The Politics of Guild Wars, Factions

Politics in Cantha is a complicated mixture of official structure and various factions. At the top rests Emperor Kisu, although like most emperors, he has such a vast array of others who handle all the real work. Among his most trusted:

• The Emperor's Blade - unnamed, this person is the Emperor's "right hand", and a master of swordsmanship
• The Emperor's Voice - Speaker of the Emperor, and obviously skilled in political and diplomatic affairs
• The Emperor's Hand - neither the voice nor the blade, but one who does both at the Emperor's bidding

The Emperor also has a court of nobles and lackeys, but most of the day to day affairs rest within the Celestial Ministry.

For Cantha to run effectively the huge bureaucracy in place is deemed essential. The Celestial Ministry is large and sprawling, and although Emperor Kisu recognizes this, it is also the key to stability. Four branches comprise the Ministry, each representing a particular element. Mostly, they collect taxes.

• The Ministry of Flame - responsible for law, justice, and in a mystical sense "controls the sunrise and sunset"
• The Ministry of Earth - record keepers of the Empire, this administrative branch oversees projects and construction, falling in line with the mystical duty of controlling the "bounties of the land-animal, vegetable, and mineral"
• The Ministry of Wind - Controllers of the "winds and storms", they oversee shipping and trade, including regulations
• The Ministry of Water - Sharing the control of the harbors with the Ministry of Wind often puts these two in conflict, but this branch also oversees water supply and fishing.

Three distinct societies in Cantha vie for power constantly with each other, while still being fully absorbed within the political and economic system, the Luxons, Kurzicks, and Tengu.

Vassal Factions: The Luxons
Former seafarers, the Luxons were nearly ruined in the moment of the Jade Wind. Landlocked by the powerful forces unleashed, they cleverly adapted their ships to navigate the Jade that the water had become, and mined the sea for precious resources and oddities. Three clans make up the Luxons, the Serpent, Turtle, and Crab.

Vassal Factions: The Kurzicks
Deeply spiritual, the Kurzicks were the first to return to the forests after the Jade Wind. There are five main houses, compared to Luxon's three main clans.

The Tengu
Avian humanoids, the Tengu do not fly. There are two tribes in Cantha - the Angchu and Sensali. The Angchu are mostly peaceful and have settled largely in an area known as the Aerie. The Sensali are more warlike and nomadic, attacking humans and Angchu on sight.