D. The Freelands
Historical Overview

There is no greater power that the soul answers too, than that of freedom. Without freedom the strength of our voice, our soul is diminished. And when the soul diminishes we will truly die. Do not fall quietly into the long dark! Raise up your voice. For Freedom!                                            
                                                                                                  Garrick Lonthor 620 B.C.

The peninsula located in the southern most region of Shaintar is populated by people from all races who determine who shall govern the lands by a majority consensus. This country is the Freelands and you shall not find rule held sway by nobility nor hereditary,, the sole exception is the position of Overlord in Lanthor. It is a region run entirely on the principles of democracy and free enterprise. Centuries  before the historic Freelands Autonomy Proclaimation was signed in 2734 A.C. the population of the Freelands has held fast to the principles of freedom and democracy. Exploring this region’s  past, one soon discovers why and cannot but help admire their spirit, bravery, courage, and resilience.
When the Age of Darkness arose in 700 B.C., hordes from Shaya’Nor swept overmost of  the lands of Shaintar, enslaving all whom they conquered and killed those who resisted. In 620 B.C. a young slave from those fallen lands emerged as a leader who formed an underground that lead enslaved people to freedom. Garrick Lonthor escaped his brutal masters and led a small band of ex-slaves further south in hopes of escaping the minions of Shaya’Nor. Along the way the small band grew in size as they freed more slaves. A few records surviving from that time show that the band was no more than 400 strong, but somehow, over overwhelming odds to put them down, they survived and fought till they reached the southern peninsula of Shaintar in 617 B.C. It is here, that the group known as “The Line of Light” joined with the few remaining free peoples of Shaintar (refer to my tome titled Journey to Freedom for more information). The Line of Light taught the inhabitants of the Peninsula region how to fight (a form of meditation that allowed one man fight like twenty simply by closing off the mind to all forms of pain). For over 600 years The Line of Light held back the tides of Darkness. The armies of Shaya’Nor never once crossed over the boundary line of Lonewood Forest. 
Once the Age of Hope began there was no longer an overriding need to have a ‘military society’ to defend the tenets of freedom. So in 68 A.C., The Line of Light slowly and  quietly disband. They began settling and setting up townships patrolled and protected by “The Freemen”. The largest of which became Lone Keep which was established sometime in 193 – 203 A.C. It is here, that the people of the Southern Peninsula proclaimed that the region would thereafter be known as the Freelands and an imposing stone edifice was build in 217 A.C. to defend it and its peoples. 
Government leaderships, legislation,  free-trade, merchants, and guilds slowly began to emerge. After centuries of war and plague the Freelands began to prosper. Lanthor becomes the first city-port in 250 A.C. and quickly becomes a major point of sea travel and trade. By 1650 A.C. the population centers  of the Freelands has increased tenfold due in large part because of northern human tribes and ex-slaves fleeing from the rising power of the Kal Empire. They are warmly and openingly accepted into Freelander society. Lanthor continues in it’s growth to become the largest city-state in all of Shaintar in 2010 A.C.   
For many centuries the Freelands grew and all was well. But prosperity does not escape the hand of corruption. In 2200 A.C. the Overlord of Lanthor, known simply as the Red Hand, and his corrupt band of officials began to  drain the coffers to support a lifestyle of opulence. The  populance of the Freelands begin to suffer greatly under his direction. By 2204 A.C., a band of warriors calling themselves the Freelords ride out from Lone Keep. Together with the Lanthorian Rebellion led by Cherrin Wallace they put an end to The Red Hand and the corruption in Lanthor. 
A line is once again drawn in 2441 A.C. This time, The Line of Freedom is declared against the armies of Vol Al’Daya which holds the promise of benevolent rule. Barely a 20th of Al’Daya’s forces the Freelords of Lone Keep declare that they are the sworn protectorates of the lands south of them and that no Ruler shall lay claim to them. Impressed with their courage and bravery, Vol Al’Daya orders his troops to stand down and with Cyria ride out to meet with the Lord Commander of Lone Keep, Herakleion Kanopa. Herakleion and Vol Al’Daya forged a blood bond that became known as the Pledge of the White Shield:
              The Freelands shall always remain so long as the Kingdom of Galea can lift a        
              sword to defend it. And should the Kingdom of Galea ever suffer a time of 
             desperate need they need but call and the Freelords of Lonekeep shall be there       
	 to defend her.
Centuries past and growth continued such that an economic & socio-political climate brought about pressures that had not been formally dealt with. In 2733 A.C., mayors, merchant lords, and guildmasters gathered  in Lanthor to determine the future direction of the Freelands. The Freelands Autonomy Proclaimation was born on 2734 A.C. It formalized the Lanthorian Free Trade Council as the ruling body and the Freelords of Lone Keep as the military & law enforcement branch of the council. But most importantly it proclaimed that the populance of the Freelands stands as a unified nation and shall forever remain free & independent of other nations. And so it stands to this day. 

                                                                                       Jonkeph Skein
                                                                                       Shaintar: Yesteryears and Today