No discussion of the appearance of Tuchuk warriors would be complete without mention of their ceremonial facial scars. These scars are "worked into the faces, with needles and knives and pigments and the dung of the bosk over a period of days and nights." They are colored red, blue, yellow and black. Generally they are set in pairs, and worked diagonally from the side of the face in towards the chin. The first scar, known as the Courage Scar, is always red. No other scar can be awarded until the Courage Scar has been won. All of the scars are different, and each has a symbolic meaning that is readily understandable by other members of the Wagon Peoples, whether they be Kassar, Kataii, Paravaci or Tuchuk. A man with many scars is a formidable warrior, whose countenance strikes fear into any who seek to oppose him on the field of battle.
A man who has not yet won the Courage Scar cannot compete in the contests of Love War. He cannot pay court to a free woman, own a wagon, or own more than three bosk and five kaiila. He is considered an object of ridicule and derision amongst the Tuchuks. He cannot, in fact, be considered a member of the warrior brotherhood of the tribe.
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