Dragon Kingdoms
The Great Cataclysm wiped out much of the life on the planet's surface and drove most sentient humanoids to near-extinction, with the survivors moving underground into the darklands to survive. The surface was left barren and blasted, with the remaining ecosystems continuing to decline. Eventually, however, this process reversed, and the natural world, now steeped in magical energy unleashed by the Cataclysm, began to recover—only more strange, fantastical, and dangerous. This accelerated evolution would fill the niche left by some absent humanoids, with the descendants of some animals branching into two-legged, intelligent forms. However, while evolution could be quickned by magic, the progress of society could not, and these new peoples remained scattered and primitive.
That changed with the arrival of the imperial dragons. Strange, wingless creatures with serpentine bodies, imperial dragons are bound to a cycle of five elements (wood, earth, metal, fire, and water) which each feed and counter one other element in the cycle. They hardly resemble their hexapodal chromatic and metallic kin, and yet they are true dragons, not mere draconic cousins like drakes and linnorms. It is unknown whether they came to be due to the Cataclysm's magic or arrived on Nerilia by other means. Regardless of how they arrived, they did not expand as broadly as other true dragons, instead staying almost entirely on the continent of Eashinth, and, even there, mostly in the Qiang River Basin, a region which eventually came to be known as the Land of the Dragons.
As their name suggests, imperial dragons seem to have a natural inclination to interfere in the lives of humanoids, whether by ruling over them, guiding them, or manipulating them in secret, and through this interference, they sped up the progress of society in the regions they inhabited, bringing disparate groups of people together to form larger factions. The dragons are not unified, however, and their differing philosophies and ideals divide them just as they do the humanoids they watch over. Thus, rather than a single great nation, the so-called "Dragon Kingdoms" are a loose collection of independent countries, unified only by their shared collection with the dragons that they simultaneously revere and fear.
Culture
The largest part of the Dragon Kingdoms' culture is, of course, the dragons themselves. Across the various kingdoms, depending on the role of dragons in any given kingdom's history, their cultural perception differs. Some are loved as wise rulers, and others feared as tyrants. Some are despised as monsters to be slain, while others are revered as guides and assistants. Some are reclusive and rarely seen, leading the humanoids to wonder at their designs and goals. Some are even worshipped as gods, and divine figures are often portrayed in art as great dragons. Some cultures believe them to be innately associated with the divine; the fact that at least one of these creatures truly is a god (Caihong Long, the "rainbow serpent") lends credence to such beliefs.
No matter the details, the dragons' power and knowledge command respect. The cyclic nature of the imperial dragons has served as inspiration for much of the philosophy of the Dragon Kingdoms, which often emphasizes the importance of dissimilar parts of a whole working in balance, with no one part being greater than the others. In art, dragons represent strength, longevity, beauty, or any number of other traits, and sometimes important figures are depicted as a type of dragon believed to have similar traits to them. In a similar way, great heroes or hated villains are sometimes given epithets relating them to dragons or explicitly calling them one.
History
The first major act that can be attributed to the imperial dragons with certainty is the introduction of agriculture to the people of the Qiang River Basin. While all of the five species of dragons were likely already influencing the humanoids by this point, it was the sea and especially forest dragons who primarily guided them in this endeavor. Those who believe that the imperial dragons originate from Nerilia claim that forest dragons had an inborn knowledge of how certain plants might be utilized to build a society. Those who believe that the dragons came from elsewhere say instead that they already knew how societies functioned, and each species simply applied their expertise in their particular element to building them up. Indeed, it may be possible that underworld dragons taught the new humanoids in the use of fire, but no solid evidence for such a theory has ever been found.
As the natural consequences of agriculture are increased population size and greater stability, the humanoids' primitive societies began to expand, and conflict over land arose. More often than not, these divisions were also along species lines, but the same group of dragons would often watch over multiple communities of humanoids, which helped to ease tensions. In a short time, the people of the basin began to identify more by which dragons led them than by their ancestry.
Of course, with the growth of society came the need for leadership, which was where the first major divides between the Dragon Kingdoms arose. Hunter-gatherer communities tended to be small enough that this was not an issue; natural leaders, often multiple, would take charge and make decisions together based on the group's shared experience. The dragons often worked directly with such leaders or with whole communities. With greater numbers, more organized systems were needed, and some dragons felt it was their place to have formal rule over the humanoids. Others disagreed, or disagreed over which dragon should rule, and these conflicts were often between dragons who had previously been working together, leading them to part ways, compromise, or even battle outright. Many humanoid communities were opposed to the dragons' rule as well, and some successfully defeated their would-be tyrants, killing them or driving them out. Many such battles, whether between dragons or against them, would live on in folklore. Eventually, this period of fierce conflict died down, and the first of the Dragon Kingdoms were formed. Some were ruled by a single dragon, some by multiple. Others split political power between dragons and humanoid rulers, and some were completely ruled by humanoids with the dragons only providing guidance or protection.
Demography and Population
The humanoid inhabitants of the Dragon Kingdoms are mostly descendants of pre-Cataclysm animals, especially the fox-like kitsune, bird-like tengu, and monkey-like vanara. Given the prevalence of draconic influence in the region, it is unsurprising that kobolds are also quite common. Certain descendants of old humanoids are also present, especially gnomes and orcs. Androids, who originate on the continent of Yiaroth, are very rarely seen anywhere on Eashinth, but, being the most prosperous civilization on the continent, the Dragon Kingdoms are the most likely place for them to visit.
Technological Level
While the Dragon Kingdoms are advanced compared to the rest of the world after the Cataclysm, they are nowhere near the technological or magical prowess of the ancient civilizations, especially the Cyrdian Empire, who had firearms, running water, and a great many other technical achievements that the Dragon Kingdoms are still far from recreating. The dragons had the expertise needed to start civilization, but most further advancements had to be discovered and invented on their own, which is a much slower process.
Religion
Each individual nation in the Dragon Kingdoms has its own predominant religions, and there are no overarching trends regarding which kinds of divine philosphies are prefered in the region. For obvious reasons, gods that originate from or dwell in Eashinth are more commonly worshipped than those elsewhere on Nerilia. The Rainbow Serpent, too, is commonly worshipped, owing to its association with the imperial dragons, even though it pays no special attention to Eashinth as it flies about the world.
Agriculture & Industry
Due to the knowledge of the imperial dragons, the development of the Dragon Kingdoms has far outpaced that of most other civilizations emerging in the wake of the Great Cataclysm. In agriculture, irrigation is a known technique, but often not needed, as sea dragons can call the rain at almost any time. Benevolent forest dragons have passed on the knowledge of the right conditions to grow each crop, the benefits of crop rotation, and the proper time for harvests. Some sky dragons have taught techniques for metalworking, and even some of the science of the reclusive underworld dragons has made it into humanoid hands. Still, the dragons' expertise extends only as far as their associated elements, and so plenty of innovations—the best shapes to form tools and weapons into and seafaring, to name two—have been made by humanoids.
Trade & Transport
It did not take long for agriculture to spread to nearby peoples after being introduced to the Dragon Kingdoms, and while nearby civilizations are not yet as advanced or organized, they still readily engage in trade with each other and the Dragon Kingdoms.
Education
The Dragon Kingdoms are home to a great many scholars, artists, philosophers, and other intellectuals, and has schools for teaching such practices. However, these academic and artistic pursuits are accessible primarily to the wealthy. Most of the population have occupations related to agriculture, and neither the time nor the money to travel to distant places and learn about subjects with no immediate practical use.
Nations of the Dragon Kingdoms
These are some of the most powerful and influential nations in the Dragon Kingdoms, but there are many more.
Shao
The Shao kingdom was the first of the Dragon Kingdoms to be officially established, and is still one of the largest. It was founded in the 730s A.C. when the sovereign dragon Wei Jin Long appointed King Shao as the leader of his community. Ever since that day, it has been the duty of sovereign dragons to choose Shao's ruler, and to advise them during their reign. The dragons, in turn, rotate every nine years, all of them coming from the same family, with Wei Jin Long as the patriarch. New rulers are chosen when the current one dies or abdicates, and the position is not hereditary. However, leaders are nearly always chosen from the ranks of the educated nobility.
Most of Wei Jin's family are the model of neutrality that sovereign dragons tend toward; they do not choose rulers based on morality, only on what is best for the kingdom. Even a vicious warmonger may be made a king if the current dragon deems their skills valuable to the nation. This is uncommon, of course, but many philosophers both within and outside of Shao have criticized the dragons' "selfish" approach to nation-building. Nevertheless, this method does yield results, as evidenced by the Shao kingdom's longevity and growth.
Of course, not everyone is willing to accept the dragons' decisions at face value. Despite the lack of a hereditary ruler, several lineages have emerged from which multiple rulers have been chosen, and oftentimes these families feel that they deserve the throne. The Shao are no stranger to intrigue and plots as a result, with attempts to assassinate rulers and manipulate the choosing of their successors being commonplace. Secret, underground wars between rival families have broken out in the past, sometimes leading to the complete erradication of entire clans. Shao monarchs are therefore guarded heavily and taught to defend themselves if need be.
Bailing
With most of its borders within the Daguai forest in the north of the region, the kingdome of Bailing is somewhat sparsely populated. If was established when the forest dragon Tan Shurenhou declared himself king of the forest, and is currently ruled by his daughter, Tan Zhelan. Both of Bailing's rulers have shown little interest in their people, caring only about holding the title of monarch rather than actually governing a kingdom. As a result, the people of Bailing are disorganized, a scattered group of small forest settlements with little connecting them other than the tribute they pay to their queen. The Tan dragons' hoard, which has been growing for centurries, is of legendary proportion, but no attempt to slay its owner and claim it has ever succeeded. If it were ever to be accomplished, the one who did it would have the resources and respect to unite the people of Bailing into a more centralized and powerful nation.
The Daguai forest is a dangerous place. While it is home to a host of benevolent guardian spirits, there are many places where their influence is weak, or even where they outright refuse to go, and the forest's more wicked and monstrous inhabitants hold sway in these places. Many strange monsters and evil presences call the forest home, and while the forest dragons of Bailing swear fealty to Tan Zhelan, her distant approach to rulership means that they can essentially do as they please, a freedom the more malicious among them are happy to make use of. The people of Bailing, therefore, are hardy survivors, and adept at navigating and utilizing the dense magic of the forest. It is not uncommon for scholars, druids, and investigators of the occult to seek out Bailing settlements for their unique knowledge of the forest.
Mei Yu
After Wei Jin founded the Shao kingdom, there followed a period of change, during which many more nations were established, wars fought, and lives lost. Among the first of the other imperial dragons to take notice of Wei Jin's actions was his brother, Wei Lan. Wei Lan thought that Wei Jin was a fool, that the dragons, with their great power and knowledge, should not relegate themselves to merely choosing and advising rulers. Acting according to these beliefs, he claimed rulership of the people near his lair, attacking and killing any other dragons who disputed his claim. He had his subjects build a palace in his name, and for decades he reigned as a decadent tyrant, gathering tribute without providing any service in return.
Unfortunately for Wei Lan, he had underestimated the humanoids he ruled over. A rebellion began in the kingdom's outskirts and quickly gained followers. Led by a veteran hunter and warrior named Song Yu, the campaign made its way gradually to the nation's capital, and although they endured many lossses, Wei Lan was slain. Song Yu became king of the new successor kingdom, which his descendants still rule today, and as his first decree banished all dragons from the land under threat of extermination. After several generations, this policy was relaxed. Dragons were allowed back into the kingdom, but are still banned from occupying any position in government. Doing so while disguised as a humanoid is considered high treason and punished with execution, without exception.
Given their history, the people of Mei Yu are the most experienced dragon-slayers in the world. Even to this day, they maintain an elite force of warriors dedicated to hunting and defeating dragons. They have in-depth knowledge of the weaknesses and abilities of each species of imperial dragon, and the most extensive knowledge of non-imperial dragons in all of the Dragon Kingdoms. Weapons, spells, and special items designed to make killing dragons easier are the specialty of Mei Yu's craftsmen and mages. For this reason, Mei Yu is one of the most feared and respected powers in the Dragon Kingdoms.
Dehai
The royal family of the coastal kingdom of Dehai are descendants of a sea dragon named Feng Ya. A wise and caring leader of the people she watched over, Feng Ya fell in love with a tengu named Ryo Sun and bore a child while in humanoid form. She and her husband ruled their kingdom together for some time, but one day the land was attacked by a powerful monster from the ocean (accounts vary on what exactly it was) and Feng Ya died defeating it, saving her people at the cost of her life. Feng Ya's descendants still possess the powerful innate magic of dragons, and are advised in their rule by a lineage of sea dragons who descend from Feng Ya's brother, Feng Mao.
Owing to their location along the shoreline, the people of Dehai engage mostly in fishing and trade to get by. As most foreign visitors to the Dragon Kingdoms will pass through Dehai at some point, the kingdom is quite connected, with knowledge of and diplomatic relations with many other nations, both near and far. The oceans are home to many great beasts and can be very dangerous, so Dehai's seafarers are also great hunters used to fighting on boats or in water. Various magical and mundane creations serve to make Dehai's boats more defensible and its fighters more mobile in the water.
Types of Imperial Dragons
The following are the five species of imperial dragons.
Sky Dragons embody the element of metal, which is fed by earth, feeds water, counters wood, and is countered by fire. They live on distant mountaintops, but are known to visit humanoid societies often, sometimes for long periods of time. They tend to be more religious than other imperial dragons, and their lairs often double as temples dedicated to whichever god they personally follow.
Sea Dragons embody the element of water, which is fed by metal, feeds wood, counters fire, and is countered by earth. They tend to live near coasts or along rivers, and are greatly respected for their ability to control the weather, a power which some use benevolently, and others tyranically
Forest Dragons embody the element of wood, which is fed by water, feeds fire, counters earth, and is countered by metal. They concern themselves far less with politics than the rest of the imperial dragons, prefering to oversee the physical land of their domains instead. Many also have no involvement with civilization whatsoever, instead watching over the growth of nature, and some despise the progress of civilization entirely.
Underworld Dragons embody the element of fire, which is fed by wood, feeds earth, counters metal, and is countered by water. As their name suggests, they are most comfortable underground where the heat and pressure is immense, and they are thus the least commonly seen of all the imperial dragons in the Dragon Kingdoms. They have a natural understanding of alchemy and how substances interact, which they put to use on the occasions that they do interact with humanoids.
Sovereign Dragons embody the element of earth, but they are not affected by the elemental cycle, and instead posses potent psychic powers. Sovereign dragons are strong leaders, and the most likely type of imperial dragon to rule kingdoms themselves. They have great skill in negotiations and do well when interacting directly with humanoids.
Other Dragons in the Dragon Kingdoms
Just as the imperial dragons are most commonly found in or near the Qiang River Basin, other varieties of true dragons are rarely seen in the Dragon Kingdoms. The imperial dragons are aware of their draconic cousins, of course, and respect them just as they do each other, but among the kingdoms' humanoid inhabitants, they tend to be known only to the educated. On the rare occasion that a non-imperial dragon both settles in the kingdoms and makes its presence known, its perception varies. In some kingdoms, they lack the cultural significance of the imperial dragons and are not treated with the same respect and gravity, while in others, their (relatively) unique forms garner special attention. Of course, whether a dragon is treated with reverence or hate depends largely on its own behavior.
Notable Figures
The following figures are important in the Dragon Kingdoms.
Yang Zhen (female catfolk queen)
The current queen of the Shao kingdom is well-read and cunning. As she is not from one of Shao's prestigious families, she is constantly on alert for potential danger, and tries to keep a tight hold of her court.
Song Ren (male kholo king)
Prince Ren of Mei Yu was a great warlord before ascending to the throne, and he has since been fighting with Mei Yu's rival nations to expand its borders. He is not a popular ruler, as he flouts tradition, and some even suspect him of secretly working with dragons.
Ryo Chi Min (female tengu queen)
Since her reign as queen of Dehai began, Ryo Chi Min has focused on expanding her kingdom's diplomacy and trade with other nations outside the Dragon Kingdoms.
Ye Wan (underworld dragon)
Several decades ago, this mysterious and elusive dragon began periodically attacking seemingly random settlements in the Dragon Kingdoms. Whether they simply enjoy the carnage or are planning something sinister is unknown.
Comments