In one Age, called the Fourth Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Land of the Crystal Throne. It sped across the great Aryth Ocean to the Tai’Seanchan coast. It continued over the Mountains of Mist, picking up the scent of Two Rivers fine tabac and singing along to a tune made by a Tinker’s tea kettle. It swirled around the vast prairie known as the Caralain Grass, with it’s Black Tower fortress, and the island city of Tar Valon, home of the fabled Ogier-made White Tower...The wind swept through the valleys, skimming along the lake that once was Shadar Logoth, lifting the raven in flight. It howled through the Blight past the snorts and bellows of Trollocs, carrying on it the stench of their cookpots and rot as it whipped by a Myrddraal without creating so much as a ripple in its dark cloak. If you listen closely to the wind you can hear the sound of “friends” whispering in the dark as it whistles by you. The shadows beckon you to their warm embrace; where will the wind take you? For you must know, the wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was A beginning.
Cairhien
Daes Dae'mar, the Great Game, the Game of Houses, is played in many places throughout the world, and many peoples fancy themselves its true masters. Few have as legitimate a claim as the Cairhienin, a claim which has not diminished in the Fourth Age despite 40 years of foreign rule by Andor. In the Fourth Age, Cairhien has begun to reclaim its independence under the auspices of the Trakand line by way of House Saighan, but as usual for the Cairhienin the Houses plot their own moves and angle toward their own ends. Not everything about Cairhien remains the same, however; decades of Trakand rule has centralized some powers to the throne that were, previously, the domain of the Great Houses alone, resulting in a stronger Sun Throne and, consquently, a stronger House Saighan. Expanded opportunities exist as well, which have begun to create currently imperceptible cracks in Cairhien's stringent world of protocol and class structure.
Geography
Cairhien is the capital and the seat of power around which all else turns in Cairhien. Prosperous, orderly, and wealthy city, Cairhien is one of the great cities of the Westlands, particularly after the Topless Towers were, finally, completed in 18FA under orders from Queen Elayne Trakand. Cairhien is also home to the Academy of the Rising Sun, the premier school of science and engineering in the Westlands. Cairhien, despite its fractious political nature, is a nation where power accumulates in one place; anyone who is, or wants to be, of any importance makes their way to the city eventually.
Maerone is Aringill's sister city across the River Erinin. Over the years of Andoran rule, Maerone grew in prominence and importance...and became increasingly indistinguishable from Aringill. Today, Maerone serves as Cairhien's largest river port, and also the site for duty free trade between Andor and Cairhien, a major remnant of their days of unified rule under the Lion Throne.
Selean is a town that was razed by the Shaido at the end of the Third Age, located at the end of the Jangai Pass. Rebuilt in the Fourth, it is a place of uneasy coexistence between the Cairhienin and the Aiel. While no love is lost between them, necessity requires them to cooperate again, with much of that cooperation occurring in Selean.
Maerone is Aringill's sister city across the River Erinin. Over the years of Andoran rule, Maerone grew in prominence and importance...and became increasingly indistinguishable from Aringill. Today, Maerone serves as Cairhien's largest river port, and also the site for duty free trade between Andor and Cairhien, a major remnant of their days of unified rule under the Lion Throne.
Selean is a town that was razed by the Shaido at the end of the Third Age, located at the end of the Jangai Pass. Rebuilt in the Fourth, it is a place of uneasy coexistence between the Cairhienin and the Aiel. While no love is lost between them, necessity requires them to cooperate again, with much of that cooperation occurring in Selean.
Governance
Cairhien is a monarchy with an accompanying powerful aristocracy, perhaps the strongest in the Westlands. The Sun Throne, while stronger than it was in the Third Age, is controlled by one Great House of many. That is not to say the Great Houses are equal, or that the throne is powerless; influence and authority ebb and flow as a result of the Great Game, and the current ruling House Saighan is very, very skilled at that game. The situation is still more precarious than neighboring Andor.
Domestic Affairs
Cairhien's affairs are, as ever, in flux as a result of the nature of Daes Dae'mar, but observers have noted some alliances that have settled in place following the split from Andor. House Saighan holds the Sun Throne, supported primarily by House Taborwin, though a greatly diminished House Damodred also supports them, and indeed is attempting to marry into the royal line. House Riatin, having strongly opposed the independence movement championed by House Saighan and House Taborwin, and losing power as a result of a severing of close Andoran ties, had been in a steep decline for a number of years. Recently, however, an alliance has formed between Riatin and House Delovinde, formerly close allies with House Taborwin, but whose relation soured following the mysterious death of Dairin Delovinde, consort of House Taborwin's High Seat. Riatin and Delovinde remain smaller powers, but have begun to make significant moves of their own, perhaps smelling weakness in an aging House Saighan and House Taborwin.
International Relations
Cairhien remains an influential partner in the Dragon Compact, despite only officially joining under their own authority following the crowning of Lawcion Saighan. They retain close ties to Andor, including blood ties, despite their independence. They have a tense relationship with Tai'Seanchan, with both powers seemingly amused by the others machinations, but not quite acting in each other's interest. Ties with the Aiel remain rocky, but have improved notably over time and continue to do so.
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Map
Ranks
This is not an exhaustive list, feel free to apply for something not detailed to be considered by the Admins.
You may apply for any of the Adoptable or Restricted ranks, but only superior applications will be considered and must pass through Admins before being accepted.
King (Bio Link)
Queen
Heir to the Sun Throne (Bio Link)
House High Seat
Lesser House Noble
House Retainer/Armsmen
Scholar
Commoner
You may apply for any of the Adoptable or Restricted ranks, but only superior applications will be considered and must pass through Admins before being accepted.
King (Bio Link)
Queen
Heir to the Sun Throne (Bio Link)
House High Seat
Lesser House Noble
House Retainer/Armsmen
Scholar
Commoner
