Kimnan Autonomy

They take the whole concept a bit too far. Autonomy from the Empire is good and all, but why must you do the same towards one another?

The Kimnan Autonomy is not really a nation the way we are used to, although it is legally recognised as one. Not just Kimnan either, despite the first part of its name. And it is more independent than autonomous, so there goes the second part as well. So why is it still called that, and what even is it?
To put it short, the Kimnan Autonomy is the name of a quasi-regulated way in which people chose to live in the Borderlands. They are generally welcoming to anyone who wants to start a new life, and often choose to move on after some time. The temporary nature of many locals, and entire settlements in fact, makes it hard to built anything permanent to unite them all. And frankly, most Kimnans would not want to even if they could.

Structure

The Borderlands are home to countless villages and hamlets, as well as travelling groups of people. They are friendly with each other and actively trade between themselves and with the Ardenian Empire at large. However, they are rarely built on familial relationships or etchnicity. Instead, each settlement or group is a community of kindred spirits. They share the same goals and interests, which means they very rarely get into conflicts with each other. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Of course, sometimes things happen that are outside of control of any single community. Incursion of monsters from the Forbidden Forest, or a conflict - either internal or external. What happens then? I am still not entirely sure, but it seems these local communities are always a part of larger communities known as "hirru". Their reach extending far beyond the Borderlands and still considering themselves a part of the Kimnan Autonomy, members of the same "hirru" are always willing to help one another.

History

The region was granted vast rights of self-rule and financial autonomy within the Ardenian Empire centuries ago. At the time, it was inhabited almost exclusively by Kimnans, as the only ones adventurous enough to choose such a place to live. So the name stuck, even making it all into the official documents with time.
The Kimnan Autonomy existed unnoticed by most until the Eirish-Ardenian Wars. With the Ardenian Empire bleeding money and soldiers the long the war went on, the emperor looked to filling up his dwindling coffers. Turns out, trying to price-gouge the Kimnan Autonomy for food and demanding taxes from them might not have been the smartest idea. Especially when your punitive armies do not last long in the Borderlands without the locals' support. In a matter of years the empire was forced to withdraw and cede even nominal authority over the region.