Human Federation

The Human Federation is made up of several small-to-medium sized nations, supposedly all equals. In truth, one nation dominates the others and sets policy and direction for the entire federation. This nation, known as the Republic of Kolitznaya, is ruled with an iron fist by the tyrant Alexei Nikolayevich Medved. Medved, also known as the Golden Bear, distinguished himself in the war as a brilliant strategist and fearless combatant.

It was during the war, when his king called him back from the front and communicated his wish that Human forces make a strategic withdrawal, that Medved slew the king and his personal guards and declared himself Leader of a new republic, which he named for an ancient Human warlord best known for driving the orcs out of Human lands. The other human war leaders followed suit, rising up against the noble class and putting them to the sword. Almost overnight, the old hereditary system was swept away and replaced with a fascist oligarchy, with the Golden Bear at its head.

Firmly in charge, Medved rallied Humanity to smash the Gnomes. The ferocity of the human assault pushed the Gnomes well back, but the cost in Human losses was staggering, both in lives and in treasure. Post-war, the Gnomes have had to pay war reparations, but Human lands (never affluent in the first place) still bear the marks of poverty and privation. Most humans are peasants living hand to mouth, though the military makes an attractive choice for young, healthy men. (Women are not permitted to serve.) Humanity, thus, has one of the largest standing armies in the world, albeit one of the least well-equipped.

The other nations, while respecting Human prowess in battle, view Medved himself in a sort of awed horror. A regicide and jumped-up peasant, ruling a nation? Setting policy for several vassal nations? No one knows what to make of it, and most don't make the effort anyway since the Humans are isolationist and have no money to spend on foreign goods.