Helvandrian League

The Helvandrian League is a confederation of numerous small states (principalities, duchies and earldoms, archonates, city-states, and a few temple-states) located in eastern Rhydain, centered around the Taefemach region and the Helvander river, from which the League takes its name. It originated as a trading league to facilitate the free flow of commerce up and down the Helvander in the chaotic days after the collapse of the Asgali Empire, a time when river pirates and robber-barons were commonplace. In the centuries since it has grown into a more tight-knit union, albeit one in which individual states still have a good deal of autonomy.

The nominal head of the League is its Prince-Palatine (so-called since his formal seat is the Palace of Concord in the city of Hakoris), whom the rulers of the League states elect from among themselves. The rulers of these League states are thus collectively referred to as Electors, or sometimes palatine-electors or elector peers. The actual power of the Prince-Palatine varies considerably depending on his personal qualities and the complex internal politics of the League. A strong Palatine may outmaneuver his rivals and exercise a great deal of direct control over the League as a whole, but a weak one may be marginalized by an opposing faction and reduced to an almost purely ceremonial station.

Membership in the League, the rights and obligations attendant thereto, and the basic laws governing its functioning, the interactions of member states, the election of the Prince-Palatine, etc. are laid out in the Grand Charter of the League. The rulers of member states each swear a solemn oath to obey and abide by this law. The Prince-Palatine is theoretically superior in rank to them but is not their overlord; they are not vassals to him. Instead, the law of the Grand Charter is what binds member states, and disobedience to that law will (in theory...) bring collective sanction from the other members.

After Hakoris, the most important city in the League is Torrune, which lies on the Helvander near the center of League lands, and controls the crucial portage routes where trade goods are moved around the cataracts between the upper and lower parts of the river. Torrune is actually the largest city in the League (and probably the second-largest in all of Rhydain, after Kuzulnizam), although Hakoris is unquestionably richer and more splendid.

The full-fledged League member states (i.e. those whose rulers hold the rank of palatine Electors) are:

* Amhadis
* Aultremar
* Baltusraal
* Barazant
* Bersilak
* Braath
* Ceregar
* Charagma
* Eastmarek
* Echevaria
* Garamont
* Gurrad
* High Krovaax
* Huareb
* Karnasos
* Kobargho
* Low Krovaax
* Lower Bisarea
* Lucidar
* Lutamiron
* Meniri
* Miarkos
* Middlemarek
* North Kyrusia
* Ourania
* Pirreon
* Rhanamul
* Skola
* South Kyrusia
* Stavlos
* Thranos
* Toraja
* Tourmaleine
* Torrune
* Vauran
* Vholand
* Westcarsk
* Westmarek
* Yenris

In addition, the League includes a smaller number of cities and territories which are not full-fledged members (i.e., their rulers do not hold the rank of palatine electors). These are divided into Palatine Cities, Chartered Free Cities, and Palatine Protectorates.

Palatine Cities are, in principle, under the direct personal rule of the Prince-Palatine. In practice, he usually appoints an official with the title of consul to govern them in his name. They are not permitted to impose their own taxes on trade as do regular League member states, but neither are they responsible for providing for their own defense, or for the maintenance of certain public works such as bridges and mills. The Prince-Palatine instead levies his own taxes on these cities and the trade flowing through them, which provide part of the Palatinate's revenue stream. Correspondingly, he is also directly responsible for their protection and the upkeep of their public works. Hakoris, the seat of the Prince-Palatine, is obviously the most prominent of the Palatine Cities, and in fact the taxes levied on its great flow of maritime trade make up the majority of the Palatinate's income. The others are:

* Bruzzail
* Machira
* Qyrsh
* Bain-Sarron
* Falkrenport

Chartered Free Cities (often simply called Chartered Cities or Free Cities) are permitted to govern themselves despite their lack of electoral rights, and may levy trade taxes just like full-fledged League members, since they are also responsible for their own defense and the upkeep of public works. They generally have the same rights as full League members except for the fact that their rulers may not play a role in electing the Prince-Palatine. They are:

* Lamasar
* Ulbromod
* Helonne
* Bain-Huran
* Truax
* Sarnash
* Talapos
* Agla
* Lindenstone

Palatine Protectorates are territories which are granted local self-rule somewhat in the manner of a Chartered Free City, but are still under the protection of the Prince-Palatine in the event of foreign invasion or internal strife. They are able to impose certain taxes on their own, but within stricter limits than apply to full-fledged League members. The fact that they are not responsible for their own defense if attacked means they have less need of revenues than full League members. They are also are not permitted to maintain their own men under arms. Three of the League's four Palatine Protectorates are self-governing halfling enclaves and the fourth was once a full League member state but was reduced to a protectorate following the overthrow of its ruling house. The four are:

* Lynkhaven
* Yentlund
* Farrohill
* Kalentan