Clan Profile Notes
The information gathered through the questionnaire determines the size
of your clan, the size of its lands, its current level of prosperity, as
well as more intangible issues of clan values and goals.
Economic Specialty
Clan members gain a +1 task roll modifier on all activities related to
this specialty, so long as they in some way benefit the entire clan.
Temples and Shrines
This represents the investment your clan has made in temples and shrines.
The importance of this is determined by your clan's Economics: Magic and
Piety, as compared to your highest other Economics value.
Patron Deities
If Novelty is not your highest Value, your temple is to either Orlanth
or Ernalda, and your first shrine is dedicated to a deity determined by
your Economic Specialty.
If Novelty is your highest value, your temple may be dedicated
to a deity related to your economic specialty, instead of to Orlanth or
Ernalda, at the option of the next player in line. In this case, the first
shrine is dedicated to either Orlanth or Ernalda.
Tula Size
The Sartarites measure land in hides. A hide is about 120 acres. The average
Sartarite tula is about 240 hides big. A Pro-Lunar, or Shrewd clan will
have a larger tula than an Anti-Lunar or Rebellious one.
Land Use
This determines how much of that land is devoted to cattle, and how much
to grain production. All entries mentioned here appear under the Economics
heading. (Not all of your land will be used for production, but we're ignoring
that part for simplicity's sake. If you yearn to make this more complicated,
by all means do so.)
Population
Your median population is determined by your land use: cattle production
supports 4 people per hide, cultivation 8 people, and hunting 2 people
per hide. This is reduced by certain events, or increased by high values
of your economic speciality.
Weaponthanes
This is the number of fulltime, professional mounted warriors your clan
maintains. Peaceful clans have fewer than those with the Goal of Conquest,
or whose economic speciality is Tribute. Many weaponthanes, however, were
exiled following Starbrow's Rebellion.
Note that this is the number of weaponthanes in addition to the
PCs and any followers they might have.
Fyrd
Your fyrd is the group of able-bodied farmers - mostly men, with perhaps
a few Vingan, Maran Gor or Babeester Gor warriors for good measure - able
to support the weaponthanes in combat, as foot soldiers. They are lightly
equipped and armored.
As with weaponthanes, the size of the fyrd depend on the relative
values of your Peace and Conquest Goals.
Goals
Note that it is possible for a clan to have seemingly contradictory goals.
This indicates that your clan is divided into opposing factions. To determine
the relative strength of the two factions, add the two ratings. Then work
out which percentage of the total each separate goal represents.
The Aranwyth clan's top three virtues include Anti-Lunar and Pro-Lunar.
Anti-Lunar has a rating of 4; Pro-Lunar is 2. 4/6, expressed as a percentage,
is 66%. 2/6 is 33%. One-third of the clan supports the Lunars; two-thirds
oppose them.
Values
The clan's three highest values are listed in order. Contradictory goals
also mean that the clan is factionalized. Other, lesser Values are listed
with their ratings in brackets.
The values are not as self-explanatory as the goals. Here are brief
definitions of each, given in the first person.
Acceptance: "Whatever the current situation, we can deal with it. It
is easier to adapt than to change things."
Authority: "Someone strong should be in charge and run things. If we
are strong, we should be that authority. If we are weak, we don't deserve
to be."
Caution: "It's better to be safe than sorry. Risk is bad."
Courage: "It is better to die as a hero than live as a coward."
Generosity: "An Orlanthi measures his greatness by what he can give
away."
Honor: "A good name is more important than anything, and must be earned
through righteous action."
Loyalty: "When you pledge an oath to support someone, you must do so,
no matter what the cost."
Novelty: "New things are good. All the famous leaders of history are
remembered for their new innovations."
Piety: "We are a people of the gods. We must behave as the gods decree."
Shrewdness: "You can win more with a silver tongue than a bronze sword.
Think before you act."
Tradition: "The old ways are best. If it was good enough for our ancestors,
it's good enough for us."
Vengeance: "If someone wrongs you, make them pay. Take personal action;
do not let the lawspeakers deprive you of retribution."
Community Ratings
The four ratings described below determine what kind of crises the clan
is apt to face in the triggered episodes of your series. See the "Story
Arc" chapter for their application. If a player character does something
to increase one of these clan ratings during a game session, he can spend
1 plot point to improve its value, just as if he were improving one of
his own abilities.
Wealth Rating
This rating measures your vulnerability to an economic crisis. For most
clans, this is related to Goals: Prosperity - Goals: Conquest. If the specialty
is Tribute, this is reversed to Goals: Conquest - Goals: Prosperity.
Threat Rating
This rating tells you how potential enemies see your clan. A high target
number means that you are an inviting target for attack. A low target number
means that enemies are afraid to deal with you. High values of Economics:
Tribute, Goals: Conquest, and Values: Courage increase this rating; Economics:
Livestock, Goals: Prosperity, and Values: Acceptance reduce it.
Morale Rating
The morale rating measures the general mood of clan members. High target
numbers mean poor morale; the people will complain to the ring members
and seek an improvement in their conditions, or better adherence to the
clan's traditional values. When morale is poor, it is hard for the player
characters to convince clan members to go along with their plans. Low target
numbers mean good morale; the people are content with their leaders and
willing to do as they suggest.
The clan's morale rating will change frequently during play, increasing
when things go well for the clan, and dropping when events turn against
them.
Magic Rating
The significance of the clan magic rating is explained in the magic chapter
of the Orlanthi Players Guide.
Thralls
This is your thrall population, if your clan has a tradition of taking
them.
And the Rest...
The final entries all provide plot hooks, and are determined directly from
the corresponding questions. They are: Ancient Allies, Dragons, Ancient
Enemies, Recent Enemies, and Neighbors.
Now What?
Now that you've got all of this information about your clan, it's time
to put them to use and create a series. The chapter "Story Arc" provides
you a framework for doing this.
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