Green Republic
Overview
The Green Republic is a coalition of Grassborne human villages bound together by shared traditions, fertile lands, and a council of elected representatives. Their realm lies north of the Shifting Sands, where rivers and meadows nourish fields of grain, orchards, and pastures. To outsiders, the Republic is a beacon of peace, sustainability, and balance with nature. To its people, it is a proud land worth defending with words, spears, or soil-stained hands.
Origins
Centuries ago, the Grassborne villages were fractured, often raided by orcish hordes or torn apart by rivalries. Their survival seemed uncertain until the Pact of Oakshield united them under a single banner. This agreement, sworn in a sacred grove, declared that no village would stand alone against famine, raiders, or war. From this pact was born the Republic, a land where unity and agriculture became the roots of strength.
Culture & Values
The Green Republic prides itself on harmony: harmony with the land, harmony among its people, and harmony with its neighbors. Fields are rotated with care, sacred groves are tended by druids, and harvest festivals are celebrated as holy days. To waste is a sin, to take more than one needs is dishonor, and to poison the earth is a crime.
Though idealistic, the Republic is not naïve. It trains militias in every village and maintains ranger bands along its borders. Its people believe strongly in defense, not conquest, but will fiercely retaliate if threatened.
Government & Politics
The Republic is ruled by the Council of Nine, representatives elected from its largest villages. Decisions are made slowly, with endless debate, but once the council speaks, its people obey. Each village retains a great degree of autonomy, but all pledge loyalty to the Council and the Pact.
The Republic’s diplomacy is respected across the region. It trades grain, timber, and crafted goods to the desert tribes in exchange for salt, rare herbs, sunstone and other goods. Officially, the Republic condemns poaching within the desert—but its efforts to stop it are half-hearted at best, for many wealthy merchants quietly profit from the black market of exotic desert goods.
Military & Defense
The Green Republic has a medium sized standing army, but the main defense force is the militias. Each village raises militias of spearmen, archers, and riders. In war, these militias unite to the standing army under elected generals, forming an army that fights with both discipline and ferocity. Rangers and druids patrol the wilds, ensuring that the Republic’s harmony with nature is preserved—and that enemies who threaten their borders do not live long to regret it.
Relations with Others
Desert Tribes – The Republic maintains strong official diplomacy, trading goods and supplies. Yet its tacit tolerance of poaching strains trust. They maintain a trade village on the border of the desert: The Northern Exchange
Poachers – Publicly condemned, but secretly tolerated. Wealthy merchants often employ poachers, and some even fund Khenan raids when it benefits them.
Appearance & Identity
Grassborne of the Republic are typically lean and clear skin, with clothes dyed in greens, yellows, and earth tones. Farmers wear simple garb, while councilors and merchants favor long tunics embroidered with vine and leaf patterns. Their settlements are built of timber and stone, surrounded by fields, orchards, and sacred groves. Villages often feature central communal halls, where disputes are settled and festivals are held.
Reputation
The Republic is seen as peaceful, fertile, and civilized—a stark contrast to the brutal desert. Yet beneath this pastoral image lies quiet hypocrisy. The Republic’s neighbors see it as a land of smiling diplomats whose hands are never clean, a realm that preaches harmony while profiting from shadows.