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 Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:16 pm
The Quest Begins!
Welcome to my quest thread for John Malcolm, an Alaskan Inupiaq hailing from a village near Cripple Creek.
There was some confusion about what we really have here in Alaska, how modern the villages are, and what an Inupiaq is, so I've added a post to cover this. Please check it out and tell me if you've any other questions! <3
Table of Contents
[oo1] You are here!
[oo2] Character Profile
[oo3] Roleplay Sample
[oo4] John's Family
[oo5] Cripple Creek Village and the Inupiaq Ilitqusiat
[oo6] Basic Info about Alaska and the Inupiaq
[oo7] QnA about John Malcolm
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:18 pm
Character Profile
Name: John Malcolm
Nationality: American
Heritage: Inupiaq
Nicknames: Johnny
Age: 14
Birthdate: September 4, 2008 (I hope I did that math right... >.> )
Height: 5'5"
Skin: Tanned
Build: Athletic from hours of work outdoors
Hair Length: Halfway between his shoulders and jaw line. He has no bangs, and tends to keep his hair tied back for work, but left to hang loose around his face otherwise.
Hair Color: Raven black
Eye Color: Hazel
Personality: The hours working at scrimshaw, tracking, and hunting have taught John considerable patience and the art of waiting for hours for the right thing to come along. He has also learned to walk quietly and smoothly and to talk softly to avoid alerting others to his presence - after all, a loud voice or loud moves in the midst of a caribou or moose hunt can only lead in the game running away or charging you and no one wants an eight foot tall moose chasing them down. The village Elders also say that if you screw up during a hunt and the game runs off, you must chase it five miles before you can return! To avoid this, John has spent much time working to perfect his tracking and hunting skills, winding up as one of the best guides the village has to offer and as such, earning him an occasional job during summer as a forest guide for tourists. Working with them John has also learned to keep the ill things he has to say in, for at least as long as he can, and to phrase even the rudest things as politely as he can - to insult a tourist is to lose customers and every dime the village can bring in is vital to their survival.
Sometimes, though, John's temper can get the best of him, and he has been known to hold grudges for a very long time, but he still works hard to remain as respectful and humble as he can. This is the Inupiaq Ilitqusiat, this is their way. In addition to remaining humble and respectful to Elders and community, he has also learned respect for nature and his family has continued on the tradition of thanking the animal spirit for its sacrifice and thanking the Lord - and animal spirits - before each and every meal. Some may find this to be a silly habit, but it is something he was taught and he grows very angry if people interrupt this prayer as he believes it is very important to do for they were taught that to not thank the animal spirit for its sacrifice could mean the next you go hunting you wind up with nothing. A deadly possibility for a family when a Deep Freeze is approaching.
As any teenage boy, though, John has his rebellious moments and prefers to be alone when he can. To do this, he will often go out into the forests alone with either a fantasy novel or a sketchbook and the obligatory hunting knife and bow with 65 pound draw weight - just in case. The reality of the Alaskan Wilderness has left him with an innate sense of "Always be Prepared" and he is never to be found without some way to protect himself "just in case", and basic first aid supplies (even if it is just some band aids, butterfly bandages, and antiseptic wipes). It has also left him with an insatiable curiosity about nature and survival.
If there is a question to be asked, you can be sure John will ask it because Knowledge is very important to his people, much as Language is. There is an obligation for him to do his absolute best in school and since he's curious about almost everything anyway, he generally enjoys his lessons - though math is something he despises to the utmost. When he tries to do math questions, he feels like his head might explode and he works hard to avoid any career that might involve extensive mathematical knowledge.
Hobbies: Reading, scrimshaw, fishing, mushing, competitive archery
Talent: Tracking - John works as a forest guide for hire during the summer tourist season and is also a hunter and so is knowledgeable in telling what kind of animal tracks they are and hold long ago they were made, what kind of animal feces it is and how long ago it was left behind, which direction the animal is likely traveling in due to the direction of the prints or broken up brush, and as a hunter he can also tell roughly where an animal was hit and therefore roughly how long it has yet to live due to any blood spatters it leaves behind as it runs off. (As well as which direction it is heading in by how the blood spatters.)
While he does primarily track only animals, there have been occasions where a search was going on and his expertise in tracking and the general area around Cripple Creek came in handy and John was called on to track people. In these instances he can also estimate how long ago a campsite was used by checking the remains of the fire pit and track the person by the evidence they leave behind of their travels.
Interests: Linguistics and strategy, horseback riding, drawing (though he feels he's no good at it at all, so he only does it sporadically and doesn't consider it a hobby)
Likes: Playing computer games, reading fantasy novels, horses, grapes, apples, smoked salmon, guitar, solving problems or situations
Dislikes: Math (no matter if he's good at it, he still dislikes it), disrespectful or overly proud people, artichokes, wastefulness, not knowing or understanding something, being bored, conflict if it could otherwise be avoided
Odd Quirks/Anything special about their personality: Loves fish and has a fifty-five gallon tank filled with fish that he cares for at home as well as two beta fish in their separate bowls. He is also mildly obsessive compulsive about orderliness and cleanliness.
Clothes: His clothes vary depending on the weather and what task he's doing for the day, but in the summer he will typically be found wearing baggy bermuda-esque shorts with several pockets (two upper front, two lower front, and two in the back) in khaki, a t-shirt in dark green or dark red with a screen print on it if he can, sturdy hiking boots with socks and a long-sleeved shirt to complement the t-shirt tied around his waist just in case the weather turns sour as it is wont to do in Alaska.
Random Fact: His favorite saying is this: "I may not agree with who you are or what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to be yourself and say your piece."
Things he is never without: A Leatherman multi-tool, basic first aid kit, and a field and survival guide book.
Where at SSoS I think he could end up: I can see John easily going into a field in magic where his tracking skills and insatiable curiosity could lead him into magic research, though his respect for the earth and excellent tracking skills could also lead him down the path of elementalism. There is also a third option for John and that would be the school of defense due to his dislike of conflict and love of strategy. Unfortunately, I think only time would really tell where he would wind up by the end of his career at Shinkami School of Saviors, but those are definitely the three areas I could see him gravitating towards the most.
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:51 pm
Roleplay Sample
Quietly the young man stalked through the forest, following the itty bitty footprints that had been left in the delicate underbrush of the forest path. There was a sense of urgency in his step as the bright sun had hidden itself behind a sea of dark thunder clouds and the taste of static electricity grew on the air with every breath he took. John was in search of his younger brother whom he fondly doted over and who had gone off into the woods to look for berries to pluck with some of the other younger boys. Though they had promised to not go far, John knew that just as when he had promised he'd go only to the edge of the forest that they, too, would go as far in as they could get away with. A small sigh escaped from his mouth as he glanced back up at the sky only to see the clouds growing angrier and fatter as if they would burst any time now.
Once more John's speed increased at the realization that the storm could very well start with him in the forest and that it would be a dangerous position to be in. The trees were tall and would attract attention from the lightning that was sure to come crashing to the Earth and it was not something he looked forward to, to be caught in the middle of a bad storm with the frustrated animals shouting their warnings to one another as they were even now. The calls of birds caught his attention and the chattering of squirrels that sounded very similar to when someone was too close to their home drew him off the beaten path and near to one of the many small creeks that littered Koyukon territory. As the wind started to pick up and he imagined he felt the first large rain drop touch the top of his head he located the small group of young boys and caught his nukaaluga in the middle of them, a dark purple oozed all over his face and giggling with pleasure as the other boys tossed additional berries at him, causing the four year old to try to catch as many as he could with his mouth and laughing with pleasure even if he missed.
Frustration and anger crossed the elder boy's face as he realized they were all completely unaware of the fact the storm was coming and they could be in danger if caught in the midst of the tall trees when it started. Even if the storm didn't get them, the agitated animals would be overly protective and more likely to be easily provoked and yet they sat playing a silly game instead. With a shake of his head, he stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly to garner their attention before finally opening his mouth to speak, "Nukaaluga, big storm is coming, it is time to head home before it started." John spoke with confidence and with the expectation the other, younger boys would quickly follow what he said and anger flashed across his face once more as his very own brother ignored his warning and picked up a large handful of the blueberries at his feet before tossing them towards John, trying to involve him in the game at hand.
The wind picked up a little and began to make the branches on the trees around them sway as the birds flapped fussily and chirped their final warnings and goodbyes before turning to their homes to huddle in safety until the storm had passed. Hazel eyes flashed around to see what the animals were doing and what the clouds looked like before he stepped forward and into the circle of boys. This time, he spoke with the authority of a Hunter, "We leave now. Storm will get very bad, very quickly." A quick glance at the half empty baskets and purple hands and faces before he continued, "We will come back tomorrow to collect more, so pick up your baskets and let's go before it gets dangerous." Another glance up at the sky left him with a large splash on his forehead that quickly rolled down his face as he moved to glare down at the boys, "If you don't move now, the Elders will find out, you know."
And with that, they all snatched up their baskets and glowered up at the older, taller boy before beginning their solemn march back to their village. As the last one turned his back to him and he bent down to pick up little Christopher a small, sly smile touched his lips and he finally laughed as the rain began to pour down on them. "Come, nukaaluga, time to go home and get cleaned up before Father catches you!"
Christopher clapped his hands and giggled before scrunching up his eyes at his older brother as John picked him up and began to take him home, slightly suspiciously he asked, "You wouldn't really tell on me, would you, aapiyaba, would you?" The boy's pudgy cheeks and lips pushed into a pout as he stared innocently at him as John just laughed again with a quick wink, "Maybe I will, maybe I won't!" The first crack of lightning lit through the air and the tall forest guide picked up his pace again as the storm really began, laughing at the thought of what their Father would say once he saw the purple covered face of his brother and how his Grandmother would react to them tracking mud and blueberry goo across her precious floors.
"What a way to end the day," he thought as he finally reached their home and opened the door and quietly peeked in, only to have Christopher ruin it and laugh at the sneaking. A throat was cleared and footsteps grew closer and finally the two brothers looked at each other and laughed in unison at the raised eyebrow of their Father and angry stance of their Grandmother. Sure, they were in trouble, but at least they'd had some fun while they were at it!
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:52 pm
The Family is Always Together
Great-Grandfather: Matthew Malcolm
About Him: Matthew was the Chief of the village by Cripple Creek and ran it as a dry village. Those found sneaking alcohol in or under the influence of alcohol are dealt with harshly. He saw the effects alcohol had on people when he served in World War II and decided to ban it from his village as soon as it was possible after he became chief. When he chose to pass the title on due to losing one of his eyes and growing blind in the other, his son took up the title and continued to keep the village dry. This is a man who fights for what he believes in and thinks that the traditional way of living is best. He is 84 years old.
Grandmother: Jeanette Hopson
About Her:
Father: Jeffrey Malcolm
About Him: Jeffrey is the current Chief of the village by Cripple Creek and has continued to run it much as his father did - as a dry village. Though some alcohol does get in, he does his best to keep it out and its effects away from the children of the village. Unlike his father, though, he believes the youth should be permitted to leave to pursue a proper future as long as they remember their roots and their history. Though the alien attack did not directly affect his village, he believed that as many of the sons and daughter of the village who were able should be sent as far and wide as possible, not only to spread out the youth and preserve some of their culture should an attack directly impact their own village, but also because he believes that some among his village could prove helpful to the world. If not with their knowledge of survival, then with their abilities to make something out of nearly nothing and to thrive no matter what.
Mother: Mary Etta Malcolm
About Her: Mary actually passed away when John was four years old and so recalls very little of her. She was caught in a Deep Freeze where the temperatures reached as low as -70F with wind chill and did not survive the day - she had gone out to collect snow to melt for water, but the ice fog was too thick and she did not return. She was found when the ice fog lifted two weeks later, frozen stiff and still clutching the bucket of snow to her chest. Before that, though, she was a devout follower of the Russian Orthodox church and volunteered at her church regularly. She did not have a job of her own, but helped with things like tutoring kids and sewing clothes for people out of the kindness of her heart.
Brother: Christopher Malcolm
About Him: He is actually an adopted brother, he was an orphan from a couple that died in a vehicle collision with a moose. Jeffrey took the boy in and has raised him since, Christopher is four years old and is someone that John dotes on and cares for deeply.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:09 pm
About the Area and Their Values
The Cripple Creek Inupiaq village is one that actually sits in Koyukon territory - this is a mostly Athabascan area and so the Inupiaqs at Cripple Creek have been influenced by their neighbors of the Interior of Alaska. There have also been obvious influences on this particular villages ways and language by the Siberian traders that once lived in the area prior to the purchase of Alaska and its subsequent statehood in 1959.
This village tries to follow the "Inupiat Ilitqusiat" which means "The Real People, Those Things That Make Us Who We Are" or, simply the Inupiaq Way, but no longer follows the original shamanistic tendencies of the Inupiaq of old. Instead, many in the village follow the Russian Orthodox Church and follow the Patriarchate of Moscow and others follow Catholicism. In the Russian Orthodox Churches the services are held completely in Russian and in traditional manner. Due to this, the Inupiaq language of the Cripple Creek area village has become a hybrid of both Inupiaq and Russian, a mixture of words that only those native to that area or who have been taught by the Elders of the village will truly understand the meaning of.
Among those values the people of the Inupiaq hold dear are:
Respect of Elders,
Hard Work,
Respect for Nature,
a Knowledge of Family Tree,
Knowledge of Language,
Love for Children,
Respect for Others,
Avoid Conflict,
Cooperation,
Sharing,
Responsibility to Tribe,
Humility and
Spirituality.
These things are of the utmost importance and they work a lifetime at following them.
As a side note - the Inupiaq are a type of Eskimo, but are traditionally located in the Northern and Western areas of Alaska in the Inupiaq Territory. Due to climate changes and the easier modes of travel, however, some Elders and their families have moved South to accommodate the ailments of being old such as arthritis. The Inuit are another type of Eskimo; however are traditionally found in Canada, so the Alaskan Inupiaq and the Inuit are not one and the same.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:18 pm
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:19 pm
Small Dictionary for Reference
nukaaluga - my younger brother
quyanaq - thank you
ijuabitchiioiq - respect
nanbaun - praise, honor
aapiyaba - my older brother
The many ways to say "Snow" in Inupiaq, for my reference
aniu - any snow
mauyaq - break through snow condition
nutabaq - fresh snow, powder snow
qiqsruqaq - glazed snow in thaw time
sitxiq - hard crusty snow
sixxiq - hard crusty snow
apiruq - is snow covered
piqsiqsuq - is snow storming
qanniksuq - is snowing (no wind)
qanigruaqtuq - is snowing (no wind)
apigaa - it is snow covered
qatiqsubniq - light snow, deep for walking
auksalaq - melting snow
auksajaq - melting snow
aukkaa - melts it (ice, snow)
aniu - packed snow
qayuqjaq - rippled surface of snow
apun - snow
natibviksuq - snow is ground drifting
apuyyaq - snow patch
aputyaq - snow patch
aniuvak - snowbank
natibvik - snowdrift
qimaugruk - snowdrift blocking a trail or in lee of a building
mapsaq - snowdrift overhang (ready to fall)
mavsa - snowdrift overhang (ready to fall)
qannik - snowflake
sisuuq - snowslide, avalanche
aqixuqqaq - soft snow
mitaixaq - soft snow on ice floe covering an open spot
mauruq - steps into, falls into a hole, breaks through (of snow)
pukak - sugar snow (near ground)
puuvruktuq - swims, plows through deep soft snow
puuvraktuq - swims, plows through deep soft snow
mixik - very soft snow
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:00 pm
Basic Info on Alaska and the Inupiaq
Because there was mention of confusion due to the many myths about the state of Alaska that are floating around in the world, primarily the lower portion of the United States, I will explain what Inupiaqs are and what their villages are like. I have not, however, been to an Inupiaq village, so my explanation will be based off of stories and explanations given to me by Inupiaq and Athabascan Elders. I hope that this is acceptable. I do not claim to be an expert on the Inupiaq in any way, and much of what I do know is what I have been taught by the Elders that live at Denali Center.
An Alaskan Inupiaq is an Alaskan Eskimo that comes from the Inupiaq territory. Obviously, though, with time the tribes have mixed a little and you can find Inupiaqs all over the state of Alaska, not just in the Inupiaq territory. This has caused mixtures of languages and cultures - the Inupiaq closer to the Interior and the West are also heavily influenced by the Russian traders that were here before Statehood in 1959. (By the way, never call an Eskimo a Native or a Native an Eskimo. For some reason I have yet to discover, they hate that. A lot. Like they get screaming mad they hate it so much.)
Villages have modernized - the farther away from the Arctic Circle, the more modern they really are. They still have fish camp, still do subsistence hunting, but slowly the ways of the white people are encroaching into their homes and they have electricity, they use the same oil heaters we do in some areas, they use computers, their kids have iPods and listen to the same sort of music any other kid would. In fact, there are some villages where the kids have little to do but use a computer because they are so far from other villages. (And yes, far up North they do still use Honey Buckets. That's a bucket you squat over, do your business in, and empty into the "Honey Truck" or a large container for waste purposes.) The villages have problems with high suicide rates due to having so little to do, and they also have huge alcohol consumption problems - which is why some villages choose to be a dry village. Its their way of trying to 'save' their people. They also have cars, though in winter and the farther up North you get, the more prone they are to just using sleds. (So yes, he could have a fish tank and a computer.)
Horses can, in fact, survive in the state of Alaska. The farther up North you go, the harder it is and up past Arctic Circle they use caribou and sled dogs to pull their sleds, but closer to the Interior and even Southeast Alaska we have horses. In the Interior the sturdier horses bred in Norway or Greenland tend to do better, but I do know people who have Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Norwegian Fjords, and etc. Generally, though, to ensure their proper life span and a good life for them, you must have a heated stable and a heated area for them to run and be ridden. To this end, many people simply board their horses elsewhere or go some place else to ride.
About the weather in Alaska - it can go from -70F in the winter to 102F in the summer. So yes, we can wear shorts and tank tops and things just like you guys do. (And in fact, after a cold snap of -40F for a couple of weeks, once it hits 0F you see people out in t-shirts and shorts. It feels WARM outside at that point in time! When it went from -50F to 30F we were all saying, "HEAT WAVE!") We have very extreme weather here and we have been known in the summer to go from hot, sticky, sweaty and covered with mosquitoes to a heavy thunderstorm in a short amount of time. In the same case, in the winter we can go from clear skies and subzero temperatures to cloudy skies and almost above zero temperatures in a very short time period. (There was one night it went from -40F at 11pm to 40F by 6am.)
Those "funny coats" the Eskimo wear are called "parkas". People all over this state wear them and I've seen people in the lower part of the United States wear them, too. Typically, however, when an Eskimo is wearing a parka, it is made from seal guts and fur. xD They also wear mukluks which are fur boots. They are serious life savers and keep them VERY toasty warm, so that's why they wear them.
Eskimo or Native they will eat anything. Fish head soup, moose brain soup (often served in the moose skull), whale blubber (a delicacy!), seal blubber...moose heart...and etc. They also tend to crack open the bones once they're done eating in order to suck out the marrow.
Blueberries + bananas = AMAZING pie. A man I know is half native or eskimo (he will never tell us) and half white - he makes THE best pies and things. He always lets me try the native food, because the natives at work have concluded I'm native. (Or eskimo. Eskimos claim me, too. Though I'm pale as the snow.)
They have white people names more often than not now. I know people of Eskimo and Native descent that come from the villages with names like Jeanette, Don, Brad, Jeffrey, Matthew, and so on.
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:04 pm
Questions and Answers - About John
oo1. He sounds like a great kid, but what can he do for the world?
Considering that anyone can do something for the world if they put their mind to it, technically speaking any single person in the world could make a difference. The fact that John has the drive and determination to help ensure that there is a solution to the problem at hand and to help prevent further conflict, and with time, he could learn to do that on a mass scale with fellows of like thinking he could do quite a bit. Just as if any single person in the world who complains about how things are takes the time to become committed to making that difference and putting forth the effort to do so could make a difference. However. I do not believe that by himself he could make a large difference. One person is not everything to the world and one person can not fix the world. So there is no true answer to your question because, quite simply, by himself and with his current knowledge and his location - he could not make a big difference in the world. Not without leaving the village and finding the strength to put himself out there where everyone can see him and stating his mind no matter what propriety states. And not without people of like mind at his side.
So that is why SSoS needs him and he needs SSoS - they could use his skills for several different things in war, and he needs them to make the difference in the world he wants to make.
oo2 What about his skills would make him suitable for assisting in the war effort?
The military has positions for several of John's skills, so he is a very versatile young man (even if he doesn't realize it yet). He would be useful in tactical positions, as an officer, as a mentor, for recon purposes...with training and with a little work, he'd be suitable for a medical position as well. That is, however, not his passion. He knows enough to survive on his own in the wilderness when it comes to medical aid and for him - that's enough. xD;;
oo3 That sounds more like he'd be suitable to S&T, not magic.
Only John can really make that decision and his decision will be based on what pulls him. The reason why I stated three separate possibilities for him and gave three separate reasonings for them are he is not a person with one strength - no one is. He will decide what pulls him when he gets there and not before. S&T school makes sense for his strategical thinking, however, his closeness with nature, his mastery of tracking and survival skills could also lead him to being pulled to Nature and its ways.
oo4 So where does the whole "information gathering" thing come in for recon?
Tracking is all about gathering information - and so is hunting. If you don't know what a blood spatter, a track, a pile of feces, smoldering embers, scratches on tree bark, broken branches, etc. mean how can you know what it is you're tracking and what its basic condition is? For hunting - how can you tell where you're at or if you're in the territory you need to be in without gathering information quickly and silently? John has lived his whole life surviving by gathering information. ^^
I hope that was helpful! If you have any other questions for me, please let me know. <33
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:44 pm
Another just in case post since I seem to be using so many to keep track of all my information. sweatdrop
As a side note - questions 1-4 of the above QnA come after my critique with Teh Zan over MSN. <33
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:35 pm
◄○►◄○►◄○►◄○►☼◄○►◄○►◄○►◄○►
I love him. I can see his motivation and determination and he definately has a 'wow' factor that would attract SSOS's attention. I think it's good that he can go either way because he seems like he can go both ways and I'm sure that once he's in school it'll become more obvious.
I wish I could input some more but I think this is looking great as is!
◄○►◄○►◄○►◄○►☼◄○►◄○►◄○►◄○►
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:27 am
 Wow, thank you! I'm really glad all of that showed through - I kept worrying I didn't have enough or hadn't gone over what I needed to, so I'm really glad I got what I needed to said. Thank you for taking the time to read over my quest, Kait, I really appreciate it!
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