My Life Among the Barbarians

Today was a truly barbarous day at the settlement. When dawn arrived and the barbarians began stirring, I must admit I wanted to merely roll over and snuggle deeply into my sleeping furs and snooze the day away. Even now as the littlest barbarian fights sleep in my hut, I wish I was back in bed in that just waking haze and that today had perhaps only been a dream. It began almost as soon as I ventured up the hill to the Gathering Hall. The littlest barbarian was in dire need of a change, but the sight that greeted me upon entering that Hall was almost too much for my groggy mind to handle. There on the stuffed hides were the elder barbarians, watching the rocks glow across the Hall. The White Wolf was groveling at my feet, desperate to be set outside of the settlements walls. There in the center of the Gathering Hall was a pile of the White Wolf's excrement. It was obviously unhealthy excrement and not entirely her fault, she probably couldn't hold it. The paw print where sh...

Today was exceptionally busy, which doesn't seem to have agreed with the littlest barbarian. She's having a difficult time getting to sleep tonight. After dropping the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning, the littlest barbarian, the White Wolf, and I ventured westward to the Distant Honoured Elder. She had an appointment with a special Medicine Man to examine her eyes. The littlest barbarian spent almost two hours rampaging about the Halls of Medicine. By the time the Honourable Elder was finished, the littlest barbarian and I were both exhausted. I had to rush to the eastbound caravan so I could make it back home in time to pick up the other barbarians. The little one slept on the ride home, but she was still overtired and somewhat cranky by bedtime. It's taken much longer than usual to put her down, but we've finally gotten her down This weekend we'll be doing some serious spring cleaning around the settlement.

I'm finally starting to feel a little better, though my voice is still not up to its usual volume. The elder barbarians have been behaving themselves somewhat better, though mostly because I've been sterner than usual. My illness has forced me to speak softly, which has actually changed my research style. This isn't actually a bad thing. I'm behind on cleaning up the settlement because of my illness. I have only nine sunrises before we have the Elders and a few friends to the settlement to celebrate the littlest barbarian's Birthing Day Ritual. Today, while I'm feeling better, she is being exceptionally demanding and unsurprisingly refusing to nap. If she persists in her refusal, I'll take her for a long walk in the warm weather this afternoon. May the weather cooperate.

I have been negligent in my duties as a researcher these last few days. It seems I have at last fallen victim to one of the barbarian plagues and this one lingers. My voice has abandoned me, which makes life with the barbarians difficult at best. A dry cough plagues my throat and without constant lozenges (provided by the medicine man at Mart's Wall) I find it difficult to speak at all. With near constant lubrication, I can speak, but only at a whisper. The Medicine Woman prescribed a potion that was to clear up part of my malady, but while my ear no longer pains me, my throat has not improved. I fear that without the power of my voice to bring the barbarous horde to heel, my time among them may be drawing to an end. They simmer and seethe at the edge of true rebellion. Yesterday morning, I was forced to carry one of them, literally kicking and screaming, to the caravan for conveyance to the Halls of Learning. I could hardly believe I, in my weakened state, was capable of manhand...

Some evil spirit has stolen my voice. I never realized how much I depended on it. The barbarians gave difficulty listening at the best of times, without being able to raise my voice they are a hundred times worse. The littlest barbarian doesn't struggle as much as the older pair, but even she doesn't like that I'm not singing to her. Music soothes the savage beast after all. I'm seriously dreading the morning when I have to cajole the barbarians into preparing for the Halls of Learning. For tonight, I'm going to sleep and hope that I will feel better in the morning. I have some potions from the Medicine Woman that I hope will help me in that regard.

Today was the eldest barbarian's special day with my partner and I. We visited a special market for collectable rocks and ate red oceanic roaches at a special Dining Hall. Overall, it was a good day right up until the end. The eldest barbarian, overwhelmed by rich and uncommon delicacies, became quite ill. It was a nerve wracking trek back with the caravan. We have arrived home now and he still feels quite ill though after relieving himself of dinner, he hasn't been overcome by sickness. It just goes to further illustrate that there is never a dull day in our settlement. The littlest barbarian has finally submitted to get sleep training and goes down with barely a fuss. Once the eldest barbarian goes to bed, very soon, my partner and I will have the settlement to ourselves. Unfortunately, I have caught the latest plague the barbarians have brought to the settlement. Tomorrow is chore day and I can't say I am looking toward it with anything resembling anticipation.

It is often difficult to accept how frequently plans go terribly awry whenever barbarians are involved.  For the past few days, the eldest barbarian has had a project he is desperate to undertake. Circumstances haven't allowed me the chance to trade for the clay that he insists is necessary for the project. I was finally able to trade for the clay last night, but I refused to allow him to undertake the project immediately upon my arrival with the clay. This caused an extreme outburst, but I was able to calm him with the promise that we would begin the project after he returned from the Halls of Learning today. Of course the Fates had other plans. My partner and I went to a Farewell Ritual with the littlest barbarian this morning. We stayed longer than we intended, but my partner was surrounded by people he sees only infrequently and I will not begrudge him those moments. The littlest barbarian enjoyed the latter half of the Ritual as it included food and fellowship with other li...

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox and I almost forgot. Winter is officially over, at least in name. I'm sure it has some nasty surprise waiting for us sometime soon. Winter II: The Revenge Today, the Riverside Land of Slumber delivered my new stuffed furs for the Gathering Hall. I spent the morning preparing the Hall and the afternoon cuddling with the littlest barbarian on the new furs. The peaceful air of the settlement was destroyed as soon as the elder barbarians returned from the Halls of Learning. The eldest barbarian had his heart set on a project I have not yet been able to prepare for him yet. I haven't been able to go trading the last couple of days with the middle barbarian ill and no access to the caravan today. Hopefully tomorrow he's satisfied.

This morning, as every morning seems to lately, came entirely too early. The barbarians were unruly, which isn't unusual. The trouble really started when the elder barbarian was informed that the middle was still unable to attend the Halls of Learning. He was not feverish this morning, but according to the rules, he was forbidden. The eldest then concluded that his presence was not required at those hallowed Halls either. This lead to an attempt at mutiny. While the middle barbarian watched in smug satisfaction, I carted the eldest and the youngest off. That smugness only lasted until both of the older barbarians were invited to go pillaging with one of the barbarians of a nearby settlement. The eldest promptly trotted off on a merry adventure while the middle barbarian revolted. He insisted that he had been healthy enough to go to the Halls of Learning and thereby should be allowed to go pillaging with the others. He did not take kindly to my insistence that he remain in the se...

Today has been a brutal one. It began almost as soon as yesterday became today. My partner was called away on a late night hunt last night and didn't return until late morning. Unfortunately, this did not mean that I was alone in my sleeping furs. It was freshly midnight when the eldest barbarian invaded. He crawled into my sleeping furs and cuddled close, leaving a blaze of light behind him where he had lit every torch between his hut and mine (and some that weren't even in his path.) This glorious midnight blaze awakened the littlest barbarian with a furious cry. Nothing could soothe the savage spirit within her. Between the two barbarians I slept barely a wink for the remainder of the night. Our Awakening came way too early and brought with it even more unpleasantness. The middle barbarian awakened with a fever and so could not attend the Halls of Learning. The littlest barbarian and I were supposed to make the trek to the Distant Honored Elder's settlement to assist...

The past couple of days have passed so quickly. The barbarians have been wild as the spring thaw continues. Today, I ventured out in minimal furs. The littlest barbarian is slowly yielding to the sleep training, though her stubbornness does occasionally win out. Today she was on her best and most charming behavior while we took our caravan to be repaired. The eldest had an appointment with the Medicine Woman and I feel as though I have been running all day. Tomorrow one of the Most Honorable Elders will watch the littlest barbarian and I will venture to the Distant Honorable Elder's settlement for the third time in a week. Pray that there are no unforeseen complications.

I awakened, very early, this morning feeling quite poorly. After some extra sleep, thanks to my partner, I feel much better. The eldest barbarian is off with the Most Honored Elders enjoying some special time. Meanwhile, the middle barbarian is enjoying some special time with my partner and I. The littlest barbarian is here as well, but we're focusing on the middle barbarian as much as we can. The thaw is progressing, leaving behind flooded huts and craters in most of the trails. I will freely admit that despite the risk to our settlement, I am greatly enamored with the coming of spring. Yesterday there was warm sunshine, despite the cold wind. I have even started seeing green. I didn't realize how much I missed that color through the winter.

Today is the day that the Wise Men and Women who train the youngest of the barbarians at the Halls of Learning hunt for a new crop of young barbarians so the middle barbarian was excused from Learning. Instead, we joined the westbound caravan again headed for the Distant Elder's settlement. We needed certain supplies we couldn't trade for near our settlement. The younger two barbarians were on very good behavior today. The middle barbarian used some of his hard earned coin to trade for a new toy (I think the elder barbarian is more than slightly jealous.) I traded for the good that I needed, including new foot coverings for the middle barbarian (his fourth this year.) The littlest barbarian ended her evening with a fury heretofore unknown. The time has come to sleep train her. Shockingly, I have had a much more difficult time coming around to the decision with the youngest barbarian. The elder pair were trained early, with not too much fuss. The youngest seems unwilling to s...

The Vernal Equinox approaches and I was only recently lamenting that spring may well never appear this year. In the last couple of days, it has appeared. Sunshine, warmer temperatures, and then a whole lot of rain. Winter has not finished with us yet, it has sewn the seeds of destruction and now it waits patiently for them to bloom. The rains have joined the melting snow to fill the dry runs in the region. Some nearby settlements have already flooded and more will likely succumb before the thaw had ended. Thus far our settlement had remained dry inside, but my hut is under the hill and I worry that it will not remain dry. The littlest barbarian has finally cut one of the teeth she's been working on. She seems slightly less frantic now, although she still chews on everything. The elder barbarians went to the Halls of Learning this morning without much complaint, I wonder if their good humor will last through the afternoon.

Other than her naps in the caravan yesterday, the littlest barbarian went without sleep. She went down fairly easily at bedtime, but her sleep was fitful from the beginning. Near midnight, she awakened. She was stricken by a bloated stomach filled with bubbles of gas. Though I did not relish yesterday's stench in the caravan, I found myself wishing that the littlest barbarian could pass gas so freely. Neither my partner not I got much sleep last night with her loudly voicing her agony. Having suffered from gas pains myself, I cannot say I blame her. It is easy to empathise in retrospect, it is not as easy as hour stretches into hour in the middle of the night. She finally returned to sleep and I was able to get some small amount of rest before facing the day. It was not enough, it feels as though it hasn't been enough for months. The elder barbarians have always been good sleepers. The littlest barbarian has almost reached her first birthing day and she still refuses to slee...

This morning, I overslept and was forced to rush the barbarians through the morning routine. This usually would lead to rebellion, but this morning the barbarians were strangely cooperative. While it was a good thing this morning, I wonder what bike retribution they are plotting for later. After I dropped the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning, the littlest barbarian, the White Wolf, and I began our long journey to the Distant Honoured Elder. This, for some reason, displeased the littlest barbarian greatly. She began crying shortly after the caravan joined the large westbound trail. It didn't take long before the White Wolf joined her, creating a most obnoxious cacaphony within the caravan. They sang a horrific duet for most of the duration of our voyage, stopping only when the littlest barbarian exhausted herself to the point of slumber. I wish that I could say that the noise was the worst part of our hellish journey this morning, but I would be lying. Instead, the worst...

Today began at top volume well before dawn. The littlest barbarian awakened with a fury even before my early rising partner. It was surprising, since spring ahead usually leads to late sleeping barbarians.  She adamantly refused to resume her slumbers and thus I was unable to reclaim mine. We went up the hill to the Gathering Hall and played quietly while the other barbarians slept. I had to awaken the eldest. After breaking our fasts, we got ready to join the morning caravan. As soon as we opened the gates of the settlement, the White Wolf bolted for freedom. I had my hands full with the littlest barbarian, two packs filled with gear, and my warm furs. I loaded the littlest barbarian in our cart, tasked the eldest barbarian with her care, and joined the middle barbarian on his quest to recover the White Wolf. While I ranged wide, he stayed near the gates. The White Wolf eventually returned to him and he was able to secure her. I was so proud of his helpfulness and quick thinkin...

Today is the Day of Gaming and for the first time in a few weeks, we were able to enjoy it. Last night after the evening meal, I began stewing the meat for tonight's dinner. I do so enjoy cooking for the Day of Gaming, the barbarians can be so picky at times. I had up stay up quite late to finish the first part of our meal and put it into the root cellar to cool overnight. The littlest barbarian chose to awaken almost as soon as I retired to my sleeping furs. My partner, after our journey yesterday, suffered from a sour stomach and slept poorly. Neither of us was at our best with the barbarians this morning. Sensing our weakness, the middle barbarian struck. His voice ripped through the early morning stillness of the settlement as he staged a revolution. He attempted to cajole the eldest barbarian to join him, but the eldest resisted. I was quite proud of him. We managed to overcome the revolution, but only just. Relations at the settlement were tenuous for the remainder of the...

Today we left the littlest barbarian with the Most Honorable Elders and piled the older barbarians onto a passing caravan and headed down the arduous eastbound trail to the massive settlements that flank the big river. The eldest barbarian was convinced that we were attempting to murder him by tearing him away from his familiar environs and insisting that he accompany us to the markets. Once we left our settlement, his attitude improved greatly. The barbarians are still suffering from the winter's confinement and so they were filled with a manic energy while my partner and I bargained with the traders. At the large market we were able to find a new set of stuffed hides to replace the broken one in our Gathering Hall. After trading, we took the barbarians for a special meal. They seem on good spirits now that we are on our way back to the settlement on the westbound caravan. I only hope that the littlest barbarian has fared well with the Most Honorable Elders.  I worry that may no...

Last night, my partner and I had meetings with the Wise Women that teach the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning. In general, they are both doing quite well. Afterward, we took them out for a bit of a celebration. Unfortunately, this kept them up later than they should have been. This morning, I paid for that excess. Neither of the elder barbarians were enthused about the idea of journeying to the Halls of Learning today. There was a mutiny in our settlement and they were nearly successful. I was barely able to motivate them to the caravan and once in it, they were reluctant to leave it. By the time I delivered them, the littlest barbarian was ready for a nap. She is still cutting teeth and is a bit feverish and more than slightly fussy today. She was ready for her second nap by noon and seems ready for a third this afternoon. The storm hasn't arrived yet, which is good news, but the sense of doom yet lingers.

Yesterday, the littlest barbarian and I ventured out on a trip other than for provisions for the first time in what feels like an eternity. We travelled to the Halls of Wisdom to visit the Storyteller. The elder barbarians always enjoyed visits to the Halls of Wisdom, but especially enjoyed the Storyteller. It was the first time the littlest barbarian had visited the Storyteller. I must say she enjoyed it and it was well worth braving the cold. Today is the day that the Oracles originally foretold the next storm would occur. They have changed their stories several times, but the general consensus is that a storm is in fact coming and soon. The lead up to Spring is purportedly upon us and yet no signs of it have yet arrived. The small trail South of our settlement is covered in ice more than an inch thick. The paths inside our settlement are icy as well. The wind has fangs of ice and howls at any gap it can find in your furs. I begin to feel that Winter is eternal.

That ominous sense that calamity approaches our settlement will not leave me. I awakened to it settled over me like a fog. The younger pair of barbarians have continued their run of exceptional behaviour, which makes my heart shudder to think of what will happen when it inevitably ends. The eldest barbarian, on the other hand, seems to have forgotten any good that ever resided within him. He awakened this morning with a willful fury that rivaled the recent fury of Mother Nature. He insisted that he would not be returning to the Halls of Learning, ever. He would remain at the settlement every day forever. Further, he hates all things related to the Halls of Learning. He fought and raged, screamed and thrashed. I was eventually able to coax him to the caravan and out into the icy wastes on the road to the Halls of Learning. The littlest barbarian and I walked with him to make sure he got to the Wise Woman that teaches him. I wish her more luck than I have had with him today. Despite...

I'm ready for the plague to leave our settlement. This morning, we braved bitter cold temperatures to send the barbarians off to the Halls of Learning. Or rather, one barbarian off to the Halls of Learning. The eldest barbarian remained with me around the settlement for one final day. We were in desperate need of supplies after last week, so I had to take the two barbarians that remained in the settlement with me to Mart's Wall, Wayfarer's, and the Comet. They were both perfectly well behaved, which I find much more sinister than when they behave at least a little poorly. My anxiety has only been increasing all day as the barbarians remained well behaved. Something must eventually give. It will likely be my nerves. All day all three barbarians were not perfectly behaved, but it was remarkably close. Now that they are all settled in their huts, I find I am still waiting for disaster. The storm is coming.

I have noticed that poor weather impacts the little barbarians more than any others external factor. It has gotten colder again and I heard that the Oracles have foreseen another storm coming. I have begun to feel that there will be no end to this cursed winter. Every day some fresh new horror rears its ugly head. Today, the eldest barbarian took his temper firmly by the reins and stampeded through the settlement, trampling everything in his path. Nothing was safe from his wrath. Well, nothing but the white wolf. He is still plagued by illness and I can only hope tomorrow is a better day.

I begin to believe that it is my own tremulous optimism that is the catalyst of the ill luck that plagues our settlement. Last night, listening to the settlement sleep, I felt hopeful and thought that perhaps a new month meant a new opportunity for our fortunes to turn. My partner, still tired from his battle with the plague and doubly so after his return to the hunt yesterday, went down the hill to our hut shortly after the evening feast. I remained in the gathering hall and put the elder barbarians to bed in their huts. Afterward, I basked in the sounds of our settlement asleep and allowed myself to entertain optimism about our immediate future here in the settlement. I remained awake perhaps later than I should have, but not unduly so. As soon as I rose to walk down the hill to bed, the littlest barbarian awakened. She was not feverish, nor prone to coughing. There was no obvious reason for her wakefulness. She remained restless, wakeful, and loud for the remainder of the night on...

It has been a busy day. The littlest barbarian went napless this afternoon and was feeling mighty feisty, but she was surprisingly well behaved during our meeting this afternoon. We had a momentous occasion this afternoon, we met with the Most Honourable Elders and a Lawspeaker and made an agreement giving us ownership of the land our settlement is built upon.  In exchange, we will provide trade goods monthly. I am excited about the change in our status here, but also very nervous. With all is the ill luck that has befallen us thus far this year, I dread what may befall us now. All three barbarians are asleep in the settlement tonight. My partner and the white wolf are also asleep. It feels so odd to hear the settlement breathing all around me again. It feels good as well. Today marks the beginning of a new period, the last lead up to the Vernal Equinox and the coming of spring. I pray that winter and all its I'll spirits are behind us now. I pray for peace in our settlement an...