Axe Nation (Great Nuclear War)

The Axe Nation (alternatively Axeland) 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 Cold 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 came under the control of hegemons who called themselves Clan 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.

Organization
The Bad 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 the former clansmen, __, 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.

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.

War
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 wax-hardened leather. Arms recovered from Axeland by archivists display an acute knowledge of smithing and leatherworking. 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 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 boomtowns across the ruined Michigan landscape, used to make weapons, armor, and structures on occasion.