Musisun Trade Federation

The Musisun Trade Federation is a prominent and powerful faction that dominates Musisun and has influences in the neighbouring bodies of Ayadun, Unmusan, and Damarun. Despite being a collection of united merchant guilds, the strength and influence of this single entity is so large that it is tied in with the culture and belief systems of the area. The largest merchant guilds are usually those who command pivotal and relevant trade routes, or those who possess a monopoly over a certain trade good. It is an oligarchy with a ruling council, with representatives from the largest families of the largest guilds sitting as council members. The focus is one of being the centre of trade for all of Heruadum and eventually all of Syrasha.
Internally, Musisun is plagued with competition between member entities. Power plays, intrigue, espionage, and sabotage are known to occur as everyone vies for power and influence. Externally, the trade federation uses its influence in the aforementioned neighbouring countries to expand toward Syrasha, making use of railway technology supplied by the Hredan Visaria.
The Adyadun of this region have long been traders, and this network of merchants built up over time as prosperity in neighbouring regions increased and the need for secure trade grew with it. Another part of the reason for the rise in Musisun's power is the monopoly it has on high quality local sources of salt, diamonds, alcohol, and grain, as well as lead, pigments, and scalehide from countries that the federation is planning on incorporating into itself. Going through Musisun is the fastest and cheapest way to trade between most of Heruadum and West Syrasha, and as such, raiders and pirates are a frequent occurence, so each major guild in the federation has its own standing army.
Culturally, Musisun promotes strong values that bind the people together. A code of ethics helps guide merchants and non-merchants alike in order to live well. They employ the use of schools to educate its citizens, helping them find their role in a structured society. Not only do they encourage the growth of commerce, but they use markets as vibrant displays of life, echoing with music, laughter, and the clinking of coins. Haggling is a core practice, and it is said that one's prowess for striking a bargian is proportional to one's passion for living. Musisun also sponsors grand festivals and trade fairs.
Controversially, the federation strictly limits the size and practice of any religions within its borders, which has caused the federation to become a sort of quasi-religious entity in itself.