The Shawsheen Tribe

The Nanook are a small tribe of about 1,200, once in far greater numbers but now diminished due to diseases spread by settlers. They are based upon Iroquois, Pawnee, and Comanche Native Americans, with a slight twist of Runescape lore.

Religion
The Nanook Tribals follow a very simple religion, but strange in the fact it goes without Gods. They worship the Anima Mundi, the very essence of life in Gielinor. They believe all life is sacred, and are against unneeded violence as a result. This belief, is called Animism.

As a result of the worship of life, women have an extremely elevated importance as givers of life themselves. The Nanook pass on their clans, and their leadership from mother to daughter. On the obverse, men are viewed as warriors and takers of life. They live to hunt, and hunt so their people can live. If a warrior dies, the Clan Mother claims his weaponry, to give to another warrior of the clan. Usually, however, they have the courtesy to give it from father to son.

Every scrap of every animal is used. This is done to the extent of having specialised priests to practice taxidermy, using hides for clothing and armour, bones in weapons and structures, and all meat and organs as food.

However, the Nanook's theory on life extends even to things that are not alive. Due to a lack of understanding of magic, they often see "Fire Spirits" or "Rock Spirits" that are really just elementals, leading them to believe everything is alive in some way, shape, or form. They go as far as calling the Ramokee Stormbringer in their history the "Sky Spirit," a wise, blue creature who taught the Nanook many things to help their survival.

The Nanook are a very religious people, however they associate with the Godless. They disliked Saradominists, even more so after scouts have seen the Battle of Lumbridge's remains. They get along best with Godless, Guthixians, and Serenists.

Notable Nanook

 * Ahiga Wayra "He who fights with the Winds"  A Tomahawk and Bow expert, as well as the current Warchief.  Comes from the Eagle Clan.

The War Chief (Osamekin)
The War-Chief is a rarely called for member of the Nanook society. Their hatred of bloodshed has led them to not requiring a standing army, though all men and boys are trained for battle. When more than the minor Skirmish is seen on the horizon, the Clan Mothers elevate one warrior above themselves, usually a wisened man who has either seen war before or has proven his strategic skill, to lead the Nanook. The War-Chief is responsible for the safety of all the Nanook, and protection of their beliefs and customs throughout the war, as well as eventually negotiating peace.

When peace finally comes, the War-Chief steps down to a more modest role. However, his legacy throughout the war has likely made him a powerful figure of influence among the Nanook, especially as a teacher.

War Chiefs typically use any form of weaponry traditional to the Nanook, including Spiritual Talismans.

The Clan Mother (Akshotha)
At the head of every clan is the clan mother. Due to the Matriarchal heritage, the Clan Mother is considered the most important leader among the Nanook. Their government is run by a council of Clan Mothers, usually living in a solid, permanent longhouse due to their age. All day to day life is run by the Clan Mothers, who approve marriages, appoint Shamans, and teach working trades to the youth.

When a Clan Mother dies, it is the job of the Shaman

The Clan Champion (Ashkii)
The most fit warrior of a clan, as chosen by that clan's Clan Mother. The Champion, or Ashkii, is a dedicated warrior to teach the youth combat. He defends the honour of the clan if needed, and will lead hunting trips if a specific animal is needed for a ceremony. All warriors of his clan serve him, after the Clan Mother. The Champion can be of any age, from his naming to his death. He could be married into the Clan, or born into it, but when he leaves the clan due to marriage a new Champion must be chosen. Typically, the Shaman teaches the Clan Champion how to summon a spirit through a talisman, for emergency use.

With War between the Gods brewing, the Clan Champions serve the Clan Mothers' will by aiding the War-Chief however possible. They act as the equivalent of Knights, highly trained and skilled warriors seasoned by hunting to use their strategies in the best form possible.

The Shaman (Otkon-Ronkwe)
Literally named "Spirit-Man," the Shaman plays a heavily important role in ceremonies concerning his clan, and the world around them. It is his or her job to speak to the Spirits about them, fulfilling similar roles to the Druids of Taverley through the practice of Summoning, or the Seers of the Fremennik through predicting the weather to come.

Recently, in the "Age of Exploration," the Shamans are exploring techniques involving Divination, which the Nanook view as using the gifts of Mother Gielinor directly. The religious zeal driving the Shamans have made them a very powerful group in the new skill.

As a direct result of the coming war, Shamans must reswear their oathes to never shed blood directly, only doing so through the Spirits themselves. They have become a powerful group in setting defenses, crafting new tools, and even in battle with their familiars.

The Brave
A Nanook Brave is a standard warrior amongst the Nanook clans. Braves learn most of their combat through hunting. Their style of fighting obsessed with patience and eventual swift, clean tactics to preserve as much of the body as possible.

Braves often fight with either Tomahawks, Bow and Arrow, or Spears. Each serves as having multiple purposes in survival and combat.

Braves can be male or female, though no female who has born a child into the world is permitted to enter war. Typically, this keeps many of them from progressing past the rank of Brave.

The Crafters (Iktomi)
Coming from the Nanook word for Spider, the Iktomi are crafters who create all the tools and equipment used by the society. Traditionally women, the crafters shape what was taken in death to protect, aid, and cultivate life. They are considered somewhat sacred in their task to put an animal's spirit to its full use, as to not waste the life they had taken.

Weapons are made solely by the warriors themselves, for the dual purpose of women not crafting tools of death, and the men knowing how to repair their own weapons, should they break.

The Clans
The Nanook run with a multitude of clans under a single tribal banner, each drawing upon the characteristics of some animal the original clan founder admired. Even today, the qualities are visible in the Nanook's existing clans based on genetics and selection of these qualities.

Eagle
An all-around powerful clan, the Eagle Clan draws it qualities from the Eagles of Eagle's Peak. They aim for the average qualities all around physically, also valueing mental strength. An Eagle Clansmen will often wear the feathers of an Eagle somewhere on their body.

The Eagle Clan Familiar is a flying wind magic user, flapping its wings to summon gusts upon those who dare to take it from the sky.

Bear
The Bear clan focuses almost entirely on physical strength. They are taught to fight from a young age, often wrestling with eachother for the sole purpose of developing muscles. They tend to be the bulkiest of the Nanook, standing closer to 5'10, with a heavier build. Bear claws are used to show allegience to the Bear Clan.

The Bear Clan Familiar is incredibly strong, a brutish tank upon the battlefield, best suited for open combat.

Wolf
The Wolf clan is a strong group that focuses on teamwork. It is excessively rare to find a Wolf clan member on their own. Often, Wolf-Clan members will be short, lithe, and stealthy fighters who are patient in their groups, awaiting ambushes. They symbolise their allegience with wolf fangs worn on their body.

The Wolf Clan Familiar's howl is invigorating, riling up Nanook to fight with an added boost of Adrenaline, while terrifying unknowing opponents.

Chinchompa
The Chinchompa Clan is a more peacefully aligned group that makes and creates tools with their hands. Men and women both are very learned in fletching and crafting, giving the Chinchompa clan some of the best weapons to use out of the Tribe. The Chinchompa clan wears Chinchompa fur as a symbol of their allegience.

The Chinchompa Clan's Familiar is explosive! It charges fearlessly at a target, before exploding in a burst of magical fire.

Kebbit
The Kebbit Clan of the Nanook is known for bearing sharp senses. They act as powerful sentries, with heightened sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Their task is usually to warn others of approaching danger, act as scouts, or sometimes even spies. The Kebbit clan typically use Kebbit claws to show their allegience to their ancestry.

The Kebbit familiar is small, but fast. It runs quickly from place to place, making it a perfect way to send items. It can also throw stones quite well with it's tail.