Kanuqosi
The Kanuqosi are a human group which can be found in the northern reaches of Menayana. In their own language, they are known as the ǂNūǃqosi, which is pronounced as (click)kahnu(click)kɔsi, with the second click being sharper and quicker than the initial one. Most outsiders have extreme difficulty pronouncing their tounge and therefore they are also priminently known as Kanuqosi, or (considered derogatory and meaning stupid speakers in Ifyrialn Orcish) Ngúdúlì. Besides their unique use of click-based languages, the Kanuqosi are notable for being one of the few groups of humans to retain a primarily hunter-gatherer lifestyle (although they may practice limited pastoralism). This is because the parts of northern Menayana they live in are not well-suited to agriculture, and while it is dry, there is significant dispersal of brush and roots for extensive foraging and a varied diet when combined with hunting animals.
As the dryness of the region is not always constant, over time the area best suited for Kanuqosi civilization has waxed and waned. During times of great variation from the mean, Kanuqosi populations have been joined in hunting and gathering by previously agrarian peoples, contributing to their diversity. During times where more land became agriculturally viable, the Kanquosi have come into conflict with agrarian or pastoral peoples expanding north. This mixing has given rise to a significant portion of southern, mixed Kanuqosi who are somewhat of a transition between the Baamorun and fully Kanuqosi populations. It is also important to note that not all Kanuqosi groups are necessarily any closer in relation to one another than they are to other Ifyrialn humans, rather being grouped together by a common language and way of life.
In modern times the Kanuqosi lands have come under control of orcish dominions, which have sought to reduce the Kanuqosi to slaves or servants. The Kanuqosi have resisted mightily and in general refused to bow to their invaders. Consequentially, the very few urukai in the region are generally not of Kanuqosi descent or were born through violence and reject orchood (or reject humanity). Therefore, there is a complete lack of any divergent culture in this regard.
One of the proudest and most developed groups of Kanuqosi are the Ixhaka. Descended from migrants into the region who settled in the more agriculturally fertile lands around the [tbd] river, the Ixhaka would integrate and incorporate Kanuqosi peoples, while also adopting a new language as the two groups merged into one. The Ixhaka would give rise to a powerful, though small grouping of chiefdoms, that successfully defended their new homelands for generations. Various migratory attacks would fail, though some of these groups would actually later assimilate into the Ixhaka themselves. However, during the orcish invasions, despite uniting under one banner in resistance, they were defeated and subsumed. The Ixhaka nobility bore the brunt of the mistreatment, as the greatest warriors (typically hailing from noble clans) were slain, and being forced to be intermediaries between their people and the orcish rulers has been trying. This has reinforced the Ixhaka belief in their nobility as rightful leaders of the people.
The other main group of mixed Kanuqosi are the Fudak, who are composed of a mix of tribes practicing pastoral techniques supplemented with hunting and gathering. They are primarily clustered around the eastern borders of the Ixhaka and the south-eastern reaches of the Kanuqosi. They represent earlier mixings of outsider cultures with the Kanuqosi than the Ixhaka. The Fudak are often locked in war with the Baamorun pastoralists who border them, with the two groups fighting over grazing lands fairly often. However, with the arrival of the orcs and their favoring of the Baamorun, the Fudak have been forced to concede most of these lands. This has led to a migration of many of the southern Fudak into urban centers or north into elven-held enclaves, where they have settled out of necessity.
As for the full Kanuqosi, they can be divided into two peoples- the Kanushan and the Inu'Qosi. The Kanushan are found mostly in the west, where they maintain cattle and supplement their diets with foraging. Unlike the Fudak, who generally remain in one small area, the Kanushan continue to be migratory to this day, and are the of the most group engaged in resistance against orcs. Many of these Kanushan have taken to hiding out in elvish enclaves temporarily, then reemerging to strike orcish camps. In contrast, the Inu'Qosi are found in the east, and their population has been heavily decimated by orcish invasions. Inu'Qosi peoples have traditionally been semi-migratory, moving to different areas based on the time of year, which made it much easier for orcihs invaders to predict their movement and continue to oppress them. The Inu'Qosi are also known to be fairly egalitarian, with decision making shared equally among the group and women treated well. They've also been known to spend time when not hunting and gathering in leisure, in particular storytelling and music-making. This was seen by the orcs as lazy, despite the fact the Inu'Qosi remain content with their lifestyle and possessed a balanced, healthy diet.
As the dryness of the region is not always constant, over time the area best suited for Kanuqosi civilization has waxed and waned. During times of great variation from the mean, Kanuqosi populations have been joined in hunting and gathering by previously agrarian peoples, contributing to their diversity. During times where more land became agriculturally viable, the Kanquosi have come into conflict with agrarian or pastoral peoples expanding north. This mixing has given rise to a significant portion of southern, mixed Kanuqosi who are somewhat of a transition between the Baamorun and fully Kanuqosi populations. It is also important to note that not all Kanuqosi groups are necessarily any closer in relation to one another than they are to other Ifyrialn humans, rather being grouped together by a common language and way of life.
In modern times the Kanuqosi lands have come under control of orcish dominions, which have sought to reduce the Kanuqosi to slaves or servants. The Kanuqosi have resisted mightily and in general refused to bow to their invaders. Consequentially, the very few urukai in the region are generally not of Kanuqosi descent or were born through violence and reject orchood (or reject humanity). Therefore, there is a complete lack of any divergent culture in this regard.
One of the proudest and most developed groups of Kanuqosi are the Ixhaka. Descended from migrants into the region who settled in the more agriculturally fertile lands around the [tbd] river, the Ixhaka would integrate and incorporate Kanuqosi peoples, while also adopting a new language as the two groups merged into one. The Ixhaka would give rise to a powerful, though small grouping of chiefdoms, that successfully defended their new homelands for generations. Various migratory attacks would fail, though some of these groups would actually later assimilate into the Ixhaka themselves. However, during the orcish invasions, despite uniting under one banner in resistance, they were defeated and subsumed. The Ixhaka nobility bore the brunt of the mistreatment, as the greatest warriors (typically hailing from noble clans) were slain, and being forced to be intermediaries between their people and the orcish rulers has been trying. This has reinforced the Ixhaka belief in their nobility as rightful leaders of the people.
The other main group of mixed Kanuqosi are the Fudak, who are composed of a mix of tribes practicing pastoral techniques supplemented with hunting and gathering. They are primarily clustered around the eastern borders of the Ixhaka and the south-eastern reaches of the Kanuqosi. They represent earlier mixings of outsider cultures with the Kanuqosi than the Ixhaka. The Fudak are often locked in war with the Baamorun pastoralists who border them, with the two groups fighting over grazing lands fairly often. However, with the arrival of the orcs and their favoring of the Baamorun, the Fudak have been forced to concede most of these lands. This has led to a migration of many of the southern Fudak into urban centers or north into elven-held enclaves, where they have settled out of necessity.
As for the full Kanuqosi, they can be divided into two peoples- the Kanushan and the Inu'Qosi. The Kanushan are found mostly in the west, where they maintain cattle and supplement their diets with foraging. Unlike the Fudak, who generally remain in one small area, the Kanushan continue to be migratory to this day, and are the of the most group engaged in resistance against orcs. Many of these Kanushan have taken to hiding out in elvish enclaves temporarily, then reemerging to strike orcish camps. In contrast, the Inu'Qosi are found in the east, and their population has been heavily decimated by orcish invasions. Inu'Qosi peoples have traditionally been semi-migratory, moving to different areas based on the time of year, which made it much easier for orcihs invaders to predict their movement and continue to oppress them. The Inu'Qosi are also known to be fairly egalitarian, with decision making shared equally among the group and women treated well. They've also been known to spend time when not hunting and gathering in leisure, in particular storytelling and music-making. This was seen by the orcs as lazy, despite the fact the Inu'Qosi remain content with their lifestyle and possessed a balanced, healthy diet.
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