The various Uman tribes, by now called the Mannut, have been traveling in the mountains (aqua arrow, center). In Round 2, they are about to enter a period of isolation where their migrations do not take them within range of the other four clans. They shall be living in the mountains and passes, and farther north on the frozen tundra. Since the Players chose in Year Zero to save the child of Uman, and since they further assured them with a prediction that the child would grow up to be leader, many of the people of the Uman tribe have six fingers and toes.
While they are living in caves in the mountains, an earthquake drives them out of their cave. Nobody is harmed, but there is now a large vein of exposed ore in the bare rock, a bright orange colored ore with a green patina that wasn't entirely visible before.
Because in the previous round the players had denied any mystical explanation for earthquakes, and had further deprecated the use of mysticism overall — you don't need the Old Ways, Connor the Mystic had told them — the leader of the Mannut is Tukwa the Fox (M), a wily leader who will use whatever trick he must to gain advantage for the tribe. The wise woman, Nutah (F), is consulted occasionally, but her views are ignored as often as obeyed. Tukwa's chief enforcer is Gar the Spear (M). Discipline is good, and the clan's propensity for creative thinking and tool-making has been enhanced.
"Why did the earthquake destroy our cave?" the Fox Clan asks the Players, for this is the crisis for which the Players, now playing Great Spirits, were summoned.
"The earthquake came because Tukwa the Fox was seen near the orange metal in the cave wall," said Nutah the Wise Woman, largely in hopes that someone might listen to her for once. "The orange stones are cursed. We must abandon this place at once lest we anger the spirits."
"No," said Tukwa, a leader who had the makings of a true sophist. "The earthquake was a gift, a sign! By the shaking of the earth, this metal was given to us by the spirits, and we must make use of this gift."
"You were prying at the orange rocks," said Nutah accusingly. "You brought this upon us."
The people of the Fox Clan are suspicious of the rocks, frightened of the earthquake, and uncertain. The Players had to come up with an explanation.
What The Players Decided
First they realized that they had gone too far with their denunciation of mysticism in the previous round. They hadn't meant to shut down the development of magic, philosophy, learning, or understanding.
Dave the Artisan set about making something with the orange metal, quickly devising some kind of crucible that he might use in their fires.
While he was busy with that, Joe the Leader explained to the Mannut tribe: "The orange metal is not cursed. But Tukwa must learn to be careful, for the shining orange stone is mighty, and Nutah should have been with him. Only with strong medicine can these stones be handled safely."
"There," added Joe the Leader to Dave the Artisan. "That ought to secure a role in their society for the priesthood. We don't want them to give up on magic altogether."
"Good," said Dave. "I think I've got the hang of this copper. Now, I think we need to make something for them, some kind of ceremonial object. I could make a copper-tipped spearpoint for Gar the Spear."
"Hey, I want a copper spear too," said Connor the Mystic.
"You should make something shiny for Nutah, too. That's nicely symbolic," Joe the Leader said.
Like a necklace? I suggested.
"Yeah, a ceremonial necklace, I'll make something like that," said Dave the Artisan.
The Players presented the copper artifacts to the Mannut tribesmen, and Joe the Leader added a warning: "You are the only ones who have the secret over the orange stones," he told them. "So be careful. Other clans might come and try to take it away from you. The warriors must help to guard the mine."
Result
By prodding the Mannut tribe in the general direction of mining, they started a general theme of interest in geology within that region.
Because in the previous round the players had denied any mystical explanation for earthquakes, and had further deprecated the use of mysticism overall — you don't need the Old Ways, Connor the Mystic had told them — the leader of the Mannut is Tukwa the Fox (M), a wily leader who will use whatever trick he must to gain advantage for the tribe. The wise woman, Nutah (F), is consulted occasionally, but her views are ignored as often as obeyed. Tukwa's chief enforcer is Gar the Spear (M). Discipline is good, and the clan's propensity for creative thinking and tool-making has been enhanced.
"Why did the earthquake destroy our cave?" the Fox Clan asks the Players, for this is the crisis for which the Players, now playing Great Spirits, were summoned.
"The earthquake came because Tukwa the Fox was seen near the orange metal in the cave wall," said Nutah the Wise Woman, largely in hopes that someone might listen to her for once. "The orange stones are cursed. We must abandon this place at once lest we anger the spirits."
"No," said Tukwa, a leader who had the makings of a true sophist. "The earthquake was a gift, a sign! By the shaking of the earth, this metal was given to us by the spirits, and we must make use of this gift."
"You were prying at the orange rocks," said Nutah accusingly. "You brought this upon us."
The people of the Fox Clan are suspicious of the rocks, frightened of the earthquake, and uncertain. The Players had to come up with an explanation.
What The Players Decided
First they realized that they had gone too far with their denunciation of mysticism in the previous round. They hadn't meant to shut down the development of magic, philosophy, learning, or understanding.
Dave the Artisan set about making something with the orange metal, quickly devising some kind of crucible that he might use in their fires.
While he was busy with that, Joe the Leader explained to the Mannut tribe: "The orange metal is not cursed. But Tukwa must learn to be careful, for the shining orange stone is mighty, and Nutah should have been with him. Only with strong medicine can these stones be handled safely."
"There," added Joe the Leader to Dave the Artisan. "That ought to secure a role in their society for the priesthood. We don't want them to give up on magic altogether."
"Good," said Dave. "I think I've got the hang of this copper. Now, I think we need to make something for them, some kind of ceremonial object. I could make a copper-tipped spearpoint for Gar the Spear."
"Hey, I want a copper spear too," said Connor the Mystic.
"You should make something shiny for Nutah, too. That's nicely symbolic," Joe the Leader said.
Like a necklace? I suggested.
"Yeah, a ceremonial necklace, I'll make something like that," said Dave the Artisan.
The Players presented the copper artifacts to the Mannut tribesmen, and Joe the Leader added a warning: "You are the only ones who have the secret over the orange stones," he told them. "So be careful. Other clans might come and try to take it away from you. The warriors must help to guard the mine."
Result
By prodding the Mannut tribe in the general direction of mining, they started a general theme of interest in geology within that region.
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