety, and Mellis began talking of his concerns.

"The trade's been going well lately. Got the greater family helping me with the dyes. I might even take on an apprentice," he said.

"Heard that!" said Ashiro, having returned with Takodo, "they seem like a good prospect?"

"Yes, he seems apt enough. He has a bit of a stutter though."

"That's fine, don't need to talk to be a dyer," said Solkar.

"Don't talk now," said Narak, beaming, "look!"

Narak's children made one last daring play - all three of the boaters on his ship dove into the water, towards the ship in the lead. All at once they surged aboard, and ripped the armbands off the boaters, shoving them overboard and stealing the ship (and all the armbands they had collected!) for themselves! Narak cried out in joy, as the rest of the children scrambled for a response.

"See that!" he said, "great risk brings great fish!"

His children were cleaning up the rest of the field, and nabbing the rest of the armbands in the chaos. The water was writhing like sharks in a frenzy. Like that, the game was over.

"Wow," said Kelam. He looked around at his friends; they all seemed impressed, except Solkar. Solkar just looked resigned, now that Narak's risks had been encouraged.

"Those were some risky plays," said Solkar, "too reckless."

"That's Taklah-Mat, brother," said Narak.

"That's life," said Mellis.

"I suppose," said Solkar.

"Well I suppose we should all go home. Rain is setting in," said Kelam.

Takodo spoke up now, "another deluge, I bet."

Kelam responded, "we can worry about deluges tomorrow. Or in four days! We have more fields to set up. More food for more people."

Takodo sighed, "there only ever seems to be more people."

"Always more people," said Ashiro, "and you all drank my Hanyil!"

"Nothing to be done about that," said Solkar, as they all began to beat a hasty retreat. They collected their families, and set off on their ways - business needed to be done in the morning, after all, and that's just how it always was.

Few pieces of explanation:

• Tahanuks are the Sasnak-ra version of Waru Waru agriculture. They already have raised fields, but this takes into account more careful management of water, which is important in these high rain events. The "beds" termed are the names of the field, which can sport the "three gifts" of squash, beans, and maize, or bamboo, or sugarcane, or any number of smaller crops like cassava.
• A lot of Sasnak-ra (and to an extent, Sasnak too) politics revolves around exchange of favors and interpersonal relationships. Generally you have the core group of one elite family which might own something important such as a group of raised beds, a fishing weir, or clam gardens, and a number of subservient families which may be extended kin groups or people who owe favors. The elite family is the one that is in charge of managing this important thing. The elite family usually has their house lead be a member of an assembly.
• Assemblies are one of the aspects of government of the inner sea cities. Kings of these cities are in charge of religious ritual, religious functions such as stargazing, calendar keeping, and festival arranging. In addition, a Sasnak-ra King is the final arbiter on disputes if necessary, and maintain relationships with chiefs and other cities. They may also have the power to arbitrate disputes between Sasnak clans. However, they are explicitly not in charge of land management, as that falls to the assembly of a city, nor have any implicit direct martial role, which is the provenance of Sasnak clan chiefs. Sasnak chiefs generally do not stick around in a city for long enough to be a part of an assembly (unless they're an ass).
• Nacah-itoyet and Taa-Rokna form the hearts of the two main "Inner Sea" confederacies. A 'crowned city' is the preeminent city of a confederacy in terms of trade, population, and influence. Nacah-itoyet lies on the eastern Sarootnoh Peninsula, near Aluwa lands, and Taa-Rokna lies on the western Akinimod peninsula. In general, Taa-Rokna is the more religious city of the two, and venerates a number of gods while Nacah-itoyet focuses on just Itiah and Atook in a more laid-back way. Taa-Rokna and Nacah-itoyet dislike each other, and have periodically sent Sasnak Clans to fight each other and frequently vie for influence over cities in the straits or jockey for Sasnak clans. The politics and interactions of Outer Sea confederacies will be described in a future post.