Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

As kind of a follow up to bconsidine's post, did Phil ever detail all of the major clans of Mu'ugalavya? I know that there a few mentioned, here and there, but nowhere near the amount which as been detailed for Tsolyanu.

Shemek

Originally Posted by bconsidine

Just to get the conversation going again: How many of you have created your own clan? How much detail have you put into it? Was there a practical reason for it, or was it mere fan-wankery?

I developed mine, Sky Blue Water (Hamm's was beer of choice on a limited college budget back in the day), before I acquired the Sourcebook so the "off the boat" PCs could have a place to call home. It's high enough status that it can afford to send people off on adventures, yet not so high that PCs can lord it over NPCs. Over the years, it has developed into 28 lineages, of which only 3 or 4 mid-grade lineages contain PCs. The rest are either NPCs or window dressing. Based out of Jakalla, it has houses up the river to Bey Su.

Well, if it's 'fan-wankery', then one Prof. M. A. R. Barker is the biggest one of them all. He used to do this all the time, as we travelled around, and pointed out that the 'Official List Of Official Clans' covers the 'national' and 'regional' ones; there are, he commented in a number of occasions lots and lots of 'provincial' and 'local' clans that only get mentioned when you meet them.

So, yes, we did it all the time, and I still do it.

Re the conversation: As I've said, this thread belongs to all of you; I'm here for your questions and comments...

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Very nice. I'll might "borrow" this clan if my party ever make it to Jakalla. What type of clan are they professional, warrior ...?

I have always only used the Tsolyani clans from the Sourcebook, and other publications. Seeing as there are so many which have already been detailed I didn't see the need to reinvent the wheel.
I have developed quite a few Pechani clans/lineages though.


Shemek

And there you go - Phil left us a whole world to explore!

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

As kind of a follow up to bconsidine's post, did Phil ever detail all of the major clans of Mu'ugalavya? I know that there a few mentioned, here and there, but nowhere near the amount which as been detailed for Tsolyanu.

Shemek

No, not really. There are a number of clans in the 1987 and 1992 databases, but he really did not develop the other empires as much as he did Tsolyanu.

Originally Posted by bconsidine

Feel free, Shemek.

They're kind of all over the place, but primarily, they're caravan operators. The oldest lineage are scholars, the next highest actually runs things (they also have some mid-level imperial bureaucrats). Most of the upper-middle lineages are either engaged in the caravans or various trades (this is where the PCs can conveniently slot in). The lower-middle lineages are household staff. The lower lineages are manual laborers. One lineage, found in the Usenanu clanhouse is comprised almost entirely of Thumis priests (which over the years, has turned into Shaolin monk analogs). I didn't really get into using slave labor, as some of my past players would use them as fodder. I found they'd use the "extras" more wisely when they'd have to explain what happened to cousin Beshmu when they got back to the clanhouse.

They've got uncle so-and-so from one of the higher lineages to consult for esoterica and cousin so-and-so to go to for clan gossip (actually, it's the majordomo's wife).

Basic model is the Chinese "Four Occupations" mixed with Indian Varna. So you end up with scholars/bureaucrats, administrators/priests/warriors, artisans/craftsmen/merchants, and laborers/farmers.

Blaise

Very cool! Thank you!!!

Originally Posted by altfritz

Regarding clans, there has been and on-again-off-again discussion about developing a "Clan Formula" - for developing write-ups - on the Yahoogroup and Tekumel site forums:

http://www.tekumel.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=396

Also, the Mu'ug "Clan of the Balanced Stone" which I stumbled across one day:

http://www.tekumel.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=440

We should start a new thread where people could post the clans they have designed. (On the Tekumel site forums, of course; in order to support Tekumel). Or perhaps each clan should get its own thread to avoid them being buried in a long thread.

Just a thought. This thread is great but not really focused on just clans. AND this site is not focused on Tekumel. ie. the Tekumel Forums would be better and they are under-utilized IMO.

Howard

I agree with your points; Tekumel could certainly use the exposure! However, the www.tekumel.com site is owned by Bob Alberti of the Tekumel Foundation and I am not welcome to post there according to both Bob and Victor Raymond (also of the Tekumel Foundation).

I'd suggest talking to the people on this thread and seeing what they have to say on the subject. I'll be happy to abide by what you all come up with - this is, as I have mentioned several times, your thread and not mine.

As for supporting Tekumel, I think that I can safely say that I have been doing so for some time with my energies, efforts, and resources; I am continuing to work on my book about our adventures with Phil, "To Serve The Petal Throne". However, as we found out some time ago, I am simply not welcome as Dr. Raymond has some very deep and serious personal issues with myself and my family.