Huatzintepec

The Foundations
The city state of Huatzintepec has stood as a symbol of strength and endurance for centuries (about 9, specifically, though countless smaller civilizations led up to its creation), uniting a continent that was once plagued by infighting.

Initially a warring land of fractured groups, the continent (named Coszcatl by its founder) was drawn together by the fabled warrior Mecatl, an individual known for their magnetic personality and unparalleled strength who would become the first ruler of the newly formed Huatzintepec.

Under their rule, great efforts were made to revolutionize the continent, with an intense focus on feeding the hungry and educating any who sought it (it is speculated that this is because Mecatl was born to a family in one of the lowest castes and was unable to receive the education they desired, and went on to give to all what they were unable to attain).

With every passing year Mecatl’s renown grows, as does the royal family tree that stemmed from them. Today, Empress Mizquixaual is known as one of Mecatl’s greatest successors, some going so far as to say that she is Mecatl reincarnated.

Mecatl is also Empress Mizquixaual’s great grandparent about 28 times over, continuing the founder’s bloodline nearly a millennium after their rule.

The Sciences
Huatzintepec is largely regarded as one of, if not the most technologically advanced nations on Saiph.

A good majority of the city has been adapted to utilize purified rayet as a power and light source, the only untouched areas being some exceedingly traditional private properties. Simple applications of the crystal range from lanterns to automated lifts that lead from one level of the city to the next, but all pale in comparison to machines created and housed in the labs of the city.

The pride and joy of the city is the sprawling knowledge of the observable universe, displayed in a large, shimmering map of the surrounding cosmos that is open for viewing to the public.

The multiple towering portals that lead from Huatzintepec to the other capital cities of the world are also considered a technological marvel, though the literature and research that led to their creation is not available to commoners.

Religion
While the sciences may excel in Huatzintepec, there are still unexplainable phenomena that only the religious have dared to attempt to explain.

The predominant religion in the city state is Tonaltzintli Ītletl (or ‘Tonaltzintli’s Brand’, which is an outsider translation based on the ritual scars and burns displayed by many worshippers) a pantheon revolving around the Sun.

Temples to Tonaltzintli are often sparsely lit, with large skylights allowing for entry of natural light, with architecture and floor planning calculated to allow for the most light entering during peak hours of prayer.

Prayer, chants, and daily offerings of food or incense to Tonaltzintli are the most common and least rigorous religious practices, though the aforementioned branding and scarification are not uncommon.