Mahouti

Originally a term given to followers of Mahout residing inside the walls of Xanathu now a more generic term for the people living in the deserts of Talka-makal and The Forbidden City.

Their society resolves around a bitter history of conflict with Xanathu as they see the city as their birthright. In contrast to the city-dwellers, the Mahouti refused to acknowledge the Emperor as a divine being and in rebellion formed a new relgious movement based on the teachings of Mahout. They revere their ancestors and honour them by acting, thinking and speaking according to their laws and tradition. Most Xanathuans view the Mahouti culture as rigid and backward.

They shroud themselves in fabric to protect from the sandstorms and rays of the sun. They domesticate giant reptilians (LINK) which burrow down in the sand during daytime but are nocturnally active. These cattle gather moisture underneath their shell which is harvested during nightime. Tools, equipment and weaponry cannot be produced by iron as there are no minerals readily available, the Mahouti have learned to craft these out of hardened glass instead.