Free Cities of Andara

The **Free Cities of Andara** are union of city-states in a wide mountain valley that was once a colony of the Aerion Empire. It has a rich diversity of people and cultures that have emerged in its 448 year history. The founding of the Free Cities is legendary, having come at the conclusion of a magic-fueled civil war that tore the former Empire apart. The founding parties were more than revolutionaries, they were adventurers.

History
The Andara Valley, which presently contains seven of the eight city-states (the other being the monastic orders inhabiting Mount Andara), had at one time been a thriving valley, rich with wildlife and a variety of flora, some of which is specific to the region. Explorers from the Empire had known of the valley from at least **made up date here**, though there were not any permanent Imperial establishments until **made up date here**.

However, there were known to be at least two tribes of humar, as well as vast hunting territories of ogres and other giant races. With the increased Imperial presence came a campaign of extermination to the otherwise peaceful intelligent races that had coexisted for hundreds of years prior. Additionally, the humar, seeing the destruction left in the wake of the expanding "civilized" Empire, chose to migrate in mass. Imperial records show that some of the tribes had negotiated for a fleet of ships to leave by the sea in the south, whereas the steppe nomads left by means of their mountain trails, confident that even the rugged frontiersmen of the Empire would be hesitant to follow them over the dangerous paths.

In the span for just a few years the Empire had nearly run off or killed any one that would contest their dominion in the valley, which allowed them to set in motion a systematic plan of settlement building. Ever paranoid, the Empire planned out a series of fortifications at certain intervals throughout the valley, starting at Fort Andarfall at the foot of the Imperial Highroad, and proceeding along the valley to the Port of Seawall. (**each of them are a fortnight apart, but I need to see what that equates to in actual distance**)

From the time of colonization to the Imperial Civil War, the Andara Valley had been ruled over by a Governor or General, depending on the population of Imperial citizens maintaining residence. Only once during the **made up # of years** as a colony did a military leader take control of the region (for more details see Imperial Curse-plague). Like most of the Empire, the region was governed by a local council of citizens with a deciding triumvirate, chosen from those eligible by the Edict of Imperial Rulership. The size of this council is determined by means of the yearly census. It is speculated that the groundwork for the Free Cities was set by the remoteness of Andara Valley from the rest of the Empire, combined with the peculiar progressiveness expressed by many of the citizens who would eventually make this place their home. It is speculated that as the civil war lingered on the horizon, many Senators would see the Andara Valley as a refuge from, and possible savior of, Imperial democracy. Indeed, the early experiments in citizen representation in the valley would greatly influence the founding members of the Free Cities.

Geography and weather
The Valley of Andara features a diverse geography. Surrounded by mountains on all sides except the southern coast which opens onto the **some sea**, its rolling plains and verdant foothills enjoy cool breezes blowing north from the towering mountain peaks. The valley has seasonal cycles that are nearly perfect for agriculture, and few residents would be able to recall a harvest season that wasn't bountiful. Being situated near the equator, it is one of the few places that can make use of lunar season stones. Of note is that the residents of the Andara Valley use nearly any excuse to throw a party, and the seasons are no exception. Indeed, the changing of the seasons and social gatherings are synonymous for most folks.

Early winter tends to be dry and mild, gradually getting wetter as the mountain storms reach into the valley, bringing with it a swelling of rivers and ponds. While flooding is known to happen, it is generally handled with advanced planning and magical means. However, due to its already precarious position at below sea level, and the fact that it lives up to its namesake, the Port of Seawall has about a month of closure each year. Only the most hardy of folk stay behind, and it is common to see caravans of families go to stay with kin during this time. It is common to remark on the smell of fish as part of one's humor during this time.

After weeks of non-stop rain, ranging from down-pours to light drizzling, the beginnings of spring are a welcome, especially to youth. The first week if spring is referred to as Golden Week, in part because of the various festivals planned in many communities, but also growing out of the tradition of the first Senators who built villas in the valley giving gold coins to their staff for working hard through the winter. It is said that a particular house started doing this to increase happiness after the months of wet and cold, and is no doubt the cause of so much commerce and conviviality during the festivals (which almost always correlate with the re-opening of markets). While gold itself is somewhat rare, and indentured servitude is unheard of in the Free Cities, the holiday week has been re-purposed by merchants eager to again make a profit.

As spring winds down and the pleasant warmth of the summer sun begins heating the days and nights in the valley many communities take the respite from weather fluctuations to prepare for the planting, and of course, the harvest. While Seawall will have been re-opened and re-inhabitated for months now, only during the summer does the port see its most activity. While most of the Andara mountains stay storm-ridden and essentially impassable, the Old Imperial Highroad becomes safe for travel (at least from malevolent weather), which does much to increase the influx of trade in the region. It is many the fantasy of an academy bound youth to fantasize of hitching a ride with a caravan travelling from the spice markets of Seawall to the lands beyond the Andara Valley. Only a few ever make good on their dream, however...

While summer can be known to simmer pass its time, there is often a decisively sharp drop in temperature, heralding the autumn months. The Night of Ice, as it is known, is when the morning dew is frosted, and it is said that "storms are grumbling", an early warning that the mountains will look upon the valley with their icy winds once more. However, there is still a few weeks of temperate weather, only very gradually turning colder. This is a time of great activity, and it is the last pleasant time to bring in the harvest. Of course this doesn't keep folks from celebrating, and while there are no regional festivals per se, it is common that city folk leave behind their high walls and stone dwellings, as they set up tents around the fields that deliver them their nourishment, and the farmers are celebrated for their hard work. It is tradition that huge tables be set up (or blankets laid out) for everyone to feast together. In recent years even the burgeoning bandit gangs have been known to celebrate one last time before the cold, their fires and raucous laughter echoing down into the foothills from their compounds above.

After the feasting folks are normally content to retreat into their dwellings to stay warm for the winter. Book sales are greatest during this time, and journals or other materials are often given as gifts at the feasting. Even farmers have at least a small library, and communities will often share books, especially for the education of children, since they don't really have anything else to do once the rains come.

Forest of Andara
Besides being the single largest wooded area in the entire valley region, the Forest of Andara is of particular interest in that it had been avoided by explorers and settlers for many years. The Crescent Road is named as such due to road connecting the forts and other settlements of the valley as it goes around the forest. The first expeditions left logs claiming that even the native tribes avoided the great forest. Early Imperial records from the area rarely make mention of it, though it common practice to omit details regarding failures, such as battles lost, or the inability to gain a foothold in a new conquest.

While the details are lost to history, it is generally held that there was no serious expedition made into the forest until a massive effort was made as part of military exercises. A commander, freshly arrived in Seawall, felt that the defences there were ill-prepared to handle an invasion of the valley, and promptly ordered a regiment from each of the forts to prepare for drills to be held in the Andara Forest. Despite being warned by the various councils against such actions, the commander personally led a column of soldiers to the forest. Determined to lead by example, and noticing that many of his own guard was nervous at the approaching treeline, he ordered the column to a halt and rode ahead. According to witnesses, as his horse reached a stone's throw from the forest, a lone figure came forward, raised its hand towards the commander, and the two disappeared into a maelstrom of wind, dust and leaves.

This would be the start of the one day war that would result in the Humar-Elwar Andaran Treaty. Of note, this battle is one of two recorded Imperial military actions that would result in no casualties.

Afterwards the elwar would open up limited trading with the Imperial settlements, in exchange for autonomy and near-complete isolation. In the few communities that were within a day's walk to the forest, special stalls were set up that would be populated with produces and herbs from the forest. A coffer was present, in which payment was dropped for goods, though many of the stalls were left alone except by the absolute destitute and poor at first. Over time the stalls were viewed as shrines, and became a public trading area, the beginning of many of the present-day market plazas. It is not uncommon to find such stalls still active, often designated as such by ornate decoration, and is the origin and destination of festival parades. Hundreds of years later the stalls are still stocked with goods from the forest, though no one has ever seen the means by which they are, and most except the eldest of community members remember how it happens. In fact, it is not uncommon for a religious order to claim the stalls in the name of their deity.