About Kanqisat
Kanqisat; a large country in the Northern Hemisphere, known mainly for its rugged landscape, inhospitable temperature, and for being the home of the Tokota species. The population is small relative to its size.
Though the native tribes used to be spread over the whole of Kanqisat, European settlers colonised the southern reaches in the 1800s, keen to capitalise on the fur trade. The surviving tribes now mainly live north of the Kanqisat Mountains. As such, Kanqisat has a strong north/south cultural divide, delineated roughly by the Kanqisat Mountains, with the north (often informally referred to as 'Tokotna') being inhabited by native tribes who maintain their traditional way of life, and the south being much more modernized and multicultural.
The capital city is Oxmont, which is where the government is based. Though there are a few native representatives in government, the north often feels that Oxmont should not be making decisions for them, and they have their own unofficial Council based in Tyonek which they tend to respect more. There is a stereotype in the south of the north being wild and lawless, that natives are crude, uncivilised and potentially dangerous. (The term kanko is still sometimes used in the south to describe natives; it originated with the European settlers, and is now considered highly offensive.) For their part, the north thinks of the south as being arrogant, ignorant, and potentially dangerous. Each tends to stay on their own side of the mountains, and those who cross over are considered foolhardy in the extreme.
A (slightly incomplete) map of Kanqisat, focusing on the north - though Oxmont is just visible in the lower-right corner.
The north of Kanqisat is a sprawling wild landscape, with many rivers, mountain ranges and forests - mostly made up of pines, birches and aspens.
A tokota visits a town in the south of Kanqisat - modern, urban, and very different to the north! Though it has the same long, cold winters...
Toko Tokens: While the official currency of Kanqisat is the Kanqisat Dollar (KSD) an alternate currency, the Toko Token, is frequently used north of the mountains. These carved and painted wooden tokens are derived from the shields which were traded between tribes as a form of payment in the days when Europeans settled the land. These shields could be made of metal or wood, depending on the tribe's available resources. Miniature versions of the shields were made for tourists, and these evolved into the currency which is still in use today. However, it's worth noting that within some native circles - where traditions are still strong - selling is discouraged. Trading goods and services is more common, and when one member of the community has a surplus of something, it is their nature to share it freely, rather than charge for it. Some younger generations are beginning to part with this trend, and the elders look on in disappointment...
Tokotas are closest genetically to the polar bear, and they are the apex predators of Kanqisat. Over the years, living in close quarters with the native humans, some tokotas have become domesticated, living and working alongside humans much as horses or dogs do. Others remain wild, though the natives keep a close eye on the wild population. In the last century and a half, the breeding of tokotas for pleasure and profit has become a booming industry, and many new genetic variations of the species have emerged. Some natives worry that this 'interference with nature' will have dire consequences for the species. The ownership, breeding and trading tokotas is heavily monitored, and international laws prevent the export of tokotas to most other countries.
While exploring Kanqisat, it's important to watch out for Dark Spirits. These lost souls cobble material forms together from whatever bits of human, animal and plant matter they can find around them. They are known to attack lone humans, especially at night.
Dark Spirits are a lot like the fairies of Ireland, or the elves of Iceland. Science can't prove they're real, but the natives firmly believe in them, and tourists who scorn their warnings tend to disappear, or turn up dead. Don't mess with the Dark Spirits.
No one is sure why Dark Spirits attack. Perhaps they're just bitter and vengeful. Perhaps they are trying to obtain newer, better body parts. Or perhaps they're working for something more powerful. We can't be sure; they're not very talkative.