[Region 1][Map 12] [Location 01] - Finger Islands

[ravells]

I am so loving this! A great history!

[Talroth]

I wouldn't call them Vikings personally, "The Speck Pirates" or "Reivers of the Specks" or something sounds better than Viking in my mind. But I would put them in small, fast ships, ones slightly larger than Norse Longboats. Crewed by 20 to 30 warriors when raiding, or as little as 6 to 12 when out trading for their own reasons. Sometimes raiding in small packs of 4 to 8 ships, often herding their prey into traps. Maybe making use of some magic items to allow them to communicate, and better ambush ships.

Should they be the polite "Give us the better half of your cargo as 'tax' and get lost?" or "Yeah, you're going to die, your ship is now ours, and we'll 'enjoy' any women you have aboard, dead or alive." type pirates?

I'm making the southern ones as rather blood thirsty, but often pull themselves up short to keep from drawing too much attention to themselves, often relying on spies from Irontown to help them zero in on the best ships to take out.

[RobA]

"Reivers of the Specks"

Interesting term choice. Any relation to the Reavers in Firefly?

-Rob A>

[Sigurd]

Sorry I was unclear, "Viking" was originally a verb similar in meaning to Pirate. Thats how I intended it. I'm sure pirate crews, or raiding crews, would try to be purposely vague about their identities and organization .

My thought was that the Kalabari have an unruly society that values and builds war boats. Independence is a central tenant. Fringe members, or just greedy ones, would make natural pirates. The rest of the society might cover for them out of loyalty or greed. They'd officially condemn the act for diplomacy. Still unless raiders preyed on Kalabari lands, the worst punishment they would receive might be being made outlaws. If the 'Speck Pirates' have been outlawed, whose to say what their detailed membership is.... or even if a clan, hard on its luck, keeps a set of colours around just in case.

I've sort of designed the culture to spit off people, guides and rugged settlers. They might be found on any appealing coastline or island in the inland seas. They might be mercenaries working in Irontown or Groam. They might be religious figures on dream quest in some far away wilderness.

Alternately, Groamites??? or other people from the Beastlands might join Kalabari tribes to swell the ranks of soldiers that man the war boats. The status associated with boats creates a need for sailors and a justification for a lot of boats\trade\piracy. If a tribe is recognized by the Prince it gets a vote at Things according to the war boats it maintains. Acts of piracy and crimes against the Kalabari are heard and settled at the appropriate Thing. There's a mechanic to recognise other nations by their nautical power as well.

I'm trying to create the impression of a lot of rugged people living by their wits with a religeous center and a political champion. They would want to be lawful and useful as well as warlike. The whole human spectrum. Irontown should not know where to hunt the pirates and be uncomfortable with the idea of randomly attacking the Kalabari.

Its a point of tension for the region. One region, one people, is very static. I'd like to think that 3 peoples in 2 regions is a natural triangle with tension and intrigue. More opportunity for story.


Sigurd.

Feel free to use the background if it helps or do your own thing. I'm writing from the Kalabari perspective which certainly would be different from Iron Town's. The Kalabari will put trading posts and warning camps on the specks closest to the main island. The rest are deserted, or ruins, or whatever....

[Sigurd]

Sphere of influence map, mostly to help me organize my thoughts for the region.

Cities are named, villages and beacons are not. Kalabari clans, other than the prince, often shift locations for better fishing and resources. Lesser clans are often completely mobile.

I think this map under achieves. The final map will probably move the settlements around and scale the dots by relative population. Also, for a political map, It makes no mention of neighbors.


I'd love any constructive criticism I can get.


Sigurd

[Sigurd]

It involves lake Festus and the birth of the Kalabar.

I'd appreciate any comment.


Sigurd

[ravells]

Is there a typo in the regional population and distribution table ? It shows 1 town with 0 population and 0 cities with 2010 population.