Jullandy
Jullandy is the largest and most prosperous of the Sword Pact nations. For centuries, it has been ruled by the world's only true democracy, where each Freehold elects a representative to the Freehold Council every six years. Jullandians are known to be contemptuous of those who allow themselves to be governed by an absolute ruler.
While the Jullandian army only accepts volunteers and is therefore small, they are known for their highly skilled light cavalry archers and lancers. These troops originate from the Jullandians' agrarian roots, as Gauntwolves are a common threat on their borders and horseback attacks are the safest way to deal with them.
Jullandy was involved in a small war with Zethunir eleven years ago, sparked when the Zethuniri prince killed a member of the Freehold Council after the man insulted his mother, Queen Virina Sufell. After Lawspeaker Helene Morrow turned down the Queen's request for a duel to decide the matter, armies were gathered. The unwieldly Zethuniri army was shattered after a relentless assault from the Jullandian cavalry, but a stalemate was called after a group of Zethuniri Grave Dancers infiltrated the Jullandian camp and slew many of their officers. As a result, tensions between Jullandy and Zethunir are high.
Structure
Jullandy is ruled by a Freehold Council, consisting of six representatives from each of the six Freeholds elected every six years. From this group of thirty-six, a Lawspeaker is chosen by internal ballot within the Council, who speaks the Council's decisions to the people of Jullandy, and bears sole responsibility for them. The other representatives are called Lawmakers.
Culture
Jullandians are a rustic people, eschewing luxury and urbane pursuits for more basic comforts like a warm house and a full belly. They place great emphasis on social relations, and neighbouring farmsteads firmly support each other.
Jullandians dress in simple yet well made garb, often in earthen shades to help them blend into wooded areas while hunting. They let their hair grow long, considering carefully trimmed hair to be a sign of elitism. A Jullandian can often be spotted by their signature bow legged walk, a result of spending large amounts of time on horseback.
The most important aspect of Jullandian culture is the concept of equality. Since the founding of the republic, any attempt by someone to raise themselves above others in some way is met with suspicion at best, and violence at worst. This can be taken to extreme lengths, such as a farmer who builds their barn larger than their neighbours being shunned. To assert that even the Lawspeaker is equal to all Jullandians, a common expression in Jullandy is "Better than the Lawspeaker would, that's for certain" to express when something was done well.
Jullandians are welcoming to those who respect their traditions and don't get above themselves. They generally hate Zethuniri, who they consider to be violent, unpredictable snobs.
Public Agenda
Officially, Jullandy does not actively seek the spread of democracy in the other Sword Pact nations, although they would welcome it. Nevertheless, the other kings and rulers of the Sword Pact fear that this is precisely their long term goal, and Jullandians visiting the kingdoms will likely be watched closely by the local guard for signs of agitation. Their foreign policy is defensive by necessity due to the small size of their army. They seek to discourage other nations from warring, believing it is a waste of good, free lives.
The current Freehold Council, under Lawspeaker Helene Morrow, has been more aggressive than Councils past. Morrow appears to have developed a personal dislike for Queen Sufell of Zethunir. The Council has sent agents on political missions to Zethunir and other Sword Pact nations, distributing republican literature and trying generally to paint Queen Sufell as a tyrant. This was a significant factor in the border skirmish that took place just over a decade ago.
Assets
The simple manner and taste of Jullandians belies the great wealth of their republic, the richest nation of the Sword Pact. They grow textile crops like flax and hemp, which they weave into canvas and rope for halfling merchant vessels and clothes for the poorer folk of the world. Their relatively large landmass and wealth of arable land also make them the breadbasket of the Sword Pact, with even Zethunir relying on them to an extent to feed their people.
History
Jullandy was the westernmost province of the Empire. It was also the furthest province from the capital, so the Empire's influence was relatively weak there. The Jullandians were never rebellious against the Avarosan dynasty, but strictly maintained a level of autonomy from imperial rule, relying on the Empire's armies for protection just as the Empire relied on the Jullandians to feed their armies. Scholars theorize that this arms-length distance from full provincial control provided the basis for the strong egalitarian tendencies of Jullandians.
When the Empire's precipitous decline began, the provincial governors of Jullandy surprisingly resisted declaring independence for several decades, likely fearing that such a move would be seen a tyrannical by the populace. Thus, it was fifty years after the Empire's fall, and several decades after the other provinces had declared independence, that the Freehold Constitution was finally adopted. This document, drafted by an old farmer and his daughter from near the Wolflands, proposed a future for Jullandy that did away with concepts of nobility and artificial hierarchy and instead accepted the reality that it was a nation of common folk, and should be ruled accordingly. In the time since, Jullandian democracy has not always worked to perfection and the Freehold Council is slow to adapt to change, yet the Jullandians have no desire for any system that would subordinate one person to another.
Territories
Jullandy features a diverse geography. In the south, the fertile grasslands around the coastal capital of Vorence are dotted with farms and small roads, where most of the population is concentrated. The Western Tear splits Jullandy in half, allowing fast travel westwards across the republic via river boat. As one progresses north, the grasslands give way to rolling hills and drier climes. To the east, the sprawling Gray Forest spills into Jullandy, and a small number of hunters live along its fringes. The Wolflands provide a natural northern border with Walston and are impassable for most due to the presence of the Gauntwolves. Jullandy's eastern border with Zethunir has no naturally formed boundary, which is part of the reason that tensions between the two nations are high.
The capital of Vorence is one of the smallest human cities, as Jullandy's population is distributed more evenly amongst its towns than other nations. Vorence is known as a friendly, quieter city where many older Jullandians go to retire as the fresh sea air is said to be good for the constitution. Situated far on the western coast of Norvast, few visit Vorence except on official business, and much of the city's population is made up bureaucrats working with the Freehold Council. It does receive a steady flow of incoming ships in its harbour, and an even greater number of outgoing grain ships sailing along the coast to sell Jullandy's wealth of food. Visually, many find the city to be unimpressive, as even the Hall of the Council was constructed to be modest and functional. However, those that spend any length of time in Vorence sometimes grow to appreciate its simple, organized layout and architectural style. Vorence is one the six Freeholds.
North of Vorence, along the banks of the Western Tear is the Freehold of Khascia. Khascia is a large town, almost a city, and even features a wooden palisade. Its greatest claim to fame outside of Jullandy is its vineyards which produce the much-acclaimed Khasican Red wine. The grapes that grow around Khascia have been carefully cultivated for hundreds of years to be uniquely juicy, and the waters of the Western Tear seem to carry some of the flavour of the woods with them from the Gray Forest, lending the wine its slight but delicious earthy taste. In the Freehold Council, the Khascian representative is typically a strong advocate for peaceful relations with Jullandy's neighbours to promote trade, and for forgoing aggressive attempts at radicalizing other nation's people.
Northeast of Khascia, where the Western Tear meets the Imperial Carriageway sits the Freehold of Sincjek. Sincjek is slightly smaller than Khascia but still a sizeable town. Sincjek is famed for its hospitality. The town sees a huge number of passing travelers, as everyone going to or from from Walston, Prust or eastern Jullandy must pass through it. Though Sincjek has several fine inns, the citizens of Sincjek each will also often keep an empty room in their own homes to rent out at need, if the guest is not too unsavoury. Besides hospitality, Sincjek also breeds some of Tevastra's finest horses, taken from the great herds which roam the Plains of Geordan. While these steeds are used widely in the Jullandian light cavalry levies, they are a luxury beyond Jullandy's borders and will on rare occasions be purchased by foreign nobles.
South of Sincjek is the Freehold of Banderly on the shore of Bander Lake. The people of Banderly are mostly herders and ranchers, raising goats from the nearby hills, cattle, and sheep. They are accordingly responsible for much of Jullandy's textile production, and while those from Banderly prefer their peaceful isolation, they do make occasional trips to the other Freeholds to sell their wares. Banderly is also known for its yearly festival at the height of the season of Evershine - the Blessing of the Lake. During this event, the people of Banderly take small watercraft out onto the lake for a night of drinking and revelry. The festival is concluded when the year's most prized animal is slaughtered, and its blood spilled into the lake's waters. This is said to appease Virel and keep the lake water clean and drinkable (which it is).
In the northeast, within the fringes of the Gray Forest is the Freehold of Ivangea. The smallest of the Freeholds, Ivangeans have a reputation for being grumpy and disagreeable, always feeling that their wishes are disregarded at the Freehold Council due to their smaller population. Therefore, few people visit Ivangea unless there is urgent need. Despite this unfavourable reputation, Ivangeans are still recognized as peerless longbow shooters and master fletchers. They chop down the sturdy yew trees which surround their village to create bows that are so large and strong that it is said only Ivangeans can actually shoot them. Ivangean longbow archers will sometimes go to the Wolflands to try their luck bringing down Gauntwolves to collect the bounty on them, though it is an extremely dangerous pursuit.
Last but not least of the Freeholds is the lake fishing town of Bakar Mirse. Bakar Mirse is the most warlike of the Freeholds, always advocating to expand and formalize Jullandy's army in the Council. This is mostly due to the fact that Bakar Mirse has been subject to several Tevenar raids throughout its history, being a more tempting, if more distant target than Walston's western coastal villages. The Tevenari typically land their boats along the nearby coast, carrying one of their longships with them and using the hills for cover, before taking to Lake Mirse's waters in the dead of night to get around the town's walls. Over time, the people of Bakar Mirse have gotten wise to this trick and have sentries posted amidst their coastal hills.
Sow freedom; reap justice.
-Jullandian motto
Founding Date
377 AE
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Alternative Names
The Republic; The Freeloaders
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Jullandian
Leader
Location
Related Species
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