Dragon Kingdom
Hidden kingdom of tyrants
The Dragon Kingdom is a nation in the Western Continent. It resides on a mountainous peninsula in the northwestern corner of the continent. It is bordered largely by Cathay, but also shares a small stretch of border with Nestoria. The western side of the nation is contained by the Dragon Sea, and the Ice Floes make up much it's northern boundary.
A dragon winds through a misty valley in the Dragon Kingdom
The Dragon Kingdom is one of the smallest nations by square footage, but is one of few nations that remains largely unspoiled by mortal civilizations. The land is home to thick primordial forests, tall peaks, dismal caves, and cascading waterfalls in which numerous species of dragons make their lairs. The southern end of the nation is more temperate, but as one travels north, the mountain range ends, and slowly gives way to plain tundras and ravines, eventually meeting a tall barrier of glaciers as it meets the Ice Floes.
Little is known about the Dragon Kingdom in times of antiquity, as few mortals have set foot in it, and even less escape it. While many of the dragons that live here are intelligent in mortal terms, they are in a state of constant warfare against each other to be considered the most powerful or prolific dragon. The pride of dragons compels that they have their deeds chronicled, but by a similar measure, compels them to destroy the chronicles of other dragons, especially where it contests their own legend. Thus, history is rarely passed on.
What can be said of the Dragon Kingdom is that life there tends to be nasty, brutish, and short. Strength and cunning are valued above all else, and rival clans of dragons constantly quarrel and kill over territorial disputes. While there is no true organized system of governance in the Dragon Kingdom, the most powerful dragon is considered by outsiders as it's king. This "king" may command other clans to do their bidding, but the obedience of these clans are ruled by fear.
Life for mortals, regardless of ancestry, is even worse here. Kobolds, likely the prominent population beside dragons, often serve the draconic clans, but are servants at best and livestock at worst. The same can be said of any person who has the misfortune of being captured or wandering into their lands. It would take a good deal of strength to be seen as anything of interest to the dragons here, and far more to be considered an equal. To the rare (or unfortunate) few who earn a powerful dragon's favor, their fate is to become a dragonborn to serve their master. These chosen are converted by an ancient and eldritch blood ritual, involving the dragonborn drinking or mixing their patron's blood.
Such legends are rare, but drive fear into the hearts of the peoples of Ado, Cathay, and Nestoria. As such, most of the other nations shun contact, trade or settling in the region. The Cathanese once attempted an invasion in the region, but backfired tremendously, leading to the worst military defeat in their millennia-long history.
It is clear to say that dragons live in great number in the region, but a lack of organized government or census makes any efforts of determining their numbers or diversities. The same can be said of any other peoples who have the misfortune to live there. Aside from the chosen dragonborn, kobolds are the next most likely to acclimate best to the environment, though their treatment is generally poor. For the rest, they are, or in rare cases, are the descendants of those who were captured in raids, were unwary travelers, or refugees. Regardless of their background, most are unlikely to live long or healthy lives under their draconic masters. Thus, most attempt to escape, but very few will do so successfully.
Despite it's denizens brutal culture, language and some knowledge is still passed down by the dragon clans. From a young age, the dragons learn when to assert themselves and when to wait. Their culture favors strength, pride, and cunning above all else. Acts of kindness are rare, and generally are met with distrust. Most dragons have little regard for non-dragons, and see them as unworthy of conversation, competition or mercy.
Non-dragons, while very rare, do live on the fringes of their territory, much to their own risk. Tribal elves live on the far fringes towards the Ice Floes, living nomadic lifestyles to avoid the attention of the dragons. In some rarer situations, cults around one or more of the dragons will build, some even entering the Dragon Kingdom to meet their perceived gods. Unfortunately, this rarely affords the cultists better treatment, and most will die there.
Dragons are generally followers of the Primordial Air, regardless of color or type. That said, while Primordial worship is the most common among the dragons, it is not commonplace. Many of the dragons live in cultures of arrogance or vanity, setting themselves up as gods or demigods to their weaker subjects. While their subjects are forced to worship them, many practice the Primordial or Heavens faith in secret, risking death if they are caught.
As previously stated, there is no official form of governance in the Dragon Kingdom. The dragon perceived to be the most powerful dragon can wield absolute power as the "Dragon King", though this power lasts only as long as their strength does. This breeds no end of possible contenders who test their strength and guile for that power. While outside aid could change the outcomes of these contests, the dragons are far too proud to accept help from another dragon, and much less to accept help from their perceived inferiors from Cathay or Nestoria. Even if they did, such a dragon who did accept help would be seen as too weak to hold the throne.
The Dragon Kingdom has no official military, but has numerous flights of proud and ambitious dragons who zealously protect their territory. As such, invasions by their neighbors would be suicidal for most. More often, a dragon may raid the neighboring nations for food, treasure, or captives. In other cases, a dragon who is too weak to hold territory in the Dragon Kingdom will try to make a lair in Ado, Cathay, or Nestoria, to varying degrees of success.
None known.
There is no functioning economy in the Dragon Kingdom. The local dragons will steal what they can from weaker dragons, servants, or the neighboring nations. The non-dragons sometimes will farm, hunt, or learn a trade for their masters, but trade between dragon clans are extremely rare.
The Dragon Kingdom sends no envoys to other nations. The dragons believe themselves far too superior to accept envoys in any other case than submission, despite efforts by Cathay or Nestoria. These nations will occasionally attempt to pay tribute in exchange for relenting on their trade routes, but such efforts are short-lived. In rare scenarios, a dragon may attempt to leave the Dragon Kingdom to make a new lair elsewhere. For such dragons, they may live embattled by their new "host" country, or in rare cases, make peace with them. Some fly even further east to Tyre or High Peak to seek out others of their kind.
The dragons here do not maintain any towns, cities or any other public works. The most notable locations are the lairs of powerful dragons, but these are in constant flux.
A part of Geography and Regions See Also
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Geography
The Dragon Kingdom is one of the smallest nations by square footage, but is one of few nations that remains largely unspoiled by mortal civilizations. The land is home to thick primordial forests, tall peaks, dismal caves, and cascading waterfalls in which numerous species of dragons make their lairs. The southern end of the nation is more temperate, but as one travels north, the mountain range ends, and slowly gives way to plain tundras and ravines, eventually meeting a tall barrier of glaciers as it meets the Ice Floes.
History
Little is known about the Dragon Kingdom in times of antiquity, as few mortals have set foot in it, and even less escape it. While many of the dragons that live here are intelligent in mortal terms, they are in a state of constant warfare against each other to be considered the most powerful or prolific dragon. The pride of dragons compels that they have their deeds chronicled, but by a similar measure, compels them to destroy the chronicles of other dragons, especially where it contests their own legend. Thus, history is rarely passed on.
What can be said of the Dragon Kingdom is that life there tends to be nasty, brutish, and short. Strength and cunning are valued above all else, and rival clans of dragons constantly quarrel and kill over territorial disputes. While there is no true organized system of governance in the Dragon Kingdom, the most powerful dragon is considered by outsiders as it's king. This "king" may command other clans to do their bidding, but the obedience of these clans are ruled by fear.
Life for mortals, regardless of ancestry, is even worse here. Kobolds, likely the prominent population beside dragons, often serve the draconic clans, but are servants at best and livestock at worst. The same can be said of any person who has the misfortune of being captured or wandering into their lands. It would take a good deal of strength to be seen as anything of interest to the dragons here, and far more to be considered an equal. To the rare (or unfortunate) few who earn a powerful dragon's favor, their fate is to become a dragonborn to serve their master. These chosen are converted by an ancient and eldritch blood ritual, involving the dragonborn drinking or mixing their patron's blood.
Such legends are rare, but drive fear into the hearts of the peoples of Ado, Cathay, and Nestoria. As such, most of the other nations shun contact, trade or settling in the region. The Cathanese once attempted an invasion in the region, but backfired tremendously, leading to the worst military defeat in their millennia-long history.
People and Culture
It is clear to say that dragons live in great number in the region, but a lack of organized government or census makes any efforts of determining their numbers or diversities. The same can be said of any other peoples who have the misfortune to live there. Aside from the chosen dragonborn, kobolds are the next most likely to acclimate best to the environment, though their treatment is generally poor. For the rest, they are, or in rare cases, are the descendants of those who were captured in raids, were unwary travelers, or refugees. Regardless of their background, most are unlikely to live long or healthy lives under their draconic masters. Thus, most attempt to escape, but very few will do so successfully.
Despite it's denizens brutal culture, language and some knowledge is still passed down by the dragon clans. From a young age, the dragons learn when to assert themselves and when to wait. Their culture favors strength, pride, and cunning above all else. Acts of kindness are rare, and generally are met with distrust. Most dragons have little regard for non-dragons, and see them as unworthy of conversation, competition or mercy.
Non-dragons, while very rare, do live on the fringes of their territory, much to their own risk. Tribal elves live on the far fringes towards the Ice Floes, living nomadic lifestyles to avoid the attention of the dragons. In some rarer situations, cults around one or more of the dragons will build, some even entering the Dragon Kingdom to meet their perceived gods. Unfortunately, this rarely affords the cultists better treatment, and most will die there.
Religion
Dragons are generally followers of the Primordial Air, regardless of color or type. That said, while Primordial worship is the most common among the dragons, it is not commonplace. Many of the dragons live in cultures of arrogance or vanity, setting themselves up as gods or demigods to their weaker subjects. While their subjects are forced to worship them, many practice the Primordial or Heavens faith in secret, risking death if they are caught.
Government
As previously stated, there is no official form of governance in the Dragon Kingdom. The dragon perceived to be the most powerful dragon can wield absolute power as the "Dragon King", though this power lasts only as long as their strength does. This breeds no end of possible contenders who test their strength and guile for that power. While outside aid could change the outcomes of these contests, the dragons are far too proud to accept help from another dragon, and much less to accept help from their perceived inferiors from Cathay or Nestoria. Even if they did, such a dragon who did accept help would be seen as too weak to hold the throne.
Military
The Dragon Kingdom has no official military, but has numerous flights of proud and ambitious dragons who zealously protect their territory. As such, invasions by their neighbors would be suicidal for most. More often, a dragon may raid the neighboring nations for food, treasure, or captives. In other cases, a dragon who is too weak to hold territory in the Dragon Kingdom will try to make a lair in Ado, Cathay, or Nestoria, to varying degrees of success.
Organizations
None known.
Economy
There is no functioning economy in the Dragon Kingdom. The local dragons will steal what they can from weaker dragons, servants, or the neighboring nations. The non-dragons sometimes will farm, hunt, or learn a trade for their masters, but trade between dragon clans are extremely rare.
Relations
The Dragon Kingdom sends no envoys to other nations. The dragons believe themselves far too superior to accept envoys in any other case than submission, despite efforts by Cathay or Nestoria. These nations will occasionally attempt to pay tribute in exchange for relenting on their trade routes, but such efforts are short-lived. In rare scenarios, a dragon may attempt to leave the Dragon Kingdom to make a new lair elsewhere. For such dragons, they may live embattled by their new "host" country, or in rare cases, make peace with them. Some fly even further east to Tyre or High Peak to seek out others of their kind.
Locations of Interest
The dragons here do not maintain any towns, cities or any other public works. The most notable locations are the lairs of powerful dragons, but these are in constant flux.
- The Old Throne - A currently abandoned dragon lair in the Dragon Kingdom. Once carved by dragon cultists for a powerful but cruel dragon king, the dragon thanked them by inaugurating the new throne with their bloodied and torn bodies. The lair is long abandoned, but a grim reminder of just one of many stories of folly of the peoples who wandered into the Dragon Kingdom.
- The Bowl - The preferred battleground of the local dragons, this slightly inverted mesa forms a natural bowl, filling up with water during seasonal rains, or worse things during time of draconic conflicts.
- The Abandoned Camp - An abandoned camp not far from the border of Cathay, this fortified camp was once the forward base of Cathay's army in their attempt to invade the Dragon Kingdom. Treasure hunters frequently attempt to raid the camp for lost and forgotten magical gear left during their retreat. Shrewd dragons leave out the treasure, a trap to lure prospective food and slaves.
Trivia
- The Dragon Kingdom is loosely-based on Jund, from Shards of Alara.
See Also
A part of Geography and Regions See Also
Quick Reference
Type
Region
Region: Western Continent
Government: Tyranny
National Language: Draconic, Cathanese Elven(for slaves)
Ancestry: No census information available
Religion: No census information available
General Alignment: Chaotic Evil
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