Nations of Thea (Important Figures) - Nations of the Crescent - The Pirate Nations - Nations of Ifri
Nations of Aztaln - Nations of Khitai - Secret Societies - Heroes
Long ago the nations of Aztlan were united in a mighty empire that spanned the length of their continent. Disaster struck one day (each nation telling a different story about its origin), and three nations arose from the ashes of the great calamity, each following different paths to rebuild. The Nahuacans turned to their gods for protection after the calamity, engaging in human sacrifice to fuel their deities until they had built four great city-states. The Tzak K'an, scattered into dozens of smaller cities in the heart of their jungles, felt the destruction was inevitable and would come again- they have pioneered astronomy, natural sciences, and mathematics in an attempt to predict the coming calamities in whatever form they may take. The Kuraq sought wisdom from their honored dead and Supay, God of Death. With the revived spirits of their ancestors guiding them back to power, they hope to kill all of the living gods of Aztlan and recreate the old empire.
What Theans refer to as the "New World" is not new to the people living there, but certainly has new sights and ideas for people hailing from foreign lands. Theans, used to worshiping Theus based on faith alone, are now confronted with truly living gods- beautiful, inscrutable, and powerful- that walk among their people. The jungles of Aztlan are home to ancient ruins that may point to a shared heritage with the Syrneth. And the people of Aztlan have begun to introduce such new and dangerous ideas as written legal codes to these visitors from foreign shores.
The Kuraq Empire (The Inca Empire
; Second Edition)
- Animate Dead: The Kuraq Empire stabilized itself after centuries of civil war by calling the spirits of their ancestors into living Mediums. These wise ancestors now rule the Empire with their Empress, stabilizing their society at the cost of their citizens' freedom.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Absolutely nothing says that that you have to be a terrible person and learn Wanuy Naquay, the art of communing with the dead. In fact, knowledge of Wanuy Naquay is deliberately and strictly controlled, because it's actually one of the most egalitarian sorceries out there; all you need is the proper knowledge of rites and and a sympathetic ancestor mummy (the creation of which is part of the rites), and volia, you're a Death Priest. One that can lead rebellions against Kuraq.
- Divine Conflict: The gods of Kuraq abused their power by advocating civil war. Now that Suway, god of the Dead, has helped stabilize the Empire he now heads "the god hunt" on Terra. Agents of the Empress pursue the few living gods left within the Empire, hunting them to extinction and leaving Suway as the last. Only the rebel factions within the nation offer any shelter and worship to these deities.
- The Necrocracy: The entire ruling class of the Empire, from the Empress through all of her ministers, are made up of undead spirits inhabiting living mediums. Their devotion to and worship of death has led to the God Hunt- they actively hunt all the former gods in the hope of leaving Suway, god of the Dead, as the sole member of their pantheon.
The Nahuacan Alliance (The Triple Alliance; Second Edition)
A northern alliance of great city states, each is a thriving metropolis in comparison to the others cities found in Aztlan or the Atabean. Mīlllahco sits to the north with its Jaguar Knights and patron goddess Ītzzohualli, Tecuehtitlān to the west with the Great Feathered Serpent Apocōātl, Ōlōxochicalco to the east with its mighty army and the agricultural goddess Nacatlicue, and Nexhuatipec to the south with their magically armored Eagle Templars and the great fire god Tlehuitzin. After the Fall of Aztlan, the survivors in Nahuacan scattered and founded their cities under the protection of their gods.
But even the gods were weakened by the calamity and needed sustenance. The Nahuacans, desperate to survive, sacrificed members of their own families to fuel their gods. With the power from these sacrifices, the gods helped them build four great cities that, inevitably, came into conflict with one another.
When their great wars ended (along with the practice of human sacrifice), the Nahuacans established a nation based on a great alliance and built a fifth, neutral city-state to be the seat of their Great Speaker: Pepechotlan.
- Crusading Lawyer: One of the defining traits of the Nahuacan Alliance is its legal system- something not seen in Theah, where the Divine Right of Kings and the Aristocracy live by Screw the Rules, I Make Them! every day. The Nahuacans have founded several schools of law in Castille to introduce the practice of written law and precedent to Theans. The idea that their landlord or Bishop isn't an all-powerful tyrant with absolute dominion over their daily life is now seeping into the heads of the average Thean. Three guesses where this is heading and the first two don't count.
- Good Is Not Soft: Apocoatl, the Feathered Serpent God of the West, is well known among the people of Nahuaca to be the most playful and loving of their four gods. When a Cortez-expy arrived in one of their cities, claimed to be Apocoatl, and demanded the submission of all the Nahuaca before him and his soldiers, a child helpfully pointed out that the feathered serpent was just down the street at the ball court. Apocoatl thought it was an Actually Pretty Funny prank until the would-be conqueror tried it again in a different city. Then the Feathered Serpent burned the Conqueror alive.
- Human Sacrifice: It is undisputed that the people of the Alliance practiced this during the conflicts of the previous age. After a great calamity, the four gods of the Nahuaca gathered the few survivors of an ancient empire and shielded them from the elements. In order to fuel their gods, some of the survivors were sacrificed so that everyone else might live by their power. The practice continued long after it was necessary, when four powerful city states were built from the ruins and warred with each other- until one day, one of the soldiers openly defied the gods to their faces, cursed at them for going along with the senseless war, and broke his weapons at their feet on the battlefield. The gods, tired of accepting human sacrifices again and again in a
So Okay, It's Average way, found the sacrificed weapons gave them more power than any of the human sacrifices they'd accepted since the war began. The loud-mouthed rebel was made the First Speaker of the Alliance by them and the Nahuacans no longer sacrifice humans to their gods. - Let Us Never Speak of This Again: Not only have the Nahuacans stopped sacrificing humans to their gods, but they no longer wish to discuss it in polite company. They do not deny it happened, but they wish to move on from what they view as a shameful practice.
- Volleying Insults: Any battle involving Nahuacans traditionally begins with a long, drawn out Yo' Momma fight before the actual blood is drawn.
Tzak K'an (The Mayan Civilization; Second Edition)
- Ambiguous Gender: Tzak K'an's culture has male and female gender roles, but nonbinary and third gender individuals are commonplace as well. While nonbinary commoners exist, this practice is especially prevalent among nobility.
- Apocalypse Cult: The Tzak K'an civilization is centered on cyclical catastrophes. The city state priests are predicting a new Apocalypse on the horizon, though they argue about the form it will take- war, disease, famine, etc.
- Armor Is Useless: Bordering on Fanservice Costumes in the artwork (female Warriors from Tzak K'an are depicted wearing leather bikinis while the men are wearing leather speedos that show off six packs). Somewhat justified by the fact that wars in Tzak K'an are held in unbearably humid jungles. War is almost a sport, where killing brings dishonor and taking a captive is the goal of battle. Wearing little armor can lead to a Better to Die Than Be Captured outcome in battle while also dishonoring one's opponent.
- Balkanize Me: While Tzak K'an was always a collection of city-states within the jungle, they have never been more fractured than they are now. Individual cities make and break alliances with neighbors on a daily basis while others have invited Thean explorers to settle on their shores for financial and military gain.
- Binding Ancient Treaty: While the city states are known for constantly shifting alliances and betrayals, one treaty has stood the test of time. The city of Baak Ah’yiin discovered that the Castillian Conquistador Frederico Fernandez Lopez had been expelled from the Nahuacan Alliance shores. The city's ruler Chiwoj Ahau offered him safety, room to create trading posts, and protection from attack. In turn, the Castillians were made to pledge military support for the city when called upon. It's been 90 years since the bargain was struck and the Castillians are nervously seeing signs the debt is coming due.
- Fate Worse than Death: Wars in Tzak K'an require the taking of prisoners rather than any outright killing. Captors are awarded praise and blessings. The captive... humiliation, torture, slavery, and other unspoken horrors are inflicted on them for the remainder of their lives.
- The Theocracy: While the city-states each have a royal family, the priests and starwatchers hold just as much temporal power over the common folk as their counterparts.
- When the Planets Align: Major events in Tzak K'an depend on the movement of the planets and stars before they can be acted upon. For example, no wars may happen unless the great star Chak'Ek (a planet akin to Venus) is in its proper position of the night sky.
