Land of Salmon and Totems 2.0
- Thread starter Malta
- Start date
"The mother she cries in the night. Tears of sadness at the death and tears of joy at knowing our embrace once more." the Way-Talker chanted, covered in nothing but woven grass from the banks of the Mother River. The throng of people behind him either wept as they walked or stared forward stoicly. The only one who stood alongside the Way-Talker was the deceased's only living son, not more then fifteen cycle-returns he walked proudly wearing the skin of his father around his head as if he stood proud to take on the family's future, the skin of his mother around his shoulders as if she still caressed him to banish his fears, and the skin of his younger brother and sisters around his waist as if they were still alive clinging to their older brother for protection and family bond. Hain though could never have protected any of his family from the Wilting Sickness, he had fled from his family's home-pushed out by his father-so that their memory may live to this day and the family reborn anew.
As the funeral procession arrived to the edge of the Mother River they came upon a stone structure jutting out from the banks and overlooking the river. Almost like a bridge only completed a quarter of the way across the Mother River's length. Twice as tall as the tallest man in the village the only way to climb ontop of the structure was a series of small steps that only one person could climb at a time. It was Hain's duty to climb the steps alone and so he did, cradling the bones of his family in his arms the urn nearly slipping as he took his first step. The incline of the structure was not intense and so it was easy to climb the ten or so steps to the top, though Hain could swear he could smell the ash of his family from the Way Talker's own ritual burning of his familie's remains. Below and behind him the Way Talker's voice rang out once more "The fathers howl with fire! They drum the beats of war and battle!"
Reaching the top Hain could see even from here that it extended only a few persons out into the Mother River, but at the very edge what awaited him was a stone slab, bound wood and grass, and a single torch. Slowly, respectfully Hain approached the slab of stone, looking out over the length of the Mother River, past the grasslands and into the forests and then up far the hills and Fire Chiefs who stood imposing and protective over their dominion. To them he shouted "I will make my name and blood proud! With no regrets do I cut away my family and allow them bliss in the Mother River's embrace and excitment at the Fire Chief's realms! Let their halves be split and go to their proper place in this world!"
Unscrewing the top of the urn, Hain spread out across the slab of wood and grass the blacken and charred remains of his family, next one by one placing the skin hides of his loved ones over their bones. A single tear slid down his face as he cast the torch onto the only physical remains of his family. The fire spreading and curling the skin of his family before it all became consumed, Hain had done his duty and for that he was proud.
(Note: Next Update. The Grey Sons and Foreign Policy).
As the funeral procession arrived to the edge of the Mother River they came upon a stone structure jutting out from the banks and overlooking the river. Almost like a bridge only completed a quarter of the way across the Mother River's length. Twice as tall as the tallest man in the village the only way to climb ontop of the structure was a series of small steps that only one person could climb at a time. It was Hain's duty to climb the steps alone and so he did, cradling the bones of his family in his arms the urn nearly slipping as he took his first step. The incline of the structure was not intense and so it was easy to climb the ten or so steps to the top, though Hain could swear he could smell the ash of his family from the Way Talker's own ritual burning of his familie's remains. Below and behind him the Way Talker's voice rang out once more "The fathers howl with fire! They drum the beats of war and battle!"
Reaching the top Hain could see even from here that it extended only a few persons out into the Mother River, but at the very edge what awaited him was a stone slab, bound wood and grass, and a single torch. Slowly, respectfully Hain approached the slab of stone, looking out over the length of the Mother River, past the grasslands and into the forests and then up far the hills and Fire Chiefs who stood imposing and protective over their dominion. To them he shouted "I will make my name and blood proud! With no regrets do I cut away my family and allow them bliss in the Mother River's embrace and excitment at the Fire Chief's realms! Let their halves be split and go to their proper place in this world!"
Unscrewing the top of the urn, Hain spread out across the slab of wood and grass the blacken and charred remains of his family, next one by one placing the skin hides of his loved ones over their bones. A single tear slid down his face as he cast the torch onto the only physical remains of his family. The fire spreading and curling the skin of his family before it all became consumed, Hain had done his duty and for that he was proud.
(Note: Next Update. The Grey Sons and Foreign Policy).
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Lineage of the House of the Red Tree (1175-1349)
Tikal'Han (1175-1195) (20 Year Rule, Age 55)
Tikal'Han-Shon (1195-1230) (35 Year Rule, Age 63)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Duarren (1230-1235) (5 Year Rule, 35)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali (1235-1263) (28 Year Rule, Age 61)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali-Whaelen (1263-1298) (35 Year Rule, Age 63)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali-Whaelen-Khansoto (1298-1349) ( 51 Year Rule, Age 81)
The House of the Red Tree in the history of the Willamette Valley is considered one of the Five Grand Dynasties that held sway over the region for long periods of time and for peaceful periods of time. The House of the Red Tree also heralded a change in governing and society that brought an end to the violent period known as the Era of Fifteen Houses or Dynasties. The beginning starts with the dynasty's founder, Tikal'Han or the Red Tree or Red Wood or the Red Steadfast. Though prior to his ascension to ruler of the Willamette Valley he was known as Ernn’Esk, the Luck Son, as his father was the previous ruler of the last of the last fifteen dynasties that had corresponded in the Era of Fifteen Houses. Known as Ernn’Ailuco, the Ruler of Luck of the House of Luck or Fateful Rule, his short reign was not unusual as he had previously usurped his own father the second son of the House of the Bronze Axe. Ernn’Ailuco was one of several rulers during this period whose political houses only lasted through one ruler, but as with Willamette Valley tradition it was recognized as a legitimate ruling house despite how ‘Tul’ or Karma may have turned ill for them.
The mythical origin legend of the House of the Red Tree says that the then named Ernn’Esk one morning while he was on a hunting trip in the southern end of the Willamette Valley he was attacked by a band of raiders from the south (most likely the Hashta people of the southern Cascades who historically often switched from raiding to trading with the Willamette Valley people.) and forced to flee into the mountains alone. Wandering the mountains for two weeks, avoiding bands of Hashta and hunting for him, it is said he sought refuge in the branches of a lone Sequoia or Redwood that sat on the edge of a cliff. One night he had a prophetic dream from the Onallan and Onailuco who proclaimed him ruler of the people of the river and the mountains and beyond. After the dream he soon returned to the valley and proclaimed his own ruler ship, and in a short two year civil war overthrew his father and crowned himself ruler of the Willamette Valley, the Columbia River, and everything within sight of the Cascade Mountains. In hindsight it seems likely that his dream may have been a lie to win over the spiritual support of the people or consolidate his rule following his victory as surviving stone texts only mention the dream in the latter years of his rule.
Despite how he came to power it was how he stayed in power and how his lineage stayed in power that was rather revolutionary and ensured the end of the Era of Fifteen Houses. Upon becoming Emperor he immediately sent out invitations to several of his allies and those dissatisfied with his ruler ship to join him in blood. In a lavish ceremony he married not only the daughters of his closest confidents but, those of several minor and major clan heads symbolically binding them to the House of the Red Tree. Whereupon he soon assigned his new relatives into ‘Branch Families’, each family would have a specific role in the government such as training future generals, administrators, governors, diplomats, etc and his children of that family group would have hereditary right to continue their position, but only those from the ‘Trunk Family’, namely those from his first two wives would have right to inherit the throne of the House of the Red Tree. The sapling that Tikal’Han nurtured would grow into a a nearly two-hundred year ruling house, and the basic system would be carried over into the next two dynasties to effective use.
Also to note about the House of the Red Tree is that during its reign the Willamette Valley civilization entered its own Iron Age.
Tikal'Han (1175-1195) (20 Year Rule, Age 55)
Tikal'Han-Shon (1195-1230) (35 Year Rule, Age 63)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Duarren (1230-1235) (5 Year Rule, 35)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali (1235-1263) (28 Year Rule, Age 61)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali-Whaelen (1263-1298) (35 Year Rule, Age 63)
Tikal'Han-Shon-Khali-Whaelen-Khansoto (1298-1349) ( 51 Year Rule, Age 81)
The House of the Red Tree in the history of the Willamette Valley is considered one of the Five Grand Dynasties that held sway over the region for long periods of time and for peaceful periods of time. The House of the Red Tree also heralded a change in governing and society that brought an end to the violent period known as the Era of Fifteen Houses or Dynasties. The beginning starts with the dynasty's founder, Tikal'Han or the Red Tree or Red Wood or the Red Steadfast. Though prior to his ascension to ruler of the Willamette Valley he was known as Ernn’Esk, the Luck Son, as his father was the previous ruler of the last of the last fifteen dynasties that had corresponded in the Era of Fifteen Houses. Known as Ernn’Ailuco, the Ruler of Luck of the House of Luck or Fateful Rule, his short reign was not unusual as he had previously usurped his own father the second son of the House of the Bronze Axe. Ernn’Ailuco was one of several rulers during this period whose political houses only lasted through one ruler, but as with Willamette Valley tradition it was recognized as a legitimate ruling house despite how ‘Tul’ or Karma may have turned ill for them.
The mythical origin legend of the House of the Red Tree says that the then named Ernn’Esk one morning while he was on a hunting trip in the southern end of the Willamette Valley he was attacked by a band of raiders from the south (most likely the Hashta people of the southern Cascades who historically often switched from raiding to trading with the Willamette Valley people.) and forced to flee into the mountains alone. Wandering the mountains for two weeks, avoiding bands of Hashta and hunting for him, it is said he sought refuge in the branches of a lone Sequoia or Redwood that sat on the edge of a cliff. One night he had a prophetic dream from the Onallan and Onailuco who proclaimed him ruler of the people of the river and the mountains and beyond. After the dream he soon returned to the valley and proclaimed his own ruler ship, and in a short two year civil war overthrew his father and crowned himself ruler of the Willamette Valley, the Columbia River, and everything within sight of the Cascade Mountains. In hindsight it seems likely that his dream may have been a lie to win over the spiritual support of the people or consolidate his rule following his victory as surviving stone texts only mention the dream in the latter years of his rule.
Despite how he came to power it was how he stayed in power and how his lineage stayed in power that was rather revolutionary and ensured the end of the Era of Fifteen Houses. Upon becoming Emperor he immediately sent out invitations to several of his allies and those dissatisfied with his ruler ship to join him in blood. In a lavish ceremony he married not only the daughters of his closest confidents but, those of several minor and major clan heads symbolically binding them to the House of the Red Tree. Whereupon he soon assigned his new relatives into ‘Branch Families’, each family would have a specific role in the government such as training future generals, administrators, governors, diplomats, etc and his children of that family group would have hereditary right to continue their position, but only those from the ‘Trunk Family’, namely those from his first two wives would have right to inherit the throne of the House of the Red Tree. The sapling that Tikal’Han nurtured would grow into a a nearly two-hundred year ruling house, and the basic system would be carried over into the next two dynasties to effective use.
Also to note about the House of the Red Tree is that during its reign the Willamette Valley civilization entered its own Iron Age.
At last my TL gets some notice 
Let's see I believe my next update would be about Foreign Policy.
"The Grey Sons, the Diplomats of the Valley. So named for a boast by the House Chapai's lord to Tikal'Han that he could wear fog like a cloak before becoming head of the Branch Family of High Speech (Diplomatic Affairs). Bringing civilization through the river and mountain mists'"
Let's see I believe my next update would be about Foreign Policy.
"The Grey Sons, the Diplomats of the Valley. So named for a boast by the House Chapai's lord to Tikal'Han that he could wear fog like a cloak before becoming head of the Branch Family of High Speech (Diplomatic Affairs). Bringing civilization through the river and mountain mists'"
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Bumping it with a minor question.
How far and wide has the Willamete civilization spread its control and influence so far, and how far and wide it will be the time of European contact ? Has it reached Seattle yet ? Will they ever expand into this place and then beyond ?
Just curious. Since whenever I look at a North America map I just can't shake out how small the Willamete Valley is....
How far and wide has the Willamete civilization spread its control and influence so far, and how far and wide it will be the time of European contact ? Has it reached Seattle yet ? Will they ever expand into this place and then beyond ?
Just curious. Since whenever I look at a North America map I just can't shake out how small the Willamete Valley is....
As I will be updating in my next post yes it has reached as far north as Vancouver, south as Northern California, and as far east as the Columbia Plateau in terms of influence. Actualy solid control is rather limited to the Columbia River and one side of the surrounding mountain ranges leading to short lived periods of control outside of this in such places as Northern California, the Columbia Plateau, and the far north of the Pacific Northwest.
Foreign Policy of the Kal'llan and Haida'llan Empires (1175-1630, 1630-Present).
Prior to the arrival of the Haida'llan and the establishment of the 'House of the Raven' what could be described as foreign policy amongst the people of the Kal'llan was very fluid and constantly changed. Before the establishment of the House of Eagle and a unified state in the Willamette Valley the various city-states that exsisted along the river primarily only interacted amongst themselves. Though minor trade amongst the southern most people of the valley and those living along the Columbia river would proove influencial as allowing the spread of the river potato into the Columbia Plateau and California.
Even with a unified state ruling what was the largest and densest population center north of Mesoamerica attitudes and means amongst the Kal'llan civilization did not really desire to leave a impact on their neighbors until very late in their civilization's development. The reasoning for this was pointed out by historians and cultural anthropologists because the Kal'llan and later Haida'llan shared a world view not unlike the Egyptian people and the Chinese people. They viewed the River and their civilization as the center of the world and the most important region of the world. Aknowledgement of their superiority by the tribes living on the Columbia Plateau, the mountains to the south, and the forests and coasts of the north was all that they needed. Though, a internal political factor may have been involved in this in that the Valley was prone to civil war and competition. A desire was strong to keep out foreign elements from their society so as to not upset their social and political harmony. In the successive dynasties before the House of the Red Oak the reasoning may have more been simple inability to project power. Though despite this evidence of Kal'llan cultural and economic penetration exists extensively with artifacts being uncovered as far east as the Missouri River and as south as the Valley of Mexico though no evidence of direct contact exists.
The House of the Red Tree and the House of the Rising Sun reversed the long standing isolationism of the Valley in a new epoch of cultural and imperialist expansionism. A trend that was carried on by the Haida'llan and only halted by European expansionism. The first example occured in 1190 AD during the reign of Tikal'Han and seems to have been carried out by his soon-to-be-successor, Tikal'Han-Shon. This campaign consisted of bringing the Chinook peoples that inhabited the mouth of the Columbia river into a state of total control. The people there had always paid tribute to the Kal'llan, but this moved signified a new trend of political integration. As settlers from the Valley moved out and took control of the region's political and economic roles and gradually assimilated the Chinook. Anthropologists point out that this new strategy of integration and assimilation may have extended from Tikal'Han's own strategies for ending the centuries of political unrest amongst the Kal'llan.
By the arrival of Sir Francis Drake in 1579 the Kal'llan people had extended their control throughout the Pacific Northwest from the Tip of the Quinal'llan Peninsula (Olympia Peninsula) to the Columbia Plateau (having squashed the rising development amongst the plateau's dwellers). Their conquest of the Chinook though had a unforseeable effect. The Middleman of the Columbia river were gone and the Great and Powerful Empire of the Valley were very visible in the region. As such their expansion ended several buffer states that had kept out raiders from farther north. As such in the heightened development that was to come it allowed the people of Haida Gwaii to enter as a political force.
Prior to the arrival of the Haida'llan and the establishment of the 'House of the Raven' what could be described as foreign policy amongst the people of the Kal'llan was very fluid and constantly changed. Before the establishment of the House of Eagle and a unified state in the Willamette Valley the various city-states that exsisted along the river primarily only interacted amongst themselves. Though minor trade amongst the southern most people of the valley and those living along the Columbia river would proove influencial as allowing the spread of the river potato into the Columbia Plateau and California.
Even with a unified state ruling what was the largest and densest population center north of Mesoamerica attitudes and means amongst the Kal'llan civilization did not really desire to leave a impact on their neighbors until very late in their civilization's development. The reasoning for this was pointed out by historians and cultural anthropologists because the Kal'llan and later Haida'llan shared a world view not unlike the Egyptian people and the Chinese people. They viewed the River and their civilization as the center of the world and the most important region of the world. Aknowledgement of their superiority by the tribes living on the Columbia Plateau, the mountains to the south, and the forests and coasts of the north was all that they needed. Though, a internal political factor may have been involved in this in that the Valley was prone to civil war and competition. A desire was strong to keep out foreign elements from their society so as to not upset their social and political harmony. In the successive dynasties before the House of the Red Oak the reasoning may have more been simple inability to project power. Though despite this evidence of Kal'llan cultural and economic penetration exists extensively with artifacts being uncovered as far east as the Missouri River and as south as the Valley of Mexico though no evidence of direct contact exists.
The House of the Red Tree and the House of the Rising Sun reversed the long standing isolationism of the Valley in a new epoch of cultural and imperialist expansionism. A trend that was carried on by the Haida'llan and only halted by European expansionism. The first example occured in 1190 AD during the reign of Tikal'Han and seems to have been carried out by his soon-to-be-successor, Tikal'Han-Shon. This campaign consisted of bringing the Chinook peoples that inhabited the mouth of the Columbia river into a state of total control. The people there had always paid tribute to the Kal'llan, but this moved signified a new trend of political integration. As settlers from the Valley moved out and took control of the region's political and economic roles and gradually assimilated the Chinook. Anthropologists point out that this new strategy of integration and assimilation may have extended from Tikal'Han's own strategies for ending the centuries of political unrest amongst the Kal'llan.
By the arrival of Sir Francis Drake in 1579 the Kal'llan people had extended their control throughout the Pacific Northwest from the Tip of the Quinal'llan Peninsula (Olympia Peninsula) to the Columbia Plateau (having squashed the rising development amongst the plateau's dwellers). Their conquest of the Chinook though had a unforseeable effect. The Middleman of the Columbia river were gone and the Great and Powerful Empire of the Valley were very visible in the region. As such their expansion ended several buffer states that had kept out raiders from farther north. As such in the heightened development that was to come it allowed the people of Haida Gwaii to enter as a political force.
Thats one large empire for being outide of Meso America or the Andes
Well, its smaller then the Inca Empire and bigger then the Mexica Empire. West of the Cascades and the Columbia Plateau everything is squeezed together its alot like the Mesoamerican and Andes counterpats while the part east of the Cascades in the Columbia Plateau is much more open then anything the other major American cultural areas. Mostly due to the ecology of the Columbia Plateau, but as I will detail their are some problem with the region.
I would make the conquests on the Olympic Peninsula a color other than that shade of blue, as it's difficult to distinguish from the ocean.
I'll look at making another map.
From the map it can be seen that in comparison to their southern expansions their northern and eastern expansions were much slower and longer due to geography and complications with assimilation. Like China's minorities are largely in the south, the ones here are concentrated in the north.
Thats one large empire for being outide of Meso America or the Andes
Not an implausible one, though; the rich resources of the Pacific Northwest could support the large armies and bureaucracies necessary to maintain a large empire, and a Bronze Age urban civilization such as the King of Malta has created would be sophisticated enough to conquer one.
Indeed the only estimate I am curious about is that of the population. 500,000 in 1750. One estimate I have seen at least. I expect the number in my TL to add on 2.5-3 million.
I have to ask though, are people having a OK image of what the valley region looks like? The people and architecture and what not?
Spread out settlements, surrounded by 'river potato paddies'. Pentagonal wooden houses with raised platforms for the poor. Stone structures with terracotta, metalwork arsenic copper roofing and side paneling for the more rich. Stone pylons lining the shore of the Willamette and some even in the length of the river, marking the rise and fall of the river's banks. Off in the distance the mountainsides one can find some carefully made, others left in ruin, burial shrines of the dead.
I have to ask though, are people having a OK image of what the valley region looks like? The people and architecture and what not?
Spread out settlements, surrounded by 'river potato paddies'. Pentagonal wooden houses with raised platforms for the poor. Stone structures with terracotta, metalwork arsenic copper roofing and side paneling for the more rich. Stone pylons lining the shore of the Willamette and some even in the length of the river, marking the rise and fall of the river's banks. Off in the distance the mountainsides one can find some carefully made, others left in ruin, burial shrines of the dead.
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