It’s been a year since the first attack.

After Ömekerkin, the Uyɣur went home. Ömekuyan would have been the next tribe attacked, and there was no chance they would have managed to hold their own. The winter was brutal, killing hundreds of their horses, leaving very few left.

Uyan could either give up his power and join another tribe, or risk his people dying at the hand of the Uyɣur.

He took the latter- certainly a greedy choice, but it payed off in the end. His people loved him, and would follow him anywhere.

He would trade some women to the neighboring Ömekulei to replenish their horse supply.

Young Eseuxie was just seven years of age when his father first taught him how to shoot a bow. It was a bit younger than usual, but that’s one of the perks of being the son of an Ömek.

Eseuxie was quite the stellar young rider. He had the help of a bridle, a fancy instrument in Ömekulei. He started with the basics- just a simple self bow, taking no time to make, taught him the basics. Then, composite bows were brought in. When he was able to hit a target from 50 meters away, he was put on his horse and taught how to fire while moving.

He was very successful at the art of firing a bow, but he was apathetic about the process. He did not have the drive, the energy needed from an Ömek. He would rather sit in his yurt, grab some parchment, and start doodling with some homemade pigments. Very disappointing. Who really cares about the paintings? They just had to be left back at camp whenever they migrated to better ground. But archery- now there’s a useful art form.

The bows were designs adapted from the Uyɣur, the hated enemy. They also happened to be expert marksmen. During what must have been their twentieth war, the Basmyl were driven back thanks to the power and range of these new bows.

It took quite a while, but the process for their construction was finally discovered, and the next time the Uyɣur attacked, they were surprised when they themselves were pelted with arrows from the comp bows’ range.

Thus was life on the steppes- Basmyls and Uyɣur, mortal enemies, too strong to be destroyed yet too weak to destroy anyone themselves.

Tech summary:

• Bridles
• Composite Bows
• Parchment
• Pigments