Vargazzi

_The old Emperor ZeuDeuler has many allies within the interior counties of Carettia, who believe the time has long come to assert their rightfully-ordained authority over the growing Marcher Lords. Espousing that the current Hieron has abandoned the core tenets of the Myriadic faith in order to pursue secular gains in power and wealth, the Vargazzi siphon support from Valdegar and other loyal elements of the Empire to the cause of restoring the Shining Empire’s power in Carettia, where it has long been waning.

Officially, the Vargazzi are those who recognize the current Hieronate’s condemnation of the peace of Cuomo as illegitimate, and maintain that the conflict was ended in accordance with Imperial law, while the Ecumenicum possesses no jurisdiction over the beginning or ending of a war between sovereign states, only whether such wars can be designated as holy. Enjoying the support of the inland lords, old aristocrats, mercantile class, and, of course, the Triple Rat and Valdegar’s vast financial power, their ultimate goal remains to cut the Marziellani down to size and restore order in accordance with Imperial law in the region.

While lacking the sheer manpower base and war experience of their opponents, the Vargazzi enjoy dominance over the food-rich heartlands of Carettia, pressuring the mountainous lords of the east into submission via denial of grain and other resources. Meanwhile, Imperial backing has sent the brokest of the broke feudal lords of Teurecht into the region to fight in the Emperor’s name, bolstering the ranks of the Vargazzi with foreign mercenaries who are prepared to collect their pay in the form of spoils._