Qoitiken (Koy-ti-ken)

Written by Kbignell

The Qoitiken are one of the seven desert tribes that live a nomadic life between the Quouribi desert and the northern pole. They are specifically adapted genetically to withstand extreme dry conditions, either hot or cold. As a people, they typically favor the hot of the desert, but also roam north into the ice fields to hunt dragons and ice-shades. Their particular skill is their ability to withstand even the desiccant sands of the Quouribi desert.
The Qoitiken travel into the Quouribi desert several times a turn in great hunting parties to hunt sand-sharks and harvest the very rare Haanth Cactus.
The Qoitiken were genetically modified by the Gods (they have no concept of genetics, but many of the different peoples of Halconiket are genetically modified by the Gods or Demons) to withstand the extreme desiccant sands of Quouribi. They don't need to drink water as much as other people, they sweat, but less then others, very heat tolerant and also cold tolerant, able to regulate their own internal body temperature up or down to survive. They store water in their fat. Most are dark skinned with dark hair and eyes, occasionally one is born blonde with lighter skin and they are considered handicapped by the Qoitiken.
Tough people, skilled hunters, brave. Not all that fond of outsiders, but not hostile. Takes a lot of convincing to get included in a hunt, more to be included in a hunt into the The Desert of Quouribi.
They waterproof their outer layer of clothing so that the desiccant sand doesn't draw moisture through their clothes. They are a bit haughty about the way others need to drink so much water and how others sweat in the heat, etc...
The Qoitiken are less great in the cold, but still quite good. The cold dry air doesn't bother them but they must consume more food in the cold to account for their raised metabolism to keep their body heat up.
Until about 100 turns ago, the Qoitiken were persecuted and shunned by the Tribes of Uhl. There unique insistence that they, and others, had been modified by the Gods from the less hardy stock of humans from the soft lands to the south and east caused the other Tribes to isolate and shun the Qoitiken people. Often two or more of the other Tribes would band together to drive Qoitiken from choice watering holes or sheltered valleys on the ice fields. A constant war of harassment made life hard for the Tribe of the Qoitiken.
The population had grown quite small around a hundred turns ago when ancient writings were found in a ruin at the edge of the Quouribi, unearthed by a great sand storm. The writings very clearly depicted the Gods modifying humans to become the people of the Tribes. A gathering of the wise was called to the sacred place and the writings and pictographs were studied and interpreted, hostilities between all the Tribes were halted for the duration of several years, the longest in the history of the Tribes. In the end, the history of all the Tribes was updated to include their origin as it was now understood, even if the method was not. The Qoitiken have since recovered their numbers and are still the only Tribe who venture into the Quouribi on a regular basis.

Qoitiken are one of the Seven Tribes of Uhl. Primarily desert dwellers, they have domesticated and bred riding and pack animals for both the extreme cold and the extreme desert.

Images by Kbignell via Midjourney

Qoitiken Woman and her ulbanto.

Qoitiken Woman and young folotopi.

by Kbignell via Midjourney