The Nine Divided
Fjorlosia's government is made up of two kinds of clans, those being the Elder Clans (Rikkar Clannik) and Young Clans (Oeden Clannik). While there are nine elder clans, and may only be nine clans at any point, there are numerous and unbound numbers of young clans, often around the count of less than a hundred.
I don't wager anything above the through-lines of the clans. Rocksteady, that lot! Like an heirloom for all of Virosia, passed down through its many generations, to all its peoples, 'cept maybe the Shaelarin. - Edgran of Kemmisord
The Rikkar Clannik, or Elder Clans, as their name would suggest, are the nine oldest clans in
Virosia, and the only living bloodlines of Old
Fjorlosia (Rikkar Fjorlosia in Fjorkad). The remaining Oeden Clannik are of anything formed after the formation of a unified Fjorlosia in 9543 A.A.R. (543 A.T.), about five centuries before the beginning of the Great Navigation.
The Rikkar Clannik
The Elder Clans, or the Rikkar Clannik, are essentially the primary state-body of Fjorlosia. Those outside of their ranks make up no acting body of government, and have no definitive sway in political decisions. Thus, the role the Rikkar Clannik play in keeping Fjorlosia stable is vital, as the vast majority of their populace is uninvolved with what keeps everything from caving in. By design, the Elder Clans work as a shield for their country, that most can remain unscathed by the majority of the world unless they otherwise wish to be involved.
The
Mythrokar are the oldest individuals, one from each Rikkar clan, that make up a council making the actual political decisions. They are counciled by their kin within their clan, and each clan is ascribed an even disbursement of Oeden clans to oversee in order to gather a communal pool of opinions, so that they may adequately represent their peoples. The word is not only for their council itself, but also to describe for the bond of a given Oeden Clannik to a Rikkar Clannik.
The Elder Clans are also made up of the nine primary kinds of fjoran ancestries. The Oeden clans are a mix of these nine, and any given Oeden Clannik can be under the
Mythrokar of any Rikkar Clannik of a different ancestry.
The Elder Clans are as follows, in order of age, oldest to youngest:
- Fjorlos - The Fjorlos, or Fjoran (antiquated term) were the original clan to initiate a uniting of the many banners that made up what is posthumously known as Rikkar Fjorlosia, or the Old Fjorlosian Realm, which at the time did not have a real name aside from the many territories that made up the region. In many ways, the unification was peaceful, though in most ways it was by way of force that the clans came together, and that peace could follow.
The Fjorlos are famed for their sartorcraft, which they are famous for having invented millennia ago. As such, much of the culture of Fjorlosia is based around the use of Mythral, and all of the Rikkar Clannik have nearly unlimited access to the material.
They are an avian-esque race that appear with an owl-like visage and plumage.
- Ranikk - The second oldest clan, this group was foundational in Fjorlos' success, understanding that their military power was one they could either join with as their diplomatic strongarm, or be destroyed by the former's hammer. They are a semi-rodent appearing people, most akin to that of a capybara, though with distinctly colorful eyes and a shorter muzzle.
- Kelthag - The Kelthag are the third oldest clan, and are famed for their works of mythrifice, having created many useful items powered and devised around Mythral, including Adzir, Velkazar, and Arcstria.
The Kelthag are a bird-like as the Fjorlos are, though more akin to finches and their wide variety.
- Medrikalanos - The fourth oldest, the Medrikalanos are a military focused clan, famed for their use of greatshield walls, advancing like moving mountains, from which the clan gets its name. They have the most prolific reputation of war, and are most heavily associated with other countries as the Fjorlosian warfront.
They strike the appearance of snub-nosed, serpentine humanoids, though they sport light plumage in areas, including beards of feather.
- Vetherkin - The Vetherkin, as the fifth oldest by less than a decade, were founded as a family that broke off from the Medrikalanos. Tied by marriage bonds, the two have been rather close kin for millennia. The Vetherkin provide weapons of war for Fjorlosia, and have honed this craft to perfection, becoming quite well known across Virosia for their "Vetherkide Steel", known to be of utmost quality, though little of the metal escapes the bounds of the realm.
Vetherkin are of a brutal feline appearance, with sharp ears, intense gazes, and sharp fangs.
- Andisgaan - Sixth oldest of the Rikkar Clannik, the Andisgaan are the most diligent jewelsmiths of the Fjorlosians. Their clan provides the most sartorcraft-grade mythral in the world, as well as creating Velkazar for the realm to trade with. Though they did not create the practice of sartorcraft, the have certainly made great improvement to the craft possible by designing the gems that are capable of greater things.
The Andisgaan appear as a rodentish folk, most often in a rat or mousish appearance.
- Drhuug - The seventh oldest, the Drhuug pride themselves as a clan that engages in a balance of the crafts and political ways. They leave their descendants to pickup the tasks that they desire, rather than attempt to force a passing of knowledge. Thus, while they are well liked by most that interact with them, they do not benefit overtly from any one practice's specialization. Most amicable, the Drhuug - if counted aside from Fjorlosia - have the most friends outside of their territory.
The Drhuugan appearance is that of canine creatures with scrunched faces and long whiskers that hide their faces, with beagle's nose poking through, backed by eyes of burning coal.
- Lupikandr - These people, the eighth oldest clan of Fjorlosian, are defined by their mining and mythral collection. Running by far the most efficient mines, they provide all ore and raw materials of the earth to the mouth of Fjorladdr. They hold something of a vice on the rest of the clans, as they control the means of nearly all production.
The Lupikandish people take an otter-like visage, though with a viper's eyes, and tufts of plumage.
- Skaldr - The Rikkar Clannik's youngest, the Skaldr are a people that make up the main mercantile force of Fjorlosia, generally seen at the forefront of interactions with other realms, as well as directing market related activities within their home cities. Skaldr also mint all Fjorlosian coin, though not velkazar, which is the purview of the Andisgaan.
Skaldr people have the appearance of raven-esque birds, with bright eyes and large plumes of beards.
The Oeden Clannik
The Oeden Clannik are simply every clan that joined the Fjorlosian Realm after the Mythrokar had already formed. This included about a dozen clans in less than a decade after its foundation, which at the time were not considered full citizens of Fjorlosia. Largely refugees of wars that continued in the regions of Old Fjorlosia, the Oeden clans trickled in for a long while.
After the discontent with their lack of full citizenship and all the rights it would entail, a rebellion occured, though less in warfare, and more in a lack of production, as the Oeden Clannik had established themselves as the less priviledge working class, providing most basic needs, as they much greater numbers than the Rikkar Clannik, having grown substantially over the first century of the Fjorlosian Realm's founding.
