Brassarian republics

The Brassarian Republics (often shortened to the Brass Republics, alternatively The Republics of Brass) are a collection of nations centered on the Brass coast, the ??? Archipelago and the Pine isles. Each nation has its own chamber, called a Cavetta where representatives of powerful families, estates, guilds, land owners and other organizations gather to debate and discuss. The individual islands each have a unique set of laws and regulations that apply to anyone that sets foot on its soil or sails on a ship under its banner.

This can be quite confusing for any visitors to the islands - famously polygamy is legal and practiced on the island of ???, but represents a grave crime one island over. This is not seen as odd by the residents of the republics - they believe that each community, i.e. island, should be able to decide for themselves what they will permit and what they will forbid. Each person is not only allowed but encouraged to question the principals which their community/island follows. This has led to great flexibility and adaptability of each island and the Republics as a whole, allowing them to survive and thrive over the centuries.

Individuals can move freely between the islands and settle within the community that best suits their own personal morals, goals, aspirations, etc. though there are certain restrictions. For example, owning property on a non-native island is more complex - once land is bought, it is only considered held by the non-native resident until they have lived on it for at least 25 years, at which point the transfer of ownership is complete. People can also marry residents of any of the other islands, but the marriage must follow the rules of the islands they choose the settle on (some islands do not even have marriage as a legal form).

All the laws that each of the Cavetta creates must follow the Brass Concordat - the agreement that unified the republics centuries ago - and laws of the Grand Velthane - the decision making body of all of the republics. The powers and jurisdictions are enumerated in detail within the Concordat; the Grand Velthane is chiefly responsible for foreign relations, which include diplomacy, trade, war and defense from foreign enemies. It's other main area of regulation is inter-island relations, such as the aforementioned rules of owning property. Each of the islands, through their Cavetta, sends a representative that receives instructions on how to vote and which stance to take. Debate and discussion are considered of utmost importance in Brassarian culture.

They are primarily a mercantile people preferring to trade and use diplomacy than to fight in outright war. They are expert sailors and their ship-making is considered on par with the Elawen and ahead of the Sarthians, who often commission Brassarian ship makers to create capital ships for them. They are also renowned for their banks and expertise in coin.

They see themselves as pragmatic, shrewd and masters of all things financial and economic. The Empire sees them as a useful trading partner (when not at war with the Arlonian Union) but are weary of their intent at all times, seeing them as manipulators who always have a hidden plan. Xafians prefer not to deal with them unless they must due to the Brassarian need for "useless talk". The Elawen of the Diarchy see them as a primary rival, while the Do'Rau maintain cordial relations. Sarth sees them as a useful ally but a potential threat that must be kept in check.