Andoran
Alignment: NG
Capital: Almas
Government: People’s Council and Supreme Elect
Capital: Almas
Government: People’s Council and Supreme Elect
Overview & Ethos
Andoran is the Inner Sea’s boldest experiment in democracy: a republic built by rebellion against monarchs and devils alike. Its guiding ideal—Common Rule—declares that power comes from the consent of the governed. Freedom, trade, and vigilant defense of liberty define both its foreign policy and its culture. Once a Taldan and later Chelish province, Andoran now stands as a beacon of self-determination that terrifies entrenched aristocracies across Avistan.Almas — Capital of Liberty
A sprawling port metropolis on three rivers (Tamuth, Kernite, Moulton) just before they join the Andoshen and empty into the sea, Almas is the ideological and logistical heart of Andoran. Key Districts & Sites:- Field of Concord: Civic heart, lined with statues and gardens celebrating freedom; home to the Palace of the People’s Council.
- Golden Aerie: Citadel of the Eagle Knights topped by Talmandor’s gilded statue.
- Citadel of the Supreme Elect: Executive seat and guarded compound.
- Golden Cathedral: Once Aroden’s temple, now a civic library and forum for Common Rule.
- Almas University: Renowned for law, politics, and philosophy.
- Portside & Liberty Districts: Commercial lifeblood; docks, artisan guilds, and diverse enclaves of immigrants.
Notable Figures
- Supreme Elect Andira Marusek: General and commander of the Steel Falcons.
- General Reginald Cormoth: Lord of the Golden Aerie and commander of the Eagle Knights.
- Bishop Darius Silvershoe: Grand Bishop of Almas and key voice for Abadar’s faith.
- Commander Jhonn Bleys: Half-elf ranger commanding city guard and militias.
- Felandriel Morgethai: Elven provost of Almas University, influential in magical and philosophical circles.
History
- Taldan Roots & Expansion: Almas began as a Taldan logging colony at the mouth of the Andoshen River, fueling imperial wealth and infrastructure.
- Chelish Control: Following the Even-Tongued Conquest, Cheliax installed garrisons, strengthened fortifications, and exploited Andoran’s resources until revolution brewed.
- The People’s Revolt (4669 AR): Merchants, farmers, and dissident nobles cast off Chelish rule, abolished slavery, and declared a republic.
- Consolidation: The Associative Act created the People’s Council and Supreme Elect, while the Eagle Knights were repurposed from royal enforcers to defenders of liberty.
- Modern Era: Andoran has since fended off embargoes (notably defeating a Chelish fleet in 4689 AR), aided neighbors during crises like the Goblinblood Wars, and exported its ideals abroad.
Demography and Population
- Population: ~3 million (Almas 76,600)
- Demographics: Diverse and cosmopolitan—~73% human with sizable halfling, dwarf, elf, half-orc, and gnome populations.
Territories
Andoran occupies a broad stretch of Avistan’s southwestern coast, wedged between the ancient empires of Cheliax to the south and Taldor to the east, with the Inner Sea forming its long western frontier. Its northern border blends into the Verduran Forest and the Arthfell’s broken woodland, while to the south, the Aspodell Mountains and the Hellmouth Gulf mark a natural divide from Cheliax. The republic’s heartlands run along the fertile Andoshen River basin, where the great port cities of Almas and Augustana command deepwater harbors and secure trade routes. Inland lie resource-rich regions, such as Darkmoon Vale, renowned for its timber and minerals, and the Carpenden Plains, a major agricultural hub. Historically, Andoran’s control grew from these coastal settlements and logging colonies, expanding east to claim the uplands and river valleys that were once under Taldan and Chelish administration. Today, its borders are well-defined but watchful. Cheliax still disputes the southern line, and the wilderness to the north remains lightly patrolled, making it a frontier for prospectors, druids, and fey. Despite this, the republic’s navy and the Gray Corsairs maintain dominance over its coastal waters, ensuring Andoran’s independence and its access to the Inner Sea’s trade lanes.
Military
Andoran’s military strength rests on the Eagle Knights, a national order that blends army, navy, and intelligence services into a single symbol of republican might. The Golden Legion forms the standing army, disciplined infantry, and cavalry trained to defend Andoran’s borders and maintain order during crises. The Steel Falcons act abroad as liberators and anti-slavery crusaders, striking slavers and tyrants while spreading the ideals of Common Rule. The Twilight Talons operate as covert intelligence and counter-espionage, disrupting enemy plots and rooting out corruption at home. At sea, the feared Gray Corsairs patrol the Inner Sea, protecting merchant fleets and hunting pirates and slave ships. These forces are supported locally by the city guard and militias, most notably in Almas under Commander Jhonn Bleys, and by well-fortified coastal cities like Augustana. While small compared to imperial legions, Andoran’s military emphasizes agility, superior morale, and swift naval deployment, making it a highly effective defender of trade routes and the nation’s hard-won liberty.
Technological Level
Andoran embraces practical, democratized technology as a natural extension of its egalitarian ideals. Unlike monarchies, where devices signal status, in Andoran, any citizen may purchase and use technological conveniences—such as clocks and indoor plumbing — to the simple automata—without fear of social reprisal. This culture of accessibility has made standard tools more affordable and widespread than in Taldor or Cheliax, while luxury contraptions for idle display are rare and frowned upon. Government support plays a significant role: the state funds printing presses that typically produce legal codes and records, but are lent out during elections, allowing even poor candidates to print campaign literature at a low cost. The same democratic impulse fuels grants and loans for inventors and natural philosophers, particularly if their innovations promise to advance commerce or civic life. Paper production and printing have flourished, replacing parchment in most sectors and enabling a literate, informed populace. Other practical advances—especially eyeglasses, widely subsidized for critical trades—enhance productivity across various crafts and scholarly pursuits. Together, these policies have created a culture where invention is tied directly to public good, making Andoran a hub of affordable, pragmatic innovation rather than aristocratic excess.
Religion
Andoran’s faith is deeply shaped by its ideals of freedom, community, and personal responsibility. No single church rules the republic; instead, a diverse but cooperative religious landscape thrives under the principles of Common Rule. The most influential faiths are those of Iomedae, whose paladins inspire civic virtue and defense of liberty, and Abadar, whose priests guide commerce and integration for newcomers while shaping the republic’s banking and legal codes. Rural communities often follow Erastil, blending self-reliance with communal stewardship, while Cayden Cailean’s easygoing creed resonates with sailors, adventurers, and common folk celebrating independence. Minor but tolerated faiths of Desna, Shelyn, and Gozreh echo Andoran’s love of exploration and natural bounty. The once-dominant church of Aroden survives in memory and architecture, repurposed into civic spaces, such as the Golden Cathedral. Religious tolerance is a national point of pride, but cults tied to tyranny, slavery, or diabolism are hunted relentlessly by the Eagle Knights, who see such worship as an existential threat to the republic’s soul.
Foreign Relations
Andoran’s defiant independence and anti-slavery zeal shape a complex web of alliances and enmities. Its most enduring rival remains Cheliax, whose nobility views the republic as a rebellious experiment that threatens their imperial order; border tensions and covert sabotage are constant. Taldor, Andoran’s former parent empire, alternates between cool diplomacy and resentment over lost territory. By contrast, Andoran courts economic and naval partnerships with Absalom and Osirion, trading security for access to global markets. Its Gray Corsairs routinely strike at slave ships from Katapesh and the Shackles, earning both grudging respect and pirate hostility. Across Avistan, revolutionary states like Galt and distant Arcadian colonies admire Andoran’s ideology but sometimes find its pragmatism disappointing. Despite its bold ideals, the republic remains cautious in maintaining profitable trade networks and naval deterrence, striking a balance between moral crusades and the need to safeguard its merchant fleets and ensure the viability of its democratic experiment.
Agriculture & Industry
Andoran’s economy thrives on free trade, natural abundance, and merchant innovation, making it one of the Inner Sea’s most dynamic markets. The nation’s vast timber industry—long its economic foundation—feeds shipbuilding, furniture, and dye production, with merchant dynasties like House Naran exporting fine hardwoods, bark-based pigments, wax, and almonds. Rich mineral deposits in Darkmoon Vale supply gold, silver, and especially alum, a chemical vital to textiles, glassmaking, and tanning, fiercely protected from pirates by the Gray Corsairs. The powerful banking families of Houses Goldfield and Vaylen finance trade ventures and colonial expeditions, while controlling the flow of precious metals and rare antiquities. Coastal cities like Almas and Augustana serve as major shipping hubs, sending goods across Avistan and Garund and importing foreign luxuries that feed a growing middle class. Arts, rope-making, sail-crafting, and leatherworking also flourish, reflecting the republic’s independence from noble monopolies and its emphasis on free enterprise. Though the Lumber Consortium still wields influence, Andoran’s open markets and protective navy make it a beacon for entrepreneurs and a vital artery in Inner Sea commerce.
Education
Education in Andoran is both accessible and ideologically charged, reflecting the nation’s belief that an informed citizenry safeguards liberty. Almas University, a prestigious ivy-clad institution in the capital, anchors this system. While highly competitive and costly to attend, it attracts students from across Avistan for its rigorous programs in law, politics, modern philosophy, history, and even renowned zoology studies under the guidance of Provost Felandriel Morgethai. Beyond the university, a network of public schools sponsored by Almas University operates throughout the republic; though attendance is not compulsory, nearly every child receives basic instruction. These schools emphasize literacy, civic awareness, and the study of Andoran’s founding documents, ensuring that even farmers and tradesfolk grow up able to engage in governance and public debate. This broad educational reach has fueled a culture of travel, innovation, and social mobility, with citizens frequently journeying to other provinces to study, debate, and share ideas. The result is a population both literate and politically active, proud of its capacity to maintain the democratic experiment through knowledge and reason.
Birthplace of Freedom
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Government System
Democracy, Direct
Legislative Body
Government
Andoran’s government is bicameral yet populist:- Supreme Elect: Directly chosen by the people every four years, serving as head of state and also mayor of Almas. The current officeholder, Andira Marusek, has been the elected leader of Andoran and its People's Council since 4716 AR. Before entering politics, she was a general and commander of the Steel Falcons, the branch of the Andoren Eagle Knights tasked with fighting slavery and tyranny throughout the Inner Sea region.
- People’s Council: Hundreds of elected representatives debate laws and treaties in the Palace of the People’s Council, a grand amphitheater-lined palace on the Field of Concord.
- Checks & Civic Culture: Though still young, Andoran enforces open deliberation, accountability, and a sharp disdain for hereditary privilege.
