Southwest Region: Cuautlican and the Macaw Tribe

Also known as “The Empire of the Eagle,” the city-state of Cuautlican once controlled most of the islands of Deadened Bay and pats of the Iron Chain, as well as receiving tribute from the tribes surrounding them. Now limited to the lower mainland, the Eagles have cultivated their territory to the limit, providing them with a wealth of grains, but little else. Consequently, they’ve been forced to make deals with their former colonies and vassals to access metals, minerals, medicines, and exotic fruits and meats. The ruling priest caste is split between pacifists who think the prosperity of their people lies in mutually advantageous relationships with their neighbours, and warhawks who think negotiation dishonors the gods and that the Eagle people should take what they need by force. The society itself is quite rigid, religious, and stratified, though the merchant class is known to be quite irreligious and decadent. The great city itself is home to over half the population, the remainder living on farms and in small villages.
The Macaw tribe surrounding Cuautlican in the jungles and on the islands formed from breakaway factions who rejected the rigid, stratified imperial order. Some Macaw bands make it their mission to protect the jungle from further agricultural expansion and conduct raids and sabotage missions against Cuautlican farms. Others are satisfied with or dependent on trade with the Eagles.
Like all Cuautil cultures, the Eagles and Macaws revere the Aaracokra and avians in general. This has been the most effective check on their expansionism, many citizens of Cuautlican being sympathetic to the Macaw protectors of the jungle (and their mysterious helpers). However, many merchants within the empire look enviously across the Deadened Bay at the riches of Vaqueria and wonder if this reverence is worth the wasted potential.
Cuautlican
Races: Human, Aaracokra
Common Tongue: Cuautil
Classes: Eagle Warrior, Fighter, Ranger, Survivalist, Shamanic Bard, Merchant, Thief, Detective, Pirate, Assassin, Votary, Reverend, Medicine Wo/Man, Nagual, Oracle, Magic-User, Clerk, Scholastic Sage, Sage-Mentalist, Medic, Martial Advisor, Rogue Scholastic
Macaw Tribe
Races: Human, Aaracokra, Green Elf
Common Tongue: Cuautil
Classes: Survivalist, Mariner, Ohia, Islander, Shamanic Bard, Merchant, Thief, Pirate, Reverend, Shaman, Houngan/Mambo, Nagual, Oracle

Structure

Cuautlican is a caste society with some advancement possible among the urban castes and within the military. The warrior caste is tasked with maintaining order and protecting the Empire, the merchant caste acts as the bureaucracy of the Empire, and the priest caste gives it its direction and has final say over all matters cultural.
The Macaw bands are mostly consensus-based, but some follow a veteran warrior or revered shaman as their leader.

Mythology & Lore

Cuautlican Deities:
Quetzalcoatl – chief god, god of air, sky, and law
Camaxtli – god of fate
Chalchiuhtlicue – goddess of running water and love
Heng – god of thunder
Huhueteotl – god of fire and time
Huitzilopochtli – god of war and warriors
Itzamna – god of medicine
Maize God – god of agriculture
Mictlantecuhtli – god of death and the undead
Mocking Hawk – god of evil
Snake-Man – god of reptiles
Thunder Bird – god of good
Tlaloc – god of rain
Xamen-Ek – god of directions and the north star
Xochipilli – god of gambling
White Eagle – god of lightning
Yacatecuhtli – god of commerce and travel

Macaw Deities:
Quetzalcoatl – chief god, god of air, sky, and law
Agwe – god of the sea, depths, and directions
Camaxtli – god of fate
Chalchiuhtlicue – goddess of running water and love
Heng – god of thunder
Huhueteotl – god of fire and time
Huitzilopochtli – god of war and warriors
Itzamna – god of medicine
Mictlantecuhtli – god of death and the undead
Mocking Hawk – god of evil
Thunder Bird – god of good
Tlaloc – god of rain
White Eagle – god of lightning

Demonym

Eagles, Macaws

Government System

Theocracy

Economic System

Command/Planned economy