[b]The Cindorayi, Population: 114, Year 12 IL (Inland), Age of the New Moon[/b]

[b]Picture-Makers from the East[/b]

[@Cuddle Pot]
One of the strange creatures quickly took the necklace and put it on itself, prompting slight laughter from the two Cindorayi since it was far too big for any of them. They then curiously came together facing each other, which the Cindorayi couldn't make heads or tails of.

One of the other creatures picked up a stick and started making what looked like drawings, a picture of a gathering of their two species centered around the crystal. There was the noise of pounding paws behind the two, and Ekatyrina and a few other females arrived, passing between them to examine the drawing.

"It appears that they place the same emphasis on the crystals we do, and I think they mean to name themselves, as the Gui, either that or they mean that there is some sort of connection between us." Ekatyrina pointed to herself and the others, now numbering five, saying "Cindorayi." repeatedly.

She also pointed to the crystal, and said "moon crystal" in the Cindorayi language.

---

With the advent of rice-based agriculture, the amount of space taken up by the Cindorayi civilization has greatly increased. Andrei, the councilor of agriculture, recommended that they begin construction of a new village to the west, which Ekatyrina quickly agreed with. The simple construction of a new village was not all that happened, however, as some Cindorayi chose to build dwellings and farms farther away from the new village center, preferring to remain mostly isolated. As a result, the third, western village is becoming a sprawling, unplanned farm town which provides a great deal of food to the other two villages along the roads connecting the three. The western village has also begun experimentation on domesticating different types of plants, such as fruits and vegetables. It is difficult work, but many choose it for its relative solitude.

The expansion of villages has also raised the critical question of how to conduct votes, as Ekatyrina usually does whenever a divisive issue comes up. A messenger could count opinions and remember them while taking them back to Lunysvet, but this would be unreliable and the messenger could decide to change his message for his own benefit. As a result, the two villages have taken to hammering stone to leave indentations indicating the number of votes for each idea, but these are extraordinarily heavy and require several Cindorayi to carry.