Tell me a story

I've been trying to piece together how strat mode and the society stages have changed after I left, but I think I have a better idea than just pouring over ancient texts and trying to determine what got incorporated and what didn't. I want you all to tell me a story.

I just reached the awakening stages. Describe what I see and do with my newly minted sentients. If you can't do it, or there are diverging stories, we have a problem that needs to be reconciled. In addition, the story format should put into focus the player's perspective, and what needs to be re-thought for their sake.

Okay, I'll give this a shot.

Once the Awakening Stage is reached, the player can begin researching different things, but cannot actually access the Research Web/Tree until they discover a certain tech, Record Keeping I think, so it is not very different from the Aware Stage. A major difference is the strategy mode is unlocked (not 100% sure about that but I'll go with it) and now you can control whole groups of your species at once. Research pretty much happens on its own by player actions, such as increased socialization and tool-making. I think building of basic structures can happen here, but like before, not 100% sure.

Research being put in the background at first may be frustrating at first for players, but I think the pros outweigh the cons here. Evolution of the species will be put on hold, as there is really no more need for that to happen anymore with sentience.

This research will continue until you are governing a large enough group of your sentients, then the Society Stage will begin with the designation of a new Society Center.

Hope that is at least a good portion of an overview. If I am wrong on something, I will not be ashamed in being corrected.

I think this place is a good place to start:

https://thrivegame.canadaboard.net/t1126-transition-to-society-stage#22047

Since it covers precisely the transition from Aware, through Awakening, to Society.