The Worldbuilding Community does a daily prompt, where they ask us to talk about a particular aspect of our worlds we're writing, be it a game, book, or movie. They're fun and I find that they help to focus your mind on whatever aspect of the world, the prompt asks you to describe.
Currently, exploration is the centre of the prompt. The question is, what type of treasure would an explorer of your world find if they went looking. Here's A Link
Treasures can come in all shapes, sizes and values. Some could be worth a fair amount to anyone and some might only have sentimental value to one person.
For this prompt, I wanted to talk about the planet Kah-Vita and something I made a note of but, haven't had a chance to expand on in the book I'm writing.
Kah-Vita is a desert world, but, also has greenery. South of its main continent, are lush forests and rolling hills. To the West, are dusty deserts. Not completely devoid of life, flat stones and plateaus dot the land's red sands and dirt. The North is colder and mountainous and the East is a mix of mountains, lakes and rivers. The midlands are something of all four biomes combined.
One thing that this land is, throughout, however. Is sparse. The people of Kah-Vita, are a tribal society much like Ireland about 1000-1500 years ago, pre-Norman invasion.
Apart from the East coast of Kah-Vita, which in recent history has become something of a trading hub. Since Kah-Vita has joined the Free Space Alliance, they have welcomed many off-worlders to the planet. The Eastern kingdoms, for this reason, have become some of the most wealthy and have given up their tribal routes, for a more conventional living.
But, back before joining Free Space and before the Confederations attempted occupation of the planet, many separate kingdoms lived and fought for domination over each other. In between these major kingdoms were many smaller tribes. Which, although a force to be reckoned with, some were little more than a group of different families, living in the same area. Some tribes are nomadic and others have deep roots to their patch of land.
One of the tribes still around, from the West. Call themselves, (The Tooth Takers.) Working title. On account of their prized trophy. After a battle, they would take the teeth from their enemies. But, only living ones. As desecrating corpses on Kah-Vita is seen as a crime and bad luck.
The people of this world do have an overarching idea of law and order, they aren't mindless barbarians. If one of the sacred laws are broken, there are terrible punishments. As well as this, they are superstitious.
Battles
On this world, battles aren't always initiated to gain territory. The tribes and kingdoms do it as a tradition, remembering their roots, showing the others that they are still strong and haven't forgotten the old ways. As a sport, almost. To settle disputes sometimes, or in rare occurrences to completely wipe out the enemy tribe. Usually to a small host of onlookers, who would watch it as we would a football match.
The kinds of weapons they use are decided on by the organizers, sometimes it's the spectator's choice. Although, most see fighting with anything other than a melee weapon, cowardly. Which, is a principle that has been the downfall of many before.
The Tooth Takers, back in the old times. Had taken control over the whole of the Western coast. But, they had to give up their ownership of it all, just after the occupation of their world ended. Because they lost the chieftain's armour.
Chieftains Armour
Over the years this piece of armour has been decorated with the teeth of the tribes conquered in battle. As a tribe fell the armours decoration would expand, as did The Tooth Takers territory. The armour was seen as a verbal contract between the fallen tribes and them. That they would rule over them so long as this Armour was used by the leader of The Tooth Takers and in return the tribes could remain, but, give up their own customs and traditions and respect the rule of The Tooth Takers.
It went missing, however, as the occupation started. The Chieftain and a few of his best warriors met with the first Confederation troops and officers to land on the planet. But, were never seen again.
As a planet, they all worked together to fight off the Confederation, but, after the fighting was done. They gave back control of their kingdom, going back to the small patch they occupied centuries ago.
An explorer might be lucky enough to find it, the price of which could be a lot. How much is a kingdom worth?
Conclusion
So, that's a bit of a story I have written in my notes of a planet that has barely been explored. Yet. I think it could be an interesting story, even if it was a stand-alone tale or comic book. Maybe which centre's around the next son in line, who should be king. Would the other tribes respect this young king if he was to find it? What if it was someone else who found the armour? I think it's interesting and has many possibilities to tell an interesting story. Self-contained, about a small tribe on an Outer-world that most people would avoid.