[b]The Republic Of Keldarna[/b]
Keldarna is representative Republic. This nation is odd in that it has not had a monarch or even a sense of monarchy in many centuries. The country possesses a great forest, which covers many counties throughout the country, and even a large portion of three whole provinces. The headquarters of Zaandi, Zaandikhathra, is the central part of the great forest, between four provinces, with a smaller, less consequential city somewhat nearby, called, Zaanthras. Zaandikhathra is a great city, possessing an excess of well over one hundred thousand inhabitants nearing two hundred thousand, and it is home to one of the architectural wonders of the world, Zaandinadrash, the "temple" turned Academy of the Zaandites. Great rivers throughout the nearby provinces supply Zaandikhathra with fresh, clean water, and a nearby mountain is mined for rare mineral ores. Throughout the forest, powerful herbs are foraged for quite often, not only for magical reagents but also just for medicinal concoctions. It is said the finest doctors, alchemists and magicians from the entire world come from Zaandikhathra. (Called "Zand" for short). The head master of the Academy, the Archmage Dalarna, is making plans to expand the Academy's influence somehow, although how this is possible, he isn't telling.

The capital of Keldarna, Cahndara, is a city even larger than Zand, with slightly over three hundred thousand inhabitants. The people wield very fine steel here, forged from the metal ores of the native mountains, said to be capable of slicing through beasts and creatures of myth with ease. Of course, even the warriors with Zand steel and armor would rather not face such creatures anyway, no matter how sharp or durable their metal. The Republic boasts that it's armed forces are as strong as any other, and the people keep the Templars out of their territory with as much zeal as the Templars hunt witches and heretics. There are temples and religions that aren't local to the country that are welcome inside it's borders, and the peace is enforced by both the Prime Minister, Khaldenar, and his Knight Commanders. 

On the far western borders there are many extremely profitable cities and boom towns decorating the coast, trading with far off nations and primitives for exotic merchandise, which is then sent East and traded throughout the land mass. There is also a "much" smaller Academy of Zaandi between the Western most provinces of Keldarna and the more populated Central and Eastern areas. One of these larger island nations are petitioning to join the Republic for protection against their somewhat far off but still extremely aggressive and cannibalistic neighbors. This would be a smart move since the cannibals don't want to anger the Republic, as they not only fear their power, but also wish to grow rich from trade. In the Eastern border lands, lie many mountain barriers to the rest of the land mass, while the entrances to the main land are fortified. Further in the Republic, a little to the East, there is a great river, called the Lete River. The Lete River runs from the far north to the southern borders, and eventually runs into the capital, Cahndara half way down the river. A little south of Cahndara is the Republics fertile wine producing regions. 

Recently, relations with the Republic of Keldarna have grown so amicably well that there is even a small Zaandi Academy in one of these foreign islands. 

*Zand steel is said to be so superior to actual steel in it's quality, that the nations across the waters of the West even have some royalty and aristocracy using Zand steel for their armors and weaponry.