Show-boating, Tribe-style!

One thing I discovered about myself as an rpg-er is that I'm addicted to the "Big Moment," the "Dramatic Scene." I can't help myself! Just about every one of my KTDA characters have had their share of show-boating. Chyna & Sid in their dramatic cage-fight. Jade with show-stopping musical performances. Villa with some really kick-ass fights & craziness with Marionette. Cecily in some insane torture scenes with Tristan. Valentine with one man or another. I love it! Can't help myself! It's so incredibly much fun working with other KTDA players to bring these complicated scenes to life--it definitely takes a partner, or 2 or 3!, to make them work.

Here is one of the first. It took the whole crew to get it in the game. I think everybody had fun. Hope you enjoy it, too!


*************************************************
Dusk at the airport, full night coming on
*************************************************

*Chyna, Xeno, Prince, Adear, Arianna and the remainder of the River Rats are gathered by the terminal building with Lily and the strays from the city as the sun goes down.*

Chyna: Everything's set. *turns to the tall man on her right* Xeno?
Xeno: Your show, Chyna.
Chyna: *nods, turns left* That it is. Prince? How big will this get?
Prince: Pretty damn huge.
Chyna: Arianna? Adear? You and the kids ready?

*Arianna and Adear each hold a burning twig, ready to light off the fireworks. The younger kids behind them have already lit sparklers and are waiting for the show to start.*

Adear: We are SO ready, Chyna. Now?
Chyna: Now.

*A roman candle arcs over the parking lot into a pile of garbage in front of the airport terminal building. The sparks start a fire in the pile that contains a large quantity of aerosol cans that explode as they heat up. Soon the mini-explosions turn into one big boom as an oxygen tank goes, starting a chain reaction that reaches inside the building and explodes the windows outward.*

Adear: That slave stockade is all mine!

*Prince runs into the stockade carrying a torch. Adear begins to throw lit firecrackers. Prince lights up some Toy Soldiers and they explode, making green and yellow sparks. Prince and Adear run back outside.*

Prince: Fox! Fennec! Let's bring down the hangar! *snatches some Yellow Rose Rockets from the crate and runs with 12 boys into the hangar* ALL RIGHT, MEN! BURN THIS SH*T HOLE DOWN!!!

*Arianna, Adear, Lily and the others shout with every explosion. The little ones dance with their sparklers. Chyna and Xeno stand aside, cheering on Prince's team of arsonists. Prince comes running up to them, red-faced and out of breath.*

Chyna: OK, guys. We ready for the big finish?
*Xeno looks at Prince. Neither of them knows what she has in mind.*
Xeno: Go for it, girl. Prince 'n me are just riding shotgun for you.
Chyna: *smile turns wicked, eyes flash blue fire* Come with me.

*Chyna leads them onto the runway tarmac. At the edge of the runway, she stops. From a pocket, she pulls out the pack of cigarettes and lighter she swiped from Sid.*

Chyna: I don't wanna hear "I don't smoke"--take one and light it.

*She hands them each a cigarette and takes one for herself. Prince thumbs the grill lighter to life and lights everybody up. Chyna drags on the cigarette. The look on her face is one of satisfaction.*

Chyna: *after one more puff* Gentlemen, your cigarettes-- *she tosses hers into a pool of liquid at her feet, motioning for them to do the same*

*When the cigarettes touch the liquid, a line of flame starts to dance out in 5 different directions. The 3 companions walk unhurriedly back the way they came. Prince keeps glancing over his shoulder, watching the progress of the fire lines. Xeno keeps his eyes on Chyna, who starts to count.*

Chyna: 4, 3, 2, 1-- *points left as a tremendous explosion rips through the ground, leaving a huge crater*

Chyna: 3, 2, 1-- *points right as the hangar bursts into a volcano of red and orange*

Chyna: 4, 3, 2, 1-- *and behind them, the runway shoots skyward*

Prince: *grins* Methane's killer, especially if you add a large dose of fertilizer!

*Chyna loops her arms around Xeno's and Prince's, walking them back to the cheering kids. Their silhouettes against the raging flames are tall and proud, warriors in the midst of total destruction.

Chyna: When I told that Brotherhood b**ch she could have the airport, I didn't promise what condition I'd leave it in. Who knew you could collapse a runway with a little sewer gas in the tunnels under it? Brilliant by the way, Prince--thanks! It's all theirs now, and the Brotherhood's welcome to it. Just wish I could see the look on their faces when they get here in the morning!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright www.nationmultimedia.com

Honoring Our Tribal Best

In 2005, KTDA awarded its first Tribe Awards. Our players were--and are!--so awesome, we needed to somehow recognize their efforts. So the KTDARPG Council of Tribes officially present awards for best characters, moments & accomplishments from KTDA stories & threads. What better way to honor all our players' work while remembering the great show that inspires us? We still make these awards periodically.

A great side-note: In 2006 at Dragon*Con, we gave a copy of the recent awards list to the actors who portrayed Lex, Ram, Slade & May. Their reactions were hilarious, and they enjoyed the tributes! It was really fun meeting all of them, too.  :)

Anyway, as a look back, here are some of the awards from 2005.

2005 “Tribe Awards”

Amber Award for reluctant leader: Chyna, without whom the River Rats wouldn't exist.

Bray Award for “doing the right thing”: Rourke, who became a Brotherhood spy to save his baby’s life.

Bray & Amber Award for best couple, doomed or otherwise: Chyna & Xeno.

Ebony Award for “me-first” moments: Brena--the girl earned the distinction!

Lex Award for best “what the hell?” moment: Xeno. C’mon, skanky Vera? What the hell were you thinking?

Locos Award for grossest game moment: Prince--keep him away from your dogs!

Salene Award for mothering us all: our own Arianna!

Taisan Award for staying true to yourself under difficult circumstances: Hawk. We try to change you constantly, but you’re a rock!

Teenaged Cloe Award for best b***h: Lila. The vote on this was unanimous!

Tribe Style Award for best makeup: the Travelers.

Trudy Award for contributing to KTDA's future: Kava, who had a baby girl in-game the day before Solstice!

Zoot Award for evil, villainous moments: Nemesis. Honestly, a dog collar & leash?

Zoot Lives! Award for best group fight scene: Hawk & her Birds of Prey, for the AK battle on the plains. It was awesome!

~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

Sometimes "Tribe" Parallels Work!

Hehe... okay, I admit we did it on purpose, setting up a scenario in KTDA season-2 to parallel The Tribe Season-2 where Taisan created a Virus antidote & the Mall Rats distributed it to the city kids. These kinds of tributes to the show that motivated us weren't so easy to contrive. It was fun to do, and I thought you might enjoy the similarities.

What follows is just an excerpt. I didn't include how our Hawk was able to create the antidote and all the efforts that took. This scene is really the culmination, and kudos to Arianna and Rourke and everyone who made it work. Thanks, guys! 

Antidote

*The kids outside the train station ignore the biting cold wind off the river. Many of them clutch flyers that tell them to come here if they don't want to die from the Virus. Dozens of kids huddle in their coats outside the main entrance, waiting to see what happens next. As the morning grows brighter, more and more kids arrive. Many of them have Virus symptoms. Some can barely walk for the aches in their legs and backs. Some look like miniature "little old men" with graying hair and wrinkled faces. All of them look worried. There's an edge of panic in the voices that shout back and forth to each other.*

"What time does this thing start--anybody know?"
"You so sure there even IS an antidote?"
"Hey, who put the Misfits in charge anyway?"

"Don't bad-mouth the Misfits--Arianna helped my sister out with some food when she was starving. Not many woulda done that."

*Shouting and mumbling continues as the crowd grows and the sun comes up over the worried city. Everyone waits, hoping this antidote will do what the flyers say it will.*

------------
Arianna: Let's get this going. Lily, your job is to help kids with really bad symptoms to walk back here and get a cot. *to Saber's cohorts* You three go to the door and make sure no riots start when we open up. Make them stay in line, ok? Judge, you're responsible for getting everyone signed in and making sure they understand they have to come back next week on the same day--today is the 7th so on the 14th they need to come back.

Judge: All right, baby, I can handle that.

Arianna: Rourke, you're in control of distribution to kids with no symptoms, over there. *points him in the right direction* Saber, you handle distribution to the kids with some small symptoms. I'll handle the one with bad symptoms, ok?

Saber: No problem.

*Everyone begins setting out little paper cups, filling them with the dosages. After each area is set up for the first 100, they're ready.*

Arianna: *deep breath* Ok, open the doors.

------------
*As kids file in and sign in with Judge, the Misfits begin to notice that a lot of the kids are carrying things... food, jewelry, cd's, other things. When they sign in, they leave what they're carrying at the desk with Judge. One kid lays down a single candy bar, the paper dirty and scuffed but still sealed over the candy.*

Kid: *face shows wrinkle-signs from the Virus* I hope that's enough, man. The flyers you all put up didn't say what you wanted in trade. It's really all I got. Can I get a dose for this?

Arianna: *listens to the kid and blinks back tears* (Damn... ) *walks to the sign-in table, grabs the candy and gives it back to the kid* You keep this. *climbs up on table* LISTEN UP ALL OF YOU! There is NO CHARGE for your dose of antidote. All we ask is that you stay in line, no fighting, and come back next week for another dose. Now let's do this.

------------
*Hours pass, and dozens and dozens of kids come through the train station for a dose of the antidote. Some have early signs of sickness that the antidote erases in just a few minutes. Only 10 are so far gone that they have to go lie down until the antidote does its work and they can leave symptom-free. And even though Arianna said the antidote was free... they still find things left on a table or a chair. A necklace. A Gameboy. A tin of sardines. Mostly small things left by kids grateful that someone is trying to help them.*

*By the time the line dwindles and Saber's guys look in to say that's the lot... everyone is tired. It's almost totally dark outside. Snow is falling again. The streets are empty.*

Arianna: Well, looks like we're done. Judge? How many kids came through?

Judge: *studies his sign-in sheet* Almost 300. Exactly 275. I hope that was all of them. Doesn't really seem like very many.

Arianna: *nods* We can come back tomorrow, see if maybe some more show up. *half-smiles at Lily and the others* Let's go home. I'm beat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

The KTDA Book of the Dead

Remember The Tribe Season-3? When Dal sacrificed himself for the Mall Rats & died in a nasty fall? It was the first time we'd watched one of our beloved primary characters die. (Nope, not counting Zoot or Zandra in Season-1. Zoot died too soon, before we really had a chance to care. Zandra's death was off-screen & almost anonymous. It was totally different when we lost Dal right before our eyes after about 2-1/2 seasons.) While other characters "disappeared" from the show-- Ryan, Paul, Patsy, Dani, Bray & others-- there was always the possibility, however slim, we'd get them back.   

Once the first KTDA player decided to "off" their primary character-- which was a total shock!-- we knew we needed to do something to recognize the character's place in our game-history & memorialize the character's demise.

The KTDA Book of the Dead was born.

The Book is a database available to all game members. For each deceased character it includes: Name, Age, Tribe, Where they died, How they died, and in What Season they died.

From that first character death, we tallied 8 entries in the Book for game season 1 (not all primaries, some were secondaries). The floodgates were really open after that. Game season 2 had 22 character deaths! That was HUGE! Of course it helps if you know that a major war was waged & resolved in season 2, so the possibility for death was pretty high. To date, there are 59 deceased KTDA characters recorded in the Book.

Our game has been running now for 9 years. We've lost a lot of memorable, remarkable, weird, dangerous, and amazingly well-drawn characters. We remember them all well.

-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

Sense of Place in a Virtual World

The people who created The Tribe were very careful about not letting us know exactly where the action was happening. We could guess, but we weren't given much in the way of clues or landmarks. There were hills. There was what looked to be a sea coast. No one ever referred to a country or a real place. The Tribe was "out of time" so it could be part of any time or any place.

We did things a bit differently in Keep The Dream Alive rpg. Because our action moved beyond our primary city, we needed reference points. We needed to know the lay of the land, to be sure everyone was gaming with the same rules & boundaries. Our virtual playground needed at least some points that didn't move on us.

OK, now, none of us are map makers. We weren't going for scientific specifics, just general ideas. For example, we needed to know where Fort River was relative to Bay View, where a LOT of action happened. Or relative to Darrow or Dark Cove, where very dramatic scenes pivotal to some of our characters occurred. So we created a regional map that showed aspects of the peninsula where we're located. Here is the 2008 version of the regional map:

When it came to the city of Fort River, we needed something a bit more specific. Like, for example, where is Tango Lake in relation to The Mirage? or the Misfits Warehouse? It was a huge help to at least have an idea of what our city looked like, how it was laid out, so that we could portray action more accurately. How many blocks from Home to the river front, where is the train station, how do you get across StormRiver ... knowing the answers to those questions and more really makes a difference when you're gaming.

I believe it was one of the game creators (from Israel) who created the first map of Fort River. As actions occurred and our plots changed features of the city, that map continued to evolve so we'd have reference points along the way. Below (and I hope you can see it all right!) is what our map looked like in the summer of 2005:

As game seasons have developed & years have passed, we've been glad to have even these crude general maps. They keep us together, and they're a great resource for new players just joining the game.

These help us make KTDA a bit more real, a bit more special. Huge thanks to everyone who's had a hand in keeping the maps up through all the changes in our virtual world.

-Chyna

Art source: property of "Keep The Dream Alive" role-playing game

Love Scenes are HARD!!!

While re-reading early KTDA posts for this blog, I came across a thread that took like 4 days to craft & post just a few paragraphs. Yep, we're talking first love scene here. Chyna & Xeno. We were teased without mercy for months about what the other players referred to as The Kiss. But I actually think they were glad we were out there breaking new ground, because it wasn't the only love scene for long!

Still-- I can't emphasize this enough-- it was hard. You want to stay true to the story, true to your character, and you want to set up something that can propel the story forward. As the game moved ahead, I'm proud to say we did that.

Actors have it harder. Taping love scenes in The Tribe with people who were pretty much age-specific couldn't have been easy. We got a small taste of that, for sure.

Anyway... here, for your entertainment, is "The Kiss."   



The Kiss

*As Xeno walks away from Hawk, Chyna steps out from the trees. Her hair is unbraided and still wet from the river. Her eyes catch the fading light in a flash of crystal blue. Strands of hair cling damply to her cheeks. Her hands are empty. Her voice is soft.*

Chyna: Hawk doesn't trust you. Not sure I do either. There's anger in you but strength too. You started a war to save slaves, kids you didn't owe anything to... *holds her empty hands out, almost touching him, then drops them back to her sides* I don't know if you're friend or enemy or just a curious traveler. But I want to say... thank you. I hope I can at least call you ally?

Xeno: Ally... No one has ever called me that before. *takes Chyna's hands in his own* They always thought they could somehow use me. Ally... *looks deep into Chyna's eyes* You were there, on Thorne's side. But when the war started, you helped us slaves. I know people like you-- always doing what's best for yourself. But you... you're different... *pulls Chyna closer to him, still looking into her eyes* You're... *while still wondering if he's brave enough, he kisses her*

*Chyna closes her eyes as Xeno's lips touch hers, feeling his hands on her shoulders. His mouth is warm, gentle, undemanding. Chyna is surprised to find herself kissing him back.*

Chyna: (But I am like everyone else. I do want something from you.)

*She brings her hands to his chest, gently pushing him away, breaking the kiss. Chyna looks into his face as the night darkens around them. Her heart is racing, and her instincts are suddenly all jumbled up. She's not as sure of herself as she was a few minutes ago.*

Chyna: (When it's time, I can only hope it's something you won't mind giving.)

Chyna: *hears movements of kids around them, says softly so only he can hear* Thank you.

*Her hand touches his warm face, and her smile is bittersweet. After almost 4 months of the Virus and its craziness and being alone and trusting no one else, suddenly... suddenly... she's unsure of herself... on unfamiliar ground. She leaves Xeno standing on the dark path and walks up toward the sounds of the camp and the smell of supper.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

Your Deepest Secrets are Never Safe

In The Tribe Season-2, Jack & Ellie uncovered the role Dani's father played in the Virus that ravaged their world. Her worst fears were realized when her secret came out--and she had a fight on her hands to stay with the Mall Rats & Bray and keep working her plans to unite the city.

A secret will ALWAYS bite you in the ass, eventually.

That's what Xeno discovered in KTDA. Like Dani, his secret involved the Virus. For Xeno, the road to redemption would be much harder... and ultimately, he would pay with his life.

Here's an excerpt from a very riveting plot-line.

Xeno's Secret

Xeno: We need to talk.

*Hawk's expression turns deadly when she sees Xeno. Chyna touches her friend's hand.*

Chyna: Hawk, if Xeno's got answers, I'd like to hear what he has to say. We need all the information we can get to decide what to do next.

Xeno: Hawk, have you read Brena's letter yet? I think you should, out loud, and I'll answer any questions. (I hope Brena wrote what I think she did, and no more.)

*Hawk pulls out the letter, scans it, hands it over to Xeno.*

Hawk: *shock is in her voice* You read it out loud, Xeno. If it's true, then Chyna should hear... that... from you.

*As Xeno reads aloud, words & memories flash through Hawk's mind.*

[Created a virus that would kill all kids under 18... Would swap it from kids to adults... virus was let lose but with a change--kill adults.]

[Brena: "How could you have forgotten your action?" Xeno: "The action I did for us, and then YOU made it fail!" Brena: "Me? Your action--you did it. Hard times for hard actions." Xeno: "We could've held it together. The Brotherhood was a dream we all shared. In the name of that dream, millions have been killed." Brena: "By your hand alone. Your choice, Xeno." Xeno: "The future would have been ours!"]

[Mass graves shown on TV. Burning cities.]

[Announcer: "Getting the Virus is just a matter of time, if you're over 18."]

[Slavers.]

[The Virus isn't natural... deliberate release... ]

[Her father's voice: "Hawk, you are the only one left. Avenge us!"]

Hawk: *shocked and stunned* (It cant be true. He did it... for his lover? All the suffering, the slave camps, the killings... because of those two?!!!???)

*The agony won't be bottled up. Hawk leaps up and walks over to the stand of large trees. She lashes out with her hands at a large oak tree, punching it, her hands bleeding, each time mentally saying NO.* (They can't be gone because of a him. There has to be another explanation.) *Where once stood an oak now is a woodpile with a small stump, and a silent figure standing with eyes riveted to the mountains.*

Xeno: *sighs* She revealed more than I hoped.

*He takes out a lighter and burns the letter. Xeno watches Hawk and fear crosses his face, but he accepted the consequences of his actions a long time ago... knowing one day they would kill him... hoping it's not today.*

Chyna: *stunned, shaking her head in denial* The virus... the Brotherhood... all of it... (God help us.) Hawk? Hawk! Stop it! That's not helping! *gets up* Hawk-- we're here for answers. Nobody said we were going to like them. DEAL WITH NOW! We can't DO anything about the past. *clenches her fists at her sides* (God help us.) HAWK! Xeno said he'll answer our questions. (I don't think she can handle anymore answers.) Start asking.

*Hawk turns to face them, and Chyna shrinks from her friend--anger, pain, loss, grief all naked on her face. Murder is there too, and retribution.*

Chyna: (No, Hawk. We need him. If we have a chance against the Brotherhood, he may be the leverage-- or the weapon-- we need.) *Plants herself firmly in Hawk's way* (I won't let you kill him. Not today.) HAWK. WE NEED MORE.

Hawk: *voice barely controlled* You ask then. I... can't. *takes three deep breaths, voice is more controlled, looks at Xeno* Chyna is the only reason you are not dead. *faces Chyna, speaks softer* I will follow your lead.

*Chyna looks directly into Hawk's eyes, reads her pain, and nods once.*

Chyna: *faces Xeno squarely* Answer then. What Brena wrote-- is it true? All of it?

Xeno: It's all true. There is more to it, but yes. It's all true.

Chyna: There's nothing I can do about the past. I have to deal with the way things are right now. I've got friends in the city. So does Hawk. And you have a sister. If Fort River is the last city left to fall to the Brotherhood, how will the soldiers secure the city? What will happen to the kids? Because I don't intend to just let the Brotherhood have the city. I'm going to fight them, Xeno. I need you to tell me what it is I'll be fighting. *pauses* And I need to know which side you'll be on.

Xeno: We have to survive WITH the Brotherhood. Once they take control, things will settle down, like before the Virus. Trading will pick up. It will be safer on the streets. Everything will be better organized, as long as you don't get on the wrong side of the Brotherhood... Fight them? Why? There is nowhere else to run. I've fought in more cities than I can count and in the end, I run. There is no other way."

*In the end, it's Chyna who looks away. She tries to put the pieces together but can't make them fit.*

Chyna: Enough. My head's pounding and I'm getting cold. I'm going back to the cave. *looks from Xeno to Hawk standing woodenly to the side* Hawk? I'm sorry... *words escape her* Xeno, you might want to come back with me. *picks up her backpack and moves away from the river, needing... something, and not sure where she'll find it.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

Fighting--The Hard Side of Survival

The early days of KTDA, much like The Tribe, were about surviving. Fighting was a big part of that--protecting what you had and, when it was necessary, "acquiring" from the ones who had more than you.

In KTDA, we were also exploring our limits & developing techniques. A lot of us were caught off guard when 2 brave souls--one from Cali, the other from Cleveland--decided to push the envelope hard. Very hard.

Their (condensed) collaboration follows. It illustrates a vicious fight. It also illustrates what one tribe called murder...and sets up that tribe to seek revenge. "Revenge" as a theme became a very familiar one as the years moved on. 


Police Station

Sid: *walks to where Prince is setting up his bike* Hey man, we should go out in the city. Now would be a good time to get some info about the Brotherhood. What do you think?

Prince: *grabs his keys and starts up the bike* Where to, Sid?

Sid: The police station. If no one's there, we at least got a good chance there might be some supplies. Let's go.

***Midnight--Sid and Prince at the Police Station***

Prince: *trying to be silent as possible, hides the bike in the parking lot* Let's keep it down, we don't know who's 'round. *cracks open the back door*

Sid: Wait--let's go in at the same time *opens the door, looks around* It seems like a tribe runs this place. *points* Look at all the stuff! *cautiously starts to grab things and put them in his backpack* I told you we'd find stuff. *out of the corner of his eye sees people begin to run at them* PRINCE! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!

Prince: *backs away* Hey, sorry to invade your home, fellas. We'll just leave without any troubles. *but they all stand blocking the door* Ok then, I get it... *keeps his eyes on them as he walks backwards until he's close to Sid* Looks like we're not leaving for free.

Sid: There's more of them than us. *sees they all have weapons* They're ready to kill us. *pulls brass knuckles out of his back pocket and slides them on* On my word-- GO!

*Prince and Sid run at the kids. Sid hits one square in the face. Blood from the kid's mouth splats the wall. He hits the ground, out cold. Sid starts to size up a kid who's even bigger, but he can see fear in the kid's eyes.*

Sid: COME ON, F**KERS! IF YOU WANNA FIGHT COME GET IT!

*The kid runs at Sid and hits him across the ribs with a wood plank. Sid cusses and fights back. The big kid comes at him again but misses and Sid slams him in the mouth. The kid drops the plank and tries to out-street-fight Sid. Finally Sid punches hard with his brass knuckles and catches the guy straight in the temple, putting him on the ground.*

Sid: BITCH DON'T F**K WITH ME! *drops to the ground holding himself*

*One of the kids charges at Prince with a broomstick, but he dodges and delivers a punch to the boy's nose.*

Prince: Sid! *rushes to his friend's side* C'mon let me help you!

*Prince tries to sit Sid up but the thug tackles Prince and brings them both to the ground. Prince grabs his screwdivers and stabs the guy in the back.*

Prince: AHH, DAMN! SID, LET'S GO!

Sid: *staggers to his feet still holding his rib* Get the bike--I'll hold 'em off.

*One guy comes running out ready to hit Sid but Prince blind-sides him, knocking him to the ground. The two friends make it onto the bike and ride off down the street back to the warehouse.*

Prince: Later, f**kers!

****Dawn breaks over the city****

*A procession is seen leaving the Police Station. Two girls and two boys carry the body of a fallen member of the Trollers tribe. Their faces show their anger, painted black with a white cross on each cheek. The Troller leader, Judge, can be heard vowing revenge against the two who have committed this awful crime.*

"Let it be known, from here and now, those who have hurt my people will suffer the wrath of the Trollers."

*The procession passes by the warehouse where Arianna, Prince, Sid and the others live, then heads up to the woods.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"

How a Tribe got its Name

Something we all took away with us from The Tribe, it seems, was the tribe-concept. Families, helping each other, supporting each other, depending on each other against all odds... KTDA had very strong tribe links, especially as we built up the game. In The Tribe Season-1, we watched as Amber, Lex, Ryan, Salene, Jack and all the others came together & formed their tribe. We saw the creation ceremony, saw Taisan christen the Mall Rats. It was truly a defining moment.

For KTDA, we had to answer all those questions for ourselves. What brings a tribe together? How does it happen? And how in heck do you find a tribe name? All of our game-tribes have their own story. Here follows one--how the River Rats came to be.

River Rats

*At the meeting place, more than 30 kids sit or lie on the ground.*

Chyna: Now that both Stormriver and the El Diablos are gone, how many have somewhere you can go? Where you'll be safe?

*Some of the kids protest that their tribes are NOT gone. Others argue back, reminding them of the funeral fire and how many are lost. Finally about half raise their hands to answer the question.*

Chyna: OK, what will the rest of you do? What do you want to do?

Stormriver Girl-1: This is...was...our home, since the virus. Where else can we go?

Stormriver Boy-1: Benji and Sassie took a bunch of kids and headed for the Nature Preserve. I guess we could follow them?

Diablo Boy-1: What about us Diablos? I doubt we have anything to go back to. Tribes were always tryin' to overrun us, take what we had fought to get...it's probably all gone now.

Diablo Girl-1: I'm tired of fighting. Isn't there some place we don't have to fight every day?

Chyna: What about this place? *motions at the airport spread around them* The fire destroyed some of it, but not all. Water will never be a problem, and the river helps protect the camp. The garden is still there, and we're still checking what other supplies are left. I doubt you'll find any place there won't be fighting--since the virus, you know that's been the way. It doesn't have to be YOUR way, though. *looks from face to face* After all that's happened, can you put your differences behind you? Stormriver and Diablo leaders are gone... it was their rule that set the fighting... the killing... You don't have to do it anymore. There's enough of you. Why not start a new tribe? Right here?

*Several guys immediately shout in protest.* "I'm not workin' with a stinkin' Diablo!" "Stormriver started all this craziness!" "Damn slavers!" *One of the smallest of the Stormriver kids, a girl of about 8, bursts into tears and throws herself into Chyna's arms, crying,* "Don't let them kill me. Please! *Chyna sees Hawk ready to send Shep in to keep order and signals her to stand down.*

Chyna: Is this what you want? Beating each other senseless? Scaring the little ones? What if she was your sister?

Diablo Girl-2: I don't want to go back to what we were. As for Stormriver, their tribe is as shattered as ours is. What's wrong with maybe trying to build something out of this mess?

Diablo Boy-1: But-- !

Diablo Girl-2: But what? Did you leave something valuable back there, Jason? Something you can't live without? Or did you just like the power you felt every time you hit another kid over the head? *faces Chyna* I want to stay here. If something can be built, I want to build it. *reaches out to the little girl in Chyna's arms* None of these bullies will hurt you, honey. I promise.

Stormriver Conor: *softly* Could we do it? Are there enough of us even to try?

Chyna: Let's find out. All of you who don't have any place else to go... if you're willing to work together and build a new tribe... stand up.

*One by one...some hesitantly...some looking to their friends for approval... After 10 minutes, a group of 15 guys and girls are clustered around Chyna and Hawk, some injured and holding onto a friend, some hugging or shaking hands with Stormriver and Diablo alike. The remaining kids had said they had places to go.*

Chyna: *looking at the kids around her, of all ages and all markings* You just made a choice. There'll be others, but I don't think they can be any harder than this. So... you're not Stormriver anymore. And you're not Diablo. Who are you?

*Suddenly suggestions are fired in from enthusiastic voices, laughed at or shouted down by others. Chyna looks up into Conor's thoughtful expression.*

Conor: This is really just Mark Twain, you know?
Chyna: *shaking head* Mark Twain?

Conor: I used to read his books, him and Robert Louis Stevenson... about adventures and river pirates and buried treasure. This bunch? We're just river rats, aren't we?

Chyna: *grins* River rats?
Diablo Girl-2: *nods to Conor* Not bad.

Stormriver Boy-1: The river's a big part of what's good about this place, if we're going to be a tribe.

Diablo Boy-1: River Rats?
Stormriver Little Girl: River Rats.

*Soon they all take up the chant, laughing with each other, celebrating their decision--no one's order, but their own decision--to become a tribe together.*

Chyna: *laughs* OK, OK, so you're the River Rats. But you still look like someone else. How about a new tribe mark, so you'll know each other?

*Chyna pulls a cloth-wrapped bundle from her coat pocket and peels the cloth away to show some twigs, ends crushed, oozing a white fluid. She dips the cloth in a pot of water and turns to the little Stormriver girl.*

Chyna: Will you be the first?

*The girl nods eagerly. Chyna uses the cloth to wipe off the Stormriver thunderbolt and raindrops, then uses the twig to put a single white mark parallel out from the girl's right eye. Then Chyna does the same to her own face, above the blue-and-white blaze that she will never remove.*

Chyna: This sap will stain your skin white, so it won't wash off. And this twig is a secret, so no one else will know to use it. You'll always know who is a River Rat. So, who's next?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Chyna

Photo source: copyright Cloud-9 "The Tribe"