Black Marsh politics and government

[KuKulzA]

There are two governments in the Black Marsh. The Traditional and the Royal Government. The first was a loose confederation of Argonian tribes formed to fight foreign invasion and often the union was broken in times of peace. The Royal government is the product of the Reman Dynasty.

Black Marsh Provincial Government
There are three elements to the Provincial Government. One is the Imperial Legion, another is the Royal Court, and a third is the Archeins. First I will explain their origins in Black marsh and then go on to explain each facet of the politics.
Origins of the Current Government
The provincial style government in Black marsh began when the area was conquered by Reman II. When conquering the land, Reman realized that the excellent guerilla tactics of the Argonian peoples would destroy his forces. Thus he won over a few powerful chiefs to aid him in traversing Argonia and subduing local resistance. These turncoats were conquistadores of their own kind. Reman was later able to trick the confederacy of Argonians including Kothringi, other tribal men, and people of root to fight in the open. This resulted in the only true victory for Cyrodiil, and the only loss for Argonia, yet this battle was so decisive that Reman was able to lay claim to all of Black Marsh. At first the and was ruled by Imperial governors and two leaders, a Priest-King, and a Battle-Chief. The Battle-chief was often used as an tactical aid for the Emperor and the Priest-King mediating between Cyrodiil and the local Argonians. However this systme broke down as corruption ensued and the Imperial Governors became local dictators... thus something had to be done about the disaster...
Rise of the Provincial Government
When Tiber Septim arose, the commerce in the Marsh stabilized somewhat, and a powerful clan of Argonians decided to take control. With the secret support of Cyrodiil, the clan instigated the Archeins, advisors to the now corrupt Imperial governors, to rebel. Thus in a year, all of Black Marsh had rebelled and established a new regime. The clan became a Royal Clan, and formed the Royal Court. The Archeins thus became the governors of the land. However a dilemna developed, the Archeins had control of the trade and military in the young nation. Thus, the Royal Court developed a way to maintain control over the Archeins; assassination. The Dark Brotherhood and the Royal Clan collaborated to form the Shadowscales. The Royal Clan also incorporated into the Royal Court a Royal Agency to train spies and agents, as well as a special Royal Guard, and a 'Division of Salvaging Extinct Argonians' devoted to finding all surviving men of the Knahaten Flu. Their success is unknown but they are based on Crimson Island. So while the the Archein mantain control over all the cities aside from Helstrom and Lilmoth and the trade and military, the Royal Court controls the Archeins and also provides the naval protection for the Archein's lucrative trade fleets. They are also said to own a private army.
Current state of the Government
The rise of the government has some drawbacks. Though the Mages Guild flourished and a small middle-class and city-dwelling group emerged, the economic boost in the Marsh, though pathetic compared to most other Provinces, was due to intense slavery. However currently, slavery has been outlawed in reality, where it was only been outlawed in name, and frequent trade with Elsweyr and Cyrodiil, both legal and often times illegal, has helped stabilize and promote the growth of the economy. The Legions, now mostly Argonian, are based in each city (aside from helstrom) and counter the Archeins' military forces. The Legion now has become more of a police force and their gear reflects this. Use of the Shadowscales has decreased slightly as more loyal Archeins had arisen. However, the rulers are still known by the more educated commoners as Kleptocrats. Rulers who take from their own people to maintain power.

Helstrom's Council of the Root
The survivors from the Battle fo Argonia fled to Helstrom, home of the Council of the Root. Once this loose confederation had representatives from the human tribes in Argonia, but now it comprises only of the people of the root. Argonian legends explain how Nagas grew too warlike to cooperate, Paatru too hungry, and Sarpa too free-spirited, and so are no longer in the council. They would discuss tribal matter and how to execute war, etc. The Paatru and Sarpa traditionally took very little part in such debates and meetings and showed up only occasionally. They are also slightly more beastial and less concerned with the events outside of their inner Marsh habitats. The Naga however take an active part is raiding Cyrodiilic caravans and attacking Dunmer in Arnesia. They are joined by the northern Tribes. While the Western Tribes are defensive, retreating back to the Tenmar wall when there is a need and surviving by small subsistence farming, the northern tribes and the naga are offensive and primarily semi-nomadic hunters. The eastern tribes were closest to the Kothringi and lived in sea-side hamlets, and engaged primarily in fishing. Southern tribes were farmers and fishermen as well. And the central tribes were hunter-gatherers, except in Helstrom. The central tribes tended to actually live with the Hist, or under, or amongst the roots. The Council of the Root has recently sent an envoy to the Royal Court. Rumor has it that the Council demanded the Royal Court give over Crimson Island so its inhabitants can rejoin the Council. What this means is unknown, but surely has to do with the Division of Salvaging Extinct Argonians. Currently the Council of the Root is fighting off the remnants of the Blackwood Co. with assistance from the dubious Knahaten Liberation paramilitary forces, and mustering warriors to fight the Dres refugees. Also, recently the Naga have begun to cooperate with the Council and while not actually in the Council, Paatru and Sarpa are aiding them.

Problems in Black Marsh
The Imperial Legion in Black Marsh is disgusted at the level of favoritism in the government, and they are beginning to secretly plan a coup. Menawhile, Dres refugees swarm into Thorn and some sail as far as Archon to get away from the political struggles of their land. The Dres nobles has sided with Helseth and many of the old councilors were killed; most commoners were disgusted with the nobles and many traveled south hoping to practice their traditions and slavery away from the abolitionist and progressive young Dres nobility. With the influx of hostile Dunmer, and the growing unrest in the Legion, the Provincial Government is finding itself unprepared to deal with these issues. The government is struggling to avoid conflict but skirmishes with Imperial on the coast have been reported and warfare has ignited in Arenesia along the Morrowind-Black Marsh border once more. The Naga banditry and guerilla activities in the north and west that had just so recently subsided has risen again. The tribal argonian now no longer adhere to the Royal Court and the Council of the Root is gaining more influence after a long period of complacency.

[cruxvader]

A few governmental Questions for you Kukulza... Get ready for some deep thought.

You mentioned earlier that the violent struggle which encapsulated the entire black marsh resulted in a rebellion against the dictators...

To what line now does the Provincial Government show it's power and authority over the black marshes? I. E. What measures will they take, and what policies under lie those measures? Who is chosen under the process of Cyroillic law?

You also mentioned that

"The tribal argonians now no longer adhere to the Royal Court and the Council of the Root is gaining more influence after a long period of complacency."

What are the tribe's under workings in their culture, and if so, how does it conflict with the Cyroillic culture?

Most importantly, to what extent do these peoples understand eachother, the mainstay argonians, and the legion?

take ur time

[KuKulzA]

Originally posted by cruxvader
You mentioned earlier that the violent struggle which encapsulated the entire black marsh resulted in a rebellion against the dictators...

To what line now does the Provincial Government show it's power and authority over the black marshes? I. E. What measures will they take, and what policies under lie those measures? Who is chosen under the process of Cyroillic law?

The government will go to extremes to keep the province intact. if the marginalization of the tribal people of root is necessary then so be it. The Provincial Government is ruled by the Royal Court or more specifically the Royal Clan... the clan knows that in the eyes of the tribal people they are traitors as they are semi-Imperialized, but in the eyes of the more 'civilized' and urban Aegonians they are freedom-fighters.... cause when the empire was in decline Imperial governors took control and became dictators... the current Royal Clan's previous generations fought them, and came in control of the province. They are a more recent government that has arisen in the time of the Septim Dynasty. Thus they are trying to maintain a strong hold. They have assassins, agents, Archeins, and all of those to keep a tight control...

Originally posted by cruxvader
You also mentioned that
"The tribal argonians now no longer adhere to the Royal Court and the Council of the Root is gaining more influence after a long period of complacency."
What are the tribe's under workings in their culture, and if so, how does it conflict with the Cyroillic culture?

The Argonian tribes try to maintain a harmony between their material needs and nature. They also try to maintain a sacred bond with the Hist. They see Cyrodiilic mercantilism and expansion as a threat. They also see Dunmer as a threat since the years of slavery and border wars. Why would they not adhere to the Royal Court? the urban and Imperialized Argonians came from Reman's conquest of Argonia. At this time, some Argonians arose as scouts, auxiliaries, and agents for the Empire. They were conquistadores of their people. This is reminiscent of some Mayans when the Spaniards tried to conquer the Yucatan. Thus when the new class of Argonian social group arose, they felt insecure being under Imperial rulers, reaping few benefits, and being in a totally new type of lifestyle. However these soon grew accostumed to the imperial-argonian hybrid life-style and Archeins (advisors to the governors) arose. The governors became dictators after the Empire was in turmoil and the Archeins, with help from the Royal Clan with its popular support, overthrew the governors, and they were replaced by their own Archeins. The Royal Clan became the authority, but had to share power with the Archeins as only their united force could successfully revolt. The Royal Court needed to stabilize the economy, and so the Archeins were told to increase their wealth and producation as expediently as possible. This meant slavery.

Originally posted by cruxvader
Most importantly, to what extent do these peoples understand eachother, the mainstay argonians, and the legion?

The Imperials have a few notions about Argonians. Inner Marsh tribes are mysterious priests, northerners are blood-thirsty warriors especially Naga, and southerners are welcoming but not very warlike or brave. They tend to generalize and though they do not bear Argonians any real hatred they don;t like them that much. They also fear to go too deep into the swamps except for the few veterans who have been in Argonia for most of their life, live there, curse at the land, but stay anyhow....
The Argonians of the tribes see the Imperials as a nuissance. They see things on a grand scale and forsee that men will be a great danger but will burn themselves out. They first met the Kothringi and the other Argonian men tribes, but they were relatively peaceful with the People of the Root. However they soon realized the wickedness of the Imperial weaponry and way of life. Early man's habits were similar to the argonians' but Imperial man regarded himself superior, had sharp and well made weapons, and cut down nature as if they were masters of the land. The urban Argonians however have a better understanding mainly because they have backgrounds in both cultures... they see the mercantilism of the Cyrodiilics, and its benefits and the awesome might of the Legions... but they also almost hesitantly respect the heathen and tribal ways of their neighbors, those living deeper in the marshes...


I don't know if I answered you well enough. If not let me know

[cruxvader]

Feel free to not answer any of these! I'm serious!



How much of a threat does the Imperial Legion pose to the Prov. Government? What is their view towards the Argonian inhabitants, and what benefits do they see to this land? What extents will they go to, and when will they stand back?? What was Uriel Septim's view of the matter? Oh so many questions!

(Joking comic relief)
Did Patrick Stewart as the emperor, while voice acting, really care about in-game affairs such as these? Does anyone care that I actually consider that important?

and

(back to serious)

"recently the Naga have begun to cooperate with the Council and while not actually in the Council, Paatru and Sarpa are aiding them."

If it is the Provincial Government's council that speaks forth Argonian Rule, without any interference from the Imperials, then are the tribes under support of such a cause?...

I know that some tribes seem to give off an aura that the prov gov uses the dark imperial tactics against the beast of imperialism, and sees that even if the prov gov is successful, that it would replace it's functions, and become the monster it was trying to destroy.
If these tribes aren't helping because of this reason I listed, then what would you say they would do to help the situation to help Argonian's favor?

and

Which tribes are absolutely against the Prov Government if any?

[KuKulzA]

most tribes are against the provincial gov't...
I'd say at least 80% of the Argonian population of Black Marsh... then you have all the 'civilized' ones who support it but are skepitcal of its tactics...

the Imperial legion isn't currently against the Black Marsh provincial Government but is also skeptical of it and is angry at its favoritism and lack of respect for Imperial law and regulations... they are also afraid that their position as soldiers and guards will be ousted since the Royal Clan has a small army of its own and every Archein has his/her own small force anyhow...

what would the tribal argonians do to resist the Prov.Gov't? They'll just ignore it
but the Council of the Root is starting to become active for reasons unknown to most folks... Imperial Legion is growing restless and angry towards the Gov't, Dres refuges and settlers are flooding across the border, the criminal underworld is very powerful... the Royal Court is increasingly using the Shadowscales and its agents to keep things smooth...

[Senten]

hm i like the ideas