Territory People Technology Crystal Skull of Intli Artillery Balloons Stone Totems Government Seer-priests Culture Language Art Education Religion Pantheon Intli Mozach Gucu Ec Huat Tlanoche Quekua Pali Oaztl Calendar Gods Practices Calendar Astronomy Sunset Rituals History Early Settlement Contact Rise of the Sun-kings The Coming of Intli First Empire The Revolution of the Seers Technological Rennaissance Population International Relations Economy World-View

Territory

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The Empire of the Moon God Intli spans around 20% of the Zikal continent, from the Haven Reaches almost down to the South Pole.

People

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The People of Intli (Intli'zatlu in their native tongue) are human, the descendents of Cicazl Priests sent to Zikal as astronomers, possibly with some Shadow or Sun Lilithian ancestry. They are, however, often taken as a separate species altogether, owing to the eerie quality lent them by their Totem Armor (see History, Technology)

Without their armor, they are a smallish people, oddly diminshed-looking, with lank black hair, dark gray eyes, and pale skin that could be olive in a more sunny climate.

The Intil'zatlu are productive Astronomancers.

Technology

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Crystal Skull of Intli

At once a weapon, a tool for divination, a telescope, a computer, and an entity in and of itself, the Crystal Skull is a powerful magical artifact which, allegedly, lies at the very heart of the Empire. Surrounded by myth and rumor, it is entirely possible that it is simply a fraud committed by the Seer-priestesses to cement their power. However, considering the education of the population, this is unlikely - but an unsettling thing to speculate about.

Artillery Balloons

The descendents of the crude balloons favored by the Cicazl, Intli'Zatlu artillery Baloons bear little resemblance to their ancestors. Imagine a perfect sphere of white silk held aloft by a hotstone sewn into it; an eerie sphere of concentric stone rings hovers just below it, unsupported. At the heart of this second sphere lie a cluster of stone orbs, engraved with glowing heiroglyphs; occasionally, one will shoot out from the center towards the horizon at incredible speed, only to return days later, rolling along the antarctic waste.
They aren't quite a defence mechanism, although they're certainly more effective than many ground-based artilleries on the rare occasion that they aim for a target; rather, they are used for reconnaissance and scientific exploration, their shells being record-golems designed to measure temperature, air-pressure, and countless other factors.

Stone Totems

Ubiquitous in Intli'Zatlu society, Stone Totems are odd, modular golems made from oddly glowing, green-gray stone. Carved in a distinctive, highly decorative and geometric style, they are animate effigies of gods, men, or animals. The most recognizable are the free-standing totems- the idols of the Bear God, used in construction, and the idols of the Walrus and the Jaguar, used as vehicles- the former a slow, hulking, amphibious construct, the latter a smaller, faster personal transport; the Twin Gods which guard the Pyramid of Intli, the decorative Serpent Gods, and the stone dogs kept as pets by the Intli'Zatlu.
These, though, are but a fraction of the Intli'Zatlu's peculiar magiotechnology- armor, architecture, scientific equipment, even toys and clothing are likely to be made from the same stone and imbued with the same magical properties. Indeed, the Intli'zatlu are so dependent on their Totems that the two have become indistinguishable in the eyes of many outsiders- Intli'zatlu diplomats, never seen outside of their stone armor yet still somehow having an eerie, fluid grace, are often taken at first sight to be an entirely different species from the humans that they are. The fact that the Stone Totems themselves possess a measure of intelligence doesn't help with the confusion.

Stone totems can provide a great deal of heat and light, as well, and Intli'Zatlu are rarely seen outside of their homes without protective stone armor- climate control in most cities being a purely indoor phenomenon.

As a side note, it is worth noting that the Intli'Zatlu do not make regular use of the wheel. They were without the concept for much of their history, and, even though they are familiar with it now, they have little use for it, most of their vehicles having legs or runners.

Government

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The government of the Intli'Zatlu is, essentially, a meritocracy; government positions are attained by the sitting of exams, and any holder of office can be removed by an applicant who manages to out-score them. There are no limits on who can apply for a position, but most Influential Positions require that applicants be Seer-priests before applying.

The Empire is, technically, ruled directly by Intli through the Crystal Skull. In Practice, power is shared by the Grand Astronomer and by the Seven Ladies of the Skull.

In the past, the Grand Astronomer has held the Crystal of Fate, but it was lost during the reign of the corrupt Grand Astronmer 1-Jade-Nova.

Seer-priests

At once sages, astrologers, governors, philosophers, and scientists, the Seer Priests and Seer-Priestesses are the elite of Intli'zatlu society. It is not an hereditary caste- every Seer-priest must pass the Great Exam and, upon passing, perform a ritual fast and sacrifice to Intli (usually in the form of a few drops of their own blood).
Priests, Legislators, Philosophers, Builders of Idols, those involved in Scientific Research, and, especially, Astronomers must all be Seer-Priests before trying for that position. There are no restrictions on who can become a Seer-priest, but, as a group, they regard themselves as the pinnacle of society, and disdain those of lesser rank.
They wear Stone Totem masks in the shape of skulls as a symbol of their rank, and their devotion to Intli.
Around 7% of the population will be Seer-priests at a given time.
There are also the Seven Izotlca'zatlu- 'Ladies of the Skull'- Seer-priestesses who attend the Crystal Skull. Their main purpose is to divine messages from the skull, and to advise the Grand Astronomer, the Generals of Intli, and anyone else involved in activities affecting the whole Empire. They currently hold the Crystal of Bones.
Contrary to popular belief, they aren't, as a whole, all that interested in virgins.

Culture

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Language

The Intli'Zatlu tongue is called 'Varoquali Intli’Zatlu' or 'Varozuquali Intlizo'zatlu', if you're feeling patriotic -both mean 'They, the People of Intli, speak it', although the latter marks both the language and the people as being honorable; the Old Tongue, 'Varpalozuquazo'zatlo-cutzopaloli', 'it-was-spoken-by-the-honorable-people-who-used-to-live" is used in some religious and scientific publications. Its own name for itself was 'Huarlashukuamultsigal' - 'it is spoken in Zikal'.

Both of these languages are polysynthetic, and written with a series of complex glyphs combining alphabet and logography. Varoquali Intli'zatlu is commonly, if inaccurately, called 'Intli' among other peoples- Varoqua, 'it-is-spoken', would be a much more appropriate name, and has been adopted by some foreign linguists.

Art

Art, religion, magic, and technology are more-or-less indestinguishable to the Intli'Zatlu; very few pieces of art are not also somehow useful; conversely, very few tools are not artistic in some way- and all are believed to fall under the domain of, to be manifestations of, one of the gods. Something so prosaic as a slide-rule or a microscope, or so commonplace as a wrench, a drill, or a spoon are likely to be beautifully and intricately carved idols; likewise, a good-luck charm may be a timepiece, messenger, and thermometer; the fierce carvings of bloody skulls or jaguar heads that frequently adorn the doors of private homes are likely to be active security systems rather than mere gargoyles, alerting the inhabitants of any guests or intruders; and the great murals done in Bas-relief on the walls of of their universities are likely to be able to provide everything from a map of the campus to an overview of Intli'Zatlu art history to those who know how to ask.

Sculpture and stonework are the main media (see: Stone Totems). The prevailing style is heavy, monolithic, geometric, and, in representative works, stylized almost beyond recognition. At the same time, they possess a graceful, alien beauty and, in the case of animate works, a certain flowing grace. Sculpture, bas-relief, and writing are considered to be the same art form- varoqua glyphs have a marked aesthetic quality to them, and can be integrated into sculpture easily.

Common motifs include the Jaguar, the warrior beast, and the Walrus, considered symbols of protection and battle; The Bull and the toad, representing strength, if not intelligence; Birdlife, particularly eagles and vultures (which, not native to Zikal, are usually stylized beyond recognition), as well as the arctic tern, the penguin, and the Auk; the Orca, the scut, and the sacred Viquali grain, considered symbols of plenty; the dog, the serpent, the siffl, and the butterfly, which arre simply regarded as cute and/or beautiful; human forms, either in monuments or as servants; The Nautilus, considerd a symbol of the tides and thus both a lunar and a maritime symbol; and, most ubiqutous of all, the Skull and the Skeleton.

This last motif is interesting- the skeleton and the skull, except where portrayed as bloody, are not regarded as death symbols at all; rather, they are lunar symbols, reflecting the white glow of Primos, and the eerie, red, skull-like pattern of the craters on the minor moon Skull. They are frequently accompanied by sharks' teeth, which are a stellar symbol to the Intli'Zatlu. Given the astronomical bent of the civilization, it is not surprising that these symbols are ubiquitous.

Architecture, too, is monolithic and geometric. Great, square buildings, towering spyres and stepped pyramids dominate the gridlike cities of the Intli'Zatlu. Vast apartment complexes hold hundreds or even thousands of individuals, with families usually living in ajacent, although separate, apartments. Only the politically powerful own their own, separate homes, and these are more often then not also places of work, of research or religion.

Intricate textiles, either geometric or incorporating text, are also produced- they have some of the highest thread-counts on Xothu.

Education

Religion

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Given the rumors of Human Sacrifice circulating in more northerly lands, an outsider to Intli'Zatlu society would probably be surprised to find them an almost entirely secular people, with the gods rarely even mentioned. It would probably take him weeks to even manage to tease out the names of the primary Intli'Zatlu gods, and months more to find out any sort of mythology. He would doubtless dismiss religion as being unimportant to such a logical, scientific society.
He would be dead wrong. Religion pervades every facet of Intli'Zatlu society; Everything in their civilization, from the architecture of their cities down to the very fabric of their clothing, is regarded as the manifestation of one or another of their gods. And the gods themselves are regarded as all-pervading: at once the conjunction of astronomical events, aspects of an all-pervading force, and beings with a literal presence in the countless Idols that form the basis of Intli'Zatlu technology.
As such, their gods are rather ill-defined compared to other religions, but a loose pantheon can be established:

Pantheon

Intli

He of the Crystal Skull; God of the Moon, Summer, Death, Knowledge, Cold, and Ice; Lord of the Land of the Dead, Emperor over Gods and Men; Protector of Seers, Revolutionaries, and Astronomers.
Intli is the head of the Empire's Pantheon. In art, he is portrayed as an old man wearing an elaborate head-dress and holding the orb of the moon on his back. He has a skull for a face, wears a necklace of sharks' teeth and severed hands, and wields an obsidian knife. Despite his fearsome appearance, he is a largely benevolent, grandfatherly figure.
His Idols are the Moons, particularly Primos and Skull, the Crystal Skull, some scientific instruments, the Masks of the Seer-priests, the seven Skeleton-Totems, and the Great Pyramid itself.

Mozach

God of Politics, War, Architecture, The Revolution of Xothu, and the Sun; protector of Warriors, Diplomats, Those Seeking Office, and Celebrants of Birthdays.
He is portrayed as a fierce warior with four arms, wielding a spear, a dagger, and a bow, and wearing a flayed Jaguar Skin.
His Idols are the Great Bear, the swift Jaguar, the Twin Gods who Guard the Great Pyramid, and most Armor, Weapons, and Buildings.

Gucu

Goddess of the Sea, Childbirth, Starvation, and the living dead. She is portrayed as an orca, or an old, almost skeletal woman in an Orca mask, and is occasionally considered the Consort of Intli
Her Idols are the Orca, the Walrus, The Nautilus the Mask of the Midwife, the Tractor-golem, the Tomb, some childrens' toys, and the Scut.

Ec Huat

God of Snow, Wind, Ignorance, and the Winter Sky.
He is portrayed as an odd, flat creature, almost like a skin rug. His idols are the toad, the Carpet, the Frigate Bird and the Manta Ray.

Tlanoche

Goddess of Pottery, Stonework, Weaving, and the Family. She is portrayed as a young woman with a long, serpentine neck, weaving an elaborate cloth. Her idols are the Needle, the Chisel, the Infant, most utensils and containers, and some childrens' toys.

Quekua

Godess of Sunsets, the Rotation of Xothu, Small Dogs, and Poetry. She is portrayed as a dog, or as a woman with white hair, and is believed to be the daughter, or perhaps the Consort or Granddaughter, of Intli. Her idols are the Stone Dog, the Coyote, the fox, the stylus, the armor of the Ciaptl, and the mask of the artist.

Pali Oaztl

God of Fire, Snakes, Xothu, Chemical Reactions, Alchemy, mechanics, and destruction.
He is portrayed as a feathered serpent.
His idols are the Snake, the Armadillo, the Crane and the Wrecking ball, some scientific instruments, the Vulture, some explosives, and Balloon Cabins.

Calendar Gods

In addition to the major pantheon mentioned above, there are also thousands upon thousands of minor deities, 'calendar gods', which are believed to be manifestations of certain astronomical/astrological events. Or perhaps vice-versa: The motion of the stars, of the complex Calendar of the Seven Moons, and the political, geological, and sociological movements of Xothu are all believed to be gods, in the same way as the seven Major Gods- the Intli'Zatlu worship events as much as beings.

Practices

Calendar

The Religion of the People of Intli cannot be understood separate from their calendar, and the calendar is dizzyingly complex. Tracking the motions of the sun, the seven moons, thirteen other planets, fourteen constellations, and no fewer than eight comets, it has a bewildering array of cycles- tropical years, lunar years, siderial years, the cycles of the comets, the lunar cycles, and multiple types of day. The Conjunction of these cycles are believed to be gods in and of themselves, and are times for religious celebration or sacrifice.

The cycles are tracked by the Great Calendar Stone below The Pyramid of the Summer Night.

Astronomy

Sunset Rituals

Human Sacrifice

A major part of Cicazl religion, human sacrifice was discontinued by the early Intli'zatlu in the interest of survival. Several attempts to revive it have been made, most notably by 1-Jade-Nova, who associated it with the rising of the Winter Sun.

History

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Early Settlement

The first settlers of Zikal arrived during the Bloodstaiend Aeon, in the form of Cicazl astronomer-priests and their wives on the Upili Peninsula attracted by the clear skies and long nights of the region; their dedication to science and the heavens would go on to influence all subsequent civilization on the Southern Continent.

Unfortunately, the Cicazl Empire collapsed soon after the colony's establishment, leaving the priests trapped on the penninsula, as there were no trees suitable for boat-building. In the extreme north of the Haven Reaches, Sacred grain intended for sacrifice was planted and used to eke out a few tiny farms, while the hardy arctic Scut provided protein. Still, the cicazl priest-kings and their descendents continued to dutifully record the heavens from the great Sacred Observatory, and, despite the hardships managed to survive until powerful magics made expansion possible.

That is the official story. However, there are some who claim that the astronomer-priests foresaw the bloody fall of Cicazl and were disgusted with its warrior nature, and left. Others say they saw signs in the heavens. Others say the people asked the astronomer-priests to leave to found a new country. Oddly, which story one believes seems to concurr with certain political beliefs.

There is definite evidence that some of their early contact (if not ancestors), belonged to underground groups of Astronomancers.

Whatever the case, the early settlers continued following their own impoverished version of Cicazl customs (although human sacrifice was discontinued- what little population there was needed to be preserved.) As generations passed, they were able to explore the interior of the continent, finding lands devoid of all life (save, perhaps, a bit of lichen), and as yet completely useless to the starving astronomers.
And yet, these lands would soon elevate them from the brink of death to prosperity. During a rare double lunar eclipse, a group of astronomancers sent to the southern wastes noticed an odd glow coming from a rocky promontory; they were able to determine that it was a powerful source of natural magic.
Within a year, the colony's resources were re-channeled into a massive construction project- baloons were created from the hides of walruses preserved from hunts to be used as areal bases for surveyors; the neglected libraries of the Observatories were raided, priests pouring over their contents for anything on the arts of surveying and the channeling of magic, and before the winter was out, massive Geoglyphs had been scraped into the antarctic desert, channeling raw magic from the node to the settlements in the Haven Reaches. Over time, more nodes were discovered and connected, until fully a quarter of Zikal was criss-crossed with the sacred earth-lines. The Cicazl, at first, used this magical energy to improve the yields of their farms and boost the efficacy of their rituals. Their survival, at least, was assured.

Contact

By this time, the Bloodstained Aeon had come to a close. The rest of the world was taking its first, halting steps toward peace. The Pollicles were even beginning to send out a few tiny exploratory ships after their last, devastating war with the Jellicles. It was one of these, the Hidden Paw, that first came upon the colony. They fled immediately, and understandably: the world was recovering from a half-milennium of war, and here, like a nightmare rising from the past, was a lost colony of one of the most feared nations on the planet; worse than that, they had descended into savagery, using rocks for clubs, living in ruins and driftwood huts, wearing skins, and yet they wielded powerful magic,far more powerful, in fact, than the necromancy of lost Tlapili, (although neither the explorers nor the colonists were aware of this yet) and they were still recording the heavens, like they had been sent to do hundreds of years before.
Subsequent exploratory visits found the settlements on the Upili Peninsula more-or-less abandoned as the colonists had fled inland, below the antarctic circle, relying on their magic to provide for them as they watched the dark summer sky.
The Pollicle explorers' account gradually spread among travelers. It mutated into a kingdom of dark sorcerers at the south of the world, performing bloody sacrifices and obscene rituals; the continent of Zikal became synonymous with dark magic, and the Shards of Nherru soon became associated with it- they are known as The Zikal Crystals to this day.
It was this last connection which led to the true rise of the southern empire- they wouldn't be known as the people of Intli for some time yet.

A group of adventurers centered around the pilot of one of the last surviving Grand Dirigibles, the Serpent's Egg, gathered up five of the seven shards (they were unable to locate the Crystals of Invocation and of Worlds) and, erroneously believing them to have originated in Zikal, sought to return them to the 'accursed ice from whence they came'.
Flying over Cicazl territory, they were met with a fleet of baloons bearing Eagle Warriors, the Cicazl evidentally mistaking the Dirigible for some strange form of Dragon. A lucky shot from a spear-thrower managed to disable one of the Dirigible's engines, and, realizing the strange flying device's weakness, they were soon able to bring down the Serpent's Egg. Several of the crewmen managed to escape in biplanes the Dirigible was carrying, rescuing four of the crystals. The crystals of Decay, Mind, and Might were returned safely to Daramus, while the pilot of the plane carrying the Crystal of Fate was blown off course and, his gas-skin pierced by a spear, crashed into the Zikal Ice Sheet. The Crystal of Bones, however, was dropped during the evacuation, and remained on board the Serpent's Egg as the dirigible slowly crashed.
Miraculously, according to Intli'Zatlu sources, the crew of the dirigible survived (although the vessel itself was damaged beyond repair by a fire). They were, again according to Intli'Zatlu sources, taken to the Grand Observatory, then the center of Cicazl civilization (such as it was). The Cicazl gained control over the Crystal of Bone, and access to the technological progress the rest of the world had made-they were even able to reverse-engineer what was left of the Serpent's Egg.

Rise of the Sun-kings

The Coming of Intli

First Empire

The Revolution of the Seers

Technological Rennaissance

Population

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The Intli'Zatlu have a modest population, of perhaps ten or fifteen million people spread out over several million square kilometers. The vast majority of the population is urban.

International Relations

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Although technologically very advanced, the Intli'Zatlu are far from the dominant people of the planet. The greatest of their Idols pales in comparison to, say, Kaluang Clah, and even the great, gliding Condor-Golems with baloons in their wings pale in comparison to the long-vanished Grand Dirigibles. They have little need of expansion, having a low birth rate and an empty continent at their disposal. They do, however, possess several islands towards the equator which they use for astronomical observation- they are notoriously difficult to negotiate shipping lanes with.
Trade is primarily the export of textiles and art, and the import of various foodstuffs. Combat with other peoples is rare, and ususally defensive- and decided in the Intli'Zatlu's favor. Intli'Zatlu students occasionally study abroad at the Universities of the Grand Lilithians, and scientific and anthropological expeditions are frequent- it is on these that one is most likely to encounter Intli'Zatlu.
Other peoples regard them with fear, bemusement, frustration or suspicion- they are frequently regarded as other than human, and practitioners of human sacrifice and cannibalism.

Economy

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The Intli'Zatlu do not recognize property as other races do, as physical possessions. An individual Intli'zatvu (the proper singular, and not a mis-spelling; the genitive marker vu assimilates with the plural tlo) cannot be said to 'own' his house, his tools, anything- the physical artifacts of the civilization are regarded as literal gods, and owning them would be faintly blasphemous and thoroughly rediculous. The art and technology (see above) which adorn the homes of the Intli'Zatlu in infinite variety are not regarded as property but as an act of religious devotion, and are either created by the inhabitant or chosen from the works of an idol-maker or public storehouse.

'Ownership', instead, is reserved for intellectual property- not, importantly, physical manuscripts or blueprints, since they, being physical, are sacred Idols, but the actual content of the works, the ideas behind them; the actual songs, or stories, or floorplans.
This concept of property is not quite the same as earthly copywrite law- it is as much a spiritual concept as an economic one. Ideas, works of art and literature are regarded as a part of their creator, analogous in some way to the existence of the Gods apart from their idols; commiting plagiarism is analogous to a vicious, spiritual attack; conversely, though, individuals are expected to share their concepts freely, to make them available to the public.

Important to the Intli'Zatlu economy is the Caste System; somewhere between social class, priesthood, hobbyists association and labor union, almost every Intli'zatvu above the age of twenty or so, and a number of those younger than that, belong to one or more Castes. These aren't hereditary, but are entered into based on exams (see government), and are not mutually exclusive- most belong to at least two castes, and multiple sub-castes. The most famous caste, of course, is that of the Seer-priests; but there are countless others, and, indeed, countless sub-castes within each caste, each corresponding to a particular profession or group of professions. Property reverts to one's castes upon death.

Most actual labor- construction, farming, transport- is done by Stone Totems; food is evenly distributed to all from the farms carved out of the antarctic wastes, and public housing is provided for all. The Intli'Zatlu themselves are primarily employed as scientists, priests, administrators, skilled craftsmen, and urban planners.

World-View

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The Intli'Zatlu are, perhaps surprisingly for a people native to such a desolate land, an optimistic, peaceful race, with a flair for both the sophisticated and the epic. Their civilization is governed by astrologers and planned according to the paths of the stars, true, but they see these predictions as being descriptive- the heavens reflect the world, not vice-versa.
At the same time, the concept of Detatchment from the world is central to them; they view the acquisition of knowledge as the ultimate aim of life, and envy the heavens for their detatched reflection of every aspect of Xothuly life. Philosophy, science, magic, and history are the highest arts in their estimation- they grant understanding of the world, and the capacity to re-shape it.
The Intli'zatlu have a love-hate relationship with the memory of the Cicazl- depending on how nationalistic they are, individual Intli'Zatlu will view them as either a great warrior people, unfairly slandered by lesser peoples; the brutal oppressors who the true ancestors of the Intli'Zatlu fled from; an interesting historical curiosity; or a civilization of savage fanatics whose connection to the modern Empire is, quite frankly, a little embarassing.
No matter their beliefs, though, they find Cicazl sculpture- so much like a primitive form of their stone totems, but so incredibly devoid of life- a little creepy.

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