Maca

A maca was a Maztican club, sometimes considered to be a longsword alternative. Later, found in the lands of Zakhara and Tethyr.

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.

Although the maca was a fearsome weapon when used against Maztican warriors, they were no match for Amnnian steel.

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. Later, the clues deity of warfare – Zaltec, used a maca to kill his mother – goddess Maztica, the continent's namesake.

History
Macas became common used weapons in the Golden Age of Payit, following the development of Maztican military. 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.

Groups

 * Bacars, intelligent ant-like beings that inhabited the Valley of Ixtzul in Maztica.
 * Fire newts that inhabited the volcano of Mount Zatal in the territory of Nexal wielded great macas against their foes.
 * 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.
 * Tlincalli, the scorpion folk that inhabited tropical and subtropical desert were known to wield maca weapons.

Individuals

 * Chuhotl, the son of Kichemel, a famed Eagle Knight of the 14 century DR.
 * Jeordos, the Jagre-Chief from Nexal, active post-Night of Wailing.
 * Kixitiloc, an ex-slave warrior also known as the "Wolf-Boy", active in the 14 century DR.
 * Lactun, a 14 century DR Jaguar Knight.
 * Miquiztl Manik, a Jaguar Knight of Kultaka, leader of the Jaguar Guard mercenary company operating in Myratma in the mid–14 century DR.
 * Priatl, the Jagre-Chief from Nexal, active post-Night of Wailing.
 * Stonekiller, a Maztican desert dwarf warrior in the 14 century DR.
 * Yosh al-Nasr, an Eagle Knight who found a life in the Golden Huzuz in the land of Zakhara in the 14 century DR.
 * Zocon, a Maztican warrior loyal to the deity Zaltec in the 14 century DR.

Background
From the description, a maca seems similar to a real world weapon of ancient Mexican cultures, the macuahuitl.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Fires of Zatal &bull; Endless Armies
 * Novels
 * Ironhelm &bull; Viperhand &bull; Feathered Dragon
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards