Napachetlan

Napachetlan, also known in English as Chetlanism, is the traditional ethnic religion of the Na'Quahesto. Though Napachetlan is a polytheistic religion, worshippers primarily focus on the ruler of the pantheon, Chetlan the Great Serpent (*Quetalchetlan*). Though no records exist of Chetlan besides those from the Na'Quahesto, scholars generally agree that Chetlan was a real Titan. Napachetlan translates as "Chetlan-worship", though it is also often translated as "Cult of Chetlan".

## Theology

Much like many other polytheistic religions of Inecuria, Napachetlanians (more correctly *Na'apachetlanek*) believe that their deities came from a primordial source which is the true origin of all things. In Napachetlan, this source is Tlamahua (meaning "Ancient Light"). Tlamahua was once specifically associated with the sun, but modern developments of astronomy have led Na'apachetlanek scholars to conclude that the sun is merely a manifestation of Tlamahua and is not the essence of Tlamahua itself.

### Creation Myth

From Tlamahua burst forth the gods, who were each entrusted with a specific role in the creation and management of the universe. At first there were three kings who were all expected to share power; Tlatzan the Fox-Headed Bat, Matochek the Eagle-Headed Lion, and Klotalpek the Many-Headed Serpent. Klotalpek was the wisest of the three, but was the least in strength, and he was easily defeated when Tlatzan and Matochek deposed him as king and took his authority for themselves. Klotalpek was not killed, but he was maimed and crippled.

Overcome with a lust for power, Tlatzan and Matochek were not content with sharing their authority, but desired to be the sole king. A great civil war between them ensued, whilst Klotalpek in his maimed state caught the attention of Tlatzan's daughter, Itzani the Feathered Fox. Itzani took pity on Klotalpek and healed his wounds, and the two grew close and eventually mated, producing the daughter of Maklani the Antlered Tiger.

When Klotalpek healed - though he was still crippled and would be for the rest of his life - he found that Tlatzan and Matochek had drawn together vast legions of mortal and divine followers to make war against one another, and they were killing the world in the process. When Tlatzan found that his daughter had mated with his enemy Klotalpek, he slew her in blind rage. Klotalpek desperately desired vengeance, but his attention was drawn away by a warhost of Matochek which threatened a city full of innocents, so he went to protect them instead. Maklani, however, was free to avenge her mother, and she cut off the head of Tlatzan, though she took grievous wounds in the process.

Klotalpek perished in the defence of the city, for in his crippled state he was no match for Matochek. Furious at Klotalpek's defiance, Matochek took his wrath out on Maklani, who was too weakened by her fight with Tlatzan to prevent Matochek from raping her and taking her prisoner. In her captivity, Maklani slowly recovered from her wounds, and once she discovered that she was with child, she swore that she would take bloody vengeance and keep her child out of the hands of Matochek.

Maklani befriended a god named Tlopan the Owl, a servant of Matochek, who took pity on her and agreed to take the child away to safety as soon as it was born. When the child was born, Maklani named him Chetlan, and Tlopan took the son away to be raised by a mortal family in secret. He gave Chetlan to the royal dynasty of the Na'Quahesto and disguised Chetlan in the physical form of a Quahesto, before returning to his master Matochek. When Matochek discovered that the child was gone, he killed Maklani - though she did succeed in badly wounding him before she died - and once he found out Tlopan's involvement he also killed Tlopan.

When Chetlan reached adulthood, his foster parents - the king and queen of the Na'Quahesto - informed him of his true nature and his birthright. Overcome with fury at the fate of his mother and ancestors, the divine power within Chetlan was unleashed and he transformed into his true form; the Serpent. The Na'Quahesto rallied to Chetlan as he challenged his father Matochek, and a great battle ensued. The Na'Quahesto took many losses, including their king, and Chetlan was wounded, but by the end Matochek lay dead. Chetlan took his ancestral birthright of kingship - with all three royal divine bloodlines in him - and was affirmed as the sole king of gods and mortals by all, and was given the title Great Serpent (*Quetalchetlan*)

### Chetlan

Almost always referred to as Quetalchetlan (meaning "Chetlan the Great Serpent"), Chetlan is the ruler of the pantheon and king of the universe. He contains within him the bloodlines of all three of the first kings which sprouted forth from Tlamahua, and so has both the power and the right to be the sole king of gods and mortals. Quetalchetlan has the appearance of a colossal blue-scaled horned serpent with a crest of multicoloured feathers running along his spine. He has no legs, but he does have arms, which end in four-fingered clawed hands. Quetalchetlan is written to be capable of spouting lightning from his mouth, and when in the heat of battle his amber eyes erupt into a blazing golden fire.

Quetalchetlan is not explicitly associated with any particular attributes, but he is usually associated with kingship, war and honour. He embodies everything that *Na'apachetlanek* consider to be virtuous, and has no moral failings. He is wise and strong, and despite his supreme authority he displays no arrogance, instead he is benevolent to all - even to those who reject and hate him. However, Quetalchetlan does not let this get in the way of the pursuit of justice. Though Quetalchetlan accepts the repentance of those who sincerely atone for their sins, he nonetheless responds to wicked deeds with punishments in the afterlife.