Highrock
Highrock is a confederacy of the 7 major city states with the goal of keeping peace among the squabbling noble houses that dominate the continent. Throughout their history, this has been a complicated process and very rarely successful.
Structure
The confederacy of Highrock has existed for over 400 years. The leaders for each city comes every other year in Ghaeldon, and meet at the Conclave. They stay within Conclave for a week and discuss issues and grievances suffered since the last meeting. While this hasn't prevented all conflict by any means, it has diverted many potential wars, or at very least delayed them. The Conclave has the power to penalize its members for violations to the Accords, one of which is marching an army without intent being declared within the Conclave.
Culture
Highfolk are a sturdy and practical people with appreciation for the finer things in life without forgetting what it means to work. They have a strong sense of self and a work ethic of legend.
Split between the continent are Northerners and Southerners, referring to whether they live in the northern or southern half with Dreynar being the dividing line. Northerners see Southerners as soft for choosing the warmer climate and easier trade routes of sea and flatter roads and farming. Southerners see Northerners are hard headed and stubborn.
However, despite these monikers, each side also recognizes the other's qualities as well. Northerners admit that Southerners are clever and worldly while Southerners recognize Northerners toughness and canny survival instincts.
Public Agenda
The Conclave of Highrock's goal is to settle disputes and avoid costly war. Its secondary goal is encourage open avenues for open trade. Each leader brings an entourage of merchant guild leaders to negotiate outside while the leaders debate within. If a leader arrives with only warriors, it is an outward sign that they have no intentions to do any sort of business except for announcing war.
History
Established in 421 by the then Queen of Silvenar, Narrisa Rowan, the first Conclave was held in Ghaeldon at the insistence of its High Lord, Braedon Almera. Sick of constant wars between the city states over minor offenses, Narrisa called all the leaders of the 7 cities to his central city and proposed a peace treaty called the Highrock Accords. After a week of debate, the Accords were ratified and each of the city states has been bound to it ever since.
Since the signing of the Accords, only 12 wars have been waged in more than 4 centuries, and each was also ended within Conclave. City states and their satellite towns have left and returned over the years over petty squabbles, but within a cycle or two, the leaders always recognize the benefits far outweigh the negatives and return.
Demography and Population
Highrock has a very wide range of population. Like everywhere else, humans are the dominant species, around 65%. Dwarves are the next largest demographic, representing around 15%. The other 20% is divided between the other races.
Military
Armies are raised, funded and maintained by each individual city state.
Silvenar warriors are called the Knights in Silver, wielding mithril swords and armor, in honor of their Silver Dragon patron.
Ghaeldon's army are called the Iron Tide and can field more than 50,000 soldiers, by far the largest on the continent.
Iskar has a few Knightly orders, but they are mostly defended by the Warforged that serve the Sorcerers. While numbering only a few thousand, they are a relentless force of war that no one wants to cross.
Technological Level
Highrock's technology level is quite low when compared to Illyria's. They have not embraced education or the art of Artifice the way Illyrians have. Their general technology level is somewhere around pre-industrial revolution.
Religion
The Church of Light and the Creator's House are both welcome to any of the city states. Outsider worship such as archfey is largely ignored. Any form of Fiend Worship or Worship of the Shadow is strictly forbidden throughout all of Highrock, one of the few things everyone agrees on.
Foreign Relations
Highrock has a good relationship of trade with Illyria and Alik'r.
Soletar, on the other hand, has been openly hostile and Highfolk ships are not welcome in their ports. This stems from a sea battle 20 years ago when Soletari and Highfolk ships attacked one another. The reason is still unclear, both sides assert the other started it, but Soletari ship was lost and most of the Highfolk were killed. Ever since, the two sides have been at each other's throats and neither is welcome in the other's ports.
Agriculture & Industry
Highrock focuses on tried and true agriculture and old fashioned trade over that of artifice. They are a pragmatic people more than anything else. Farmland is valuable to both farmers and lords alike, the crops easily sold to locals and traveling peddlers.
Trade & Transport
The Conclave has built highways for trade from bricks that rise a solid 5 feet off the rocky and muddy ground. These are well traveled and the Conclave pays for their maintenance.
The highways aren't the only roads. For every highway, there are 2 or 3 paths called the Old Ways. They're made by traders who either prefer them, claiming they're faster, or they are simply cheap and don't want to pay the highway's taxes, which can be steep in places. They are far more dangerous, however, since the city states don't send soldiers out to patrol these many routes.
Education
Highrock's education is fairly basic. The Church of Light is responsible for teaching children how to read and write as well as a few basic necessities in mathematics. Academies of higher learning are available in some of the city states, allowing for those that can afford it to become further educated.
Pride and Purpose
Founding Date
421
Type
Political, Confederation
Alternative Names
Highfolk
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Within Highrock, a gold piece is called a Star, a silver is called a Moon and a copper is called a Cloud.
Legislative Body
The Conclave makes all major decisions for Highrock as a whole. Each city state is in charge of their own affairs such as seeing to the needs of its people, but when faced with outside threats, the Conclave speaks for all, their decisions are universal and absolute.
Judicial Body
Judicial bodies are the responsibility of each individual city state and varies from place to place.
Executive Body
Executive bodies are the responsibility of each individual city state.
Neighboring Nations
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