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About those Caladralanders


Sir_Godspeed

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I would argue for round huts (Fire or Heat rune) with conical tops, probably shingle rather than thatch so that brimstone can roll off. Possibly dry stone tuff walls. Possibly fairly large houses taking in an entire bloodline, with little privacy.

I don't expect them to be very much like Heortlings, really (except in terms of initiation probability and how their sacrifices work). There is a possibility of them sharing some characteristics with the Lodrilites of Peloria in terms of village and family structure, with gender-segregated roles but rather little difference in political or domestic influence.

From their rulership over Porthomeka, they might form groups of males settling down somewhere before entering a group marriage with wives they attract to their houses. Much like birds, the burden of personal ornamentation for partner choice might be resting on the males, who have to persuade a prospective wife (or several at once) as a group, being tested for ability as well as looks. This might lead to just a single generation and their offspring sharing a house, possibly with special communal huts for the elderly receiving support by their grandchildren when they come of age (to take them out of the parental mating group and in order to pass on some wisdom). (These ideas build on the tales of the log walkers in Entekosiad.) The huts of the elderly might be where the prospective new family fathers present their petition, trying to get women to follow them to their houses (as the final test of whether they are willing to take a meal inside, acknowledging the male group's ability to provide for their wives). Such houses may well have been in cycles of use and ruin for many generations, allowing the land around the huts to fall fallow for long enough to become viable for another generation.

They probably have a tradition of unfree servants living under them, possibly extending to temporarily indentured nonhumans (e.g. gorillas or newtling bachelors).

Their gardening might be on terraced platforms, with significant overgrowth on the ancient terraces (think Angkor Vat or eastern flank Andes Inka ruins). Those platforms may be left to overgrow for some time before the next slash-and-burn cycle.

Growth from the ashes is the main concept in Caladralander horticulture, IMO - whether from slash-and-burn or from volcanic exhaust. A top layer of pumice might be added around well-developed sprouts to reduce the amount of weeds and to stabilize humidity in the soil.

What kinds of harvest are likely for them? I think that peanuts might make up a significant part of their diet, fruit seeking shelter by diving into the earth. The latter seems appropriate for their mythology. Sweet potato or tapioca might be part of their main crop.

 

Edited by Joerg
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Telling how it is excessive verbis

 

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