Encountering plain barbarians

Cultural event

In the morning of April there was an alarm as one of the lookout towers saw riders on northern bank of the Mud river. Hostages were exchanged involuntarily to learn languages and make envoys.

There were four riders on horseback. Half naked with spears at the ready. They pointed to the lookout tower and next day returned with more horsemen pointed at the lookout tower again and then left. Third time they came with even greater number, a boat was then dispatched with a public speaker to negotiate with natives. He showed them his empty hands in sign of peace, but the horsemen scowled at him. When the boat struck on shore and the envoy was about to get out one of the riders pointed the spear on the land and vehemently shook his head. The envoy sat in the boat then. They exchanged words, but the languages were too different to come to anything so the envoy returned back, learning nothing.   Next time the men came a group of envoys were dispatched including women as to better understand the natives or try to decipher their language. Again the horseman protested them leting a foot on the land and he brought more of his men to the boat then two women got kidnapped at a spearpoint. The envoys couldn't protest, then two men from the party got in the boat, straight from the horse mind you. Taking care as not to set foot on the ground. And such the first exchange of hostages was made. It turned out the newcomers in the boat were also women, but taller and stronger than most men in Start. They were strict, soldier-like a quality never before concieved in a woman. Their skin was dark and winded but they didn't wear any jackets. Riding topless and being so fierce and disciplined made them sought after in the eyes of former mercenaries and feared in the eyes of farmers.   A year later they could comand the language quite well and explained much of what was missinterpreted. They were hostages learning the language and the culture, same as the women, who were took by their tribe as to go back if they want to and make envoys. Also the northern bank was sacred to her people and no human foot should touch it. More of a superstition really, but a tradition nonetheless.