Swords vs. Abacus

The 'Swords' faction, led by figures like Consort Risana and Gin Mazoti, believed the empire's strength came from the heroic, martial virtues of its founders. They valued loyalty, honor, and the leadership of exceptional individuals, but grew to resent the rising power of the bureaucracy.[TWOS-8]The 'Abacus' faction, led by Empress Jia, argued that a stable empire could not be run on heroism alone. They championed the creation of laws, systems, and a professional bureaucracy to ensure the fair and efficient administration of Dara, a vision embodied by the Grand Examination.[TWOS-21]This fundamental disagreement shaped the politics of Emperor Ragin's reign and was reflected in the divergent upbringings of his sons, the martial Prince Phyro ('Sword') and the scholarly Prince Timu ('Abacus').