Setting:Tabula Gloria/For'Channar/The Village of Kelebrae

The trading village of Kelebrae is an interesting one, the only place actually within the Empire's lands which has the legal right to its own sovereignty. Granted, their independence is only contained within the village's walls, but it is something that is cherished by its people. Instead of the Imperial government, an oligarchy made up of various noble houses rules over the village, only paying tribute to the Empire for protection from threats in which the town itself cannot handle. Situated on Lake Goldenstar, Kelebrae serves as a very successful regional trading hub for the surrounding areas of Nechbaer to the north, Fort Minnamack to the east, Fort Thagaisa to the south, and Rausclef to the west. Perhaps it is this success in which the oligarchy wishes to keep their independence from the Imperial government in place - no need to lose much of their riches to the Empire in the form of taxes, after all.

The oligarchy itself is made up of noble houses which have something of importance to offer to the community at large. At least, that is the theory as the number of houses represented in the oligarchy fluctuate with every passing year. There are three mainstays though: the merchants of House Gordan; the craftsmen of House Brellan; and the scholars of House Shierl. It is said that these three houses make the true decisions for the village, the other houses appearing in the oligarchy for show to the villagers, for the illusion that their government is working for them. If that is indeed true, than the illusion doesn't hold up well, as many of them will very openly - and sometimes very fondly - make assertions of the corruption in their government as well as the militia which watches over the village's interior. It's something that they have come to accept and even incorporate into the feel and flavor of their village, slowly becoming an accepted part of their culture. If nothing else, it gives people a reason to strive for membership into those houses, as well as the lesser houses which strive to become a mainstay in the Kelebrean oligarchy as well.