A
Ajrinij-Eunuch
Asraj-wife
B
Bajkij-Hello
C
Chowfra-General
D
Dajsora-Soldiers' drug made by witches.
Drowza-Lord
E
Ejnuwnajb-Head witch
F
Felija-Thief
G
Gramlak-Sailor
H
Hla-Water
Hlida- Man
I
Ishminga-Soldier or warrior
J
Jazhnowak-Assassin
K
Kalalaj-the queen mother
L
Luwvij-Sword
M
Manuzij-Slave
Medak-Magic
N
Najrakrij-Horse
Nuwzhalshij-Harem
O
Opa/Opaj/Opij-leader or chief
P
Pipuwnijt-Ship
R
Radrij-Dog
S
Shashajk-Woman
T
Tanuwijt-Witchbrew
Tevrasak-Coven
Tsaj-House
U
Ulba-Emperor
V
Vuwdha-Poet
W
Wumbarijt-Armor
X
Xa-Life
Xahla-Blood
Z
Zhlowvaj-Witch
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nuwpa Faction
1. Royalty is the recognized government of Nuwpa. It enacts laws, negotiates with foreign powers, maintains domestic tranquility and defends the city of Nuwpa. At the top of the government sits the Ulba, theoretically the sovereign of Nuwpa. He (the Ulba is always male) has very little real power and is most successful when he plays the other members of his faction off one another and the other factions. The Ulba has a harem run either by his mother (the Kalalaj) or his most powerful wife (the Opaj th’Asrajl); if there is both a Kalalaj and an Opaj th’Asrajl there is guaranteed intrigue. The Ulba’s person and the harem are guarded by an army of eunuchs, the th’Ajrinij lead by the chief eunuch the Opij th’Ajrinijl. The actual governing of the empire is in the hands of the House of Lords (Tsaj thaDrowzal) which the Ulba can override at any time, but rarely does for fear of making powerful enemies. The city is defended by the garrison, a small, elite military force which protects the city from foreign invaders, civil unrest and military coups.
2. The Imperial Coven is the spiritual leadership of Nuwpa. It is a sisterhood of powerful witches lead by a council of 9 Ejnuwnajbs, each Ejnuwnajb is theoretically coequal but in practice only a few make most of the important decisions. The coven is fiercely hierarchical with members usually selected at birth and trained in witchcraft. Daughters of witches are often selected to become a witch or are married to important men of other factions or foreign powers. Men cannot join the coven, but the coven does keep men for defensive and reproductive duties. The secrets of the coven are well guarded and any witch who betrays the coven can expect an unpleasant death. The coven supplies the military with the drug dajsora and relies on military support against the royalty, which it often finds itself in conflict with.
3. The Military are the land forces of Nuwpa. Obviously they are the most powerful faction in terms of brute strength, but this strength is offset by several disadvantages. Most importantly is internal disunity. Each general considers his men his private army and usually views other generals with suspicion. Generals will not risk their men for another general unless it is clearly advantageous to do so. To a lesser extent this is true of captains. Secondly, more than half the military is addicted to the witch drug dajsora, which mean they rely on the Coven to supply this drug. Incidentally, dajsora makes soldiers stronger and braver, but also more bloodthirsty and sadistic. Withdrawal of this drug makes soldiers very depraved, craven and violent. Thirdly military personnel are not allowed in the city of Nuwpa, a rule the city garrison, the underbelly and the mob enthusiastically enforce.
4. The Underbelly is the criminal element of Nuwpa. It is behind most of the vices of Nuwpa; human trafficking, drugs (other than alcohol and witchbrews), gambling, protection rackets and the like. They are also behind most forms of entertainment in Nuwpa. They have an extensive network of spies, assassins and thieves which take the place if military strength for this faction. Ironically they also act as an informal police force by maintaining a monopoly of criminal activities in Nuwpa. The organization of this faction is shrouded in secrecy; they communicate with other factions via expendable proxies.
5. The Mob is the balk of the population. They are the labor force of Nuwpa, works and farmers. They are politically disorganized and easily lead by other factions. They do have power because of their numbers and can turn out a huge mob if incited to a riot.
6. The Mint represents the business interests of Nuwpa. They mint coinage, collect taxes, maintain the treasury and oversee foreign trade. They run the bureaucracy of Nuwpa and regulate all commercial transactions, including weights and measures, quality assurance, taxes and tariffs, guild membership and banking. All other factions rely on them for money and thought they are despised by the other factions no one is willing to forgo their financial support. In addition, the mint controls the navy, privateers and the merchant marine of Nuwpa and is indispensable for shipping.
7. The Academy is the weakest faction. It specializes in knowledge both mundane and arcane. It has considerable cultural prestige, very little political power and no military power.
2. The Imperial Coven is the spiritual leadership of Nuwpa. It is a sisterhood of powerful witches lead by a council of 9 Ejnuwnajbs, each Ejnuwnajb is theoretically coequal but in practice only a few make most of the important decisions. The coven is fiercely hierarchical with members usually selected at birth and trained in witchcraft. Daughters of witches are often selected to become a witch or are married to important men of other factions or foreign powers. Men cannot join the coven, but the coven does keep men for defensive and reproductive duties. The secrets of the coven are well guarded and any witch who betrays the coven can expect an unpleasant death. The coven supplies the military with the drug dajsora and relies on military support against the royalty, which it often finds itself in conflict with.
3. The Military are the land forces of Nuwpa. Obviously they are the most powerful faction in terms of brute strength, but this strength is offset by several disadvantages. Most importantly is internal disunity. Each general considers his men his private army and usually views other generals with suspicion. Generals will not risk their men for another general unless it is clearly advantageous to do so. To a lesser extent this is true of captains. Secondly, more than half the military is addicted to the witch drug dajsora, which mean they rely on the Coven to supply this drug. Incidentally, dajsora makes soldiers stronger and braver, but also more bloodthirsty and sadistic. Withdrawal of this drug makes soldiers very depraved, craven and violent. Thirdly military personnel are not allowed in the city of Nuwpa, a rule the city garrison, the underbelly and the mob enthusiastically enforce.
4. The Underbelly is the criminal element of Nuwpa. It is behind most of the vices of Nuwpa; human trafficking, drugs (other than alcohol and witchbrews), gambling, protection rackets and the like. They are also behind most forms of entertainment in Nuwpa. They have an extensive network of spies, assassins and thieves which take the place if military strength for this faction. Ironically they also act as an informal police force by maintaining a monopoly of criminal activities in Nuwpa. The organization of this faction is shrouded in secrecy; they communicate with other factions via expendable proxies.
5. The Mob is the balk of the population. They are the labor force of Nuwpa, works and farmers. They are politically disorganized and easily lead by other factions. They do have power because of their numbers and can turn out a huge mob if incited to a riot.
6. The Mint represents the business interests of Nuwpa. They mint coinage, collect taxes, maintain the treasury and oversee foreign trade. They run the bureaucracy of Nuwpa and regulate all commercial transactions, including weights and measures, quality assurance, taxes and tariffs, guild membership and banking. All other factions rely on them for money and thought they are despised by the other factions no one is willing to forgo their financial support. In addition, the mint controls the navy, privateers and the merchant marine of Nuwpa and is indispensable for shipping.
7. The Academy is the weakest faction. It specializes in knowledge both mundane and arcane. It has considerable cultural prestige, very little political power and no military power.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)