M'Kang - "Desirable Cultural Exports"

Author's Note: I had planned to talk about the Ebo and how their art has become highly collectible, but one of my characters (Stan) interjected and provided my Muse with a better concept. I know this is stretching the prompt a bit, but I couldn't resist.

by J. I. Rogers - Hero Forge Custom Miniatures

Hi. My name's Kel, and I'm known among the M'Kang as a Dealer. You'll encounter me at Markets* and I'll show you my tribe's harvest**. Below, you'll find a listing of what our "desirable cultural exports" are this season. If you wish to buy, sell, or trade with my tribe for any of these items, I am your contact.

by J. I. Rogers

by J. I. Rogers - Hero Forge Custom Miniatures

I'm Stan, and I'm what's known as a Picker. Generally, I visit small military depots that have surplus goods and fill my list from their stores. If the opportunity presents itself, I'll use my Mech skills to secure a menial job at a KMR&D Station. Once in, I'll scout for digi-link tech, medical supplies, and other things that aren't bolted down. If I can't lift something myself, I'll notify my tribe to send a Moving Crew***.

by J. I. Rogers - Hero Forge Custom Miniatures

Phade Kerel - Leader of Tynne - Branch Two

"I know what you've heard; M'Kang are the dregs of the Diaspora. Homeless. Shiftless. Desperate. At best, we're pitiful. At worst, we're thieves and killers. I won't lie - there are those among us who follow their own laws, but judging all M'Kang by those few would be a disservice to us."
"The word M'Kang is a distillation of the Urvaelang phrase P'tarus M'Kang. The closest Korlo translation would be A New Way. And It isn't just the discarded and disenfranchised Diasporan that find their way to us. Our tribes include disillusioned Korlo as well. All have found welcome within our tribes. As a result, we are a fusion of all, and we are everywhere."

by J. I. Rogers - Hero Forge Custom Miniatures

"Hello there. I'm Marissa, and I'm what's known as a Recruiter in the M'Kang. I know it sounds like an odd job for someone who is part of a non-militaristic tribe, but I can explain. I'm the person that you'd be brought to first if you were encountered in our territory. Once I determine that you're not a threat, I'd assess your circumstances, then decide if you would be an asset to our tribe. If yes, you are introduced to the community and fostered until you learn our ways. If no, but you have useful talents, you'll accompany our Dealer to Market and be offered to the other Dealers."

by J. I. Rogers - Hero Forge Custom Miniatures

"Hey, I'm Dr. Huri, but you can call me Blake. I know you weren't expecting to see any Korlo among the tribe, but there are quite a few of us. Before I became M'Kang, I worked for KMR&D in their Special Projects Division. I had Rank, and what I thought was a good job. I was wrong. When I discovered what I was involved in, I couldn't stay. I couldn't return to the Clusters... A M'Kang patrol found me in the tunnels and saved me. Thanks to the tribe, I've not only found a place to make a difference, but I have also begun to heal."

Notes:

*Market - A gathering of M'Kang Dealers, in which goods and services are traded between the tribes. The Dealers arrange the location among themselves in advance and ensure they never use the same location twice in a decade.

**Harvest - A tongue-in-cheek reference to the items they collect and put to better use.

***Moving Crew - A team of four to ten M'Kang will infiltrate the site and connect with the Picker. Next, they get the location of the harvest, go over the transport times, as well as patrol schedules. Finally, the security feed is hacked, and a clear path to the tunnels is charted. Once all the precautions are in place, the Movers secure the goods; they get it to the prepped transport and leave. The Picker usually catches a ride home.