The Lunar Empire occupied Sartar for 23 years (from 1602 to 1625). For the first 11 years, they ruled directly through an appointed provincial governor, and then through a client king. During this period, Sartarite society and culture came under significant pressures.
New Pelorian is the language of the Lunar Empire, and was used by the rulers in administration. As a result, many Sartarite scribes and nobles learned New Pelorian, however Sartarite remained the language of tribal life, religion and culture. Nonetheless, the language is widely known at least in the cities.
A small but influential minority of the native population embraced the Lunar cult of the Seven Mothers; initiation granted citizenship in the Lunar Empire and many legal and social benefits. Many initiates were killed during the liberation of Sartar and more went into exile, but pockets of Lunar cultists can still be found in Free Sartar. Lay membership was more common (and less consequential) and most Sartarites have at least a cursory knowledge of the main Lunar deities. Other Heartland cults as well were introduced, and shrines to Yelm, Lodril, and other Fire/Sky deities can be found in some Sartarite cities, although their cults are miniscule.
The Lunar silver coin (called a “Lunar” or “Imperial”) was widely used in trade between Peloria and the Holy Country prior to the Lunar conquest. With the Lunar Occupation, it became the primarily currency in Dragon Pass and Prax. Lunar silvers were used to pay soldiers, mercenaries, and laborers, in trade, and in other transactions involving the Imperial or Provincial Governments. Although many coins were defaced after the liberation of Sartar in 1625, the new Kingdom has not stamped nearly enough new coins to make even a dent in the number of Lunars circulating in Sartar. For most Sartarites, any silver coin of a given size is called a “Lunar” regardless of who issued it or who appears on the coin.
An ironic legacy of the Lunar Occupation is the mythic experimentalism now practiced by many Orlanth cultists. The Lunar success at heroquesting has resulted in the suspension of the religious traditionalism within that cult, and encouraged experimental heroquesting in the hopes of finding magical and mythical weapons against the Lunar Empire.
The Lunar rulers made few innovations in government, beyond the inevitable strengthening of the central government at the expense of the tribes and the use of spies and emissaries. These changes were ultimately adopted by the Free Kingdom.
25 years of occupation will mean lots of city folk at least have a few points in New Pelorian.
But it is important to keep in mind that although Sartar is liberated from the Lunar Empire, plenty of things got left behind, from pockets of Lunar worshipers, the use of the Lunar silver coin, and so on.
For example, I suspect just as most educated Lunars know that the god of the rebellious hill kingdoms is Orlanth the Storm God, most Sartarites know the Lunars worship the Red Goddess and the Seven Mothers. And some might remember Doc, Dopey, Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Yanafal Tarnils, and Teelo Norri. Or something like that.
My guess is most Sartarites get one or two right, and then start naming Smurfs or something.
Etyries is basically an Issaries subcult – without the Lunar Empire it really doesn’t have much of a role or support. Same thing with Irrippi Ontor – being a member of the imperial scribe cult isn’t very useful without having an Empire to scribe for.
Can you convert from Etyries to Issaries? How easy is it? Surprisingly easy. Issaries is fine with that.
A few small groups exist here and there, but the cult has no social role in post-Liberation Sartar. At least not until around 1630.
The problem is that many of the Lunar cults don’t really work outside of where the Lunars are the rulers and able to provide support. Many rely on imperial patronage to survive – and many others simply couldn’t function outside of areas ruled by Lunar cults (especially Danfive Xaron).
I’m wondering what became of the Lunar Manors dotted about the place? I suspect most were locally hated enough to be destroyed by the locals.
What level of taxation/state involvement in day to day life survived the occupation?
The main source of revenue for the Principality is the toll on goods being carried on the roads, duties and market fees in the cities. That’s going to generate a lot of money. The Prince is also the head of the Orlanth Rex cult and in theory can draw on the resources of the Orlanth cult, although that is easier said than done. Tarkalor managed to get the assembled tribes to agree to levy an annual contribution and that remained in place until 1602, when it got doubled again to pay the Lunars their tribute.
As of 1625, the tribes haven’t agreed to pay an annual contribution to Kallyr and everything is just waiting on how she performs the Lightbringers Quest. In 1627, Argrath gets the tribes to agree to pay him Tarkalor’s Tax.
There really isn’t a “state” in Sartar. There’s the Prince and his household, his scribes, his companions and followers. There’s a Ring, but that is as more a religious-magical thing than administrative.
At the end of the day, Sartar AND EVEN THE LUNAR EMPIRE relies more on charismatic leadership than on institutional bureaucracies (although there are bureaucrats – what do you think scribes are?).
How does this affect the antipathy of Sartar toward the Lunar religion? Are these still “moon demons” to staunch Orlanthi? Remember that in Sartar, the Lunar Empire didn’t build roads, introduce laws, education, or even bring peace between the groups (in fact, for the first ten years, the Lunars encouraged inter-tribal conflict).
The Orlanth cult is Hostile towards the Seven Mothers and vice versa. That means that relations are strained. That doesn’t mean attack on sight.