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XUL'KATOCH

The three great empires of Ixa are bound together through the ancient ritual of Xul'Katoch - "The Circle of Debt" in the post-Collapse tongue. While each empire conducts sacrifices in its distinctive style, all adhere to fundamental principles established after the Great Collapse. When the moon hangs full over ripening fields, ritual drums begin their thunderous rhythm throughout Ixa, signaling the commencement of Xibalba across Sunstone plazas, Condor mountain shrines, and Serpent pyramid chambers. Offerings vary by region - the Sunstone Empire sacrifices the workers that have earned the privilege of dying for their empire by exceeding their quotas this season, the Condor Kingdom offers warriors who've lost their aerial mounts, while the Serpent Dynasty selects from specifically bred sacrificial lineages. Blood collected during these ceremonies is exchanged between empires via special emissaries granted diplomatic immunity during their sacred journeys. This blood, mixed with local soil, creates a powerful symbolic and material connection between the three powers. Observers from the Cartographers Guild theorise that Xul'Katoch evolved from practical post-Collapse resource sharing into a ritualised system that now maintains a tense geopolitical balance. The empires may wage brutal wars throughout the year, but during Xul'Katoch, a brief, fragile peace prevails across Ixa - for none dare risk the wrath of powers both ancient and technological that the sacrificial paying of debt in blood allegedly appeases...