Thardic Republic
A plutocratic state misgoverned by a republican senate from the City of Coranan. The Republic is controlled by 50 patrician families who collectively own nearly all the land.
The Senate is often deadlocked because of the rivalry between five powerful factions. Personal position, undermining rivals and monetary gains of the senators are considered more important than the welfare of the state as a whole.
It has a large standing army, which is the strongest military power on Hârn, however, it is crippled by bureaucracy and political infighting.
The cosmopolitan capital city of Coronan is Hârn 's largest city and it's second city Shiran is known as the City of Sin.
The republic is a neutral state with a hedonistic dark streak where money rules and bribery are institutionalized.
Structure
The Senate
Ruling body is the Senate of around 68 members. The Senators serves for life and appoints its own members.
The Marshalls and Magistrates
The republic is divided into 6 provinces (and the City of Coranan) which is administered by two officials, the Marshal and the Magistrate, appointed by the Senate to three-year terms.
The marshal commands the provincial legion, for both defense and general security. It is high treason for a marshal to lead his troops outside his jurisdiction without explicit approval from the Senate.
The magistrate manages the administrative and judicial offices.
The Autocrat
In times of war or serious threats the Senate may assign an Autocrat to manage the Republic for a 2 years term. The Autocrat is given a Mandate and command of all the Republic's Legions, except the Red Guard, can call up reserves and can overrule the decisions of any magistrate. Additionally, he can temporarily create or raise taxes and set foreign policy. However, he is accountable for all his actions and must submit to a mandatory treason trial at the end of his term unless it its extended by the senate. At this trial, his every decision is reviewed against his mandate.
Patron-client Relationship
Thardic society operates on the basis of a network of voluntary formal obligations and duties known as the patron-client relationship. Both parties are obligated to help, protect, and avenge each other. The system rests on complex arrangements of favors or money owed and given.
The population fall into four legal classes, the freeborn and freed are citizens, wards, and slaves. Wards are children and the mentally disadvantaged.
Public Agenda
Maintain Security, both of border and economic. Provide a safe trade route to the eastern kingdoms.
Maintain large and strong standing armies.
Eventual conquest, either militarily or economic of nearby rival states or tribes.
Fractions
The republic’s Senate has a number of fractions or political groupings. Some senators refuse to join any of the factions, some swap and change frequently while a few senators have joined multiple fractions.
Expansionist – this is the largest fraction with the senators wishing to expand the republics, at the expense of its neighbours. This may include war with the nearby kingdoms or subjugation of bordering Barbarian nations.
Reform – Senators which to restructure the republics, removing the intuitional bribery and corruption. This is a small fraction often allying itself with the Monarchist or Imperialist fractions.
Monarchist – This fraction wants to turn the republic into a feudal monarchy. Favoured by many of the senators which worship Larani.
Consolidationist – Rather than reforming society the Consolidationist want to grow and expand on existing systems. Some also favour consolation of the current six provinces into two or three.
Imperialist – A small but growing faction wanting to reform a new Corani Empire, with an emperor leading, but retaining the Senate structure. Strongly allied with the Expansionist fraction.
Assets
Large army consisting of 6 Legions and the elite Red Guard.
The Thard River provides fertile soil, fish, and easy transportation.
The salt route, named after the republics large rock salt deposit. This is the key trade route between western and eastern Harn.
Lake Benath provides fish which smoked and fish oil used in perfume manufacture.
The forests provide good lumber, resins, charcoal, nuts, and herbs.
The republic is blessed with good marble, iron and silver mines.
Slavery is legal and provide cheap expendable labor.
History
674TR - Founded from remains of the Corani Empire, the republic was officially formed from the Thardic League.
708TR - The Agrikian Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra, from The Kingdom of Rethem crossed the Gomisen River and seized Themeson Keep from the republic. War was narrowly avoided, some say due to generous bribes to key Senators, but the territory was lost. Negotiations are underway with its current holder the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang for its return.
712TR - The Kandian Earl of Kuseme sent knights to enforce his claims to contested villages near Eidru. The Senate was in an aggressive mood and declared war, ordered the Marshal of Ramala, Kronas Elernin, to attack. The Ramala Legion surprised and routed the Kandian forces. Before hostilities could resume, Kanday and the Republic concluded a peace treaty ceding Kuseme, Eidru, and their territories to the Thardic Republic.
720TR - Major uprising among the Tulwyn Barbarians. The trade route to the Eastern Kingdoms is closed.
721TR - The Treaty of Themeson is signed between the Thardic Republic and the Kingdom of Rethem. Themeson Castle and assets are returned to the Republic in exchange for a range for concessions and a defensive alliance.
Demography and Population
Central western Hârn, south of Lake Benath.
Population is around 104,000.
Territories
Lays claim to territories currently belonging to the Tulwyn and Gozyda barbarian nations as well as all lands up to and including Trobridge Inn.
Military
The republic has a legionary-based military.
All free land-holding families support the military by levies or supplying and equipping Legionaries. More wealthy landholders supply light cavalryman and the rich knights.
The six legions and Red Guard are Hârn largest standing army with reserves able to rapidly swell it by a factor five. The legions are all well trained and equipped.
Religion
The republic has the most tolerant religious climate in all of Hârn and the public worship of all gods except Naveh is legal.
Halea is popular particularly among the upper and middle classes in the Republic and many senators are adherents. The city of Sin, Shiran holds the seat of the Hârn Primate with great financial power.
Agrik has some following and attracts members from the Thardic nobility and especially the military. The church is effectively split by the bitter rivalry between two fractions, the Order of the Eight Demons and the Order of Hepra the Mace. The gladiatorial Pamesani Games run by the church are very popular with the commoners and rich alike.
Larani has many adherents, however its association with the Kandian throne causes some suspicion. Nonetheless, the church has supplied troops to the Republic on occasions and leading factions in the Senate supports a return to the Imperial or feudal system.
Ilvir has a poorly organized and small following.
Peoni is popular among the poor and rural population.
Save-K’nor is well represented and many members hold influential posts in government.
Morgath, worship is surprisingly strong among the republics poorest residents. The Order of the Lord of Chaos has carefully managed to give a voice to the dispossessed.
Foreign Relations
Relations with the neighboring kingdoms is tense.
The Republic has recently won a very short lived war with Kingdom of Kanday.
Forces within the unstable Kingdom of Rethem without provocation seized some territory, however, a full-scale war was narrowly avoided and the territories were eventually returned.
Two tribal nations also border the Republic, the wary, cannibalistic and often violent Gozyda, and the ruthless well organised Tulwyn. These are thorns in the side of the republic as the Tulwyn have the ability to rapidly form large armies if provoked and the Gozdya are protected by Kanday.
Named by the enemy, Motto of the Red Guard
Maps
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Hefiosian Hills
The Hefiosa Hills are rugged wild lands deep in the heart of the Thardic Republic.
Tharda
Silver Piece
The Senate
The top of the judicial system is the Senate, which tries cases of treason, cases against senators, and lesser cases that are successfully appealed to it. Otherwise, justice is managed by the provincial magistrates and appointees.
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