Clan Drage

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Clan Drage, among the other Nordic clans of Binordheim, is the most contentious in its beliefs and traditions.

Svafnir the Slumberer

Spirit of the Rumbling Earth and patron to subjugators and the prideful, Svafnir is the spirit guide of Clan Drage. Svafnir is believed to inhabit and possibly be the mountain range that runs nearly the entire length of Dragevald. He is a prideful being (to be expected) and demands tribute from the people of the clan in the form of treasures and blood. In return, Svafnir offers his guidance and his strength to those worthy who are willing to bind themselves to him.

Structure

The structure of Clan Drage is similar to most clans in Binordheim apart from one important distinction. The clan is led by their Konungr (King) who is elected by the entire clan and rules over similarly elected jarls who govern regions of Drakdalr from its major settlements. The one distinct difference between Drage and every other clan however is the role their clan spirit plays in the this hierarchy.

Svafnir the Slumberer is the sovereign leader of Clan Drage. Their word is law and a portion of all things produced, gathered, and won by members of Clan Drage belong to Svafnir by his decree. Those chosen to lead as Jarls of major territories bind themselves to Svafnir in a similar manner to those who become drekaet. While he rarely interposes in local elections, when a new king is chosen by the clan, it is Svafnir who gets the final word on if they are worthy to act as his voice and vessel of his will. Under most circumstances, laws and governance proceeds without the input of the great dragon, but always he will get his tithe and his say should he deem it necessary.

Below the King and Jarls are the dragon priest who serve Svafnir and the people of Drage in a number of different functions, including lawkeepers, religious leaders, and chroniclers.

Culture

Warrior Culture

The clan's culture revolves heavily around a "strong rule" mentality with a focus on those with strength, power, and martial prowess - whether the classical warrior or magically gifted type - taking what they want from those who are weaker than them. And among the clans, Drage views itself as the superior to their fellow clans creating a strong, openly flaunted nationalistic belief around their own superiority which often causes more quarrels with other cultures than it helps. Drage's military might, even with a large portion of the population raiding throughout the year, is the strongest of all the clans and has been used on several occasions to invade and conquer areas of Binordheim for Svafnir and the clan.

Professional Raiders

Drage love their raiding and pillaging, often turning on their own neighbors as well as travelling to far-off lands. This isn't simply due to the Nordic tradition that most clans practice seasonally. Drage raids constantly with clan members forming independent raiding "lodges" that are often sponsored by a jarl who leads their own people seasonally on raids of their own. These lodges have become integral to Drage society, gathering food, materials, goods, treasures, and thralls to be used by the clan. With the lands of Drage as infertile as they are the raiders have a well-respected position in society and are often celebrated in a similar manner as the warriors of Drage's military.

Veneration of Svafnir

All Drage members are taught to revere Svafnir, their clan spirit, who dwells beneath the Dragon's Spine mountains that border the western side of Drage territory. Some are taught to venerate Svafnir before even the Aesir, much to more traditional clans' disgust. The spiritual belief that revolves around Svafnir is one that guides the Deinen in their customs. None, not raider, warrior, or farmer collects their spoils without tithing a portion to Svafnir. Twice a year, at the beginning of spring when fields are seeded and in autumn when harvest begins, great sacrifices are made to the dragon, who is known to give life to the land in exchange and allow the fields to become prosperous or prevent even the hardiest of plants from growing in his displeasure.

Dragon Priests

Below the king and jarls are the various dragon priests who act as lawkeepers, counselors, and spiritual leaders in charge of the various shrines and temples to Svafnir. The dragon priests' jobs are many and varied, but their most important job revolves around overseeing the everyday and more important, ritualistic sacrifices made to Svafnir. In addition to this, they oversee and document Drage law, perform religious ceremony (though only in the name of Svafnir), and act as counselors and confidants to the populace, which leads members of Drage to be some of the most mentally confident and - contrary to the image painted by the other clans of them - psychologically healthy people in Binordheim.

Serving the dragon priests are a group of people known as grim disciples. Those people - most often thralls in pursuit of a better life - who choose this path cannot turn from it once accepted. They will spend the next decade or more of their life serving the temple of Svafnir, learning, and sometimes even travelling far across the world with raiding groups and dragon priests before their lives come to an end in a final service to Svafnir as a mortal sacrifice during one of the major sacrifices. One can only guess as to why this pleases Svafnir more than a normal mortal. Those under this profession boast increased privilege among other thralls, as they are considered to be Svafnir's personal thralls.

Industrious

Drage is one of the wealthiest clans regardless of the tithes they bring to Svafnir, due to both their raiding and the amount of land they claim. Though mostly infertile, the land is rich in minerals and various colorful plants that are used to create dyes desired by other clans and other nations. The people of Drage have learned to work hard for what they have - another point of pride with them. The land's lack of fertility, though given life by Svafnir at spring and autumn, requires Drage to work harder than other clans to produce the amount of food necessary to feed their entire population.

Dependency on Thralls

This is where thralls come in. Drage holds the most thralls out of all the clans of Binordheim. Likely more than some of them combined. These thralls are used to tend fields, mine, and perform other labor for the clan. Though they are not treated terribly (given access to services of the dragon priests and several other privileges) it is not a kind life and it is one that Drage gives the opportunity to leave through service. Thralls in service to Drage can be chosen to become grim disciples or they can choose to join the military to prove their loyalty and earn their freedom through deeds. Like other clans, thralls can also eventually earn their freedom through years of service and merciful masters, but there must always be enough thralls to work so that those free-peoples of the clan may act as the warriors, leaders, and raiders that are necessary to keep the clan prosperous and appease the Slumberer.

Public Agenda

Drage's agenda is well known to all the clans, as they have not shied from speaking it. One day Svafnir will rule all of Binordheim and the clan will see it done.

Demography and Population

The major population centers of Drage live along the southern shores and next to the river that runs through the land as that is where the land is most fertile and access to the sea is most readily available.

Kobolds are common in Drage territory. Some serve as thralls while others are official clansmen, though they are almost always treated as lessers among the other clansmen.

Territories

Dragevald has a large, high-peaked mountain range along its western border, cutting most of Drage lands off from the inland sea, Hoggormslen, the Serpent's Domain. Most of the land is made up of short, dry grassland and tundra with few trees, most of which grow around water sources but tend to be low to the ground. One major river runs through the land, sourced from the mountains. Among the other lands, Dragevald is one of the least fertile areas of Binordheim likely owing to the cold, hard earth and lack of precipitation through the year.
The plants that grow in the tundra and dry grasslands of Dragevald have learned to adapt to the harsh climate and continual grazing by animals and have grown tough, producing thorns or poison as defense mechanisms. Several of these thorny plants also produce flowers in a wide variety of bright colors that can be used to make dyes. As such Drage clothing could be some of the most colorful.

Military

The military of Clan Drage is made primarily of heavy infantry and light armored berserkers. In addition, there are those who train wyverns who nest in the mountains as mounts to ride into battle. Conscripted thralls wishing to exchange service for freedom are also a common sight in the ranks of Drage’s forces, often in the front. Drage boasts a reasonable number of seidr and seidrmadr (spellcasters, many sorcerers).
On top of their sizable force, there are those who choose to bind themselves to Svafnir in exchange for more tangible power. Those who do are called Drekæt (“drekite”) and are, if proven worthy of the gift, transformed into draconic humanoids capable of great feats of strength and endurance on the battlefield.    Overall, Clan Drage has the most dangerous army of all the clans.

Religion

Those of Clan Drage who choose to revere the Aesir often choose Baldr, Vidar, Var, Odin, and Thor to call on with the occasional shrine to Loki and Tyr, but it is common for Drage clanspeople to worship Svafnir in place of the gods, or no gods at all, acknowledging their existence but deciding not to deal with them. Whether this is due to the influence of Svafnir, their separation from Sarendril via physical barrier or another reason, Drage tends toward the “call if they would be useful” approach to the gods.

Foreign Relations

Relations with other clans are difficult as they raid them often. They have a respect for Clan Ulfur and envy for Clans Rev and Ulger. Clans Bjorn and Okse are the closest thing they would call rivals, though Drage would not give them such a high title.

Agriculture & Industry

Much of Deinen production and economy runs off thralls. As their lands are lacking in fertility, even with the boons granted by Svafnir, they must put in extra work to ensure that they can grow what is necessary to feed their clan and harvest what is needed to outfit them with houses, weapons and any other necessities.

Trade & Transport

Because Drage sends raiding parties out at any time of the year, they are able to keep a somewhat steady supply of goods and resources flowing, though not in the volume of a Muninn merchant (unless one of their ships just happens to go missing…). Amiable relations with some Muninn families assists in their need for specific resources. Due to their raiding and ore-rich mines, Drage is one of the richest clans.

Education

The Dragon Priests often take young sorcerers and mages under their tutelage at a young age.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Alternative Names

Clan of the Dragon

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Dein / Deinen

Government System

Monarchy, Elective

Power Structure

Feudal state

Major Exports

• Gold
• Iron
• Precious stones
• Stone
• Dyes
• Whale products (bones, ambergris, etc.) much to the Isbjorns' disdain

Major Imports

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Spices
• Cloth
• Wood

Legislative Body

Svafnir, then the King and the Jarls, but Svafnir holds the authority to deny laws made by any but himself.

Judicial Body

Dragon Priests of Svafnir

Executive Body

King and Jarls

Official State Religion

Nordic Pantheon

Parent Organization

Nordic Clans

Controlled Territories

• Gaddeholm

Neighboring Nations

• Clan Bjorn

Three Words: Ambitious, Grudge-keepers, Prideful
Colors: Burgundy, Lavender, Gold, and Black