Hexan Confederacy

> *"For the merchant, even honesty is a financial speculation."*
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The Hexan Confederacy was a human plutocracy established by wealthy traders in the Fifth Age. It was known for its wealth and economic power in the north and most human trade had some form of dealings with the confederacy. It was said by 1023 they rivaled the Holy Kingdom of Ormindreal in terms of economic power, though this was disputed.

### History

#### 723 The Fifth Age

When the human trader Marco De Hyme made a considerable fortune in the area of the Crownswood from the deer antler trade, Vinay Del Hexan was built with the profits and quickly became a major port integral to trade in the north. After half a century as an independent city state the Hexan Confederacy was founded to unite the various merchant lords and guilds that had sprung up in the region. The title ‘Alderman’ was awarded to the most wealthy member of the city and that person was subsequently responsible all major political decisions that affected the fledgling nation. If they failed or another became wealthier, they would be replaced. This happened often in the early years of the Confederacy and this instability led to a slowing of the nations growth.

#### 813-828: The Trinity War

When war broke out in the north, Hexan had to rely on mercenary guilds for protection. With a small defense force to protect its holdings war showed it the fragility of its position and it aggressively began using its massive resources to hire mercenary companies. Whilst these soldiers of fortune defended their interests they began training and outfitting their own standing army.

In the year 815 Fort Duskfront was created and manned with guild fighters loyal to the confederacy in time being replaced with Hexan soldiers. As its army grew it began to disband the paid forces it had relied on for so long and rather than risk the ire of those in command, hired them and offered handsome rewards to any who would join its own ranks.

It remained largely content to continue the war from a position of safety, profiteering from the other combatants need for raw materials and gold. Whatever wealth had been spent to create their army they were said to have recouped from the other nations. When war came to an end, Hexan was able to negotiate a significant increase in its territory, securing its future as a major power in the north.

#### 904-905: Templetons Folly

After a lengthy period of peace the guilds oversaw the ascent of Templeton Senas to the position of Alderman. Considered a shrewd negotiator and keenly analytical man he spied an opportunity in the east to increase the already considerable territory the Hexan had amassed. The dwarven homelands of the Anvil Islands, who had long remained out of the affairs of the continent since the Iron Retreat, seemed to be ripe for the picking and to Senas, precisely what was needed to ultimately challenge the long dominant Ormindreal Kingdom to the south.

Months were spent building the greatest fleet humanity had ever seen and the might of the confederacies resources directed to the endeavor. When it reached its completion the Golden Wind was loaded with soldiers and provisions for the long siege ahead. What followed was the greatest military defeat of the age. The dwarves were not dormant, nor were they defenseless. The fleet was met with weapons most humans had never witnessed first hand and the ships that did make landfall were confronted with great warriors adorned with impenetrable armour. Thousands fell and thousands more were cast into the pale beyond, dragged to their doom by the dangerous waters around the island. The Alderman hung himself from the mast of his flagship, the Golden Deer, sealing the one year war and once again reminding humanity that they were not quite the force they believed themselves to be.

Shortly after this catastrophic event the guilds decided that no longer would one person make decisions for all they had built. They created ‘The Crown’, where the five best and brightest from among them would form a council with the odd number always being able to break ties. These merchant lords would remain the final word on all matters of state until the present day.

### Geography

Benefiting from verdant forests and easy access to the coast the Hexan Confederacy was able to build its fortune off the back off an abundance of natural resources. Since the collapse of the Scarlet Moon Empire in 593 much of the region had been lawless and separated into fiefdoms, the fledgling Knightdom of Tendra were content to develop in the north and when Marco De Hyme chanced upon a silver mine in the Crownswood he invested heavily in the region. The rapid expansion led to deforestation and much of the natural wonders within being eradicated, yet the wealth brought about allowed him to quickly become one of the wealthiest humans alive. Able to take advantage of the relative lack of rule of law he developed a society of traders into a series of guilds, pitting them against each other. As they bickered, they spent money and soon the region was booming. Vinay Del Hexan was the result and it exists now as it did then, a grand collaboration of cultures and ideas.

### Politics

After the removal of the role of Alderman, the Crown was established to ensure a more balanced decision making body. Always five, the members are chosen from the most gifted amongst the nation. Background, family name and past criminality are put aside, if the citizen can contribute to increasing to the wealth of the Hexan then they are a viable candidate. A member of the Crown may only be replaced upon death or by unanimous agreement by the other members. This ensures a degree of cooperation between all members, which in turn leads to the betterment of the nation itself. Though the Crown have the final say, owing to its storied history there exist many guilds within the city, some of which have endured since the nations formation. Wealthy and powerful, these guilds hold much sway at court and can often be found subtly manipulating events to their own ends. Though duplicity and subterfuge are common, great care must be taken. If the actions of any guild are found to affect the overall profit of the Hexan, swift retribution is never far behind.

### Notable Hexans

* Eloïse Gaubert
* Auron Egrant
* Marco De Hyme