The Nuqanchik are a nomadic culture on a continent they simply call pacha - "world" - as it is the only land they know. The continent is mostly made up of dense jungles split by a high mountain range that includes active volcanoes.

They regularly meet at old temples, but they did not build these them themselves and only use them for certain rituals.

Inspiration - South America: Inka, Maja, Aztecs

• Tribes - how Nuqanchik tribes are structured
• Culture - important cultural elements and technologies of the Nuqanchik
• Lore- legends and lore of the Nuqanchik

Tribes

The Nuqanchik are split into dozens of tribes ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand members. Each tribe is its own entity, but the same social structure is found in each of them.

Akllasqa ("Chosen")

The leaders of the tribe. Even the largest tribes do not have an Akllasqa from each god, but even small tribes typically have at least three.

According to legends, all Akllasqa were once able to help their tribe with the power of the gods, but these days less than half of them have any magic powers.

Chosen status is not inheritable. If an Akllasqa dies or is no longer able to fufill her duties, a new one is chosen in a special rite during the yearly gatherings. Any tribe member can be put forward as a candidate for this, though typically the candidates are from the next step on the ladder, the Qapaq.

Akllasqa almost always marry some Qapaq from another tribe; this is an important part of politics and exchange of knowledge.

Qapaq ("Sacred"/"Able")

The Qapaq are the important artisans - those whose skills are highly valued and crucial to the wellbeing of the tribe - as well as the immediate families of the Akllasqa.

Example artisans on this rank are recordkeepers (who make and use writing materials), beastkeepers (responsible for the beasts of burden and riding animals) and keepers of music (who make and play the more complex instruments).

These artisans choose a successor from the young of the tribe based on skill and aptitude; their children are not automatically also of this rank.

Yupaychaqua ("Blessed")

These are the normal members of the tribe - hunters, common craftspeople, warriors. They have passed the rite of initiation of the tribe and are considered part of every other tribe member's extended family.

Hamuq ("Future")

Children before their rite of initiation (which typically occurs at age 14 to 16) are a separate social group. They spent time helping with various tasks (first around camp, later also outside) as soon as they are able to; this lets the tribe judge if they have any particular talents. It also makes raising children above a certain age very much a communal task, further strengthening tribal bonds.

Michina ("Herd")

Each tribe has a number of people are considered part of the tribe, but not full members and therefore not part of the extended family.

Formally, these have the status of livestock - which is valuable and also on this level - but depending on their personality and background they may be treated better or worse than the actual animals of the tribe.

People who have failed - due to injuries or inability - their initiations are on this level. Relegation to Michina status is also a common punishment for crimes that destroy trust in a person but do not warrant the highest punishment of exile - for example major theft.

Culture

Technology

Engineering

• there is no metallurgy
• Carpentry exists, but is mostly for constructing temporary aids to cross ravines/rivers and for tent poles

Cultural

• writing is highly regarded

Animals

• riding and animal husbandry are quite developed, but using various lizard instead of horses
• huge, calm lizards for the transportation of goods (think Triceratops)
• fast aggressive lizards as riding animals for the Akllasqa (think Raptor) and a few chosen Qapaq

Light sources

• Fires made with dried lizard dung
• fireflies in containers for light in tents
• chosen even have glowing fishes in special containers, but this is a rare luxury

Traditions

Warding the Camp

• if the camp is set for more than one night, the chosen lead a procession of the entire extended family (note: this excludes michina) around their possessions - livestock, camp and michina sit in the middle and watch

Pastimes

• once work is done, there are games - usually some dexterity games with stones
• on special evenings (e.g. setting camp for longer nights), there are "goldfish fights" - special trained fish which are set to combat each other, like in cock fights

Lore

The Temples of the Gods

"The Rumi Runa built the temples of the gods in the time before history. The gods taught them, and the Rumi Runa taught the Nuqanchik in turn.

But then the Rumi Runa angered the gods - they thought themselves masters of the temples and equals of the gods. So the gods cast down the Rumi Runa and cursed the temples.

That is why the Nuqanchik, to this day, come to the temples only once per year, at the change of seasons. We calm one of the gods and soothe them, so the waters stop and the Nuqanchik can again travel the land.

If we perform well at the temples, the heavens will stay quiet for a long time, and the tribes can flourish.

Eventually, though, the waters will start again as the god's rage returns, and then the Akllasqa must decide which god is best approached to stop the endless rains."
One of many Nuqanchik legends that describe where the temples came from

The Gods

While it always says "god" in the list, not "goddess", the gods do not actually have a gender in the understanding of the Nuqanchik.

Chuyapaq

God of Rain, Cleansing and Change

• chief god of the player's tribe, the Chikauitl, since about three generations
• their last two Chosen in the tribe did not gain divine powers with their ascension

Paramusuq

God of Regeneration, Renewal and the Wet Season

Sinchi Uruq

God of Mountains, Endurance and Duels

• His chosen in the tribe has divine powers

Hasuna

God of Travel and Animal Husbandry

Tulumakuna

God of Fire, Passion and Music

• was the chief god of the player's tribe before their chosen lost her powers (as the first in the tribe); the tribe then shifted over to Chuyapaq