Secretive Hunting societies

[oseitutu]

Has anyone thought of doing a campaign based aroung hunting societies in Mali? They were a secret, exclusive brotherhood. Hunters were spiritual leaders, who had great knowledge of healing, astronomy, and of the environment. Traditional hunters were called Donsos. The title of Simbon is given to hunters who attain the highest levels of courage, self-control, and understanding of the occult world of the bush. The first Simbon made a pact with an imp, called a Gote. The Gote ensured the successes of a Simbon's hunting party, if in return it was given the necks of every killed animal. Donsos also play a an instrument called an Ngoni, which is like a small, very portable lute. Hunters also wear these really cool shirts, covered in teeth, claws, and strips of leather, which you can see here:

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1167786.stm

carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/AFRICA/ShirtGame/Shirt_INTRO.html

www.syngentafoundation.com/syngenta_foundation_textiles_mali_hunters_shirt.htm

www.vmfa.state.va.us/mali_tunic_big.html

mali-music.com/Cat/CatD/Donso.htm

www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/268/Mali+on+the+Mall:+2003.+Part+2

[brimshak]

That's pretty cool. Might need to become a miniature.

[Nyambefan]

There is some really good gaming/adventure material here. Anyone want to do a free small supplement for Nyambe.com?

I am sure DMs would love this.

[nyamakalaw]

Hey, this is Osei Tutu, signing in as Nyamakalaw. The hunter's society can function in any part of Nyambe, not just the mali-esque Boroko. Since Nyambe is an imagined world, it wouldn't be that much of an issue to mix and match from all parts of Africa. I'm amazed that Chris Dolunt was able to make such a cohesive world out of the many otherwise unrelated cultures in Africa. Benin and Swaziland, for instance, are about as different from each other as Spain is from Uzbekhistan! Boroko, by the way, can be fleshed out to be more like the Hausa city-states, Kanem-Bornu, even the Christian Nubian kingdoms of Makuria or Dongola.

[Nyambefan]

I should mention that I am willing to work with people on projects for Nyambe.com. We have a fan written adventure that should be out soon followed by a very useful NPC with tons of adventure hooks!