Skel'Ouk

This humanoid species is found exclusively in the magic-dead desert named The Scar. The Skel'Ouk are barbaric and primitive people, using a language made almost entirely out of guttural, throaty sounds and large body movements. The only clothing that they wear consists of leathery loincloths made of Ponookkil skin, but they only wear these on occasion. Classic Skel'Ouk appear like squat humans, with pitch-black skin covered in scars and short shaved hair. There eyes shine a bright yellow colour, and their bodies are decorated in fetishes and piercings containing Ponookkil teeth. The Ponookkil sharks are also used to make whips out of their leathery skin, and small daggers out of their teeth for the Skel'Ouk to wield against them.
The Skel'Ouk group by immediate family only. This is due to their lack of memory and constant suspicion of anyone near them. They stick to their immediate family since birth as it is the only way for the Skel'Ouk to remember who they are with and form some sort of trust, which is essential within the inhospitable Scar.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Family names are important for the Skel'Ouk, due to their family being all they usually know. The names consist of vowels and sounds common to the Skel language. For example;

• Buga
• Naa
• Scat
• Ook
• Bok

Culture

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The most common observed tradition of the Skel'Ouk is the Ponoo-kill. When a fearsome Ponookil is slain by a family of Skel'Ouk, the carcass is hung up on bones and roasted above a fire. Then the family sings and dances around it, daring any other Ponookil to challenge their meal. This tradition is thought to be religious by some, fanatical war-screams and nonsensical dancing by others. This is a scary sight to any travellers brave or stupid enough to travel through The Scar, witnessing what appears to be a sadistic, cult-like ritual around a burning carcass by tribal people dressed in loincloths.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

The birthing process is a dangerous one for the Skel'Ouk due to the predatory Ponookkil. Those sharks have learned some of the Skel'Ouk customs, especially around their births. Because of this, whenever a Ponookkil detects a Skel'Oul beginning to give birth, they flock to the site, ready to take advantage of the Skel'Ouk weakness during the process. The woman is busy giving birth, and the man is distracted with his distressed woman. In the past, this was very successful for many Ponookkil, growing fat off mid-birth Skel'Ouk flesh, until the Skel'Ouk adapted. Now, when a female Skel'Ouk is giving birth, they fully focus on not making a single sound. Over the years they have gotten increasingly good at this, and now give birth in complete silence.

Coming of Age Rites

The only coming of age rite that is contained within the Skel'Ouk culture is when one, man or woman, kills their first Ponookkil. Once that happens, they are not considered a child and are able to have children with other Skel'Ouk.

Rabutigano Takamuytrab Uga Bummu Teeraaai!

— Naa Uga

Related Locations

• The Scar