Paahekune

The Paahekune were a mining and farming community based in the Sunflower Belt in the Early Bronze Age.

Description
The Paahekune are literally the 'three hunters', referring to the three major clans that make up the Paahekune. By tradition, each clan has a different speciality- the Xawish mine the carnelian; the Hopa gather the copal and grow sesame, ivory sweet potato, and other root vegetables; the Tamixiu grow the sunflower, lettuce, cumin, fig, grape, and dandelion. Each of the clans lives in villages, each of which usually consists of some four or five extended families. These villages are usually built on hilltops and natural promontories. Social status is usually applied regardless of gender, though it is almost always men who go on hunts and engage in warfare. Obsidian and flint is acquired from neighbouring peoples, and both are used widely for tools and warfare. Silver is also commonly worked into beautiful, precious objects. In terms of religion, the main deity is the incarnation of the Paahekune combine itself, Natak meaning 'root'. The Nat and the Tat, the former being a living repository of traditions and ceremonies with the latter being doctor and emergency services rolled into one, of each village are allowed into the presence of the holy of holies. When doing so, they are washed with cumin water. This sacred ground is usually found in the depths of a special grove or in a cave. The elephant is a sacred animal to the Paahekune, and there are a number of elaborate ceremonies dedicated to elephants- the death of one by human hands is considered to be a grave omen, and an eagle will be sacrificed in a ritual designed to allow the spirit of the elephant to move on rather than torment the living. The natural death of an elephant is similarly met with ceremony, should the Paahekune encounter it. Some villages have a relationship with elephant herds that might be described as friendly. However, the Paahekune do need to take measures to ensure that elephants do not cause immense damage to crops. Stone walls are preferred, but these are expensive and not every village has the means. However, another technique has been to deliberate plant bee colonies around major fields, as elephants dislike bees nest with quite some intensity. A last resort is the use of guards to try to chase off elephants. Fortunately, elephants are not endemic to the entire area and thus a combination of these three measures are usually enough to keep crop fields safe. Copper is almost unknown to the Paahekune, being somewhat off the beaten track at present when it comes to the trade networks involving the metal.