CUAUHTLICALLI

(kwah-tlee-KAH-lee)

Huitzilipochtli

The city-state of Huitzilopochtli

The city-state of the Blue Jade Warriors is perched high atop a tall mountain range, isolated from the rest of the world. Nestled between snow-covered peaks, the city is protected from the freezing tempests that batter the peaks around it. Preserving most of the valley for farmland, the city spreads onto the mountainsides around the valley and even reaches within the mountains at certain points. The only buildings that lie on the valley floor are the vast temple to Huitzilopochtli and the Creation Palace of Cihuacoatl, the protector goddess of all childbirths. The city's name means "Eagle House". Its ramparts look out from the high points of the surrounding mountains and give a commanding view of the world around them. It is said by the people of Cuauhtlicalli "If it cannot be seen from the peaks of Eagle House, ten it does not exist."

The people of Cuauhtlicalli worship the war god of the Azteca, Huitzilopochtli. Because of this, many devote their lives to learning the methods of war. Cross-training is the norm here and even foot warriors know the basics of mech piloting, while mecha pilots must master the art of man-to-man fighting as well as operating a powersuit.

To accommodate this thriving warrior caste, children test at early adolescence to determine their role in life. Tests include challenges of bravery, endurance, craft with the arts, dexterity, and learning ability. They are hung, dropped, quizzed, and beaten in a two-week ritual that demands much of the youngsters. Although every child wishes to be a warrior, it is stressed that no shame is gathered for becoming a farmer or a weaver, because the city-state could not continue without such folk. But, at last, the decisions are made and each child is set on a life path... forever.

It is also during these tests that men and women become equal, but separate classes of society. Men become either warriors or farmers, and women become either warriors or crafters. Both men and women may choose to follow an alternate path to that determined by the testers - they may choose to become creators. Creators dedicate themselves to the task of child bearing. All other attempting to bear children are subject to the penalty of death. It is difficult for men to be accepted into the creator caste, but the caste takes all women who volunteer, for war is hard on populations and the society needs all the children it can get.

Warriors of Huitzilopochtli, whether women or men, commonly scar their faces by raking an eagle's talon from eye to jawbone on the left side of their faces. This disfiguring mark is a badge of honor among the warriors and is their first experience with pain as a focusing element. The young warriors are often told to stand atop a slippery log poised high above a canyon while dragging the talon down their faces. The fear of falling is intense, the agony supreme, and each warrior knows that the deeper the wound, the greater the honor.

Although the Hummingbird Warriors tend to support returning Quetzalcoatl to power, the current civil war has also opened up divisions in Huitzilopochtli's people. The popular support of the people is still behind Quetzalcoatl as leader of the Huitznahua, but a growing faction of young warriors has decided that a war god should lead in times of war. These rebellious young warriors call themselves the Green Hummingbirds. The more stable segment of society has responded by calling themselves the White Hummingbirds. With these badges of opinion clearly marked upon their shields and war costumes, the lines are drawn and there have been occasions of aid withheld in times of need when it suited the goals of either White of Green. No open confrontations have occurred as yet, but tensions are mounting and it could just be a matter of time.

The color of blue jade is the predominant base color of the Hummingbird Warrior paint schemes, but bright yellows, oranges, and greens accentuate the highlights of the mecha and create a vibrant, alive quality to their Warrior Skins.