Politics in Craven

If one were to approach a random Cravenite on the street, whether noble or pauper, they’d likely subscribe to one of their city’s four dominant political ideologies. Though the Sovereign Council technically holds absolute authority, the Crown is not immune to pressure, and public policy is shaped as much by lobbying as by law. Each major party enjoys backing from one or more Houses, whose resources and influence can sway appointments, infrastructure projects, and even legal interpretations. Despite appearances, elections in Craven are not toothless; they’re barometers of public sentiment and a tool for those with leverage. In Craven, politics is a game played in whispers, favors, and threats, where the stakes are rarely abstract.

The Traditionalists, whose banner bears the Stag and the motto “Respect The Natural Order,” believe society flourishes through discipline, heritage, and moral cohesion. They advocate for strict regulations on trade, support religious and cultural freedoms, and often oppose industrial expansion that threatens the old ways. To a Traditionalist, the soul of Craven is something to be preserved, not rewritten. Their key sponsors—Houses Afanas, Goddard, and Dakkar—favor stewardship over disruption and view unchecked modernization with deep suspicion. They support ecological protections, spiritual autonomy, and limitations on the influence of technocrats and trade cartels, preferring policy grounded in continuity rather than upheaval.

The Innovationists, by contrast, chase the horizon. With the Eagle as their mascot and the motto “No Matter The Cost,” they advocate for economic freedom, deregulation, and unrelenting technological advancement, even at the expense of civil liberties. They view the city as a crucible for invention and believe that discomfort is the price of progress. Their favored policies include phlogiston subsidies, privatization of public services, and industrial deregulation. Their key sponsors—Houses Belgrave, Hashibira, and Marquez—see the past as ballast and the future as a forge. Innovationists often find themselves at odds with independent guilds, faith groups, and environmentalists, but seldom back down without a fight.

The Loyalists, bearing the Lion and the motto “Inheritors Of New Avalon,” favor centralized authority and tradition enforced by law, just as matters were handled in the courts of Uferlos. They support strict controls on commerce, behavior, and civil expression, believing that a strong Craven is one united beneath the Crown. To them, order is sacred, even if it must be imposed. Loyalist policy emphasizes Crown supremacy, anti-protest legislation, and union restrictions in the name of security. Their noble backers—Houses Karnstein, Ravache, and Sokolov—have little patience for reform and often rely on historic precedent to defend harsh rulings. In Loyalist circles, change is often conflated with weakness, and dissent for treason.

Finally, the Populists stand in opposition to nearly everything the Loyalists represent. Flying the Bear on their banners and shouting “Power To The People,” they call for sweeping civil and economic reforms meant to empower the city’s working majority. They advocate for labor rights and for public ownership of essential industries, particularly public transit and sanitation. They oppose censorship, champion free speech, and resist attempts by nobles to hoard influence. Their key sponsors—Houses Agrivar, Coltrane, and Rousseau—are often seen as black sheep among the elite, but their popularity in the streets grows each year. To their supporters, Populists represent hope. To their enemies, they’re a revolution waiting to happen.