Re: "Star Watch" - from when to when?

From: bethexton_at_...
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 15:17:53 -0000

Hmmm, I'd read it somewhere before ever seeing the Rigsdal write up, because I helped flesh out some details for Elmal for Storm Tribe, and I put in mention to the star watch in there (that in most Heortling tribes Elmali are required to join the star watch so many nights per year). In my view this works like this: most clans have at least a few Elmali, most of whom will be warriors. They pretty regularly join the night watch. A few clans are mostly Elmali, and most of those are farmers. They have a duty to join the night watch a few nights a year, and do so mostly at other clans's steads, as a tribal commitment. Great way to keep other clans from complaining about the Elmali clan, too. Note that these political duties probably overlap heavily with religious duties too.

As to the number of Rigsdali out there, remember that Rigsdal can be taken as a sub-cult of Orlanth Allfather. There may be few pure Rigsdalli, but I suspect a certain number of younger Allfather types also follow Rigsdal, especially on outlying steads.

I suspect that the only one to rigorously stand watch dusk to dawn are the Rigsdali, or Elmali fulfilling specific ritual or political duties. The regular clan patrols probably run until after sun-down, slowly pulling in towards the stead as the sun starts to set, and doing their final checks of steads, herds, walls, and whatever else needs to be secured by torch-light just after full dark. This helps ensure that anybody not able to navigate in the dark will not be an issue all night. Then some of the warriors will be up in the predawn  darkness, cursing and swearing, then heading out with the first blush of light on the sky dome, or maybe even by torchlight if they are especially paranoid. Then between those two times, the Rigsdali are probably buffered by Elmali, Vingans, and random others, as John suggested. Depending on the indivicual clan/stead, these might be all night watches or split watches.

Where star watch man-power is thin (like at individual small steads), probably it amounts to one or two people spending most of their time sitting in a watch tower or equivalent, perhaps taking turns to take a walk around, use the facilities, and warm up.

Where there is more manpower (like in central clan villages), I suspect they have this, and at least on some nights (most likely the fuller moons) a well armed and paranoid patrol going some distance out into the fields and pastures to make sure nothing is creeping up on them--not that they would catch everyone every time, but nobody could count on creeping up without interuption. Of course, a dozen warriors stomping around carrying torches isn't too hard to avoid for small groups, but it has a fair chance to catch larger ones.

Finally, I would guess that most tribes have a tribal star watch. These would be specialists, Rigsdali, some Elmali, maybe some Yinkini or others who are at home in the dark. They would for the most part patrol around the tribal seat, but they would also visit all of the clans from time to time. Again they won't be at most places most of the time, but there is always the chance of running into them if you are creeping through tribal lands.

One final addition to this: certain key resouces may have their own star watch. Most particularly I'm thinking of major roads where tolls are an important source of income. Those trying to avoid notice or tolls would otherwise have some possibility of travelling at night by torchlight on the best roads, so at least some of the time a watch will be kept there--although in many cases this will also be the star watch for a stead lying along the road. Likewise major holy sites may get star watch at least occasionally, like leading up to major holy days, to ensure that they are not defiled. But this may be performed largely by worshippers (especially devotees) as part of their duties.

None of this is official, just my thoughts on the sujbect.

--Bryan

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