MAYENE

The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass. In one age, called the Fourth Age by some, a wind blew across the tiny state of Mayene. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time. The wind blew across the city of Mayene, to the secretive grounds of the Illuminators guild, located here since a few years after Tarmon Gai'don.

The State of Mayene had changed much since Tarmon Gai'don. The Dragon reborn, it was said, had trusted the First of Mayene more than nay High Lord of Tear. And no more was Tear able to claim Mayene as its own.

Since Tarmon Gai'don, Mayene had grown in strength if not in size. It was no longer oppressed by Tear; any such oppression would have been met with disapproval and anger by all the Dragonsworn nations. It still exported lamp oil, but had many other advantages.

As all know, the First of Mayene is a child of Artur Paendrag. When the Seanchan returned, they conquered all lands in their path, but then they came upon Mayene. Hearing from all that the First was descended of Hawkwing, they named her of the Blood, and, for the first time, accepted Mayene as an independent nation. Since then, Mayene has increased its Naval presence, able to trade with Seanchan held cities like Tarabon.

Mayene has a naval fleet which is rivaled only by the Atha'an Miere's. They have little choice but to, able only to trade by sea or through Tear, which is still undesirable. They have recently begun trading with Shara, although they have found this a difficult process, given the Sharan xenophobic nature.
Tear has been sorely hurt by Mayene's increased presence in the modern world. Because they do not have any borders, they do not have any quarrels; because they have no quarrels, they have been called in many times to mediate disputes between many nations.

Mayene's stance on Darkfriends is neutral. They do not tend to arrest people simply for their beliefs, but they will for any crimes committed in the Great lord's name. If a Mayener encounters a Darkfriend, they are most likely to try to convert him, unless they are a Darkfriend themselves, or serve the balance.

Mayene is a rich nation, not only because of it's sea trade, or celebrated oil reserves, but because of the tax revenue and increased business brought by the Illuminators Guild, which moved there after Tarabon was taken over by the Seanchan.