Maletsokish Confederacy
The Maletsokish Confederacy was the government of Maletsok before the invasion of the Ethelan Empire, and the chief force against the Ethelan during the Ethelan-Maletsokish War. It was a loose confederation between the four Maletsokish peoples: the Pelozerian Halflings, Dumadhur Dwarves, Dobrid Humans, and Marnab Gnomes.
The government was an annual council called the Manjo Catoep (Ancient Maletsokish meaning Rule of Host/Hospitality), which is called simply "The Council" in Commonspeak. Delegates from the four peoples would meet in the Capitals of each people-group on a rotating basis each year. From The Dobrid Nations, the King or a King's Man (as they were called, regardless of gender) would represent Dobrid interests. The Dumadhur were most always represented by their Grand Chief, who made the careful point to appear in person. When not possible, an appointed chieftain would go in his stead. The Pelozerians, not having a formal centralized government of their own, usually elected a representative from whichever Condado was nearest to the site of the Council that year.
Troubles emerged alongside cultural changes in Maletsok, notably among the Dumadhur, Pelozerians and Marnab, and the Vrogg (see Goblin). The Marnab were under the jurisdiction of the Pelozerians for a considerable portion of the Confederacy's history. Sometime around 350 T.E., after decades of pressure from Marnab activists, the Marnab became officially recognized as a distinct race and were given a seat of their own at the Council. Much like their Pelozerian counterparts, the Marnab chose to elect their representatives.
Cultural issues among the Dumadhur, however, would never be settled by the Confederacy. Despite their differences, Hill and Mountain Dwarves were always considered one race. As such, only one seat was granted to them, much to the chagrin of the Hill Dwarves. Their cultural separation would only ever be solved under Imperial rule through the Gunzadhur Council.
Additionally, the Vrogg, although being native inhabitants of Maletsok, were excluded totally from the Confederation. Officially, this was due to the inability to recognize any formal government on their part. Of course, this reason has been refuted by Imperial scholars. In truth, the Vrogg were not welcome at the Council for their violent and war-loving nature. Additionally, some have accused the Dumadhur of racism for being the dominant force in maintaining their exclusion; the hatredd between Dwarf and Goblin is potent.
Contingency Protocols
Due to its conception in national disaster relief and warfare prevention, the Confederacy's first action was the institution of the Contingency Protocols. These Protocols were complex and detailed, but included such things as a large force of reserve soldiers stationed across Maletsok which could be deployed at great speed to aid any area in need of support. Additionally, vast stores of food were held, often alongside reserve garrisons, to feed any population affected by a disaster. The protocols also mandated the building and maintaining of large, wide, and even roads to connect every major city, and most minor cities and towns, to mediate the transport of reserve forces and goods. Authority to mobilize the reserves was placed into the hands of those military officers on command of each garrison, so that emergencies could be dealt with faster than messengers sent to and from the Manjo Catoep.
Confederacy During the War for Maletsok
In the early stages of the war, the Maletsokish Confederacy was a powerful and deeply united front against the Ethelan Empire, whose arrival was seen as a threat of great consequence. The Contingency Protocols were locally enacted by reserve garrisons in the immediate area, and then nationally shortly thereafter. The reserves were deployed to the front in such mass and with such speed as to cause the Ethelan troops to retreat in many places. This had not happened to the Ethelan forces since the Utamaii Orc resistance, which saw a much larger and much more physically adept force than the Maletsokish.
While the Ethelan moved north to establish strongholds in the bays and inlets of the Northern Wetlands, the Manjo Catoep ordered the fortification of all Northern cities and towns. Ancient waterways out of the mountains to the Zindush River carried massive stones from deep within, carved for the singular purpose of defense. Cities such as Khizidush and Gunzadhur exploded in size, both in population and fortifications. Masons and smiths were shuttled from around Maletsok to the Northern cities, marking the beginning of many of the Valley Guilds. The work of the early Valley Guilds, alongside the strength of the garrisons there, allowed the Confederacy to slow the Ethelan advance.
The successful Ethelan conquest of Khinbir a few years later was the first drop of a deluge of change and loss for the Confederacy. Khinbir, today known as Elionneadra, was as large a city then as it is today. Significantly, it is the site of the Temple to Kirien the Red. The loss of the city was calamitous for the Confederacy both practically, as it was the Ethelan's first victory outside the Wetlands; and symbolically, as it meant the Ethelan had "conquered War itself." Dozens of cities and settlements were captured or destroyed shortly thereafter, using Khinbir as a central hub from which to expand.
In response, the Manjo Catoep made the quick, executive decision to seal mountain passes from the North, effectively cutting off the Darbreduun Valley and, in turn, most of Semseach from the benefits of the Contingency Protocols. This controversial action left the people of Semseach and the Darbreduun Valley (largely Hill Dwarves, Gnomes, and skilled craftsmen of sundry kind) without leadership and abandoned by their kin. Especially for the Dwarves, this betrayal terminated any loyalty to the Confederacy. Although they had succeeded in slowing the Ethelan conquest, they had inadvertently relinquished all control and support from a massive portion of the population and tarnished their reputation among those who still owed loyalty to it. It was only a matter of years before the rest of Maletsok followed suit and abandoned the Confederacy.
Question of Continuity
After the Battle of Urazinar in 990 T.E., the Confederacy was driven deep into Maleseachian Mountains, where Ethelan Elves dared not follow. Even after the recruitment en masse of Maletsokish aspirants, especially among the Dobrid, the roads were inaccessible as they had been destroyed by the retreating Confederate troops. For the years following, nothing was heard of the organization; no counter-offensives emerged, and no envoys emerged.
Roughly two decades later, expeditions were launched in search of any remnants of the Confederacy. Clearing a path into the mountains and finding the old roads took nearly a century on its own. These expeditions began as military adventures, hoping to achieve closure regarding their former great enemy. However, as the stream of time flowed ever on, fears of the Confederacy returning waned and such expeditions became archeological and academic in nature. To date, no evidence of the Confederacy or their former stronghold of Gunzadum have ever been uncovered.
Even so, mouths ever tell and retell whispers of a government deep in the mountains holding itself as successor to the Confederacy of old, and the One True Government of the Islands. It is said they are biding their time until their strength is enough and the Ethelan in such a position where they will reclaim their glory. Some minor disasters in the Maletsok's history since the rise of the Ethelan have been attributed to this Continued Confederacy (although it should not be called such, as the leaders of the Dobrid, Pelozerians, and indeed their Hill Dwarf cousins no longer participate in it).
These minor disasters are apparently designed to gradually cripple the Ethelan. The latest of these disasters to be assigned to the Confederacy is the Flooding of Lafoleth, which is the inundation of the Oleth River beyond its banks into the Capital City of Ethelan Maletsok. Of course, no evidence exists to suggest that any of these disasters were performed by a sentient being apart from a god, let alone a long-dead organization.
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