Inmans

The Inmans tribe organized under a single ruler known simply as “The Boss.” The Boss led the tribe and established the policies and rules the tribe was to follow. The Boss was allowed to consult advisors and appoint leaders beneath them. The Boss was chosen from the tribe members based on how tough or respected they were; succession after the death of a Boss was thus not hereditary and was open to anyone.

Inmans culture was a rough one that respected strength and commanding personalities. Fights were often used to settle disputes among members even long after the original founding members had passed away; fights rarely ended in death. A culture of raiding and scavenging formed. Those who were able to scavenge useful things and provide for their families were treated with greater respect. Resourceful and technologically adroit, the Inmans built many machines, vehicles, and fortified buildings from scrap metal and salvaged goods. Basic crops were grown in portable garden pots and livestock was raised from domesticated goats found roaming in the Wilds. Within the tribe, bartering of goods and services was the method of trade.   Inmans naming traditions consisted of a given name and a surname that either sounded tough or had something to do with machines and tools. Sample names include Trish Nailgun, Johnny Rock, Bettie Flex, and Taylor Chainsaw.   Wrestling and competitive brawling were popular forms of entertainment for the Inmans. Tournaments for each sport were held yearly in the summer and were open to all tribe members regardless of individual background. Tournament winners enjoyed greater respect after their victory, and many Bosses over the years had won a tournament or two during their lives before being selected as Boss.

The greatest asset the Inmans had was their knowledge of machines and fortification construction. Their well-defended fortresses were nearly unassailable, and their varied machines, while strange amalgams in form and function, were effective in their uses.

Many nations in the ancient world harshly condemned those who broke the rules of society. It was not uncommon for the worst offenders to be incarcerated in prisons for years, decades, or even for the rest of their lives, depending on the severity of their crimes. Convicted criminals who were particularly dangerous were placed into more heavily defended prisons, separated by sex. It was from the population of two of these high security prisons that the Inmans raider tribe formed.   When the world was collapsing, the safety of the convicts in two high security prisons was ignored; they were left to face the world’s doom alone, expected to die forgotten and abandoned by the wardens and guards who had overseen them. But the convicts refused to die in silence. They banded together and repurposed the prisons’ defenses, turning their prisons into fortresses. They weathered Horror attacks and surging magics while those beyond their walls fled and hid in bunkers, preserved in cryostasis. The mens’ and womens’ prisons cooperated to survive, and over time new generations of children were born. The Inmans tribe had formed.   When the world was relatively safe to explore once again, the Inmans set up villages in the ruins of neighborhoods and buildings, never straying too far from their fortresses. They scavenged old machines and vehicles, building new devices and tools from the assorted parts they found. When other tribes were discovered, they turned to raiding to acquire the supplies they lacked. Some tribes established cautious trade agreements with the Inmans in exchange for their machines.   When the Coa began to form the tribal alliance after the Ark was found, they approached the Inmans peacefully. They were met with hostility and skirmishes broke out. The armed conflict continued for several months until the Sharks tribe joined the alliance and dove headfirst into the conflict. Their ferocious hit and run tactics were successful in forcing the Inmans to surrender. The offer of alliance was extended again, and this time the Inmans agreed.   It took time for them to adjust to cooperating with people outside their tribe, but eventually the Inmans integrated into the alliance. They shared their knowledge of machines with the Emory and received more food and supplies than raiding ever had. With their aid and cooperation, the city of Olympia was founded. The prisons that once housed the Inmans are located in Octant Ares, and are now used by Gatewardens as armories and barracks.