Chwaekam

The Chwaekam are a proud and ancient culture, and the dominant ethnic group within the desert lands of Qildab. During a period known as the Reign of the Rainbow Chiefs they oversaw a mighty empire with trade connections as far north as Delhiza, and while their influence is diminished from this time, they yet preside over one of the continent of Pendahar's most thriving and vital realms.
Chwaekam tradition takes as its backbone the trappings and ideals of the warrior caste. Although truer historically than in modern times, accepted rulers were always members of this caste and much of the imagery of the Ocean Plume Temple - Qildab's central faith - borrows from the fabulous plumage and famous gore associated with heroes of legend, with "spiritual battle" serving as a metaphor for contemporary adherents. Paradoxically, the Temple is more pacifistic by far than other southern creeds, full of colour and light. The psychedelics that are the heart of its sacraments partly explain the mindset of the people: one of wonder and awe at the beauty of nature, and of widespread acceptance of difference.
Beyond this (and very much tied to aforementioned substances), audacious colour plays an enormous role in Chwaekam life, and artists are celebrated figures in society. Few items go undecorated, and the streets of even the lowliest villages are splashed with vibrant hues. Religious structures are something else again: many visitors to this hot, dry land have described hallucinations and divine visions while gazing at them, despite not having ingested anything.
Agricultural and architectural innovation are the cornerstones of Chwaekam achievement, strongly tied to a fundamental mastery of and fascination with astronomy and mathematics. Structures, even plebian ones, incorporate elements of the heavens into their design and everyday household functions are carried out considering one's orientation to the planets and stars. The same applies to farming, as the success of crops is also thought to owe to their relation to celestial phenomena.
Irrigation has been an especially important technology due to Qildab's arid conditions, and the Chwaekam have developed advanced water conservation techniques that draw from the desert's deepest wellsprings.
Healing is a time-honoured profession, and shamans and other traditional medicine men and women use the power inherent in plants and animals to cure the sick. The clergy does not assume these duties, being more focused on presenting the proper sacrifices to the gods, and so these individuals operate largely solo and typically charge for their services. A small industry producing ritual objects and ingredients used in traditional Chwaekam healing exists, which also has a good business exporting such things as curios outside of Qildab's borders.
The Chwaekam are meaningfully contrasted with another group native to Qildab, the Ikitak, who while they hold many of the same beliefs and values eschew the use of hallucinogens, viewing the practice as dangerous and bordering on immoral. The Chwaekem meanwhile see the Ikitak perspective as backwards and ignorant. Both peoples co-exist well for the most part and tolerate each other's differences.