Nation: Free Coalition

The Free Cities, also known as the Free Coalition, is at its core, an organization formed by Archdruid Tylesiam after the formation of the first free city Cymai. The Free Coalition and the city of Cymai were founded years after the Great wars in which the great nations of Damis faced off against each other in a number of lethal battles that killed many more than what it was worth.

## General Information

### Common Symbol

Six hands clasped in the shape of a hexagon over a wide green eye

### Associated Color(s)

* Green
* Blue
* Pink
* Brown

### Goal(s)

* Protect and preserve the Free Cities and nature

## Membership

### Notable Members

* Flora Uma
* Flora Cai
* Flore Oddaius
* Floro Maveli
* Flora Kasvema

## Society

### Politics

The Free Coalition was formed by the archdruid Tylesiam not long after the Great wars which devastated much of the continents of Damis, they formed the city of Cymai around the Elder Tree and invited refugees from the time after the wars to coem and live in their oasis. Due to this, Tylesiam has the majority rule over decisions on behalf of the coalition though she has her five advisors which overlook each of the subsequent main cities that blossomed from the seeds of the Elder Tree who speak on behalf of their citizens. There are other cities besides the main 6, though they are lesser populated and mostly used as pitstops between the cities or small camps outside of the city along the loosely maintained roads.

#### The Six Cities

These cities are the life-blood of the Free Cities Coalition, their social hubs, religious areas, and main sources of food. While they are main cities of the Coalition, they are not the only ones with smaller outlying towns and villages still belonging to the coalition.

**Cymai - Archdruid Tylesiam, Elder Tree:** Cymai, the first free city, home to Archdruid Tylesiam and home to Waver wine.

**Iriden - Flora Uma, Sapling Enas:** Within the Udale cave system, Iriden takes full advantage of its underground flora with the use of mushrooms, raising wurms, and farming sudar vines and rabbits.

**Lorn - Flora Cai, Sapling Dyo:** Deep in the underbelly of Ardhia the city of Lorn is lit primarily by firelight and Glowvines.

**Siam - Flore Oddaius, Sapling Tria:** Located in the dense Mupashi jungle, Siam is the most secluded of the Free Cities and as such is the most difficult to reach; it takes about a moon to get to, primarily due to the thick jungle which disallows the use of carriages or horses.

**Yurdan - Floro Maveli, Sapling Tessera:** Due to the time it takes to scale and descend the mountain, as well as the dangerous along its peaks, it is more difficult to get supplies to the city as well as export items such as Snowdeer and Ice drops.

**Heri'marqa - Flora Kasvema, Sapling Chaar:** The Famed desert city of Heri’marqa, located smack dab in the middle of the Anapat desert in an oasis surrounded by flowy palms and thick green bushes, it is remarked as the most dangerous city to travel to aside from Yurdan, its tundra counterpart.

### Taxes

Taxes are collected every six months by one of the cities Liro', it is often a small and measely amount based off of the each businesses income; for instance a common farmer selling roughly 60 lbs per bushel with each bushel equating to 1 cp per lb (so about 600 to 900 cps per acre) with a standard 40 acre field that farmer would make 240 to 360 gps off their wheat the market, taking off a quater of their profit from coalition claims to their crops (which is counted as part of their tax payments) that farmer would pay a quarter of their total production for the season, an average of 77 gold every 6 months. For Individual paid taxes it is customary for one to pay half of their bi-yearly income divided by 2; so a laborer paid a cumulative 40 gold over the course of 6 months would pay 10 gold to the local Liro's.

While many of the coalitions citizens look down on taxes as part of the downfall of the previous empires and nations of Damis, it is accepted that it is needed for the upkeep of their fairly peaceful and well protected society, and while it may be taken away from them now taxes are often pushed back unto the people through funding festivals, aiding struggling businesses, and promoting trade.

#### Tax Collecting

Once every year, tax collectors travel through the empire, each is typically escorted by a number of guards to ensure there is no chance of robbery. They carry a silver badge-like version of the Free Cities coalition's symbol which is worn around their neck at all times as demanded by their agreement when enter this service. The tax collectors go from city to city collecting the cumulative taxes which are deposited at the local Dicheioprya, or town hall.

## Military

### The Forebearers

The Forebearers are a paramilitary gendarmerie that serves as the core law enforcement of the Free Cities coalition who take stand in all 6 of the major cities, and even in some of the outerlying cities to keep the peace and protect the cities against wild incursions. There are three positions in the Forebearers ranks which are: Rangers (a longbow and quiver of 40 arrows, a monocule of enchancement, a basic dagger), Battle clerics (forest green robes, silver breast and arm plates, a shield, greaves, a helmet, and a basic longsword), Swordsmen (forest green robes, dark brown full leather armor, two basic shortswords or a longsword and buck shield).

### Laws

The severity and thus the punishment of an infraction is typically judged by the cities Flore (for outlying villages the nearest cities flore) or the second in command Liro as given permission by the Flore explicitally. Though there are a few bases which are referenced when attempted to judge exactly what punishment one should recieve, it is important to note that for infractions of lesser severity most are forgiving unless the individual shows no effort to change or grow.

* **Theft:** A fine equal to the worth of the stolen goods.
* **Slavery:** set time of community service equal to the harm caused.
* **Trespassing:** fine of 200 gold.
* **Tax Evasion:** 5-30 days incarceration and/or a fine equal to the worth of taxes evaded.
* **Damage to Property:** 7 days incarceration and a fine equal to the property damaged.
* **Damage to Public Property:** (Dicheioprya, town square statues, etc.), 2 weeks incarceration and a fine twice the worth of the property damaged.
* **Kidnapping:** 2 months incarceration and/or community service time.
* **Assault with Intent to Injure:** 1 month incarceration and/or community service time.
* **Assault with Intent to Kill:** 4 months incarceration and manual labor.
* **Murder:** 4-15 years incarceration, manual labor, and (possibly) public humiliation (i.e. whippings, stocks, etc).
* **Harm of Nature with Ill Intent:** Public humiliation and manual labor.