Economy
Valdrakheim's economy is strongly focused on the mountains, where the people often work with the stone and the metal within the rock. Their blacksmiths are revered for their mastery of the craft, partly because of the fine control that the drakes of the nation provide during the forging process, which results in exceptional quality. The influence of the drakes makes it possible for the blacksmiths to achieve levels of precision that are unmatched elsewhere, producing weapons and armor that are highly sought after throughout the northern lands. As a result, the nation's blacksmiths are highly revered and command considerable respect within the community. They also wield a notable amount of influence, even when they are not directly involved in the ruling councils, as their craftsmanship is central to both the economy and the defense of Valdrakheim.
Law and Order
Valdrakheim operates under a strict hierarchy, enforced by the Jarl's Council. The Jarl oversees matters of national importance, particularly military campaigns and diplomacy, while his right hand, the Master Smith, oversees the nation's forges and his left hand, the general of his army, ensures that the nation's drakes and wyverns remain under control. Thanes manage individual regions, ensuring local laws are upheld, and report directly to the Jarl, with most of them sitting on his council.
Justice in Valdrakheim is enforced by the nation's warriors, who answers to the local Thane. Crimes such as theft, treachery, or dishonoring one's drake are severely punished, often with public service or exile. The bond between a rider and their drake is sacred, and harming or mistreating a drake is seen as an unforgivable offense. Disputes are often settled by bringing it before the Thane or a person appointed to have his authority to solve disputes.
Drake riders are considered above the average person, both in status and by the law. They enjoy privileges and respect far beyond that of regular citizens, as their unique bond with their drake is seen as both a divine blessing and a mark of exceptional capability. While a non-noble rider may be equal to a noble, a noble drake rider stands above his peers and is typically considered to be only short of his clan leader or thane. In some cases, their influence can extend even into governance, where they may act as advisors to leaders, representing the interests of drake riders as a powerful faction within the society.
Culture
Valdrakheim culture values both dragons and craftsmanship highly, but it is far from their only values. Hospitality is almost equally valued, with it being seen as a grave sin to not provide well for ones guests. This comes in part from how welcoming they are to travelers and traders alike, as both are invited with open arms.
Festivals such as the Emberdance celebration honor both the forge and the dragons, featuring parades, feasts, and displays of dragon acrobatics. These festivals are often community-wide events where families come together to showcase their crafts, tell stories and legends, and offer blessings at shrines dedicated to their ancestors. The feasts are elaborate, with roasted game and hearty stews. Music, dance, and fire displays also add to the celebratory atmosphere, making it a vibrant and unforgettable occasion.
Music and storytelling are core components of cultural gatherings, with skalds reciting epic tales of heroic ancestors and their legendary drake companions. Art and creativity are also deeply woven into Valdrakheim's identity. Many citizens are not only warriors, but also craftsmen and artisans, renowned for their elaborate crafts and the decorations that adorn their works.
Social Gatherings and Rituals
Social gatherings are an important part of Valdrakheim life. Community feasts are often held during seasonal changes or to celebrate the success of significant events, such as a successful harvest. Such occasions are marked with dancing, singing and drinking. For more everyday things, communities often come together to help with things such as helping a neighbor repair a house or collectively working on shipbuilding projects.
Importance is also set on the rituals centered around the mountains dotting the nation. Being the primary dwelling of the drakes and where many of the nation's mines are, they are an important part of them and many rituals surround this belief. From the miners praying and carving holy symbols of protection in the mines to avoid collapses to pilgrims travelling to the temples located high in the mountains to earn the blessing of their ancestors.
Drake Riders
Drake riders have a deep bond with their drakes, one said to be so close that they know each others emotions, if not their thoughts. The drakes are considered sacred by the people of Valdrakheim, and while they may not have the intelligence of dragons, they still possess a sharp mind, making them among the most perceptive and capable of beasts and animals.
A bond between a rider and a drake is established while the drake is still a hatchling, with the hatchling choosing the rider. Often communities with hatchlings will make a celebration out of this, with prospective riders participating in various competitions and events to prove their worth to the drakes, though it is rarely the winner of these competitions that gain the drake's respect, but the ones who most align with their personalities. Once a hatchling and a rider has been bonded, the event is celebrated throughout their clan, with the rider's status rising significantly among their peers.
The Forge and The Mine
Just as the drake riders are celebrated above ground, so are they held in esteem by those living underground: The miners and blacksmiths. The most skilled blacksmiths tend towards the Arsier, with their skills at digging playing a significant factor in it. While those that live underground rarely bond with the dragons, they hold their own weight in the nation, as their crafts gives their factions and guilds significant power.
Many mines and forges are elaborately decorated by the miners, from small shrines to extensive engravings and crafts. The forging itself is considered a holy act, and even more so for those smiths who have bonded with the drakes. Their crafts are said to be beyond the measure of a non-bonded smith, capable of creating tools and weapons that possess an almost mystical quality. These weapons are not just practical items but are believed to hold spiritual power. This sacred process involves not only physical labor but also spiritual rituals, such as prayers and offerings, which are believed to invoke blessings from the drakes and ancestors alike. For this reason, the rare bonded smith is considered among the highest authorities, short of only the thanes and jarls they serve, regardless of who they were before the bonding.
History
Origins
A mountainous part of the north, this place was back in the old days known as a nesting ground for drakes and wyverns. Knowing the wyverns reputation, a band of warriors, disgraced by their actions in war, decided to venture into the wild mountains to both prove their mettle against these legendary beings and to gain the riches from their lairs. Battles were fought, and after a year, the warriors stood atop of the first mountain, claimed with their blood and skills. The resting place for the future capital. It was on this very mountaintop, that the band's scribe found a hatchling. Far from the first they had found, but that time, it was different. The scribe bonded with the hatchling, much to his own and the warriors surprise, laying the foundation for the future nation.
