Arc Punk - Akutao

Akutao

Due to the unique gravitational properties of the chunk, Baz Akuenara was considered a point of no return until the development of grav-core technology. In the early days of vastor travel, entire groups were stranded on Baz Akuenara—if they survived the crash at all. This is how the Aloo came to inhabit Baz Akuenara very early on, though not by choice. Cut off from contact with other Aloo, a distinct culture emerged over time, composed of loosely connected clans—the Akutao. These clans were peaceful and deeply connected to nature—so much so that they considered themselves a part of it, a small piece of something far greater.

When it became known that Baz Akuenara was a place from which no one returned, the chunk and its surrounding vastor were declared a restricted zone, significantly reducing the number of crashes.

It would take centuries before the first P’kun were able to defy the chunk’s gravity using grav-core technology. When they landed their ships along Baz Akuenara’s steep cliffs, they were astonished to discover the descendants of those long-lost Aloo. The P’kun described the Akutao as “naked, painted storytellers.” The name Akutao, which they had given themselves, was fitting: in the often scorching forests, they had little need for clothing. Instead, they decorated their bodies with paint and tattoos.

"They (the Akutao) paint themselves with a kind of cream made from ground Lumina and Keke. For pigment, they use the hides of hunted animals and crushed seed pods from certain Labette plants. With these often brightly glowing colors, they draw lines along their tattoos to heighten contrast. Even children receive tattoos. Strips of cloth are soaked in a special solution and pressed onto the skin. Over several weeks, the solution alters the skin so drastically that it darkens permanently. This is likely why many older Akutao have darkened fingers or hands, constant contact with the solution while preparing and applying tattoos for others in their clan.”

- A.G. Thumlo

Tribal Groups

Very little is known about the various Akutao clans and their individual traits, as there are no written records. Some oral stories and ritual practices have survived the centuries, but much has been lost. This is partly due to the direct influence of the P’kun—who, for example, established schools in which Akutao children were taught P’kun language and writing—but also due to general cultural erosion. Today, remnants of the old Akutao culture still exist, though most of these clans reside in extremely remote and inaccessible regions. Few people take an active interest in researching them.

Modern Distribution

The descendants of the Akutao are now scattered across much of the known cosmos, and some have never entirely abandoned their traditions. Larger Akutao communities exist today, especially in Mananra and on Nyrn. However, most Akutao living outside Baz Akuenara lead lives deeply integrated into the dominant (primarily P’kun) systems. A few still maintain the tattooing traditions of their ancestors.