White Mussel Prefecture

Geography

A prefecture of the central Blessed Isle, White Mussel Prefecture is located in mountainous terrain to the north of Juche Prefecture and south of Black Mountain Prefecture. It is named for the Lake of White Mussels, a body of water nestled in a large mountain valley near the center of the prefecture.

The Prefectural capital and largest settlement is the small city of Musselwhite, located on the sloping shores of the lake, home to the local offices of the Thousand Scales.

Economy

The economy of the prefecture is dominated by mining, home to rich reserves of gold (some of the most plentiful on the Isle) and iron, which are exported to Juche and other industrial centers.

The White Mussels native to the prefecture’s namesake lake are a source of valuable pearls and used in Dynastic cuisine, and smaller Freshwater Mussels are fished to supplement the diets of locals.

Politics

Prefect: Nellens Golden-Fingers

White Mussel Prefecture is home to a conflict between the interests of Dynastic Great Houses, with House Mnemon and House Ragara, holding significant interests in local mining. These two Houses compete with each other over the most lucrative veins of gold, but also with other Houses and Patrician Clans attempting to gain a larger share of the prefecture’s mines, House Nellens having the largest share outside of Mnemon-Ragara control. House Tepet had long served as another rival, allied with Nellens to defend against moves by the larger mineholders against the smaller, but in the aftermath of the War with the Bull the House divested itself of White Mussel holdings (House Ragara emerging as beneficiary of its withdrawal). While they do not hold any of the prefecture's mines themselves, House Cynis has a presence as supplier of slave labour for mining work.

House Peleps also has holdings in the prefecture, but not in its mines: the House has a longstanding interest in the production of freshwater pearls and mother-of-pearl from the Lake of White Mussels. This has been a source of conflict with other Houses, whose mining and smelting foul the waters feeding the lake, and House Peleps efforts to keep the waters pure have gained them much goodwill amongst the prefecture’s peasantry.