Scaled States

The Scaled States, also known as the State of the Entity, is a union country comprised of various tribal nations. It is found in the south-western parts of Allmenaria. Though the country is a union of different cultures and peoples, all the member-tribes are united through a similar dedication to their shared faith. Each member-tribe has a fixation on the wider community and the greater good rather than individual wants, which has allowed the nation to persist mostly unchanged through the centuries. It is known to be one of the most open and culturally-diverse countries in the world. 
As well as it's cultural diversity, the Scaled States controls a majority of the Tekunatin region - a jungle region of incredible biodiversity. This makes the Scaled States one of the most biodiverse and ecologically unique countries as well. Over time, the citizens of the Scaled States have learned to live equally with the land rather than exploiting it, and are considered pioneers of sustainability and environmental awareness. Many member-tribes are very protective of their rainforests and actively work to ensure that all visitors express the same respect. 
The Scaled States emphasises a policy of non-intervention, cooperation, and peaceful resolution. As a result, they are a friendly partner and reliable ally for multiple countries. However, though they do participate in trade, they are not a massively active trade power. This is because of their own self-sustainability as well as a focus on domestic communal efforts rather than the individualism that pushes the merchants of other countries. 
== History ==
== Geography ==
The Scaled States controls a large majority of the region known as Tekunatin (meaning 'homeland' in the Scaleish language). This region is a land of thick jungles and murky swamps. Much of this territory is unsettled and unmapped, making it a land of unknowns for both outsiders and the native inhabitants themselves. It is also a land of many unique flora and fauna, some of which have particularly bizarre properties not commonly observed elsewhere in the world.
The Scaled States' borders are, for the most part at least, actually rather simple. A little under half of the nation's borders are coastline - meaning that they end at the Great Sea rather than another country. To the north, they share a border with the Eleven Dragon Dominion, a historic trading partner. To the east, the Scaled States' jungle shifts into a grassy savannah along its border with the Carrion Kingdoms, a place that has irritated the native Lizardmen more than a few times with their poaching habits. Finally, the Scaled States' most recent border is the one they have with the Empire of Man's Three Colonies, territory voluntarily gifted to the Imperials but also a place has proven to be more than controversial in recent times.
== Politics ==
The Scaled States is a union of multiple autonomous tribes that are all united through their shared devotion to and belief in a shared god. Decisions that effect all member-tribes are debated and decided through a governing council of all the tribes' leaders, which typically has a Holy Seer at its organisational head.
On a more local level, each member-tribe is self-governing and able to create their own laws. This is as long as these laws do not contradict national law or the principles of the union - community, citizenship, dignity, and faith.
Leaders for each member-tribe are chosen through democratic vote by the members of that tribe. Similarly, a ruling leader can be ousted at any time by popular vote and, in the event that the leader refuses, the other member-tribes are obligated to intervene and ensure a peaceful transition. An elected leader will rule over the tribe until they either die or are voted out.
The leaders of the member-tribes are responsible for local judicial, executive, and legislative dealings. This means they are effectively responsible for all major (and often minor) decisions within their tribe. However they are directed by the advice of The Entity's priests, a group that often holds just as much power as the leader due to the religious dedication of the country.
=== Law ===
With each member tribe being mostly self-governing, Scaled State law varies somewhat across its various territories. But, there is a national law that is agreed upon by all member-tribes, particularly referencing the approaches to the worst crimes, violent crimes, and heretical crimes.
Scaled State courts resembles arenas or amphitheatres and are designed to be great communal spectacles, a chance for the community to judge the accused and/or convicted for the wrongdoings committed against them. Ultimately, though, the decision for conviction and punishment is decided by the ruling leader, in accordance with local and national law. Traditionally, most crimes in the Scaled States are punished through varying degrees of penal labour or community service. But the worst crimes, such as murder, as well as heretical crimes are often punished with ritual execution.
Scaled State legal processes are known to be fairly fast and efficient affairs in a majority of cases. This has attracted criticism from some foreign observers, however, who believe that the accused should be given more time to prove their case. Nevertheless, the Scaled State system is perhaps one of the most open and public judicial systems on Magnula.
=== Foreign Policy ===
The Scaled States' approach to foreign policy has remained the same for much of its history and is directly copied from the alleged orders of The Entity. They emphasise non-intervention, self-determination, international cooperation, and a peaceful resolution of conflicts as the guiding principles of their policy. Any change to this policy must be agreed upon by the leaders of all member-tribes and is only ever done on the word of The Entity.
The Scaled States has cooperative relationships with many countries - including the Elven Dragon Dominion, the Empire of Man, and multiple Carrion Kingdoms. They keep their borders open to foreign visitors and dignitaries and are often the first to provide aid to other countries in times of hardship. Perhaps the most famous example of their approach to foreign policy was allowing the Empire of Man to establish the Three Colonies on what was once their land. At the time, this was considered a shining example of international cooperation however this has not been without controversy, for a few member-tribes consider this a betrayal of their sovereignty and actively oppose the Imperial presence.
=== Law Enforcement and Crime ===
In the Scaled States, the national law is enforced by the military. They have no dedicated police force, unlike some countries, and instead rely on a combination of communal volunteers and military presence. These garrison forces are controlled by the leader of the member-tribe and their respective city of posting, however they exist to serve the whole community and not blindly follow the commands of a minority. In most cities, there is also a 'Penal Force' that is responsible for overseeing convicts serving their community labour posting.
All in all, the Scaled States have a below-average level of crime when compared to other countries - especially violent crime. This is likely due to a combination of the community-centred culture of the Scaled States and the harsh punishments that convicts are subjected to. The worst crimes, including rape and murder, as well as heresy are punished by ritual execution. This typically involves the convict having their heart removed as a sacrifice of repentance to The Entity.
=== Member-Tribes ===
The Scaled States are comprised of 13 member-tribes. There were once many more tribes, with the number totalling somewhere around 500 in the country's earliest days, however most of these tribes were consensually absorbed by their more prosperous neighbours until the number shrank to what it is today.
Each member tribe is an autonomous entity that is able to more-or-less govern itself as it sees fit. However, there are still national laws that each member must abide by, typically revolving around severe crimes and religious practice, and every member-tribe is equally expected to assist in and work for the national collective. Each member-tribe has its own culture and way of life, making no two members exactly the same. But their shared religious beliefs unite these otherwise unique peoples together in order to properly honour their god.
The current member-tribes are:
* Macatán
* Savitec
* Azhuatl
* Olzoque
* Korbala
* Ze’ena’tec
* Tulatec
* Chuysca
* Guapi
* Gunuduche
* Talutican
* T’uchapeca
* Karibku
== Economy ==
The Scaled State economy is a controlled, community-centred market that is regulated heavily by tribal leaders and the wider state. Since all the native Lizardmen are bred for a single, pre-assigned purpose, an overwhelming majority of the businesses in the Scaled States are actually public rather than private. Their prices are chosen by the state and all the profit they create is taken to be used on the wider community. In other countries, this would be classified as drastic income inequality however the communal, unmaterialistic culture of the Scaled States means that currency is not a desired commodity in the same way it is in other countries - it is simply a means with which to acquire foreign goods and holds next-to-no power domestically.
The Scaled States' economy mostly revolves around its natural resources. This involves agriculture, mining, and lumber. Some of the Scaled States' more notable domestic products and exports include: coffee, soybeans, corn, sugarcane, gold, and precious stones. Interestingly, animal products are not a common export within the Scaled States as all meat and skin is used domestically. The one exception to this is bone, which is sometimes used in the creation of trinkets that is then sold to visitors.
=== Tourism ===
Tourism in the Scaled States is a growing economic sector for multiple member-tribes of the country. It is one of the most popular destinations for recreational tourists (often the wealthiest of their respective societies) but also scholars and merchants. It is an especially popular destination for citizens of the Empire of Man - a country that has a particular economic interest in the region.
Perhaps the Scaled States' main touristic appeal lies in its natural areas and resources. These areas provide a combination of beauty, adventure, and culture that makes them particularly appealing to those travelling here for recreational or academic reasons. For those interested in the monetary and material, the resources present within these areas make them equally appealing.
The Scaled States' main touristic weakness, however, lies in its underdeveloped roadways and ground-based infrastructure. For those wishing to travel into the jungle or to a different settlement, travel via water or air are typically the only practical options available.
=== Science and Technology ===
The Scaled States' science and technology is a communal effort that is reliant on cooperation between the member-tribes. Each tribe will work individually on their own projects and efforts, however they are also expected to share any breakthrough with the other members. Through this, a consistent and equal level of progress is maintained for all members and citizens.
Out of all the sciences, the Scaled States is perhaps most notable for its contributions to the field of astronomy. They are some of the most advanced and developed in this field, with incredibly accurate star maps that date back hundreds of years. Modern Scaled State astronomy has succeeded in mapping the movements and positions of Magnula's moons and stars. They were also the first to understand multiple astronomical phenomena, such as the phases of the moon and eclipses.
The Scaled States are also pioneers in sustainability, being able to use the unique resources of their jungle homeland without destroying the local ecosystem. This is a tremendous economic boon to the Scaled States that they have used very effectively through their thriving export markets.
=== Transportation ===
A huge majority of travel and transportation in the Scaled States is done either through waterways or by air. Roadways once existed but it was found that the difficulties in constructing these roads, combined with the regularity of attacks from native wildlife, made them impractical. Many of these old roads have long since been abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle. The few that do still exist are often old and damaged from a lack of maintenance and are almost never used.
The most common mode of transportation in the Scaled States is done through the country's many rivers and waterways. Rafts, boats, and transport ships frequent the largest of these routes and some Scaled State settlements are only reachable through the water.
Another common method of transport is via the air. This revolves around the use of aerial creatures, such as Pterosaurs, and many native citizens of the Scaled State are trained in the flying and controlling of these animals. For those that are able to do so, flying is a particularly safe method of navigating the jungle because it avoids most native natural threats.
== Demographics ==
The native people of the Scaled States, that being the Lizardmen and Tortles, rigidly structure new births based on their predictive divinations. This means that the Scaled State population is actually quite easy to estimate, as it is actively monitored and recorded seemingly at all times.
Current estimates place the population of the Scaled States at around 8 million. A huge percentage of this population is centred in and around the country's large cities. Smaller towns and villages are quite rare in Scaled State lands, as the native jungle makes it incredibly difficult, and even though they do exist only a small part of the total population lives in these less-secure settlements.
=== Races and Ethnic Groups ===
An overwhelming majority of Scaled State citizens are Lizardmen, with modern estimates stating that they comprise about 80% of the total population. Tortles, the other race most commonly associated with the Scaled States, comprise only about 10% of the population. The remaining 10% is represented by immigrants. 
Since the Scaled States opened up its borders to visitors there has been considerable mixing of the races in its lands. The immigrant population of the Scaled States is comprised of many different races, from Arachi to Orcs to Imperials to the Elven races. As citizens, these peoples are expected to participate in the community in the same way a purposely-bred Lizardman would. 
As well as overt racial differences, there are also subraces within the Lizardmen. 3 notable subraces (which can also be categorised as castes) exist within typical Scaled State society. The gecks act as scouts, craftsmen, and lesser-priests. Komodos act as warriors and hunters. And Gators act as heavy labourers. Gecks and Komodos are the most populous of these subraces, with Gators being less common. 
=== Health ===
Being a collectivist society, the Scaled States provides a public, communal health service. Every citizen of the Scaled States is provided free care by local healers and visitors can obtain the same care for incredibly generous prices - often just a simple donation of coin or goods. The Scaled States do not have large buildings dedicated to healing, such as hospitals, and instead have many smaller buildings that are staffed by one or two healers. More often than not, these clinics also function as the healer's home. Construction and maintenance of the buildings are provided by the wider community.
Scaled State medicine often revolves around what their homeland provides, typically meaning herbal and plant-based remedies. Those who are not educated in this approach might see it as primitive, but the properties of some of Tekunatin's unique plant life means that these arguably-simple remedies are more effective than one might think. As well as this, Scaled State healers are particularly proficient at treating certain diseases and conditions that are unique to the Scaled States' reptilian residents, such as skin infections induced by shedding-skin.
=== Education ===
Though the Scaled States does have a form of mandatory education, it does not function the same way as it does in similar countries. Each Lizardman is bred for a specific and preassigned purpose, whether that be as a warrior or a teacher or a labourer or a craftsman. With their role already decided for them, the Scaled States believes it unnecessary and illogical to teach their citizens about subjects they would not need to know about. For example, a Lizardman born to be a warrior does not need to be taught about farming or how to create clothes. Similarly a Lizardman born to make pots does not need to know the intricacies of warfare. All Lizardmen are taught the basics of language and mathematics, but from there they are only taught what is relevant for their role in wider society. If a Lizardman wishes to learn about unassigned subjects, that is something they must do on their own initiative and with their own resources.
With such a rigid education system, Scaled State cities have a variety of schools both big and small, each specialised in the teaching of and preparing for a specific role. These buildings are typically not that large and only have one or two classes. The only exceptions to this are the schools that train labourers and warriors, the two most numerous castes in the Scaled State. These schools are usually large academies and can have classes that number up to and sometimes exceeding a hundred individuals.
=== Language ===
The primary language in the Scaled States is, unsurprisingly, Scaleish. This is a language with a unique script, known as draconic, which makes deciphering writings a long affair for those not versed in the language or native to the Scaled States. It is widely believed in the Scaled States that Scaleish is derived from the language of The Entity and is the language that is allegedly spoken in the visions and predictions of the priesthood. Realistically, though, this belief this derived more from faith than actual evidence, for it is completely unknown - even to the Tortles and Lizardmen themselves - where exactly their language and (in particular) their unique script comes from. Any attempt to trace Scaleish back to its origins has come up blank.
=== Urbanisation ===
The Scaled State home region, Tekunatin, is an area of dense jungles and thick swamps. This, combined with the other dangers of the region, makes settlement construction extremely difficult. As a result somewhere between 80-90% of the Scaled State population lives in urban areas - normally the capitals of member-tribes. Smaller towns and villages do exist, but these communities are often isolated and dangerous places to live.
== Military Doctrine ==
The Scaled States has one of the most professional armies in the world. Their army, comprised mainly of Komodo Lizardmen, are quite literally bred for the single purpose of military service and are thus trained from birth to fit this role. This makes Scaled State warriors some of the best in the known world. The Scaled States also practices conscription, in the sense that armies will be replenished with members of the non-military castes when necessary, and this provides the Scaled States with one of the largest supplies of reservists as well. Each member-tribe of the Scaled States is expected to provide their own army for national defence, however other tribes will support and reinforce those that are, for whatever reason, unable to properly maintain their own garrisons.
Scaled State strategy typically revolves around using the dangers of their homeland to their advantage. This means tough front-line infantry and large war beasts, supplemented by swift skirmishers and ambush tactics. Though they lack the heavy artillery of nations like the Empire of Man or the Dwarves, they make up for it with utilising the giant dinosaurs of Tekunatin. The use of these creatures is mutualistic, with the Lizardmen providing the dinosaurs with food and shelter whilst the dinosaurs provide the Lizardmen with their labour at home or ferocity in battle. Being mainly a defensive force, driven by an unbreakable dedication to faith and country, Scaled State armies are normally tough, damaging, and unlikely to break.
=== Infantry ===
Scaled State infantry is a tough defensive force that is designed more for national defence and order-keeping than actual offensive action. Their regiments are segregated by the specific species of Lizardman that is supposed to comprise them. Not for any discriminatory reasons, though, but simply because different types of Lizardmen are bred for specific purposes. Gecks serve as a light infantry and skirmishers, Komodos serve as tough front-line infantry, and Gators serve as heavy shock troops. This, combined with the fact that Scaled State warriors are bred for the sole purpose of fighting, means that their infantry are among the most specialised in the world.
Scaled State infantry includes:
* Geck Warriors
* Geck Skirmishers
* Geck Spear Throwers
* Warrior Priests
* Chameleons
* Hornet Warriors
* Komodo Spearmen
* Komodo Clubmen
* Gator Warriors
* Temple Guards
=== Cavalry ===
The Scaled States only field a very limited amount of cavalry units for multiple reasons. First, and most simple, the rough jungle terrain does not really allow for it on a large scale. Second, the use of independent dinosaur units can typically be used for whatever task a cavalry unit might, with significantly less risk. And, finally, bonding riders with dinosaurs tends to take significantly more time and effort than, say, a rider and a horse would. Nevertheless, the Scaled States still field a few types of cavalry units for various purposes. Perhaps the most famous of these units are the aerial cavalry, riders flying atop dinosaurs that act as brilliant skirmishing troops.
Scaled State cavalry includes:
* Pterosaur Riders
* Gallisaur Riders
* Rippersaur Riders
* Carnosaur Riders
=== Beasts and Monsters ===
Perhaps the most important and famous of all the Scaled State military forces are their terrifying and awe-inspiring war beasts. These creatures are almost-exclusively all species of 'dinosaurs' - large reptilian creatures with fairly unique biologies when compared to similar species. Only found in the Lizardman homeland, they provide the Scaled States with a plentiful and exclusive supply of beasts to potentially use. Dinosaurs are known to be incredibly difficult and dangerous to tame, however the Scaled States have had millennia to establish breeding and taming programs. Nevertheless, the time-consuming process means that the most valuable of beasts are only deployed when absolutely necessary, lest they be lost in battle.
Scaled State war beasts include:
* Raptor Packs
* Ankylosaurs
* Pachycephalosaur Packs
* Dilophosaur Packs
* Therizinosaurs
* Tricerasaurs
* Tyrannosaurs
* Spinosaurs
* Coatls
* Giganotosaurs
=== Specialist Units ===
Like all countries, the Scaled States field specialist units that perform very specific roles in their overall military strategy. These are often one or two-person units that are rigorously trained in whatever job they are expected to do. For the Scaled States, these specialists are often powerful magic-users, typically of Tortle origin, as well as elite military leaders known as nacoms.
Scaled State specialists include:
* Geck Nacoms
* Komodo Veterans
* Warrior Acolytes
* Geck Priests
* Komodo Nacoms
* Gator Nacoms
* Tortle Priests
* Tortle Oracles
=== Navy ===
The Scaled States do not field a blue-water oceanic fleet in the same way that most other countries do. As a mainly defensive nation, they simply do not see the need for one. That is not to say they do not have a navy though. They do maintain a small green-water fleet (meaning that they operate in freshwater and coastal areas) that primarily serves transportation and supply roles.
Much of the Scaled State navy is a combination of small canoes, wooden boats, and reed rafts. These ships are typically only used by small groups to move up and down rivers. The larger ships in the Scaled State fleet are rarely larger than a regular brigantine or merchant vessel and are traditionally made using a combination of wood, reed binding, and (perhaps surprisingly) stone. Since Scaled State ships are not expected to engage in ship-to-ship combat, they rarely have any protection except the troops they are transporting and, sometimes, a unit of spear-throwers.
== Culture and Society ==
The core culture of the Scaled States is derived from its central, uniting faith and the citizens' close relationship to it. Among other influences, worship of The Entity has influenced: language, traditional practices, and architecture. 
As well as their religion, the member tribes of the Scaled States have also influenced each other, with the traditions and culture of each tribe influencing that of the others. Cuisine, music, and art all varies across the different tribes. 
In particular, the Scaled States' talent for sculpting and stonework is well renowned and their great stone pyramids, temples to The Entity, are an incredibly famous symbol for the Scaled States.
=== Architecture ===
The specific style of Scaled State architecture varies across both tribe and time period however, generally speaking, the citizens of the Scaled States have seemingly always used stone in much of their constructions. This has become the basis for all Scaled State architecture across the nation's long history.
A majority of the manpower required for typical Scaled State architecture is used in the quarrying, transporting, and finishing of the stone itself. Stone-based plaster is then used to bind the building itself together. After that, if the patron can afford it, carvings and art is sculpted into the stone. Indeed, Scaled State architecture has become synonymous with hieroglyphic carvings and art of various national styles.
On a macro-scale larger construction projects, like pyramids and aqueducts, require an immense amount of manpower. However, these projects are more often than not communal efforts that all (or at least most) citizens of the settlement are expected to partake in. This might be in an active role, providing their labour to the construction, or through less-direct efforts, such as providing food and water to the workers.
=== Music ===
Scaled State music is a unique combination of percussion and wind instruments. These are often performed in combination, similar to an orchestra, however one-person performances using drums or flutes are equally as common. Interestingly, string instruments were never invented in the Scaled States and were only introduced by visiting foreigners. Though they are still excluded from significant social and religious events, string instruments have still gained popularity for individual use by Scaled State citizens.
Since the earliest years of the Lizardmen and Tortles, even before the Scaled States were founded, music has played a significant and complex role in religion and society. Ritual music is to be expected with Scaled State events, no matter how big or small they might be. In fact, a constant stream of music is not exactly uncommon in the largest cities, where there is typically at least one event going on.
=== Literature ===
Traditional Scaled State literature dates back millennia, to the recordings of the first visions from The Entity, filled with various predictions about the land that would be known as Tekunatin - flora, fauna, topography, and everything in-between. Since, then, vast libraries of knowledge have been created, full of these predictions.
Scaleish, the primary language of the Scaled States, utilises a combination of traditional words and hieroglyphs. This, combined with its somewhat unorthodox writing structure, makes Scaleish one of the most complicated scripts in the world - despite it being quite widely spoken. Nevertheless it is the only language that official Scaled State writings (such as treaties and predictions) can be recorded in. The predictions, especially, are held to strict tradition. Normally, important writings are carved into thick stone tablets, for ease of preservation, however copies and less important writings are usually recorded on paper made from the bark of the fig tree, a special type of paper-making unique to the Scaled States.
=== Cuisine ===
Scaled State cuisine is varied and extensive. The large number of different types of flora and fauna allow for all manner of dishes, the materials for which are created through a combination of hunting, foraging, and agricultural production. The natives of the Scaled States are taught to respect the land, however, and so producers of food and food-based products will typically only take what is necessary - a far cry from the large-scale farming of, say, the Empire of Man. Even their agricultural efforts are done with respect to the land, opting for forest gardens (known as pet kot) rather than large fields.
Perhaps the most important plant in the Scaled States is maize (also known as corn), for it makes up a majority of local agriculture. However, squash and beans are also considered incredibly important - as well as the cultivation of fruits and berries such as tomato, avocado, strawberry, and guava. Commonly consumed domestic animals include duck and turkey, but much of the Scaled State meat production comes from sustainable hunting.
=== Theatre ===
Theatre is considered an influential and important cultural institution in the Scaled States. Performances at these theatres are commonly a combination of speech and traditional dance. Typically these performances are for the purposes of telling traditional Scaled State stories, tales of heroism and tragedy. Small performances, however, are conducted daily as a way to convey news and important events to the regular citizenry.
However, as well as its base cultural importance, the theatre also performs a political role. Scaled State leaders use performances almost as a form of propaganda, ensuring that the citizenry remains complacent in their beliefs and dedicated to both country and faith.
=== Art ===
The use of visual art can be seen in practically every aspect of Scaled State society. The earliest examples of this art can actually be seen in the nation's primary language - Scaleish - which utilises complex hieroglyphs alongside typical written word. Traditional Scaled State paintings often incorporated these hieroglyphs (or symbols similar to them) as a way to convey a message or tell a story.
Stoneworking and sculpting is also a very prominent artform. This can clearly be seen in Scaled State architecture, which commonly incorporates carvings and sculptures in their designs. Since most traditional buildings are made from stone, the use of art in this way gives the buildings depth and personality. Other common artforms include pottery and weaving.
=== Sport ===
The ballgame Pok-Tok is easily the most popular sport in the Scaled States. Courts for the game can be found all across the nation and in every major city.Rules for the game involve teams of players attempting to get a ball through a few stone hoops whilst also preventing the ball from touching the ground. This, in concept, is not too dissimilar from other sports played across the world. However, Pok-Tok is unique for it only allows its players to use their hips, knees, and elbows to hit the ball. Hands, feet, and heads are not allowed.
Other popular sports in the Scaled States include volleyball, competitive sailing, and Vale Tudo - an intense combat sport.
== Religion ==
The Scaled States is a country that is united by shared faith, so it is to no surprise that religion is a huge component of typical Scaled State life. Nearly all the Lizardmen and Tortles of the Scaled States are followers of a primary monotheistic religion. However, the sole god of this religion, known only as The Entity, is an abstract god that takes on many forms. Most commonly it appears as a giant serpent, but to others it might resemble a gaping maw or an incomprehensible void collapsing in on itself for infinity. This allows The Entity to be interpreted and worshipped on an individual level, and openness about how a person interprets their faith is actively encouraged in Scaled State society.
Lizardmen and their Tortle leaders are among the most religiously devoted of any race in the whole world. Shrines and temples can be found all across the Scaled States, even in the most bizarre of locales. As a rule, each individual is free to worship The Entity in a way that suits them (as long as this does not violate the law of course) however most Lizardmen choose to partake in ritual bloodletting as a form of self-sacrifice, normally done via small piercings. Tattoos are another common way and the scars and marks created by their worship are considered incredibly sacred by followers of The Entity. Though The Entity is worshipped and interpreted on an individual level, many see it as a representative of the natural and spiritual realms, bridging the gap between these realms and the mortal one. As a result, many citizens of the Scaled States see The Entity as a symbol of sustainability and natural harmony. 
Though little is actually known about their god, the Tortles claim to receive divine visions of the future from it. These visions vary from world-wide conflicts, to when a new clutch of Lizardmen should be spawned, to when the next rainfall will come. No matter how minor the visions may seem, they are written down and preserved on stone tablets and stored in vast libraries of predictive knowledge. The Scaled States act out these visions to the finest detail, with absolute faith and devotion that their god is guiding them on the correct path. And, it seems, the Tortles' visions have yet to be proven wrong. Every Lizardman that is spawned exists because The Entity planned it as such. Each is given a pre-assigned purpose at birth and is expected to act it out without doubt or question - a system that the Scaled States call 'The Great Purpose.' With such a rigid lifestyle, religious ceremonies and festivals are planned in accordance with holy visions - and often correlate with lunar patterns.