Don't tell that to a Minnesotan!I've been reading Paul Bunyan (the Wadsworth version) to my boys recently, and he's actually from Maine.
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Don't tell that to a Minnesotan!I've been reading Paul Bunyan (the Wadsworth version) to my boys recently, and he's actually from Maine.
This is where I work, people are terrible with this one. They want to throw a H in it Worchester. Worse is when they think is is like Worchester and say Wor-Cester. Locals rhyme it with mister.Massachusetts:
Worcester (wuh-stir [actually wuh-stuh])
Well thats one version, most other versions reckon he hails from either Minnesota or Michigan. If he was Real then theres a suggestion that the real person he was based on might in fact have been from Quebec - a 7ft tall head of a Canadian Lumberjack teamI've been reading Paul Bunyan (the Wadsworth version) to my boys recently, and he's actually from Maine.
I know the Appalachian Trail runs into Maine, but it's not usually considered part of Appalachia from a cultural/historical perspective.
I once did a ‘fun’ study on the Beverly Hillbillies and was surprised to learn that there were Appalachia residents who thought it was perpetuating offensive stereotypes. 19th Century Appalachia is an interesting study in the conflict between independent rural farmers who lived on the land and the lowland urban industrialist who wanted the resources and then created the ‘backward inbred’ stereotypes in order to influence Government (and public) perception.As a current highlands resident and foothills native (Piedmont to you people), I shudder to think how many bad stereotypes there will be; either in the hypothetical campaign or this thread.
I agree, I haven't read Wellman but the Chained Coffin was a fun setting/module read and the author credits Wellman. And OSR in general is pretty close to 5e so conversions are fairly easy if you don't go with Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG.Goodman Games The Chained Coffin presents a setting very much this, inspired by Manly Wade Wellman's John the Balladeer stories alongside folklore of the region. I'd highly recommend both the RPG product and the books that inspired it.
is this fantasy with magic or is it no magic?On another thread, it got me thinking. an Appalachia game could have serious potential. The Hat Fields and the Mccoys, giants (that might be where Paul Bunyan originally came from), witches, and trickster anthropomorphic rabbits in a keep on the borderlands environment could have serious potential. then you add the cultural mixing of the north, south, African mythology, and Cherokee and other tribes and whammo, a seriously unique environment. However, feel seriously underqualified in this environment so throwing it out there to see where it leads.
Chestnut trees are everywhere and a good source of carbohydrates and they feed the wildlife. nutritional profile similar to potatoes. Chestnut trees are huge, grow fast and are hard wood so good hardwood with a profile similar to oak is readily available. Hospitality for the Scots and Scott-irish would be very much the once I invite you into my house i'm responsible for you. But you better behave. Respect for individualism would be important among them as well. they would be proud Brave , and willing to die to protect family and Honor.I'm from the very southern end of Appalachia.
Some things I would consider essential to capturing the mood of the region, in a D&Dish fantasy context, in my opinion, would be:
•The forests are dense. This is something that people who haven't been to the region won't understand. The trees aren't often very large (poor soil), but they grow nearly as close together as grass in a field. Between the thick foliage and the mountainous terrain, a laden party of adventurers on foot will be lucky to travel 4 miles in a day.
•Everything is isolated. In a fantasy setting with no highways or telephones, you can really play this up. Towns are far apart from each other. There are homesteads sprinkled across the mountainsides many miles apart, sometimes populated by families who aren't aware of their nearest neighbors' existence.
•Hospitality is important. It's not like Deliverance. If strangers come to your door, you let them in, you feed them, and you find out what their story is. There aren't going to be a lot of inns for the party to rest in between towns. They'll need to either camp out or rely on the generosity of whatever locals they meet.
•That said, don't abuse your host's hospitality. Everyone is armed. In real life, that means a lot of people enthusiastic about the 2nd Ammendment. In a fantasy world where you probably don't have guns, I might have some NPC's who are proud of their old family sword or axe.
•Farming sucks. Poor soil. Hunting and fishing are comparatively efficient ways to feed your family.
•There are a lot of caves, and the caves get pretty big. There are also ruins, of a sort: abandoned homesteads, bootleg distilleries, and mines. Plenty of places that could become dungeons in a world with monsters.
Hear hear! The "i" is silent and the "t" is invisible.
The fun part will be doing like the old TV show Beverley Hillbillies: subvert everybody's stereotypes of each other. The "dumb" hillbillies get the better of the "smart" city slickers and confound their schemes in most episodes.As a current highlands resident and foothills native (Piedmont to you people), I shudder to think how many bad stereotypes there will be; either in the hypothetical campaign or this thread.
The thing is while some people are ranting that Beverly hillbillies is a strereotype we use characters like that in our own stories. Anyone ever watch hee haw.The fun part will be doing like the old TV show Beverley Hillbillies: subvert everybody's stereotypes of each other. The "dumb" hillbillies get the better of the "smart" city slickers and confound their schemes in most episodes.
Yes ! Why were there skits between the singing? (Although the recurring skits with a 'theme song' were funny.)Anyone ever watch Hee Haw?
Lol. That still my favorite show. I watch it and it reminds me of growing up on the farm in Calhoun county West Virginia. We would sit on the porch with neighbors after bailing hay or doing whatever and play the banjo and do some songs. Good times.Yes ! Why were there skits between the singing? (Although the recurring skits with a 'theme song' were funny.)
I promise to only describe this using text so you don't have to deal with my western canadian accent.Please for all that is good and holy, just promise me that you will pronounce it properly: "apple-at-cha."
Sincerely,
An Appalachian Native
Well thats one version, most other versions reckon he hails from either Minnesota or Michigan. If he was Real then theres a suggestion that the real person he was based on might in fact have been from Quebec - a 7ft tall head of a Canadian Lumberjack team![]()
It could be very much a spirit war where everybody set up traditions mainly so it doesn't go out of control.The fey side would be a horrible mixed up mess, with African spirits, indian fey who are often confused as spirits of the land, fey brought by the english, scotts and irish. You'd probably have as much conflict on the fey side of things as in the real world.
I want witches (good and bad) so yes to magic.is this fantasy with magic or is it no magic?