August 3332
High Priestess Wins the Title of High Countess!PORT TACKSTOV - It is a turbulent times for Beluzia, at least for the nobles sitting in the Federal Council of Nobles. In merely two years since the last election, the political environment of this county experienced dramatic change. The infamous "Blue Coalition" crumbled after the heel face turn, and subsequent decline of the House of Astredies; the House of David silently retreated from the politics of Beluzia, and the return of the Adamsons after a long vacation in Gaduridos. However, as the results of the election in August 3332 was revealed, the one who holds the new title of High Count surprised most political analysts, for the crown ends up not on the head of the men of the old nobles. Indeed, it is not a man at all.
A clan of religion leaders turned political nobles, the Takanashi Clan arrived in Beluzia after centuries of exile from the fallen Empire of Gao-Soto, who also brought their religion of Kiyomism with them to this county. While the religion claims to have a long history in Beluzia, the ruling clan did not enter political scene until 3329 under the new spiritual leader of Lady Aoi Takanashi.
Bearing the banner of Gao-Showan religious fanatism with a fascist flavour, Takanashi Clan did not win much support in its first election, with little more than 30 thousand people, most of them followers of their denomination, voting for the high water priestess. However, in a twist of events, what brings the Gioshotoi clan onto the throne of High Count is the big government stance related with its religious viewpoint. With almost half of the electors from Bailon Parish voting for the eagle clan in 3332, it, along with the returning Adamsons, shares the title of the "big two", while the maiden becomes the first High Countess of Beluzia since its foundation.
Soon after the surprising results entered the public population, our reporters manage to find the newly-elected High Countess during her return from worship in a local Kiyomist shrine. A woman with few words, the young lady expressed her gratitude to her supporters and herd, as well as the Karav Dynasty, who offered their full support to her and her clan. Later press releases from Takanashi Clan announced several minor changes proposed to the new Federal Council, including the change of title to better reflect the gender of the Head of State. A draft of a new cabinet is also in debating process, of which Takanashi Clan believes support from their colleagues, especially Karav Dynasty, will help them to rule the county.
Since their ascensions to the seat of Parish Governor of Bailon, religious bills have been passed in the Parish to enforce their religious stance and to convert more to their Way of Purification. While no such moves on the federal level has been proposed, political spectators believe such events will be inevitable, even though the chance of them passing in the mostly-secular Federal Council is slim.
Trivia Corner: The name of the High Countess, Lady Aoi Takanashi is pronounced: /a.o.i/, or ah-or-ee. It is the word for alcea in Standard Gao-Showa. Similarly, her sister in the clan, Anko, is named after apricot. Other female high-ranking clan members, especially those of close relatives of Lady Takanashi, are mostly named similarly after flowers and plants, and many of them also share the rule of using only three kanas in their given name. It is believed to be a clan tradition, as the emblem of Kiyomism, the religious denomination of kamism, also utilises an unnamed five-petal flower as part of it.
Resident Chinese/Cantonese, upholder of Gao-Showan civilisation.