_____________________________
I *************************** I
I *  Sayers Programmes Ltd  * I
I *    Proudly  Presents:   * I
I *************************** I
I *                         * I
I * ~i  ~i  ~i  ~i  ~i  ~i  * I
I *  HH_HHH_HHH_HHH_HHH_HH  * I
I *   HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH   * I
I *   HH~~HHHH~~~HHHH~~HH   * I
I *   HH..HHHH...HHHH..HH   * I
I *   HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH   * I
I *   HH~~HHH/xxx\HHH~~HH   * I
I *   HH..HHHIlllIHHH..HH   * I
I *   HHHHHHHIlllIHHHHHHH   * I
I *,,;HHHHHHHIlllIHHHHHHH;,,* I
I *`````````````````````````* I
I *************************** I
I *        Fort Nell        * I
I *************************** I
I *  Third Largest Town in  * I
I *   the Province of the   * I
I *       Northlands        * I
I *************************** I
I *     Resource Guide      * I
I *************************** I
I * ©1994, 1997, 2002, 2004 * I
I *         Sayers          * I
I *     Programmes, Ltd     * I
I *************************** I
 I_____________________________I.

    The Republic of Darokin is a wondrous nation.  Its inhabitants (Darokain) are mostly farmers and herders, although the nation is also famed for its merchants and traders.  Darokin centres around the fertile plains watered by the Streel River, named after the great Lord Alfred Streel, and reaches out around lake Amsorak in the West, East across the Rimlands surrounding the Elven kingdom of Alfheim, and south into the Malpheggi Swamp, and down to the sea.  All these lands are traversed by the Republican High Roads and guarded by the Darokain Republican Army -- It's Not just a Job:  It's an Adventure.

    In a land of merchants, sound currency is vital.  Consequently, Darokin is famed for the standard of its money, which is accepted nearly everywhere as being of proper weight and unadulterated metal.
 
 

Coin	Metal	Obverse	Reverse
Ardel	Platinum	Duke Randolph Ardel	Ardelphia
Republican	Gold	Prime Minister Thomas Renn	Renn Tower
Province	Electrum	Marquess Alfred Streel	Corog Bridge
Link	Silver	Prime Minister Randall Smythe	Darokin Arms
Tav	Copper	Tavaro	Tavyl Bridge

    The value of all coins is printed on the reverse, with the number inscribed as text; for example:  "One Republican," or "One Link."  The exception are the copper pieces, which have their value stamped as a numeral:  "1 Tav."   Sometimes other denominations are minted, although only rarely.  The most common are "Two Republicans," which is identical to One Republican except in weight and the inscription, and "5 Tavs," which is a large copper piece with only the size and numeral differentiating it from a single Tav.  A less common denomination, seen only rarely, is the "Half Republican," which is a small gold piece worth as much as an electrum Province, but minted in gold and stamped with the same symbols as a Republican.  All coins have the year they were minted on their obverse.  Sometimes there is also a mark to show where they were minted, but usually this is not the case.

    Very old gold pieces (with the weight and value of a modern Republican) minted prior to about 420 III Age, are called Imperials, and many coins minted before the dawn of the III Age are noticeably different.  Furthermore, old Links and Imperials have, instead of famous Prime Ministers, legendary emperors on their obverses, namely Corrithl I on the Imperial, and Hygelac III on the Link.  The old Imperials also have the Imperial Palace circa 350 III Age instead of Renn Tower on their reverse.

    The official Head of State of Darokin is His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Rithmar CLIV (154th).  However, because His Imperial Majesty is a frog, the country is governed in his stead by the Prime Minister.  The Prime Minister is elected every six years by landowning citizens and respected clergy.  He must be a male landowning citizen and mentally competent  (this requirement may be waived).  His induction ceremony must be attended and blessed by a priest of Draik, of the rank of Dean or higher (a Spamite Pastor may be substituted for this rôle .  If the Prime Minister is not so blessed, he may only bear the rank of First Minister, holding lesser honour and power.
    The Prime Minister is assisted by the Second Minister (a man chosen by the Prime Minister who meets all the requirements to be a Prime Minister).  These men are assisted by the Imperial Bureaucracy.
    The people of Darokin also elect a Senate, made up of landowning citizens.  All citizens may vote for them in elections held every five years.  The Senate exists to Impede and Frustrate the Imperial Bureaucracy.  This is intended to limit the power of the Government through the system of "Impediments and Frustrations."  Every city, town, village, some military installations, and a few other areas elect one Senator each.    This totals a lot of Senators.  Furthermore, every Archbishop, Bishop, and Peculiar (or Episcopal) Dean in Darokin may act as a Senator or appoint a representative.
    Darokin is made up of six Provinces:  The Northlands, Midlands, Westlands, Rimlands, Lowlands, and Far Southlands.  Unorganised colonial territories also exist on the Southern Continent.  With the exception of the Far Southlands, each province has a Governor and Lieutenant-Governor elected by the citizens of that territory and subject to the approval of the Prime Minister.  In emergencies, the Prime Minster may appoint a Military Governor (titled Governor-General, regardless of actual rank).  This is currently the case in the Far Southlands.

The Provinces and their Capitals

Province Capital Governor Northlands Corunglain Cormor the Sly Midlands Ansimont Ralph Thomasson Westlands Akorros Cedric Peterson Rimlands Selenica  Randolph Randalls Lowlands Hendry Angus MacPherson Far Southlands  (Under Martial Law) Ethenos (Official) Elstrich (Military) Governor-General Timothy "Smiley" Billard

    By their nature, Provinces contain cities.  In very broad terms, there are three types of cities:  Military, Civil, and Proprietary.  Military cities usually began as strong points established against invasions or uprisings.  Then, in times of peace, they attracted settlers and became towns (albeit towns with high stone walls and large garrisons).  These towns are normally administered by a General, a Marshall, or a Lord of the Army.   Civil towns usually grew up along rivers, trade routes, fertile fields, or rich mountains.  They usually have a small garrison and always have a National Guard (Be All that you Can Be) station as well as a Constabulary.  Civil towns are usually run by an elected mayor, a board of alderman, or a hereditary lord.  Proprietary towns are often small settlements centred on trading outposts or around a private castle.  The land is mostly or entirely owned by the proprietor, and his word is law, at least as far as he is able to enforce it.