Kuduk

The Tribal Federation of Kuduk, or commonly referred to as Kuduk, is an island nation located in Northeastern Novaris consisting of the islands of Heiki, Sagut, and Kakut. The Isles are politically and culturally comprised of six major tribes and several smaller ones. A majority of the tribes have an Elder, Chief, or a Shaman as their official representative. Kuduk's largest and most economically important city is Naryan. Älemsi Negdel is the closest sovereign state to Kuduk, but the isles currently share no borders with any state.

The Tribal Federation of Kuduk Kuduk Duuyak
Flag
Motto: "Unity in Diversity."
Anthem: Haashi ("Our Song")
Kuduk Isles
Status	Universally Recognized
Largest	Naryan
Official languages	Kuduk (all dialects)
Recognised national languages	Kuduk (all dialects)
Ethnic groups	98.3% Kemonomimi (Yaki), 1.7% Nekomimi
Religion	Traditional Kuduk beliefs (99.7%) Others (0.3%)
Demonym(s)	Kuduk
Government	Constitutional Federative Tribal Republic
• Elder of the Anana	Masha "Spotted Robin"
• Elder of the Kunik	N'etke "Wise Wolf"
• Elder of the Anik	Ókoro "Yellow Pine"
• Elder of the Hey	Itkun "Rolling Hatchet"
• Chief of the Yevaks	Kara "Strong Boar"
• Chief of the Manirak	Ika "Rising Feather"
• Shaman	Iriko "Loving Hawk"
Legislature	The Elder's Council
Independent
• First Unification of the Realm	1870 C.E.
• Establishment of a Constitution	1928
Population
• 2022 estimate	900,000
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$1,109,700,000
• Per capita	$1,233
Gini (2022)	10.6 low
SDI (2022)	0.41228 low
Currency	Red Krone (¥) (KRK)
Mains electricity	120V, 60Hz
Driving side	both Right and Left
Calling code	422
ISO 3166 code	KDK; KD
Internet TLD	.kdk

The Kuduk Isles were inhabited as early as the Bronze Age. The first settlers took on a nomadic lifestyle, grazing yak, sheep, goats, and cattle. The first known sedentary polities to arise during this time were the early Wheat Chiefdoms. Within the first few years of the early settlements in Kuduk, the Great Kuduk Migrations took place, which dispersed the early Kuduk peoples across the Isles. In 1200 BCE, many of the previous Wheat Chiefdoms were replaced by a meritocratic system of government that had an Elder at its helm. It was roughly around this time period that the modern tribal borders of Kuduk began to take shape. With newfound interconnectivity, several faiths and local beliefs spread across the Isles, sewing the seeds of what would eventually become modern Kuduk Beliefs. As faiths around the Isles began to meld into one another, a figure known as the Shaman rose to power. Following several conflicts between the tribes known as the Blood Feud Wars, the Shaman forbade use of weaponry and violence within the Isles. This act officially ended the Blood Feuds between the Tribes. Throughout this period, the Shaman gained more and more power, until Kuduk came to recognize the position as legitimately as the Elders and Chiefs. In 1453, the Kuduk Spirit Wars began. The Spirit Wars were a series of battles in which tribal armies would shout obscenities at each other in order to "taint the enemies' spirits." The Spirit Wars officially ended in 1673, after the Great Blizzard of 1673. In fear of being colonized by the MBE, "Taku" Meritäch, the then-Elder of the Hey, proposed that the tribes should form a union as a sort of "Council" that convenes for issues facing the entirety of Kuduk. In 1870, the tribes gathered together and formed a union, officially uniting the Isles under one banner for the first time in history.

The main religious and spiritual beliefs within Kuduk are oftentimes referred to as Kuduk Mythology. Experts are currently debating if the mythology should be considered polytheistic or atheistic in nature as deities in the Kuduk Mythology often have limited powers. Two prominent spirits in Kuduk Mythology are the Hvista, the winter spirit, and Nüm, the summer spirit. A popular oral story that contains the two spirits as major characters is called The Torchbearer. It tells the story of a human called Nüm who brings a blessed torch all the way to the highest mountain in the Isles and rescues the Hvista from a curse she placed on herself. Depending on which tribe is telling the story, the ending may vary, but the most popular interpretation is that when Nüm lifted the curse, he died in the process. The Hvista pitied him and so she resurrected him as a spirit. Other popular spiritual figures include the Uniguks, the spirits of identity who wear a custom-made mask which represents their personalities. Oftentimes these spirits are payed their respects via idols, totems, or rituals.

Kuduk is classified as an LDC with a lower income subsistence economy. Because of the nation's reliance on day-to-day local trade, economic growth is fairly slow. Despite the low HDI rating, Kuduk ranked among the highest in international measurements of human rights, civil rights, freedom of the press, and freedom of ethnic and religious minorities. Contemporary issues facing Kuduk include high rates of illiteracy, lack of public education, and poverty.

Etymology

The nation's name of Kuduk originates from the traditional name given to the Isles by the early tribes. Although the exact meaning has been lost to time, many linguists agree that the Ku- prefix of the word in old Kuduk refers to the wilderness and that the root word duk means land or island. Several other interpretations and theories behind the meaning of the name claim that the Ku prefix is meant to mean western, referring to the Isles' western position on the global map.

Geography

General Geography

Located at the Northeast corner of Novaris, Kuduk is the third most northern state in Novaris, followed by Cryria and Älemsi Negdel. Early volcanoes originally formed the Islands, but Kuduk's Volcanic activity has ceased to be active since before the first arrival of people.

Being an isolated island chain, Kuduk shares no borders with any other state. The waters surrounding Kuduk are described as abnormally rocky due to the Island's volcanic origins. During the winter and parts of fall, Kuduk's waters can harbor icebergs that range from 1 to 75 meters (3 to 250 feet) in size, the largest recorded iceberg near Kuduk, named Machanoah by locals, was roughly 168 meters (551 feet) in total length.

Kuduk is roughly 79,000 square kilometers in size and has a population density of around 11.5 people per square kilometer, officially categorizing the nation as mostly sparsely populated areas.

According to the Köppen Climate Categories, Kuduk is mostly classified as a Tundra with a small chunk at its southernmost point being classified as Subarctic.

Regions

Northern Arctic Peninsula

The Northern Arctic Peninsula contains the tribes of the Tunda, the Bakabuk, the Altayuk, and the Alakanuk. The peninsula is known for being made up exclusively of tundra plains and for being the location where Machanoah was initially discovered. Villages are sparsely populated, with many people living within handcrafted igloos.

Animals such as the Rotantic Fox and Polar Bears live in large numbers within this region; these animals are oftentimes hunted for their warm pelts which act as natural insulators. Many hunters pay their respects to the animal after it has been killed through rituals, prayers, and meditation. For more information regarding the cultural practices of the peninsula tribes, see the Culture section

One notable feature of the peninsula is the Yokuk River, which serves as the home for several villages in the region.

Western Woodlands

The Western Woodlands is home to the Anana and the Hey, both of which are part of the six major tribes of Kuduk. Geographically, the region is comprised of the western quarter of both Sagut and Kakut. Like its name suggests, the Western Woodlands are comprised of thick woods with abundant greenery that is especially prevalent during the spring and summer. The region is also home to the very economically important Anana-Hey Strait, which acts as an entryway and exit for fishing vessels wishing to enter or leave the Great Lake of Shiva.

This region is mostly dominated by lush woodlands, with the exception of the northern area of the Hey tribe, which is considered tundra.

Eastern Woodlands

Misty Waterfall and kayak

The Eastern Woodlands region contains the tribes of the Yik, the Assimirak, the Chariak, the Chisak, the Nunak, the Nukak, the Kichinuk, the Ulanuk, the Achi, the Akta, the Häk, the Aleuk, the Nenuk, the Öranuk, and the Arakuk. The Eastern Woodlands are the second largest region in Kuduk and have a geographical landscape that is very similar to the Western Woodlands.

This region also contains Kuduk's greatest amount of diversity in terms of both flora and fauna, with nearly every other animals around the Isles being found within this region. Several rivers have formed deltas and large channels leading to the eastern coast. This region is densely packed with trees and other vegetation, causing many of the local tribes to stay decentralized due to the difficulty of transport around the region. The largest contiguous forest in the Eastern Woodlands, which is also the largest forest in Kuduk, is the Tonguk Forest. It is theorized that the sparsely populated Tonguk Forest is likely home to several undiscovered species of birds, bears, foxes, and deer.

Great Plains

The Great Plains are among one of the largest and second most biodiverse geographical region in Kuduk. The Area is notable for its long stretching grass field plains with low density forests, several rivers, and rolling hills. Within the plains, the Kuduk Wetlands can be found, comprising of interconnected marshes, ponds, and river deltas, all of which are situated near the western coast of the isles.

The Great Plains is known for housing several bovines, buffalo, sheep, and goats, most of which have been herded and used by settlers to survive. The Wetlands are often considered to be the most ecologically stable wetlands biome in Kuduk. The region houses thousands of different species of waterfowl, the most notable fo which is the Harlequin Duck, which is considered to be an important cultural symbol to the people who live near the area. Many different species of birds and waterfowl use the Wetlands as a place to migrate to during the fall and winter. Although the temperatures in the Wetlands drop significantly during the winter months, the water of the marshes keeps the area relatively warm.

Following Bergmann's rule, many of the Great Plain's flora are extremely large in order to withstand the cold fall before dying out in the winter. Another reason as to why Kuduk vegetables grow to the size they do is due to the more hours of sunlight provided everyday during the spring and summer, giving the plants enough energy to grow to giant sizes. The most notable of these plants is the Giant Cabbage, which weighs in at an average of around 59kg (130lbs). Other giant plants include the giant squash, giant cantaloupe, and giant pumpkin.

Notable animals found in the Great Plains is the Babydoll Sheep, Kuduk Guinea Pig, and Miniature Highland Cow. Near the sandy coasts of the Plains, the Kuduk Beach Frog can also be found hiding among the sand.

North Heiki

The majority of North Heiki, like most of the geographical regions, is considered to be subarctic; North Heiki specifically, however, is a subarctic mountainous forest region. Out of all of the geographical regions in Kuduk, North Heiki has more active volcanoes per square kilometer than any other place in Kuduk. As Such, many of the local beliefs and oral stories have been shaped around the volcanoes and the contrast between the long winters and burning magma.

Temperatures in the region range from an average high of 65 °F (18 °C) in July to an average low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in December. The hours of daylight per day varies from 20 hours in June and July to 6 hours in December and January. The coastal areas consist of temperate rainforests and alder shrublands. The interior areas are covered by boreal forests and mountains.

South Heiki

South Heiki, also called Tlongat, is a small insular breakaway from the main Heiki island. Major bodies of water near and within South Heiki is Lake Isaile, Icy Strait, Glacier Bay, and Kakotun Strait. Through much of Kuduk's history, South Heiki has often acted as a point of contact between the isles and nations outside of Novaris.

Out of all of the geographical regions, South Heiki is the one and only region that is not a majority Subarctic. Instead, South Heiki is considered a Humid Continental climate with many lush forests and no permafrost.

Land Ownership

For the majority of peoples around the world, land is often considered a commodity that can be bought and sold. Historically, and even still in the modern day, land ownership is often frowned upon as unnatural and spiritually disrespectful. Because of this, property rights in Kuduk can be complicated at times.

For the cities within Kuduk, apartments and houses can be bought, though there is a distinct and purposeful lack of lawns that is instead replaced by the natural growing scenery. Further into the rural areas of Kuduk, houses and shelter are typically built by the person or people who are going to live inside of it. Because of various religious beliefs, houses are typically placed in spots where there is a lack of trees in order to avoid cutting them down. It is typically agreed that the house itself is owned by the people who built it, but the land surrounding the house cannot be owned by anyone.

The borders between the tribes weren't fully drawn out until the unification of Kuduk in 1928, and even still there are villages and Clans whose allegiance leans toward one tribe despite their location being within another tribe. It's because of this that the tribal borders of Kuduk are often not treated as the de facto decider of where the actual borders between the tribes are.

To the indigenous of Kuduk, land was never used as a means for trade. Many tribes and villages would consider such a practice as sacrilegious. Although borders do exist between the tribes in the modern day, they are often very loose and completely lack a definite border security system.

Tribes, Villages, Clans, and Houses

Kuduk is separated into various different polities that each have different governing structures.

At the highest level, Kuduk has Tribes. Tribes are large nations with a certain unifying culture that are made up of at least one village. There are 36 Tribes in Kuduk, each one having a distinct history and culture that interact with one another. A Tribe can be ruled by an Elder, Chief, or Shaman. The majority of Tribes are ruled by Elders, which are chosen by the Villages' Council. The Shaman rules over several culturally distinct tribes called the Shamanic Tribes and is chosen by the Elders of those tribes. There are only two Tribes left on Kuduk who still have Chiefs in power: The Manirak and the Yevak. Chiefs are hereditarily placed into power similar to a monarch. Though in the modern day, the Chiefs of those two tribes are bound by the rules of the constitution and by their local Villages' Council, reflecting that of a constitutional monarchy.

On the next level down, Kuduk has Villages. Villages are considered settlements comprised of two or more unrelated families. Settlements with only one family living within them are called Dwellings and are usually autonomous. Depending on their size, some Villages may be referred to as cities or towns, but because of their political structure, these locations are often still referred to as Villages for the sake of law technicality. Villages are lead by Village leaders, and they are elected by the Heads of the Clans within the village.

On the level below that, Kuduk has Clans. Clans are large extended families that live within and make up a village and are made up of houses. The exact break off point in which a Clan is no longer considered a single Clan, but multiple Clans is often messy and uncertain. Typically the break off point is decided by the members of the Clan themselves. Some Tribes, such as the Yevak are matrilineal. The daughters of a Clan are the ones who will pass on the Clan name to their children, while the sons would usually assimilate into a different Clan. Patrilineal tribes, such as the Manirak, also exist in which the roles of Clan name-bearer and assimilator are switched.

Below Clans is the lowest level of polity in Kuduk: Houses. Houses are akin to immediate family members; those who share the same family name as you. Similar to Clans, Houses can be matrilineal or patrilineal. Tribes who contain matrilineal clans are extremely likely to contain matrilineal houses as well and vice versa, although there are a few instances in which Tribes mix up the systems in various ways, which can result in things like Clan Fusion, Clan Assimilation, House Fusion, and House Assimilation. Much of the early "warfare" between Clans within 1000-1200 CE was a race to create the largest family possible to gain the most amount of political and social influence within your village. Over time, the rules regarding Clans and Houses have gotten very fuzzy. In the Modern day, Tribes rarely ever prescribe themselves are solely matrilineal or patrilineal, instead those decisions are often left up to the people themselves.

History

Prehistory

Paleolithic

The first arrival of people to the Isles at roughly 30,000 BCE was likely the product of fishermen from Älemsi Negdel sailing eastward to find new fishing spots. Settlers to the new islands were mainly hunter-gatherers and formed nomadic lifestyles to survive the elements. Stone tools were widely in use throughout Kuduk, as well as early torches and hearths to keep people warm.

Many cave paintings during this period were often made using berries as pigments and cave walls as canvases. They can be found in excess near the western side of Kuduk.

Neolithic

With advancements into agricultural technology, many of the early Kuduk peoples, bar the ones living in the Great Plains, abandoned their nomadic way of life for a more sedentary lifestyle. These new villages were often small, comprised of only 2-3 clans that worked together to survive the winters. Many megalithic stone structures were created during this time period. Many speculate that it was an early form of religion that caused the neolithic peoples to create the megaliths.

Bronze Age

Although metallurgy existed prior to the Bronze Age, the metal tools created were often unusable and brittle. When tin was discovered and alloyed with copper, bronze became a highly used material that was often sought out for. The high demand for bronze caused many early villages to begin establishing contact with their far away neighbors for trade. This newfound interconnectivity within the Isles is often accredited to the cause of the Great Kuduk Migrations, in which several thousands of people from all sorts of Tribes migrated across the Isles in search of resources.

The bronze trade coupled with the sedentary lifestyles of the people caused a political explosion, in which several Clans and Villages gained immense local power. Some Villages had even begun establishing alliances or even politically merging with neighboring settlements, creating a new type of political entity, the Tribe. The Qaanuk, the first ever tribe to have existed in Kuduk, are a fantastic example of the newfound power the bronze trade brought to Kuduk.

With the new bronze tools at the disposal of the Kuduk people, agriculture also saw a boost in efficiency. This saw the rise of the Wheat Chiefdoms, in which multiple villages, headed by a hereditary Chief, rose to power via the new agricultural tools and methods available to them. The Bronze Age, as propserous as it was, would eventually come to an end by a variety of factors including but not limited to: the over-reliance and inevitable depletion of bronze, worsening environmental factors, and worsening intertribal conflicts.

Dark Age

The Kuduk Dark Age is a period of transition in Kuduk history between the Bronze and Iron Age. Not much is known about the Dark Ages, however it is known that this period of time was heavily detrimental to many of the existing societal foundations that had previously dominated many of the aspects of life in Kuduk. Famine, raids, and poverty were extremely common during this period and were only alleviated when tribes across the isles began switching from bronze to iron as their main resource.

Classical Kuduk

Iron Age

Ritual Mask from the Western Forests

The Iron Age in Kuduk marked the very beginnings of the creation of iron tools and armor. The bronze trade that had once dominated economic activity throughout the Isles was gone, but it wasn't necessarily replaced by iron. By the time of the Iron Age, many tribes understood the importance of limited resources and were now more likely to hoard up on iron than trade with in excess like their forefathers had done with bronze. This caused a major shift in the intertribal dynamics present within the Isles, as tribes and clans sought expansion over trade as a means of survival.

Shamanic Necklace Whistle

Large-scale alliances and political mergence became widespread and gave birth to a new era of tribes the scales of which were unprecedented. Tribes such as the Great Niks of the Northern Great Plains and the Proto-Anana of the Southwestern Woodlands rose to power via a combination of political marriages, diplomacy, and conquest. Tribes such as the Great Niks sought to expand into and control large swaths of territory in order to tax traveling merchants to gain power.

Many of the mythological stories and oral traditions that are iconic to modern day Kuduk cultures can be traced back to the Iron Age as their beginnings. Large Artworks, depicting battles, mythological creatures, and fictional stories became commonplace. Because of newfound interconnectivity between Tribes at a larger scale than ever before, stories, plays, and values that were very popular spread across the Isles and became the foundations for a religiously unified Kuduk.

Culture

Traditions and Holidays

(WIP)

Several indigenous holidays celebrate and thank the fallen animals that were killed in order to keep the villagers warm.