Kurai

The winter nation of Kurai, known to the locals as Kuraikage, sits on the far north eastern edge of Sedden, past the border of Muria and even further than most any man or mouse has traveled before, or could even survive if they tried. Kurai is a nation of humans and dragonborn, living in harmony under the rule of their scaled king Kagen. With a culture of peace, sharing, and art, Kurai remains happy even in it's isolation. Founded in the early years of human exploration, Kurai stands tall with it's exotic architecture and unique traditions.
The first Kuranese explorer to venture out into the world they'd believe to be so dangerous finally found civilization and opened communications between Kurai and the outside world roughly 80 years ago, and since then they've remained xenophobic, but tourism both ways has finally become a possibility. Before then, the Kuranese were on their own. An isolated nation past where the cold was livable protected by the magic of an ancient dragon, allowing the Kuranese people to live happily in their pocket of Sedden.

Snow and Painting Process by Ling Xiang

The people of Kurai are educated, respectful, polite, and kind people. They had a good role model in Kagen, and have been incredibly reciprocatory to his words of wisdom. In the generations since it's founding, Kurai has expanded to take up almost all of the arctic land it touches, though they had heeded the warnings of Kagen and restrained their curiosity, remaining within the ice.

Culture

Because of Kurai's multiple generations of isolation, they've become a society heavily built on community. They value the family, the neighbor, and the homeland as much as they would value themselves. They take sleights against one to be sleights against all, and are incredibly supportive of one another. They've also had an incredibly long era of peace, allowing them to develop artistically. Beautiful music, pieces of art, and works of theater find themselves sourced from Kurai, and it's exotic nature makes it all that more appealing to watching eyes.

History

There was once a young boy. Though history has forgotten him outside of Kurai, those of the land of ice tell his tale freely. His name was Kura, and he had eyes on the snow. He believe that man was meant to conquer all of Argent, and to set foot on every inch. Many explorers and settlers were scared or turned away by the ice and cold, but he was not. He gathered close friends, family, and others in need of a home, and told them he would help them make one. Supposedly, he was incredibly charming. His words would inspire hundreds to pack up their lives, and venture north. They'd pass across the sea, make their way through the lands of Muria, and arrive at the border of where road turned to destination. A massive wall of blizzard and ice awaited them, as if there was not moments between the warm weather of the Murian wild, and the harsh snows of the arctic. He'd raise his chin, inspire his people, and stomp forth with fervor.
Days, no, weeks would pass, and the explorers would be on their last legs. With numbers cut in half, food supplies dwindling to a point where only the women and children were eating, and every single person stricken with frostbite, pneumonia, and many more various ailments. That, was when they would catch the eye of the great white dragon Kagen. He'd watch the from afar for a while, waiting. He was unsure of these mortals, and had many questions. He didn't know if they were good, evil, spies of the monstrous beasts which he'd escaped from. So he watched, and his eyes softened with each act of kindness and love that he saw, as the men and women would claw their lives back form the grasp of the frost.
Kagen would come to them, on the eighth day, and offer them food. He'd offer them shelter. He'd use his magic to make a home for these humans, on one condition. They must, for their own safety, not leave the confines of the snow. If he lives, than others did too. Other, more malicious dragons. Dragons who'd soon return to the surface and put all of the mortal world under their claw once again. Kagen had lived through the slave ridden eras before the flood, and had been exiled from the chromatic dragon societies of old for his active denouncing of the use of slavery, and the treatment of the elven people. They would agree, and soon their home would be called by what it is today, Kuraikage. A home found by Kura, and built by Kagen.

Demography and Population

The population of Kurai was originally entirely human, though Kagen spent a lot of time socializing among the common folk. Many say he was a romantic, and as such, many of the noble families of Kurai have draconic lineage of some variety. Be it to the extent of being half dragon themselves, or something more toned down like a magical lineage. On top of this, Kagen is an incredibly talented mage in many ways, but not in the traditional sense. He practices more odd rituals, which wouldn't be considered the same as most spells. As a gift to those who accomplish great deeds, Kagen will transmute his citizens into creatures called Dragonborn using an older draconic technique.

Foreign Relations

Since any relations between Kurai and outside nations is new, most are rather simple trade agreements, or the peaceful opening of borders. Filyn, Muria, Unity, and Coraar all have these style of agreements. Otherwise, Kurai and most nations are on neutral standing. Kurai has agreed to abide by the Unitian Ally Aggressor Guideline, seeing as majority of their beliefs fall under said code anyway.

"There's no warmth out there."

Founding Date

921 AF

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Orion

Alternative Names

Kagen's Lair, The Land of Ice

Demonym

Kuranese

Leader

The Great Dragon Kagen

Currency

The Kuranesian Token (Symbol: Ξ) Worth approximately .001 standard gold piece.

Location

Sedden

Official Languages

• Draconic
• Seddenese

Housing Mechanics

Demand: Low
Land Quality: Poor - Wealthy
Possible Docks: Air, Planar
Special Rules: Due to Kurai's lack of tourism, boutique income is reduced by 20%. Kurai is inherently magical in nature, and it's land radiates arcane energy. Magic items enchanted within a Magical Enchanter built in a construction here have a 5% chance to turn into a random item one tier higher than the original upon creation.