Ai-Mo

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> The tranquil and wise Ai-Mo tribe inhabits the harshest, windiest, and highest mountain range of the square, where they have found inner peace by meditating in the eternal evening light.
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>
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> –Tribe description
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**Ai-Mo** is the tenth tribe in Polytopia. Ai-Mo is a regular tribe. It starts with the Meditation technology.

Ai-Mo is a lower-mid-tier tribe. It has varied resources, and Meditation is a sub-par starting technology, being neither a resource nor a military technology. Also, its benefits have little use, especially in the early game, besides the fact that it allows Ai-Mo to receive an Altar of Peace as early as turn 5. Furthermore, the technology Meditation leads to, Philosophy, is rarely used and has the greatest utility during the late-game. These factors make Ai-Mo particularly weak in the early and mid-game as it needs to research various resource and military technologies.

## Lore

* These isolationist tribes people are more interested in meditating and living in harmony instead of fighting, but are more than willing to pick up their swords when the need arises!
* We, the tranquil Ai-Mo tribe, are *this* close to reaching Enlightenment and Eternal Peace. *This close.* There is just one slight problem – all the other tribes. If they could just avoid living on the Square, disturbing our tranquil meditation it would be perfect. If they could just follow our example – drink llama milk, have a mind-melting wild chili from time to time, and focusing on finding inner peace – we would all live in harmony together... If you don’t like it, you rest in pieces. And please: Ssshhhh!!!

### Tribe Celebrations

* 2019 Tribe Day: Despite their stoic appearance, the Ai-Mo love to party! One of their largest festivals is the “Ai-Yaca,” where the citizens celebrate with parades, llamo races, poetry recital, and dancing!
* 2020 Tribe Moon: The iconic strips on the foreheads of the Ai-Mo are made from the dye of the Issi flower, which is believed to improve mental clarity. Originally a focus to aid monks in meditation, the strips became a symbol of serenity and community, and are a staple of Ai-Moyan culture to this day.
* 2021 Tribe Moon: "They haunt these mountains, throwing rocks and pushing unsuspecting pilgrims to their doom!", the storyteller tells the children about the mighty Oo-Li, "But don't fret, little ones, the mighty Oo-Li in these hills provide blessings to our cities when we give them offerings of Llamo meat and tasty fruit.
	+ The "Oo-Li" shown in the Tribe Moon poster is a Polytopian in a costume. The "real" Oo-Li tower over the Ai-Mo.
* 2022 Tribe Moon: The Moon may be special to most Polytopians, but it's the Ai-Mo who have a special respect for the Sun. Unlike other tribes, the Ai-Moyan calendar is based on the Sun, which is tracked and revered by a prestigious sect of astronomers, cosmologists, and priests known as the 'Sun Speakers'.
* 2023 Tribe Moon: Ai-Mo society is isolationist and tends to prefer keeping to itself, preferring minimal contact with the other tribes if they can help it. Regular Ai-Moyan border patrols keep the land safe from invaders, like this band of Bardur raiders, who didn't stand a chance!

### Webshop

* Should you ever get the chance to taste Om-soi, don't hesitate. It holds the power of healing and gives serenity to any anxious mind. Only the Ai-Mo know the recipe, and it has been a well kept secret since the beginning of turns.
* This traditional costume is usually worn during the Feast of Ai-ioo, a celebration dedicated to the hard-working Llamo. The day is spent with ceremonies and dances to honor and praise the Llamo's great importance to the Ai-Mo people.

## Inspiration

The Ai-Mo are influenced by Nepalese, Tibetan and Andean cultures. Prayer Flags, shaved heads, and meditation are icons of Nepalese culture; chili, whitewashed villages, and colorful decorative flags are of the Andes. The Llamos that the Ai-Mo hunts and rides are inspired by real-life llamas, which originate from the mountainous Andes.

## Design

* Fruit: Lï-po chilis (chili peppers)
* Animal: Llamo (llama)
* Field: Hilly and steep green fields
* Forest: Trees with thin and flat layers of leaves
* Mountain: Rocky and spiraled mountains with gold-capped tops
* City: Grey stone and colourful flags with either flat orange roofs or pointed white roofs
* Helmet: A small turquoise ribbon on the center of the forehead

### City Naming Syllables

[space], dee, fï, kï, lee, lï, nï, po, pï, so, sï, to, tï

### Music

Links to Ai-Mo's music are included below.

* Theme
* Nature Sounds
* Polytopia Music song: "Deep Dream Meditation 528HZ DNA Repair" by AI-MO-BAU – The Architect of Emptiness
* To-Lï Theme

## Skins

### To-Lï skin

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> The To-Lï rigorously train their bodies and minds in their sturdy Binba forests, and are here to show their strength and discipline to the Square.
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>
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> –To-Lï skin description
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The To-Lï skin was added in the fourth skin pack for Polytopia. The To-Lï wear pyramidal straw hats, turquoise tunics, and straw sandals.

* The variegated Ai-Mo field tiles are replaced with smooth, verdant grass.
* The forests are replaced with bamboo known as Binba.
* The animals are replaced with spotted, koala-like animals known as Koïlï.
* The city buildings are made of bamboo.
* The Warriors use two hands instead of a sword.
* The Riders' saddles have brown details.
* The Defenders' shields are made of bamboo.
* The Knights' shields and lances are made of bamboo.

## Trivia

* The Ai-Mo bear a resemblance to Airbenders from the popular TV series "Avatar: The Last Airbender".

## References

1. ↑ Zoythrus on Steam
2. ↑ Midjiwan on Instagram
3. ↑ Zoythrus on Discord
4. ↑ Ai-Mo Mug
5. ↑ Ai-Mo Tee
6. ↑ Zoythrus on Reddit