Editing Black Heath (section)

== Political Independence ==
Black Heath has, in practical terms, always governed itself — regardless of who claims dominion over it [1]. The Canmore lordship is nominal [1]. The lord collects no meaningful tribute, commands no meaningful garrison, and exercises no meaningful authority beyond the small administrative settlement maintained for the crown's records [1].

The world produces little that other spheres want [1]. Shaladh has no effect on people who are not on Black Heath — it requires proximity to the root network to function [1]. The timber is technically extraordinary, but no one on Black Heath will sell it, and the trees resist harvesting by outsiders [1]. Armies that have tried to march through the deep forest have found their paths closed by root growth, their water sources diverted, their camps slowly swallowed by undergrowth [1].

Black Heath endures not because it is defended, but because there is nothing to conquer [1]. The people own nothing of value to outsiders [1]. The forest cannot be occupied [1]. And the lord of Black Heath, whoever they may be, learns sooner or later that they are not governing the world — they are merely being tolerated by it [1].