A New Direction

When the problems began the elders believed we would be able to see them through. They thought that their social infrastructure was solid. What the government couldn't provide the religions could. Time was our enemy. Always it took away and there was no stopping it. We could not catch up. The developments intended to aid us were always just a bit too late. Little by little, chipping away until our downfall. And so the people began to realize that conventional society was unable to follow through to save our way of life. Many people placed blame on the government. But government was not to blame. The religions were helpless as well because the people had lost faith. Daily struggles to meet basic needs changed our beliefs and not for the better. The cities began to loose population. There were no benefits to urban life any longer. Jobs had disappeared. Food was expensive and scarce. As the cities declined so did knowledge. Unable to continue without funding, higher education slowly closed the doors to outsiders. Only the very rich could afford higher education. The sciences stagnated because the pool of bright, ambitious and motivated dried up. The families began the movement by choosing to live as a group, together, in an attempt to make it easier for one another. The multi generational family group became common. The groups got larger as the family group gave way to a new social structure that sought outsiders with skills that would benefit the group. Survival became our priority. And new skills were preferable to the old ones. The young people were trained in the new skills. The old skills were left to the old and those who could not with stand the training for the new skills.

From the start

Our people came about as necessity. When the first recruits were gathered they were secreted to a place where the radical methods could be taught. There were only a few, less then 100. Time was a constant reminder and the work was urgent. It was for this reason, mistakes were made. Miscalculations, if you will, about basic human nature.

Listeners are singled out early in life. It's said that they need to learn how to listen without the interruptions of daily life. Being a Listener is a rigorous profession that requires long hours of study. Not all of us who have the natural ability become Listeners. There are some who fail... in a culture where failure is not tolerated. Those who fail are allowed to remain and become servants to the rest of us. Food must be prepared and cleaning is needed. Someone has to manage daily life.

Children are brought up with the old women until they reach a certain age. From birth they are watched carefully for the traits known to be exhibited by Listeners. Once in awhile a child doesn't appear to have any indications as to where their talent lies. The old ones pay close attention to those. It is said that the children who hide their talent are the most talented.

There are only 3 professions in our culture. 2 are admirable.

Our culture was constructed by taking the best of all warrior cultures. We were taught ancient arts and skills. In time the old warriors determined what style was best suited for each of us. That is not to say that we would forget was was already learned, only that we then developed a specialization. As I said, we were trained in all styles used by warrior culture including fighting in tandem. Tandem fighting was considered a survival skill.