FERRETS

Ferrets, for the main part, have worked hard to throw off the old reputation as “Bandits” and “Highwaymen” that they acquired following the Knifewinter. These days, the various Ferret Businesses along the stretch of the Open Road have reframed themselves as traders, toll keepers, wandering craftsmen and, occasionally, “Legitimate Highway Security Officers, Guv.” Certainly - what is known and sure is that moving goods and slaves along the highways and byways of the Land is infinitely easier when you have the protection of one of any one of the thirty or forty Ferret “Businesses” who will supply everything from toll-passes to muscle and guns, ready to fight off Feral creatures or gangs of Highwaymen - those who aren't talked off, paid off, scared off or otherwise subject to any of the hundreds of confusing and conflicting deals cut between Businesses.

Ferrets have a history of guns. Some are pistolsmiths, crafting for their “cousins” in the city - not every Weasel has the patience or the contacts to deal with a Toad gadgeteer. Indeed, while Toads may make some of the more “complicated” powder weapons, some of the finest simple flintlocks can be acquired from Ms. Locke and Mr. Loade, two of the more famous Ferret pistol crafters in the land. Locke and Loade operate out of a series of lock-ups and safe houses along the roads out of London-That-Was and normally run deliveries to each of the Country Fayres along the Riverbank.

News travels swiftly on the Open Road - more than guns or coal or Security, the stock in trade of a Ferret Business is Information. What's selling, to whom and where it's come from; who's done what to whom. Many Ferrets, however, have escaped the chains of Trade and Commerce entirely. While all Ferrets are, to a greater or lesser degree, nomadic, some have embraced the Open Road fully, travelling the length of the Open Highways in brightly coloured wagons. Occasionally whole families will uproot themselves from the town or village where they have been settled for months, at other times they will come to rest, if trade is good, or if there is a local Schoolmaster who can teach their children - but it is rare for a Ferret to survive the lure of the Road for long…

Ferrets have always been fascinated by Powder weapons and concluded very early on that guns should be accompanied by proper dress. Fashions for Ferret roadsters currently tend towards impressive uniforms – with each Ferret Business adopting different colours and styles. Epaulettes are very fashionable, as are wide brimmed hats with Feathers. Ferret uniforms will normally be practical as well as stylish – one never knows when one will be camping out all night in the cold and a warm greatcoat is just the thing to keep out the chill. Buttons must be shiny and many Ferrets enjoy the trappings of authority – tin badges, silver buckles and shiny medals. These medals are normally awarded by Ferret Elders in elaborate ceremonies for services to the Business, and there is almost always a story attached to a roadster’s medals - asking about these stories is an excellent way to flatter a recalcitrant Ferret Toll keeper.

The State of Business… Ferret Businesses will always know, or establish very quickly, the state of play between each other; which sections of the road they consider their own and at which times of the year; who can pass freely and what signs and passwords will allow them to do so. At the best of times these agreements are made by Elders, by the fire while passing a bottle. At worst they are made in the dirt of the road at the barrel of a Flintlock. This knowledge extends to ‘Who's the Boss’ - every Ferret will know who to defer to in business.

Where their Family is and how they are doing… Many Ferret Businesses are made up of families and many Businesses are related by blood or marriage. Should two Ferrets spend any length of time together discussing Family, they will almost always find a link somewhere. Ferret stories will usually be claimed as having happened to “My Great Aunt” or “A brother of mine in Reading…”. Though family feuds can last years, Ferret families are fiercely protective of each other. “Me against my brother; my brother and I against our cousins; me and my brother and my cousins against the rest of the world”.

A Story or Song… Every Ferret will know a tale. Sometimes these tales are true.

“The Battle of Swindon Bridge” is a good one, “Jim Worthing's Box” is another – It is typical for a Ferret business to spend an evening by the campfire with songs and stories. A typical fireside game Ferrets play involves the laying of a stake on a story. Participants will throw a coin or a bead into a hat and the assembled crowd will vote on the best story, leaving the winner to take the pot. These circumstances are one of the few in which the sanctity of Business does not hold dear - it is considered incredibly bad form to vote for the teller rather that the tale.

Those Ferrets who decline to tell tales will often know a handful of tunes instead – haunting melodies and raucous songs.

Suggested Character Types: Tollkeeper; Security, Convoy Manager; Road Maintenance Crew; “Legitimate Business Trader”; Saboteur; Highwayman, Explosives Expert; Bandit; Tavern Keeper; Traveller; Travelling Salesman; Storyteller.

Ferret Minimum Phys-rep Requirement:

Mustelid mask with “Weasel” markings. Ferrets, Stoats, Weasels and Badgers have distinctive, different marks. You must NOT to use another race's distinctive marks. Please contact us if you have any questions about phys-repping.

• Stoats: Pale or white fur, with tribal markings.
• Ferrets: Rings of dark brown and grey or white markings.
• Weasels: Tan / red-brown fur and a white stripe down the neck and chin.
• Badgers: Black fur and a white central stripe.

• Your nature is “URBAN” - you are affected by all calls involving “URBAN”.
• Ferrets may count any Territory with a Road in it as “URBAN”.
• You may ONLY stake Claims on these Road territories, or those directly adjacent to them
• You may use any item that requires “URBAN” as a Nature. This includes Clockwork, Steam and Powder.
• You may not use any item which requires a different Nature.

ALL Ferrets have the following Merits and Flaws:

TRADER: During downtime, the markets that you run are a little more successful than others.

AN EYE FOR INGREDIENTS: During downtime, when gathering Ingredients for Brews, you will harvest more ingredients than usual.

GUERRILLA WARFARE: All Ferrets receive the Lore “Guerrilla Warfare” for free at character creation

ROADSTER: As a travelling people, Ferrets do not gain the free Claim at character creation and you may not take the Claimed Territory Advantage. They may Claim Road or Urban Territories during Downtime.

You have FIVE points to spend on characteristics

You may pick ANY characteristic from the following list

*Cultural Bonus: Elder Ferrets are excellent at both running Markets and Raiding them - any Market or Raid you take part in will be more successful if you take this Elder Lore.