New Campaign Pitch Session

Janz:
So...here we go! We had the pitch session. What do you think?

The world is kind of a feudal Japan type world. Though we exist on a decent sized island surrounded by ocean. We have no knowledge of an out side world, or civilization. The towns/city/villages that exist on the island co-exist mostly by leaving each other alone, though communication and trade between them is not impossible. Each town is self sufficient. They do not have a single government that connects them to each other. People follow a belief of family honor and disgrace.

Location of the village which you grew up in. I think you should know this...The whole island is a ring of mountain ridges with separations that lead out to the ocean, I guess it would make it look kind of like a crown. If you stood in the middle of the village and looked to South you would see between two mountian ridges to the ocean, to the North forest. In between that is long grass, like prarie and farm land which the people of the town use for their food. There will be a near by lake that will supply the town with fresh water for drinking and irrigation; the lake will connect to a river that winds more to the center of the island.

I'm sure I left a lot out, but we have a week before we play, so lets keep talking this world out a bit and ask some questions. I remember in the past that worlds we all pitch in to create turn out better because then you each own a little part of and it becomes "our" world not "the GM's" world.

Adam:
Below is some excerpts from a website I have been discussing with Janz...

In relation to Shame-Based Cultures (most eastern cultures):

For many western people it is very hard if not impossible to try and comprehend a culture that is based on "shame", not "right versus wrong". In most western cultures, telling the truth is right and telling lies is wrong. In the Middle East, people don't think of lies as being 'right' or 'wrong.' The question is, "Is what is being said, honorable?" If a lie protects the honor of a tribe or nation, then it is fine. If a lie is told for purely selfish reasons, then it is shameful.

If they act shamefully, then the family or tribe will react against them. Shameful deeds are covered up. If they can't be covered up, they are revenged. It is the unwritten rule of the desert.

In relation to youngsters in Shame-Based Cultures:

In the west, young people are free to act as spontaneously as they want, as long as they are within the framework of right and wrong. They can be loud, boisterous, and happy, as long as they don't break things, or abuse others.

Young people in a Muslim setting are different. Wherever they go, they represent their families and tribes. Young people are not free to act as they want. They must always act honorably, so that the honor of their family and tribe is upheld.

More commentary on Shame-Based Cultures and tribal relations:

In order for shame-based cultures to work, shame and honor are usually attached to something greater than the individual. Honor is almost always placed on a group. This can be the immediate family, the extended tribe, or in some cases, as large as an entire nation; as was demonstrated in Japan just previous to World War Two.

In most Middle Eastern cultures, honor is wrapped up with one's tribe. Everyone grows up within a tribal concept. If someone is from the Beni Hassan tribe, he thinks and acts, and dresses as a Beni Hassan. His actions reflect on the honor the Beni Hassan tribe. If he acts honorably, the Beni Hassan tribe is honored. If he acts shamefully, the whole tribe is shamed. If the act is vile enough, the Beni Hassan tribe will react, and execute the offender, even though he is a member of their own tribe, and perhaps even their immediate family. Thus the honor of the tribe is restored.

If someone shames another tribe, tribal warfare could result, and often only the skilful intervention of a third party ends the strife. Arab lore is full of stories of how wise and skillful men have intervened in difficult situations. In fact, many national rulers gain their fame and reputation from their skills at ending tribal strife.

Finally, my personal comments on all this:

Beyond honor there must be something else that all these tribes share, since Janz does not want to have a government, I think the easiest thing to unify everyone is a common faith/mystic belief system.  We discussed the idea that one's ancestors are the keepers of the afterlife, and that if you are not honorable enough you will be denied access to eternal life with your tribes ancestors.

If we take that one step further, we can say that all the tribes are descendant from the same man, and therefore their ancestors are all common to one another.  This being the case, the tribe grew over time, split, and then grew more, then split again, until there were several tribes all over the island.

Since they all seek to honor their tribe, and their ancestors too they must be mostly peaceful with one another so as not to shame the their tribe or their ancestors.  This would also play nice into that line above that suggests that when shame is wrought on another tribe war ensues.  Honor must be restored and the conflict must be revenged which would end the war, hopefully sooner than later.