Inokal
The Inokal are the Calmaxtec people native to the large, red Chilacaualco Desert that dominates central Kalmasa. The Inokal are the darkest complected of the Calmaxtec people and they tend to be shorter on average. The Inokal traditionally live a nomadic existence. They are herding people who keep flocks of nimble desert korre from whom they harvest eggs and meat, as well as their long, silky feathers from which they weave most of their clothing. Inokal also trade along their nomadic route or work transporting goods across the desert or supplying the few settlements within the desert, such as the Red Rock Commune.
Their language, Inokak, is a southern Calmaxtec dialect, most similar to Chol'ak. However, aside from this, the Inokal culture is quite divergent from that of the other Calmaxtec peoples. They do not worship either the teteo or Ehuatlaltipac, as all other Calmaxtec. In fact, they assiduously avoid notice by any such beings. Instead, Inokal spirituality is ancestor focused. The Inokal are in frequent communication with their ancestral spirits, who act as active advisors to the elders that lead the Inokal tribes. Inokal also make offerings of placation and respect to the local telluric spirits of the desert, especially those of the water springs.
Unlike most of the Calmaxtec, the Inokal have been little affected by the arrival and conquest of the Eshtem. Their desert, harsh and hemmed in by rugged mountains, offered little but death to most who sought to conquer it. The biggest change to the Inokal way of life has been the inclusion of the Ranjari people. Since spreading westward with the Eshtem, some Ranjari made their way into the desert interior. Originally nomadic themselves as well as ancestor worshippers, they easily integrated with the Inokal culture, who accepted them as a ‘Lost Tribe’. Most Inokal now speak Ranjari in addition to Inokal and Kalmasi. Their specific traditions and dress were quite different at first contact, but they have over the couple of centuries developed a degree of syncretism in culture and religious practice.
Most Inokal tend to be friendly but reserved with outsiders, but extremely gracious hosts. They are peaceful people, but have unconventional ideas about property and think nothing of borrowing or taking tools, food or water that they feel are extra or not needed.
One of the favorite pastimes of the Inokal are finding, training and hunting with the large, blue wasp-like kraan native to the cliffs and canyons of the interior. Intelligent as Utanaran monkeys, the kraan also are trained as aerial scouts and guard animals.
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