World of Banished

Sightseeing => Village Blogs => Topic started by: Abandoned on November 13, 2017, 08:12:07 AM

Title: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 13, 2017, 08:12:07 AM
 Intro:

  This is the 20th story in the Smallville series.  The Ancestors of the settlers of this town were on this land long before Smallville even existed.  They are the natives of this land put here by the Great Spirit many moons ago, it is now year 40 Smallville Time.  The natives have settled on this land that was their summer hunting grounds.  Their town, built by the west bend of the river, was well established when a group of nomad arrived after being turned away from Smallville.  You, weary traveler, are part of that group, and you are listening to this tale being told to you with great respect for the Native people and their teachings.  The CC Frontier settlement you have arrived at is called Cedar Creek, to the east is the Refugee Camp of story 10, to the west are the Great Plains, and to the north across the river are pine forests, Cedar Creek, and the Cedar Ridge mountain range.


The map is #189060516  Plains, Small, Mild, disasters Off, Medium Start


Mods and Load Order:

Starting and Map Changing Mods:  Banished UI Maps, Compatibility Mod, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, RK Vanilla TP, CC Light Rain, Plain

Tweak Mods:  Better Fields, Busy Pastures, Hunting & Gathering, Fishing Dock 25%, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 aging, Rocks Respawn, Simple Tombstone, Tool Value Up, Trader Accepts All

Major or Must Have Mods:  An Empty Square, Nomad Sign Complete, CC Frontier, (Build Monuments - not needed, it is included in CC Frontier), Kid Alotofseed Trader, Mini Buildings, Maritime Storage Collection, & @Necora  Pine Set.

Supporting Mods: Bakery, Birch Bark Canoe, Bison CC Mod, Campfire, Deco Sunflower, Fenceless Pasture, Firewood Storage, Garden Shed, Horses CC Mod, Idle Small Fisherman, Kid Deco Wreaths, Kid Granny Park, Kid Old Fence, Kid Twilight Herbs, Maritime Decorations, Maritime Coverings, Maritime Humble Construction, Storage Crates, Vegan Scarecrow



So, weary traveler, I will be more than happy to tell you about Cedar Creek Settlement, there is much you have to learn, and I will tell you quite simply why you can't stay here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9MvdMqKvpU


Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 13, 2017, 12:08:08 PM
not to cause you headaches but  you should have added the my precious mod to give you the silver ore and silver pfering to use for the workcamp and some other NFT parts. you can  import the building supplies and probably the cannons and muskets.i am not sure how much is added into that modular mod.will your bakery produce hardtack? might be an interesting test run.mod order can be critical as well with some of the mods you listed.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 13, 2017, 01:26:05 PM
@brads3 My Native Americans are not doing any mining or fort building.  Refugee camp with fort is to the east.  I used My Precious mod up North at the North Mining Town.  My mods are listed in mod order and test map and this map, so far so good.  Pine mod also good so far, no slow down either.  The map is beautiful with those trees.  I wish you luck with your new town.  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 13, 2017, 01:39:15 PM
so you have the pine mod below CC? it functions and all the items show up?maybe that has changed with the modular CC. there is a mod that would give you the indian burial ground as well. be warned the indians did like to shoot poison arrows at the worker.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 13, 2017, 01:42:13 PM
your refugee camp has the training camp fort. the NFT fort is different.lol  are you confused yet?
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 13, 2017, 01:56:48 PM
 :) No, I am not confused over the forts, but a fort does not fit into this story.  Oh, I see I missed Build Monument mod on the list, I will have to recheck.  I had been setting up the mods on my separate CC install and had check Necora's info on pine mod placement and was all ready to give it a test when I discovered kralyerg had released the Frontier modular, I may have missed enabling or listing the build monument mod in the process.  Thanks for mentioning it.  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 13, 2017, 02:15:35 PM
lol,see i wasn't trying to confuse you really.the NFT isn't just indians either. the pine forests work regarless but if the mod order isn't right, the items that spawn freely all over the map might not function fully.the traps,beaver lodges,cranberry,chantelles,etc.some of those spawn at start and some are set to spawn after a few years.ohh and this year,NECORa upgraded it so others can collect items. like a forester or laborers can clear and collect eggs and furs.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 13, 2017, 02:31:31 PM
@brads3 thanks for noticing missing Build Monuments mod.  No wonder it wasn't on the mod list, I have it in CC separate install and enable but never put it in this install.  I corrected my oversight and edited my intro mod list to include it.

The pine set items seem to be spawning as they should and items are being collected by the gatherers and trapper.  So far all seem to be as they should be.  I was so glad to see the Frontier modular, I only had one CC Journey test map that did not freeze up on me and that was with only a very few mods added.  I was very concerned with the success of a map with pine mod or any others added.  Glad I did not have to find out.  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: galensgranny on November 13, 2017, 10:20:59 PM
What is the "Vegan Scarecrow"?
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 14, 2017, 04:32:30 AM
@galensgranny the vegan scarecrow is Red's scarecrow separate from the Decorative Items Pack but the building requirement is a wool coat instead of a hide coat.  The scarecrow looks the same.  It was posted in the General Topic of Hide Items.  Here is link"

http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=806.15   Reply #16
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: galensgranny on November 14, 2017, 10:11:23 AM
Thanks, Abandoned.  That was super nice that Red Ketchup made a vegan scarecrow for those adverse to using leather.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 14, 2017, 10:49:30 AM
I agree Granny, that was very nice of Red.  :)


Chapter 1

  No, weary traveler, you can not stay here.  We know your kind, you do not walk the Good Red Road, you do not live in harmony with Earth Mother and all things of the earth.  You are the destroyers.  My ancestors saw the destruction your people caused cutting all the trees and throwing them in the river, changing their course and destroying all in their path.  And still you did not learn.  You build the iron horse cutting more trees to build tracks and scaring off the wild ponies and killing off the buffalo the Great Spirit had given us.  You cut more trees to build big empty houses taller than the trees, then you have no firewood to keep the houses warm.  You cut more trees.  How can the Standing People watch over you and protect you from the winter winds or summer sun if you cut them down? 

You drink too much fire-water in your towns and taverns, your minds do not work as they should. You kill a wild creature for his coat then shoot arrows into the man wearing the coat thinking him that creature. Do not laugh, it is true, my husband of many moons is one such victim.  Dillam was a wagon vendor at the Refugee Camp, he was shot in the leg with an arrow from the watch tower and became lost in the snow trying to get help.  Our scouts found him and I nursed him back to health with healing herbs from Mother Earth.  I am Adine, of the Lakota tribe of the great Sioux Nation.

  This land was the summer hunting grounds of my people.  I was with the hunting party that year when the early snowstorm hit. Had the Great Spirit not sent the herds to us late that year, we would have been gone and we would not have found Dillam.  He would not have survived.  We built a large shed to shelter in and wait till spring.  We took Dillam back to our main camp and the wise elders granted permission for him to stay with us, there was much he could teach us.  We were wed and had a son we named Helmer.  Food was becoming increasingly scarce, a group of us were given permission to return to the summer hunting grounds to settle.  The elders are wise.

  We returned to the large shed we had wintered in and set to work building our new settlement.  There were 10 of us with 10 children.  We thanked the Great Spirit for the good weather and large herd of deer he sent us.  Dillam taught us how to build a fishing pier that would greatly increase the amount of fish we would catch.  The fish heads were buried in the corn field to help the corn grow tall and bountiful.  By the month of the Ripe Berries moon, we had our homes built, the doors of the native huts and tents all facing east toward the morning sun.  An outdoor classroom was ready to teach the first 3 students the olds ways of the past, and a town hall was built for the elders of our new settlement to meet and talk of the future.

  The month of the Long Snows moon indeed brought the first snow but it did not last long.  We still had time to collect more wild foods and herbs before winter set in to stay.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: RedKetchup on November 14, 2017, 11:11:06 AM
Quote from: galensgranny on November 14, 2017, 10:11:23 AM
Thanks, Abandoned.  That was super nice that Red Ketchup made a vegan scarecrow for those adverse to using leather.

i often have llittle pearls like this.... for those who follow the threads ^^
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 14, 2017, 12:22:07 PM
what mod did you get those indian tents and huts with?they look and act completely different than CC's.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 14, 2017, 12:27:17 PM
@brads3 the native huts and tents were added to the CC Frontier modular.  They only require wood and hides to build.  Very nice addition.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 14, 2017, 12:42:03 PM
you cheater ,ust be nice.mine are decorations unless we make nice with the indians,in which case they shoot us with poison arrows. and then upgraded i think they become vanilla houses and barn. did they give you a longhouse too? yours do look different than mine.i hope CC does more modulars and adds to them. what the freak you going to do next? tell me you have turkeys too?LOL
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 14, 2017, 01:27:19 PM
 :) no, no turkey, not even for Thanksgiving in Banished.  The other pieces are still in the set that need artifacts and upgrades.  Only the Native hut and tent added.  The timing of this modular was perfect  :), I am looking forward to the decorative pieces, especially the animals. 
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 14, 2017, 01:56:13 PM
sometimes,i do like to use the cats to keep rats out of my food barns. and dogs keep children safe near the streams too.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 14, 2017, 09:39:42 PM
@brads3 just a note, the Build Monument mod is not needed, the ceremonial ground and llama are include in CC Frontier mod.  I edited my mod list again.  I added it to my map and enabled it, I have not built the ceremonial ground yet, do you know - is it save to disable it now or will it cause problems?  I have two icons for the monuments now.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 15, 2017, 04:37:23 AM
since you haven't built it ,you should be able to disavle without a problem.not something i normall do. computers have minds of thier own sometimes. save the game and try it.can always go back to the other save point that did have the mod in it.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 15, 2017, 05:07:23 AM
thanks @brads3 I'll try that  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 15, 2017, 12:41:21 PM
Chapter 2

  It was spring, a spiritual time of new beginning, of birth and rebirth, and of light.  The warming fire of the morning sun rises from the east and the color of the wind is red.  We began year 2 with renewed fire and energy.  A maple forestry was built in the month of the Budding Trees moon, and soon after that, the corn was planted.   

  A group of 11 Chippewas from the north joined us that Spring, they had had a bad winter, their tribe was short of food.  Among them were experienced hunters, trappers, and fisherman but fish and game had been scarce up north.  We welcomed them and thanked the Great Spirit for sending them to us. 

  We added 2 builders to our workforce and soon had homes built for the new arrivals.  It was not long before we had eggs and game added to our new storage sheds, along with pelts and furs.  Another trapper cabin and gatherer hut would be built in the pine forest across the bridge to the north.

  New babies had been born that year and our tribes people now numbered 34.  It was good.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 16, 2017, 01:02:49 PM
Chapter 3

  This year, in the month of the Budding Trees moon, we discovered a small grove of walnut trees to the north of our main storage shed.  We could expect a harvest of nuts this year and built a small workplace below the sheltering trees to collect them. To honor our friends, the squirrels, who would share the harvest, we carved a totem as the Chippewa and Ojibwa tribes taught us to do.  Our new tribe would now be know as the Red Squirrel Clan.  The red squirrel is the sentinel of the forest.  Our friends, the squirrels, have many lessons to teach us.  Squirrels are active and playful and can teach us the balance between work and play.  They are great preparers and can teach us to balance gathering and giving, to remind us not to take too much.

  We took the squirrel's appearance as a sign that it was time to examine our storage inventories.  We realized we had indeed been gathering and storing too much at a time when others had too little.  We must find a way to share our bounty.  We thanked the Great Spirit for all that he had given us and for sending the squirrels to remind us.  We built a mini trading post as a means to share our bounty with others.

  We were again reminded of the needs of others when 18 Oglala Sioux from the Great Plains joined us.  They had been tracking buffalo and have traveled a great distance with no luck.  Their people were hungry, the herds have been few and far between.  They were impressed with the bountifulness of our borderland forest settlement.  We held a feast to welcome them.  They would stay with us awhile before returning someday to their own tribe.

  We welcomed the new laborers, and built new huts and tents.  A totem of a red-tailed hawk was carved to remind the new arrivals from the plains to be observant and learn the ways of the forest and the fields.  A new field was prepared and next spring we would plant pumpkins.

   In autumn, Arland the green grocer arrived but we had no need for more food.  Our storage sheds and crates were full and our walnut trees gave us a good harvest.  Again we gave thanks to the Great Spirit.  It was good.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 17, 2017, 01:26:53 PM
Chapter 4

  The winter had been cold and snowy.  We began year 4 with no firewood left at all.  A second woodcutter got to work over by the pine cabins.   The weather warmed nicely and by the month of the Corn Planting moon the corn was not only planted but growing vigorously as was the new field of pumpkins.

  Two groups of natives from the plains joined us at this time.  One group of 7 were all that were left  of their tribe.  A wagon trader from a nearby fort brought them blankets that cold winter and shortly after most of their tribe came down with a disease unknown to the them.  They had no resistance or medicine for the deadly sickness.  The other group of 5 lost their good hunting grounds and summer camp to another large fort settlement.  They at least managed to set free the captured wild horses and sank a few well-aimed arrows into those who were violating their sacred ceremonial grounds.

  We welcomed the newcomers, and more native huts and tents were built.  They were eager to learn the ways of this borderland camp.  The maple forest in the south was doing well, as was the pine forest in the north.  The harvester had gather flax and pine boughs.  We could use them to make charcoal in the new pine kiln and use the charcoal instead of firewood to process the iron ore into iron.  We needed strong iron tools.  We also needed warm coats.  We had many hides, pelts, and furs but only 1 tailor.  We built another mini workshop, the first would continue to make iron tools and the new one would make coats.

  We feared the threat of unknown and incurable diseases being brought to us by traders and others.  We built a healers house near the herbalist.  When Jonniel, the hauler, arrived we traded for all the logs and firewood he had and quickly sent him on his way. With plenty of firewood and sturdy houses we would be much warmer that winter.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 18, 2017, 12:05:41 PM
Chapter 5

  By the summer of year 5, we had another trading post built and the growing season was well underway.   Summer is a time of rapid growth in nature and in the time of our lives.  The warm summer breeze comes from the south and the color of the south wind is yellow, the color of the bright summer sun.  The south wind also represents the element of water like the rain that nourishes the rapid summer growth.

  The river brought 2 riverboat traders to us that summer.  Arly, the hauler, only had iron ore, coal, and some rough gemstones to trade.  He had just come from a place called North Mining Town.  He didn't have much to say and was soon on his way.  Brie, the seed merchant, spoke our native tongue.  He had just come from a settlement upriver called Meadowbrook so he had a lot of seeds with him.  He said farther south they could use some of all this summer rain we were getting, there was a serious draught down that way.  We traded for squash seeds before he went on his way.

  Our maple forest to the south was growing well, but not producing as well as we had hoped.  We still had no maple sap or wild apples.  We were also concerned with the productivity of our trapper in the pine forest to the north.  So far this year there were no pelts or furs from the pine forest.  The trapper east of town was doing much better.  We decided to build another trapper station on the outskirts of the north pine forest and see if it would do any better than the one in the center of it. There were several large herds of deer in the north, hunting would be good there.

  We also thought our productivity would improve if we improved our education.  Several young people missed schooling because our small classroom was full.  By winter of year 5, we had a pine schoolhouse built and Brie, the seed merchant, returned and we traded venison for bean seeds.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 18, 2017, 12:46:45 PM
your apples and maple should produce good with 5-8 years of growrh. your trapper in town won't produce as well as the other. they too will find more as the trees have more time to grow.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 18, 2017, 03:18:12 PM
Thanks @brads3 I am discovering that about maple forest, but pine forest trappers that are not in the pine forest are doing better than the one that is in it.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: kid1293 on November 18, 2017, 03:28:39 PM
I know Native Americans have had hard times all the way.
From near extinction to Hollywood.   :(

I think you do them justice by reminding us of their way of life.
It would surely be a world in more harmony if they could have lived their life in peace.

Maybe, just maybe, we can still learn and take care of our planet...

:)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 18, 2017, 03:34:39 PM
 :) Those are nice thoughts.  There's always hope.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 18, 2017, 04:08:58 PM
in the forest the items have to compete with the forest items too.that was something we discussed when NECORA was developing the mod.the more different items the game has to decide what to place ,the less of each you can collect.it is a juggle to find a balance.i have not tested the newest update. i think he updates after he got back this fall with changed outputs.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 19, 2017, 11:34:13 AM
@brads3 The trappers away from the pine forester are doing much better, trapper with pine forester had furs and pelts from the start, not none.  I have no other spawner mods enabled.  I set pine forester to cut only, maybe the forest is now too thick.  We shall see.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 19, 2017, 11:43:24 AM
Chapter 6

  In the month of the Frogs Return moon, 7 Dakota Sioux arrived in camp.  Winter had been harsh in the northern plains and food was scarce, they had not seen buffalo in many moons.  Of course we would help our brothers and welcomed them.

That year we plants corn, squash , and beans, the three sisters of native legend.  They would help each other grow.  The corn would shade the squash planted on the east side from the hot afternoon sun.  The morning sun would dry the dew from the squash and the vines would protect the corn from wild creatures coming to eat the corn.  The beans could twine up the corn plants for support and helped enrich the soil.

  Wild foods were now being gathered on the outskirts of the north pine forest and again the trapper there was more productive than the trapper in the center of the pine forest.  But we did not fail to thank the Great Spirit for the eggs and game they did produce.

  At the end of year 6 Cedar Creek settlement was prospering.  We had 32 homes and 86 residence.  Our storage sheds and crates were full and we were healthy and happy and it was good.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 20, 2017, 01:39:49 PM
Mod Note:  Abandoned Places mod has been added to the map.  Thank you @kid1293, perfect timing.   :)

Chapter 7

  In the month of the Budding Trees moon, our daughter Tian was born.  Dillam was pleased, it had been many moons since our son had been born.  It was not long after that 8 Sioux arrived from the Black Hills to the west.  The had traveled a long distance on foot because soldiers from a nearby fort took their ponies after killing many members of their tribe.  They had seen our smoke signal from a distance but could not make out what message we were sending. The smoke they had seen was from the kiln, we were again making iron from ore.  They were amazed at this powerful magic and wanted to see what strong tomahawks, bows, and knives, we were making.  We showed them our tools.  They scoffed at us: the pale-face enemy had powerful weapons, we could not fight them off with farm tools, but at least we destroyed their settlement.

  We did not know of what they spoke.  We knew of no settlement nearby.  They said to the west of the Great Plains they saw an abandoned village that had been destroyed.  There was nothing left but wood, stone, and this strange iron of which we spoke.  There was a large empty covered wagon.  We would build a bridge to the west and see this sight.  First we would feast to welcome our brothers and we would plant our crops.  We would thank the Great Spirit for our first harvest of maple sap.

  It was the month of the Ducks Fly moon before the bridge was finished and we made our way west across the plains to see this abandoned village of which our brothers spoke.  West is the direction of the setting sun before darkness comes, and the direction where dark storm clouds gather.  The color of the west wind is black.   The west wind is the wind of change, it blows the changing colored leaves down to the earth, enriching it and darkening it.  In this time of our lives we become more mature and down-to-earth and often complete earlier dreams and visions.  It is a time to contemplate the changes in our lives.  We contemplated deep dark thoughts of what the future might hold as we crossed the barren plains and saw the abandoned village for ourselves.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 20, 2017, 05:12:31 PM
hey cheater,what mod you using to get reeds in the map? did you forget to list 1?
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 20, 2017, 07:34:58 PM
hey @brads3 the only mod those reeds could have come with is CC Frontier.  It has no terrains but does has some start conditions.  I don't think the pine set has reeds.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 20, 2017, 07:42:11 PM
hmm , did you use a start setting from the frontier mod? no, pine doesn't have reeds.the nat div od wipes all my CC reeds out. everytime i try to make a duck blind i remember and have to use the dock set to harvest reeds.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 21, 2017, 04:51:07 AM
@brads3 I used medium start, they looked like CC reeds to me, I just assumed they came with Frontier.  They are being harvested, I don't know offhand by who though.  They look nice.  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 21, 2017, 12:59:04 PM
Chapter 8

  We found no clue as to what might have happened to the people of the abandoned village, but as year 7 drew to a close, we were concerned for our people.  It was not unusual at this time of year when food was scarce, for elders to roam off into the hills alone to die for the good of the tribe. But food was not scarce now.  It was also not unusual for young men to set off alone on vision quests to find their identity and direction in life.  But these were not young men.  We were concerned for these young squaws and middle aged brave who set off alone venturing far from camp, some even crossing Cedar Creek to the North.  This was not the time of year to seek visions alone in the wilderness, it was cold and the snow was already deep.  When they did not return we prepared a sacred burial ground.  Should they join the elders in the happy hunting grounds, we would have a place ready to lay their human remains to rest.

  When the snows melted we had a vision of the quest they set off on.  They sought the meat and hide of a deer on the far side of the creek, who must have been brought down by a stray hunting arrow.  With respect for the animal they set off to retrieve it's remains.  We built a bridge across the creek but were too late to shorten their return trip.

  In spring of year 8, Deral the planter, arrived at the trading post.  He seemed afraid of us and did not speak our tongue.  We managed to convey to him through sign language that we wanted the wild horses he had.  He took our venison and was quickly on his way.   We set the horses free out on the plains where they could grow strong and multiply.

  It was not long after that Ettina, the company merchant, arrived.  We understood him to say there was a great need for meat to the south.  We gave him venison in exchange for some wool.  We had no shortage of food, our harvests were good and the maple forest produced its first crop of wild apples.  The maple sap would be boiled down into maple syrup.  It was a very beautiful fall season and we had much to thank the Great Spirit for.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 22, 2017, 01:35:53 PM
Chapter 9

  Yes, we had much to be thankful for.  During the month of the Freeze Up moon, the buffalo returned to the plains.  It was a very small herd with one small calf but it would increase.  We would not hunt them until they numbered many.  Our children would rely on the herd as the ancestors did.  To celebrate the occasion we feasted on roast venison and smoke fish along with roasted corn, squash, and beans.  There were apples and cranberries and walnuts with maple syrup.

  The first frost was immediately followed by a hard killing freeze and soon after the first snow.  One of the wild horses gave birth late in the year and we prayed to the Great Spirit to protect this small creature.  We prayed for all the creatures and for our people when the snowstorm hit.  An icy north wind swept across the plains with a fierceness we had not seen in many moons.  Hunters and gatherers struggled through deep drifts to find their way home.  The white-haired elders were wise to stay inside out of the cold winter wind.  The color of the north wind is white and it was White Buffalo Calf Woman who brought the sacred pipe to the Lakota people and taught us how to pray.  She told us to pray for those who had 4 legs and those that had 2 legs, and for all that fly, swim and crawl, and to thank the Great Spirit for all he had given us so we may live.

  Yes, we had much to be thankful for and much to think about that winter of year 8.  Our Red Squirrel clan now numbered 102, 62 adults, 8 students, and 32 children.  In 8 years there had been no deaths or diseases and no one went hungry.  Again we waited for spring.

Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 23, 2017, 04:33:24 AM
Chapter 10


  And so weary traveler, I have tried to paint you a picture of Cedar Creek with all the colors of the wind: from the spiritual fiery morning red of the east wind the direction where the herbalist and healer are, to the emotional midday yellow of the south wind where the crops grow in the summer sun and the maple forest is, to the physical earthy autumn evening black of the west wind where the thundering hooves of buffalo can be heard and the fate of the abandoned settlement remains a dark mystery, and to the wintry white of the north wind where the white pines of the pine forest grow, and we are reminded of the wisdom of the wise elders.  So in our journey we have come full circle and return to the east and to spring. There are many lessons  to be learned traveling around the Medicine Wheel.  It is good and we thank the Great Spirit for all he has given us.

The End


  Today is the 4th Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day here in the United States.  The first Thanksgiving was a 3 day feast beginning on July 30, 1621.  There were local yearly harvest festivals but no officially proclaimed day of thanksgiving until in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November a national day of thanksgivings and prayer and praise to God.  (In 1939 the day was changed to a week earlier to lengthen the Christmas shopping season and in 1942 it was changed to the fourth Thursday of November as it is now)


I wish everyone everywhere, red and yellow, black and white, a very happy day of Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: kid1293 on November 23, 2017, 06:23:27 AM
 :) Nice!

A lot of thumbs up!
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on November 23, 2017, 07:32:21 AM
happy thanksgiving to you.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on November 23, 2017, 11:27:32 AM
Thank you @kid1293 , and @brads3 Happy Thanksgiving  :)
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: brads3 on December 28, 2017, 09:18:26 AM
did you ever use the fort pieces and try the work camp and musket range? i am curious if they require gold and silver for payments.
Title: Re: Abandoned - Cedar Creek - Story 20
Post by: Abandoned on December 28, 2017, 09:35:57 AM
@brads3 , no I did build a fort or work camp or musket range. Map ended when story ended.  Maybe another map and story, who knows?  :)