Sha'slar Autonomous Zone

Government

• Officially a military junta. In practice, each settlement is mostly autonomous, except for international issues. Most are democracies.
• Sha'slar itself is under military control, but the Lai General holds (rarely-exercised) veto authority, not primary legislative/administrative control. A council of isal, lai, and priests does most of the work.

Peoples

• Fang-kin humans (45%)
• Fang-kin half-elves (45%)
• Ophidians (2%)
• Halflings (2%)
• Kobolds (1%)

Religion

Very devout followers of the Queen Ascendant. Their priests are independent of the priest-bureaucracy at Ar Salem Dolem but are considered equal (basically Greek vs Russian Orthodoxy relationships).

Culture

• Independent.
• Caste system has almost entirely been abolished; only token labels remain.
• Industrious and open.

Capital

See Sha'slar.

Economy

Exports

forest products, dyes, spices. Steelsilk. Trade with northern nations flows through here. Or did, until the Winter War and the termination of trade through the Holy Kaelthian Republic.

Imports

Worked goods, grains.

International relationships

• Considered backward and poor by others, but generally respected. Tends to keep out of any political messes.

Leadership

• Lai General Asa Ala ascended to the post of Supreme General of Sha'slar in 252 AC. She is first-among-equals of the governing junta, composed of her and three other Generals. She, as is customary, handles the military and foreign affairs portfolios.

• Muen General Jakovi, whose area of responsibility is agriculture.
• Phra Salas, responsible for commerce and trade, including weights and measures.
• Handmaiden Apsalara, head of the Sha'slari Orthodox branch of the followers of the Queen Ascendant.

Despite their vestigial titles, they all work together and Asa Ala is undisputedly the most personally powerful.