Political factions in Cetacian City States

POLITICAL FACTIONS IN THE FREE CITIES

♦ MERCHANTS LEAGUE FACTION – historical conflicts with Long monarchy, pragmatic, in favour of free trade, against taxation

♠ PRO-HU FACTION – strong antipathy towards Long monarchy, feelings of kinship with Sirenia-Cetacia and with Hu, view Hu king as a liberator

♥ PEACE FACTION – view armed conflict as the enemy of prosperity, hostile towards Hu army for making war in Long and for provoking resentment of native Long population.

♣ INDEPENDENCE FACTION – desire self-determination. against rule by both Long and Hu, mixed attitude towards influence of Merchants League

ATTITUDE TOWARDS HU CONQUEST

♦ ♠ - At beginning of FD 5 an unstable coalition between the Merchants League and pro-Hu factions dominate the cities;

♦ taxation, economic exploitation or other heavy-handed treatment by the new Hu administration threaten to alienate the Merchants League faction and split this coalition;

♥ ♣ the two other (smaller) factions, the Peace faction and Independence faction, are both hostile toward Hu regime.

ATTITUDE TOWARDS LONG MONARCHY

None of the factions are truly pro-Long;

♥ Some members of the Peace faction view the Varanus kings as overseers of a peaceful land;

♦ If the new Hu regime alienates the Merchants League faction they may become receptive to friendly overtures by the Long kings and promises of favourable economic status.