Rice huddled closer to Darius and Ryden, his silver-gray eyes sparkling with excitement despite the tension of the moment. In a hushed whisper, he said, "Guys, I know we're kinda being treated like objects right now, but think about it—this could be a golden opportunity!"
Ryden arched a skeptical eyebrow. "Golden opportunity? Rice, they're practically bartering us like chickens."
"Exactly!" Rice hissed, undeterred. "But what if we roll with it? Hear me out: we're smack in the middle of three tribes that are this close to tearing each other apart over resources, right? What if we use this to speed-run them into the next age? You know—agriculture, metalworking, written language—the whole deal. It's genius!"
Darius crossed his arms, his dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It's… not the worst idea," he admitted after a moment. "If we can get them to focus on progress instead of fighting, we might actually make a difference here."
Ryden tilted his head, clearly warming to the idea. "You're talking about dragging them all into the Bronze Age, right? That's a tall order. But… yeah. It's doable if we split up the work."
Rice grinned. "Exactly! Look, here's how we do it: I'll handle agriculture. Sure, getting tribes to farm might be tough at first, but long-term? Game changer. Plus, I can teach them about storing food, better cooking methods, and a few killer recipes."
Darius nodded. "I'll focus on metalworking and crafting. If the Varuka have better tools, it's likely they're closer to finding metals. If I can teach them how to properly extract and work with it, we could revolutionize their weapons and tools."
Ryden smirked faintly. "Guess that leaves me with culture. Developing a written language, creating traditions… maybe even some art. If these tribes can share knowledge instead of hoarding it, we'll be building something that lasts."
The three exchanged a look, their shared enthusiasm settling into a determined plan.
"All right," Rice whispered. "Let's do this."
The trio stepped back inside the tent, the tension still thick as Arika and Orvek stood locked in a silent battle of wills. Zovar sat calmly, watching the proceedings with her usual composed curiosity.
"We've decided," Rice said, breaking the silence. "We'll go with you."
Arika immediately turned, her dark eyes flashing with anger. "You don't get to decide that," she snapped. "You're members of my tribe. I will not let them—"
Rice caught her eye and gave her a cheeky wink. Arika froze, her jaw tightening as she let out a sharp exhale. She understood immediately: he had a plan.
Sighing heavily, Arika turned back to Orvek, her tone icier than before. "If they're going with you, then I have terms," she said firmly. "I don't want your warriors near my tribe. You say you want to protect your land, but I know what you're really after."
Orvek's scowl deepened, but Zovar leaned forward, her oceanic eyes glinting with interest. "What do you want, then, Arika?"
"Your weapons," Arika said, pointing at Orvek. "Give us your stone weapons. We'll forge our own from there, but I won't have your warriors marching through my territory."
Orvek bristled, his scarred face twisting in frustration. "You want our weapons? Do you think we're fools?"
"Do you want the outsider or not?" Zovar interjected, her voice smooth but firm. "I think it's a fair trade. And it avoids… complications."
Orvek growled low in his throat, clearly unhappy, but he finally gave a begrudging nod. "Fine. Take the weapons. But if the outsider fails, you won't get a thing"
Arika nodded curtly, her sharp gaze daring him to say more.
With the terms settled, the leaders turned to divide the trio.
"I will take the one called Rice," Zovar said, her elegant tone leaving no room for argument. She glanced at Rice, her oceanic blue eyes sharp and appraising. "He seems… resourceful."
Rice puffed up his chest, a smug grin spreading across his face as he turned to the others. "Well, looks like I'm off to eat fish and hang out with the prettiest leader here. Don't miss me too much!"
Darius smirked faintly, while Ryden rolled his eyes.
Orvek's glare shifted to Darius. "The craftsman," he said gruffly. "I'll take him. We'll see if he's as useful as Arika claims."
Arika straightened, her voice steely. "Ryden stays with me."
Ryden blinked, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. "Last kid picked in dodgeball. Fantastic."
Rice leaned toward Zovar, rubbing his hands together. "So, Chief Zovar," he began, his voice playful. "Got any smoked fish? Maybe some roasted bass? I'm thinking—"
Before he could finish, Zovar tilted her head slightly. "Perhaps we should trade," she suggested, her tone light but serious. "Ryden would be more valuable to us."
Arika's voice was immediate and sharp. "No."
The refusal cut through the air like a blade, and Zovar's calm expression faltered slightly. Rice turned to her, his silver-gray eyes wide with mock betrayal.
"You'd betray me like this?" he asked, clutching his chest dramatically.
"Terms have been made, I won't allow anymore trading of my tribe members" Arika said firmly, cutting off any further discussion.
Zovar raised a delicate eyebrow, but she didn't press the issue. Rice crossed his arms, muttering under his breath about loyalty and trust as he followed Zovar out of the tent.
The three outsiders went their separate ways, each tasked with a monumental challenge. Though they had little time to prepare for their new roles, each of them threw themselves into the work, determined to make their mark on their respective tribes.
The salty breeze of the Great Lake brushed against Rice's face as he worked alongside the Katalu tribe. Their bustling village sat on the water's edge, the lake shimmering under the sun like a liquid mirror. Fishing rafts bobbed lazily in the shallows, nets stretched between wooden stakes to dry.
At first, the Katalu were skeptical of Rice. His endless chatter and unorthodox ideas seemed strange to the reserved, methodical tribe. But the moment he touched fire and fish, everything changed.
One evening, sitting by the Great Lake, Rice set up a crude cooking station using flat stones and firewood. He paired their fresh-caught fish with wild herbs and berries he'd foraged on the plains, creating a dish that was both savory and slightly sweet. The tribe gathered around, curious as he worked, and when the first taste of his creation passed their lips, their skepticism turned to awe.
When the fish was finally served, the first tentative bite turned into a chorus of delighted murmurs.
"Food should be more than survival!" Rice declared, grinning as he passed out another plate. "It should sing!"
The more time he spent with the Katalu, the more Rice explored the plains surrounding the lake. One day, while digging near the edges of a grassland thicket, he discovered a peculiar orange root. He pulled it free, sniffed it, then tasted it cautiously. His eyes widened and he grinned. "Carrots," he muttered. "Or close enough."
"This," he whispered dramatically to Zovar, who stood nearby, her ocean-blue eyes narrowing with curiosity, "this is going to change everything."
Over the weeks, Rice carefully showed the Katalu how to plant and cultivate the roots, along with seeds he gathered from other wild plants. It wasn't easy—convincing a fishing tribe to dig in the dirt wasn't exactly intuitive—but his enthusiasm was infectious. Eventually, the Katalu's first patch of crops began to sprout, their green shoots pushing through the soil.
Great Achievement!
Rice has introduced agriculture to the Katalu tribe.
Effects: Basic farming established. Improved food security. +5% population growth rate. Enhanced nutritional diversity.
Back in the forested home of the Toquiri, Ryden found himself more at ease than he'd expected. The Toquiri's reserved nature mirrored his own, and his quiet, introspective energy began to resonate with the tribe.
One evening, he sat by the fire, humming a haunting melody. It didn't take long for a group of curious warriors and elders to gather, drawn by the sound. Ryden began to sing, weaving a tale of Jarik's bravery during the hunt of the Virthan-Pa. His voice—smooth, deep, and almost otherworldly—held the listeners spellbound.
Inspired by their reaction, Ryden began teaching the Toquiri how to create their own stories, creating songs about their history, their victories, and their people. He taught them how to sing these tales, their voices weaving together stories of bravery and loss. Soon, the songs became part of the tribe's identity, sung around campfires and during celebrations. Over time, he also introduced simple dances to accompany the music, movements that mimicked hunting, gathering, and the forest's rhythm.
But Ryden didn't stop there. He began experimenting with ways to preserve these tales for future generations. Using charcoal and clay tablets, he taught the tribe how to carve simple pictographs to represent their stories. A spear symbol for hunting, a flame for home, a tree for the forest—symbols that, when combined, formed the beginnings of a written language.
Great Achievement!
Ryden has introduced the written word and cultural arts to the Toquiri tribe.
Effects: Basic written language established. Increased cultural cohesion. Knowledge sharing enabled. +5% accumulation of mana rate.
The Varuka tribe was far from welcoming when Darius first arrived. They respected strength above all else, and to them, Darius was a weak outsider with something to prove. But Darius's chance came sooner than expected.
When a pack of scaled, wolf-like creatures attacked the Varuka's rocky stronghold one night, Darius didn't hesitate. Armed with his spear thrower and a borrowed stone axe, he fought alongside the warriors, his calculated precision cutting through the chaos. His actions earned him their respect, and for the first time, the Varuka began to see him as one of their own.
With their acceptance, Darius turned his focus to their rocky terrain. Darius became fascinated by the Varuka's rocky terrain. He joined their hunts and expeditions, exploring the caves and cliffs that dotted their land often accompanied by Varuka warriors eager to show him the harsh beauty of their lands. Days turned into weeks as he searched tirelessly for something that could elevate the tribe beyond stone weapons.
Finally, deep within a shadowed cave, Darius struck gold—or rather, bronze. The gleaming vein of ore was small but unmistakable, a blend of copper and tin nestled in the rock.
Excitement rippled through the Varuka as Darius showed them how to extract and smelt the ore. Using clay molds and simple forges, they created their first bronze tools—stronger and sharper than anything they'd used before.
Great Achievement!
Darius has discovered bronze and introduced basic metallurgy to the Varuka tribe.
Effects: Bronze tools and weapons introduced. +15% combat effectiveness. Improved crafting efficiency and durability. Access to advanced crafting techniques unlocked.
Weeks later, as the sun set over the plains, the three tribes stood transformed.
The Katalu were healthier and stronger, the Katalu's fields of green sprouted beside their shimmering lake, while Rice stood grinning as he passed out bowls of stew, the laughter of children and adults alike filling the air. their people bolstered by newfound farming techniques and Rice's culinary creativity.
The Toquiri danced and sang around their fires, the carvings of their stories etched into clay tablets stacked neatly in the center of their village. Ryden watched from the side, a small smile on his face as the tribe embraced their growing identity. their songs and dances binding them together in a way that surpassed simple survival. And the Varuka stood proud, Their warriors marched confidently across their rocky terrain, their bronze-tipped spears gleaming under the sun. Darius stood by the forge, wiping sweat from his brow as he taught a group of smiths how to improve their techniques.