Aztlan

This is an NPC only Kingdom

Kingdom Summary

The Fall of the Shroud brought about the rise of Mayan and Aztec death gods and the underworld of Xibalba, turning portions of Mexico and Central America into places of fear and torment. Here, Aztlan citizens are sacrificed to their God of Death, only to rise again with no escape from eternal service.

Dominant Races

Vampires, Wraiths, and Mummies

Politics & NPCs

Dischordia’s relationship with Aztlan has largely emphasized conflict over diplomacy. As such, little has been discovered of the inner workings of their politics.

---Loading Oaths---

Allies

German Free States, Stygian Alliance, Ukhu Amarumaya

Enemies

Dischordia, Jade Empire

Umbral Realms

Low Umbra - Shroud 2 (Flayed Lands - Shroud 0)
Middle Umbra - Gauntlet 4 (Pangea - Gauntlet 2, Mountains of Heaven - Gauntlet 3)
Dreaming - Mists 10 / Banality 8
High Umbra - Periphery 5 (Afterworlds - Periphery 2, Elemental Courts of Occident - 3)

Kingdom Views

Huitzilopochtli is first in rank, no one is like unto him: not vainly do I sing his praises coming forth in the garb of our ancestors; I shine; I glitter. He is a terror to the Mixteca; he alone destroyed the Picha-Huasteca, he conquered them. The Dart-Hurler is an example to the city, as he sets to work. He who commands in battle is called the representative of my God. When he shouts aloud he inspires great terror, the divine hurler, the god turning himself in the combat. Amanteca, gather yourselves together with me in the house of war against your enemies, gather yourselves together with me. Pipiteca, gather yourselves together with me in the house of war against your enemies, gather yourselves together with me.

In Aztlan the god appears; thy banner is unfolded in all directions, and none weep. I, the god, have returned again to the place of abundance of blood-sacrifices; there when the day grows old, I am beheld as a god. Thy work is that of a noble magician; truly thou hast made thyself to be of our flesh; thou hast made thyself, and who dare affront thee? Truly he who affronts me does not find himself well with me; my fathers took by the head the tigers and the serpents. In Tlalocan, in the verdant house, they play at ball, they cast the reeds. Go forth to where the clouds are spread abundantly, where the thick mist makes the cloudy house of Tlaloc. There with strong voice I rise up and cry aloud. Go ye forth to seek me, seek for the words which I have said, as I rise, a terrible one, and cry aloud. After 1,000 years they shall go forth, not to be known, not to be numbered, they shall descend to the beautiful house, to unite together and know the doctrine. Go forth to where the clouds are spread abundantly, where the thick mist makes the cloudy house of Tlaloc.

Aether: Though this age is one of darkness, it must be so. The wheel of ages must be greased with the blood of sacrifice to continue to turn. It was we who first foresaw the cataclysm at the end of the long count; even we did not foresee the rise of the hungry darkness that seeks to devour the wheel itself.

Avalon: The Pendragon is known to be the wisest leader their people have ever known, and yet he does not possess the wisdom to allow the darkness to rise and fall as balance demands.

Diamond Congo:

Dischordia: Our neighbors to the north offer succor to our enemy who has stolen our most sacred truths, and they, themselves have stolen a holy site of Xipe Totec Our Lord the Flayed One. Dischordia has proven themselves to be our enemies, and we will see blood spilled for their tresspasses against us and their hearts shall fuel us.

German Free States: Those of México-Tenochtitlán, who once called themselves Sabbat, say that these ‘Anarchs’ are like their smaller siblings, following the same rebellious path as they did centuries before. We shall watch with pride as they grow.

Iron Lotus: Like our own gods, Kali knows the nature and necessity of this age as one of death, and recognizes the need for blood. If our gods will ally in death or compete for the dead remains to be seen.

Jade Empire: Allies to our enemies and enemies to our allies, but their people have not acted against us. This stalemate cannot last forever, and so we prepare for war when it comes. Their Emperor clings to the corpses of shattered gods to deny the truth, but his empire, as all things, must pass.

Jukurrpa: We have little contact with this land of savage dreams. What we know of them leads us to believe there is little reason for our paths to cross. The time may come for them to rise, but now is not that time.

Stygian Alliance: Though others have conspired to divide us, Huitzilopochtli is honored by the Council of Stars. Now that Lazarus has taken his place among the gods of death, our two kingdoms are closer than ever before.

Ukhu Amarumaya: Our allies are cut from the same cloth and their gods, like ours, answer to the call of blood.

Vechnyy Uzhas: We know not what to make of Rasputin's madness.

Historical Information

As Was Foretold

Legends of the Mayan calendar spoke of the end of the world, which would occur December 21, 2012. It was on that date that the sun rose black for the first time. many occult groups around the world would take credit for this event. Yet few would deny that the Mayan calendar predicted it thousands of years earlier. The Fall of the Shroud brought bygone myths to the physical world. In Mexico and Central America, this saw the return of the Mayan and Aztec gods of death and the underworld. Aztlan celebrated their return with sacrifices such as the world had never seen. They haven’t stopped since.

Hostile Neighbors

In the early years after the fall, most kingdoms focused on their own internal matters. As a result, Dischordia knew little about their neighbors to the south. Few nobles even considered what lay beyond the border. Dischordians only turned their attention Aztlan when their enemy, Lazarus, expressed an interest. Lazarus allied himself with the Aztlan lords, and lent his support to Xibalba in Mexico City. With Lazarus' support in defense of their kingdom, Xibalba was able to mount a military campaign against their enemy, King Pascal.

Xibalba War

The New Faith went to great lengths to grow the alliance with Pascal and the Valley of the King. But their efforts would put them into peril. The neighboring kingdom of Aztlan sought to destroy Pascal for past transgressions. The New Faith was caught in the crossfire, and defeated Aztlan's army.

Appalachia Claims Juarez

Existing hostilities with Aztlan were further provoked during the Surveyor's Court. Appalachian seized the city of Juarez, not knowing that it belonged to Xibalba. Their nobles took the city by force, killing thousands. They seized a Node powered by the hearts and blood of Xibalban citizens. In doing so, they severed the flow of sacrificial power to Xipe Totec, one of Aztlan's Death Gods. Though weakened by these defeats, Aztlan remained quite dangerous. They were more certain than ever that Balor and his kingdom were their enemy.

Court of Empires

Aztlan and Dischordia remained hostile for centuries. Yet, when Aether attacked the world, Aztlan recognized Dischordia as the lesser evil. With great reluctance, they sent emissaries to the Court of Empires. Dischordia made few diplomatic efforts of their own.

War of Maelstrom's Rebuke

During the Court of Empires, diplomatic relations between Dischordia and Lazarus' Kingdom failed. Dischordian nobles learned of a dark ritual planned by the Prince Alyosha Buljiev. In response, Dischordia launched a coordinated attack on Buljiev's domain of Carpathia. Their attack, seen by Lazarus' Empire as unprovoked, precipitated the conflict. The hostility between the two kingdoms erupted into the War of Maelstrom's Rebuke.

Pascal, God of Sacrifice

The kingdoms of Aztlan and Ukhu Amarumaya were quite hostile towards Dischordia. As with the Xibalba War centuries earlier, Pascal was the focus of much of their animosity. The ambassadors levied accusations against him of theft and treason against their kingdoms. Dischordia’s courtiers could not find a diplomatic solution to their grievances. They insisted that only Pascal returning to face judgement could ease the discontent.

Reclaiming of Juarez

When Lazarus declared war on Dischordia, Aztlan saw their chance to strike. Their city of Juarez, taken by Appalachia during the Surveyor’s Court, was not guarded. Appalachia cared little for the city, and had already stripped anything of value from it. With their enemy distracted, Aztlan attacked and reclaimed it. One of Appalachia's nobles, Conchobhra Mac Carthaigh, retaliated.

The Sublime Cataclysm

As two powerful kingdoms waged their war, the other kingdoms watched and waited. No matter who would be victorious, their victory would alter the political landscape. Few could have suspected the true cost of the end of the war, or the impact it would have on their own kingdoms. In the war's final months, Lazarus' Legion marched on Dischordia and laid waste to their domains. In response, the Dischordian lords enacted a plan of unsurpassed devastation. None outside of Dischordia witnessed the ritual, but kingdoms the world over felt the impact.

Treaty of Maelstrom's Rebuke

The war ended one year, to the day, after the events which marked its beginning. Delegates from Dischordia and Lazarus met to solidify a treaty and bring the war to a close. Every kingdom sent diplomats to witness the signing, but each had ulterior motives. Each hoped to see their kingdom's goals reflected in the final document. The Treaty detailed terms of ceasefire, such as returning prisoners and withdrawing troops. Yet it also contained several initiatives which advanced specific agendas.