The Tribes of Okeanos Concept Test

THE PEOPLE More than 200,000 natives are spread across the islands they call Okeanos. Historically, they descend from fi ve tribes that time has held to a single fate. Culturally, the tribes have become virtually one, having spent more than a thousand years sharing the same stretch of islands and seducing the same gods of the sea. Yet their sturdy double-hulled outrigger war canoes conduct bloody raids on their fellow tribes as often as they target foreign isles. As they all have the bronze skin typical in West- ern people, the fi ve tribes of Okeanos are most easily discerned by their varying hair colors. Of course, all of the tribes are extensively intermarried, particularly within the capital Solid Shell. Within each of the tribal enclaves, a single ethnic makeup is prevalent, but one typically fi nds traces of one or more of the other four tribes. Cyanin: Marked by blue hair, the Cyanin origi- nally fl ed before the invasion of one of the daimyos of the Shogunate. Coming north to the isles of Okeanos, the tribe seized one island after other, through com- bat or alliance. For the following centuries of the Shogunate, the Cyanin were the recognized rulers of the archipelago. Efforts to expand their territory had fi nally attracted the attention of the Shogunate when the Great Contagion struck. The Contagion was particularly brutal to the Cyanin, and other tribes seized the chance to drive the Cyanin from tribes seized the chance to drive the Cyanin from power. While there are still strong enclaves of power. While there are still strong enclaves of Cyanin on the isle of Petraya, most of the tribe Cyanin on the isle of Petraya, most of the tribe has retreated to the Cowries. Whether a result of has retreated to the Cowries. Whether a result of their location or some unknown predilection of their location or some unknown predilection of the sea gods, the Cyanin bear more God-Blooded the sea gods, the Cyanin bear more God-Blooded than any of the other tribes. Despite the tribe’s than any of the other tribes. Despite the tribe’s fall from power, they enjoy a certain mystique, fall from power, they enjoy a certain mystique, in part because their hair shares the hue of the in part because their hair shares the hue of the rare blue lobster claws worn by tribal elders and rare blue lobster claws worn by tribal elders and the chieftain. the chieftain. Porphura: Porphura: Most numerous on the island of Okirho, the purple-haired Porphura tribe of Okirho, the purple-haired Porphura tribe originally came northward to Okeanos during the originally came northward to Okeanos during the Shogunate. An alliance with the Cyanin gave the Shogunate. An alliance with the Cyanin gave the Porphura control over Okirho, which remained Porphura control over Okirho, which remained uncontested until after the Great Contagion. uncontested until after the Great Contagion. Now the Squalus hold the northern section of Now the Squalus hold the northern section of that isle, and violent (albeit covert) encounters that isle, and violent (albeit covert) encounters between the two tribes are on the rise. between the two tribes are on the rise. Smaragdi: Smaragdi: This green-haired tribe is one of the original tribes of Okeanos, mostly found on the original tribes of Okeanos, mostly found on the isles of Kerkeis, Petraya and Amphiro. The the isles of Kerkeis, Petraya and Amphiro. The tribe’s elders are infl uential, and typically enjoy tribe’s elders are infl uential, and typically enjoy close relationships with the chieftain. Histori- close relationships with the chieftain. Histori- cally, Squalus detractors have claimed that the cally, Squalus detractors have claimed that the differences between the tribes are the results of differences between the tribes are the results of Wyld taint among the Smaragdi. Wyld taint among the Smaragdi. Squalus: Squalus: Rare records from ancient Okeanos suggest that the Squalus have inhabited the suggest that the Squalus have inhabited the southern reaches of that isle since time im- southern reaches of that isle since time im- memorial. Their gray hair varies in shade from that of the darkened storm cloud to that of the fi nest ocean mist. Legends at- tribute the hue to the blood of the Western tribute the hue to the blood of the Western war goddess Siakal and various storm gods. war goddess Siakal and various storm gods. The tribe has always dominated Amphiro The tribe has always dominated Amphiro and has seized Suadela, northern portions of and has seized Suadela, northern portions of Okirho and a few of the smaller isles. Okirho and a few of the smaller isles. Tautoga: Originally, the black-haired Tautoga hailed from the south. During the Tautoga hailed from the south. During the Shogunate, the tribe invaded the isles of Shogunate, the tribe invaded the isles of Okeanos and eventually settled on the island Okeanos and eventually settled on the island of Cormorant. When Cormorant fell into the of Cormorant. When Cormorant fell into the shadowland of the Skullstone Archipelago shadowland of the Skullstone Archipelago after the Contagion, the tribe fl ed southward, after the Contagion, the tribe fl ed southward, mostly settling on the northern shores of mostly settling on the northern shores of Kerkeis and Amphiro. Young fi rebrands fre- Kerkeis and Amphiro. Young fi rebrands fre- quently call for the recapture of Cormorant, quently call for the recapture of Cormorant, and tribal elders wearily refuse. and tribal elders wearily refuse.