Axayacatl - People of the Land, Sun & Moon

Sun & Moon Tribe, Malinalli - Jungle Tribe or Plant Tribe

The Axayacatl were not always a unified people. Four generations ago, they were fractious Quatzel jungle tribes members of various tribes like - Jaguar, Snake, Eagle, and Deer. They were locked in a cycle of predation and rivalry. Their salvation came in the form of a visionary Beasthide shifter, the great king Nexahual ("The Builder"). Nexahual foresaw that the path of the beast would lead to their extinction against the encroaching empires of other races. He underwent a profound vision quest where he saw not a single animal totem, but the sun itself. A force of absolute order, measurement, and life that gave to all equally. He united many of the people in the warring tribes under a new philosophy: "We are not Jaguar or Eagle. We are Makasi. Our strength is not in our claws, but in our unity."   Culture Axayacatl culture is built on a foundation of order, community, and measured action. They value:   Structure and Law: The laws of Tlāltonatec, maintained by the Sun Priests, provide the framework for all life. Deviation is seen as a threat to the community's survival.   Agriculture and Sustenance: Their mastery of farming (via chinampas and crop rotation) is a form of worship, a testament to their covenant with the sun that feeds them.   The Two Souls: They believe each Makasi has a Sun Soul (civilization, order, community) and a Moon Soul (instinct, spirit, the beast). A proper life is one where the Sun Soul guides the Moon Soul for the benefit of all.   Controlled Expression: Shifting is not forbidden, but it is channeled. A Razorclaw's precision is for surgery or art, a Longstrider's speed is for carrying messages, a Beasthide's toughness is for building and defense.

Religion:     The Axayacatl practice a dual-faith system centered on their two demi-ascended gods:   Tlāltonatec, The Master of the Ordering Sun: The deified Unifier King. God of law, civilization, the sun, and agriculture. His faith is public, organized, and focused on the community.   Ipalnemoani, He By Whom We Live: The deified First Shaman. God of the individual spirit, primal instinct, and the unknown. His worship is private, mystical, and focused on personal balance.   The official state religion is the Cult of Tlāltonatec, but the worship of Ipalnemoani is, tolerated as a necessary outlet for the Makasi's innate nature.   Relations with Other Peoples:   The Axayacatl see themselves as the civilized bastion of the Makasi people. They view:   The Hania Plains-Tribes: With a mixture of pity and respect. They see them as "noble" but who cling to the old, chaotic ways, but acknowledge them as kin and often engage in trade.   Other Races (Humans, Dwarves, etc.): With cautious diplomacy. They are keen to trade and form alliances for protection but are fiercely protective of their lands and unique culture. They often serve as diplomats between the wild Makasi tribes and the outside world.

the great king Nexahual ("The Builder") - He founded the city of Axayacca, instituted laws, and introduced advanced agriculture. Upon his death, his successors deified him, teaching that his spirit had merged with the sun to become Tlāltonatec, the Master of the Ordering Sun. The people's faith transformed their legendary king into a god, and his descendants became a line of prophetic rulers tasked with maintaining his divine order.

Society & Governance Axayacatl society is a strict hierarchy:   The Hue-Speaker: The living prophet and theocratic monarch. Considered the offspring of the Sun and the Land, his word is law. He alone chooses his successor from among his blood relatives or spiritually gifted individuals.   The Sun Priests (Order of the Sun Priests): The administrators of society. They are engineers, judges, astronomers, and bureaucrats who maintain the calendars, laws, and irrigation systems.   The Brotherhood of the Eight Moons: A religious society that venerates Ipalnemoani ("He By Whom We Live"), the deified memory of the First Shaman. They work to preserve the old spiritual ways and the primal connection to shifting within the rigid city.   Nobles & Artisans: Military leaders, governors, and masters of craft guilds.   Commoners (Macehualtin): Farmers, fishers, soldiers, and laborers who form the backbone of the city.   The constant, simmering tension between the Sun Priests and the Brotherhood is a defining feature of Axayacatl life, with the Hue-Speaker acting as the essential balance point between them.