The second tribal council felt entirely different from the first. Gone was the heavy tension, the suspicion, and the biting arguments. The large tent at the neutral meeting ground seemed brighter, almost inviting, as the leaders and their entourages arrived with laughter and camaraderie.
The three chiefs—Zovar, Orvek, and Arika—entered the space together, a clear sign of the newfound unity among their tribes. Zovar moved with her usual grace, her flowing garments of green and blue shimmering in the sunlight. Orvek strode in with his heavy, confident steps, his sharp eyes surveying the room, though his usual scowl was softened into something resembling a smile. Arika, ever composed, walked with a sense of quiet pride, her sharp features betraying the faintest hint of satisfaction.
Zovar was the first to speak. She stood at the edge of the central fire, her ocean-blue eyes glowing with genuine joy. "The Katalu tribe has flourished," she began, her voice calm but carrying an unmistakable warmth. "For the first time in memory, we have an abundance of food—soon an excess, even. Thanks to Rice and the knowledge he has shared, we can now trade freely with our neighbors for other valuables."
She turned to Rice, who stood off to the side, trying—and failing—to look modest. Without hesitation, she wrapped him in a warm, heartfelt hug, surprising everyone in the tent.
Rice let out a tiny, dramatic cackle, his gray eyes glinting mischievously as he grinned up at Zovar. "Oh, yes," he murmured theatrically, "this was my plan all along. Unlimited fish and hugs for Rice."
Zovar froze, pulling back slightly as she fixed him with a wide-eyed look. "Okay," she said, raising a hand, "but you need to stop that. It's scaring me."
The tent erupted in laughter, even Orvek cracking a deep chuckle as Rice tried—and failed—to smother his evil grin.
When the laughter died down, Orvek stood, his massive frame towering over the group. He turned to Darius, his scarred face softened with an expression of deep respect.
"This man," Orvek began, clasping Darius's shoulder with a heavy hand, "has earned not only my respect but the respect of my entire tribe. Thanks to him, we no longer fear the dangers of our lands. Our warriors are stronger, our tools sharper, and our tribe safer than it has ever been."
Darius, ever stoic, gave a slight nod, though there was a faint glimmer of pride in his eyes. Orvek's grip tightened slightly, and he added, "You have given us great gifts, outsider. Gifts that will last generations. For that, you will always have a place among the Varuka."
The weight of his words settled over the tent, the sincerity of his gratitude clear in every word.
Arika stood next, her sharp eyes sparkling with pride as she addressed the group. "And the Toquiri," she began, her gravelly voice carrying a rare note of humor, "have become more than a tribe. We are a family."
She gestured toward Ryden, who sat cross-legged by the fire, looking faintly embarrassed as she continued. "Thanks to Ryden, every night at the campfire is a celebration. We sing, we dance, and we remember who we are. My people have never felt more united."
She turned to the other leaders, her expression smug. "I would say we've done quite well for ourselves."
Zovar laughed softly, nodding in agreement, while Orvek grunted his approval. The warmth in the tent was palpable, a stark contrast to the cold mistrust of their first meeting.
As the council transitioned to lighter conversation, the trio found themselves gravitating toward one another. Rice spotted Ryden and Darius first, his face lighting up as he darted across the tent to throw his arms around them in an overly dramatic hug.
"I missed you guys so much!" Rice wailed, clutching them like a long-lost puppy. "Nobody got my jokes there! It was terrible!"
Ryden smirked, rolling his eyes but patting Rice on the back. "I missed you too," he admitted quietly. "It's good to see you again."
They both turned to Darius, who stood silently, his arms crossed and his expression as composed as ever.
"Well?" Ryden prompted, raising an eyebrow. "Don't leave us hanging."
Darius hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering between the two of them. Finally, his stoic exterior softened, and he spoke. "I never realized how much better you two made my life," he said simply, his voice steady but filled with sincerity. "It's good to have you back."
For a moment, there was silence as the three of them stood together, united once more. Then Rice broke it with a loud sniffle. "You guys," he said, dramatically wiping at an imaginary tear. "no homo, but I think we're having a moment."
Ryden rolled his eyes again, but even he couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep orange and purple, the first stars twinkling faintly against the encroaching darkness. The warm light of the central fire in the tent cast flickering shadows across the faces of the three reunited outsiders, their laughter fading into a comfortable silence as they watched the tribal leaders step outside.
Zovar, Arika, and Orvek emerged side by side, their expressions serene yet triumphant. It was clear from their body language alone that something momentous had occurred. The gathered warriors and villagers from all three tribes fell silent, their murmurs of curiosity dying out as the leaders raised their hands.
"We have made a pact," Zovar announced, her melodic voice carrying across the clearing. "An alliance—the Alliance of the Great Plains." Her ocean-blue eyes scanned the crowd, her face radiant with hope. "From this day forward, our three tribes will fight the same enemies, share the same borders, and exchange the same gifts."
Arika stepped forward, her sharp features illuminated by the firelight. "No longer will the Toquiri stand alone in the forest," she said, her gravelly voice steady and resolute. "We are stronger together, united against any threat." She turned her head to Orvek and nodded, a rare gesture of mutual respect.
Orvek grunted, his scarred face set in a faint, almost reluctant smile. "And the Varuka," he rumbled, his deep voice carrying the weight of centuries of survival, "will no longer fight the monsters of the mountains alone. We are allies now—brothers and sisters under the same sky."
The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices ringing out in celebration of the alliance. The outsiders exchanged glances, their smiles growing as the significance of the moment settled over them.
One by one, the tribal leaders turned to the trio, their gratitude unmistakable.
Zovar approached Rice first, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You have given us the tools to thrive, not just survive. For that, we will always be grateful."
Arika inclined her head toward Ryden, her dark eyes softening as she said, "You have given us more than songs and stories. You've reminded us what it means to be a tribe—a family."
Orvek clasped Darius's shoulder with his massive hand. "And you have given us strength. Strength that will echo for generations."
As the words settled, the booklet in Ryden's hands began to pulse with a faint, golden light. The three outsiders stiffened, their attention snapping to the glowing pages. Slowly, Ryden opened the booklet, the golden light spilling out in rippling waves. Text began to appear, shimmering as if etched by an unseen hand.
Congratulations, Legendary Achievement!
You have fostered the formation of the Great Plains Alliance in GAIA.
Effects:
Unified defense across all three territories, increasing safety and reducing monster threats.Significant boost to trade efficiency and resource sharing.Morale bonus across all allied tribes, improving population growth and innovation speed.
The text continued to scroll, glowing brighter as it checked the world's status.
Checking Requirements:
Population: Above 400 — Met.Technology Level: Simple Bronze Metalworking — Met.Cultural Level: Writing and Simple Hieroglyphics — Met.Agricultural Level: Farming — Met.
Congratulations!
You have successfully reached the Bronze Age.
Additional Benefits:
+30% efficiency in crafting advanced tools and weapons.+20% boost to agricultural yields.Knowledge-sharing enabled between tribes, accelerating technological and cultural advancements.
As an additional reward, you have been gifted a single blank page of the Akashic Record!
The booklet shifted in Ryden's hands as a single blank page turned golden, radiating an otherworldly glow. The trio stared at it in awe.
"What… what is it?" Rice whispered, his voice hushed with a mix of reverence and confusion.
"No idea," Ryden muttered, running a hand through his hair. He squinted at the glowing page as if it might suddenly reveal its secrets.
Darius leaned closer, his expression unreadable but his dark eyes glinting with curiosity. "If it's a record, maybe we're supposed to write something on it," he suggested.
Rice tilted his head, scratching his chin as he peered at the page. "Do we, like, draw on it? Write a story? Or does it… do something on its own?"
As they debated, the page remained stubbornly blank, its golden glow unwavering.
The growing celebration outside was interrupted by a sudden streak of red tearing across the darkened sky. The jubilant voices fell silent as every head turned upward, eyes widening at the sight.
The red shooting star blazed across the heavens, its fiery glow reflecting on the faces of the gathered tribes. It trailed a long, ominous tail, its descent slow but deliberate, as though marking the land below with its presence.
The ground trembled faintly, and then it came—a monstrous, bone-rattling roar that seemed to echo from the star itself. The sound was deep, guttural, and otherworldly, reverberating through the plains and sending shivers down every spine.
The celebration turned to hushed murmurs, then anxious whispers. Warriors instinctively reached for their weapons, their faces taut with fear and determination.
"What… was that?" Zovar asked, her melodic voice shaken for the first time.
Arika's sharp gaze flicked between the star and the distant horizon. "Something… unnatural," she muttered, her hand tightening around the hilt of her spear.
Orvek's jaw clenched as he turned to his warriors, barking orders. "Prepare the defenses. Whatever comes, we meet it head-on."
The trio exchanged glances, their earlier joy now replaced by a creeping sense of dread.
"Okay," Rice muttered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "This just went from epic to terrifying."
Ryden nodded slowly, his dark eyes narrowing as he gazed at the distant glow of the shooting star. "was it because of us?"
Darius said nothing, but his hand drifted to his newly forged bronze axe, his grip tightening as the echoes of the monstrous roar faded into the night.