The High Lorekeeper of the Northern Water Tribe, Kausiut, is sending you, a small group of trusted fixers known to the House of the High Lorekeeper, on a delicate mission. Three months ago, an expedition of scholars and their retinue from Ba Sing Se University arrived, having previously engaged in correspondence with the High Lorekeeper and on his invitation, with the stated intention of excavating ruins up the Ivugak river in the Southwest of the Northern polar continent. These ruins are thought to belong to an ancient pre-confederation waterbending culture. The scholars were to return to the capital and make copies of their archaeological documentation for the House of the High Lorekeeper, and allow Kausiut to make sure no artifacts with too much cultural or spiritual significance were taken back to the Earth Kingdom.
However, the expedition is now overdue by two weeks, and Kausiut is concerned that either some disaster has befallen them, or they decided not to return to the House of the High Lorekeeper and left directly for the Earth Kingdom, possibly looting valuable antiquities in contravention of the agreement. You are asked to investigate, render aid if there has been some complication, and, if the scholars have absconded, bring back word promptly after conducting a preliminary investigation.
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Pregen Characters:
Atjak, an explosives expert, a 36-year-old man. Atjak is a member of the Qavlunguaq tribe. His family settled in a mid-size town on the Eastern coast and were engaged in trading with the northern Earth Kingdom, and became wealthy selling mining equipment during a gold rush that drew miners from across the north sea area. Although the gold was soon exhausted, Atjak's family introduced blasting jelly to the Water Tribe and their enterprise continues to be the principle experts on the subject. Atjak represents their interests in the capital, Agna Qel'a, though so far there has not been much interest: there is little exposed stone in the region and the conservative military establishment of the tribal confederation has been unwilling to adopt explosives. His principle interests are in the history of technology among the Water Tribes, and he came to the notice of the High Lorekeeper by spending so much of his spare time researching the topic and discussing it with visiting storytellers and lorekeepers.
Amaruq, a scholar, a 47-year-old woman. Amaruq works at the House of the High Lorekeeper as a visiting scholar. She is an expert on the pre-confederation waterbending civilizations of the north and is well-traveled, having visited the Southern Water Tribe in her youth. Her tribe is the Taluyat and she grew up in the capital in her family compound; her family are old money and have long been employed in the administration of the tribal confederation. As a hobby, she breeds and raises polar-bear dogs, and is a skilled rider.
Nuniq, a warrior, a 22-year-old woman. She is skilled with the spear and spear-thrower, and served for three years in the unified military of the Northern Water Tribes after being recruited from a band of Cagquralriit nomadic hunters in the interior. Nuniq then became a guard at the House of the High Lorekeeper, and is appreciated for her punctuality and diligence.
Torngarsuk, a combat waterbender, a 32-year-old man. Though born at sea to a Siqupsiqqat band carrying on the North Sea trade with the Earth Kingdom state of Chenbao, his waterbending talent was recognized early and his family paid for him to live in the capital and study under the future High Waterbending Master Paku. He excelled at his studies and joined the personal guard of the High Lorekeeper a year ago, after completing his training with Master Paku.
Yutu, a civil waterbender, a 27-year-old man. A kinsman of Kausiut and member of the Negcik tribe, he was born in a fishing village in the boreal forest region of the southwest. He moved to the capital after his cousin's acclamation as High Lorekeeper, seeking employment with the House. This he obtained, but rather than the sinecure he hoped for, he ended up in a strenuous and time-consuming role as one of the waterbenders maintaining the grand ice buildings of the capital - especially grueling work during the summer. He has developed an interest in his cousin's work, and often has occasion to listen to scholars and storytellers discussing water tribe history while maintaining the interiors of the House of the High Lorekeeper.
Nanurjuk, a storyteller, a 51-year-old man. Nanurjuk is one of the lorekeepers serving under Kausiut, a member of the Ilulirat tribe of whalers in northwestern bay. An only child, he follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also held the lorekeeper's stipend in their village. His father, whose voice is fading, wishes to retire, and so Nanurjuk is spending a year in Agna Qel'a to study at the House of the High Lorekeeper in preparation for taking over his father's position. He has a family back home in his village who await his return. Though his primary occupation has been storytelling, he is also a skilled traditional artisan of spears, hooks, and fine ivory carving.
Qimmiq, a ranger, a 19-year-old man. He is a member of the Nayiparaq tribe of semi-nomadic catseal hunters living on the great interior bay. After involvement in an accident in which several members of his extended family were killed, Qimmiq felt too ashamed to stay with his band and left in self-imposed exile. He found himself in Agna Qel'a, where he obtained work as a hunter in the household of the High Lorekeeper. He furnishes fresh meat for Kausiut's table (and the visiting scholars at the House.) He is keen with weapons and has discovered that he actually has some waterbending talent, which he has started to cultivate.
Kirima, a healer, a 31-year-old woman. Her mother is a member of the Siqupsiqqat tribe and her father was a Gan Jin merchant from the Earth Kingdom port of Beigang on the North Sea. Growing up initially with her mother's people and nurturing her waterbending talents, when she was fifteen, she stayed with her father in Beigang and traveled south to study medical practices and herbology in the Earth Kingdom for the next ten years. Determined to incorporate these ideas into the healing practice of the Water Tribes, she has since been studying healing the capital, and is now the personal physician to the High Lorekeeper, besides maintaining a private practice.