The Realm of Tarn

Once known as the Republic of the Tarynae, the free people broke free from their masters of the Charybae perhaps two or three centuries before the Cataclysm. The outer houses of the Starlit Towers, with one or two of the Houses of the Sun, fled northwards, seizing with their armies of common elves and lower nobles, a sizeable portion of land. They never had the power of wealth of the Charybae, but their commitment to freedom and liberty led them to develop a reputation of inventiveness, creativity and stubbornness. Nonetheless, over their two or three centuries of rebellion, they were gradually losing against the vastly more powerful Empire. Although none of their leaders at the time would have wished it on the world, the Cataclysm actually saved their freedom. Against the onslaught of the Tusk, the orcs freed from their island prison, the two realms of elves united and signed an alliance at Bluestone Tor, now known as the Blue Peace, which settled their current borders and recognised that both realms had a right to exist and prosper. The two cultures remain vastly different.
Tarn is pro human and has an open-hearted approach to trade. Whilst they may at times be superior, or distant, owing to their longer lives, they love the differences that humans pose, and have often ridden in defence of the “lesser” races. Indeed, many elves in Tarn believe it offensive to use the term “lesser” races.
The Politics of Tarn
The Republic is led by a Senate, a group of roughly one hundred elves (sometimes much more, sometimes much less), who are nominated by citizens every five years. There are Parting Nominations and Welcome Nominations for every citizen. For those who are already on the Senate, receiving more Partings than the Welcomes they first received ensures they leave, whereas receiving more Welcomes than Partings ensures they remain.
There can be no more than twenty five new Senators every five years, and a minimum of five. Some years, when the Senate has not lost any due to Partings, the numbers become quite large, but this helps to break the stranglehold that the governing Senators might have, and has protected the republic from people seizing control.
The Senate does not stand in elections under “party” (lantana) labels, but instead there are loose groupings of people with similar agendas. These centuries-old parties include, but are not limited to (as new parties spring up fairly regularly, sometimes on family lines, sometimes ideological):
The Sungleamer Lantana, a small but influential (and well-resourced) party, funded it is rumoured by agents from Chara. They seek unification with the Empire, and seek a role for the Senate in traditional Charan politics.
The Majest Lantana, equally small and not influential at all, they seek a King or Queen for the Republic, and the creation of a Kingdom that can stand in clear equality to Chara. They fear the republic is slow to make vital decisions.
The Reader Lantana, a middle-sized faction, who prize knowledge and education.
The Healer Lantana, a middle-sized faction who seek both physical and mystical healing, often proposing mercy towards foes of the Republic and peace towards other nations.
The Plough Lantana, a large faction that represents the interests of the common elves working the land and glades. They were one of the two parties that led the rebellion against the Charybae, and remain influential.
The Ermine Lantana, a large faction comprised of noble families that were present at the rebellion, they often work alongside the Plough, but have been known to oppose each other at times as well.
Celestine Lantana, a small faction comprised of family members from House Celestine, in northern Tarn.
The Counter Lantana, who seek careful management of the Republic’s resources.
The League Lantana, a group of adventurers who now seek political power in Tarn.

Structure

The Commissioners:

The Senate on their first six months will elect a new Commission, which lead the Republic day to day, over the next five years. These roles are as follows: The High Commissioner: the prime minister of the Republic, who leads the Commission and has power to appoint generals, and other ministers.

• The Commissioner of Staves: a wizard chosen to lead the Towers of the Staves.
• The Commissioner of Blades: a warrior chosen to lead the College of War
• The Commissioner of Sonnets: a bard chosen to lead the Singing Spires.
• The Commissioner of Trade: a merchant chosen to lead the Counting Houses.
• The Commissioner of Salt: an individual chosen to lead the naval forces of the Republic.
• The Commissioner of Public Works: an individual chosen to lead the building and prosperity of the nation.
• The Commissioner of Silence: an individual, it is said, who protects the realm using the secret service of the Republic. Note, also, that Tarn is said to have its own secret lantanas, and that they are answerable to the Silent Commissioner. Some orders, commissioners and organisations also have their own lantana, and it is one of the many ways that politics is conducted in the Republic. Lantanas are either public (the political lantanas / parties), or secret.
• The Commissioner of the Senate: an individual who tends to the needs of the Senate and oversees elections.
• The Commissioner for Justice: the individual in charge of the laws of the land.
• The Commissioner of Accords: the individual who is in charge of foreign relations between the Republic and the rest of the Realms in Torthe.
• The Ruling Commissioners: each city or county has a noble house that has traditionally led the city or county. These are, as a formality, appointed again every five years. This was the Great Compromise made between the nobles and the commons when the rebellion took place. Now, lords can still govern their lands and the cities, but they do so following the plans and approaches set by the Commission and the Senate. It also gives the local populace an ability to hold nobles to account, by reporting them to the High Commissioner. In some areas, the noble house has died out, and an election is held to decide which individual will represent their region or city as Ruling Commissioner for the next five years.

Culture

A note on the word “lantana”:
Lantanas are flowers, which are sacred to both the Republic and the Empire. In the feywild, and in elven lands, they can grow in a thousand times a thousand different colours and variations. As such, the word too can be used in different ways. It can mean a group of people or friends united in a common purpose, it can mean a family, or a House. It can be a secret society, or a political party, or a guild. For humans or other non-elves, it can be hugely confusing to enter an elven realm and hear about the multitude of lantanas, some elves belonging to as many as a hundred lantanas. There are said to be some that form to aid in sewing, knitting or baking as well. In Tarn, lantanas tend to be looser, and less formal, but in Chara lantanas are heavily prescribed and socially restrictive, helping the elves of the Empire follow the traditions they have preserved for millennia.