Cipalimetzin

"Such a marvelous structure, such a rich history hidden behind the vines and the muck. What happened to the Quinetzin people to make them this way? How long has this city remained hidden here in the swamp? It is truly a wonder to see how Nora reclaims what we have left behind. I only wish we had more time and safety here, if we could build a dialogue with the people, we could learn so much." - Excerpt from the Explorer Log of Jean Montagne

Northwest of Tuhinga Omua, hidden deep in the swamps Mahangangahere, lies the ruins of the ancient temple-city of Cipalimetzin. The temple itself is a ziggurat with each side around the lowest tier estimated to be just over one hundred feet. Five visible tiers are reaching just over seventy feet high, though it is believed that there are at least two more tiers below the mud as the temple sank through the course of hundreds of years. The walls were built with adobe bricks and limestone and possess multiple inlaid carvings that look to be influential characters and ceremonies from Quinetzin history. Spreading out from the temple are the ruins of what used to be farms and houses and other marks of the old civilization. Nature's reclamation of the city structures has made it difficult to estimate what purpose each building served. Traces of these ruins spread out about half a mile from the temple, suggesting a population of at least a few hundred citizens. Though the land has resettled to a great extent, there remain signs of terraforming and engineering to develop irrigated and usable farms and waterways through the muddy swamp.
Jean Montagne, an explorer most notably known for his expedition into The Frozen Wastes, was the one who re-discovered the city during his exploration of the unmapped sections of Mahangangahere. He found a large number of stone walls and wooden relief pillars remain with evidence of old art carved into them despite being worn down through time. In the limited time he had, he made multiple sketches and charcoal rubbings of what carvings he felt remained intact enough to study. As with nearly every civilization, the art of its people told their story throughout the years, including what might be their downfall. Unfortunately, he could not remain in the ruined settlement for long, as the dangerous beasts of Mahangangahere and the remaining disturbed Quinetzins threatened the lives of him and his crew.

Rise and Fall of Cipalimetzin

Cipalimetzin is the home of the Quinetzins, a sub-species of Hidefolk that were local to Mahangangahere and the remnants of which can still be found in the area. The temple and reliefs suggest that it was a highly religious settlement akin to many of the Dahlen cities. The city's name can be translated into 'Home of Cipali', referencing a recurring character in the art of the city. Cipali is a god-like figure among the Quinetzins who depict themselves worshipping them regularly. They are often shown many times the size of the Quinetzin and crawl on all fours with a body somewhere between a Monitor Lizard Hidefolk and a Spinosaurus. Cipali is also referred to as 'the One who Hungers' and is regularly offered food by the farmers and hunters of the city. Priests would also conduct and experience religious sacrifice, offering chosen individuals and even themselves as food for Cipali.
There was once a point in the city that displayed engineering marvels. Irrigation brought water into the temples and homes hundreds of years before other civilizations. Where there was not enough fertile land, they built floating farms upon the bodies of water nearby. Houses had plumbing and heating to make residents comfortable. Guards were shown using crossbows, builders were drawn using pulleys and man-made cranes. A school was built within the temple that educated the populous. Despite its current state, Cipalimetzin was once a small metropolis of thinkers and innovators in a devoted relationship with their icon, Cipali.
At some point, it all changed, though it is not clear what the triggering event may have been. Cipali was angered by the people and demanded more. Ritual sacrifice went from a rarity to an almost daily occurrence. The farms were abandoned and the Quinetzins moved to an entirely hunting-focused way of survival. When the beasts or occasional Ehrlen within the jungle were not enough, they began to eat their own, from the old and weak to their own young. The population was decimated and gone were the engineers and scholars, replaced entirely by the hunting caste of cannibals that became today's Quinetzin. The city's maintenance had ceased and over time nature began to take control once again. Cipalimetzin now is a shadow of its former self along with the Quinetzin Hidefolk, looming deep in the swamp and unwelcoming to visitors.

Hunting Grounds of the Quinetzin

The Quinetzin Hidefolk that were discovered amongst the ruin of Cipalimetzin are notoriously savage. Stalking the ruins of the lost city, they actively hunt the animals and Magickal Beasts of the local area. Giant Centipedes, packs of Velociraptors, and even the agile Jungle Wyverns were prey for them. Naturally, they started targeting any Risen that stepped into their grounds. Jean Montagne and his crew found evidence of dead Ehrlen and even encountered the Quinetzin themselves when they discovered the ruined city. Jean and his crew tried to talk with them, but that was revealed to be a non-option for them as they were attacked shortly after first contact. Jean writes that he wishes they had an opportunity to explore free from conflict but believes such a thing would be impossible without the genocide of the Quinetzin people, and that is something he could not stomach the thought of.

Cipali, Beast or Myth?

The primary focus of the artworks and even the namesake of the city is the figure of Cipali. If the reliefs are to be believed, they would be a four-legged beast twenty feet in length with features of both the Quinetzin Hidefolk and local dinosaurs. The expedition showed no evidence of the figure's existence outside of these artworks; there were no tracks that matched the description and no area of the city that suggested a place for such a being. The consensus is that Cipali must have been a myth shared among the Quinetzin Priests to keep their subjects loyal and working. However, many wonder why they would create such a terrible figure when their creator god was already such a loving figure in the history of Nora. Others believe that Cipali, the One who Hungers, is very much real. It would not be the first time that a new god has appeared from the Risen.