The Harvesters
To most of the other folk of Cartyrion, the Chittiki are a strange lot. To the Chittiki, the subculture called the Sandfolk are considered a bit odd. But there are some among the Sandfolk that are considered eccentric even by that subculture. These are the Chittiki known as the Harvesters.
The organization does not have a headquarters - the very concept of a permanent base is anathema to the Sandfolk. It has no organizational assets to speak of either; Harvesters are on their own. There are no formally recognized leaders or managers either. There are mentors who instruct pupils, and in the rare occurrences when large groups of Harvesters get together in the desert to deal with a large-scale issue, the group will defer to their elders for their wisdom. Ultimately, the Harvesters is more of a "sibling-hood" than an "organization".
The Harvesters have no formal founding date; it is an organization that slowly emerged on its own. Harvesters do tell tales of a clan of Sandfolk just after the Great Strife that had traveled to near the Dead Lake. There, they were accosted by an ancient black dragon that had taken up residence near the waters that had been forever polluted by the The Gods of Coercion. They were saved when a small group of Spitters attacked the Dragon and managed to kill it. In gratitude, as the tale goes, the clan vowed to protect the Spitters. It is uncertain whether this actually happened or not.
These positions also confer matching titles within the Harvesters, and they are used in formal forms of address. Thus, Mentor Cheefour might take on Pupil Tackseven. Collector Shanthree might pass on Spitter Secretions to Trader Taltwo to bring to market.
A pupil's job is to learn everything there is to know about the The Dead Basin Desert and its wildlife. Special focus is given on the environs around the Dead Lake, the Spitters that live there, and the acidic secretions of these creatures that are considered to be extremely valuable.
Pupils learn how to survive in the environs of the Dead Lake - a biome harsher still than the desert surrounding it. They learn how to humanely subdue a Spitter to harvest its secretions without becoming a Spitter meal. Finally, they learn how to transport the secretions safely, and how to successfully sell or barter these secretions to the jewelry artisans that so eagerly desire it.
Knowledge of how to survive the humane harvesting
Collectors tend to grow emotionally attached to specific Spitters. Over time, the creatures may even begin to accept their presence - and their ministrations - without attacking. This is not guaranteed with any given Spitter, and in any event it takes many years for such a relationship to take root. However, a Collector whose "friend" Spitter is harmed by another is almost certain to declare a vendetta to avenge the wrongdoing.
It is the goal of every Harvester to one day "retire" to the role of Mentor.
It is extremely rare for a Chittiki that is not of the Sandrunner culture to become a successful Harvester. Some do try, enamored by tales of the strange environment around the mysterious Dead Lake, but most of those that survive their first trip to the lake and back with a Mentor give up on the idea.
The Harvesters do admit that a handful of non-Chittiki folk have also attempted to embrace the lifestyle, but only one is generally acknowledged as having been successful. This was a part Felisean, part Alev hybrid whom the Harvesters refer to simply as "the Cat". The Cat was credited with discovering the properties of Harvester's Salt - a substance the Harvesters now consider crucial to their success. The Cat was also responsible for establishing trade conduits with merchants in Baron's Point to make small quantities of Spitter secretions available to skilled artisans in other parts of the world.
The organization does not have a headquarters - the very concept of a permanent base is anathema to the Sandfolk. It has no organizational assets to speak of either; Harvesters are on their own. There are no formally recognized leaders or managers either. There are mentors who instruct pupils, and in the rare occurrences when large groups of Harvesters get together in the desert to deal with a large-scale issue, the group will defer to their elders for their wisdom. Ultimately, the Harvesters is more of a "sibling-hood" than an "organization".
The Harvesters have no formal founding date; it is an organization that slowly emerged on its own. Harvesters do tell tales of a clan of Sandfolk just after the Great Strife that had traveled to near the Dead Lake. There, they were accosted by an ancient black dragon that had taken up residence near the waters that had been forever polluted by the The Gods of Coercion. They were saved when a small group of Spitters attacked the Dragon and managed to kill it. In gratitude, as the tale goes, the clan vowed to protect the Spitters. It is uncertain whether this actually happened or not.
Organizational "Structure"
There is no strict hierarchy or organizational structure within the Harvesters, but there are a few distinct positional titles recognized and used within the group. These are not a reporting structure in any sense; rather they denote functional roles that individuals play. With one exception, these do not represent any sort of rank struture either; once a Harvester has learned enough of what the group does, they are free to choose their own role, and to shift from one to another from time to time.These positions also confer matching titles within the Harvesters, and they are used in formal forms of address. Thus, Mentor Cheefour might take on Pupil Tackseven. Collector Shanthree might pass on Spitter Secretions to Trader Taltwo to bring to market.
Pupil
When a Sandfolk chooses to become a member of the Harvesters, they begin as - and are addressed as - Pupils.A pupil's job is to learn everything there is to know about the The Dead Basin Desert and its wildlife. Special focus is given on the environs around the Dead Lake, the Spitters that live there, and the acidic secretions of these creatures that are considered to be extremely valuable.
Pupils learn how to survive in the environs of the Dead Lake - a biome harsher still than the desert surrounding it. They learn how to humanely subdue a Spitter to harvest its secretions without becoming a Spitter meal. Finally, they learn how to transport the secretions safely, and how to successfully sell or barter these secretions to the jewelry artisans that so eagerly desire it.
Knowledge of how to survive the humane harvesting
Collector
Once sufficiently trained, those Harvesters that spend their time travelling to Dead Lake to collect Spitter secretions are referred to as Collectors. Their primary function is to collect secretions from subdued - but unharmed - Spitters, safely transport it to the artisans that are willing to pay dearly for it, and survive in the process. But their secondary purpose is to do whatever they can to ensure the continued existence of the Spitters themselves. On very rare occasions, when non-Chittiki decide to try to obtain the valuable secretions themselves, this may mean dissuading these poachers from harming the creatures.Collectors tend to grow emotionally attached to specific Spitters. Over time, the creatures may even begin to accept their presence - and their ministrations - without attacking. This is not guaranteed with any given Spitter, and in any event it takes many years for such a relationship to take root. However, a Collector whose "friend" Spitter is harmed by another is almost certain to declare a vendetta to avenge the wrongdoing.
Traders
Some Collectors - those who have enough experience dealing with the artisans on the receiving end of the secretion supply chain, choose to specialize in the delivery and trade of the secretions, leaving the harvesting to others. Many older Collectors take this path, especially when they begin to notice that age is affecting their reflexes. As a result, though any Collector is free to take product from end to end, most are happy to allow a Trader to deal with the non-Harvester folk in places like the Warrens. Shrewder, more skilled Traders means more benefit for all.Mentors
Another route often taken by older Collectors is to assume the role of Mentor. Mentors take two or three newly committed Pupils under their wing and teach them what they need to know in order to survive and thrive as a Harvester.It is the goal of every Harvester to one day "retire" to the role of Mentor.
What it Takes to Be a Harvester
The life of the Harvester is an extreme version of the life of most Sandfolk. It is nomadic, it is lonely, and it is dedicated to the preservation of the desert - extending even to creatures who see nothing but "meal" when they look at the Harvester. One must possess an extreme respect for the natural beauty of the desert, a tolerance for solitude, and the dexterity and wit to stay alive when facing a fierce, giant beast whose acidic spit can dissolve one in minutes.It is extremely rare for a Chittiki that is not of the Sandrunner culture to become a successful Harvester. Some do try, enamored by tales of the strange environment around the mysterious Dead Lake, but most of those that survive their first trip to the lake and back with a Mentor give up on the idea.
The Harvesters do admit that a handful of non-Chittiki folk have also attempted to embrace the lifestyle, but only one is generally acknowledged as having been successful. This was a part Felisean, part Alev hybrid whom the Harvesters refer to simply as "the Cat". The Cat was credited with discovering the properties of Harvester's Salt - a substance the Harvesters now consider crucial to their success. The Cat was also responsible for establishing trade conduits with merchants in Baron's Point to make small quantities of Spitter secretions available to skilled artisans in other parts of the world.
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