Post by Fleischmann on Mar 12, 2021 0:15:34 GMT
In the immediate aftermath of the war in the Gankands, many social issues were left exposed and raw in the newly conquered territories. Besides the widespread mistrust, trauma, and outright xenophobia, an odd issue had arisen amongst the men that had signed on for the great adventure. Many of them were wifeless and though some had found some success in courting the local girls, most had been rebuffed by the fathers and brothers. Despite bringing great wedding gifts of gold, silver, and livestock, most found that the locals were outright too hostile to be reasoned with.
Some had taken to finding brides back in the Raikh, but for the vast majority of them, this was simply not an option. As such, whilst the Hebithmen and other important sorts met up and discussed matters of great importance, the men of Hweituzdas gathered in parties and had an assembly of their own to address the issue that befell them. Thousands of men gathered into a great meeting place and argued amongst themselves, until finally camps started forming and the arguments became more structured with representatives speaking for different sections.
'We say we ought to just buy those slave girls with the monies we got from our shares. There're plenty of them to go around betwix us and we've all got the money.' argued one man, from one of the smaller camps. 'And we say that you are a fool for entertaining such thoughts! Go do so if you will it, but we will have no part. Most of us do not have the inclination nor means to buy ourselves a woman that way and the prices will surely increase if we were to all attempt such, making it even less likely for us to afford one.' replied another. 'Hear, hear! We've conquered these people, yet they turn us from their homes and offer us not even the barest of respects. We offer them fair prices for their daughters, yet they scorn us so! Lo, look to the graves and pyres we have dug and built, is there not a great deluge of menfolk that we must give rites to?' A number of 'Yeas' came from the crowd. 'And tell me, how many of the fairer sex have we seen on the pyres or mixed in amongst the rotting corpses? Not many I say!' A larger number of 'Yeas' came from the assembled. 'So I ask you kind sirs, what could be the cause of this great inequity from which we suffer? Do they not have enough women for themselves or do they spite us so?' And the crowd this time cried out 'Spite', with many adding in profanities towards the Gankanders.
With his point gotten across, the man sat himself down and allowed others to speak. 'As my fair fellow over there has said, there is no shortage of women here. A great surplus in fact! As we are all poor men and as they are the conquered, I put this notion to you: "Why should we not take what is ours by right?", why should we squabble and beg and negotiate with those that are our lessers and serfs? I say this, we should not ask them further. If you do not follow suit, that is no great injury to me, but I will go to the first home I find and take the first girl I find for to wife, and any who follow suit will be more than welcome to take any sisters I find. If not, I will just take the lot for myself!'
With this said, a great cheer broke out amongst the men. Some made their way out of the meeting, not agreeing with its course, but most seemed to find the idea amicable. Once the cheers of approval calmed down, the sections began organising themselves once more and most of the men were told to get their weapons and assemble into parties outside. The men left in the meeting place, a large amphitheatre of some sort, began pouring over a map and splitting up the villages and towns. If they were to go a bride-napping, they were going to do it right and make sure no area got hit by two bands, lest the men get frustrated.
Some had taken to finding brides back in the Raikh, but for the vast majority of them, this was simply not an option. As such, whilst the Hebithmen and other important sorts met up and discussed matters of great importance, the men of Hweituzdas gathered in parties and had an assembly of their own to address the issue that befell them. Thousands of men gathered into a great meeting place and argued amongst themselves, until finally camps started forming and the arguments became more structured with representatives speaking for different sections.
'We say we ought to just buy those slave girls with the monies we got from our shares. There're plenty of them to go around betwix us and we've all got the money.' argued one man, from one of the smaller camps. 'And we say that you are a fool for entertaining such thoughts! Go do so if you will it, but we will have no part. Most of us do not have the inclination nor means to buy ourselves a woman that way and the prices will surely increase if we were to all attempt such, making it even less likely for us to afford one.' replied another. 'Hear, hear! We've conquered these people, yet they turn us from their homes and offer us not even the barest of respects. We offer them fair prices for their daughters, yet they scorn us so! Lo, look to the graves and pyres we have dug and built, is there not a great deluge of menfolk that we must give rites to?' A number of 'Yeas' came from the crowd. 'And tell me, how many of the fairer sex have we seen on the pyres or mixed in amongst the rotting corpses? Not many I say!' A larger number of 'Yeas' came from the assembled. 'So I ask you kind sirs, what could be the cause of this great inequity from which we suffer? Do they not have enough women for themselves or do they spite us so?' And the crowd this time cried out 'Spite', with many adding in profanities towards the Gankanders.
With his point gotten across, the man sat himself down and allowed others to speak. 'As my fair fellow over there has said, there is no shortage of women here. A great surplus in fact! As we are all poor men and as they are the conquered, I put this notion to you: "Why should we not take what is ours by right?", why should we squabble and beg and negotiate with those that are our lessers and serfs? I say this, we should not ask them further. If you do not follow suit, that is no great injury to me, but I will go to the first home I find and take the first girl I find for to wife, and any who follow suit will be more than welcome to take any sisters I find. If not, I will just take the lot for myself!'
With this said, a great cheer broke out amongst the men. Some made their way out of the meeting, not agreeing with its course, but most seemed to find the idea amicable. Once the cheers of approval calmed down, the sections began organising themselves once more and most of the men were told to get their weapons and assemble into parties outside. The men left in the meeting place, a large amphitheatre of some sort, began pouring over a map and splitting up the villages and towns. If they were to go a bride-napping, they were going to do it right and make sure no area got hit by two bands, lest the men get frustrated.