City of Quep

In the far north-east portion of Gehenna lies the eternally boiling lake of Quiphuaci. Within its center is a small island that houses the towering volcano of Huatl. By the base of the volcano lies the bustling city of Quep which takes most of the surrounding land. This is the land of the Huatl Tribe.

## Geography

Quiphuaci lake is known to be birthed from underground hot springs from the surrounding volcano. The very water of it is only habitable by fish and amphibians that can withstand almost boiling point temperatures of water as the lake itself is known to be as hot as the flame of Huatl.

The island city of Quep is a heavily forested area, mostly harboring mature redwoods that can survive past the fiery heat of the volcano. The land is mostly composed of soil, soot and ash due to the extreme proximity to the volcano. The city's buildings and homes are kept apart and the buildings are made from stone. Wooden houses are usually never done as they typically catch on fire due to the occasional spark or ember that manages to float down from the volcano.

Huatl itself is a mountain of a volcano, harboring many caverns and chambers inside the volcano. Many of these chambers have barely tolerable temperatures and is exclusively used by the locals as sacrificial altars and areas of worship to Huatl. The shape of the volcano is stout. Short and close to the size of a huge hill. Yet its mouth spans wide, almost making the peak look like a lake of lava.

## Culture

Those from Quep have a tan or orange/red-ish skin color. They are typically well built, though they also hold the more stout Gehennans due to their diet. They are barely clothed, usually only wearing the bare essentials due to the extreme heat. Although they do tend to wear intricate shoes made out of the more heat resilient materials to protect them from the scorched land’s heat. They are known to be amazing blacksmiths and armorsmiths.

Those from Quep are known to be completely carnivore regardless of race. Crops die due to the soil being mostly ash and soot. Hunters rely on both the lake and the surrounding forests of the lake for game and food.

Officials and high ranking people tend to look like the dragon-headed deity they serve. As such, those higher-ups tend to sharpen their teeth and stand by the edge of the volcano, allowing their skin to be burned with a red hue. They are also known to tattoo themselves through the act of branding. However the one true figure that can be seen as an equal of the chieftain as the Makanahi.

Quep is very secluded due to its geography. Many of the tribes find it quite hard to infiltrate and attack them due to the natural defenses of the city. The only way to the island is through a special raft enchanted by the Huatl's few runesmiths to withstand the extremely hot water of Quiphuaci. Along with that, Quep harbors many powerful fire and magma magi that can send giant fireballs that burns and sinks incoming rafts and boats.

They are known to frequently partake in festivals and celebrations pertaining to their deity. Holding bi-weekly dances and celebrations to worship Huatl, they are known to be quite happy people. They are very vocal in their religion.

## Religion

The people of Quep follow Huatl, a red-feathered deity with the head of a dragon that shares the same name as the volcano. It's rib cage is exposed, the flesh melted away, and a red sphere burns where its heart should be, like a mini-sun. It is known as the spirit of fire and survival as the deity that resides within the volcano has survived and raged on despite being surrounded by water. It has been called many titles such as the Solar Drake, the Everlight and many more.

Their method of sacrifice is akin to that of fire. Their sacrifices are tied to extremely long thin pillars made of redwood. Their sacrifice is kept at the tip of one of the inner lava pits inside the volcano as the pillar would be slowly lowered down near the lava, burning the sacrifice in glorious fire like a roasted pig!

The Huatl are also known to train fire magi in the tribal dance known as Hualmitoya. This is a sacred dance done by fire dancers known as the Netotili. The dance involves rigid and fast movements by men as they wield torches in their dance, while the women wear clothes with extremely long sleeves that are set ablaze. The women's dance involves many big arms movements which allows the burning sleeves to arc in the air.

### **The Dance of Fire**

The test known as the Dance of Fire is usually done as a show of true devotion to Huatl in hopes of recieving it's blessing. There are many ways this exact dance is interpreted, but the idea is all the same: A dance with fire. Women are expected to do this trial by committing themselves as a Netotili as they do the dance of Hualmitoya while being bombarded with literal flame and embers. This is usually done through the span of days, not tiring nor showing and signs of weakness or wear. Men on the other hand would typically be sent out alone in a hunt for beasts that bend fire to their will. Monsters like flame breathing dragons and roaring fiery phoenixes are told to have been hunted by those that has been blessed by Huatl.

Upon completion of such tasks, those that has proven themselves to the eyes of the Everlight would then be judged by the deity. They are brought to the top of the Huatl volcano in Quep as they are evaluated by the deity within the volcano. If they were to have done enough, they would be blessed by Huatl. Those that complete the transformation are called Makanahi.

### **Makanahi, Huatl's Blessed**

The most loyal to Huatl is said to be given its blessing. Their skin is pulled back as it would become red. Their hands become sharp claws as their teeth would become unnaturally sharpened. Their chest would burst open as well, revealing that their heart has taken the form of a

   small fiery sphere similar to that of their deity. The skin around their body grows tough and warm to the touch.

Despite that, there is room for small differences in the transformation. The coloration of red has been said to go from the color of the sunset up to the hue of fresh blood. Tails are common among them, but there are a few that bear none. Some Makanahis are said to be able to manifest draconic wings made of flame from the fire that beats in their solar heart. But all bear the same description: They are humanoid dragons.

Only those that has proven to surpass the fires of Huatl is said to be given this boon. Huatl is a finicky deity that does not simply hand out its blessing. In-fact there aren't many accounts of Makanahis being made. Throughout the lifetime of the Huatl Tribe, only around a thousand Makanahis are said to have succeeded the trial.

## Huatl's Folklore

Two rival deities are said to have been the agents that oversaw the creation of the drifting clouds and molten lava. Ka’tarla was the one that is said to have created the clouds from plucking strands of her hair to weave the puffs of white in the sky. Going by the title of the Cloud Weaver, Ka'tarla is typically described as a faceless feminine figure. Her body is constantly enveloped by a beautiful dress of clouds as she is known to have clouds for hair as well. Her hair however is her main source of power. It is said when she was perturbed and irked, her weaving grows angered as she created clouds of rumbling storms, flooding the earth below.

One day, such exact occurrence has happened. Irritated by a mistake in creating one of her clouds’ shape, she grows angry as a large group of storm clouds would be weaved by her hand. Powerful claps of lightning and a torrent of rain poured over Gehenna. With that, Huatl is disturbed. The volcanoes that he has words hard to form would be ruined. The magma within was extinguished by Ka’tarla’s rain, Hautl became infuriated.

Rising up in an attempt to enact revenge on Ka’tarla, her clouds would be ruined, destroyed by projectiles of earth and fire. By then, the rivalry between the two began. Days of endless downpour and volcanic eruptions began to cause calamity to the land. Such a quarrel would attract the attention of Ixchel.

In an attempt to cut off the two’s fighting, Ixchel banishes the two in-order to separate them from each other. Ka’tarla was to retreat to the stratosphere, to live in a tower in the sky with the same name as her, far enough for her storm clouds to grow weakened by the time it drifts down to affect the land below. She is to be left alone to weave clouds as she pleased. Huatl is sent to the deepest reaches of his grandest volcano. Here he is connected to all other volcanoes that he has formed as he can cause them to erupt whenever he pleases. With the two separated, peace would soon return to the land.