Abhailmid

Hidden in the eastern reaches of Efaanu, Abhailmid is the home of the Daoine an Domhain (or Halfling) race and holds special historical importance to Efaanu, being where the conqueror Carlegn was raised and educated as a child, as well as Joaniala, the founder of The Realm.
It's unknown if the Halflings actually originate from Abhailmid, but as of the fall of the Old Imperium it's where Halflings have dwelt for countless generations. Abhailmid is a relatively quiet area of Efaanu, while not stranger to strife and war it has been saved from the worst conquests and wars of the ages due to its close ties to not one but two important historical Empire founders. In both cases Abhailmid was peacefully integrated into the empire they indirectly helped found.
Nowadays Abhailmid enjoys a special status. While a client state of The Realm, it is not required to send taxes or troops to The Realm to feed its armies or coffers. This doesn't impact The Realm overmuch, as the tax revenue they are missing out is relatively minimal and while Halflings have proven to be able warriors in the past, they are by no means needed by the Realm to fight its wars.
The Halflings of Abhailmid are known scholars and philosophers, and have left a profound impact on Efaanu by spreading their philosophy via the teachings they've imparted on two empire building historical figures. The Realm's language and religion is directly lifted from the Halflings, and the continent of Efaanu even owes its very widely accepted name to the Halflings of Abhailmid.
Despite their easy-going and kind nature, very few non-halflings live in Abhailmid. The reasons for this are two fold: Before the time of The Realm the reasoning was simply that reaching Abhailmid was a risky journey beyond where most other "civilization" existed. In the common day the reason is that The Realm strictly controls who may or may not settle in Abhailmid, being conscious that those who could afford to do so would move and settle in Abhailmid to avoid The Realm's taxes and laws that it places in the rest of its holdings. This translates into an effective ethno-state as unless you're a halfling yourself or married to one, you're chances of being allowed to own land and live in Abhailmid are effectively zero.

Structure

Abhailmid is ruled by a Governor or Governess, who selects councilors to oversee various villages and towns on smaller levels outside of the Abhailmidian capital. While the Governor chooses the town councilors, when the Governor or Governess dies the sitting councilors then elect one of their number to become the new Governor. The choice is then verified by the Bunusach Cainteior or the Domhanda Council of The Realm.
The title has a history, as its effectively a continuation of the old title of Cainteior (Speaker). However, when Joaniala took on the title of first Bunusach Cainteior of The Realm there was concern that there would be confusion (or worse, a thought of parity) with the two titles. Thus the title was changed to Governor and Governess, even if the way it worked was literally the same.

Stad Agus Síl (Stop and Consider)

Type

Geopolitical, Protectorate

Alternative Names

The Land Beyond the Humans

Demonym

Abhailmidian

Government System

Monarchy, Crowned Republic

Power Structure

Dependent territory

Economic System

Mixed economy

Legislative Body

The Governor makes any major laws, and the town councilors make the smaller local laws. But the age of Abhailmid has effectively made it so new laws are rare.

Judicial Body

Local Councilors are responsible for being the judges in any judicial proceedings.

Parent Organization

The Realm