Dresxi Enclaves

Summary

Although technically predating Toi'drinn, the rise of the vampyr's fortress-city put everyone else in Etzli Cuauhtla into a different perspective. The titular name of these isolated civilizations thus came to be referred as the Dresxi Enclave(s). The underpinning idea is a place of 'stagnant water', which can mean either safety or great danger depending on where it is.   It is no simple feat building a civilization within Etzli Cuauhtla, and harder still keeping a grip upon it. Disease, wildlife, weather, the Relentless, and even those once consumed but undying and hateful all pose very real, existential threats. The intensity of them all certainly far strips other continents, almost undoubtedly one of the deadliest places on all of Veltrona. Its people, thusly, had to become even more capable and hardier to overcome it.   Their first fortunes came whenever they could find ideal places to throw up walls and fortifications. Valleys, mountain passes, cliffside alcoves, and more dotted with primitive structures and clever, sinisterly capable traps. Purpose-built engineering met magical inventiveness, creating bizarre and unorthodox settlements that meticulously handled problem after problem. The successful enclaves became unto themselves fortresses, purpose-built from the very first stone to resist any attempts to assault them. They succeeded and more, but as one set of problems was solved, others gladly struck in their place. Disease, especially, brought many to their knees and more still to the grave.   When Toi'drinn arose, their success shone like a beacon in a dark and moonless night. Many more, inspired by their audacity, dared to reach higher themselves. Trade, especially, boomed as Toi'drinn and the various enclaves made active efforts to cooperate and work together. Blood magic, more than anything else, reversed the tide against disease and sickness. Innovations once kept secret or out of reach spread, and the fortress homes reshaped to better, stronger bastions. The peoples found health and safety, infant mortality dropping dramatically, and populations growing to truly never-before-seen sizes.   Etzli Cuauhtla resisted them as it ever did, sending its poxes and monsterosities upon them time and again. Through shared cooperation and struggle, however, the peoples of the jungle broke it upon their mighty walls and stalwart warriors. A new age dawned slowly, one where for the first time, they could look toward the future far more hopefully than they ever had before.   In such times, there are roughly six particularly large and prosperous enclaves that can be named. Many more surround them or are scattered throughout Etzli Cuauhtla, generally smaller and more reclusive–by choice or necessity, typically.  

Largest Known Enclaves

Budduqol

Located in the central-northern expanse of Etzli Cuauhtla, Budduqol is one of the closest enclaves to Toi'drinn, relatively speaking. Principally ran by a mussuba matriarchy, it's situated in a small, purposefully closed off valley that they've lived within for generations. A calamity nearly wiped them out, many choosing to emigrate to still-rising Toi'drinn at the time.   Later, some chose to return along with renewed trade and migrants, revitalizing the decaying Budduqol into a prosperous enclave. Its location and access to regeants made the newer Budduqol a hotspot for alchemy, medicine, and blood magic research by mages. The mussuba themselves opened their doors much more, and many different kinds of people live within their coiled embrace.  

Luloajer'enki

In the far western regions of Etzli Cuauhtla, on the opposite side of the great mountains, Luloajer'enki stands upon their slopes. Famous for its U-shaped appearance, a mighty stormwall stands at the front of the enclave, shielding it from the terrifying western storms. Sprawling beneath it, its mertakan mistresses have long burrowed into the mountains themselves, leaving half the enclave outside and inside.   Their sophisticated digging and engineering solutions spread out far and wide, drawing many would-be engineers to their ranks. In turn, some would emigrate back out again, spreading the knowledge across the jungles. A lot of architectural designs post-revision have their roots from Luloajer'enki as a result. Their remoteness makes trade more of an issue, but their engineering works are both prized and coveted.  

Munhia

On the eastern side of the great mountains, Munhia stands on a great plateau overseeing an immense lake at the base of the mountains. Once a hunter-gatherer camp site, it slowly turned into a more permanent, everlasting fortification as it outlasted other camps. In time their hunters flexed into the role of warriors, stretching across the jungles in search of game as much as to suppress the Relentless.   Their traditional wares and garments are very animal-centric as a result, carrying bones, skins, and bloody ritualistic markings that denote one's accomplishments. Since their hunter-warriors range far and wide across Etzli Cuauhtla, they're often found working for other enclaves and nomadic tribes. Munhia itself is often referred to as a guardian enclave, easy to hire if one has the means to pay for what a hunter-warrior band might want. While not majorly based around them, a lot of rachtoh call Munhia home.  

Iokoko

Upon the far eastern fringes of Etzli Cuauhtla, Iokoko is situated on the jungle border where what used to be great plains were. It has the distinction of once being a servant-colony to the Imperium, and was largely founded to serve as a base to exploit the jungles from. Since the Imperium's downfall and the great plains being replaced by Tyrant's Sea, it became isolated and those who could abandoned it.   The survivors eventually mingled with local tribes, reviving the enclave in a curious mixture of native and Imperium-era draconic cultures. Overseen by a war-queen, she and her people seek expansion, and possibly recreating an entire new national body through absorbing tribes and lands.  

Gurrgurr

A reasonably isolated enclave in the southwestern regions, bordering Golden Tides. Gurrgurr's principally nebusah and muurun populace have long been competitive with each other as much as anyone else. Martially minded, they take to ritualistic forms with utmost seriousness, anything from playing sports games to actual blood-drawing matches. A lively and spirited people, they've become troubled by raiders and foreigners making landfall in the southern coastline.   Those from Dorvar and Tensokari in particular have harassed and harmed them greatly, making them even more mistrustful and belligerent toward outsiders. Other enclaves have made a mission of coming to their aide, as these same foreign raiders are becoming problems to them as well.  

Shiholga

Built on a pennisula on eastern Etzli Cuauhtla that juts out into Golden tides, 'relatively' sandwiched between Iokoko and Munhia, Shihola is the largest port on its part of the continent. Generally safe from storms passing through Golden Tides, ships from Dorvar and Honokom often make stops there for repairs, supplies, and shelter before heading out again. The enclave itself largely existed as a fishing culture, prowling the coastlines and living beside the shermadi.   Foreign traders, realizing its strategic value, largely occupied and took over the territory for themselves. Unready for the dangers of Etzli Cuauhtla, disease and hardship quickly did them in, and the natives took over once again. Having learned of their ways, though, they now run Shiholga according to their needs, and make business with foreigners who come and go.   Many more independent enclaves are cropping up recently, usually attached to trade routes or areas of particular value and safety. While they may not command the same history as others, their experienced and capable populace make for quite the sturdy little bastions. In time, Etzli Cuauhtla will most likely be settled and domesticated more and more thanks to them.   At the same time, however, foreigners are encroaching more upon their lands. People seeking wealth, fame, or the peoples' many arts and secretive magics, for better or worse. They may all have to adjust and change far, far faster than they're ready to–all while the jungles continue to conspire around them.