POLITICS OF EAMOA
written by the not-yet-dead Chriophos of Maron-
Politics is tricky business. And by "tricky", it is usually in this case assumed "potentially picking the wrong side and not fleeing away immediately can result into a swift and painful execution". In general, however, it's the eternal conflict which existed with the arrival, and subsequent incursion by the Empire (known in most chronicles simply as "the Conquest", with a capital C. Beats me why.) into the Eamoan city-states. Which were notoriously (by what little we know) divisive on most issues even within them, and what about foreign policy. This has interesting results, as the sort of unified nobility as we today know and "love" (Except for the respectable count of Maron, a fine man with heart in his place) appeared during the middle period of the Conquest, and some (not me, definitely!) believe that it's still quite "immature". Therefore for the purposes of this treatise, we shall look into the nobles (and merchants, as they also like politics. And stabbing.) in two separate categories. By no means this is the complete picture, and not all houses follow that course absolutely. There's tiny and large houses, men and women with vested interests, and nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.
Morarias: Or the "faithful of Mora", they were the most rebellious nobles during the time of the Conquest, who resisted the attempts of colonisation and conversion to the Pantheon, after the Fall they have gained immense power. In an ironic twist of fate (at least for the opposing faction), it soon became so that the oppressed became the oppressors. While not overtly direct as Qeng Ho in their assimilating tactics (or, as some might say, RE-assimilating tactics...), they hold great influence, which they use either to clear out dynastic disputes (you know, the ones created by your drunk grand uncle who's the count of the local city that got drunk and killed 15 nobles in the flash of a blade? Yeah.) or to
make dynastic disputes, but somewhere further away from their realms. In any case, nothing happens without the Morarias knowing, and nothing happens without someone related to the Morarias being involved. Their power-centre is more to the rural areas, where the Qeng Ho colonists were unable to have a serious hold, and of course, where worship of Mora, the One True Goddess was fervently upheld.
A Morarian noble floating on a barge with his retinue upon the river Iewraiver.
Quen Eamoa: Those are the descendants of families of colonists, nobles, who were tasked with the mission of "pacifying" the area, by getting rid of the "harmful influences of partisan bickering", i.e, they were out to root the faith in Mora and to turn the Eamoans from angry peasants chanting for Mora's blessings in the battle against the cruel oppressors to normal citizens that worship the Imperial Pantheon and pay their taxes on time. Even before the Fall, that was a difficult task, as the usual approach of the Empire towards religion didn't work - for the Eamoans, it was either Mora or nothing. Which is why they tried the more forceful method. Didn't work out very well, as from one city rebelling in the mountains, suddenly everyone and their grandmothers began resisting in any ways possible. In the end, they decided stop persecuting Morans, and Morans stopped killing those who converted to the Pantheon (mostly.). In this case, the nobles and colonists simply waited. Alas, the Empire didn't. The Fall came swiftly, and so did the rise of the Morarians begin. It was a fight for life and death, but eventually, they did manage to get solid positions in cities like Ramosa and Miridion and the capital, naturally. However, they never had any success any further from the coast; tales still live about the one time that the Qeng Ho attempted to destroy Mora's children, and how they all drowned in the river Iewraiver. While a bit shaken down since the Fall, the Quen Eamoa are for now, a formidable force, often used to solve one or another conflict when the Morarians are too busy squabbling in their dynasties.
One would think that the Quen Eamoa would be lying quietly and biding their time. Yet, however, it seems, if anything, they're keeping a façade of superiority, and, perhaps, even, "smugness"; painting of a magistrate in Quen Eamoa lands.
Well, that would sum up the nobles. However, another driving force behind Eamoa (and a very important one) would be the merchants. It is no secret that before and after the Conquest, the Eamoan traders have gone to faraway places in the name of profit. Even more well-known it is that the Eamoan merchants, unlike nobles, are far more mercenary in their allegiances; where religion is just a tool to sell relics to devoted believers; and nationality is merely a way not to get shot in the face, all Eamoan merchants, be they natives or colonists, follow one thing. Money. It is, in the end, the ultimate pursuit. There's two "roads", so as to speak, to wealth and prosperity. Two paths, and none of them like each other too much.
Morashilds: Or, "blessed by Mora", but not in the strictly religious sense. Rather, those are merchants owning fleets of various sizes, from several fishing boats retrofitted into some sort of a junk, to, more respectable flotillas with cogs and galleass escorts. According to them, anyone not using the gift of Mora (i.e, the oceans) was a fool and even a heathen. Most of the merchants are from old houses, many predating the Conquest with traditions in sailing lying many years in the past. Naturally, they are found dwelling in the coastal cities, which, in a bizarre (for outsiders, anyway) twist of fate, makes them one of the few reasons the Quen Mora aren't still exiled into the underworld by angry nobles, thus bringing a resemblance of balance into the world. Sort of.
A typical Morashild ship. Nothing special, but it gets the job done.
Marazen: Technically not their real name, but it's the one that stuck; a moniker thought by the Morashild, it means literally "landlubber". And that's true. Unlike the Morashilds, the Marazen are a faction that deals with nearly all caravans in Eamoa. They run one of the largest "companies", so as to speak, and this has made them rather..resilient. Even on the Great Road, in perfect conditions, the travel to Ishiel Province is long, hard, and tiring. And that's if there's no problems...Which is rare. Xi-Peng never holds too hard control outside their larger cities on the road, making it prime destinations for all sorts of bandits. And there's always the rivals, who would want to take you out in the scrubs, where nobody will see. And nobody will care. Therefore, your ordinary caravanner is one mean bastard, hard to kill and even harder to persuade into the whole "money or the life". This is reflected into their politics. When they have to be ruthless, they are, and they leave only scorched earth behind them. When they have to be subtle...you'll never know until it's too late. As opposed to the Morashild, the Marazen are a lot more open to the Imperial Pantheon and it's believers, and accept anyone who can prove themselves able. Naturally allied to the Morarias, in recent times, their caravans aren't no longer attacked, as even the stupidest bandit knows that these two factions mean business.
A caravan of the Marazen finally reaching it's destination.
All that remains is the clergy. It doesn't have categories; there's only two choices: you either worship Mora as the Goddess which can make your life blossom or end it in a moment's notice, or you're a bloody damned heretic and every good believer's quest would be to kill you. More importantly, however, the clergy is the vital link between the commoners and aristocracy, without which this realm would be very unfunctional. It is the glue that keeps the society wholesome, as the faith in Mora is hammered into a child's mind, no matter how high or low you were. You are just a raindrop in the sea, so says Mora. You come from the skies, and then you fall. And die. And end. But reborn again as water once more in the future. And so on.
Well, this would be it. I hope you enjoyed my little creation, for that I made it for the benefit of future generations so that they might know how Eamoa politics were like after the Fall.
MAY MORA BLESS US ALL.
