Woodland Pact
A Woodland Pact is a series of treaties between a nation and the folk native to the nation establishing their right to self-determination. The first Woodland Pact was made in the Castellan Kingdoms.
Castellan Kingdoms
In the Castellan Kingdoms the folk are defined as protectorates of the Castellan government, and each party agrees to defend the other if it is attacked. The folk is only required to defend the county or march they reside in, they may not be conscripted unless an individual chooses to pursue citizenship and enlist. The folk are not required to pay tax, tithe, or tribute, but in turn they may not live in Castellite cities or villages or utilize the resources afforded to Castellite citizens. The folk may request the help of the Court of Folk or a Castellite lawyer to assist in arbritation should the terms of the Woodland Pact be violated. The folk have the right to self-determination and the jurisdiction of the land they have been allocated. In some cases certain herds and trades are also protected. Pursuing citizenship grants a folk the full rights and responsibilities of any other citizen.
Folk is a umbrella term for species who form societies of their own but are not citizens of the country they reside in. Examples include, but are not limited to Centaurs, Nymphs and Dryads, and some Undead.
Dragons and fey may fit the definition of folk, but have never signed a Woodland pact. The fey were indeed present at most negotiations, but were eventually asked to leave as it was clear they did not take it seriously.
An interesting way to deal with "foreign" inhabitants. Are the treaties followed to the letter or are there cases of someone breaking them by for example demanding taxes from the folk?
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Thank you! There's absolutely been people (on both sides) who break the treaties, or at least the spirit of them. That's why the legal options exist. I hope to come back and add examples as I think of them