| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| combatmedic |
Posted - 20 Aug 2012 : 08:58:59
Sembia-
The land that is known called Sembia was colonized by Chondath before the Rotting Wars. The ruin of Chondath brought full independence to the settlers, but left them without outside protection. The Sembians had to fight long and hard for their land and liberty against the elves and against the expansionist Obarskyr dynasty of Cormyr. When the Raven refused to become Sembia's king, he confounded royal expectations in Cormyr and set Sembia on a path of republican rule.
Sembia might be seen as a ‘plutocracy’ by some outlanders, but the natives typically describe their government as both a republic and a confederation.There are no titled nobles, just wealthy families. The ‘Merchants’ Council’ is a misleading, pejorative term used by Cormytes and Dalesmen. The correct name of the body is the Council of the Confederation. A fair number of councilors and even a few Overmasters have come from humble beginnings. In most of Sembia, any man who can pay a poll tax or meet basic property requirements may vote or hold office. Each province in the confederation has its own capital city, its own provincial; laws and customs, and its own governor and council. The confederation-level government ( Overmaster, Council) handles foreign affairs, trade, and war.
Sembian law outlaws the enslavement of ‘men’- a term generally understood not to extend to elves or half-elves, but that does encompass most other demi-humans and humanoid monsters. Indentured servitude and convict labor are fairly common practice in some parts of the country.
-Note- I'm ditching or reinterpreting later canon. Sembia was supposed to be a DMs preserve, and I'm definitely treating it as such. The nation is as much like early America as it is like Genoa or Venice during the Renaissance-- probably MORE like America. Of course, this isn't Earth, and any parallels should not be drawn too closely.
YMMV, as ever.
I'm interested to hear what sort of ideas other people have used for Sembia.
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