Jones' Travel Guide to Hatunidinu

A must-read for all prospective travellers!

To the average foreign traveler Hatunidu may appear as any other cold climate country, but I will caution you against such assumptions dear reader! Hatunidu is a place both fertile in beautiful vistas and transcendent experiences as it is flavoured with hazard and misfortune. It is under this supposition that I offer my knowledge and expertise of this great and terrible region, composed within the folds of this paper pamphlet to guide and assist you along your journey. It is of my utmost conviction that what I have created is an essential survival tool and it would be folly to travel without it.

A word on expectations

It must be stated first and foremost that Hatunidu is not a nation as we know them in our own sensibilities but rather a collection of tribes and ways of life that have found a way to make peace and live in a mutual benefit to each other. While they do in fact all speak the same language (Kanenon Roanika) the natives consider themselves separate based upon their own choices, traditions and ways of life. While all of this may be considered quite queer to you and I, I would highly advise that one keeps these comments and thoughts to oneself and instead navigates through this region with pleasant and aimable airs. I must warn that if you do not heed my warning and mistreat the locals, they are under no greater calling to serve nor listen to you, and word travels fast and frenzied here. To offend one is to exile yourself from a wider community and this is not the type of place to find oneself solitary and alone.

Tribal Travel

For best results and to get the most out of your trip possible I recommend traveling with a singular nomadic tribe throughout your journey in the region. There are several different nomadic tribes each that deal in slightly different goods and thus visit different cities or areas within the region. Depending on your ideal itinerary and vacation expectations I would suggest choosing a tribe that matches your needs and comfort level.

Below listed for your convenience are a selection of foreigner-friendly tribes as well as the pros, cons, as well as pertinent information such as routes, ideal etiquette, and what you might have to offer (since this is a barter economy) to join them. Please be advised that I am in no way listing all of the possible tribes nor am I listing all knowledge about them, I would suggest that one seeks out supplemental information once set on their choice to be properly prepared for their trip.

Skyrider tribe

Who said that tribes had to be primitive?

For those wishing to see the beauty of this region whilst travelling in relative luxury throughout the way I would highly recommend choosing to travel with the Skyrider tribe. While the routes offered by the skyriders can be considered short and sweet by most travellers standards the experience is very friendly and comfortable for all ages and aptitudes.

To Join - Stay within the dockyards of one of the three central southern cities. Be direct in communication and for best results bring a translator, I personally would highly recommend one that is from the area itself or well versed in skyslang. To gain their favour and ‘pay’ for your board you must barter gems or minerals with them, (gold or cut gemstones such as diamond, ruby or sapphire should do you well.) Show an affinity for the sky and wanting to see the world. To truly win the favour of the tribe it is recommended that you show significant skill in fine arts or painting, especially landscapes.

Prospective Diet - Skyriders eat mainly airborne prey such as windfish or rushbird. These can be dense and quite chewy but when combined with the local berry jams can prove themselves to be quite the delicacy.

Itinerary - Skyriders tend to stick towards southern mining cities that can be quite boring in terms of prospective activities do have a rich and in-depth geological history with many museums and visiting sites as well as plenty of artisanal trade halls that are stepped in fine and handcrafted accessories that make for luxury gifts you won’t find anywhere else!

Cowhearding Tribe

Enjoy the slow blissful beauty of life

For those wishing to experience the slow and peaceful bliss of nomadic life in colder climates I highly recommend the cowherding tribe. It is rather an intermediate journey in terms of wayfaring experience required and I strongly suggest one purchase appropriate winter gear as the climate can prove to be rather punishing and perilous to foreigners and the unprepared.

To Join - The Cowherding tribe is a solitary tribe that mainly travels laterally across the northernmost regions of Hatundinu and rarely rests in any significant major settlements. Your best bet is to find a nomadic resting hall and speak to the staff about when the last tribe came by. Cowherding tribes often travel 3 days apart from each other so you can usually use this to triangulate when the next group will be. To win their favour the best thing you can do is barter pigment, especially string or bright colours as the cowherders favour that in their textile work the best.

Prospective Diet - Although it can be quite jarring to you and me the cowherders believe that in order to fully worship an animal you must use all of the animal. Thus, you may come across beef, rabbit and other meat intensive animals. Do not fret, know that they had the best possible life and that these people are arguably experts in raising and preparing such feasts.

Itinerary - While the idea of wandering the snowy tundra with malodorous beasts seems the opposite of a good time to most if not all travelers I promise you that this tribe has an active and invigorating culture and your days will be spent regailing tales and singing songs to the not-as-noisome beasts and your nights filled with good hearty food, dancing and chanting or weaving and wafting. Altogether not as dull as you once judged, yes?

Merchant Tribe

To see all the big cities

For those wanting to see the main central hubs of trade and industry within Hatunidu I recommend the Merchant tribe. Although the tribe itself is mainly composed of wagon travelling folk they are welcoming to foreigners and their strict tight trading routes ensure that you’ll see all of the cities at record speeds.

To join - Simply barter anything of high value to the tribe. Know that they have a good eye and sense for value so you won’t be able to swindle them into a bad deal, you must be genuine with your trades.

Prospective Diet - Since most cities on your route will be less than a days ride away from each other it is to be expected that you will be dining in said cities, thus your diet could be anything and everything. I will however always advocate for getting out of one’s comfort zone and trying new foods, diets and experiences.

Itinerary - While again I find it pertinent to mention that this is truely the most flexible of the tribes in terms of travel and freedom of choice and the possible itineraries you can create are functionally endless there is a uniqueness to the region itself here and thus I have to mention that one should certainly visit the university as it is much unlike any other university in the world being open to the community without any enrollment or testing, and one should also visit the myriad social spaces open to all.

Type

Guide, Generic

Medium

Paper