The Poggok
Also referred to as the "Women of War," the Poggok are the most militant of the four families. They control the eastern half of
Romm, and the imposing
Rillok fortress bordering Louh. Split among these two settlements are the nation's largest garrisons, smiths, and military training grounds. All family representatives are trained soldiers, and served their own time in the field at some point in their lives— those who refused to do so were cut from the family entirely. They are common sights on the battlefield, leading or fighting alongside those under their command. Even the eldest Poggok, currently Ropom Poggok, is able to stand toe to toe with the strongest of foes in her old age.
Their rise to power was one soaked in blood, as they fought their way to earn the impassioned respect of their soldiers when they were generals in the
Delta Wars against
Louh. This respect was then leveraged to send their army after other families— until they were among the four eldest. For generations they have utilized this same strength to fell any would-be challengers to their rule. That said, those
not in their military feel stifled by their rule, and often incompatible ideals. Artisans in particular left en masse after those who refused to produce weaponry and armor for the army were taxed greatly— and even found themselves threatened by soldiers.
Notable members
Ropom
Head of the family. Cold, she does not mince words, everything she says is concise and to the point. She commands the family as she would command an army, titles must be used on all occasions. She has a unique distaste for the common lifestyle of other Tollouchi, believing discipline to be paramount to success.
Rolm
The eldest daughter, second in command to Ropom. She handles the training of their armies, and does so as coldly as her mother— she is known to be crueler in some cases. She is trained in various fighting styles from around the world, so that she can fight whenever and wherever she is needed.
Mopulk
The youngest daughter, tasked with overseeing supply chains, collecting taxes, and paying soldiers. Quiet, obedient, yet headstrong— she bides her time to one day take over as the family's head, ensuring that it does not fall apart before she gets there. In secret, she meets with Kogoch of the Rocholdomn to plot their rise to power.
Might is what drives this world, and with might we ensure it is steered in the right direction.— Ropom Poggok
Relations
Dzom
The Poggok look down on the Dzom, and have attempted on numerous occasions to assassinate their ruling members, including a particularly embarrassing incident where a Poggok married a Dzom in the hopes of getting close to their most respected memebrs— but she would instead fall in with the revelrous group and refuse her mother's commands, eventually renouncing her former family name.
Rocholdomn
A threat, one to be wary of. Rocholdomn attempts to buy out Poggok informants has turned into a wonderful opportunity to discover just what the Rocholdomn wish for them to avoid, and has allowed them to sabotage a handful of their trades and deals with other families. Lesser family members have been found dead in the years following their war, an act of retribution by the Poggok.
An untimely death
The former head of the Poggok had disappeared without a trace— and was believed by Ropom to have been killed by the Rocholdomn, given their long-standing feud. A brief civil war broke out, lasting for six months until the annual burning of the cursed forest forced it to come to a close. Not to mention that a significant number of the Poggok do not believe the Rocholdomn to be capable of carrying out an assassination against someone so strong— especially given the fact that the former head had been surrounded by soldiers the day she disappeared. None of which witnessed anyone entering or leaving that day— which leads some to suspect that Ropom herself had killed her mother. This group include's Ropom's own daughter, Mopulk. In truth, the former head was discovered by the
Cichuelizon as a tether— and assassinated by one of their own, utilizing
eldritch magics to carry out the deed.
The Dzom
The Dzom family are well-known hedonists, whoever heads the family may change by the day, it's open to whoever feels the need to do so— and is sober. They control the western half of Romm, and the settlements along the western coast. Within their lands live the greatest artists within the country— and the best spirits. If one wishes to experience both art and drunken revelry, the lands of the Dzom are a grand destination. Though their methods of ruling may seem lax, the majority of the nation's exports are produced by their subjects. They lack the discipline of other families, but it is this very freedom that allows for the best possible balance between productivity and quality in the work of their artisans.
Their rise to power can be attributed to this as well, members of the family are known to drink and engage in acts of merriment with their subjects. Through this, they became well known, loved by many— even by the four families at the time. Their position today was won in a drunken bet with one of the previous four families, simply through a drinking contest. One that was rigged by the bartender mediating the contest, who greatly preferred the Dzom to their current rulers. To this day, challengers take on the
Dzom Bet— should they out drink the head of the family, they may take their place. Few have even come close to winning.
Notable members
Gukonm
The Bronze Kidney. Simultaneously the most and least respected of the family, she is the eldest— and the most notorious drunk. So much of her life has been spent inebriated, in fact, that even the rest of the family barely recognize her when sober. Despite this, she is a calm, resourceful leader— able to mitigate disasters as they come no matter her state. This peculiar skill sets her apart from the rest, and has lead to many considering her to be the true leader of the family.
Mochomn
An artisan at heart, she primarily deals with the artisans within Dzom territory. This includes allocating raw materials, exporting their finished goods— and protecting them from harm. Her own wood sculptures fetch a high price around the world. She only sculpts while drunk, which by her own words "allows the wood to speak through me." Particularly intriguing are her sculptures made of the cursed Rotomul— which guide her to sculpt faces resembling those long past.
I did not sculpt this face, you must understand— it was already here. I drink because they whisper to me, and were I sober I would burn the cursed things to ash— but they cry out for me to free their visages. I must oblige.— Mochomn Dzom
Relations
Poggok
The Dzom see the Poggok as a threat to their way of life— the antithesis to the way they live and rule. Rather than outright fight them, they strive to defy their ideals by showing how much more effective their methods of rule are. The Dzom also spread revelry into their territory, by paying for tavern patrons' drinks, drunkenly running amok and goading others to join in. This they typically pay others do to in their stead, as drunken brawls directly involving the family could have disastrous political ramifications— and they certainly do not wish for war.
Rocholdomn
To the Dzom, the Rocholdomn seem to be in great need of merriment— and whenever their members meet to discuss business, they will invite them to drink. An offer they typically accept— though these meetings typically end with the Dzom agreeing to a deal proposed by the Rocholdomn. As they have funded a handful of theatres and taverns within their land, however, the Dzom do not typically mind this, there is, after all, more to be drunk.
The Rocholdomn
The Rocholdomn are the oldest of the four families, having been around in some form since the nation's very beginnings. Rumors, going as far back as those very same origins, claim that their ancestors were among those responsible for the curse of Rotomul. Thus, their territory surrounding the city of Mouch, which leaves them largely responsible for the annual burning of the cursed trees, is deserved. Tollouchi culture does not emphasize debt to one's ancestors, and this case is one of the very few extant today. Even the living members of the family feel indebted to their people, despite the fact that the ancient rumors have never been proven. Still, this makes them effective and empathetic rulers— at least, publicly.
In truth they have much to gain by maintaining this image— happier, more understanding citizens being the least of the benefits for doing so. Most notable, of course, is the land and coin they control. As their territory extends east into the Rollk Desert, any merchants who wish to trade with the
Gokh must travel along their lands— and pay their taxes. The same goes for the mountain-dwellers who wish to travel elsewhere, they in particular are asked to pay in goods for transport, and to pass along various roads leading from their territory.
Notable members
Dopuk
A greedy, money-minded man, he heads the family and spends most of his time managing the taxes within the family's territory. Taxation, to him, is a delicate dance— one that must be performed with practice, care, and patience. One cannot tax too high those with options— but when they have no other choice?
That is where profit is made.
Dochomm
Adopted son of Dopuk, he works to keep their subjects happy. Not because he truly wishes to do so— but because his father pays him to. Once, he was the owner of Mouch's largest theatre. Dopuk, having no direct heir— and being sternly against the idea of relinquishing power to his actual family one day— decided to gain both an ally and an heir in one fell swoop. This was a particularly controversial choice, and led to the formation of a sub-faction within the family.
Kogoch
Nephew of Dopuk— he would have been the next family head would Dochomm not have been adopted. The head of a sub-faction within the family, who believes that their power could be put to greater use than simply filling their pockets. He dreams of subjugating the whole of the nation under the Rocholdomn name— to redeem it. In secret, he has been meeting with Mopulk Poggok to discuss plans to overthrow both of their family heads and join as allies. Some spread rumors of the pair being romantic partners, which would serve as a convenient cover should they ever be caught.
Do you not understand what is at stake, uncle? Do you not see the strength we truly posses? Or do your eyes only see as far as the purse at your side?— Kogoch Rocholdomn
Relations
Poggok
Dopuk and his supporters believe Poggok to be their only credible threat— and as a result, they sabotage known shipments of
Grondhan to their northern territory. In theory, should it come to war once more— they will have an advantage. Kogoch's sub-faction, however, sees potential allies in them and those who do not blame their family for the death of their former head.
Dzom
The Dzom are a profitable group as, when drunk, they are more likely to accept plans proposed by the Rocholdomn— and they are often inebriated. These plans have included both import and export taxes, the establishment of Rocholdomn-run theatres and taverns in their territory, and even their vote for Pomm on numerous occasions.
The Nonmoch
The smallest of the four, ruling the southernmost territory of Romtol, down to the border with
Rektouzk. Only a single settlement lies within their territory, the town of
Gommoch— yet none have been able to usurp them as one of the four families. Wild rumors claim them to be immortal— that no children have been born into their ranks, and that they simply assume different identities over the years. Each member of the family is noted to bear the same scar across their chest, which witnesses claim emanates a purple-hued smoke.
However, given that their territory is so small and undesirable— the other three families see them as more of a minor nuisance— but, a nuisance that halts would-be usurpers from going after the larger families. Beyond this, their impact and role within Romtol is not particularly noteworthy, and they don't seem to be very interested in the nation's politics or well-being— which does beg the question,
why haven't they stepped down? Their vote still matters, but none beyond themselves know what interests that vote serves.
Does it matter what we are? Why we are? Just know that we are— and leave it be.— Repeated Nonmoch phrase
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