Editing Breoa (section)

== Government Structure ==
The government of Breoa is a fractured mess. Brekendahl spends most of his time out at sea while the power brokers of his nation fight with each other as much as with Breoa’s enemies. With this as a foundation, it is thought by many that political unity is impossible. Only via [[Brekendahl]]’s strength is Breoa held together.

==== Konungur, the Ice Lord or Lady ====
The Konungur, also called the Ice Lord/Lady, is the head of the Breoan government. They hold vested within them the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of the government. Their word is considered law.

Upon the death of a Konungur, the Jarls of Breoa meet in the palace in Razzia. There, the Jarls elected a non-Jarl to be the next Konungur. This is usually a member of the Jarl’s own family. After thirty days of deliberation, the Jarls vote. If a person gains a majority, they become the next Ice Lord or Lady. Or, if no one person gains a majority, [[Brekendahl]] arrives. He then proceeds to give three tests to the two potential Konungurs with the most votes.

These tests are usually based around sailing, combat, or feats of leadership. Whichever potential Konungur performs the best in the trials gains the title. However, usually if by the last trial the two potentials are tied in the eyes of [[Brekendahl]], the final test is a duel between the two for the right to become Konungur.

As of the year 701 AR, the current Konungur is Ivar Freydris. Ivar is a Hobgoblin man with tattoos covering his crimson skin. While Ivar is only forty-one, he has sat as Konungur for nineteen years. It is said there is no better ship captain in Breoa than Ivar Freydris. Under his watch, the Breoan navy has tripled in size.

==== Jarls ====
A Jarl is the head of a Breoan clan. The title of Jarl is bestowed on the person who oversees a hamlet, village, or city. One Jarl can manage more than one population center but this is rare. Only the most powerful Jarls are given the opportunity to rule more than one place.

Most clans have a line of succession. Each clan has their own unique aspects to their succession but usually the eldest child of the previous Jarl is first in line for the position. This is unless a member of the clan challenges the eldest for the position. A challenge can come in the form of combat, a game of wits, or another trial that the majority clan finds acceptable. Being a Jarl is not only about a person’s ability to fight. A challenge should test the Jarl’s best quality. No leader leads alone and every Jarl has an entire clan to help them make decisions. Therefore, only what a Jarl excels at should be tested. If a Jarl is not best at something, then they should not be Jarl.

Challenging is considered dangerous. If the challenger loses, they are likely to be exiled from the clan by the new Jarl. Therefore, a new Jarl might expect only one challenger and many instances have occurred where the new Jarl is not challenged.

==== Clans of Breoa ====
Before [[Brekendahl]] came to power, Breoa was ruled over by warlords. Those warlords came from ancient families. The families that survive today are known as the Breoan Clans.

A Clan’s power fluctuates over the generations. Most clans hold some sort of authority in Breoa whether that be ruling a population center, managing a guild, or leading a raiding company. However, a Clan can lose their power through the normal political means (assassination, backstabbing, etc.). Sometimes if a Clan’s enemies wish it, they will wipe out a Clan and end a bloodline stretching back over seven-hundred years.

New Clans can also arise. This is a rare feat usually done through the acquisition of incredible wealth, unparalleled combat prowess, feats of heroism, or becoming favored by the Konunger. These Clans often start by managing a small village and growing their strength over successive generations. Infighting

Open conflict amongst the Clans is rare. With this being said, the Clans fight with each other constantly. Spies disrupt supply chains while soldiers clash in back allies. It is a never ending struggle for each Clan to maintain their political power and an even greater struggle to rise through the ranks.

The Konunger does not see this as a problem. It is widely known that Breoa is most stable when the Clans are at each other’s throats. This is because only through unity can the Clans exert control over the Konunger. Therefore, the leader of Breoa works diligently to in secret sow seeds of discord amongst the Clans. Shifting control over a village, increasing the yearly taxes, or even falsifying intelligence are all tools in the Konunger’s toolbelt. Those Knoungers who refuse to set the Clans against each other are usually ineffective or do not survive long.

The secret for Breoa’s success lies in the Mefni. This means they hold a considerable amount of political power. A Mefni is one of the few people who can defy the order of a Jarl without fear.

Although they are paid thousands of gold pieces a year, a Mefni rarely needs to spend them. Any merchant or tavern owner will often give the Mefni what they ask for without charge. A traveler wandering through Breoa should take note not to anger a Mefni. They hold more power over the land then one might expect.