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Largest City

Arcanopolis

Population


The Free Cities is a cultural region in western Yekare, hugging the coast of the continent. Many of the Free Cities source their cultural origin to the Kardunashi Sea Empire, which created the Kaduir culture, syncretizing native Yekari and Kardunashi culture. However, there are also free cities located further East which were not conquered by Kardunash, whose people are called the Notoshi. Additionally, the city of Meradarath stands uniquely alone amongst the Free Cities as a descendant of the Deshenite Kingdom, inhabited by the linguistically and culturally distinct Meradareen people. For many millennia, the Free Cities were governed as various city-states, small empires, petty kingdoms, confederations, and international leagues until their conquest by Pelegon I (with the notable exception of Meradarath).

Under Pelegonic rule, the Free Cities retain some of their pre-Conquest political system, though the institutions have been greatly converted to a more feudal model. In the place of the petty kings and elected leaders are feudal lords, sometimes families of former petty kings and sometimes minor men raised to status due to allegiance to the Conqueror. Many of the cities which had elected governing councils have retained these however, and the influence and reach of these bodies varies by city. Some cities have incredibly strong and influential councils, while other councils are comprised of nobles or puppets of the ruling lord. This complicated political situation has been the cause of intense strife and conflict, but also serves to ensure the feudal lords and councils are not powerful enough to directly challenge the Shah.

Third Age

The Free Cities are a region on the western coast of Yekare comprised of several independent city-states, most of which were founded as Kardunashi colonies. Similarly to the Riverlands, the Free Cities are politically disunited and frequently squabble with one another. However, unlike the River Kingdoms, the Free Cities are far more stable and "lawful" in their governance. The cities are predominantly governed as oligarchic republics or hereditary constitutional monarchies.


Fourth Age

The Free Cities were the first region conquered in the Pelegonic Conquest (though Meradarath retained its independence) and they form the cultural, economic, and political heart of the Empire. The Imperial Domain is located in the former Free Cities. The term today is used as a cultural designation. The majority of the Empire's political class come from the Notoshi and Kaduir peoples. The irony that the region called "Free Cities" is where Imperial rule is the strongest has not been lost on writers and comics over the centuries.