Peace Reigned

[Robert Crisman]

Douglas came back to his people, clothed in an aura that spoke to the change, a change they accepted and honored; he became "the Man Of New Colors" and took his place in the councils, serving as bridge between flesh and the ghosts, much like a Shaman but more so.

His people cohered around him and prospered, maintaining peaceful relations with peoples around them and even becoming a pole of attraction to those less blessed with the spirit than they.

Douglas, in league with the women, defused the curse of the blood revenge wars that had plagued their interrelations with neighbors: hitherto, people who'd suffered an untimely death of one of their own might ascribe it to magic inflicted by people just over the hill; they'd seek to exact an equivalent death, which in turn fired deadly response, and so grew the death count ad infinitum.

Douglas's people called parlay with all those around them, and Douglas spoke there of the devils he'd seen, killing first one then another, in hopes of bringing all men to perdition--and you can believe he imposed the requisite vision of devils in everyone's brain by that fire--and sang of a need for rituals and games, competitive games in lieu of the killings, to throw off the devils who fed on those deaths, redress perceived wrongs, and maintain the honor of peoples.

And so, over time, Douglas said, these things came to pass, and peace reigned and spread for some 400 years.

Then, of course, the first Europeans--"you guys," he laughed--washed up on the shores of Virginia...

[Mike Handley]

Indeed, Angela. The rules and rulers, real and would-be, bend ever so gently under Robert's pen. It's really fascinating.

[Jeanette Cheezum]

Yep, now I know where my crazy family came from.  (Born and raised in VA)

[Angela]

You have wed some interesting cultural/historical elements.  This story continues to unfold in surprising ways.