Culture: Kuikka-Tribe Owl-Tribe
Culture: Kuikka-Tribe Owl-Tribe
Culture: Kuikka-Tribe Owl-Tribe
There are countless stories, legends and myths about the first Winter. During The First Winter, the Inehmo became many.
Men, wives, children, the heroes and the wise ones walked the Earth. The heroes made the fire, they made the bow and the arrow and they hunted.
They made clothes, they made tools and shelters, they made skis, and they made drums and the kantele.
When The First Winter was over, Inehmoes could not understand The Wind singing, nor The Bear and The Forest humming.
The wise ones among the people said that The World was no longer real.
The World was unreal.
Into the far north you will go, a version of Iron Age Finland, where the spirits of the forest and the water are real, and can be appealed to and placated. A place of
harsh living, harsher winters, and vibrant summers. You will have to make your livelihood in the world, whether that means remaining in a village and contributing to
the communal good, or striking out into the wilderness to claim a place of your own to build a cabin, or kota.
Culture
As The Inehmo spread on the surface of The Earth some of them felt an urge to travel far into the north, as the others settled down near the great lakes and
watercourses. Some never left the forests they were born into. The places they started to populate had a major influence on the people. It affected their thoughts,
their look, their physique, their habits and their source of livelihood. Thus were the different kinds of tribes and cultures born.
In this land, there are ten sub-cultures, or tribes, all considered Inehmo. Your chosen tribe determines your starting location, and which skills you are likely to be
skilled at. You can select any of the ten tribes freely. By default this comes with a history and integration into the tribe, but any can also be made ‘Drop-In’, in which
case the tribesmen still recognize you as one of their own, but you have no memories or connections with anyone in the tribe; this does not affect perk discounts.
Two other groups exist: the Njerpez foreign raiders who come from the east, and the wealthy Foreign Traders who come from the south.
The Kuikka-Tribe is one of the Northern Peoples, and they have kuikka (black-throated diver) as their totem animal. They live in small cottages, earning their daily
life by means of fishing, hunting and small-scale reindeer rearing.
Owl-Tribe tales tell that they have been born out of the echoes of a shriek of The Owl. And indeed they still do travel like echoes in the forests, bare mountains and
bogs of The North. They live mainly on nomadic reindeer rearing. They travel twice a year, since they have their summer camps up in the extreme North, and
southern winter camps in the vast forests.
The Seal-Tribe lives in the Extreme North, on the northern coast of the UnReal World. They do have small reindeer herds, but their main source of daily food is the
sea. The Seal is their totem animal and also their most important prey animal. So they have developed various rites to maintain a good relationship with The Seal.
Kaumolaiset live in the vast forests. The families don't live next to each other, so instead of proper villages their houses are scattered around sparsely. They tend to
be tough, tall and strong people who are proud of their freedom. On their hunting trips Kaumo men can spend weeks alone in the wilderness, tracking and stalking
prey. They are well known for their kaumolais spear, which is specially designed for hunting big animals. The Kaumo region is rich in game, providing fine quality furs.
Kiesseläiset have small, loose villages, usually located near lakes or rivers. Kiesseläiset earn their daily living mainly by the means of fishing, hunting and
slash-and-burn agriculture. Typically they cut down a small area of forest each year, burning the trees, which yields them fresh fertile land for cultivation. This kind of
field is exhausted in five or six years. After that the area is left as a pasture for animals. They like to joke about everything, to tell stories and to avoid fighting.
Reemiläiset live in the south-east part of the UnReal World. They have prosperous villages and they earn their daily living mainly by means of agriculture. Regular
fishing, passive hunting and trading adds a steady flow of wealth. Reemiläiset like to build big, protected houses. They have a deep respect for the spiritworld and
their ancestors.
Driikiläiset live on the south-west coastal area. They live in villages and towns, which are usually protected by walls, watchtowers and fortresses. Driikiläiset are
traders. They send their ships abroad, they trade with inland peasants and with the fishermen of the archipelago. From time to time are attacked by foreign pirates
and bandits who may sometimes sail from a great distance to attack Driik coast. Driikiläiset can be considered to be more organized than rest of the peoples of The
UnReal World. They have differentiated professions - merchants, soldiers, sailors and so on. If needed, Driikiläiset can afford crossbows, metal armours, swords,
battleaxes and full-metal shields. This does mean, however, they are less rugged, and less suited to living in the wilds on their own.
Sartolaiset have their home in the western coastal area of the UnReal World. They have settled to live in small agricultural villages, farming for food and trapping
for furs. Sartolaiset trade mainly with Driikiläiset, trading furs for salt, tools and luxuries. They are proud of their wealth, which they display by building big houses.
They like wrestling for fun. And if the situation gets serious, they draw their knives.
Islanders inhabit the archipelago in the most south-western part of the UnReal World. They live on fishing and hunting seals and birds. They are skilled carpenters.
Koivulaiset are farmers. They have considerably large fields, cattle, sheep and horses. They have their homes near the lakes and rivers in the mid-west part of the
UnReal World. Twice a year they might spend a couple of weeks in the wilderness, hunting, trapping and fishing, returning home with dried fish, smoked meat and
furs. Otherwise they don't travel so much. They trade with the peddlers regularly visiting the Koivula.
The Njerpez (100 CP) are a culture with fearsome warrior raiders, come from the east to pillage and kill the people of the UnReal World. They are not of the Inehmo,
and are hated throughout the land, for good reason. They lack a strong connection to the spirits of the land. As Njerpez you would be a member of a village on the
eastern edges of the Unreal World, either a warrior raider or a supporting figure for them.
Foreign Traders (200 CP) come from the south, analogous to early Viking traders. They are poorly suited for surviving in the wilderness alone, but better equipped
with a more developed martial culture. They also lack a strong connection to the spirits of the land. The Inehmo, primarily the Driikiläiset, trade peacefully with them
for the most part, giving furs in exchange for weapons and other fine crafts. As a Foreign Trader you would have just arrived on the western coast of the Unreal World
with a small party of your fellows, with the goal of establishing a more permanent trading post.
Companions, Old & New
Imported companions can choose any of the Inehmo tribes for free. If you chose Njerpez or Foreign Trader for your background, they may choose the same for half price, but must
otherwise pay full for those backgrounds.
● Import a single companion with 300CP for a cost of 50 CP, or with 600 CP for a cost of 100 CP;
● Import up to three companions with 300CP each for a cost of 100CP, or with 600 CP each for a cost of 200 CP;
● Import up to six companions with 300CP each for a cost of 150CP, or with 600 CP each for a cost of 300 CP;
● Import up to ten companions with 300CP each for a cost of 200CP, or with 600 CP each for a cost of 400 CP.
If you have a truly astounding number of companions, you can consider the pattern to continue (15 companions for the next step, then 21, then 28, etc.). They do receive free items
associated with their background and skills, and may purchase other items for their own use, or for group use (in the case of things like saunas).
Alternatively, in any imported companion slot, you can create a new companion built using the same rules, who has a history with you in this world.
Basic Skills
The Peoples that were once the Inehmo mastered many skills to flourish in the Unreal World. Agriculture, Trapping, Fishing, Timbercraft, and many more.
And then, too, the skills of war. Fighting with the spear, the sword, the bow.
Below are the basic skills you’ll need to survive in the Unreal World. Any of these can be learned normally, but the ones you select you will start with an experienced
level of that skill that never rusts. It can still be honed and practiced further, however. Purchase any skill a second time, at no discount, to be a master at it. None
among your people would be your superior at it.
Agriculture (100 CP; discounted for Kiesseläiset, Reemiläiset, Driikiläiset, Sartolaiset, Koivulaiset)
The ability to grow crops and harvest wild plants for seeds and leaves. Commonly cultivated plants include turnips, broad beans, hemp, rye and barley. However, it
is possible to grow any plant as long as you manage to obtain its seeds. Agriculture consists of tilling, sowing, harvesting, threshing and grinding.
Fishing (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Seal, Kaumolaiset, Kiesseläiset, Driikiläiset, Islanders)
Fishing is a significant source of livelihood and commonly practised by all the cultures of the UnReal World. There are two kinds of fishing methods, active and
passive. Active fishing means using a fishing rod or certain weapons to catch a fish. Passive fishing is practised with nets. This gives you skill with both.
Physician (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Owl, Seal, Sartolaiset, Foreign Trader)
A skill to treat wounds, injuries and medical ailments. A successful wound treatment will improve the healing.
Tracking (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Owl, Seal, Kaumolaiset, Kiesseläiset, Koivulaiset, Njerpez)
The ability to recognize and follow tracks, as well as recognize details of the creature that left them. Determine general scale and type of animal activity in an area.
Hideworking (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Owl, Seal, Kaumolaiset, Kiesseläiset, Njerpez)
Hideworking is used to skin animals and process the resulting hides. Success in hideworking determines the quality of the hide produced. Poor quality furs and
leathers are worth only a fraction of the good quality ones and hides of some animals are more valuable than others. Hides of fox, lynx, beaver and pine-marten are
for example very sought after. Furthermore, a thick winter fur is most valuable.
Weatherlore (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Owl, Seal, Sartolaiset, Islanders)
Weatherlore is the ability to predict and observe the weather, in the short term and in anticipating seasonal changes. A winter storm will not catch you unawares.
Trapping (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Kaumolaiset, Kiesseläiset, Reemiläiset, Driikiläiset, Sartolaiset, Koivulaiset, Njerpez)
Trapping is a skill that not only covers your ability to construct various traps, but also determines your success in setting said traps. This includes everything from
loop snares to pit traps.
Stealth (100 CP; discounted for Kuikka, Owl, Seal, Kaumolaiset, Kiesseläiset, Reemiläiset, Njerpez)
The ability to move silently and without being detected. This is especially well attuned to moving through snow and forest, and tricks on masking your scent.
Dodge (100 CP; discounted for Owl, Kaumolaiset, Sartolaiset, Njerpez, Foreign Trader)
Your ability to dodge melee attacks from warriors and animals. Essentially for one planning on combating frequently.
Boating (100 CP; discounted for Islanders and Driikiläiset, free for Foreign Trader)
Skill at navigating waterways and the sea with a boat. Ability to craft basic sailing tools. In combination with Carpentry can make excellent small boats.
Intelligence - Cleverness and wit. Improves skill with fine crafts and with rituals.
Will - The ability to keep going without sleep, or while injured. To focus through pain and adversity.
Strength - Pure, physical might. Affects how much you can lift, and how damaging your blows are.
Endurance - Ability to carry large loads over time, and to survive damaging experiences.
Dexterity - Ability to use your hands and arms skillfully. Affects melee combat and many fine crafts.
Agility - Ability to dodge and evade, and to balance on boats, ledges and trees.
Speed - Generally the speed at which you can move, and your reaction time.
Eyesight - Simply the ability to see far and quickly, and to discern things that are camouflaged or hidden.
Hearing & Smell - Boosted as one ability, enhancements to these will allow you to perceive things you might otherwise miss.
Rituals
Rituals involve asking the spirits for their aid in a specific task. If you use them too frequently the spirits will become angered with you, though this can be mitigated
through sacrifices and appeasement. Without any purchases below, you start without knowing any rituals. They can be learned from sages in setting, though the
information is considered to be valuable. With purchase, you can use it more frequently, it’s a bit more potent and, most importantly, it will continue to work post-jump.
There are other in-setting rituals not covered here, but nothing that would be particularly useful in future jumps.
All backgrounds except Njerpez and Foreign Traders receive +100 CP to spend in this section.
Other Abilities
These go beyond the abilities normally attainable in the Unreal World, but they are thematically fitting. These abilities do not function until after the jump is over.
Items
Clothing & Food (one free for all)
A serviceable set of clothing of mixed hemp, fur and birch-bark, along with some worn leather boots. Enough food for a few days.
Basic Weapon or Shield (25 CP; one free with corresponding weapon or shield skill for all but Njerpez and Foreign Trader)
A fine, but not exceptional, example of a knife, sword, axe, spear, (metal-headed) club, flail, bow, crossbow, or shield. Bows include three dozen arrows.
Fine Weapon or Shield (50 CP, or upgrade a free Basic Weapon or Shield to this for 25 CP; one free for Njerpez and Foreign Trader with corresponding skill)
An exceptional example of the corresponding item. The finest craftsmanship that can be found among the Inehmo peoples. Bows include three dozen arrows.
Basic Tool (25 CP; one free per non-combat Skill for all but Foreign Trader)
A fine, but not exceptional, example of a tool, such as a metal shovel, a woodsman’s axe, or a set of sewing needles.
Fine Tool (50 CP, or upgrade a free Basic Weapon or Shield to this for 25 CP; one free for Foreign Trader per non-combat skill)
An exceptional example of the corresponding item. The finest craftsmanship that can be found among the Inehmo peoples.
Iron & Leather (100 CP; discounted for Foreign Trader or with Metalworking)
A well made metal chest-piece and helmet, along with expertly made leather to cover the rest of you. Unlike in-setting armor, this repairs itself over time.
Drawbacks
You may receive up to +600 CP with drawbacks. You may not choose more than one “Start” drawback. If you take a Start drawback, you begin without the company
of your companions. If you escape the initial difficulties/danger, you will soon meet up with them. Companions may optionally have one Scenario drawback, in which
case they begin, alone, in their own predicament. This adds to the CP that they can use. If they do so, and they fail to get out of their situation on their own, then they
are unavailable for the rest of the jump and lose any purchases they made in this jump. They may not choose other drawbacks.
One Hand Tied Behind Your Back (+200 CP to you, +100 CP to all imported companions with out-of-setting powers)
Any exceptional powers or abilities you have are locked for the duration of this jump. Nothing beyond the potential capability of a normal human being in the “real
world” is retained. Access to items from previous jumps is restricted to that which would be entirely mundane in this setting. If you have a prior sword, you can use it
still, but it won’t have any magic powers. No magic spells, no superhuman thinking, no superhuman shagging, no extra lives, nada. The same applies to any
companions that accompany you. The exception to this are perks purchased in this jump, which provide benefits as normal. Any memories or skills that are lost as a
result of this drawback are restored at the end of jump.
One Hand Tied Behind Your Back (+200 CP to you, +100 CP to all imported companions with out-of-setting powers)
Any exceptional powers or abilities you have are locked for the duration of this jump. Nothing beyond the potential capability of a normal human being in the “real
world” is retained. Access to items from previous jumps is restricted to that which would be entirely mundane in this setting. If you have a prior sword, you can use it
still, but it won’t have any magic powers. No magic spells, no superhuman thinking, no superhuman shagging, no extra lives, nada. The same applies to any
companions that accompany you. The exception to this are perks purchased in this jump, which provide benefits as normal. Any memories or skills that are lost as a
result of this drawback are restored at the end of jump.
Both Hands Tied Behind Your Back (+200 CP to you, +100 CP to all imported companions with out-of-setting powers)
This drawback adds onto One Hand Tied Behind Your Back. The CP from this does not count against your 600 CP limit.
Your powers, and those of your companions, are further restricted. Skills and abilities are fully reduced to those of an average human being, other than perks
purchased here. Further, you have zero access to any items from previous jumps, mundane or not, purchased with CP or not, and you cannot access your
warehouse. You and your companions retain your memories of self, and past experiences, but somehow cannot bring them to bear in this jump. For example, you
may remember that you have used guns in the past, but you have no capability to introduce gunpowder into this world. Any memories or skills that are lost as a result
of this drawback are restored at the end of jump.
The Spirits are Angry (+100 CP; additional +100 CP if combined with either of the “Behind Your Back” drawbacks)
Your entire stay here you will find yourself fighting a constant battle just to keep the spirits from hating your guts. Your actions anger them twice as much, and your
appeasements offer only half the benefit. There is a regular and constant drain on their mood just by your very presence. If not constantly sacrificed to, your fishing
lines will regularly break, your meat will spoil, your footing will slip, and the beasts of the wild may attack you in fury.
Neolithic (+200 CP; additional +100 CP if combined with either of the “Behind Your Back” drawbacks. You cannot be Njerpez or a Foreign Trader)
Metalworking has not reached the lands of the Inehmo. Well, other than the metal weapons and armor of the Njerpez that are still as viscous as ever. Expect to find
no other metal tools or implements, nor to be able to trade for them.
A Land of Trade
To succeed in this scenario, you must ensure that there is a permanent settlement that is far and wide considered the preeminent location for trading with and
among the Inehmo peoples. The most obvious location to do so is on the west coast where most trade occurs anyway, but it does not have to be so.
If you succeed, you are far more easily able to set up trade relationships in the future, whether between you and another party, or mediating between two groups.
These relationships will tend to be more profitable for both groups, as well.
A New Village
To succeed at this scenario, you must establish and help build a new settlement, which you are either head of, or one of the heads of. The settlement must contain
at least one hundred people. You do not have to be the only one whose effort goes into it, but no one should have put more effort in than you.
If you succeed, then in the future you are better at bringing people together into cohesive social groups, and to work together for collective benefit.
End
If you survived ten years, you can move on to the next adventure, stay here (heh), or head home. Any property that you heavily developed with abilities appropriate to this jump can
come with you into future jumps. This includes, for example, your farmstead, cabin and surrounding property, but not a factory you may have built with out-of-jump abilities.
Notes
Special thanks to PlotVitalNPC for a lot of very useful feedback and suggestions.
v.1.1: One Hand drawback increased to +200/+100. “Other Abilities” section not occur until post-jump. Skills can be taken a second time for mastery. New skill: Pottery, Metalworking. New Items:
Food & Clothing, Livestock, Hunting Dogs, Sauna, Log Cabin, Smoking House, Trap Fence, Fisherman’s Bundle, Boat. New Drawbacks: Neolithic, Unfamiliar Tribesman, Little Ice Age, Bear Rush,
Njerpez Rush. End section added. Notes section added. Reward that after the jump you can take land you’ve developed with you into the future jumps. Added option on making new companions.
Scenarios section added.
Appendix: Gameplay Images
To give you a sense for the setting.