Rebellion borne and strife raised, Bastenaken was once part of Eastholm, the nobles of the region of Bastenaken rebelled and, with the help of Ukkermarker and Westfold, managed to drag Eastholm to the peace table. From the rebellion, an Oligarchy was formed. Of the revolting noble families, each’s head of household would have a seat, and these would be called colloquially Great Houses of Bastenaken. Currently, the nation is allied with Westfold, Ukkermarker, and Vanters, actively sends armies created from each house to the front. Thus, The Invasion Tithe does not need to be paid, as they are functioning as respected allies.

While there is a gap between nobility, merchants, and the commoners, the gap is not so atrocious as, say, Vascony or Eastholm. It is well known any commoner could very well become a noble one day, but until they get to that point, they are but a commoner and must note their place. It is a large game of survival, warfare, and politics, where talent is recognized and cliques are vicious and unrelenting. But it is thriving in this new freedom and allowed chaos. Buried beneath it all is a strict, robust layer of laws and procedures that make the nation a radiant gem in more ways than just the surface level shine. Nobles bend and circumvent the rules but can end up losing their status and best or die at worst if they’re caught out by even the lowliest of commoners. It’s even rumored that the nation was able to be founded by the mythical Friends of the Dead Men, but perhaps the truth isn’t too far off from such a claim