Kingdom of Pacalia (Puh-Cah-Lee-Uhn)

In the lush jungles of Quetza there once existed a xenophobic, cruel empire. Isolated from the rest of the human kingdoms for millenia. The Quepa-Qual was known through all the continent as a vast empire of pernicious humans that used their prisoners not only in savage games of survival, but also in mass sacrifices to gods, on top of their blood covered pyramids.
The empire was feared, not just by their size and strength, but also for their cunning and tenacity. Such an empire lived untouched and unscathed from outside influences since it's foundation, somewhere during the Age of Arrivals. All that changed with the Great Deluge.
The Great Deluge shook the empire's core to it's deepest and with unforeseen consequences. The floods and the earthquakes brought hunger and plague that desolated the quetzan territory. Tens of thousands of people died in plain streets of the empires biggest cities. The capital, Zapotecla, saw part of it being swallowed by the river Lantas. A scar of those times for eternity.
The moral of the citizens was engulfed in flames and the low class and military finally burst against the noble hierarchy, thus beginning the War of the Triangle, also known as the Quetzan Civil War, disputed, as the name implies, by three fronts.
As time passed by, and the war dragging itself, the once united Empire was no more and three nations rose up from it's ashes. Young nations of old blood, thirsty to carve their name into the world and bring once again glory to Quetza.
These nations, of Quepatec culture, share most of the old empire's traits. The new nations work around these massive city-states, true metropolis (altepetl), and their surroundings (calpulli). The leader of each nation is known as the Calpuleh.
In society, they are divided into nobles (pipiltin) and common folk (macehualtin) and insde theses there is an elaborate hierarchy of social status, responsabilities and power. Interesting fact is that any common folk can achieve through merit to a lower noble position. a long distance merchant (pochtecah) is a good example of this. Their economy is based on agriculture, pillage, and commerce, now finally open to the rest of the human nations, and their mining of gold and marble. Each nation specialized itself on a different craft.
Education is mandatory to everyone until their fifteenth summer, taugh by their parents and the local priest. The next five summers, young ones go to two different schools: Telpochcalli, the House of Young Ones, where they are taught history, religion, combat, commerce and craft. And Calmelac, the House of Knowledge, dedicated to noble teens. Here they are molded into leaders (tlatoque), priests and scholars (tlatimini), healers (tizitl) and judges (tlacuilos), with areas covering calligraphy, astronomy, administration, theology among others.
A polytheistic culture with their own pantheon, priests and scholars are seen with utmost respect and take a very strict life: cold baths in the morning, intense physical training, resistance tests, and self-flagellation produce an extremely stoic social class.
Even though these hard folk still have a conservative society, they are determined to clean their image to the rest of the continent.
In battle, each new nation of Quetza has their own tactics, but all are strong with the atlatl, a mechanism to throw dards and javelins longer, and the maquahuitl, a serrated thick sword, usually made of wood, stone, or both.
An average citizen of Quepatec culture has between 1.50m and 1.80m. Possesses tanned skin, dark hair and usually big dark eyes. They wear facial adornments, like nasal bones, earings, lip spikes, among others, and almost always have facial paint or tattoos with intense colours.
In the Southern part of Quetza, is governed by the nation of Pacalia. Once the farmers of the old empire, the pacali citizens are today known for their lush and fertile fields and prestigious cattle.
Located in the southern are of Quetza, the kingdom of Pacalia was affected by the geographical and commercial changes that The Great Deluge brought. These saw boats from Southern Varsemia and Najha arriving at their docks, boosting their commerce and economy in the process.
Considered pioneers by the other Quetzan nations, the pacali worship Teclipoca, the cruel Jaguar King, Sire of the night and cunning.
Due to the predominance of feline species in the area and their main deity, the pacali have learned how to tame the jaguars of the land and use them as their companions.
In battle, Pacalia uses smart tactics to topple their foes, literally. using bolas to incapacitate their foes before shocking in melee, followed by a rain of stones from their slings.

Main Hub

Teecal

Unlike the other two nations in Quetza, this nation's capital, Teecal, is close to the sea, with the city engulfing several small lakes.
The pacalian capital is located close to the western shore of Quetza. Due to the many beaches in the area, it makes foreign boats easy to land and trade with locals. The locals have provided a large port on the shoreline to facilitate this coming and going and to help boost the local economy.
The capital's main arquitecture is composed of dark colored buildings, made of huge squared stones. and stone made roads. The city inspires monumentality, with wide avenues constrasting with tall buildings.
The city functions as a temple complex, it's dark stone walls providing defense against outside threats, and it's inner city filled with dark stone pyramids dedicated to Teclipoca, the Quepatec Jaguar God. Acolytes can be seen wondering the city, as well as divine soldiers, known as Jaguar Warriors, helping the militia keep the law in the city.
The settlement boasts a large district dedicated to commerce, where everyone with a permit, not just local, can open a booth and sell their wares.

Pacalian Traits

Quepatec Ethnic Proficiencies

Characters with this trait are proficient with Atlatl, Blowgun, Bolas, Brutal Bolas, Javelin, Maquahuitl and Great Maquahuitl, Sling, Shortbow, and Short Spear.

Old Empire's Feet

+1 to Escape Artist, Heal, Profession (farmer) and Knowledge (Geography) skill checks. These bonuses increase by 1 every 5 levels.

Cunning Warfare

+1 to Attack Rolls and Damage Rolls with Slings, Bolas and Brutal Bolas.. These bonuses increase by 1 every 5 levels.

Maquahuitl and great maquahuitl can deal either blunt or slashing damage.

Teclipoca's Jaguar Warriors

• +1 to Handle Animal (Jaguar, Panther This bonus increases by 1 every 5 levels.
• Jaguar, Panther, small cat and cat Animal Companions/familiars get the Advanced Template.
• Wildshapers in Jaguar form get +1 to Dodge Armor and +1 to damage rolls; These bonuses increase by 1 every 5 levels.
• +1 to the Spells DC check for Clerics, Warpriests, Inquisitors and Paladins of Teclipoca. This bonus increases by 1 every 5 levels.

Old Empire's Agility

+1 to Reflex Saves. This bonus increases by 1 every 5 levels.

Teclipoca's Grace

Characters with this trait get Combat Reflexes as a bonus feat at level 1.

Medium Armor Restrictions

Characters with this trait can't use Medium or Heavy Armor, with the exception of Hide Armor.

Oral Traditions

Characters with this trait begin play unable to read or write and must spend 2 skill points to be able to do so.