Titles: Mato (Bear; fiercely angry), Howahkan (In a very strong/sacred voice), Akecheta (Soldier)
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual
Theme:((I'm sure you all saw this one coming.)) The Gael: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_R7bJahcwc
Irish Tavern Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBATrLRWySg
Soul Animal: A large, Brown Bear (Otherwise known as a Grizzly Bear). He is 32 years old, and is a giant of an animal, easily bigger than any other bear.
He is, like most male bears, a solitary animal with a large territory. He only comes into contact with other bears during the mating season to compete for females, or if there is a scarcity of food. He defends his territory and human companion, Canowicakte, fiercely. He can often be seen accompanying the man on his travels or hunts, or sleeping in one of the many caves dotting the mountainsides near to where the Shapeshifter Tribe makes its home. At night, it is often possible to spot him and his human sitting on the slopes of the foothills, watching the stars and moon.
Name: Enapay (Roars bravely in the face of danger), Wanahton (One who attacks; charges; charger)
Canowicakte gave his spirit animal two names. One when they first met, the other after their first battle together.
Tribe: The Shapeshifter Tribe
Position in the Tribe: Chief of the Shapeshifter Tribe, Warchief in times of battle and believed by the tribe to be the embodiment of their deity, the Great Spirit.
Negative Traits:
Isolationist: Canowicakte believes that for the culture and ways of his people to survive, they must remain independant of the other tribes. He does not favour any above the other, and holds them all in equal wariness. That being said, he is more readily positioned to assist the Earth Tribe in times of war, due to their shared love of nature.
Distrustful: Unless you are from his tribe, it is very difficult to gain Canowicakte's trust.
Fiery temper: Even though he is a usually calm, docile person Canowicakte can often find it difficult to control his temper. Like his spirit animal, he can often succumb to rage if he feels threatened, is backed into a corner or when protecting his tribe. This makes him very dangerous, but also prone to making mistakes in battle.
Positive Traits:
Loyal: You will never find a man more loyal to his people. He will defend them with his life, and will never cease to hunt down those who harm any Shapeshifter. He may not seem all that friendly, even to his own, but if he likes you, you shall never find a more faithful friend.
Spiritual: Canowicakte honours the spirits of the world, particularly of animals. He also honours the high priestess of the tribe, and will usually do as she asks.
Strong-willed: It is very difficult to sway his mind in things. Whilst some might view this as a negative trait, it actually means that Canowicakte can only be persuaded of something, or brainwashed, with great difficulty.
Fears:
Above all things, Canowicakte fears the death of his spirit animal and companion, Enapay. He also fears that Enapay will be taken by other means, and he will be left alone.
That through his inaction any harm should befall his tribe and their ways and culture be scattered.
The loss of his ability to commune with Enapay, and to shapeshift into a bear.
History:
Son of the previous chief, Canowicakte's place amongst his people was assured from birth. His childhood was spent learning to accept the mantle of responsibility he would inherit from his father. He was taught the ways of hunting and bush-craft, and how to lead men in battle. He was also taught the rituals of his people, and how best to preside over them as well as the art of delegation and diplomacy. In his fifteenth year, he travelled into the foothills near Northpass, and there met Enapay the bear. Their bond was immediate, and they have been inseperable ever since. Throughout the next twenty years they became as close as brothers, though Enapay still does not enter Northpass himself unless war is coming, or the borders of the tribe are disturbed. This is often a good indication to the people of Northpass that trouble lies ahead. As a young man, Canowicakte became one of the tribe's hunters and warriors, quickly earning the title Akecheta (meaning 'Soldier') after displaying an awesome ferocity in battle.
During this period of his life, Canowicakte retired from the village to a cave in the foothills, so as to be nearer to Enapay. This cave is where he sometimes repairs when he is in need of counsel from the spirits of his ancestors, as the tribe believes that in this place one can more easily commune with the other side. No outsider has ever been to this shrine, or seen the rituals that take place there, and as such no documented evidence to support this belief has ever surfaced.
Upon taking the chiefdom at the age of twenty-eight many reforms were made. Trade was established with the Earth Tribe, though no alliances were formed. During the last war between the Earth the Fire Tribes, Canowicakte personally led a small group of Shapeshifter warriors into battle to the aid of the Earth Tribe. Even then, he would still make no formal alliance. Of the Water tribe he thinks little, though sometimes traders from their lands arrive in Northpass. He greets them kindly, but advises them to stay no longer than they need to. The Wind Tribe are his closest neighbours, and sometimes this has led to boundry disputes concerning territory. Several times in the past there have been skirmishes and clashes along the respective frontiers, though all-out war has thus far been avoided.
He had a wife and child, but they way taken from him during a famine. He is not currently seeking another spouse at this time.
The hunting has gone poorly this year for his people, and Enapay has reported that many of the herds have travelled elsewhere, or else not been seen at all. Lean times are ahead, and perhaps it is this that will pressure the Chief into seeking aid from the outside.
Likes:
The Earth Tribe
Caves
Salmon
Honey
The stars and moon
Enapay
His bow
Knapping obsidian to make arrow-heads
Making a clean kill on the hunt
The outdoors
Children
Trading
Stone buildings (they remind him of caves.)
Dislikes:
Bees
Any place of communal dwelling that is larger than Northpass
The Fire Tribe leadership and belief structure.
Metal weapons and armour
Arrogance
Percieved nobility
Poachers
People who hunt bears (for sport or fur, it doesn't matter to him.)
Cave-ins
Dreams/Goals:
Canowicakte's only wish is that his tribe survive to the next spring. He hopes too that one day his people will be able to find a land all their own, and finally remove themselves from the troubles of the old world, and the tribes they share this current land with.
One day he hopes to sire a son or daughter to replace him, but currently there are more pressing matters to attend to.
Hair Colour:
Black
Eye Colour:
Hazel/green
Tattoos/Markings:
Scars on his back, chest and arms from wrestling with Enapay, hunting dangerous game and his time as a warrior. He often wears warpaint to help camouflage him when he hunts, or to frighten his enemies in battle. He also paints his body during the religious ceremonies he helps preside over, during festivals or when meeting important guests.
Height:
Canowicakte stands a a height of six feet.
Brief Appearance Description:
Canowicakte is clean-shaven, like most of the men in his tribe. His features are sharp and rugged, but not altogether unattractive. His hair is long and he ties it in different ways, sometimes in a mohawk, sometimes in braids or long strands falling over his shoulders. His clothing is made of leather, predominantly deer hide. He sometimes wears a wolf-pelt cloak, the head pulled up over his own. He uses this mostly for hunting or during ambushes in battle.
Carrying:
Canowicakte carries a bow and a quiver of knapped obsidian-tipped arrows, a skinning knife, a fishing line and bait and a sled that he pulls himself to transport the produce from his hunts back to the village. He also often carries a large, two-handed war-club with a ball carved into the end with an obsidian blade protruding from it.
Strength/Abilities:
Good hunter: Tracking, bush-craft, the processing of hides and meat. All these things and more are second-nature to Canowicakte. He excels in the use of the bow and the meat, furs and hides he brings back from the hunt are of unmatched quality.
Able to fend for himself in the wild without any assistance.
Hardy constitution: Having spent most of his time living out of doors, Canowicakte is a tough, sinewy young man. His body is well-conditioned for his duties as a warrior, and he is able to keep up with and bring down the prey he brings in for the tribe, and he is very rarely ill.
Camouflage adept.
Moves silently.
Good swimmer.
Excellent horseman.
Weakness:
Does not like large towns or cities.
Cannot use metal weaponry or armour.
Is easily distracted when confronted with something unfamiliar that he finds interesting.
Will not back down from a fight, even if prudence dictates he should withdraw.
Can sometimes go berserk with rage in battle.
Other: N/A