Songlia
Government
Songlia is made up of three provinces (two counties and one barony) and one ungoverned territory without a seat of power. Each province is governed by its respective monarch. Seasonally, these monarchs meet to set standard macroeconomic and diplomatic policies. The meeting is colloquially referred to as the, “Council of Monarchs.”
The three provinces share military forces, practice free trade, and maintain open borders with one another.
Economy
The economy of Songlia is strictly regulated. Goods and services are assigned categories — copper, silver, gold, and platinum — and must be purchased with that currency (or better, for a fee). Seasonally at the Council of Monarchs, each province’s ruler sets the category of goods and services, the luxury fee, and suggests the exchange rate between currencies.
Three adventurers go to the blacksmith to buy shortswords in Eldersimes. The Count of Mutumnhelm has determined that all melee weapons are “silvered,” or must be purchased with silver. The Council of Monarchs has set the luxury fee to 30%. The city of Eldersimes has set their exchange rate between currencies to 20%.
The blacksmith is selling shortswords for 100sp each. The first adventurer pays for their shortsword with a bag of 100sp and leaves the blacksmith as a well-armed, happy customer. The second adventurer pays for their shortsword with 10gp after paying the luxury fee of 30sp. The third adventurer attempts to pay for their shortsword with a chest of 1000cp and is turned away. They go to the Eldersimes Exchange and convert their 1000cp into 80sp and can no longer afford a shortsword.