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Awen (Early Access)

Procedural Tabletop Fantasy Setting Builder · By Levi Kornelsen

Playtest Alpha, Thread 6: Kiths!

A topic by Levi Kornelsen created Jan 20, 2022 Views: 303 Replies: 21
Viewing posts 1 to 9

Onward we go!  This stage should be relatively quick, but I'm going to beef it up slightly from the book to test something I've been considering adding in to the book proper.


So!

Pick one of the Kiths, post the name of it here to reserve it, then grab the book and...

1. Figure out where on the map you think is a good place for their origin site. This is the place of their before-our-history-begins existence, not the one they'll have when regular history rolls in.

2. Flip over to the culture section and pick a subsistence type they practiced in simple form in those original times. It probably wasn't the only one they practiced; it's the one they will carry forward into known history.

3. Tell us where that origin site was, as an area, and what the subsistence was. If you want to throw in details on things left behind in abandoned camps/sites, please do!

...........................

1. Shrublands isles, cliffs, caves

2. Great northern forest,  kicker birds

3. Ice wastes, frozen megabirds

4. High shrubland, shifting stones and wild minerals. 

5. Water forest, giant mangrove-types.

6. Forest and tidal caverns.

7. Fungal shrubland.

8. Cool grasslands, snowcats and aurochs.

9. Warm grasslands, snakes and mega-aurochs.

10. Quaking grasslands; wildcats and aurochs.

11. Desert of the Megalizards.

12. Foggy boglands.

...........................................................................................

And go!

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To the northwest of the quaking grasslands where lava flows into the ocean a tribe of Fauns began using shards of obsidian to head their spears.  Their long history of endurance hunting (chasing prey until it literally collapses of exhaustion) smaller deer now allows them to hunt the aurochs too.  Though they have a nomadic lifestyle, they periodically return to the border of the ocean to refresh their supply of obsidian - broken shards of which can be found at any of their campsites.  They call themselves the Rezzu (The Running People).

(2 edits)

(Careful with the present tense: There's a good chance these proto-cultures will already be ancient history as of the next step.)

(EDIT: This is basically the perfect amount of information, though.  *Chef kiss*)

Are there any other major uses for obsidian as tools with these fauns or do they just use them for spears? 

I imagine that they use them for a whole host of purposes where a sharp edge would be useful - scrappers, knives, etc.  Possibly also used decoratively (though primitively) since they were such important material in the culture.

Calling dibs on Rusalka. They originate in the long inlet between 8-9-10. Their original subsistence form is herding,

They originated in coral beds in the long inlet; this reef is still known as "The Old Old Home" in their language. They herded a sort of nautilus-like creature about a meter or so in diameter with a few tentacles about as long, good for eating and companionship due to the chirruping song of the animals. Past campsites often have piles of discarded shells and nautilus leather as building material, clothing, or scrimshaw art.

(I want to play with words some more before I start naming things.)

{Feedback: Please include a numbered list of all Kith at the beginning in case someone wants to roll for it? Also, I don't like the requirement for vegetable eating, it might be interesting to have some carnivore-only Kith.}

Point; I vaguely recall thinking I should put an exception in there for Striga, and never did.

Also, no need for names yet - There are actual languages coming up in the culture section, and the endonyms of these original proto-cultures may or may not even be known.

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Any group might be either way! (I am right now thinking the merpeople Rusalka may be primarily or exclusively carnivores.) Roger that on names.

Duende - originated in the northern islands, with the first settlement around F2, which legend has it was once connected to the mainland. They subsisted mostly from fishing and gathering shellfish and other small creatures in the caves, supplemented with seaweed and gathering the limited edible plants that live on the top of the islands, but they did not hunt the animals that live there.   Abandoned sites are almost entirely inside caves - the most notable one was decorated with subtle carvings that cast geometric shadows when lit by firelight. Elaborate baskets - apparently for fishing - have been found in the caves. Driftwood seems to have been prized, as it comes from shore, and where it survives, was elaborately decorated. Stone suitable for making tools also seems to have been rare, leading to there being few bladed weapons.

We're just waiting on Crash for a Kith, right?

Yeah, I'ma poke him elsewhere, I think.

sorry. im not great for consistency lately. :P

gimme a bit.

In the high shrublands enclosed within the towering mountain range (at D6) where the shadows of night have known to be long and cold, came First of the Striga Family lines, or Blutcaste. 

Each of the Blutcaste Houses (originally) had different specific trades or talents which they would  use to barter and politic with the other Houses. Expertly carved stone and wood architecture featured heavily in early buildings, easily accessed from the nearby forests and mountain ranges. Leather, horn, bone, ivory and other product made from the death of another creature were considered rare and often were status symbols. 

The first of the Blutcaste Houses would survive through primarily through arbory, but also some trapping, some fishing and even a small amount of herding. However, the most culturally significant form of sustenance was hunting. Hunting was not just a way for Striga to teach their young to survive in the wilds alone - it has become a form its own form of art with varying ways of expressing itself. Striga from this region have long defined themselves by whatever kind of hunting they excel at - even if those happened to be other wandering Kith in the wrong place at the wrong time.. if the creature could bleed, they could be hunted - even other Striga, possibly, as various forms of wooden stakes designed for heavy warfare as well as duelling were found left behind in some ruins. 
Striga techniques of Arbory were significant however, entire orchards of heavy, dark grapes could be lined between trees in areas that would get the most sunlight during the day without being accessible by any creatures on the ground. Striga grapes come in various varieties, including a few savory and spicy varies, and as such Striga Wines are  not just for getting sauced - like a good pint of guiness a glass of the right wine from this region will feed you a striga as if they had just eaten at least two rabbits. (or maybe two cats. or maybe two really big gophers...)

Vampires tending  orchards are a cool image.

I thought about how a lot of my personal interpretation of Vampires is how the best of them are the most cautious, and patient and have plans, intrigues and plots that span decades, centuries even! Tending vines would be a trifle, HA a pleasant and peaceful way to spend an evening even. 

But at the same time, in the wilds you aren't actually gonna find something to bleed to death every night so it would make sense to find ways to cultivate fruit that tastes/looks/is as healthy to eat as blood.

In my headcannon I want to expand on Vampiric Wineries more but I'm not sure if that would be going too far ahead or something :P

Yeah, this (probably) isn't going to be one of the lasting cultures - this is how prehistoric striga lived, to the extent that it's remembered.  So building a lot is likely to just be a waste.

But possibly fun! Good to center that we are on prehistoric time. Hard to keep in mind.

I will grab my Kith after work sorry all!

No worries!

C5 Ice Wastes with Frozen Birds Early Jotnar settlements. Ice Fishing.

On the coastline of the frozen wastes resided the Jotnar. Proud, tall and strong, they were highly efficient ice fisher people, spearing their prey with sharpened bone harvested from the abundant fossils throughout their lands. One can still find the remains of their fishing hovels on the ice and the caves where they dried the meat.

.....And we're set to get into the deep weeds with culture creation!

*Rubs hands*

Post on that maybe tonight, maybe in the morning?  Depends on toddler!

Thanks!