Politics of Baldur's Gate and the Free Lands

[J.Anderson]

The City State of Baldur's Gate is capital to a loose confederation of towns and villages known as the "Free Lands". Along with the capital, Candlekeep, Beregost, and Nashkel all claim allegiance to this confederation.

Baldur's Gate is a Republican Monarchy, currently ruled by a Regent: Lord Geofrey Stahllius - under authorization of the main governing authority, "The Free People's Parliament". The current whereabouts of the descendants of King Tharidan are unknown, with some presuming they are forever lost.

Under the constitution of the Free Lands, all property is technically owned by the King - a fact that has provided many a joke on the term "Free Lands" to the philosophers and poets of the region. Nevertheless, the right to self-determination is a strong concept among these fiercely independent people, and their love for the Kings of Old was largely due to the fact that the Kings kept taxes low and maintained the peace.

Much like Amn, positions on the People's Parliament are earned through land ownership. However, the Regent has the right to call votes in the Parliament to allow non-landholding members, such as generals and heroes. The Region still rests the majority of its defense capability on the backs of its heroes and knights, preferring small and elite forces to large armies.