The Republic

For the people, by the people, of the people.

 Republican motto

For thousands of years, after the fall of the Dragon Empire, the plains of what is now the Republic were populated by flesh-eating barbarians. It was, by and large, regarded by the other nations of Kounark as a waste of time. While there were plenty of natural resources to gain by invading the area, it would simply require way too much time and men to take control off.

Then around 3700 something happened down south. The tribe called the Headhunters began winning many wars, and began assimilating the tribes they had beaten, something which had never happened previously. In less than 20 years, the Headhunters' control of what would become the Republic was absolute.

For some years, the area had no official name. It remained behind the Wall of Gemnos, and there was no trade in nor out. Outsiders were put to the sword as soon as they set foot on the ground.

Then, in 4359, the Republic was founded an everything changed. Towns and cities had been built, and the old tribal flesh-eating ways had disappeared. The Republic was based on an idea that no one was worth more than others, that people should work for the common good. The State owned everything and shared everything with it's inhabitants.

A complicated system of votes had also been created, so that every two years, 13 people (one from each region) would be chosen by all adults of that region to represent them at the Senate, the ruling body of the Republic.

The first decision of the first Senate was to outlaw all magic. Also called the First Law, it condemns anyone using magic to the death. The logic behind this decision was that magic sets people above others, that magic cheats people, and that such behavior was to be avoided.

The First Law is extremely popular in the Republic, as even though they have cast aside their ancient ways, the people of the land still descend from tribes that were very vary of magic. But naturally, a law like that was thought of as a provocation by the nation of warlocks to the north, Bael Turath.

From 4694 to 4853 Bael Turath and the Republic fought a number of wars. Mostly Bael Turath was the aggressor, but not every time. After a 150 years of wars, the warlocks had managed to capture the north-westernmost part of the Republic.

And the Republic seemed happy enough to just keep the rest of their land. While the situation was and still is tense along the border, and that there are frequent skirmishes, it seems they do not plan on taking the land back. In general, they had not expanded at all. At least until 5484, when they launched an attack across the sea and captured two significant areas of Pyrrak, one to the northwest of Drakolyz, one to the northeast. After about 10 years of war, a peace was reached, and the land now belonged to the Republic. All spellcasters promptly left or were executed.