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.

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

• there is no metallurgy
• 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
• writing is highly regarded

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