Nuact'l Culture

Just as the Nuact'a are known for their near xenophobic stance towards outsiders, they are equally tightly bound to their kith and kin. Disagreements and dislikes happen within any group, but curaca is more important than any person and the Ayllu is more important than any Gunchaca. This great bond is what, in large part, has permitted the Kingdoms to continue and thrive against their technologically superior neighbors.

One of the things about the Nuact'l which stands out to outsiders is the entire lack of a written language, arguably the only extant culture without some form. Most cultural observers consider this to be a great flaw to their development (just as some have postulated their lack of currency a setback), but despite attempts by external influences to introduce various types of alphabets and idiogrammatic symbols, the Nuact'l have resisted all efforts to 'civilise them' by putting words down on paper, stone or parchment.

As one would imagine in a culture that does not have a written tongue, the tradition of an oral history is exceptionally strong. Indeed, one of the most revered occupations in any curaca is that of the cuicani, or keeper of stories. The frequent social gatherings are commonly filled with tellings and retellings of the great legends of Nuact'l. The particular style of these stories is performed in a sing-song voice which uses intonation to affect the meaning of the words in very specific ways.

The many festivals which are part of the religious life permeate the calendar and provide a rhythm for the common person. Whether it be related to the agrarian cycle, commemoration of an ancient event or religious celebration, a festival is held somewhere in Nuact’l every day.



Cuisine
Nuact’l cuisine is dominated by the ‘blessed trinity’ of beans, potatoes, and kinwa. The three daughters of Camac and Inti provide the backbone of a diverse diet which can be partially or wholly devoid of meat, depending on the custom of the particular Ayllu. When fish or meat is used, it is commonly dried in the cold, arid winds for storage (freeze-dried). Meats include fish, cuy, waterfowl, llama and frogs.

In lieu of wheat flour, the Nuact'a use processed Yucca root, which is soaked in water, then dried and powdered. Further nutrition can be found in maxixe, a spined cucumber-like product, okra and oca, a tuber which can be either sweet or starchy-bitter, depending on harvesting techniques.

Clothing


Clothing in the Kingdoms of Nuact'l are seen as a great symbol of social status and, thus, a great deal of pride and effort is associated with the clothing. Clothing everywhere consists of intricately woven or knitted textiles of either brightly coloured wool or cotton that are always worn whole, never cut or tailored; they are either sewn or held together by large ornamental metal pins, called astopo. As is common, the fineness of the woven cloth is an important status indicator, with the finest wool being sheer.