A maca was a Maztican club,[2] sometimes considered to be a longsword alternative. Later, found in the lands of Zakhara[5] and Tethyr.[4]
Description[]
Macas were weapons shaped like elongated paddles of hard wood, wide and flat "blades" with razor sharp shards of obsidian lodged into their edges. They functioned as both: bludgeoning and slashing weapons.[3]
Although the maca was a fearsome weapon when used against Maztican warriors, they were no match for Amnnian steel.[7]
Cultural Significance[]
According to the creation myth of Maztica, Kukul, an elder deity, sliced off his fingers with a maca. The fingers transformed into the first humans of the Maztican continent.[8] Later, the clues deity of warfare – Zaltec, used a maca to kill his mother – goddess Maztica, the continent's namesake.[9]
History[]
Macas became common used weapons in the Golden Age of Payit, following the development of Maztican military.[10] A maca was also instrumental in ending the Golden Age of Payit. Aliah, the most beautiful princess of Payit was abducted by Tacal, prince of Tulom-Itzi, and beheaded in a fit of rage by his maca club. This tragedy was the true end of the country's Golden Age.[11]
Notable Users[]
Groups[]
- Bacars, intelligent ant-like beings that inhabited the Valley of Ixtzul in Maztica.[12]
- Fire newts that inhabited the volcano of Mount Zatal in the territory of Nexal wielded great macas against their foes.[13]
- Maztican humans wielded macas in battle, including those from Nexal, Payit, and Kultaka. Orcs and ogres that were created out of the cultists of the Viperhand preferred macas as their main weapon as well as the region's humans.[14]
- Tlincalli, the scorpion folk that inhabited tropical and subtropical desert were known to wield maca weapons.[15]
Individuals[]
- Chuhotl, the son of Kichemel, a famed Eagle Knight of the 14th century DR.[16]
- Jeordos, the Jagre-Chief from Nexal, active post-Night of Wailing.[17]
- Kixitiloc, an ex-slave warrior also known as the "Wolf-Boy", active in the 14th century DR.[18]
- Lactun, a 14th century DR Jaguar Knight.[19]
- Miquiztl Manik, a Jaguar Knight of Kultaka, leader of the Jaguar Guard mercenary company operating in Myratma in the mid–14th century DR.[4][20]
- Priatl, the Jagre-Chief from Nexal, active post-Night of Wailing.[21]
- Stonekiller, a Maztican desert dwarf warrior in the 14th century DR.[18]
- Yosh al-Nasr, an Eagle Knight who found a life in the Golden Huzuz in the land of Zakhara in the 14th century DR.[5]
- Zocon, a Maztican warrior loyal to the deity Zaltec in the 14th century DR.[22]
Appendix[]
Background[]
From the description, a maca seems similar to a real world weapon of ancient Mexican cultures, the macuahuitl.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Card Games
External Links[]
Macuahuitl article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ Connie Rae Henson & Dale "slade" Henson (August 1992). The Magic Encyclopedia Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 45. ISBN 9781560764298.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tables included in Dale Henson (February 1993). The Magic Encyclopedia, Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN ISBN 978-156076563.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 David Schwartz (January 2004). “Maztica: The New (Fantasy) World”. In Chris Thomasson ed. Dragon #315 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), pp. 96–98.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), pp. 5, 25, 64. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). “Golden Huzuz”. City of Delights (TSR, Inc), p. 68. ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (1990). Ironhelm. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8903-6.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 14. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 17. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (November 1991). Endless Armies. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 978-1560761464.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), pp. 13, 15, 28. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ David Cook (1991). Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC11). (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-111-3.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ Rick Brown, James Ward (1991). AD&D Trading Cards 1991 series, #733, "Lactun". TSR, Inc..
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ Rick Brown, James Ward (1991). AD&D Trading Cards 1991 series, #734, "Zocon". TSR, Inc..