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Axe Nation
Aksolen
Timeline: Great Nuclear War

OTL equivalent: Eastern Michigan
Flag Coat of Arms
a clan flag Coat of Arms
Motto
Awlawn Shrag Fawk Sei Bridin
("Only Strong People Survive")
Capital
(and largest city)
Bad Axe
Other cities Port Axe
Language Aksotawg
Demonym (insert clan name); Axer
Government Clan System

The Axe Nation (alternatively Axeland, and natively Aksolen) is a term for the Bad Axe Clans of Michigan. While not a political entity in the traditional sense, they are an important stop on trade routes, and are one of the more powerful factions in Michigan.

History[]

On October 28, 1962, many nuclear weapons struck Michigan. An EMP sent the region back to the Dark Ages. Massive riots broke out across the land. Hundreds died in these riots, and many people died in the subsequent Winter of 1963 and the Summer after.

The people had no electricity so they reverted to using fires like their ancestors did. They resumed hunting, and even changed their diet to that of their forefathers. Many say that was how those who survived did so: by using tribal methods to hunt and gather food. Michigan is filled with many tribal groups. In eastern Michigan, many of these tribes, by unknown means, came under the control of hegemons called Chiefs. Due to the common culture between the clans, they are often lumped into one political entity. They often ally, compete, and war with one another, and the politics of Axeland are complicated.

Creation Myth[]

While unverified, some hypothesize that we might glean some amount of truth from the creation myths of the Axers. The Myth is told in several ways, though the most common form goes like this:

Axer:[]

"Chrui bek, bin liv Mawshrum Fa, mini huj fayr klawd gru lak chri, fau ireeo grawn en smesh grawn. Lado fawk bin pes. Fawk hir bridin bin liv tarfu, sint min bin liv Grei Fawk, en Rawsh Sin bin nik min ilikchrazade. Grei Fawk skrep awv bi awvresh, sint min breint haw plen en hawn. Niks La’awn Fawk awvwispleis, hir wod givawp awv nawfawk, bin shawp en bin seiv Grei Fawk awv pes. La’awn Fawk me Grei Fawk hu bin ken skrep en plen, en kawlik lak femile liv kawlik. La’awn Fawk bin liv tichir en gardion Awvgrei Fawk. La’awn Fawk dei Grei Fawk, en min Balse Blawd bin liv sir wit Grei Blawd, en Nu Fawk bin keim. Nu Fawk bin lirn ken plen en hawn, bin lirn Gud Fa, en nu nawhaw. Tich mosnt liv mimbirnt, sint win La’awn Fawk maws shawp, hir bin snefu hura,"

IPA[]

/ʧɻy bɛk, bɪn lɪv mɔʃɻym faː mɪnɪ hyʤ fajɻ klɔd gɻy lak ʧɻi faʊ ɪɻio gɻɔn ɛn smɛʃ gɻɔn lɑɾo fɔk bɪn pɛs fɔk hiɻ bɻiɾɪn bɪn lɪv tɑɻfu sɪnt mɪn bɪn lɪv gɻei̯ fɔk ɛn ɻɔʃ sɪn bɪn nɪk mɪn iʊ̯ɪkʧɻazaɾe gɻei fɔk skɻɛp ɔʋ bɪ ɔvɻɛʃ sɪnt mɪn bɻei̯nt hɔ plɛn ɛn hɔn nɪks laɔn fɔk ɔvwɪsplei̯s hiɻ wod gɪvɔp ɔʋ nɔfɔk, bɪn ʃɔp ɛn bɪn sei̯v grei̯ fɔk ɔʋ pɛs laɔn fɔk mɛ grei̯ fɔk hy bɪn kɛn skɻɛp ɛn plɛn ɛn kɔlɪk lak femile lɪv kɔlɪk laɔn fɔk bin liv tichir ɛn gardion ɔvgɻei̯ fɔk laɔn fɔk dei̯ gɻei̯ fɔk en min bɔlsɛ blɔd bin liv sɪɻ wɪt gɻei̯ blɔd ɛn ny fɔk bɪn kei̯m nu fɔk bɪn lɪɻn kɛn plɛn ɛn hɔn bɪn lɪɻn gud fa ɛn ny nɔhɔ tiʧ mosnt lɪv mɪmbɪɻnt sɪnt wɪn laɔn fɔk mɔs ʃɔp, hiɻ bɪn snɛfu hyɻa/

Translation[]

"Long Ago, there was the Mushroom War, where great clouds of fire rose like trees, only to fall onto the land and destroy it. Many people died. The people who survived were f*cked over, for they were Old Men, and the Demon Rush Sin had taken away their magic. They fought over scraps of food, as they did not know how to reap the land, or to hunt for their meat. Then the Lion Men of the West City, who would yield to none, came and saved the Old Men from themselves. Lion Men gathered Old men who could fight, and farm, and brought them together as families are together. The Lion Men were teachers and protectors of the Old Men. The Lion Men took wives from the Old Men, and their Blood of Bravery was mixed with the Blood of Old, and the New Men were born. The New Men learned to farm and hunt, learned the art of war, and the crafts of new. This lesson must not be forgot, for should the Lion Men ever need to return, we will have fallen far indeed,"

Theory[]

The bold words are important to the working theory of the Axer's origins. Note Mawshrum Fa, often translated as "Mushroom War" is commonly believed to be the Great Nuclear War, and that the Rawsh Sin is commonly believed to be a syncretism of Russia and the Christian Devil. The Axer word for magic is Ilikchrazade, derived from "Electricity", and it is thought that the demon Rush Sin stealing the "Magic" (electricity) from the Old Men of the past is a reconciliation of the EMP blasts that turned Michigan into a Dark Zone, or region where technology was near completely lost. Further on, the tale talks of Spirits known as Lion Men (La'awn Fawk) whom taught the Axers how to survive, and whom had "Blood of Bravery/Valor". The theory states that these Lion Men were soldiers from a city somewhere west of Axeland, whom organized the clans currently in place. Where exactly West City would be is unknown, as few expeditions into Michigan have been made.

Lifestyle & Organization[]

Organization[]

The Axers are organized into family groups called Clans. Clans developed a territory based on the native men who came to accept the authority of the dominant group in the vicinity. A clan also included a large group of loosely related dependent families all of whom looked to the clan chief as their head and their protector.

According to an ethnically Axer historian, Athler Chovala, a clan is a community that is distinguished by heraldry and proved their mettle in sport, war, or craft. Each clan is made up of everyone who lived on the chief's territory, or on territory of those who owed allegiance to the said chief. Often, those living on a chief's lands would, over time, adopt the clan surname. A chief could add to his clan by adopting other families, and also had the legal right to outlaw anyone from his clan, including members of his own family. Anyone who has the chief's surname is automatically considered to be a member of the chief's clan. Also, anyone who offers allegiance to a chief becomes a member of the chief's clan, unless the chief does not accept that person's allegiance. Clan membership goes through the surname, except when a married woman takes that of her husband's surname, and then on to her children. Children who take their father's surname are part of their father's clan and not their mother's.

A Clan Chief call call levies, collect taxes if he pleases, and ordain marriages. He is a combination political and spiritual leader. It is notable that clan chiefs must have "Lion Blood" in order to be powerful enough to rule.

Lifestyle[]

Most clansmen never leave Axeland, and live rural subsistence existences. Settlements often cluster around castles built by the clans chiefs. The largest of these is Bad Axe itself, the only real city in Axeland. Port Axe comes as a close second, but it is mostly inhabited by merchants from elsewhere.

Dress[]

Axers often wear berets, with wool tunics, button-up shirts, and trousers. In addition, similar to the post-dress act Scots they have certain woven cloths (called Klawt) associated with family groups. Like Heraldry, however, these are declared legal representations by the High Chief, leader of Akso'fem. A example would be Mega'fem's Klawt, a black and white houndstooth pattern. These Klawt may be worn as the cloth of one's shirt or tunic (never trousers), or as a sash, which may have a large pocket sewn into it. The weaving pattern can be similar to a Tartan, can be Houndstooth, Garbardine, or Diamond Weave. In addition, the Axers wear properly soled boots unlike most Michiganders.

War[]

AxerDecorativeHelm

A decorative helm, likely a chief's

War is an accepted part of Axer culture. All young men are subject to levies when posed, but it is possible for an Axer to never taste combat. Axer armor is made from forged steel (when made by a rich Chief), or hardened leather and small metal plates simialr to scale maile and brigandine. Arms recovered from Axeland by archivists display an acute knowledge of smithing and leatherworking.

AxerHelm

An Axer Helm

The most common helm design bears similarity to viking designs, though this is likely a result of effective design rather than intent.

The most common tactics are outwardly very similar to the Greek phalanx or Viking shield wall tactics.

Industry[]

The most common crop is a local variety of Amaranth Grain, although tobacco is often grown for trade. Many chiefs have quarries to build their castles, and sell the stone in Port Axe. The most common import is steel from boom towns across the ruined Michigan landscape, used to make weapons, armor and structures on occasion. They trade heavily with Owen, importing his steel and crops, and as such a common second language among Axers is Low Welsh.

Major Clans[]

Akso'fem[]

Akso'fam, also known as Clan Axer or the Axe Men, is the largest and most powerful Clan, as well as the namesake of Axeland. Their flag depicts a crowned lion, signifying that they are of the purest Lion Blood.

Chovala'fem[]

Chovala'fem, or Clan Chovala, is the second most powerful clan, as they are a clan of merchants who run the port city of Port Axe. Their name is said to come from a Lion'en word for not having an army, reflecting upon the nature of the Chovala, wherein their army is entirely sponsored by Akso'fem.

Mega'fem[]

Mega'fem, aka Clan Maggoter or the Maggot Men, are a notable clan, as they are mainly miners and stonecutters. They are the main suppliers of stone and slag to Axeland. Their name comes from an Axer saying about being a miner, as follows, "Bridin lak sawnkawlik, pes lak mega,". This phrase means "Live as a miner, die like a maggot".

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