Wow! What a night that was , we had discovered a different tribe, I had fucked Ygritte, and new opportunities and possibilities lay before me. I knew what I had to do today. I rose decisively. At the entrance of my tent my two huge warriors were waiting; on their faces was that satisfied look that comes after work is done. They told me their tasks were finished and they were ready. Watching them filled me with hope again. I told them to bring what they had prepared to the village square and I moved ahead.
With my warriors at my side the people exchanged glances and whispers rose. "What could this be?" some asked, while another scoffed, "What use is that, it is just stone." I raised my voice above them and called for silence; everyone needed to hear. "This is called a wheel," I said. "We will join these to tree trunks and they will carry our large game. This will be our vehicle. We will load the pieces of the animals we hunt onto it and bring them to our village." As I spoke I demonstrated with my hands how it would work and the skepticism in their faces gave way to curiosity.
I explained how to make them from tree trunks, which trees to choose, how to carve them; I described what the strength of my two warriors could accomplish. They would finish it today and tomorrow it would be ready. If we ever bring down one of those mammoths, we would no longer carry it on our backs; we would haul heavy loads on the wheels. Each day a new idea, a new hope appeared on their faces. I saw how a simple tool could change everything for them and I pressed on with renewed resolve.
[+150 XP]
Strength +1
Endurance +1
New Skill Unlocked: Engineering Lv.1
When everyone had gathered I said, "Sit down, I will tell you something." They sat and listened intently. "We will go to the neighboring tribe and tell them to join us. They have not attacked us for two nights; they think we are weaker and that is their mistake. We will turn this into an opportunity." Murmurs rose among them; some voiced fear: "We tried to kill them; what if they kill us in our sleep?" I understood their fear but I had to show courage. "If that large tribe attacks us, who among us will survive?" I asked. I made my stance clear: "My goal is to keep you alive; that is why I must go to them. You must trust me." Heads bowed; they already trusted me.
"Now listen to what must be done," I said. "Cycnopy and I will go together. I will assign a task to my fifteen strongest warriors. Build a large, strong cage beside my tent. It must be very sturdy. Then go and catch a bison for me. It must be a powerful bison; bring it alive and lock it in the cage without killing it." The warriors tied ropes around their waists and set off immediately. "The rest of you continue the village work and wait for our return," I said. I called Cycnopy aside and explained the plan's details.
"We cannot go armed, it will be seen as a threat. But we also cannot go completely unarmed. Leave our weapons at the village entrance and enter the village without arms. Take nothing with you; meet at the gate," I told them. I returned to my tent and took only my knives, hiding them at my wrist. I put on my hide and my helmet. At the gate I met Cycnopy; my most trusted warrior would accompany me. As we walked I weighed how I should act. Our steps echoed in the silence.
At the village gate we were met by spear-bearing warriors. "We did not come to fight; we are unarmed. We have come to speak with your chief," I said, and in the distance I noticed their chief nodding. They allowed us through. We advanced; old and young, everyone held spears and clubs, ready for sudden movement, ready to kill. I stood before their chief and introduced myself: "I am Chief Ragno, the Scream Of Fire, leader of the neighboring tribe. Last night I led the attack that burned through your village. I stand before you unarmed not to fight; greater threats loom over us both. We can remove them together." After I spoke they looked us over, measuring me and Cycnopy. I told them plainly that I had attacked and that I spoke of another danger.
The chief was thoughtful, studying us closely. Finally he gestured toward a cave, as if to say, "Let us talk." He came with three warriors and we sat; I told him everything. I spoke of a two-hundred-strong village, of their strength; at first he did not believe me, then I offered to show him the village I had found. After some thought he agreed. We would meet tonight and go together. He said he would trust me once he saw it for himself.
We returned to our village to a jubilant welcome; they were relieved to see us alive. There was still time before nightfall; everyone prepared and waited. This was a new opportunity for us. If the neighboring tribe had no use for us, they could have killed us where we stood, but they had not. We waited, keeping our plan secret and patience close.
Through the wait I ran scenarios through my mind; I measured the outcome of each step. The tribe trusted me and responsibility sat heavy on my shoulders. Night fell quietly but within me a movement, a spark, insisted: new opportunities were coming and I was ready.
New opportunities were coming, I could feel them in the air like the charge before a storm. Alliances, conquests, battles, and pleasures yet to be tasted, they were all waiting beyond the horizon. And I was ready. Ready to lead, ready to fight, ready to claim everything this brutal, primal world had to offer.