Esizzo

**Esizzo**, officially the Princedom of Esizzo, is a nation located in the southwestern Maestoqua Ocean. It sits between Morwé Island and Popipana, in the northern Sheené Sea. Essizo is made up of two main islands, Tuscini Island and Sanamarin Island. The capital of Esizzo is Emorré.

As it contains its most holy city, Emorré, Esizzo acts as the center of the Canavoxan faith. As such, it has been able to maintain positive relations with most of the nations that hold a sizable Canavoxan population. The protection of these nations, especially its powerful neighbor Hateti, have ensured Esizzo's continued peace for centuries.

People have been living in Esizzo since at least 6000 PMC; however, the islands' history drastically changed in 1276 PMC, when Vihfi the Godsvoice founded Emorré and established the first Canavoxan temples. In just decades, the faith spread across the islands, and in 1231 PMC, the Princedom of Esizzo was established, uniting the smaller kingdoms that had existed before.

Esizzo is still ruled by a prince today; the current prince is Vihfian XVII. The prince is selected in a series of complex rituals once every twenty years, and serves both as the head of government and the head of the faith.

## Politics

### Government

Esizzo is a princedom, ruled by a prince; despite the terminology, however, the prince can be any gender. In fact, a prince is expected to transcend their birth-assigned gender in favor of an androgynous appearance, which reinforces their role as the religious head over all members of the Canavoxan faith: man, woman, and otherwise.

#### The Clarification

The prince is selected every twenty years through a series of rituals known as the Clarification. A candidate for princehood can be of any natural origin, although they must meet the following qualifications:

* be between 25 and 38 years old;
* have practiced the Canavoxan faith for at least twenty years;
* have lived in Esizzo for at least fifteen years;
* have served the Canavoxan faith as clergy for at least twelve years;
* have held the rank of Kestrel for at least eight years;
* have held the rank of Falcon for at least four years;
* and have demonstrated their divine favor by obtaining a shard of Lilosa.

Once all candidates have submitted their claim, the Clarification Council, made up of all Falcons, meets to begin the ritual process. There are six rituals that take anywhere from a few days to three months, each designed to narrow down the candidate pool. The first four are conducted in secret, with the results posted on the door of the High Temple of Mirosen after each is completed. The final two rituals are done with the remaining candidates present; the penultimate in public, the final in private. The rituals (and lengths) are as follows:

* the Choosing Fire (4 days);
* the Dove's Edict (2 weeks);
* the Council of Ire (~6 weeks);
* the Demon's Chance (11 days);
* the Marketplace Ascent (2 weeks)
* and the Trial in the Hills (3 months).

Once the Trial in the Hills has finished, the final candidate is given the remaining weeks until the new year begins to indulge in any activities they desire. Then, on midnight of the new year, the Succession Feast occurs, and the candidate is officially instated as the next prince.