Qaqurluk Tribes

The Qaqurluk are a tribe of peoples living in the south west region of Maniitloq, primarily dwelling on the coast. Their territory lays next to the Manitl'uq to the east and the Hiuralik to the north. Like most other cultures in the Agean north, they are semi nomadic and live primarily off of fishing and hunting marine animals. They are similar in culture to the Hiuralik, however developed a unique enough language, culture and lifestyle to be considered their own separate ethnic group. This is helped by the fact that they do not live in the arctic regions of Maniitloq.

The Qaqurluk are short, copper skinned, with black hair and dark eyes.

Female Qaqurluk names include Amittu, Eleesapee, Geela, Hiti, Ipooeetuq, Kappak, Migishoo, Neevee, Ootoovah, and Timangiak.

Male Qaqurluk names include Anoee, Epirvik, Ipellie, Joanasie, Koadloak, Loottee, Mosesie, Okkarlik, Towkie, and Quissa.

Qaqurluk surnames include Arlooktoo, Irniq, Natatok, Towtoongie, Serkoak, Kusugak, Ekho, Kolit, and Chiklak.

### Society buffs:

Speak Qaqurluk, Survival, Navigate land and sea.

Hardy (ordinary modifier to damage based checks), Ordinary Cold resistance,

Starts with a parka, qqerrulliik pants, mukluks, a mask charm and a sewing kit.

Difficult modifier to disease rolls, +10 toughness,

See Maniitloq region items for the Qaqurluk's full spread of items.

### Classes

* Nukalpiaq - Noble. Nukalpiaq are the most important hunters and one of three leaders of Qaqurluk society. Their hunting skills are unmatched by any other men of their village.
	+ +10 fellowship. Tracking, camouflage. Command.
	+ Hunting musket, Ugtarcuun helmet.
* Umialik - Noble. Umialik are the most important and influential fishermen and whale hunters, and play a role in leading the society. Their fishing and hunting skills are only matched by the Nukalpiaq.
	+ +10 fellowship. Drive kayak. Tracking. Navigate sea. Barter.
	+ Fishing spear or harpoon, Arilluk mitts, Elqiaq visor, gutskin raincoat, Kayak.
* Hunter/Survivalist - Commoner. Hunters and survivalists make up the backbone of Qaqurluk society. These men and women ensure their tribes survival.
	+ Repair clothing, medicine, prepare food, tracking, camoflauge.
	+ Hunting knife, 3 choice food items, medicinal herbs
* Angalkuq - Learned Caster. Sanamancer and Zomancer. Fellowship modifier. Angalkuk are the shamans, casters and healers of Qaqurluk society. They are respected, but are not considered leaders like other cultures might. They deal in spirit work through masks and dance.
	+ Medicine. Perform (song and dance).
	+ Shaman's everyday mask, mask charms, Drum, Shaman's regalia

## Culture

### Society and Migration

The Qaqurluk follow the seasonal patterns of rivers throughout their territory. Communities that migrate together are called bands. Bands will all migrate to the same place in the wintertime, but split off into small groups of families (each family containing 2 to 4 generations of people) in the summertime.

The foundation of Qaqurluk society and culture is the Yuuyaraq, or Ways of Life. These are an abstract set of laws that influence and effect every part of the tribes life. It puts particular emphasis on respecting the ocean and all of it's creatures. As without the many fish and animals in the ocean, the Qaqurluk would not be able to survive.

The orators of this knowledge are the Tegganeq, or Elders. These are members of the tribe who have done many things in their lives and has a wealth of cultural and spiritual knowledge. In addition to making sure the Yuuyaraq is followed (and perhaps adding to it as new things are experienced), they provide advice and consultation to families and make decisions about migration and trade. They will also educate the children of the tribe.

The band of Qaqurluk are lead by the Nukalpiaq (Good Provider) and the Umialik (Whaling captain), these were the best hunters and fishermen of the band respectively. The Nukalpiaq provide most of the skins and meat, and are consulted in any affair affecting the village. In addition, they are the head of the ceremonies and responsible for caring for the widows and orphans. The Umialik provide most of the raw materials used to build tools and homes, as well as food. They divide resources amongst the village and hold control over surplus materials.

### Industry

Qaqurluk tools are made of wood, bone, and stone.

Homes are divided by gender. Men live in larger buildings called Qasgiq and women and children in smaller homes called Ena. Both of these are semi underground sod houses that are destroyed and rebuilt as the residents migrate.

There are anywhere from 2 to 12 Ena in a typical village, with each home only housing about 5 people, typically a mother and her children or her own mother. Boys live in these homes until they are old enough to move to the Qasgiq to begin their schooling. Girls are educated in the Ena.

There are typically one or two Qasgiq in a village. These are not only where the men live and boys are educated, but also serve as the cultural and political centers of the village. The Qasgiq are where boats, masks and tools are made. Sweating rituals are conducted, dances and ceremonies are held. and the Nukalpiaq and Umialik will conduct important discussions with Tegganeq in the qasgiq as well.

The Qaqurluk use dog sleds for land transportation and kayaks for water transportation. Like their Hiuralik neighbors, the Qarqurluk will use umiak boats if larger scale transportation is needed. Kayaks are considered the most important of a man's possessions. Qaqurluk kayaks differ from Hiuralik qajuits in that they have uniquely carved cockpit stanchions to be used as supports when mounting and dismounting.

### Art

Oral storytelling and tradition are very important to the Qaqurluk, however they have a unique tradition called the yaaruin or stroyknife. These are bone knives that have been symbolically carved for use in storytelling. These knives generally are carved with motifs from a story or myth, and are used to illustrate the story by drawing in the mud or the snow during stories.

Qaqurluk clothing is loose fitting and typically made of animal skins. They wear distinct, knee length parkas with a sunburst of fur around the hood, sometimes wearing a long sleeved, loose garment called a Kuspuk over the parka. Like the Manitl'uqh, the Qaqurluks use gutskin clothing as raingear. For ceremonial purposes a atkupiaq style parka is worn. This is the same shape as a normal parka, but intricately decorated with tassels and embroidered borders, it is typically longer than a normal parka. Until puberty, young girls will always wear a simple knitted cap called a nacarrluk, this is to keep their bad spirits from harming others in the village.

During dances (and a few other ceremonial events) many different types of headdress are worn, particularly by men. These include the nacarpiaq, which consists of a fur base and various strips of fur, bird feet and beads cascading down the wearers shoulders (some bands will use whole wolves heads as a base). The nacarpiaq is typically worn by drummers. The nasqurrun is a crown like headdress made many layers of fur and occasionally beadwork, women will wear smaller versions of these headdresses as well. Nasqurrun are worn by leaders of dances. Finally, during steaming rituals, a hat made of a whole puffin carcass is worn to protect the head.

Masks are the most common and intricate forms of Qaqurluk art. They are wooden, highly painted and expressive masks used by shamans. Masks varry in size from small, hand size decorations to 10 kilo masks hung on the walls of Qasgiqs. These masks are used in dances, stroytelling, and as good luck charms. They are typically destroyed after they have fulfilled their purpose.

Dance is an integral part of Qaqurluk culture. There are six styles of dance; *arula* dances consisting of yuraq, verse and chorus; *yurapiat* (storytelling dances); *ingula* dances, which were slow, oldstyle dances performed by women following berry harvests; *pualla* dances, primarily performed by men; *yurat* done to *taitnauq* songs; and *telciqata'arcutet*, or proper entrance dances. Dance encompasses storytelling, magic and the values of their culture. Dances are done to simple drumming, occasionally with vocals. The shamans, and certain men of the tribe will lead the dances.

There are two main festivals, both built around dance and ceremony. The Kevgiq, which is held in mid-winter after the whale hunt, these are very large festivals where many bands come together to celebrate and dace. Then the Nakaciuq, where the souls of the animals that have been hunted are respected by sending the creatures bladders to sea. Like their Hiuralik neighbors, Qaqurluk women will play vocal games called Katajjaq. This is when two women will sing and imitate animal sounds to each other in friendly competition.

### Religion and Magic

The Qaqurluk are animistic and shamanistic, and do not believe in gods. Instead, they base their religion around the interactions of the spirits (yua) of the world and the shamans (angalkuq) of the tribe. Dance and masks are key features of the Qaqurluk religion.

The Angalkuq is the mediator between spirits and the tribe, and communicates with them through dance, music and the use of masks. Their primary role is to ensure the survival of their people by harnessing this spirit communication. Angalkuk will carve one of their masks after receiving instructions from a spirit, and like other masks, it is burned after it's use is fulfilled. These masks typically take the form of an animal, so the Angalkuq can harness or channel that animals qualities.

## Angalkuq Spells

Angalkuq are experienced Ritual casters and know all of these spells by heart. A number of spells equal to resolve can be casted each night.

Angalkuq rituals are tied to dance and music, meaning they have no spells which can be casted in combat. In order to cast these, they require music, which can come from their own drums or drums played by other characters. Then the Angalkuq will perform a specific dance in accordance to the ritual. A *Perform* test must be made to successfully cast the spell.

* *Bless*
* Lasts 24 hours.
* Up to three characters can be blessed. They may roll a 1d10 and apply that to any roll.

* *Heal Party*
* Instant.
* Anyone watching the ritual regains 4d10 health.

* *Detect Poison and Disease*
* Instant. 9 meter range.
* You are able to detect toxins within plants, diseases within characters and poisoned weapons within range.

* *Enhance Ability*
* Lasts 24 hours.
* A number of characters equal to resolve has one attribute enhanced by 10

* *Locate*
* 3 km range.
* You learn the location of a person, place or item within range.

* *Mend*
* Instant.
* Damaged items are place around your feet, the rhythm of the dance repairs them back to normal. If the spell is casted with a difficult modifier, broken items (or the bones of players) can be repaired.

* *Purify*
* Instant
* All food and drink the party is carrying is rendered free of disease and toxins.

* *Remove Curse*
* Instant.
* The person you dance in front of has a curse removed from them.

* *Resistance*
* Lasts 24 hours.
* One character watching the dance gains a +10 resistance to something of the casters choice.

* *Calm*
* Instant.
* You dispel 3d10 fear points from all characters watching the dance.

* *Protect*
* Lasts 24 hours.
* Monsters and magic users gain a difficult modifier to attack the party

* *Find Path.*
* Instant
* You are able to find the shortest and most direct path to a specific, non-mobile location

* **Dance of Resurrection**
* Instant.
* You dance around the corpse of a person or animal that has been dead for less than one century, and who has not died of old age. They will return with all health points and clean of any affects and injuries. Amputations will not be cured, however. The character suffers a difficult modifier to all tests for four days. This is the only spell that can be casted in a night, and requires a very hard perform test to succeed.