The Raan Chiefdom
Dynasty of Dragons
Situated along the Raan River Valley at the edge of the sunlit world, the Raan Chiefdom is a coastal state along the eastern coast of Procans Depths. The kingdom was once part of the larger Mazite People, but after the bronze dragon Raan began teaching at the mouth of the river, the kingdom culturally drifted more and more until even the Mazite Pantheon was a minority religion within the region. After Raan's mysterious death, the dynasty was weakened and became a tributary state to the Kingdom of Keoland. After the ascension of Emperor Kimberlos Kocia to the Keoish throne, the dynasty was subsumed into the Empire of Keoland.
Structure
The Raan Dynasty is a unitary magotheocratic absolute monarchy, where the eldest child among a family of sorcerer half-dragons takes the throne upon the prior monarch's death or abdication. The monarch is titled the "Master General" and is leader of both the government and the spiritual-military order, the Followers of Raan. This position evolved out of the chieftan's position within the Sun Class.
Under the Master General are their councils, which have military, executive, and spiritual leaders that each head their own various sub-organizations. Most notable is the Followers of Raan, an order of Monks, Paladins, and Clerics dedicated to Raan's teachings and - formerly - the defense of the Orb of Nursurrmalaeingeir the Frostbiter. These councils consist of the Talon Council and Scale Council which oversee government in times of war and peace, respectively. The Talon Council consists of younger Raanites, while the Scale Council is made up of the elderly.
Under the Master General are their councils, which have military, executive, and spiritual leaders that each head their own various sub-organizations. Most notable is the Followers of Raan, an order of Monks, Paladins, and Clerics dedicated to Raan's teachings and - formerly - the defense of the Orb of Nursurrmalaeingeir the Frostbiter. These councils consist of the Talon Council and Scale Council which oversee government in times of war and peace, respectively. The Talon Council consists of younger Raanites, while the Scale Council is made up of the elderly.
Culture
The current culture of the Raan people is largely subservience to the Empire of Keoland. While many resent being under the Keoish yoke, two centuries of domination by the Dwarves have left the many human and dragonborn Raanites complacent; it is all they have ever known. The strong warrior-defense traditions of Raan have been adopted by the Empire; to defend the realm means to defend the Empire, and new recruits are trained in the Keoish heartland, far upriver from the Followers of Raan's center of power on the mouth of the Raan River.
History
A thousand years ago, the Kingdom that once stood on the Raan River was under threat from encroaching neighbors. An adult bronze dragon, Raan, came to the area and aided the people in defending their realm. Raan liked the barrier islands and river mouth at the edge of this realm, and so he stayed in the Kingdom, teaching more and more people wisdom in warfare and the arcane. His followers were blessed with draconic powers, and soon the King pledged loyalty to Raan. Eventually, the monarchy was disbanded, and Raan's rule was absolute.
Over the years Raan defeated five evil dragons and imprisoned their souls in powerful artifacts, keeping each one in a separate location. One such orb - holding the terrible white wyrm Nursurrmalaeingeir the Frostbiter - was kept at Raan's hoard in the palace at the mouth of the river, while the other four were hidden in stranger locations. His authority grew, and soon his followers formed a monastic order around his teachings - the Followers of Raan.
A statue of one of Raan's defeated foes
After three centuries of Raan's enlightened rule, the dragon grew ill from an unknown affliction. It is said the dragonlord retreated to his war room with his most trusted followers for decades, seeking answers and aid magical & medical. After nearly thirty years of research, Raan was pronounced dead on the Winter Solstice. A draconic sorcerer, blessed by Raan to be a half-dragon, was proclaimed Raan's heir by the Followers of Raan, and for five hundred years the Raan dynasty ruled as sorcerer-kings, titled the "Master General" reflecting the dual monastic and military role they played.
In time the Followers became more religious while the geopolitical importance of the dynasty weakened, and by the 100s PIA, the Kingdom of Keoland was able to strong-arm the dynasty into paying them tribute. A century later, the now-Empire of Keoland backed a scorned prince and made the dynasty a vassal by helping him take the throne in a coup. In the intervening two hundred years, the dwarves have manipulated the Followers of Raan to serve their own ends, and the dynasty is but one of many vassal states to the Keoish throne.
Over the years Raan defeated five evil dragons and imprisoned their souls in powerful artifacts, keeping each one in a separate location. One such orb - holding the terrible white wyrm Nursurrmalaeingeir the Frostbiter - was kept at Raan's hoard in the palace at the mouth of the river, while the other four were hidden in stranger locations. His authority grew, and soon his followers formed a monastic order around his teachings - the Followers of Raan.
A statue of one of Raan's defeated foes
After three centuries of Raan's enlightened rule, the dragon grew ill from an unknown affliction. It is said the dragonlord retreated to his war room with his most trusted followers for decades, seeking answers and aid magical & medical. After nearly thirty years of research, Raan was pronounced dead on the Winter Solstice. A draconic sorcerer, blessed by Raan to be a half-dragon, was proclaimed Raan's heir by the Followers of Raan, and for five hundred years the Raan dynasty ruled as sorcerer-kings, titled the "Master General" reflecting the dual monastic and military role they played.
In time the Followers became more religious while the geopolitical importance of the dynasty weakened, and by the 100s PIA, the Kingdom of Keoland was able to strong-arm the dynasty into paying them tribute. A century later, the now-Empire of Keoland backed a scorned prince and made the dynasty a vassal by helping him take the throne in a coup. In the intervening two hundred years, the dwarves have manipulated the Followers of Raan to serve their own ends, and the dynasty is but one of many vassal states to the Keoish throne.
Territories
The territory of the Raan dynasty stretches from the headwaters of the Raan River to it's delta, and the surrounding river vallies. The Ringshadow line north of the river serves as a northern border.
In Defense of Justice & Order
Founding Date
c. 800 PIA
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
Raan Dynasty, Lands of Raan, The Bronze Kingdom
Demonym
Raanite
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Palace economy
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Vassalhood
The Raan Dynasty is a vassal of the Empire of Keoland
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