Moiros

Moiros is a newly discovered island nation located in the far southwest of Aquila. Having endured five years of war, Moiros’ population dropped substantially; It’s speculated Moiros had a population of 1.4 million prior to the Expedition Wars. In the aftermath, scholars estimate the current population to be 700,000, although this number is contested.

## Political Structure

### Formerly (2678 - 4850)

Moiros was structured under two phases; an absolute monarchy until the coronation and reforms of Queen Antonlia, and an confederative monarchy until the conclusion of the Expedition Wars.

The absolute monarchy phase, as characterised by Moiran scholars and post-contact intellectuals, was seen as the monarch being chosen by the divine Moiran two-faced deity, Poronoi. The system was reformed under Queen Antonlia following the Treaty of Mongu, which recognised the Conferdii, a tribal confederation, as a separate entity on the island. The reformation allowed tribals who remained within the Moiran Empire to be represented. The system introduced the Moiran Diet, a system of electors from various cities to convene and discuss the successor following the monarch's passing. The electors were as follows:

The Principality of Meningoth - A former city that was regarded as the city of commerce within Moiros, the position was held by the monarch's primary heir, and was expected to ascend to Emperor.

The Principality of Talvon - A city formerly located near the mouth of the Heavenly Mountains, Talvon was renown for quality warhorses that are still famous in current day. The position was inherited by the monarch's secondary heir, and was expected to undermine the Conferdii.

The Electorate of Nargin - A city renown for the prestigious military schools that dotted its landscape, it was inherited by the High Elector, a position chosen by the emperor.

Electorate of Sarvax - The Capital of pre-contact Moiros, Sarvax was established as an electorate following the War of Golden Succession, which allowed the Sarvaxian nobility a higher influence in choosing the next monarch.

In addition to Electorates, there were Free Cities, settlements granted special privileges by the monarch themselves. The names of several of these free cities have been undiscovered or lost to time, but there are two of note currently known:

Free City of Malena - Located to have been a few miles from Sarvax, Malena was under the oversight of the monarch itself, and was from various periods in its history was granted electorate status. During the reign of Queen Aurenilia, Malena was expanded and granted an exemption of conscription and taxation.

Free City of Tanaro - Located on the border of the Moiran Empire and the Conferdii, Tanaro was granted the status of free city in 3468, following the Mongu Treaty to prevent another tribal uprising. Tanaro was granted the freedom of religion and custom.

### Presently

Currently, Moiros is structured as a constitutional monarchy composed of three Assemblies; Nobles, Commoners, Tribals. These assemblies meet and convene to discuss various issues and dilemmas. These assemblies have chosen two representatives from each assembly known as Electors, who also serve as the imperial council. The council is tasked with six electorate positions, overseeing a portion of the nation’s management. These are:

Electorate of Military - Tasked with military oversight, including expeditionary forces to foreign countries

Electorate of Justice - Oversees the Judicial system, which is divided into the High Magistrate and the common courts

Electorate of Treasury - Responsible for finances, and collaborates with the Electorate of Military and Navy for a set yearly budget

Electorate of the Navy - Oversight of the navy and all of it activities, including foreign naval affairs

Electorate of Internal Affairs - Oversees internal affairs, and also operates the Savlona, an organisation designed to keep order

Electorate of Foreign Affairs - Responsible for envoys, diplomats and ambassadors for international relations and Moiran embassies throughout Aphelion

The monarch may refuse an assembly’s elector, and choose another from a different assembly if there is reasonable cause and is approved by the two other assemblies. The High Magistrate is regarded as the highest judicial system, with a body of thirteen Magistrates, approved by the monarch and elector of justice.

## History

### Pre-Contact

There are few records that still exist today in regards to life and society during the Moiran empire, many of them having been lost or destroyed in the Expedition Wars. In the aftermath, scholars undertook the daunting task of collecting information prior to the Journey Expedition. By 4851, a scholar by the name of Ventin Calsto published *The Moiran Records*, the most accurate rendition of Moiran history. His first statement highlights the importance that Sarvax had to the Moiran Empire, here he states:

“*Exploring through sources, it has remained consistent that Sarvax was regarded as the most influential city on the continent, dating prior to the creation of the Moiran Empire. Although it is unknown when Sarvax was founded, it had achieved hegemony by 2678, under King Taisus unifying the nation and establishing himself as “Emperor of all Moirans.” In 2680, Taisus, with the approval of the Sarvax council, imposed Terricas, an isolationist decree barring any foreigner from entering the island nation for political stability. The end result was a nation encapsulated in time, xenophobic to outsiders.“*

Despite having much information on the creation of the Moiran Empire, it appears as if the nation experienced relative peace with little to no major events occurring following Moiran unification, commonly referred to by native Moiran scholars as *“Pon Moireau”,* which lasted from 2690 to 3465. Its end would be due in part to the Tribal Uprising. Originally a peaceful proposition to the Sarvax nobility to allow tribal representation within the Empire, the uprising occurred when King Terrin refused tribal representation and ordered that the tribes be displaced in an effort to expand the newly founded city of Tavlon.

In response, the tribals, consisting of the Telloc, the Vargin, the Conqois, the Ontanka, and the Mongu created the Conferdii, a confederation in opposition to the Moiran Empire. Initially winning against the natives, the Empire suffered a massive defeat in 3467, at the battle of Tini Forest, resulting in the death of King Terrin. His sister & successor, Queen Antonlia, negotiated a peace treaty which recognised the Conferdii as an entity, allowing for minor tribal representation within the Empire, and protected tribal land unless willingly given. The treaty would later go on to be called the “Mongu Treaty” by the Conferdii for recognition of the Mongu’s importance for its creation.

Following the uprising, the Moiran Empire once again experienced a short era of peace until the ascension of King Manlor the Bastard. In 4004, King Avlon died without a legitimate heir, and proclaimed the first bastard son of his mistress, Evlava Bertois, to be the rightful heir. The Moiran nobility opposed a bastard son to become king and chose Mavtias Velva, distant cousin to King Avlon, to be his successor. Before Mavtias could be declared king, Manlor had him and his supporters assassinated, securing Manlors’ ascension to the throne in 4005.

Ventin Calso best describes Manlors’ rule as “*Tyrannical, aggressive and full of paranoia. In the five years he reigned as emperor, he assassinated a third of the Sarvaxian nobility, frequently had outbursts of rage, constantly locked himself in his chambers, and removed troops stationed on the border of the Conferdii. His reign would come to an abrupt end in 4010, when the Sarvaxian nobility suddenly awoke him in his sleep and hung him over the town ramparts. His death would begin a power vacuum, with Queen Aurenilia succeeding him in 4011, after the War of Golden Succession.”*

Surviving records regarding the Golden Succession are difficult to find; many records that were rediscovered appear to be exaggerated and romanticised, written by a scholar only known as Santios, who describes Aurenilia as: “*A divine Empress, who swiftly assembled an army to defeat all four other contenders, defeating each of them in a test of wit they did not possess. Entrapping one of the contenders with her army, he was decapitated and his head was presented to the other three claimants, who then agreed to convene to stand against her. This would be the catalyst for their defeat as they convened, she had them brutally slaughtered by their own retinue, their supply trains poisoned, and the remaining demoralised army destroyed.*

Following Queen Aurenilia's ascension, Moiros would enter another "*Pon Moireau"* following the Treaty of Moiran Peace in 4011, which lead to an era of prosperity and a cultural revolution during Aurenilia's reign. Ventin Calsto remarks on this period of Moiran history as: "*Perhaps the greatest era of Moiran history for the common man. During her reign, the construction of schools and universities allowed even the common peasant an opportunity to advance their standing. Her reign lead to the commissions of various plays, statues and paintings that have seemingly have been recovered in high quantities; it is from these recoveries that we can conclusively construct an accurate timeline at all. Her various attempts to amend the tragedies among the various tribes in the Conferdii, blossomed the possibility of a unified Moiros, unseen since the days of Emperor Taisus. Santios, the seemingly propaganda historian, dubbed this period the "Revolva Aureli Cultuso", or the Aurenilia Cultural Revolution. Her reign would come to an end in 4065, having passed away in her sleep.*

After her passing, the Cultural Revolution prospered with the ascension of King Teric, a monarch that native Moiran scholars regarded as the "King of Exploration." Ventin Calsto remarks on Teric's reign, saying: *His first proclamation as Emperor, he funded a series of caravans into Conferdii territory, with the aims of charting and discovering new resources that the Empire could utilise in the Cultural Revolution. In 4072, various miners and explorers had discovered a large vein of white rock, when grinded to a powder and mixed with charcoal, as suggested by natives, would result in a quick flame. This discovery, as the rest of known world knows today, is gunpowder. While recounts on whether or not the natives had made any devices to harness gunpowder's importance is unknown or yet undiscovered, they seemingly knew enough to intrigue the exploring Moirans of its "quick flame." This discovery would modernise the way Moirans did warfare from then on."*

In the twilight years of Teric's reign, native Moiran scholars accredit him with the reformation and modernisation of the military, the peak of the Cultural Reformation, and the abolishment of Moiran serfdom. His reforms as accounted by a native Moiran scholar and military quartermaster, named Andros Paloigos, are remarked as: "*Seen as the highlight of the Cultural Revolution, The abolishment of serfdom allowed for the flourishment of the merchant class; trading and manufactured goods increased in quantity and quality. The discovery and extensive testing of gunpowder lead to the creation of primitive firearms, and in turn lead to the reformation of the army. The usage of bows were slowly phased out for hand cannons and heavy crossbows. Armour advanced in the Cultural Revolution as well, the tried and tested scale armour was switched for chainmail, with the addition of early variants of brigandines, lamellar armour and different variations of previous armour according to region, It lead to a golden age of arms and armour."*

In 4784, the Moiran Diet convened after Queen Lezia, the last living member of the Marvo family line; the family line of Queen Aurenilia, died without an heir. The Moiran Diet convened to elect her chosen heir-elect, Serin Narsos, a tribal of notable renown meant to amend and eventually conslidate the Conferdii to Moiran unification. However, The Sarvaxian nobility refuted his claim, choosing Tavin Estro on the premise that tribals were beneath the status of Emperor. The diet reached a headblock, before Tavin Estro was bribed into dismissing his claim, leaving Serin to ascend the throne in 4785.

Known as the first and last tribal to be elected as Emperor, King Serin would be the only monarch to unify Moiros since King Taisus, following his pilgrimage to the Peak of Poronoi, the highest point within the Heavenly Mountains. A ritual only undertaken by tribals, Serin's pilgrimage would culminate to the annexation of the Conferdii in 4805.

Serin's dying words are immortalised at the Peak of Poronoi, etched at the bottom of a carving of a tribal and Moiran shaking hands, stating;

"*For both of my people, I unify you. Now prosper to that our legacy becomes myth."*