The Karankawa (Joseph María)

The Karankawa
Map by JakeWalrusWhale
Leader	Joseph María
Start Bias	Coast
Religion	Catholicism Southern Cult (HR)
Geography & Social Data
Empire Name	The Karankawa
Demonym	Karankawa
Capital	Carancahua
Mod Support
Government	Chiefdom
Culture	Woodlands
Mercenaries	2
Religious Intolerance	4
Slavery	6
Civ IV Traits	Protective, Philosophical
Map Labels Language	Canadian
Civilopedia
Civilopedia	Here

The Karankawa led by Joseph María are a custom civilization by JakeWalrusWhale, with contributions from Arilasqueto, NopeCopter, RawSasquatch, and Zharques.

This mod requires Brave New World.

Overview

The Karankawa

The Karankawa were an Indigenous people concentrated in southern Texas along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, largely in the lower Colorado River and Brazos River valleys. They consisted of several independent, seasonal nomadic groups who shared a language and culture. The name Karankawa became the accepted designation for several groups of coastal people who shared a common language and culture. Those groups, identified in early historic times, included the Carancahuas, Coapites, Cocos, Cujanes, and Copanes. The significance of the name Karankawa has not been definitely established, although it is generally believed to mean "dog-lovers" or "dog-raisers." The Karankawas’ principal means of transportation was the dugout canoe, a watercraft made by hollowing out the trunk of a large tree. Those dugouts, unsuited for deep, open water, were used primarily in the relatively shallow waters between the islands and the mainland. Each canoe was spacious enough to carry an entire family along with their household goods. The Karankawas also traveled overland by foot, and were often described as powerful runners, as well as expert swimmers. Karankawa ceremonialism centered around gatherings which the Spaniards’ labeled "mitotes." The ceremonies often included dances and the consumption of intoxicating beverages brewed from the parched leaves and berries of the yaupon (Ilex cassine or vomitoria), a small shrublike tree native to south Texas. One observer in the sixteenth century witnessed that the "black drink" was consumed exclusively by the men of the tribe. The Karankawas also participated in competitive games demonstrating weapons skills or physical prowess. Wrestling was so popular among Karankawas that neighboring tribes referred to them as the "Wrestlers." Warfare was a fact of life for the Karankawas, and evidence indicates that the tribe practiced a ceremonial cannibalism prior to the eighteenth-century that involved eating the flesh of their traditional enemies. That custom, widespread among most Texas tribes during that era, involved consuming bits and pieces of the flesh of dead enemies as the ultimate revenge or as a magical means of capturing the enemy's courage. In later years, Europeans and Anglo-Americans utilized the Karankawas’ cannibalism as justification for annihilating them, despite the Karankawas having seemingly ceased the practice in the eighteenth century.

Joseph María

Joseph María was the most prominent Karankawa figure during the Spanish-Karankawa war in the late eighteenth century. He united different Karankawa Peoples, he sparked the abandonment of Nuestra Señora del Rosario Mission, and he demonstrated that the Karankawas held the most outstanding power on the Texas Coastal Bend.

Dawn of Man

Art by RawSasquatch

You must resist, oh chief Joseph María, leader of the Karankawa people. Victims of Spanish settlement and colonization, you led the abandonment of the mission they had forced your people on to, you yourself having been raised with the Catholic faith and Spanish language instead of your own. Abandoning the mission, from the coast you led raids. Seeing you as the leader, the Spanish hope to trap and kill you. But they failed, enraging your people even more. But as European goods dried up, you looked to cease hostilities. But as you were on the brink of peace, chance tempers led to further war and shattering your influence. It was during this time that the Apache killed you, before the peace between the Karankawa and Spanish could truly be settled.

Oh chief Joseph María, your people were a proud people. It is your duty to lead them back into the light, so that the scent of shark oil on skin once again permeates the Texan coast. Can you resist your enemies, using your knowledge of the coast to your advantage? Will you build a civilization that can stand the test of time?

Introduction: Welcome to the lands of the Karankawa. If you hold no ill will, you will be welcome.

Defeat: I couldn't do enough...

Unique Attributes

The Karankawa (Joseph María)
Art by JakeWalrusWhale	Isla del Malhado On rivers, marsh, or floodplains, units move faster and may embark at any time. Defeating units may spawn Oysters or Holly nearby. If near Oysters or Holly, defeating units will heal and provide Culture and points.
Art by JakeWalrusWhale	Dug-out (Work Boat) Resources improved by the Dug-out will grant a combat and movement boost to units starting on the tile. Transform into a naval melee unit when attacked by an enemy or on completion of fishing boats.
Art by JakeWalrusWhale	Bá-ak (Barracks) Improved Holly and Oysters in this city contribute to longer Golden Ages. During a Golden Age, enemy units nearby will take small amounts of damage every turn.

City List Carancahua Cujane Coapite Coco Copano Caoque Kouyam Quouan Ebahamo Kironoma Yákwal Bracamo Quinet Malhado McGloin’s Bluff Guadalupe Bay Morhiss Mound Mitchell Ridge Jamaica Beach Three Trees Hynes Bay Brazos Bend Hawk Coyote Skull Creek Dressing Point Nuezes Matagorda Rosario Refugio La Bahía Tamaulipas Rio Grande City

Spy List Balthasar Walupe Chepitto Calí Ushi Yámawe Chiara José Béhema Kanínma

Music

Peace Theme	War Theme

Mod Support

Mod Support
Additional Achievements	No
Civ IV Traits	Yes
Cultural Diversity	Yes
Enlightenment Era	No
Ethnic Units/R.E.D.	Yes
Events and Decisions	No
Historical Religions	Yes
Map Labels	Yes
Rise to Power	Yes
Unique Cultural Influence	Yes
YnAEMP	Yes

Unique Cultural Influence

"Our people are now rubbing sharks' oil on their entire bodies and sheltering in the bá-aks. I worry the rest of the world will succumb to the influence of your culture."

Full Credits List

Steam Workshop
Latest Version:	v 1
Last Updated:	January 2025

• JakeWalrusWhale: Author
• Arilasqueto: Artwork (Civilization Icon)
• HoopThrower: Music Search
• NopeCopter: Code (Lua)
• RawSasquach: Artwork (Leaderscene)
• Sukritact: Unit Model
• Zharques: Text (DoM, Diplo)