RandNES 1: Dawn of a World

“Looks like we’ll be drifting here for some time,” Haraald says. He and Gustav stare into the misty darkness.
“Yes, this fog doesn’t seem to be lifting any time soon.” Sven, leader of the plunderers, walks over to join the two. “How are the preparations going Sven?”
“Well, we still have no signs of the other six ships in the fleet. All we can hope for is that they follow the moon and we all meet up after the clearance of this fogs”
“At least we still have the moon to guide us.” Haraald points out. The three stare into the darkness for some more time. “Well, let us get some sleep and hope the fog clears by dawn.”
“Yes, let us hope.” Sven and Gustav walk away leaving only Haraald standing on the deck. Haraald remembers his father, Gothar the Great, and how he united the tribes into Svealand. He looks up to the sky and prays. “Father, you know how to survive this, please father, guide me on my journey.” On that note, Haraald left to get some troublesome sleep and prepare for the day of looting and plundering, sure to bring riches and honor to his land.
The morning came quickly and Haraald arose to enthusiastic yells and cries of relief from Gustav, Sven, and others on the other six ships. He walked onto the deck and saw the skies were clear and their voyage could go on. Gustav came up to Haraald.
“Great day isn’t it. We got the men all prepared for our landing.” Gustav spoke with enthusiasm. Like most of the 45 men in the fleet, he took being selected to the journey with great honor and pride. “By the way, when are when set to land.”
“Look, Land,” prepare for the landing!” Sven shouts. Haraald organizes his men when the ships land on the beaches of Aalvord. He starts to walk them into a trail through the forested land.
“Onwards we have to explore this new land!” They kept walking through a small stream and then a soldier saw fire in the distance.
“Smoke! In the distance!”
“Aye!” the rest of the soldiers shouted.
“Let us go and take anything valuable and bring it back for Svealand!” Haraald rallies his troops as the march on towards the village. Walking to the village, they are met by cries of anguish by the ill-prepared villagers. A few of the able men try to fist fight the incoming pillagers, but to no avail. After the skirmish with the villagers, the plunderers ransack every hut in the village taking anything with appeal to them. After letting the villagers go, Haraald orders all of his men to let them be and they walk victoriously through the path back to their moored ships, setting sail back to Svealand as the sun starts to set and the journey home lit by the moonlight.

Forgot to edit in, the river is River Vasborg

EP: 10
Stability: Stable

3EP on developing archery (mostly for hunting)
2EP on dyes and glazes.
2EP on developing tanning, leather-working, etc.
3EP on cultural investment in the concept of Vibsurv- ornate tattoos/death tradition


During these years the Bhalibris will continue to draw sustenance and growth from their fishing fleets. Extending their use, they will continue making contact with nearby villages and trading our goods for theirs, even establishing permanent links via formal annual gatherings for the exchange of stories, goods, ideas, even tribe members. As we develop bows, our trading parties will increasingly carry them in case of protection, but we will not be aggressive with our neighbors. With time we will potentially be able to export salt, salted fish, salted meats, functional pottery, ornate decorated pottery, leathers and hides (including brightly decorated ones), raw dyes, and furs.

On the home front, we will explore the forests further, developing bow-based hunting and trapping for both sustenance and to gather hides and pelts. We will begin to tan and prepare leather and furs from these hides.

Because, again, we are lovers of bright colors and artistic beauty, we will develop dyes to color our leathers and our ceramics, even developing shining glazes in a variety of colors.

Culturally, the Bhalibris will extend their love of bright and beautiful things to their own skin, applying their growing knowledge of dyes to develop extensive and complicated tattoos, especially of the chest, back and sleeves, for both men and women. Originally mostly pictures, as time passes, they will develop symbolically and their pictograms may with time develop into early proto-written language. The tattoos will be complex and characteristic enough to take on their own extensive meaning in the Bhalibris culture, becoming Vibsurv, a way to share accomplishments, tribal and familial bonds, etc. The Vibsurv is not limited to the living however. Making use of the Bhalibris knowledge of tanning and leathers, a funeral rite will develop whereby dead Bhalibris are skinned, and a subtle leather lovingly crafted from them. These are at first draped over scaffolds of wood or rock but as the Vibsurv tradition develops, are given places of special merit within the home on dedicated, often very beautifully decorated and glazed ceramic busts. The presence of such constant reminders of the dead will give increasing importance to the concept of an immortal soul and its continued influence in worldly affairs after the parting of the body. The living will visit the Vibsurv of their ancestors, caring for their hides and learning from their tattoos (increasingly deciphering the meaning therein as the pictogram system develops) as well as asking their intercession on their behalf with the gods, the twin incarnations Yawu and Haihai.