Royal Court & Archeins

[KuKulzA]

This is my second attempt to accurately portray the Argonian Royal Court and the Archeins (kleptocrats). There isn't much info on them so I have to make up what I have to based on logic and what lore exists on the matter.

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Royal Court & Archeins
How it was formed...
When the Empire invaded Black Marsh under Tiber Septim, they wisely occupied only the borders and coasts, which were dangerous mangroves and jungles, but less dangerous than the inner marshes and bogs. During the invasion one Argonian clan rose up to help the outsiders. Some individual Argonians from all walks of life also join this clan in helping the Imperials, guiding them through jungle and marsh, and occasionally suppressing other Argonians. When the province of Black Marsh was official made, the clan became the Royal clan and the other Argonians became the Archeins, advisors to Imperial governors.
Their rise to power...
The Royal Clan and the Archeins, forming the Royal Court, had no real power. In the Reman Dynasty they had a Battle-chief or a Priest-king which had been chosen by a majority of the Tribes. This individual would mediate between the Cyrodiil king of Argonia and the common people. However now there was an Argonian king - times would change. Like Morrowind, Black marsh was never unified and never had a king. Thus the Royal Clan began secretly raising an army to enforce their law and the Archeins gradually took more control as the local Imperial governors really couldn't rule Argonians and didn't understand them. However, in order to succeed economically and be able to pay the tribute required, the Royal Court allowed the Archeins to use slavery. Often this was done on Tribes unwilling to assimilate to the new style, an Argonian-Imperial culture. Those who didn't left the coastal jungles and mangroves and went inland to join the marsh tribes.
Current Power...
The Archeins are now known as kleptocrats by their own people. They are like native conquerers, basedoff of Cyrodiilics but Argonian. They become wealthy by taking from their people and using soldiers to enforce law. Granted, not all are like this. The Archein of Stormhold and Thorn are relatively virtuous, Stormhold's Archein advocating the Mages Guild and its education, and the one in Thorn trying to ease tensions between Dunmer and Argonians. However in Archon, Soulrest, and Gideon, where resources are in higher quantity the local people are exploited by their own kind. Blackrose and Lilmoth are under the official rule of the Royal Clan. Unfortunately, in order to keep the peace, the Royal Clan, having little power over the Archeins who all own their own armies as well, has to employ the Shadowscales Dark Brothersto assassinate Archeins who had gone too far, or Imperial governors who have become abusive and set up their own small tyrant-kingdoms deeper in the marsh. Though the Royal Court rules over the coasts and the large cities there is actually a second government in Argonia.

The Council of the Root
Several centuries ago, in order to deal with invading Dunmer, Imperials, and even earlier the Lilmothiit, as well as trade with Kothringi, the Council of the Root had been formed to deal with problems throughout Black Marsh. This council is in Helstrom and real capitol of Black Marsh although it doesn't work in the same way.
When there is a need, a representative from every Naga tribe, evey Paatru tribe, every Sarpa tribe, and every Argonian tribe met in Helstrom in a giant clearing near the roots of an ancient Hist. They would discuss tribal matter and how to execute war, etc. The Paatru and Sarpa traditionally took very little part in such debates and meetings and showed up only occasionally. They are also slightly more beastial and less concerned with the events outside of their inner Marsh habitats. The Naga however take an active part is raiding Cyrodiilic caravans and attacking Dunmer in Arnesia. They are joined by the northern Tribes. While the Western Tribes are defensive, retreating back to the Tenmar wall when there is a need and surviving by small subsistence farming, the northern tribes and the naga are offensive and primarily semi-nomadic hunters. The eastern tribes were closest to the Kothringi and lived in sea-side hamlets, and engaged primarily in fishing. Southern tribes were farmers and fishermen as well. And the central tribes were hunter-gatherers, except in Helstrom. The central tribes tended to actually live with the Hist, or under, or amongst the roots. There is also a legend of a group of tribes that lived on canoes and had lived in the southeast near the mouths of Black marsh's slow rivers but they had retreated to inland waterways ever since the Imperial invasion, though they had coexisted with Kothringi for a long time. It is said they were masters of water and some used their hands to make the water move the boats.