[hider=Mystery awoken, shades in the dark, pillars in the west.]

[b]Day 1, Week 25, cycle 1
Sobek marshlands.
Summertime 36 C°, Sunny with sporadic clouds.... to begin with[/b]

Awakening to a beautiful sunny sky, the Sobek smile to the suns warm rays and sit in the clearing for easily a couple of hours, just soaking the lifegiving warmth in.
The children, being restless and unable to sit still, compared to the adults, began to run around and play after these two hours and as such the people slowly began to return to the way before the storm.

The hunters quickly set out and hunted a Krollan, one that would be eaten in a feast, to commemorate the conquering of the storm.
Sebl and the seekers began to prepare for the journey north west, they wanted to see the river delta they had spotted far away.
This journey would be a rather long one however and they decided to prepare carefully, bringing several weeks worth of supplies.

Vorak was hard at work repairing buildings, examining tools and items and while juggling all that, began to construct an odd little 'building' of clay.
When Ata asked about the little creation, Vorak answered it was to trap the heat from the fire inside, so that the shining rocks would become hotter in the fire and thus melt more.
That was his guess at least, all of this were things he had contemplated during the long storm and dreamt about.
He called it a kiln.

The community was abuzz, the relief was so strong, one could almost see it in a way.
Ata dressed once more in his speaker attire, the Krollan skull giving him a regal appearance while figuratively leaning on his staff.
This day was perfect.....

Was...

The rain returned, barely any wind this time. The Sobek were used to rain though so had their feast anyway.
But some time through it, everyone agreed that the rain was not normal, it was darker, more heavy.
Ata spoke with heavy words.
-"It seems we are not safe yet, let's get the children inside again and be on our guard." All nodded in response, Ata's actions during the storm had garnered him respect from the Sobek, he was a leader and guide, intelligent and descisive.

The darkness had now taken over, the rumble of thunder in the distance, only lightning strikes providing any sustainable light in the heavy rain.
The waters began to rise, after a while Ata realised the hut was beginning to flood over, so he jumped into the water and entered through the underwater entry.
The fire had been snuffed out, Alaga was holding the crying children who were getting colder.
-"Alaga, this won't work, the water keeps rising, we must bring the children outside, have them protected by all of us!" Ata shouted, the booming rain drowning out most sounds.
Alaga nodded but did not answer, Ata realized how dire the situation was because the tribes infant was in her mouth, somewhere mothers only held their infants when they felt they were under immediate threat.
The children were evacuated, each one instructed to cling to and be held by an adult, to share their body heat.
Now came another trial, where the storm had been droning and drawn out, this darkest of nights, 'the long dark' proved to be a whole other test of endurance.
Standing constantly, even the grownups huddled together for warmth, forming a ring as water kept rising first over their ankles, then their knees, their waists and finally their chests.

Morale became low when shapes became visible in the distance, first it was thought it was the stress and vivid imagination of the children, but eventually it became clear that there was 'something' out there.
Ata, soon followed by Grazh waded out and roared into the night, keeping close to their people but placing themselves between them and whatever horrors were lurking in the dark.
Making themselves large, striking towards the danger, knowing full well there was not fighting this, but that didn't stop them from trying.
The shrieks of beasts in the night, the thunder of lightning and the cries of the children. It was draining the Sobek deeply bodily but even more emotionally.

At one point, Ata saw one of them. It was close, so close that if he would have taken a step and stricken with the staff he would have reached it. One of the shades, the dwellers in the fog.
It stared at him, he remembers those eyes perfectly, yet he cannot say if they had colour, the shape was unmistakable, but in the end he did not know what they were, what Ata knew however was that it was terrifying and staring right into his deepest being, his soul.
He was transfixed for a long while, probably seconds but it felt like hours, days. Until it simply turned back into the fog.
Ata was horrified, his heart beat with such intensity he had trouble breathing, he felt like he might die there and then from the horror.
But he did not.
And with that final apparition, the rains began to subside. A final low rolling rumble of thunder heralded the end of the rains.
The sun even began to poke through once again.

Over the next hour the light shone more and more, the children riding atop the shoulders of the adults to let them sit in the warmth while the adults moved.
They wandered for a bit, trying to find higher ground, they failed miserably and returned to their village, the highest point they knew of.
Luckily, the abnormal water levels didn't stay at those levels and soon the water was only knee deep over their raised little island.

It was a rough day, the worst one they'd ever experienced, but they had endured.

[b]Day 2, Week 25, cycle 1
Sobek marshlands.
Summertime 35 C°, Sunny[/b]

As the exhausted Sobek rested, Ata gazed into the sky, the darkness of the night keeping him awake, he felt wronged to the core and could not, would not sleep.
But gazing into the sky made him comfortable, he had sat there for hours when he noticed light beginning to form.
It was marvellous, light in the dark, life in the night, it was magnificent.
He began to wake the others, first met with annoyed gruffs, but as they saw the night sky they shut up and began to wake others.

So the Sobek stared into the night sky for a long time. Seeing the magnificent display of stellar debris shining down upon them, they knew there was hope.
There was light in the dark.

Eventually they went back to sleep, even Ata had to stop gazing upon the sky due to need of sleep.

The next morning the change was unmistakable, there was a strange feeling in the air and new odd things had appeared, the first noticeable a red flower with yellow dots which grew all over the swamp.
The most impressive thing was the towering formation of crystal and mineral spires to the west, rising above the mangroves and the higher laying jungles to the west.
It was awe inspiring, glistening in the sunlight.
Sebl couldn't contain himself, he needed to go there. He was off within the hour with another seeker.

In the camp, activity was rising by the hour. Eventually the camp was nearing full effectiveness and the children even played a bit, despite the events of yesterday.

[b]Day 3, Week 25, cycle 1
Sobek marshlands.
Summertime 41 C°, Scorching sun[/b]

The new day brought new projects and challanges, Vorak finalized his project and soon brought out a large ingot he showed all present, he then showed something he had created using moulds and hammering.
A copper axe, sharpened and reasonably polished with leaves and sand. The sobeks present awed by its sheen.
Ata took it and held it high, letting the sunlight glint from it for everyone to see.
-"Witness the first copper axe, the first of many tools. You have done well Vorak!" He was pleased, everyone agreed but Vorak was not done yet.
-"I am pleased, but i found something else while doing this." With curiosity people followed Vorak to his kiln, which had a crucible made from stone and was constructed with clay and was of a draft furnace design, rather clever design.
He reached inside and chipped off a piece of the inside of the furnace.

He held it so people could see and knocked on it with a claw, it pinged with a clear tone.
It was hard.
-"The fire made the clay hard, not as sturdy as rock but hard enough to interest me. Perhaps we can make things out of clay and burn them to make them hard?" Now many people were getting interested, even some of the children.
-"This sounds like a wonderful idea, we should try to make things from clay and let you burn them, perhaps we could create useful things?"
All present nodded at Ata's suggestion, some of the children were already scurrying off to get some clay, bragging about how they'd make the best things and sculptures like a clay Vorak, or an entire axe.

It was as such that the Sobek began to experiment with clay crafts, which would eventually result in pottery, as Sobek began to make deeper and deeper plates.

[b]Day 3, Week 25, cycle 1
Crystal formation.
Summertime 37 C°, Sunny[/b]

Sebl and the seeker had arrived, the formation was immense and magnificent. Glistening in the sun with a variety of colours, merging together to look like white.
They noticed a lot of copper and several other pieces they didn't recognize, brown, yellow, green. They brought an assortment of interesting rocks and a pair of chunks of copper ore they found.

[b]Day 4, Week 25, cycle 1
Sobek marshlands.
Summertime 38 C°, Sunny[/b]

The seekers had returned, now everyone was studying the odd rocks and the large chunks of copper.
It was decided that regular expeditions would be made to get hold of copper ore, to make tools and another project was discussed.

In a circle the oldest and wisest Sobeks gathered in a circle, around them the other listened intently.
Ata stood up in the middle and was acting as speaker, making sure that all present would get a fair share of their thoughts heard.
-"We gather now to discuss something which the first hunter and the first maker have discussed, we will decide what to do together." Ata's voice carried well and all present could easily hear him.
-"Grazh, speak first." He stood up.
-"I am Grazh, the first hunter. We have seen worrying things when hunting. Large lizards that move in groups, so far we've avoided them but i feel they could come closer to the village and threaten our people."
-"How big are these lizards?" Ata asked, giving word to the thoughts of many.
-"They reach as high or higher than us if raising their heads, if lain out on the ground they would be a bit bigger than us." Grazh statement got the response of a few gasps.
He kept going.
-"So far they've kept away, they bask in the sun like us but are not intelligent. They mostly keep to their packs but at times lone ones travel far. I fear they could come upon us at any moment, threatening our children and the weaker adults." Grazh spoke clearly, soon Vorak stood up and Ata gave him the word.
-"Me and Grazh have discussed this with Ata, but have not come to a conclusion. But i suggest we prepare a protector. A sobek who is strong, able and willing to fight who will defend the village and our people, this protector will be given the best equipment we can create."
Ata nodded to Vorak and spoke.
-"I have discussed this with you on many ocassions, but i am doubtful of one of your ideas, please state it."
-"As we all know, some of the other makers have begun making krollan leather, it is of great usefulness, we thank them. I have an idea with the copper and the combination of a leather jacket."
People were listening closely as Vorak spoke.
-"I suggest we clad our protector in copper, so no beast can harm him. This will however take a lot of copper and as such we won't be able to make many tools to begin with." Ata confronted Vorak.
-"Can we afford this lack of exceptional tools? Those who have tried the copper tools made so far know they are vastly superior. Also how would you clad a Sobek i copper? This is mad." His words were strong and confrontational, but lacked emotion, for anger would not give anything, nor would doubt, but strength would. Vorak answered.
-"I would make the copper into small pieces, sew and nail it to a jacket. It would be like our scales or those of a fish, a weave of copper scales."
-"I do not see how this would work, but i know you are wise in the art of making. So perhaps this is possible, but is it worth it? How dangerous are these lizards?"
Ata turned to Grazh, whom stood once more and spoke.
-"The lizards, whom we hunters call Stillio, are very large and have large claws and fangs, more deadly than ours. Should a single one come into our village it could kill an adult Sobek. Should several come i don't want to think of it. A protector would be able to be bitten and clawed if they were clad in copper."
-"Also, in the swamps, we've found tracks from something larger than a Stillio, we know not what manner of beast left it, but it is massive."
Ata nodded deeply and began to ask each and every one present, beginning with the eldest.
-"Shall we have a protector, and should this protector be clad in copper? Taking copper that would be used for tools?"

Every Sobek agreed that they should have a protector, a guardian to protect their settlement from the dangers in the swamp.
Many showing great worry for the children, others just claiming it common sense.
However fewer agreed about the copper usage. Many thought it would be better to get tools to build a large wall, others thought it best to gather several Sobek as protectors when the need arose, having a storage of spears ready.
One juvenile Sobek was for the idea of a copper clad protector, but thought it best to make tools to get more copper first so more could be gathered faster.
Ata praised this idea along with the idea of the storage of many spears.

Eventually it was decided, after several hours of discussion.
A group of protectors would be chosen, but one would be the first protector. The greatest among them and only the first would be constantly watching and training.
Tools for more copper were decided the best path forward, so hammers and wedges of copper would be made so that more copper would be brought it.
Only then would be first protector be clad in metal.

Now came the question, who would be the first protector.
Grazh gave his thoughts.
-"I say the most potent, strong and best at fighting should be the first protector, i myself however don't want to take away the chance for someone to be the first protector."
The Sobek were looking around and there was no doubt about it, Grazh was the biggest of them, the strongest and the best at fighting, having once wrestled a juvenile Krollan to the ground by himself.
Gar arose, Ata gave him the word.
-"I am Gar, one of the hunters. I think Grazh would make an excellent protector, for he is mighty and fight better than any of us. And.... he's rubbish at sneaking." People were at first astonished but then noticed the blatant grin on Gar's face, Grazh chuckled and answered.
-"You are harsh but fair Gar, i am the worst hunter when it comes to stealth, forgive me for the times i've scared off the prey."
The mood was good and Ata went forth to Grazh and put his hand on his shoulder before speaking.
-"Remember Grazh, being the first is not only a blessing, it is a responsibility. To see what the Sobek needs and to see what needs to be done. I say you would be a fine protector."
-"You honor me speaker!" Grazh had all eyes on him, getting a bit embarrased.

As such it was decided, Grazh would be the first protector, Gar would become the great hunter. For his excellence in hunting.

[b]Day 6, Week 27, cycle 1
South east riverlands.
Summertime 26 C°, Foggy[/b]

The sobek had come far, they had explored further now and had a better grasp of the peninsula they lived upon. Now Sebl had decided it was time to check out the rivers to the north-west of the Sobek.
For several days they had travelled as they came closer to the rivers.
The expedition was going great and Sebl and the two others decided to go to the coast and check the area again from there.

They were surprised, almost chocked.
In the distance, barely visible in the fog were huts on one of the riverbanks.
Sebl and the others didn't know what to do, who had built them? Were they occupied? Where they an unknown tribe of Sobek? Could something else build huts?
The only thing similar to intelligent life so far had been the Stillio and some small lizards, but none of them had shown any form of intelligence that suggested the ability to build huts.

They decided to get closer, slowly and silently walking through the fog, trying to not get spotted by whoever had created the huts.
They crossed the first of the trio of rivers to get to the area with the huts, slowly submerging into the water and silently emerging on the other side, repeating it once more on the second river.
With slow movements and great patience they closed with the mysterious settlement.
After several hours, it was nearing night. In the dark Sebl and the other seekers stalked the area trying to spot who lived there.
But no luck, the fog and the darkness was getting the better of them.
After at most half an hour they gave up, they didn't want to be noticed by whoever lived here and be ambushed, so they left as silently as they had come.

For half the night they kept moving, only submerging in the last river on their way home after moving constantly through the night.
Sticking up only their noses, they slept in the river, hopefully having evaded any pursuers.
Perhaps the village was empty, but it looked recently made and had many signs of being lived in.
So why hadn't they seen anyone?
The possibility of having been spotted was an option, perhaps having scared them off?

It would take two more days for the seekers to return from their foray.

[b]Day 2, Week 28, cycle 1
Sobek marshlands.
Summertime 29 C°, Sunny[/b]

The seekers informed the others, it was decided.
The Sobek would continue to scout around this mysterious settlement, attempt to figure out who lived there and if they were Sobek, or some kind of unfathomable lifeform.
Some played with the idea that they could be birdmen, fishmen or perhaps even plantmen.
While speculations were wild, no one really thought it would be anything outlandish, so they expected some sort of sapient reptillian and probably another tribe of Sobek.

[/hider]


[hider=TL;DR]

The Sobek survive the long night, shaken but undeterred. They begin to scout more aggressively finding the large mineral formation to their west.
They begin to work on pottery and find a mysterious settlement to the north, they try to get near but dare not go too close.

Grazh becomes the first protector and the Sobek begins to assemble gear for the first protector. Sacrificing some spread of tools.

[/hider]