The Dragonlands

United and Divided

The Dragonlands is split up into various sections, each one guarded by a dragon clan. The exact number is unknown as clans often fall apart, merge, or are born annually. The "official" number is 12 but no research proves or disproves this claim. There are no borderlines dividing the clans. On a map, it is all shown as one giant territory, however, the dragons have somehow made this system work and avoid "invading" one another. I believe they mark their territories and distinguish between them by smell. Another complexity to their system is that many of them do not have names given that it would change whenever it changed leadership. It baffles many to this day how one navigates without getting lost but somehow, they pull it off.
While each clan has its own laws, they also answer directly to the Dracaena, and as a result, many attempt to align to her views.
For a gathering of dragons to even be considered a clan, it must have more than 4 dragons with at least one of them being a Matriarch. The same conditions must also be met for a clan to dissolve. If it contains no Matriarchs or their numbers are too few, it loses its status as an official clan.
The former two cases rarely happen as it's much easier to take over an existing clan than to start a new one and most dragons either willingly live alone or quickly join a new clan before their current one dissolves. The most common is what's known as merging which occurs when a clan Matriarch takes control of another clan. This essentially joins the two together.

Clan Life

When I first saw how dragons and humans lived in the Dragonlands, it came as a surprise. There is a stark change in values the moment one crosses that great border dividing the two major territories.
Dragons place little value on material possessions, something that the human population has adopted as well. They favor practicality over luxury and as such, their homes contain only the most basic of things. Human homes tend to possess more, but not much else. This has extended to their fashion as well. The dragons almost never wear any sort of clothing, but the humans wear clothes that suit their needs and little else.
Everyone must also contribute. For humans, this usually means handling craftwork and construction or other tasks dragons can't complete themselves. The dragons in turn handle the hunting and security and trade with other clans. The old or impaired are in charge of raising the children and hatchlings.
Dragons do not have a "nobility". Even the offspring of a Clan Matriarch are often afforded little to no special treatment. They do not measure one's worth by their fortune or family name, but instead by their actions. Admittedly, I envy such a system in which one is free to forge their destiny, however, I have also witnessed its downsides.
While there is no sense of rich or poor, that is not to say there is no division among the population. Earning the respect of others is no easy task and it is very easy to be outshone by another. Respect is the ultimate currency in a clan and those who do not have it, or worse lose it, are treated as third-class citizens. The "weak" must serve the "strong" in a sense for not only is physical prowess respected, but the strength of will as well. This has led to a mad scramble for power and recognition. Failure to acquire this can follow one even into death.

Clan Death

One of the most chilling revelations for me was to learn how those in the Dragonlands, handle their dead. The distinct lack of graveyards was worrying enough, but then I learned the reason. The dragons often eat the dead or burn them. This extends to humans as well.
It is another tradition that somehow survived the The Great Rebellion, even if it has changed from what it used to be. In the past, it was believed that the spirit was trapped in the body upon death and only being consumed by a dragon would release them and allow them to rest in peace. Funerals were instead large feasts in which the dragons of old ate their deceased followers. Those who committed heinous acts were instead buried to remain forever trapped within rotting bodies to suffer for all eternity.
Today, the practice has changed to burning the bodies instead of simply feeding them their dragon overlords. Some still hold to this ancient tradition and willingly submit themselves for consumption. Human meat is even treated as a delicacy among dragonkind and it is considered a privilege to be allowed to consume it. The first time I learned of the existence of funerary buildings where dragons consumed the dead, I felt horrified and nauseous. But as someone who was born and raised under a different culture and ideology, I recognize that I cannot judge them even if it does leave me with greatly conflicted feelings.
Dragons handle the death of one of their own differently. Instead of feeding them to humans or engaging in cannibalism, they burn the bodies. Given a dragon's natural resistance to flames and heat, it takes quite a lot to reduce one to ash. It is a massive ceremony involving multiple dragons.
The idea that those who are not consumed or incinerated suffer still holds true as well. Instead, graveyards are not places of remembrance but instead warnings to those who would break the law.

Trade and Currency

Unlike the Human Territories, the Dragonlands do not have a typical currency. Instead, they still rely on a trading system. Dragons are very independent creatures. While they enjoy pampering, they loathe being wholly dependent on another. For this, many dragons prefer to handle their own needs or in this case, provide a mutually beneficial relationship. When they need to acquire something, they trade for it whether it's goods or services.
Nearly all transactions take place in Peridian which acts a trading hub.
To accommodate immigrants or tourists coming to or from the Human Territories, there are shops that deal in coin even if such places are few and far between. Since they have no need for coin, any earned is instead stored in a secure location and is instead given to those traveling as a stipend.

Matriarchs

Each clan is ruled by a Matriarch who is always a female dragon possessing a unique ability known as the Matriarch's Call. For a dragon to even attempt to become Matriarch, she must possess this ability. Contrary to what many humans and dracologists claim, this is a remnant of ancient traditions and not done out of spite to "gatekeep" humans from positions of power.
The clan Matriarch rules over a clan until she is either replaced, steps down (which very rarely happens), or dies. In the past, a dragon would challenge the current Matriarch to open combat and the victor would rule the clan. This tradition has changed over the centuries. Now if a dragon wishes to become Clan Matriarch, she must gather enough followers to challenge the current Matriarch. After that, it is put to a matter of vote. In very rare cases, there is an election by combat but only if the loser refuses to concede. In even rarer cases, the Dracaena will step in and choose a leader.
The Clan Matriarch is allowed to lead the clan at her discretion whether it be as a fair and just ruler or a cruel and ruthless tyrant. She is the decision-maker and law-giver, adding, changing, or removing them as she sees fit.

Crime and Punishment

No place is free from the dark underbelly of society, the ne'er do wells who prey on others, and the Dragonlands are no exception. However, it also has the lowest crime rate anyone has ever seen. Dragons do not have prisons even to this day. When someone breaks the law, it is decided by the Clan Matriarch what their punishment shall be, usually either death or exile with the former being more common. This has led to many thinking twice before breaking the law but I personally cannot support such a system given how easy it is to abuse.
Dragons also do not hold trials. The Clan Matriarch is judge, jury, and most of the time executioner. This leaves many at the whim of her biases and feelings. It is not unheard of for many Matrarichs to use this to her advantage and remove those who might oppose her be they human or dragon.
Should a Clan Matriarch be suspected of lawbreaking, a case must be made to the Dracaena. However, most dragons simply prefer to handle things themselves and support a new Matriarch to replace the old.