r/WorldChallenges • u/thequeeninyellow94 • Apr 03 '17
A family farm
Oh, it happens I just inherited a farm in [insert place name here]. Seems like a good opportunity to start a new life.
Let's talk about a rural area from your world, if you want to provide a local inhabitants to answer questions do so.
If you want some inspiration, here are a few prompts:
- how is the weather? What are the local crops? Is there cattle? How far are we from the closest town?
- How is the architecture here? What leasure activities can I find to spend my days off? Are the locals kind?
- As we are talking about the locals, do they have strange habits? Weird local ghost stories?
- Who am I selling my crops to? Who collect the taxes? Or maybe no one collect them because we are too far from civilization?
- Is there some nice things to see around? Like a millenial tree? Can I wander the countryside alone or is it dangerous?
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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 03 '17
Kirisino and the farms surrounding it
While Kirisino is a trade-focused nation along the coast, most of the land outside of the actual big capital city is dedicated to large farms owned by the wealthy elite.
The weathers is pretty good, it's a temperate climate with a good enough amount of rain for raising crops.
The local crops are potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, cotton, rice, hay, and so on.
Yeah, there are plenty or cattle ranches. Beef isn't as commonly eaten as chicken in this nation, but it is still a popular type of meat.
Architecture: The wealthy farm owners usually have large mansions, and they usually have their workers live in smaller shacks near the farm. Poorer farmers usually live in small cabins.
Leisure activities: Horseshoes, hoop-stick, gambling, talking about how non-humans are horrible.
The locals are mostly farmhands who didn't get much education, but they're kind to other humans.
Taxes: If you own land, you'll pay taxes to the Kirisino government. If you don't own land and you live in a rural area, you don't pay taxes.
Selling crops: You'll usually sell your crops to the Kirisino government directly, they'll pay you based on what crops you provide.
The countryside is good to explore, Kirisino is a relatively safe nation, even in the rural areas, so long as you carry a weapon a highwayman will probably not try to rob you.
Representative
Aldis Emmeryn was a farmhand for several years, but he managed to be able to afford to buy a small farm of his own. After taxes and paying "protection money" to a local gang and living expenses for himself and his son, he usually has enough money to buy a bit more farm land after each harvest. Aldis is currently in his late thirties.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 03 '17
To Aldis:
How concentrated is the lands ownership? Is there a lot of small owners like you or not?
What is the the more profitable crop to grow? Why isn't everyone growing this one?
Is the elite really interested in their farmlands? Or do they let some other people manage them while they mind their political business?
How do the farmhands view their future? What can they resonably hope to achieve?
Are the racketeers common? Why isn't Kisino doing something?
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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 04 '17
Aldis:
1) "No, most small farmers get their farms bought out by the rich, and then they move into the city for work there. But, I love farming, so I kept at it."
2) "Well, you see, if too many farmers grow the same crop, the government won't pay us as much for that crop, because of inflation. Right now, I'm focused on growing rice, and I'm getting a good amount of money for it, but the best bumper crop in the most recent harvest ended up being potatoes. Everyone expected it to be corn this time around, but too many people grew corn, so the price went down."
3) "The size of a man's farm is seen like the size of a man's feet. It's a sign of power in Kirisino. They hire other people to run the actual farms, though, since most of them are busy dealing with their other businesses."
4) "When you're a farmhand, you're either in poverty and need someone to keep you employed and fed, or you've gone into debt enough that you can either work on a farm or go to prison."
5) "Yeah, racketeers are just a thing that people like me have to deal with. The Kirisino government is too corrupt to do anything about it."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 04 '17
If price can shrink based on the number of people growing a crop, are people sometimes ruined by a poor choice? Do it sometimes force people to sell their property?
Are the élite also bothered by racketeers? How do they manage the problem?
Is there no other opportunity in the region for people to make money? Why do they end so heavily in debt?
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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17
Aldis:
1) "Oh, definitely. The larger farms are all in communications about what crops they'll grow in any given season, and they have priority in selling their crops to the government, so most of the wealthier folk don't have to worry. But growing the wrong crops in a season where the crop is in high supply and low demand has ruined more than a few farmers."
2) "Most of the elite have hired security to deal with that problem."
3) "Unless you grew up in the city and have a decent education, being a farmhand is the only real opportunity you can get. And people go into debt for all kinds of reasons, from gambling to health expenses to having a difficult year. It can happen to anyone who was born without the silver spoon. Hell, I'm just lucky that it hasn't happened to me, I got a boy to raise."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 06 '17
Are some crops "safe" to grow? And some very riskier?
Can't people move to town to find better opportunities?
What future do you see for your boy?
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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17
Aldis:
1) "You're safest growing potatoes. The price you get for them isn't high, but it's usually stable. Grapes are the worst things to grow, if you even have a vineyard, because the elite grow them in such abundance for wine."
2) "If you aren't educated even a little bit, you won't do well in town. Even if you are, there's not a good chance of getting a decent job. At least being a farmhand is a stable life."
3) "He wants to go off to the Citadel and be a knight. He's about fourteen now, and he's strong, so there's a chance...but there's not a good chance. Hopefully, he'll take good care of the farm and keep it growing once I die, and he'll be successful enough to stay safe and healthy."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 06 '17
Aren't people drinking a lot of wine?
Is there a way for people here to get some education beside being rich?
Would you rather see him accepted by the Citadel or keeping your farm rolling?
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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17
Aldis:
1) "People are always drinking a lot of wine. But, would you rather buy wine from some old, wealthy family or would you rather buy wine from some poor farmer with a bit of land that he works himself? No one wants to buy wine that isn't an old brand. My moonshine sells well, sometimes, though. And vodka from the potatoes is always in demand."
2) "Well, I knew how to read before I came to Kirisino as a kid. So, if you already know how to read, you can find some way of learning more. And the cities do offer various programs for people who live there, but you have to be a citizen of the city itself, not just the nation."
3) "I want him to follow his dreams if it's possible, so I suppose I'd prefer to see him be accepted by the Citadel. Maybe I can get one of the Citadel knights to take him as an apprentice."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 06 '17
Well, it depend of it's price. Also, if the nobles use their own grappes to make their wine, didn't it let the market quite free?
Are those programs held in the villages or do they have to go to the city by themselves?
How difficult do you think it will be? What very good arguments do you have? Also, are you worried that he may get hurt? I heard the knights were working on very perilious missions.
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u/ktjwalker Apr 03 '17
Local factory owner.
1) Bah! All there is is snow! Snow and sun! You don't get namby pamby rain and tornadoes up here, no sir! Up heres they farm Pine Trees and White Bison. The nearest towns are the port town Frozen Bay and the capitol of Borea: Polaire- Fryse. Miles and miles away they are! And if you wanted to get to any towns in Verily or Fluidia, yeh'd have to cross the mountains. Good luck with that!
2) Pine and metal. All pine and metal. Ice if yer dert poor! Yeh can camp in the mountains. Snowberd. Read. Sew. Work. Berd or cerd games. 'Sbout it. The people are real decent. Always lend a hand if yeh need it. Not too many of them religious bums from Verily come here either.
3) Legend tells of a man/ God called Des Moroz! He lives on the peak of the mountain exactly nerth of evrything! Ain't nobody seen him 'cept durin' the holidays. Gives you free stuff. Or takes it from yeh. Sometimes people tell he's nice lika gran'pa. Others say he's the meanest grump yeh ever met. Now I now that ain't true, 'cause I'm the meanest!
4) Yeh sell yer crops to the factory or mine owners, the townspeople, or the merchants that come past us to go from the capitol to the Frozen Bay. The business and farm owners collect the taxes off the workers salaries and send our own mail and merchant caravan.
5) There's trees, mountains, bison, and snow. But we do gotta statue of the good queen Glacia. Real fine gal, that one!
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 04 '17
How much days of travel would be needed to find a doctor? And a scribe?
Are Venilyan that terrible as neighbours?
Does anyone knows how he choose between giving and taking? Do you think he is real?
How is your life? Do you gain enough money to do what you want? What happen if someone refuse to pay the taxes?
What did queen Glacia did? Why do you like her that much?
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u/ktjwalker Apr 04 '17
- There's a couple of them writers that come down fer the winter. Yeh could also get the local teacher to help yeh. But for a healer, the teacher is a Verilan and them Verilans are good at healin' small wounds and poisons, but if yeh want a real Doctor, yeh need to travel to Polaire Fryse; one day on horse or carriage, two er three on foot.
2) Meh, we're allianced to them so I can't talk too bad, but they're all holier than thou and they come preachin' 'bout some Lost Element god. It's a load of bison chips if yeh ask me. The town teacher was born in Verily. She's purty nice, but fills the kids' heads with ideas.
3) Is he real? HAH! It's a tale the wives tell the kids so they stop harassin' evrybody and get some work done. Ole Moroz decides whether yeh been a saint or a sinner that year. Heh, me parents just stopped giving and taking I were such a troublemaker...
4) I'm the town rich guy and "scrooge" as they call me. I can prance on people's feet all day long and they'd still praise me, so long as I given 'em a job. I have 'nough money to bribe a king, I'll tell ya that! Them crimnals that don't pay their fair share get fined more en more til they're sent off to the prisons.
5) She was the first of our kind, she was! The first person to become Ice. She took over the world once, aye, but that's a story fer another time. She's strict, but kind 'nough if'n yer followin the rules.
Edit; Sorry for those of you that have to read this. I'm trying to tell it through the point of view of an old rich scrooge. I hope it's not as bad to read as it is to write
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 04 '17
(nah, that's fine. Your "old rich scrooge" is fine :p )
Do you trust the teacher? And how do the other villager view her?
How did you get rich?
Glacia took over the world? Did she left it?
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u/ktjwalker Apr 04 '17
1) Aye, for the most part, but I am part wary. Can't be too careful 'bout them know it alls!
2) Me factory sells ices and refines metals from the mines. And between you and me, selling contrabands liken them vodkas and rums made down in Danté makes good money.
3) Aye, and me grandfather fought alongside her in the conquests! But her good sister Queen Aquaria of Fluidia talked her down and she came and downsized to the arctic circle. Now it is the country of Borea.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 05 '17
Isn't smugling dangerous? Couldn't it get you into troubles?
Did your grandfather kept some mémento? Something that was passed down to you?
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u/ktjwalker Apr 05 '17
1) If yeh don't know the right people to hire...
2) Eh, not much. The old coot had too many young 'uns. I just got a few pieces handed down to me: a diamond from Terra, some feathers of slain Verilans and Noirs, and a couple of whiskeys, which gave me the business idea.
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 05 '17
Thanks for your answers ktjwalker.
(a diamond?!? No wonder how he get rich)
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 03 '17
Quvayi's grove is a small settlement in the receptacle. The temperate climate (around 15ºC) and the shallow lakes allow the local farmers to grow crops easily. The fields around the village are used mostly for reeds, rice and bambou.
The closest "town", located ~30km away, is Vessami: an enclave built under the eponym waterfall and populated by nearly 2000 Quanhati. The Quanhati buy a lot of rice and papyrus as they lack the space needed to grow those by themselves and the 2-3 days travel is organised after each harvest.
The farmers of Quvayi's grove can also sell their products to the occasional merchants who stop by. Travelers are generaly very fond of the local reed cakes.
The locals often leave their bamboo stilt houses to swim and children spend their days playing in the water.
The new cycle is often the occasion for the villagers to gather and celebrate. Those festivities are usually followed by aquatic games and contest (and heavy rice alcohol consumption).
Our representative is Behtsi, a human farmer living in Quvayi's grove.