The Northern Islands

From Fellaor

The network of tropical islands north of the main continent are controlled by two main powers, the stronger of these being the Tiras Confederacy, based upon the island of Mar Tiras. An occational contender for power in the region is the kingdom of Selesear, which is also the largest and westmost island. Most of the islanders speak a dialect of common.

Government

The Tiras Confederacy is ruled by four merchant princes, each of whom have jurisdiction over a cluster of islands. the most powerful of these is the lord of Mar Tiras (and the surrounding Islands), The other three governing cities are Elweai, Lenwae, and Camthalion. The governing council is in continous session, but it's rare for any of the princes to be in attendence, instead they appoint representitives, known as mouthes, to sit in conference in their place.

Merchant prince is not an inherated title, but rather an elected representitive of the established merchant families in each juristiction.  When a merchant prince dies a council, known as a naming council,  is called in that princes jurisdiction.  Each of the merchant families send a representitive, and a new prince is chosen if he has the support of two thirds of the families.   In each of the representitive districts except Campthalion, the position of "merchant family" is inherited and does not reflect actual involvement in commerce.   In Campthallion, the merchant council is chosen from each family which owns either 20 jar of land or a ship with over four masts. 

The Island of Selesear is ruled by a single king, known as a Jarimon who's authority is absolute, he is also cerimonially the head Vietmon (Priest) of the local god, Wei Joss, although different monarch's have pursued their duties with different degrees of rigor, the present Jarimon has not been highly involved in religious affairs. Traditionally Selesear has sent an observer to the council of the Tiras Confederacy

Economy

Most of the economic activity in the region is devoted to gathering enough food to feed the inhabitants of the land, either in rice farming or fishing. The Merchant princes have contributed to the regions wealth, the Islands serve as a shiping hub to and from the continent, and serve in the shipping of goods about the about Fellaor. Other parts of the economy are involved in the production of rubber, and various dies for export.

Military

Predictably, navel expenditures constitute the majority of military spending in the region. At present the Tiras Confederacy is at War with The Empire (of the Hayden Dynasty). Imperial troops have taken marburg and large portions of the Island of Lenwae. The Tiras confederacy has been waging an indecisive navel battle against the fleets of the empire in hope of cutting supply shippments to the invaders. These efforts have benifited from the recent involvement of the Elnaen, the navel forces of the island of Selesear