Selkie Great Clans

The Selkie Great Clans are the rich and politically powerful dynasties that control major positions in the Selkie Khilaia. There are five main great clans and fifteen minor great clans, all of whom have formal power in the Motosui Assembly through the Watakilai.    The Great Clans, whether greater or lesser, all stand well above even wealthy selkie merchants in status and power. Each one is the master of great merchant companies and sailing fleets; even a lesser selkie great clan could easily topple a petty coastal kingdom.    The five great clans each have a major asset belonging to them that they use to attract commercial followers - but they also have ideological stances, which they use to attract idealists to their banners. They also have lines of patronage, wealth re-distribution to allies and business partners used to establish political hierarchies that are then mobilized in the Assembly chamber.   These clans are important enough to list, as their differences define the internal schisms within the major political parties. Clan allegiance, more than party, determines voting for most representatives.

• Clan Mikiraka, clan of the Eastern winds, are the rulers of the Asalay contract and the Eastern Magic Item Licensing arrangements. They are the Admirals of the Izekra fleet, with long business tendrils into Ekraht, Desmia, and Eastern Samvara. Clan Mikiraka is at their peak right now, ascended from a petty clan in distant waters to Khilaian superpower. Ideologically, they have a reputation as hyper-neutral technocratic diplomats, always eager to import new technologies. They believe that the selkies should actively carve a space for themselves as neutral diplomats and intermediaries, and that the Khilaia represents a kind of global sacred middle ground and market. To this end, the Mikirakas support strict treaty enforcement as well as more paperwork generally. They are aligned with the Judicialist Party.
• Clan Woshalui, clan of a Thousand Blossoms, are the rulers of the March Kingdom of Arashoka and the Navy of Western Samvara. They control shipping around North Samvara and into the Khilaian isles themselves, making them a vital asset and ascendant clan. Another recent risen power, Clan Woshalui is actively rising to challenge Mikiraka, their frenemies, at the top. Ideologically, they support the interests of all sedentary selkies in foreign lands, though in practice they mostly listen to sedentary Samvarans. The Woshalui champion religious plurality, Samvaran investment, and constitutional reform to create more clearly defined lines between March Kingdoms, armadas, and sedentary groups while still granting them all seats at the table. They also support limited military interventions protecting selkie interests in Samvara - but only existing ones. They are more or less pro-neutrality like Mikiraka, but they are a bit more central-government oriented. They are aligned with the Judicialist Party.
• Clan Naimaka, Clan of the Guiding Star, are the ancient conquerors of Larazel and still hold onto the Southern Straights Navy - the vital magic item tradeway to Garadel. They control navies around Larazel and Garadel, and have significant lands in the March Kingdom of Kakoru. They now also control the newly opened pathway to Nafena, using the supply post of the island of Loanua. Naimaka is the other big ascendant clan. The Naimaka champion Garadek and Larazek investment, as well as close partnerships with Samvaran institutions such as Rueka , Pratasam , and the Healing Church. The Naimaka also support Pratasa religious groups in Samvaran territory that dislike Woshalui's secularism. They are unapologetically for having a Samvaran state religion. Sees the Khilaia as an alliance of kingdoms. They are aligned with the Federalist Party.
• Clan Danohel, Clan of Ancient Glory, are the most militarized clan - they hold the lucrative but dangerous honor of being the naval coordinators of the Lunar God's joint wars against the Empire of Runeva. Clan Danohel are imperialists and pirate hunters who control the fleets on both sides of Sonev. The Danohel see the Khilaia as an Empire that just doesn't enforce its claims on the seas. Indeed, the Danohel look very fondly on the ancient selkie empires and openly associate themselves with Milen the Conqueror. Thanks to their rigorous work and martial glory, they have managed to get disproportionate Circle of Elders representation, and the current Revered Elder is a Danohel. They are aligned with the Federalist Party.
• Clan Manuhel, Clan of Furthest Dawn, are the charismatic masters of the periphery. They have invested heavily in a number of far-flung estates around the world, and are an incredibly spread out family that has sought to explore and lead trade on the furthest frontiers. In Stildane, in Suneka, in Ukaram, in Inahng, and in Maradia, the Manuhel have boldly, even stupidly, thrown their young adventurous heirs and money to lead the selkies in first contacts and negotiations. They have, thusly, been written into some amazing but risky long-distance trade contracts. The Manuhel are deeply into old religion and fresh markets and subsidize explorers, cartographers, and translators. The Manuhel also support crew autonomy; they often support crews over treaties, and envision the Khilaia as more of a consensual meeting space than a government. They are the only one of the five great clans to be aligned with the Libertaine Party.