History
The peninsula that makes up the southern-most region on the main continent is known as the Freelands, and it is probably (by most standards in this world) one of the strangest places in all of Shaintar. It is not a kingdom. In fact, there is no central ruling body, at least none that is recognizable as such by other kingdoms' standards. In fact, the only thing that establishes the Freelands as a region at all is that it is recognized as such by the Kingdom of Galea, the Landra'Feya, Mindoth's Tower, and most other smaller governments.
The Freelands are populated by people who long ago determined that their rulers would be chosen by consensus; that democracy was the means to govern fairly. The Freelands are mostly populated by people (of all races) that long ago escaped the bonds of the Empire, long before the Great Exodus. They consisted mostly of escaped slaves and tribes fleeing the initial oppression of the Warlords. Individual villages and towns came together by mutual consent, and mayors and other leaders stepped forward and led by the consensus of their peers. Thus, early on in the history of the Freelands, the concept of nobility was tossed out. That is the primary element of Freelander society that most astonishes other lands.
Over time, the various independent communities established extensive trade relations. The lack of a need for mutual defense provided early emphasis on economic efforts. There were very few in the Freelands who sought to utilize aggressive policies; the horror of the Empire left an indelible mark on the collective psyche of the Freelanders. In the few instances where robber barons or would-be warlords rose up, the various communities sent forth their best warriors and heroes to put the aggressors down with ruthless dispatch; this practice led to the formation of the Freelords of Lone Keep, as these heroes began to meet regularly at Lone Keep to practice, share adventures, and work together for the mutual benefit of the realm.
Over time, as the trade relations amongst the various communities grew into full-fledged guilds and associations, a kind of de facto government formed to regulate merchant interactions and establish fair practices for all. Status became a matter of who could best assert themselves within the guilds and local governments. Political and economic savvy replaced noble birth as the means for rule and influence. Ultimately, many of the town leaders and guildmasters met in Lanthor in 2734 to decide the direction and goals of their people. Out of that gathering came the Freelands Autonomy Proclamation, a document stating the intent of the people of the Freelands to maintain their democratic way of life.
Eventually forces from outside of the Freelands attempted various raids and even full-scale invasions of the region. The Lanthorian Free Trade Council, an association of the leaders of the most influential guild masters, sought to protect the sovereignty of the Freelands by establishing the Freelords as the official military of the Freelands. To this day, Lone Keep enjoys substantial subsidiaries from the Council to protect all of the Freelands and act as a kind of constabulary. However, the Freelords are fully autonomous and will not bow to the wishes of corrupt politicians. They are believed to be one of the most honorable establishments in all of Shaintar.