Planet: Unknown, M30
(POV: Magnus)
It has been four days since we arrived at the oasis, and there is a kind of vitality and resilience I observed from the tribemen, as well as the cheerful cries of children who played around in the designated holyland of these Nomads.
As for adults, they are taking stock of the supplies, drying the purified meat of warp beasts into jerky, as well as some of the fruits and spices native to this world from the trees of this green patch.
However, I am confused as to why the tribes don't capture the spring of the oasis and use this resource point as a foundation to create a stronghold and develop their own forces, then crush the warp beasts and create a safe path, then use the spring water to expand the area of trees, eventually terraforming the planet.
But alas, these were the questions that could only be answered by the people of this planet.
(POV:Ahsolman)
"The agenda of today's meeting is to discuss the next oasis to which our tribe would have to travel in the next month," I said to the council of tribe elders who were gathered at my tent.
'It is gruelling for the young and old of the tribe to migrate from one oasis to another, but what choice do we have?' I grumbled inwardly.
While I complained about the hardship on this waste of a planet.
"We should migrate toward the Oasis of Sahter." One of the elders, Kadir, said, his eyes calculating. A man of short stature, with hair full of white. He had a weathered look on his typical brown person features.
"No, we will move to the Oasis of Fizarf." Another elder objected to Kadir's proposal. He was Rizat, another elder. Rizat was a man tall for his age and built like an absolute unit. He was a man of direct attitude with the ambition and bravery that bordered on foolishness.
However, he had the support of the 5 council members, so many elders supported his decision.
Instead of backing down, Kadir didn't cower; he countered, "I know the exact reason: you want to prove that valor of yours infront ofthe tribe, but my friend, it will endanger the lives of tribesmen. A terrible price to be paid for that foolish vanity of yours."
Kadir also held sway as much as Rizat, so another majority of the elders echoed his decision.
"Haa! Kadir, you are cautious, or I say cowardly as ever, but the tribe requires a long rest, and we can rest for half a year at the biggest oasis in the region according to the Codex of Khana-Badosh. By doing so, the tribe could rest, women can conceive, young men can be trained to step on the path of warriors, and children can be educated in that half year." Rizat directly stated his ambition.
"Rizat! I am neither cautious nor cowardly; I just wanted to ensure that the tribe survives. I think you haven't noticed that the frequency of warp beasts has increased, and you want to travel through the Canyon of Dahir with this kind of anomaly." Kadir angrily rebuked.
Rizat assuredly said, "I know your concern, my friend, but we have handled those warp beasts, and I am sure we can handle those beasts in the canyon as we did in the past."
Kadir chuckled with disbelief and said, "Handle those monsters as you handled warp beasts? Handle my ass! Neither are we in condition to handle those nightmares now, nor were we in the past."
Then he said in a hardened tone, "The one time we survived that was because of a mere stroke of luck, and by the recent events that occurred in the past days, I'd be a fool to allow you to drag the tribe into the pits of hell itself."
Hearing the counterargument, Rizat still wanted to argue his case.
But I intervened, rubbing my temples, "It's enough!" That completely silenced the surroundings.
After the silence, I thought about the pros and cons of each option. The first route is safe enough, with some unexpected warp beast attacks, as in past days, and it can slowly erode overall strength, like a stone ground to dust by the constant flow of water, but it at least presents a chance at the tribe's survival.
As for the second option, it is a high-risk, high-reward kind of scenario. If we survive the ordeal of that cursed canyon, we could have the capital to carve a piece of this sand-filled place, but if we fail, that will be complete annihilation of the tribe.
'Damn it! We are at a stalemate.' I thought worriedly. The first option represents slow death but temporary survival; the second represents quick death, but if we survive the ordeal, the future will be bright.
"We will discuss this issue at the meeting after three days. Meeting is adjourned!" I ordered, and the elders dispersed into the typical factions they each led.
"Patriarch! I am sure we will find a solution to this issue. You don't have to stress about that." Balak, my advisor, comforted me.
"Yes! We will, Balak, my brother. In the next few days, we will!" I replied thoughtfully.
(POV: Magnus)
With my hunter's hearing, complemented by the senses of a demigod, I heard all the arguments of the elders about the way things are going; the tribe is in for a treat.
'I have to intervene at a critical time if I want to preserve the tribe, even if I have to attract the scrutiny of the tribal elders.' I thought.
Before any of you give me a mentally ill certificate, I made this decision to help the tribe because I had this feeling that if I am exposed to constant danger, passively or actively, it can simulate my growth spurt.
If I can grow at the same rate as my brothers in death worlds, things can become much easier. As for the names Fizraf, Sahter, and that canyon of death, Dahir, they are pieces of critical intelligence that I folded into one file in my brain.
However, the intelligence on the Codex of Khana Badosh must be gathered as soon as possible. According to canon, there was a Codex of Astartes created by Roboute Guilliman that temporarily helped the Imperium, but as time passed, it caused the descent of the Imperium into a dogmatic, ignorant regime, hell-bent on following the Codex of Astartes.
In my personal philosophical view, the Codex is not complete, but it has to be updated flexibly and indefinitely in certain aspects to solve a specific set of problems, not to blindly follow the instructions of the same book for millennia.
It can cause more harm instead of solving the problem. I hope these fellows weren't following this codex of Khana Badosh blindly for years.
While I wondered how to end the stalemate, I also observed my surroundings; tribesmen were roasting purified meat of warp beasts. They also buried the fallen members of the tribe in the designated place of the oasis on the second day.
It also helped the trees grow in the oasis as fertilizer. Isn't it novel that the oasis gives humans a chance to survive? When they die, they help the same oasis to grow.
As I drowned in philosophical thoughts, my sister, who was at the age of receiving tribal education, came running to hug me.
"You know, Magnus! Tomorrow, I am going to start learning from Mahaf about the history and survival. I am so happy; I also want to explore all the places that the warriors of the tribe brag about." She shared her inner thoughts with me while she pinched my chubby cheeks.
'Oh, Emperor! I am trying to think how to ensure the survival of the tribe; on top of that, I had to listen to this germline-looking brat.' I lamented.
But why do I feel a pang of happiness along with the annoyance?
'Man! Emotions are weird,' I grumbled inwardly.
.
.
.
Get me to the top rankings so those ignorant of this sacred text must be enlightened by reading it.
Give me those Powerstones as an Imperial Tithe unless you want to incur the wrath of the Empire.