Salt/meme/funpost.
SALTFor those who lived in the many valleys and forests of the homeland, food was precious. Moreso, one of the first things that catapulted our tribes from mere wanderers was the presence of SALT crystals growing naturally in caves. It was delicious, and eventually, we also learned to use it to preserve food. But that wasn't all it did for us. For some reason, our people grew to be far stronger than the animals we hunted. Rather, as our tribes lived, some came to experiment with the SALT crystals. Feeding meat salted by this SALT to animals we tamed actually increased their overall strength as well. Eating the meat of a bear preserved with SALT eventually gave rise to the strength and vitality of a bear. Likewise, eating a gazelle boosted speed and grace, though they were far harder to hunt.
Later applications showed it had potential as a binder for medicines of the time as well. Though as with SALT, we also needed much water as well. But our strength, speed, and corporation would lead us to becoming more advanced than others simply because we were stronger, better, than the competition.
Taming CommunionOne particular aspect of our people was our strength. But we also had understanding of the animals we ate with SALT. It took some time, quite a few generations, but eventually people were born in the tribe that could understand animals to a degree themselves. They used this to form the first bonds, partnerships with wolves. This later extended to members of the bird and cat kingdoms. And with SALT, these animals also grew stronger over time, far beyond what you would expect from them.
Time however, would tell a tale of growth among their descendants, along with our tribe.
Prompt 1; what set us apart?:
Devil's Swarm (req: "Change Venom")
Etroan Clans
Etroan Baths
Etroan Taming Communion (req: "SALT"): TricMagic
Prompt 2; our Special Resource, and a thing that uses it:
Etronium + boulder-kite-scouts
Spirit Bees + Spirit-beekeeping(?)
Sunshard + Heating
Actnium + Ironbark Armor: (2) Jilladilla, Vostok
Change Venom(?) + Does of Burden: (3) Doomblade, UristMcRiley, Rockeater
Free AI?/Whispering Water? + Writing System?
SALT: (1) TricMagic
Because I had the idea of SALT in an AR. It effectively turns what is eaten with it into a type of predation, gaining some of the attributes. Only a bit, but over time, it adds up. Needless to say, it also goes with taming and breeding/mutating our own beasts of war. Once the science actually gets to the point that can be done anyway.
For Twin, on SALT.
SALT. It takes the material, and when eaten with it, imbues some of that materials 'Ability'. Eating the meat of a wolf would naturally boost strength and speed to a degree. This doesn't have an immediate effect though, it builds over time. This is effectively improvement now. As the body grows, the effects show.
Granted, for SALT, it is an effect that will be seen over time. It's only as you enter the more modern science age that you could make faster modifications. For the old times, it will simply effect the evolution of the tribe each generation, will improvements occurring on the cellular level. Needless to say, the body will reject any negative changes, while embracing those deemed as positive, such as strength, agility, and coordination and balance. Being able to understand and communicate with animals would also be deemed beneficial. Though so would a more feral instinct in some cases.
Guess the best way to say, is that SALT is like ARs, a roll of the genetic dice. It definitely will end up greatly influencing the Etroan people though, even if any other effects are likely locked until the modern era.