Post by The Dark One on Mar 25, 2020 23:13:09 GMT
Let's tackle Tear today, and figure out Far Madding while we are at it!
Summary:
FAR MADDING
Far Madding is a city-state that governs and rules itself and the surrounding area. During the Fourth Age, it were the only state that retained its active anti-channeler policies which translated into a huge influx of immigrants from other (and mostly surrounding nations) who disagreed with the positive sentiments towards the One Power channelers. In fact, this has led to the city-state’s significant area expansion south to the Plains of Maredo, in order to accommodate the huge swell in its numbers. On one hand, they had a significant influx of immigrants from Tear who disagreed with Tear’s new pro-male channelers politics and on the other, after the Seanchan takeover, a lot of people from Amadacia sought shelter with Far Madding. After the Tower War (The Culling), Far Madding entered an alliance with Mayne, while its relationship with Tear (probably at least partially due to Tear’s new pro-male channeler politics) had worsened significantly. Meanwhile, the city-state maintains an uneasy, mostly strained political relations with Andor and Manetheren.
During the Fourth Age, Far Madding remained a matriarchal society that retained most of its traditions, including one linked to travelers and visitors of the city having to bind their weapon when entering the city. Additionally, despite the One Power and the Dragon Rand al’Thor playing a pivotal role in winning the Last Battle, even during the Fourth Age, Far Madding remains the only state that retains its hostile attitude towards channelers and the One Power. In fact, it still upholds its laws against channeling and is a hub for individuals who do not support the use of the One Power. The city-state's views regarding channeling and the One Power are only further emphasized by its close relationship with Children of the Light and the city’s ongoing attempts to replicate all ter’angreal which restrict channeling. The Guardian Ter’Angreal is still active and through the years some of the more disillusioned Tai'Seanchan who have developed a strong disdain for the One Power, have been known to tackle the tricky task of trying to replicate similar ter’angreal in order to further limit channeling in and around the city.
Unfortunately, their position as one of the continent’s most important trading hubs had started to decline since the beginning of the Fourth Age largely due to Far Madding's anti-channeler sentiments which in turn, ironically, has strengthened the city’s hostile attitude towards the OP.
TEAR:
Throughout most of its history, Tear had been an oligarchy controlled by a council of the High Lords of Tear until the Dragon - Reborn Rand al’Thor and the Aiel conquered the Stone of Tear and Tear became a monarchy. King Darlin Sisnera, one of High Lords' Council and Rand's former Steward, was appointed to be Tear’s first monarch. However, the class stratification remained even after the Last Battle, as it had been deeply embedded in the people’s way of thinking and life. Nevertheless, there has been significant progress being made towards establishing a 'lower' parliamentary house to go with the High Lords. Such ideas while widely popular with the commoners have proven to be also widely shunned by the nobility. Therefore it’s safe to say that while slow, efforts to reform the societal class system remain ongoing.
During the Fourth Age, Tear has maintained the monarchy but reintroduced the High Lords’ Council which rules alongisde the king. Additionally, due to King Darlin’s support for the Dragon Reborn, Tear has adopted new, channeler-friendly policies and sentiments that are closely linked to their alliance (after the Tower War, it’s been somewhat diminished but not fully) with Caralain and the Black Tower.
Meanwhile, the legendary rivalry between Illian and Tear had cooled down but not off, and despite both nations closely adhering to the Dragon Pact (thus not starting open wars with each other), there still are some individual scuffles here and there.
