The gnolls' attempt at fishing is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I don't quite know how it caught on, but they seem to be enjoying it. Some of them dive in after the fish, battered in the face by a flapping tail; others use a line and tackle; others cast spears. No matter what, all involved seem to end up sodden, and some growl at those making them wet, and sometimes brawls break out, the entire point of the trip forgotten.
Some return with baskets bearing one, two, or even five fish of varying sizes. Barely enough to feed one gnoll, it keeps their mind off the rain. A few are beginning to prove quite adept. I have sent the latest out with vine nets; we will see how well they do.
Endearing though it is, it cannot sustain them forever. I set the xvarts to making snares; crabbing and the like were things she dirtied her hands with as a child. I… did not. Even I know that without boats, we cannot haul in larger catches, and I do not think gnolls are ready for sailing. The waves will not allow it, not when they are so ill-tempered. The wreckers will help fish the river, but I do not expect much.
I must breed fish and rear livestock if we are to maintain our numbers; I am no farmer, but the xvarts are. They tend fields, not beasts, but tales of xvart raiders after farmers' cows are well known. Perhaps we could partake in this tradition? To be reduced to a common thief…
If we had fields, it would be different. We do not, and we are cut off from the xvart village. Nuts and berries are not in season; neither is fruit. When it is, it will have to be gathered, planted. It will have to be next year. The shaman will know…
It is my hope that reservoirs will be built, and fish can be fed into it. The most I can do right now is gather as much rainwater as I can, and order containers made. In the meantime, I have learnt we are not as cut off as I thought; there is a crossing near the southern tip, where both sides are shallow. As soon as the rains let up, I will send a detachment of gnolls to connect with the stranded survivors. The man-giant will not have slain all of them, but now the mainland is open to us. I will carve a path to the xvart village, but their crops will not be ready for months; in any event, the crossing must be fortified.
Those gnolls across the river will join us, or become food for the rest.