Nokland

## Geography

Nokland is about 250,000 km^2 in size. It is mostly covered in broad, rolling hills, sparse groves, flowing rivers and occasional rocky crags and hills. Roads are common too, and while they are underdeveloped, they are well-travelled and trustworthy. Some of the older halflings now where they are in just about every region. Travel is relatively easy given the flatness of the space. The ground is highly fertile and produces some of the best-tasting fruits and wines in all of Perion. Most of the population lives in villages throughout Nokland which are well-spread throughout its hospitable terrain. However, there are three major cities where congregations live, though these are often looked down on by the village dwellers.

## Major Locations

### Stockbridge

Stockbridge is a major coastal city, engaging in free trade with the free cities to the North, as well as to other locations on the West of Perion. They also trade with offscreen continents. This city is home to a large number of traders and as a result, is the cultural hub of Nokland. Particularly, pottery, art and music from the free cities have become popular, and they all spread from here. Stockbridge is the most densely-populated city in Nokland, and the best-developed, being the only location in Nokland with multiple-storey buildings, often being depots and counting houses. The Mayor of Stockbridge is Linras Wildbrook, and elections are held yearly. It is a beautiful city and a prominent holiday destination for nobles wishing to enjoy the warm temperatures. Most villagers are scared to approach for the presence of the big peoples.

Halfling boats are primarily based on those from the Free Cities, though they are smaller and more nimble. They are fond of using triangular sails, and hard wood and decorate them with animals and folktale heroes. Halflings are not especially fond of maritime activity and prefer to sail close to the coast. The same is true for Goldshore.

### Broken Wood

Home to the Stout Halflings, these woods are dense and hard to navigate, though not altogether dangerous. It is the most untamed area of Nokland, and the Stout Halflings live in small, solitary communities throughout the area. Little trade is conducted here, and these individuals rarely leave their holes and hovels. Poisonous plants are prevalent, and only herbal remedies known by Stout Halflings will likely be effective.

### Redgrove

Redgrove is the Capital City of Nokland and home to the government. Governors are elected every two years, and these people are responsible for trade charters, edicts, and judges the few extreme crimes that take place in Nokland. Their responsibilities are fairly limited, given each village in Nokland usually operate by their own traditions, customs and laws.

The Governor, called Pertran Fastpot,  lives in Sunstar Park, a grand and ornately decorated hole extending deep underground, topped by beautifully kept lawns. Redgrove is a lot like Canberra, mainly the people who live here are other government officials and a few others. It is not noticeably more developed than the villages that surround it, aside from the Park.

It is also the centre of Nokland’s limited military forces. These forces train in the Boarhorn Gallery, and are led by the Marshal, elected once every four years by a military cabinet. The Marshal right now is Riclos Cinderfound. The Main road of Nokland that goes through Stockbridge to Goldshore passes through Redgrove, and is one of the best developed in Nokland, and is even cobbled as it passes through Redgrove.

### Goldshore

Goldshore is a trading city located on the South shore of Nokland. It mainly focuses on trade to the nations to the East of Nokland. These are primarily food exports, and not of the quality that are dealt with in Stockbridge. The beaches here are especially beautiful, and a large fishing community exists in the region, while the locals have a strong connection to the water. Despite this, Goldshore is a very underdeveloped region, and the prevalence of sand means their usual underground habitats are not viable. Halfling surface architecture is often ugly and functional compared to their other structures, think of those crappy towns you see in Westerns. The mayor is Riyas Greenmane.

Teamsters and drivers arrive daily with the harvests of their village and is mainly used by local villages to sell their excess. This is shipped to various places across Perion. It is less of a tourist destination and the locals are not viewed kindly for their surface-dwelling habits. Still, this port is a major prop for the economy of Nokland.

## Government

Most of this is delineated in Redgrove.  Governors are elected every two years, and these people are responsible for trade charters, edicts, and judges the few extreme crimes that take place in Nokland. Their responsibilities are fairly limited, given each village in Nokland usually operates by their own traditions, customs and laws.

The Governor, called Pertran Fastpot,  lives in Sunstar Park, a grand and ornately decorated hole extending deep underground, topped by beautifully kept lawns.

The Governor is assisted by the Deftstream Cabinet, which is made of 7 halflings, all over the age of a hundred. These seven assist in matters of agriculture, ceremony, coin, diplomacy, travel, justice and the marshall also has a place in the cabinet. These positions are usually held until death, and the governor is required to take their opinions into account. They rely on the support of the cabinet to enact their edicts, so there exists a power balance between the two.

## Foreign Policy

Nokland foreign policy is genial and non-hostile. Other nations tend to look down on them, which the Halflings don’t especially mind. Their focus tends to be on trading operations. Nokland is usually willing to go along with most proposals, though they steadfastly oppose the generation of outside influence within Nokland; their own independence and way of life are valuable to them. Diplomatic envoys travel, usually accompanied by the Governor themself, to various friendly governments by land or sea.

## Military

The military of Nokland doubles as a police force. The last time it was called to action was when wolves invaded the Broken Wood. It is dispersed to various villages in rare cases of crime and civil unrest, though usually it remains stationed at Redgrove. These forces train in the Boarhorn Gallery, and are led by the Marshal, elected once every four years by a military cabinet. The Marshal right now is Riclos Cinderfound.

Halfling warriors are footmen and wield shortswords and cudgels. This footforce is assisted by trained crossbowmen. Additionally, several knights trained to fight on ponies lead and train the footsoldiers. These are usually relatives of the members of the Deftstream Cabinet.

## Trade

Nokland trade is organised around many small ports, though most trade is dictated by Stockbridge and Goldshore. Stockbridge exchanges with the West coast of Perion trading cultural artefacts, paintings tapestries, for the finest produce from Nokland. It is also the most inter-cultural place in Nokland, and most foreigners are welcomed there, though not necessarily in the more secluded villages. Wine, fruits, songs, pastes, jams and others are traded from here in exchange for jewels, paintings, art, expertise and ships.

Goldshore is primarily a food export zone. Nokland’s fertile lands make it suitable to provide food for nations in harsher terrains. The more weathered Hafling sailors undertake these routes, and often secure for themselves fabrics hard to come by in Nokland, as well as rare metals that are rare in Nokland.

## Society

Nokland is divided into many villages of loose communities. Family ties and grudges go back generations, as well as land and other properties. Professions are often inherited from parents, and many work as farmers, gardeners, winemakers, tavern owners, servants, animal herders, and teamsters. The halflings are kind and welcoming folk, though are afraid of the big people and don’t want outside influence in their lands.