Ikuisuuden laakso (2009)

Publisher's press release:

The philosophical Ikuisuuden laakso ("Valley of Eternity") is Juhana Pettersson’s first roleplaying game. It is a tragic RPG set in the Antarctic, in which the players take on the roles of hero penguins living on the borders of penguin society. The life of a hero is not an easy one, even if they are penguins: she must sacrifice everything in her battle against skua gulls and leopard seals, but will always remain a stranger in the eyes of her fellows. The anthropomorphic animals are a cleansing, distancing element in Ikuisuuden laakso, but obviously they also provide comedy.

From the English language Introduction:

Valley of Eternity is a roleplaying game about everyday heroes and fate as an outcast, reserved for those who are in any way different from their fellows. The game is about penguins, because penguins are funny. A touch of comedy makes it possible to relate to even the greatest of heroes.

You can play two kinds of characters in the game. Penguins represent civilization and society. They live on the Silent Coast and their heroes are sworn to protect their fellows from the dangers that lurk out in the sea, sky or glacier. Anti-penguins, on the other hand, are barbarians that pillage penguin communities and live far out on the glacier in small tribes.

The penguin characters are heroes. A hero is someone who has made significant personal sacrifices in order to ensure the well-being of others. The penguins played in the game have rejected their chance of building a family and taking part in the everyday lives of the regular penguins around them.

A hero is far from a typical penguin, since she’s ready to rebel against tradition and choose her own destiny. She realizes that in order for the community to have a bright future, someone must grab a spear and go on to perform deeds that are simply unimaginable for normal penguins.