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Old 10-31-2009, 08:29 AM   #20
Figleaf23
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Default Re: GURPS Community Campaign & Adventure Repository

Kippelo: The Hundred Lands

Swashbuckling TL4 adventure, on another world. Several humanoid races organized in dozens of states and other entities vie for survival and advantage in an archipelago world of complex intrigue and strange creatures.

Website:

(Good idea!)

Style:

Not quite cinematic. Lethality higher than average, but with 'death insurance' (qv).

World Name: Kippelo

A the moon orbiting the second planet (a small gas giant w. a single ring) of its stellar system. Kippelo is slightly larger than Earth, but gravity slightly less. Poor in fossil fuels and minerals, particularly heavier metals.

Campaign Geographic Region: The Hundred Lands

An archipelego covering a land and sea area approximately the size of Europe.

Campaign Starting Location: Falzmith

A large, vibrant coastal city on a large island called Stosteg, in a state called "The Concession of Stosteg", or simply 'The Concession'. The Concession is the largest mineral producer in the whole Hundred Lands.

Interpretive Note:

This campaign is completely outside the knowledge of our terrestrial/mundane existence. Mana and magic are unknown in the Hundred Lands.

Historical Highlights:

The Hundred Lands suffered a great Deluge c. 500 Kyears ago. The present calendar runs from that point. It is presently Kippelo-year 497 P.D.


A brief sketch of the races follows:

Es'ee

Smallest in stature of the races, the Es’ee are cautious, nimble, practical, and hard-working. In appearance, they have mobile, sympathetic faces; graceful hands; and a noticeable nervous energy. Es’ee have largish ears that move a tiny bit with their changes of facial expression. Many Es'ee exhibit a variety of characteristic facial hair growth, e.g. bushy eyebrows, ear tufts, etc.

The Es’ee are also prone to a kind of genetic anomaly which can result in the occurence of functional animal-like features or appendages. These individuals are a bit stigmatized, but usually participate fairly normally in the broader society.

Es'ee are about 30% of the population of Stosteg, but somewhat less than that proportion in other parts of the 100 Lands. Es’ee tend to live in nuclear family groups, and employ a high-K rearing strategy involving both parents.

Se'em

The largest-statured people of the 100 Lands, aggressive in combat, strong, and very resistant to injury. In a fight, one Se'em is usually a challenging match for several other-race individuals.

Their skin-colour is a uniform grey, they have heavy facial bones, and almost no body hair.

Se'em are the rarests of the 100 Lands races. Outside of Sayabah, they are uncommon enough that a visiting Se'em will usually draw out crowds of unabashed gawkers in most places.


Es'em

Smaller cousins to the mighty Se'em, the Es'em are formidable fighters and soldiers themselves.

The Es'em are usually of 'normal human' height, but somewhat more heavily muscled. Their skin colour is a uniform grey, they usually have a prominent brow, and hair colours range widely but usually has a metallicness.

Es'em are most common in Sayabah, where they make up a substantial majority of the population. They also live in much smaller numbers in other parts of the 100 Lands, or in Sayabah outposts along the shores of Ragyen.

Little is known by outsiders about lifestyles of the Se'em and Es'em in Sayabah. In other parts of the 100 Lands Es'em usually live in small self-contained communes, or are hired troops/bodyguards barracked by their employers according to their contractual terms.


Se'el

Are the most populous race, comprising the majority of individuals across the 100 Lands. The Se'el are a creative and fecund race, but shorter-lived than the others. Taxonomically, Se'el look like compact, moderately-muscled, olive skinned, any-eye-colored 'normal' humans. Normally, they all have thick straight black to grey-brown hair.

Se'el are most populous in Nioord, where they make up the vast underclass of agricultural serfs. They also live in significant numbers in Mayalshor and Stosteg, where they can fare much better socio-economically. Se'els can be found in smaller numbers virtually anywhere in the 100 Lands.

Se'els can have different family structures, usually conforming more or less to whatever social norm prevails in the areas they live. In Nioord, for example, children are raised cheifly by their mothers' families with fathers having little participation in raising their own children. In Stosteg, by contrast, more Se'els follow the Es'ee model of nuclear families led by pair-bonded parents.


Es'o

The long-lived Es'o have a large population in Old Qaside, but are relatively uncommon in all other parts of the 100 Lands. Es'os also live in Nioord, comprising the over-class in that sharply divided society. Es'os also populate the great Fleets (q.v.) that forever travel the 100 Lands.

Es'os rarely exceed 'normal human' height. They are usually fine-featured, with lean bodies and broad shoulders. E'sos can deliberately control their skin pigmentation, and are capable of significant changes of hue over the course of several days. They have fine hair that ranges from wavy thru curly to frizzy; whether blond, brunette or red-haired.

Matrilineal (but not matriarchal) clans and familial sub-units are the basis of organization. Mating is exclusively exogamous, but all resulting children are raised by and live with their mother's family and clan. Es'os rarely know or care who their fathers are, but maternal uncles and grandfathers are significant figures.
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