Tabard

Tabard is an oligarchic republic situation in the fertile marshes in the north-west. It is populated by local tribes and foreign settlers, the latter having founded the city of Tabard. An uneasy cooperation between the foreign Teklion and local Haaklanders has been established to further trade and increase wealth.

History:
When Teklion settlers first arrived in the bay of Tabard they quickly founded a settlement they called Tabard (surprise). This urged the warlike Haaklanders to respond with military force but their initial force was fought back by the better equipped Teklion. A peace treaty was quickly put up giving Haaklanders the opportunity to settle in Tabard as well, enabling the population of the city to grow immensely. Overtime, two other tactically placed settlements were founded, Damamst and Utrond. During this time many Haaklander tribes around the coast were pacified and became increasingly mercantile, leaving their warrior ways behind.

In the year zero Polleander and 2 others (Tenlon and Belion) were elected as Igetos, the highest office a citizen of Tabard can hold. Polleander has established himself as a successful administrator and orator and quickly became a primus inter pares among the Igetos, practically ruling the state himself. He has announced some very ambitious plans to expand both territorially and mercantilely, especially the goal to become the 'Breadbasket of the North' is Polleander's primary goal.

Culture
The Tabardans are split between two ethnical groups, the Teklion and Haaklanders. Yet a new, mixed culture is slowly establishing itself in the capital.

Teklion
The Teklion arrived from the south. (where exactly is not known although some historians have suggested that they may have originated from the Trinsulae island nation.) They are a proud and hierarchical people with a sense of business. As a result they live in oligarchic societies where status is determined by wealth and family. Teklion value arts as theatre and rhetoric and wealthy aristocratic children get thought all about these arts by professional educators. Yet above all Teklion value independence and freedom, giving them a certain nationalistic zeal which drives their nation forward.

Haaklanders
The Haaklanders are the local inhabitants of the region and they live in tribal, semi-democratic, and martial societies. A traditional Haaklander society was ruled by a warrior caste and martial prowess was the highest esteemed value. The many different tribes fought each other for both land and prestige and they are still fractured. Recently, however, the more coastal tribes have seen a culture shift where traders have become very important. In these tribes the warrior class shares power with this newly emerged merchant class.

Tabardans
In the city of Tabard ethnically Teklion and Haaklanders have formed a partly combined culture revolving around trade and wealth. Tolerant policies on account of the Teklion has allowed Haaklanders to become an essential part of the city's economy, yet they are still barred from holding the highest office. The graintrade dominates daily life and Polleander has expressed the desire to become the 'breadbasket of the north'.

Politics
Tabard is a oligarchic republic ruled by a merchant class organized in the Partaria. This Partaria has 200 male members from the most influential families in the city, both Teklion as Haaklander, although traditionally the most seats are held by the Teklion. The Partaria is in charge of daily rule and deals with issues such as the city's squalor to raising or lowering import tariffs. Foreign policy is mostly determined by the Builandon, a council conssiting of 10 members. 3 of these members are from the navy, 2 from the army, 3 represent the Teklion in the Partaria and 2 represent the Haaklander minority in the Partaria (note that Haaklanders cannot become officers in both the navy and army). Lastly, there is an overarching authority in the form of the 3 Igetos. These 3 men host the Partaria and oversee the Builandon. They have the power to veto resolutions in the former and can declare war with green light from the latter, giving these men an extreme amount of power. Naturally this office is barred from Haaklanders.

On top of this system the many Haaklander tribes still living in territory of the republic have many different systems themselves. Most of them revolving around the merchant and warrior classes in a semi-democratic system giving limited power to all members of the tribe.