Kickstarter

People of Semanawak -- Anyone who contributes anything will earn a place on the Acknowledgements page, with a title based on how much you contributed! Contributions of less than $10 will be acknowledged as Tlameme (Porters; those who carry the load). $10-$49 will be credited as Masewaltin (Commoners). $50-$99 will be honored as Pipiltin (Nobles). $100-$499 will be praised as Tetekutin (Lords). And finally, those great and generous souls who contribute $500 or more will be lauded as Tlatokay (Rulers).

Tlalteka, People of the Earth -- A PDF of the Temikamatl (the 'Book of Dreams,' the New Fire game book) as soon as it's finished. Kickstarters are guaranteed a copy at least two weeks before the general release! -------- The Tlalteka are the base of the social pyramid in the Empire. Every pyramid needs a base to raise the top high enough to deliver the offerings of the Empire to the Sun. But do not sneer at the Tlalteka, young one--though they are the farthest from the Sun, they are the closest to the Earth, and the Earth is just as sacred as the sky...

Tlakwilo, Codex Painter/Scribe -- The PDF PLUS a black and white printed copy of the Temikamatl. This reward was made possible by widespread support and Backer participation--thanks, everybody!

Tonalteka, People of Light -- The PDF of the game book PLUS a New Fire T-Shirt! These T-Shirts identify the wearer as one of the Tonalteka, the first humans to live and breathe in Semanawak, and are exclusive to Kickstarters! (International backers please add $10 for shipping) -------- The Tonalteka are the descendants of the very first humans created by the gods. They were the first to breath the air, eat the corn, and feel the heat of the Fifth Sun. They witnessed the first dawn, made the first tortillas, and offered the first hearts in sacrifice, and when Semanawak was young and tender, they were the ones who told the first stories...

Amanteka, Feather Artisan -- The PDF PLUS a black and white printed copy of the Temikamatl, and a New Fire T-Shirt. This reward was made possible by widespread support and Backer participation--thanks, everybody!

Shochikwikani, Flower Singer -- The PDF PLUS a printed, Signed copy of the Temikamatl. If we raise enough money to afford Color artwork, the books offered at this level will be upgraded to Color!

Tlamatini, Wise One -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS a 2 hour long (at least) Gamemaster training session with the lead designer. Learn how to run New Fire from the person who created it! If you live near or are willing to travel to Santa Barbara, California, I'm happy to meet you in person, but otherwise the session will be held via phone or skype. (International backers please add $20 for shipping) -------- Teacher, poet, philosopher, storyteller, and guide, the Tlamatini are the keepers of knowledge in the Empire. They understand the cycles of nature and hold the secrets of past, present, and future within them. It is their duty to pass on this knowledge, but also to guard it carefully from the unworthy. As in any land, knowledge is power, and a misplaced secret can spell disaster...

Nawal Sorcerer -- The PDF; the printed, signed and potentially color printed Temikamatl (or the t-shirt + poster); PLUS a custom black and white character portrait drawn for you by Di Wdzenczny, New Fire concept artist and playtester!

Pochteka, Merchant -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS a chance to help us design a prominent Landmark that will appear somewhere in Semanawak! (Note: there are a few restrictions on this--check out the 'Rewards' section for details) -------- The Pochteka are many things: traders, diplomats, explorers, messengers, schemers, and even spies. Some call them 'vagabonds,' for the Pochteka are eternal wanderers who call no one city or village home. But does the Wind call any one valley home? Is the River that connects a thousand lands a 'vagabond?' The Wind and River know the World. And so do the Pochteka...

Tlamakazkwi, Priest; Giver of Things -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS a chance to help us design a god or powerful spirit who will appear in Semanawak! (Note: there are a few restrictions on this--check out the 'Rewards' section for details) -------- Tlamakazkwi are the messengers who mediate between mortals and gods. They care for the divine effigies, convey the words and offerings of mortals to the gods, and sometimes even invite gods into their own bodies, bringing their powers to Earth. Humans depend on gods to maintain nature, but gods also depend on humans for offerings and nourishment. Tlamakazkwi are the ones who hear both sides...

Kalpulek, Headman of a District/Clan -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS a chance to help us design a village or town that will appear in Semanawak! (Note: there are a few restrictions on this--check out the 'Rewards' section for details) -------- The Kalpulek is a person of great respect and renown. Though still a Commoner, he or she presides over all the business of the District/Clan and acts as its spokesperson to higher authorities, leading the community not through political force but through demonstrated wisdom and knowledge. Nobles may officially own the land, but it is the Kalpulek who runs its day-to-day business.

Ishiptla -- The PDF; the printed, signed and potentially color printed Temikamatl (or the t-shirt + poster); PLUS a custom color character portrait drawn for you by Di Wdzenczny, New Fire concept artist and playtester!

Night Axe -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS the original of the picture of Night Axe featured here on Kickstarter. Hang it on your wall as a motivation, a reminder of the fate that awaits those who fear to face their destinies! -------- Death sustains Semanawak, and there is no greater honor than dying upon the sacrificial altar as nourishment for the gods. But the reason this death is honorable is because it is terrifying. Night Axe is the embodiment of that terror. He appears as a walking, decapitated body with obsidian knives in place of fingers. A gaping wound stretches across his chest like the one inflicted during a heart sacrifice, but on Night Axe it is actually a mouth that hungers for the hearts of cowards who fear to face their honorable end....

Teteoshiwakan, Place of the Sacred Flame -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS the original of the picture of Teteoshiwakan featured here on Kickstarter. With this on your wall you will always live in the light of the Tonalteka! -------- On the last night of the 52 years of waiting, the Tonalteka assembled their army and marched into Teteoshiwakan. The Usurper Priests there cursed them and commanded them to leave, but the great Tonalteka warrior Ollin refused: "This land is the land of our birth. We are its rightful masters. Too long have we wandered through darkness and dreams, through death and shadows. We are the People of the Sun--witness our dawn!"

The Battle of North Pass -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS the original of the battle scene featured here on Kickstarter. Hang it on your wall as a reminder that the struggles of the heavens are mirrored in the struggles of us here on Earth, and vice versa! -------- After lighting the New Fire, the Tonalteka turned on the Usurpers and drove them from the Valley like darkness before the Dawn. The decisive battle was fought in the northern pass of the Valley, where the advancing Tonalteka encountered Usurper reinforcements--not since the gods defeated Sipaktli the Earth Monster and created the world has there been such a battle! In the end, the Usurpers were driven out and the Tonalteka became the masters of their ancestral homeland. At least for a time...

Shiwakoatl, Turquoise Serpent -- The PDF, the T-Shirt, the Poster, PLUS a physical manifestation of the Shiwakoatl--a special-edition, Kickstarter exclusive, completely unique, fully-functional New Fire Atlatl, made by New Fire consultant and atlatl expert Robert Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl! You will also get a magnificent obsidian-tipped dart along with your Atlatl, with which you may defend the Sun as it passes overhead. -------- The Shiwakoatl is the living weapon of Teshoshotlani the Sun Warrior, the god who guided the Tonalteka back home after their exile and who protects the Sun on her daily trip through the sky. It is a living Atlatl, a divine weapon that hurls not darts, but fire and lightning, and sometimes comes to life itself to act as a messenger and agent of the Sun gods. In all the universe there is no weapon as beautiful or as powerful as the Turquoise Serpent, the Shiwakoatl...