Ikutak
The Ikutak are the native tribes of the Frozen Wastes of Isrend. Their culture revolves around mammoth hunting, yak herding, and knucklehead trout fishing, with every resource carefully used to sustain their clans. Guided by shamans, they perform rituals under the auroras to honor The Wildmother—whom they refer to as Nuliajuk—and commune with primoridal spirits of the ice and sky. History and tradition are preserved through song, storytelling, and tattoos that map the deeds of their people onto their skin.
The Ikutak wear layered furs and hides, tailored for warmth and adorned with bold geometric patterns of zigzags, diamonds, and lines that represent natural elements like mountains, rivers, and the auroras. Their hair is thick and dark, ranging from black to deep brown, with elders often weaving it with bone or ivory ornaments. Their eyes are shades of icy blue, gray, or pale green, resembling the frozen wilderness they inhabit. Pale to warm brown skin is often marked with glowing tattoos made from soot, seal oil, and remorhaz bile, the designs glowing faintly under the auroras and symbolizing spiritual connections or personal achievements.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Alruk, Ivvana, Kiyuq, Nuyak, Tayuq, Sikalik, Tunraq, Akuniq, Nulani, Qiniak
Masculine names
Arvik, Issun, Korrik, Silaq, Tulrak, Mikluk, Savik, Ulliaq, Tatkik, Nuniq
Family names
Of the Glacier’s Edge, From the Tundra Moon, Descendants of the First Mammoth, Keepers of the Frozen Flame, Voices of the Sky, Guardians of the Shattered Ice, Hunters of the Great Frost, Children of the Whispering Storm
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Ikutak speak Ikutak, a melodic yet guttural tongue that shares structural similarities with Dwarvish and Giant. It has a flowing cadence, marked by sharp consonants and deep, resonant vowels. Many Ikutak also speak Dwarvish, Giant, and Orc, the languages of the other races that roam Isrend alongside them.
Comments