Odsier Chores and Games

Gonyaul was able to determine with a fair amount of certainty that he had been dropped off into the care of the womenfolk to be babysat while Dorgarag had gone on to more pressing matters with the warriors of the tribe. He didn’t mind, it was a nice reprieve from the concerns of danger and crazy experiences he had gotten wrapped up into. It felt good just to be around others going through normal daily living and not some epic life threatening adventure.

He was accepted in helping throughout the day and placed with a group of children. He assisted with a variety of domestic skills and chores, and was even given small tools so he could learn how to skin, tan hides, and butcher game. He also got some training time in sewing and cooking.

Some of these skills he was capable in already; however, he humbled himself in order to learn it their way and the words associated with it.

The women, from young in training to the mentoring adults and the managing elders, were all very talkative. This was a great arena for trying to pick up language and pay attention to approved social behaviors. He could already say a few Odsier words pertaining to objects used in the chores.

In addition, he was quite the curiosity to them as well. He was pretty sure he became the topic of conversation many times throughout the day. He also seemed to make them laugh a lot. Without understanding them though, he was always clueless as to why. The kids seemed to really enjoy his company and he got along well with everyone.

In the early afternoon, Gonyaul found himself helping with childcare. When it was time to take a break, because the babies were taking a midday nap, he was included in a few Odsier games with the other women present.

The Odsier played games as part of tribal ceremonies and also to teach skills to children through these games. Games were played ceremoniously to bring luck like rain, good hunting, drive away evil spirits, or just bring people together for a common purpose.

Boys and girls played the same games; however, separately. The Odsier appreciated the skill, talent, and discipline. Often girls games focus orbited around childcare while games for boys were aimed at helping them learn about warfare and hunting.

The games were either a game of chance or games of skill. Chance involved luck while skill games involved physical and mental abilities. At the end of the day, enjoyment was crucial so was learning. Winners were rewarded, and admired.

The game they played was a tribe favorite, known as the Bowl Game. The game involved six round nuts, white on one side and black on the other along with a wooden bowl. With the nuts inside the bowl, the player would hit the bowl against the ground. If at least 5 of the balls ended up the same color, that particular earned a point. It was a game of chance, and there would be no beginners luck for Gonyaul as his score was in last place by the end. It was a lot of fun though.

Gonyaul then got pulled into another game with the little girls that had been in the sewing training/chores with him prior to helping with the babies. A girl would close her eyes and sing "Butterfly, butterfly, show me where to go." The rest would hide quickly but quietly. The singer then had to seek the others without another word. It was a game of skill, and the skilled girl could identify the hiding place by following the marks left by those in concealment.

He knew not what they were singing but did learn the word for butterfly while playing.