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Dominated by rolling plains & forests and low mountain ranges, Janardun is best described by two words, psionic knights. These are platemail wearing psychic warriors (as per the class in the D&D Psionics Handbook, pg. 13), whom are part of a knightly order called The Insightful Order of the Republic. These Knights of the Mind, as they are sometimes called by the people, are the exception not the rule on Janardun. They tend towards neutrality and law in their outlook on life.
And while the Insightful Order is important to the Republic's survival - it doesn't rule it. The land is ruled by a Council of Representatives, one from each city, with one member elected as chancellor for one five year term (and only one). The council is appointed by the will of the knights, not by nobles or the people. Why this done is simple -- tradition dictates it such and it has worked well for 3,000 years (why mess with a good thing). The knights can dissolve the council at any time if they believe corruption has taken root. This is both a benefit and a bane to the councils effectiveness. If the people wish something that the council approves of but the knights do not (upsetting the balance), then the knights will dismiss the council.
Note: The check on council activity is done once every year in the capital city of Alaran during harvest time.
However, this dissolving of the council almost never happens. The people like the fact that the nobility has a lot less power and those nobles that join the knights give up all family ties and privileges. A member joins a branch of the knights that will now be his new family. In this structure, age and knowledge take precedence over strength and battle skill (although those are important if you don't want to get killed). Marriage is allowed within ones branch as long as the two members are not already related. However, marriage outside of the Insightful Order is frowned upon (the outsider would have to pledge to become a knight or the member would have to leave the Order).
As to what the knights fight against to protect the masses, that is also describable by two words, ogre mages. This is the simple explanation, the long explanation is a lot more convoluted. Yes, ogre mages are violent, magic welding humanoids but a knight hardly ever battles one in direct combat. And those that have, either died trying or were never the same afterwards. No, the true menace of daily life are the athach, ettins, wild dwarves, darkwings, and quicklings that call the ogres masters.
The ogre mages send their minions out of the mountains, dark forests and swamps to cause as much mischief and mayhem as possible. Whether it's darkwings and quicklings terrorizing farms and rural communities or athachs and ettins laying siege to castles and cities, no one is safe. Only the shoyir elves, rakasta, and cyclops stand with the Knights against the evil giants and their minons.
What the Dark Ones hope to gain by this continuous onslaught or what their ultimate goals are still remain a mystery.
- KF72
