History
The Ancients are a humanoid race with extreme fighting and defence capabilities. They have no religion because they see themselves as the deities. Their initial origins are unknown. Outwardly they seem cold and emotionless. The world they live on is eternal Winter, and is plastered with lakes, coniferous forests, mountains and some seas.
The first Clans in existence were the Siqiniq on the volcanic island in the east, the Nanukiq people in the north, the Arcadiniq on a moderate continent, and the Imperiniq. The Imperiniq tried to form first a republic, and then an Empire which became all too oppressive. That is until a smaller Clan of elite warriors called the Unukitiq, somehow of Siqiniq origin, sought to bring the Empire down. Their fighting style was also adapted from the Siqiniqs in the east.
Meanwhile, in the unamed western continent, some small tribes of the Nanukiq migrated south, becoming accustomed to the spruce forest territories and lakes. They called themselves the Na'ukiq.
Ship-builders from the Scandiniq territory taught the Unukiitiq people how to build ships, in return for being taught swordsmanship. The Unukiitiq travelled in two seperate groups to the great western continent, racing the Arcadiiniq to it. The Unukiitiq got to the southern part of the continent, rich with spruce forests, plains and lakes, and named in Volatau. The Unukiitiq here became the Volatauiq, driving the Na'ukiq out of their homelands in a brutal war. The continent was named Greater Unukiit.
In the northern part of the unamed continent, Unukitiq warriors landed there, only to fight Arcadiniq Ancients across the mountainous regions. The Arcadiniq lost and the remaining Unukitiq became Canukiq, befriending the Nanukiq people of the frozen north.
The Volatauiq decided to turn their attention on their northern cousins, and attacked Kanuk. After a year of bloody battles, the Volatauiq were severely beaten, although Canukiq also suffered losses. Famine hit the Volatauiq hard, and the Canukiq were only too happy to help. This strengthened the Clans relationships greatly. Warriors of Siqin travelled to Greater Unukiit to explore.
The Ancients discovered three constructs called Castles, spaced across Greater Unukiit, and chose leaders from each Clan. These leaders were called Elders, and they took up residence in the main Castle. Soon, rifts opened between the Elders and the Ancients. The Elders were being arrogant and enforcing their power upon the Ancients, whom they saw as inferior.
To tip the Ancient population into war, the Elders feigned great knowledge to tell the Ancients there would be assassination attempts on each Clan. The Clans turned on each other and a war began.
Clans
-Unukitiq: Light brown eyes, very good sword skills, the Ancient equivalent of British. Unukiitiq means 'Steel People'. Origin: Imperium.
-Arcadiniq: Yellow eyes, good at hand-to-hand, the Ancient equivalent of French, Arcadiniq means 'Lightning People'. Origin: Arcadi
-Scandiniq: Grey eyes, ship-builders, the Ancient equivalent of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian or Finnish. Scandiniq means 'Sea People'. Origin: Scandinaviq.
-Siqiniq: Orange eyes, skilled at swordsmanship, every Siqiniq follows a code of honour (Like Samurai Bushido), the Ancient equivalent of Japanese. Siqiniq means 'Sun People'. Origin: Siqin
-Nanukiq: Blue eyes, adapted to subzero temperatures, skilled with hunting equipment, the Ancient equivalent of Inuit. Nanukiq means 'Ice People'. Origin: Nanuk
-Na'ukiq: Dark brown eyes, skilled at archery and stealth, the Ancient equivalent of Native American. Na'ukiq means 'Forest People'. Origin: Greater Unukiit.
-Volatauiq: Red eyes, skilled with all weapons, Unukiitiq/Scandiniq ancestry, the Ancient equivalent of American. Volatauiq means 'Lake People'. Origin: Volatau
-Canukiq: Dark green eyes, skilled with all weapons, Arcadiiniq/Unukiitiq/Nanukiq ancestry, the Ancient equivalent of Canadian. Canukiq means 'Mountain People'. Origin: Canuke
-Imperiniq: A people that are equivalent to the Romans, Greeks, and Etruscans
Weapons
The first weapons were wooden spears, and then swords (originating from Imperium and Siqin). Later, axes, pikes, steel spears, hammers, bows, tomahawks, flails, maces, scythes, knuckledusters and Bo Staffs were utilized.
Language
Unulik- English Dialect
Aquitinunga- Ancient Dialect
Aquitinunga - Unulik
Ankunuipiit - How are you doing?
Ankununga - I am fine
Nakununga - I am not good
Na'unga - What's up?
Tavisiin - Nothing much
Hei - Hey
Ya - Yes
No - No
Ina Kiitan - Kill them
Na'yukuin - Forest
Nanuk - The north/Ice
Montagniin - Mountains
Volu - Lake
Unupaq - Steel
Atuinn - Move up
Ulaquit - Surround
Canutiiq - Climb
Iniit - Defend
Ukaliin - Attack
Qutsuuk - Camp
Niqitu - Sleep
Iq - Clan
Uk'iin - Follow
Asuna - Degenerate
Author Note: The language of the Ancients is influenced by Inupiak, a language of far North America, and is the language of all the Ancients, even when the Nanukiq are the only representation of the Inuit people. I considered inventing another language, but it is difficult to construct a universal language for a peoples that are split into distinct cultures. The antagonists have a language of their own, which is essentially mirror-written English.
