Nahuatl (People)

Populating the Luantimo Jungle, the nahuatl tribes are believed to be the remnants of those humans that were ruled over by the Fiendish kingdoms in the times before the Purge. They are reclusive, and will not hesitate to respond aggressively to thoe who present as arrogant or ignorant, yet amicable to those who show them respect.
The nahuatl people are often mistaken for violent, simple brutes by scholars who claim to know such things, but those who have visited a nahuatl city bring back stories of technology and culture that, while primitive, exhibit a refinement not immediately apparent from the outside. More than one missionary has ventured into the Luantimo expecting an easy conversion of unwashed masses, only to be humbled by the discovery that the beliefs of the nahuatl tribes are deeply rooted and surprisingly robust.
Though there are possibly hundreds of distinct nahuatl tribes, imperial scholars have only catalogued perhaps a dozen, and only had direct dealings with eight. Among the more well-known tribes are the Cuanmitzli (jaguar), Atoyatl (river), and the Motepexihuia (those who throw themselves from the cliff).

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Each of the countless tribes speaks a different dialect of Nahuatl, though someone who speaks any one of the dialects can passably communicate with speakers of other dialects. Non-native speakers usually have difficulty recognizing the differences between dialects of Nahuatl, though native speakers can do so easily.

Shared customary codes and values

Nahuatl value survival and loyalty above all else. Those that can provide for not only themselves but for those less capable are honored above all others. Anything that serves the tribe as a whole is seen as good, while betrayal and thievery are among the most contemptible evils.

Warfare

While warfare between tribes is common, it is usually mild in comparison to the grand campaigns of the western peoples. The cause of such conlicts can range from a dispute over hunting territory to avenging a personal insult between tribal leaders, although it is not uncommon for wars to erupt out of sheer boredom or as part of a coming of age ritual. Battles are at predetermined locations, and civilians will often watch from some distance away. Typically, both armies will stand on either side of a clearing and taunt each other from a distance. Occasionally singe combats between honored warriors will occur, as well as brief charges towards the other side, but these battles typically end with one side chasing the other off and casualties are extremely rare.

Average technological level

Upon first meeting a nahuatl hunting party or scout patrol and seeing their stone-tipped spears and leather slings, one might make the mistake of believing the nahuatl to be primitive; however, upon seeing the vast and complex infrastructure of the typical nahuatl village, this misconception is quickly remedied.
Extensive clay aqueducts, road layouts of such efficiency to put an akregian city planner to shame, and massive stone palace-temples are all on full display to anyone lucky enough to visit a nahuatl city. A brief tour will also reveal the fabled Hanging Gardens, 10- to 30- foot high lattices of timber on which grow tomato plants, grape vines, and a plethora of other crops essential to the nahuatl diet.

Common Myths and Legends

Nahuatl people believe that the Great Chasm was once a river that flowed between their lands and the lands of the Aaracokra, and that long ago the gods ripped the river up out of the ground in a fit of anger. Modern nahuatl speak of the aaracokra as spirit guardians that watch over the Luantimo jungle from afar, protecting it from demons and other threats.

Historical figures

Nahuatl religion generally follows a hero-worship model, with each region revering its own heroic figures. Most of these heroes are famous for having secured some victory, whether through violence or trickery, over the demons that used to rule the Luantimo.

One such hero whose worship is common throughout the jungles is that of Xoloitzcuintli (which translates to Jackal of the Underworld), said to be the first and only mortal to return from the lands of the dead. Upon discovering this, the demon that ruled the region cursed him to walk the lands forever, never to know rest again. Akregian scholars have likened this hero to the Draconic Saints, even to the point of granting Xolo the title of The Jackal, who guides the souls of the dead to the Halls of Judgment.

Encompassed species