Liranequois
The Liranequois is a powerful nation in northeastern Everique. It stretches along the southern shore of Lake Chambenac and stretches west to Lake Lirane, for which the nation is named by the Japethan settlers. To the east, Liranequoia is bordered by Lake Ondakina and, to the south, it is bordered by the Ollegowi Mountains. The names given here, including Liranequois, are those of the Japethan explorers. The Liranequois have their own language and their own names for themselves and their lands.
Liranequoia is a fertile land, covered by forests with many marshes and meadows along the lake shores. The land rises and becomes hilly as the nation approaches the mountains to the south. It is blessed with abundant rainfall in the summer, but it is equally blessed by abundant snowfall in the winter. Numerous rivers lace through the territory, creating natural roads used by the Liranequois. Game is plentiful in the woodlands, but animals valued for their pelts, such as the beaver, have been hunted to extinction inside the nation.
The Liranequois are governed by a council of five different nations. Its symbol is the covenant chain that links the five nations together. They do not use banners as the Japethans do, but they do use a pattern on wampam belts with light and dark wampum to represent the league. Japethans would call White Tree the capital, which is true in a sense. White Tree is the site of the grand council fire where the sachem and wisdoms of the five nations meet.
The Liranequois holds a strategic position that controls travel and trade along the Grande Vire, Maurits River, and the great inland rivers of Everique. They have used their position to their advantage, seeking to control much of the fur trade in Everique. Historically, they have sided with the Kleefish traders of Meerpelt against the traders of Aradie. They have warred with the Aradians in the past for siding with the Elakanois, the historical enemies of the Liranequois. However, the council is becoming concerned about the unrelenting expansion of the settlers of Morante in their colony of Varre to the east of Lake Ondakina.
Nations of the Liranequois
The Liranequois is a confederation of five nations. They call themselves the Kanonsionni which translates to "The People of the Great Longhouse" or perhaps "The People of the Ever-Growing Longhouse." To the Liranequois, the longhouse is more than a structure; it is an important symbol of their civilization. It is inclusive, sheltering, protective, and the foundation of their society. As traditional longhouses in Liranequois hold five families that are all from the same clan, the name Kanonsionni implies that the nations of the confederation are one great family, and the Liranequois often refer to the other tribes as their brothers. Siblings may argue and may even fight from time to time, but they are family and will always unite and support each other.
Liranquoia itself forms a long rectangle from Maurits' River to Lake Lirane. The five nations of the Kanonsionni form a line within that rectangle, just like the structure of the longhouse. The nations are listed below, east to west.
Kahne'aké
The Kahne'aké are the most eastern of the Liranequois nations. They are the Keepers of the Eastern Door and guard the longhouse from threats from the east. They are the ones who interact with the colonists from Japethe the most.
Onyote'aké
The Onyote'aké live in the highlands of the Ollegowi Mountains. They are the smallest of the five nations. The Onyote'aké have a close relationship with the manitou of the earth and every village has a sacred stone by which local ceremonies are held.
Onoteh'ka
The Onoteh'ka hold the central position of the confederacy. They keep the council fire at their town of White Tree. They are culture preservers and maintain the traditions of the Liranequois.
Kayohko'no
Kayohko'no live in the marshy lands between the Onoteh'ka and the Nondowaga. They are excellent hunters, and their canoeists are without peer. Their Wisdoms have powerful medicine from the herbs that grow in the swamps.
Nondowaga
The Nondowaga are the largest of the five nations. They are the Keepers of the Western Door and guard the longhouse from threats from the west. They are notoriously tall. It is said that they can see the sun long after everyone else says it has set.
Clans of the Liranequois
The Liranequois organize themselves into clans. Each clan traces its lineage back to a single female ancestor. Clan membership is passed through the mother. A man marries into his wife's clan, and their children are members of that clan. Women hold the leadership positions in the clan, with the Clan Matrons having the most authority within the family.
Clans stretch across nation boundaries in the Liranequois. So members of the same clan can be found in multiple nations. Each member of the clan is considered a relative, regardless of which nation they are part of. This has helped keep the peace between the nations, foster communications, and strengthen the confederation. It is forbidden to marry within the clan as all members are considered relatives. Liranequois without a known clan are considered members of the Turtle clan.
The clans are divided into three groups, based upon the elements of air, earth, and water. The clans associated with water are the Salmon, the Seal, and the Turtle. The clans associated with air are the Crane, the Falcon, and the Turkey. The clans associated with the earth are the Fox, the Hare, and the Bobcat. There were clans associated with the element of fire, but they died out many years ago.
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