That doesn't sound too different from the Free Marches. It's technically its own country, sort of, but it's really made up of a collection of independent city-states that have collectively decided to self-govern. Kirkwall is one of them, but it's dreadful. It's a horrible stone monstrosity where all the buildings are so stacked on top of each other that you'd have to walk at least a mile from your house before ever seeing a blade of grass. Plus, it used to be a hub for slave trade, so all these dour, miserable-looking statues are everywhere. Ferelden was a bit better. Muddy, and full of dogs, but it had some lovely countryside. Mountains, lakes, rolling hills, woodlands. The whole package.