Politics

While sovereignty is not always clear-cut in the Dragonfly Isles, there are three main competing political powers that most polities in Zōayage pay at least some fealty to: the Shogun in Kama, the High Priestess in Yoshima, or the Ekh Khagan in Krigh.

The Kama Shogunate

All of the provinces on the Northwest Island, as well as many on the other islands, pay fealty to the Shogunate in the city of Kama on the Northwest Island.

Despite the Shogunte’s formidible military, most of its political power comes from convenience and tradition. Provincial lords often vie for power amongst each other, and war between them is not entirely uncommon. Many provincial lords are vassals of others, forming a complex hierarchy as the more powerful look to increase their holdings.

The Yoshima Theocracy

The southern provinces on the Southwest Island have broken away from their former fealty to the Shogun to follow a new religious leader in Yoshima. This High Priestess and her new, monotheistic Yoan religion have spread quickly. What was merely a small cult 20 years ago is now a new state, twelve provinces strong.

Where the old ways of the Agehin were a collection of animistic spiritual beliefs, the Yaon religion is a strict and formal doctorine that demands subservience.

The Ekh Khaganate

The Ekh people on the Eastern Island are organized into a number of smaller clan-based polities, but they are all loyal to the Ekh Khagan in Krigh. Conflict and even battle between the different clans is considered normal, though it happens far less than the Ekh have a reputation for.

Each Ekh polity sends a representative to Krigh to participate in the Khagan’s Mót, or representative assembly. While the Khagan has supreme power in war, decisions that affect the Ekh as a whole are otherwise deferred to the Mót.