Twin Flags
Built on stilts in a widened section of Havasar River, Twin Flags is a neutral town between Kaleina and Falla.
The two nations have a tense history and poor diplomatic relations. The lake around Twin Flags was established at the end of the First Fallan War as a neutral buffer zone, and diplomatic talks between the nations occur in Twin Flags, officially separate from either nation.
Beyond politics, the town is also a trade hub. With relations between the countries always teetering on the bring of hostilities, neither country is keen to let many traders cross their borders. Too often, those traders turn out to be spies. The current set up is for international trade to occur only in Twin Flags, and then Kaleinen merchants take the Fallan goods back into Kaleina, and vice versa.
Demographics
Twin Flags' population grows and falls with the seasons. In the summer, when the rivers are navigable and traders come and go from both nations, the population hovers around 1,000. In the winter, when the waterways have turned to ice and the river is too dangerous to navigate on foot, the local, permanent population of around 500 remains stable.
The population is roughly equally split between Taalites and Vaunens. Twin Flags was settled by residents of both countries around 100 years ago, who maintained citizenship in their home country. Citizenship is passed down today by a person's father, and citizens of either country are allowed to move back to the main nation.
The Taalish residents are predominantly Keitist, while the Vaunens are predominantly traditional followers of the Old Religion
Government
Twin Flags' has a local council, elected by residents. It consists of 10 people - 5 from Fall, and 5 from Kaleina. Those of Kaleinen citizenship vote for the Kaleinen representatives, and vice verse.
Additionally, the official leaders of Twin Flags are the co-magistrates appointed by each parent country. They are rarely local residents, and are focused on keeping Twin Flags as a useful and financially prosperous asset to their home countries, rather than caring for the day to day lives of local residents, which is the domain of the council.
There is a long-running desire in a small but dedicated segment of the population to break away from both countries and become an independent city state, but their population is far too small for this to ever be feasible.
Founding Date
628
Type
Town
Population
500
Inhabitant Demonym
Twin Flagger