Pelervar/Membership Tiers of the Free Cities

A settlement's place in the confederation is defined by its charter, and charters come in recognised grades. The tiers are a frequent source of friction: smaller and dependent settlements resent their reliance on the great cities, while the full members resent the free ports that enjoy the confederation's protection without carrying an equal share of its obligations.

Settlement Grades

From greatest standing to least:

Tier	Standing	Examples
Free City	Full Council seat; broad authority over its own laws, armies, taxes, and foreign policy within treaty limits.	Ardaene, Port Arenhold, Ashford
Chartered City	Self-governing under a Free Cities charter; bound to trade law and Council-recognised appeals.	Eastwatch
Free Port	A chartered port granted real local autonomy and a voice on the Council, kept under charter oversight.	Blacktide Haven
Dependent Town	Own council or mayor, but legal and military dependence on a larger sponsoring city.	Galvorn, Brindle (under Ardaene)
Recognised Port	A tolerated port with limited rights and trade privileges under heavy scrutiny.	—
Shared Waters	Sea-lanes belonging to no single city, governed by treaty, custom, and patrol agreement.	Zahari Passage

Regional Arrangement

• Chartered Region. Where a frontier needs governing beyond the walls of any one city, the Council may charter the region as a whole, placing it under an elected official with authority over its settlements, roads, and borders. The Western Marches, centred on Ashford and governed by the Principal of the Western Marches, is the standing example. A chartered region carries a distinct advisory regional voice on the Council, not a full city vote.