Dreaux (Drō)

Where magic flows like wine

Dreaux is a human theocratic magocracy in northwest Aërd made-up primarily of humans. Dreaux is an ancient country known for its lush countryside, fine wines, and patronage to the arts. Led by a council of sorcerers known as les Cardinaux Céruléens (colloquially known as the "Mage Kings of Dreaux"), Dreaux traces its roots back to the birth of the mortal races. A century ago, half the nation was devastated by a magical weapon, and since then the Mage Kings of Dreaux have outlawed "non-natural" mages, who they argue are stealing magic from the world.

Structure

Since the death of Io the Everwyrm, Dreaux had two ruling bodies: the theocratic les Cardinaux Céruléens in the West and the secular Imperador in the East. With the conclusion of the Skybreaker Wars leading to the decimation of Eastern Dreaux and the formation of The Shattered Land, les Cardinaux Céruléens have ruled what's left of Dreaux for the past 1000 years.

Led by the ancient le Père Jaune, the 12 Cerulean Cardinals are primarily interested in dictating the culture of Dreaux. This means the economy, industry, and development is driven by the citizenry, primarily by mercantile oligarch families. These Familias de Riqueza have consolidated vast political and economic power, primarily with the urban areas of Dreaux. While the merchant families often find themselves in alliances with one another, lifetimes of corporate espionage and betrayal has led to much distrust which often leads to violence.

Culture

Dreaucians' pride in tracing their roots back to the dawn of civilization means that they tend to put emphasis on history. In addition, they consider themselves to be directly blessed by Mystra, The Enchantress, which leads to a focus on developing magical abilities at a young age. Dreaucian children are taught at a young age how to trace their family trees all the way back to the Asimati kings. Their pride leads to the rest of Aërd considering the Dreaucians to be haughty and self-absorbed. Furthermore, the glorification of history and reliance of magic has led Dreaux to be relatively slow to adopt new technology compared to the other great nations.

Due to the religious propaganda spearheaded by les Cardinaux Céruléens, there is a widespread mistrust of "non-natural mages" throughout Dreaux. Dreaucians believe that magic is a gift from the gods, and any mortal who wields magic themselves without divine intervention is essentially a thief of holy sacraments.

History

Dreaucians believe they were formed from the remnants of the Asimati Empire, and trace their first Imperador to the Asimati Nigusi, a group of powerful sorcerers who banded together to dethrone the Elemental Overlords and form the first mortal civilization.

The Asimati grew to become too powerful, however, and were thrown from power by the gods at the conclusion of the The God-Mage War. Still, strong magic users remained in the area once held by the Asimati, and the Cult of Mystra, The Enchantress that would become les Cardinaux Céruléens formed in the wake of the Asimati power vacuum. Eventually, this loose population would coalesce into the small nation of Terrebéni.

Meanwhile, the few surviving Asimati Nigusi fled to the Eastern peninsula, where they establish several coastal city-states. The Asimati Nigusi, feeling as if Mystra had abandoned them, forsook their previous religion and reliance on magic. Over millennia, these city-states allied with one another, forming the nation of Dreaux. These first Dreaucians, eager to regain their previous homeland, waged perpetual war with the mages of Terrebéni. It was not until the chaos of The Godslaughter Wars that Dreaux was successfully able to annex Terrebéni. The Mage Kings of the conquered land were allowed to hold onto to their cultural power as to not alienate the populace, and thus les Cardinaux Céruléens were established.

While the relationship between the two was often contentious, the joint rule of the Cardinals and the Imperador led Dreaux to millennia of relative peace and prosperity. However, with the conclusion of the Skybreaker Wars leading to the decimation of Eastern Dreaux and the formation of The Shattered Land, les Cardinaux Céruléens have ruled what's left of Dreaux for the past 1000 years.

Military

The majority of the military force of Dreaux was lost in the shattering, but there has been some rebuilding of the military force in the years since. The standing army of Dreaux is relatively weak compared to the other great nations, but it makes up for its lack of brawn by having the most devastating magical units in all of Aerd.

Perhaps the most notorious aspect of the Dreaucian military is the relatively new unit known as the Marteau des Magiciens (or "Witch Hammers"). This semi-clandestine group is trained for the sole task of locating, interrogating, and ultimately sentencing "non-naturals". They are prepared and equipped to overcome magical defenses, and have gained a reputation of being particularly vicious in their pursuits.

Laws

The historical mistrust of "non-natural mages" in Western Dreaux, combined with the total authority of the Cerulean Cardinals since the Shattering of the East, has led to an upscaling in mage persecution. Which magic users are considered legitimate is ill-defined, but the general consensus is the following classes are not to be tolerated: wizards, druids, rangers, and warlocks (unless the patron is a god of the Upper Planes). While the "non-naturals" have always been treated cooly in Dreaux, there has been an active push to form direct policies against this type of magic within the nation over the last several centuries. "Non-naturals" are subject to questioning and forfeiture of any magical contraband; if they do not have proper documentation, they are subject to arrest and detainment, even if they are not citizens of Dreaux.

Agriculture & Industry

Dreaux is primarily agrarian, with the lush and hilly countryside providing very productive farmland. Dreaucians will often say the their very soil is steeped in magic. Whether the cause is magical blessings or the considerable amount of rainfall the lowlands get, Dreaux does in fact have some of the most fertile land for agriculture in all of Aerd. Food is plentiful, and Dreaucian craftsmen are also known for their fine eye for detail.

Dreaucians are particularly known for their luxury goods (cheeses, wines, coffee, furniture, tobacco, etc.). In the urban centers of Dreaux, the economy is based primarily on the importing and exporting of these goods, both across Dreaux and abroad. Driven by the Familias de Riqueza, this status as the trading hub of fine goods for all of Aerd has led to immense wealth within the metropolitan centers.

The Dreaucians pride themselves in doing their work by hand (supplemented by magic, of course). Because of this, they have considerable distaste for the new mechanical tools used by the neighboring dwarves of Gwerin and their fellow humans in Capellia.