Coastland

Coastland is an area with lush forests and acres of farmland, geographically the area is called the Little Greenwood. The forested areas are more prominent in the west and the north with a variety of megafauna that is mostly peaceful. There is no single ruler of this area, the government is a representative coalition that elects a council member to sit for seven years to make decisions on their behalf. Many issues local to an area are voted on and cared for by the elected representative but only certain people can vote. In order to gain the ability to vote or to become a representative, you must either own land or have a family connection to a landowner. Because of this, Coastlanders almost never sell land to outsiders and are cautious about who marries into their families. It is quite common for outsiders to rent farmland or buildings for reasonable rates, they are welcomed but there is a distinction between those that are part of Coastland and those that have come from the outside.   The Ruling Council of Coastland attends to the issues of the area they were elected from, including gathering taxes and managing civil services while the council as a whole handles matters of international trade and relations. They determine how people are allowed to enter the country and they keep a small militia in each area that is managed by the representative. Having a larger council gives them the autonomy to rule independently and handle the flourishing agricultural economy that their farmlands support. Members of this council are made up primarily of Halflings, Rodenta, and other Animal Kingdom species.   Coastland is a major area for trade routes because it is the most hospitable shoreline for ships to make land with gentle beaches and a sheltered coast. All the nearby countries have roads that connect to a well-developed highway system that runs throughout Coastland, giving access to a variety of major port towns to enable access to the Zóni and the Southern Continent. Though even with all these points of interest, the truly valuable thing about Coastland is the strange, high potential for agriculture in the area.   It is not uncommon to see any species in this area, even those from distant lands can often be found in Coastland passing through on their way to somewhere else. In many ways, this seaside country acts as the gateway to the Northern Continent. The larger cities and those along the plentiful roads are often welcoming of peaceful travelers though those out in the country are often more guarded. This region is known to be one of the wealthiest due to the sheer amount of traffic that comes through in addition to their agricultural exports.  

Demographics & Territory

harboring. The soil and climate here produce a unique effect that makes all plant life grow much shorter than anywhere else in the world but also several times wider. This has an incredible impact on crops and certain types of fauna, the difference is most easily seen when comparing something like a potato grown in Coastland. The average potato grows in half of the time and is over 4 times as large as even the most well-cared-for crops from other regions. Legend says the soil quality and temperate climate are the aftermath of an ancient brawl between Dern and Caspian long ago when they decided to see who between them was strongest. The country's borders are marked by the Great Plains to the north, the sea to the east and south, and the Spine of Kallex leading to the Fairy King's Wood to the west.   Taxation here is conducted by council members, each of them lobbies for the various projects that need to be completed. The primary source of government funds comes from the profits made by those that pass through or trade with Coastland while the residents pay a moderate tax in accordance with where in the country they live. These taxes pay for roads and various public services, though there is no standing military to represent Coastland. In exchange for excellent trade standards, the military protectorate of Coastland in a time of war comes from the Human Empire. Towns will often source their own guards from residents, while larger cities often have enough wealth to train professional Soldiers. During the past ten years there has been a preference for hiring Adventurers through the Dagger Guild or contracting services through Fire & Gold, Inc..   an urge to go abroad can easily find themselves pointed towards any part of the world with just a few gold coins and a cloak. This also makes it an ideal place to disappear into, without a large government to scrutinize movements, many things can easily go unnoticed.   Abroad, Coastlanders are well-received as peaceful folk or traders. Those that live in Coastland often lease farmland to others or travel on large caravans to move goods from one place to another. They are usually welcomed but not usually treated as a threat, in some cases, they are seen as a weaker nation due to the stature of their people and their lack of an organized military. This has subtly changed in the last decade with the appearance of a new business, Fire & Gold, Inc., a business that specializes in trade and talent development. It was founded ten years ago by an outsider, despite being led by a Human that isn't even a proper resident of Coastland, it has become the largest corporation in the country in a short time due to the ambition of the owner. Because of this, the owner is often invited to travel with representatives of the country and work on international trade deals.   Coastland only keeps representatives in two countries, those being the Human Empire and the Dwarven Kingdom. The rest are engaged with through correspondence on a regular basis by the Ruling Council. These relations are generally business oriented. This country lacks a magic academy, so it has no standing with the High Council of the Arcane though it does boast a high presence of Metallic Dragons that favor their coastal shores. This grants their land unique favor with the Council of Metallic Dragons. They are also one of three countries with a prominent Monastic tradition, the Rodenta have a Monastery dedicated to their Animal Lord with a focus on open-handed martial mastery.