Molubdenoi

The Molubdenoi (or Habayat) are a people inhabiting the western island of Melas. Rather than forming a unified state, their civilisation consists of seven kingdoms each headed by a ceremonial emperor. These emperors are elected by so called Hiriyumma, assemblies of merchant princes who wield real political and economic power. Unlike all other peoples in the known world, the Molubdenoi supposedly do not worship any gods but instead believe the universe follows sacred mathematical rules which can be determined by studying the movement of stars and other celestial bodies - a divination method called Ghematria. They are also said to despise any form of written language.
Since time immemorial, the Molubdenoi, the Lead- Eyed People, have dominated the great island of Melas, south-west of Askedoria. While they are known as Molubdenoi among other peoples of the Ophiotaurus Ocean, they call themselves Habayat, the Protectors. It is believed that they despise the Gods, and that their cult, instead, holds the utmost reverence for the study of the stars and planets, which they contemplate and analyze in search of geometric perfection that governs the universe, the sacred mathematical proportion called Ghematria. Rather than a single people, the Habayat are a confederation of Seven Kingdoms ruled by a council of Seven Emperors, each of them elected by an assembly of Merchant Princes. The life of the Emperors is complex and draining, and ends in a merciful permission to commit ritual suicide, but no sooner than after ten years of service. The Emperors must respect precise and exhausting religious regulations and conduct various ceremonies daily. The regularity of their existence is believed to be the embodiment of cosmic principles that balances the disorderly life of ordinary people. However, it is the electors, the Merchant Princes, that wield real power, despite being called Fila-Nama (“Precious Slaves”) by the Emperors. These people are capable of recruiting thousands of mercenaries and arming mighty fleets; they own slaves, land and silver, their assemblies are called, in the language of the Habayat, the Hiriyumma (“the perfect society of siblings who rightly think”). Yet one would be mistaken believing that the Hiriyumma maintain friendly relations with each other – on the contrary, they can go so far as to employ ferocious regiments of Iskuzai, or Hattusas and other pirates to strike the ports of their rivals.
== Name ==
Molubdenoi is the name most commonly used by the peoples of the Askedoria. It translates to "the Lead-eyed People" and refers to their typical bright grey eyes. The Molubdenoi call themselves Habayat in their native language - meaning "Protectors of the Centre".