Menek Poko Ideas

Traditions
+1 Attrition for Enemies
-10% Shock Damage Received

Tree TownsIn the Lupulan, the trees extend as far as the eye can see. In the lands of the Menek Poko, however, the sheer density of the forest makes it so that one can barely see the sky through the foliage. This makes it so that space for building is scarce, and chopping down the trees would not only be incredibly difficult and damaging to the land, but would also be a sign of disrespect to the spirits and the Lupulan. \n\nInstead, we have adapted to building our towns on these same trees. Though this initially began as simple disconnected houses dispersed among various trees, as we mastered this building style we expanded our repertoire to other kinds of buildings, wooden platforms to expand our living space and connecting bridges. \n\nThis intricate and elegant style of architecture was made possible thanks to the spirits of the Lupulan, who advised the Menek Poko on how to build these towns using only the trees as foundation, making them beautiful spaces that now decorate the forests. Here our people can now live fulfilling lives in concord with their fellow tribesmen and the spirits.
-5% Construction Cost
-5% Development Cost

Nature’s AdviceHumans are fallible creatures, when they speak, they might lie, deceive or just be honestly wrong, making their advice flawed. It is only natural that our people turn to the tree spirits for their great and ancient knowledge. From advice on interpersonal matters to how to proceed in future battles, there is no limit to the answers our tribe will seek from the spirits. \n\nTo consort with them, one must find a tree, the bigger and older the better. One looks for a big enough hole on the tree, sticks one’s head in it and waits for the spirits to speak. People wait for many hours on successive days, many not receiving any answer, but a lucky minority hear, from the spirits themselves, advice on how to solve their grievances. \n\nEspecially in wars and matters of the tribe, we have found that these answers have guided us to victory and prosperity many times and saved us from adversity. It is only natural that our leaders would seek these spirit-spoken people, for they now carry the knowledge of the spirits.
-15% Cost of Advisors with Ruler's Culture

The Eagle RidersWe of the Lupuan are experts in coexisting among its wildlife. This has led to cooperation with one of its greatest predators, the great eagles. Ferocious birds of prey native to the rainforest which sport an impressive wingspan, heavy and powerful talons and a shaggy mane-like crest, some of them are big enough that they can be ridden into the sky, and we have learnt how to hunt alongside them. \n\nThe Menek Poko, however, have a special connection with these birds, who have made a habit of creating their nests on top of our tree houses. We provide for them food, water and care, and in exchange these great eagles allow us to ride them to battle, forming our elite division of warriors, the eagle riders. \n\nFlying high into the sky, searching for our enemies below the trees, the eagle riders then descend to an appropriate position at the crown of a tree and wait for the enemy to pass, descending with great ferocity and causing chaos among our enemies before flying again to the sky, to repeat the process as many times as necessary until the enemy is defeated.
-10% Cavalry Cost
+1 Land Leader Manoeuvre

Offers to the LupulanLife in the Lupulan is harsh. It is common to lose a loved one either to the forest itself or in war against other tribes. However, it is also true that through communion with the Lupulan, the spirits and with one’s tribesmen, great joy can be achieved. This is especially true for the people of Menek Poko, who put special emphasis on the idea that great happiness must come after great sadness. \n\nTo represent this, we celebrate both the ritual of loss and the festival of joy. Once each year, everyone in the tribe, man, woman and children, are encouraged to offer a possession of great personal value to the Lupulan and its spirits. This offering is given to the shamans in the ritual of loss, and it is displayed in the town's greatest tree for the spirits to see. Once all of the offerings are given, people return to their tree houses and wait. \n\nSometimes, the spirits like one of the offerings enough to take it for themselves. When this happens, it is considered an act of approval from the Lupulan and the spirits, and so great happiness must come afterwards with the festival of joy, a great tribe-wide celebration with songs, dances, food and drinks to celebrate. This celebration goes on for a full day, bringing great happiness for the entire tribe after their loss.
-2 National Unrest

The Ti-OngWhile most of our tribe shares a deep connection with the Lupulan, allowing us to live a fulfilling life under the trees, some of our less religious members have trouble reconciling this lifestyle with their personal ambitions, especially some of our younger eagle riders. As they ride their great eagles into the sky, enamored by its boundless blue, they afterwards have trouble returning to their life under the trees. \n\nIn the 1740s, pressure from Cannorian explorers and the matriarchs of Chakkad Yonhrung lead to great unrest in the tribe. Things came to a breaking point in 1747, when news of the creation of flying ships arrived at the Lupuan, which was used as an opportunity for a small group of eagle riders to flee the tribe in search of a new life in Feiten, where these airships were said to come from. \n\nThanks to their ambition and lack of fear for the skies, these eagle riders found great success in Feiten as airship pilots, earning them the nickname Ti-Ong, masters of the skies, among the Yan. \n\nDue to this, even if they now found themselves in a distant land with a very different culture, the identity of the Menek Poko was kept alive thanks to the Ti-Ong.
+1 Yearly Prestige

Yanglam Festival of the SkyIn our lands, the density of the trees makes it so that the sky is barely visible. The only ones who get to see it reliably are our eagle riders. To ameliorate this situation, we celebrate the Festival of the Sky. \n\nOn special occasions, such as victories against the other tribes, our elite eagle riders travel through our lands, stopping at each tree town and offering those who want it the chance to mount our great eagles as pillion riders and travel through the sky. \n\nThis festival brings great happiness to our people, and is something that is greatly looked forward to, especially for children.
-15% Stability Cost Modifier

Community of Spirits and HumansWithin the rainforest, the inhabitants of the material and spiritual planes alike constantly interact with each other, be it with compassion or strife. Great manifestations of the earth split the ground beneath, and humans make a village out of that same earth. Tiny, mischievous spirits disguised as leaves arrive, spelling the end of monsoon season, when men know the harvesting season is upon them. Long has this understanding formed between the many beings of the Lupulan; This land is a shared one. Spirits cannot overcome human persistence, and humans can not overpower spiritual energy. No matter if this relationship is celebrated or scorned, everyone under the Great Lizard works in tandem, creating a cycle of life that is challenging, yet much beloved.
+15% Reform Progress Growth

Ambition
+15% Cavalry Combat Ability