Dragonier
A troubled yet beautiful realm, Dragonier is known for its exoticism and wondrous flying landmasses which was said to have been created, ages ago, by the magic of the Conqueror of the Skies, the Golden Scaled King of the Dragons. A lush and somewhat untamed land, Dragonier has long been native to dragon kind of numerous colors and flights. It drinks in the local mythology and magic of the realm in the form of dragons. Situated opposite of the Sky Curtain Mountains, these great snow-capped mountain ranges serve as the western border for the land. Sprawling woodlands composed of great pines, redwoods, oak and walnut creates the vast forest of Dragon's Peace which is home to several of the duchys, a few small elven realms and bears rumors of slumbering dragon dens. An alliance of several small nations formed the actual nation of Dragonier under a treaty known as The Covenant of the Golden Dragon. Dragonier is well known for the fact that portions of the region are actually floating landmasses that were raised into the air an age prior due to magical effects. Some of the more famous portions of Dragonier actually reside in the air, including Caer Dragoras, the capital city. Due to this they maintain a strong industry revolving around airship design and travel and also often are able to escape the ravages of war on the land.
People, Culture, and Traditions
The bickering that was predominant in the past and that sometimes occurs in the present typically is above the heads of the common man and usually fought nowadays in stately ballrooms or in front of local magistrates. They are a diverse lot but have faced many shared trials that have helped bring them together. Predominantly human in origin, Dragonier nevertheless enjoys a variety of other races who call the region home. Dwarves mine the eastern face of the Sky Curtain Mountains in several quarries. The most populous of these is the Dwarven Enclave of Feld Mor. The dwarves of this region tend to be more barbaric and violent then the dwarves deeper in Khazad Duin but they maintain a strong industry of trade with the local humans present. Gnomes dwell in the foothills of Feld Mor and the edge of the forest of Dragon's Peace. The Highlanders of Highland are a strong and sturdy race of humans. They are not as tall as humans elsewhere but favor lean muscular builds, light armors and heavy weaponry.
The Dragonier soldiers favor heavy armor, lances and heavy weaponry such as large greatswords and bastard swords. A truly intimidating sight, these knights and dragon riders are among the strongest and most fearsome of the armies of the world. Each duchy maintains its own militia but also contributes to the Dragon Armies as a whole. Seven holy Dragon Knights serve as the chiefs of the army. These Knights have bonded with true dragons that have given themselves to the service of the land in the name of their own king, Hyrenstralza. However, they often shake their heads at the political bickering and remain above it whenever possible. In this way, they have historically been seen as a neutral party.
Sites and Settlements
Dragonier gives the impression of a very untamed and primeval land that practically drinks in the local mythology and magic of the realm in the form of dragons. Central Dragonier is cast in a perpetual twilight by the overhead movements of the floating islands of Dragoras and Skyglyph. Endless fields of rolling green broken up sprawling woodlands, great lakes and floating mountains crowned in cloud and storm with sprawling castle towns and great ornate airships providing a panoramic view. One of the most sacred of the floating islands is the so-named Fortress of the Dragon. Largely held to be the traditional slumbering place of Hyren the Great Gold, the fortress is defended by Cloud Giants and Air Elementals and a number of magical circumstances prevent visitors from haphazardly walking in.
Dragon’s Peace: This enormous forest carpets the western mountainsides and the lands beyond in a sea of primeval greenery. Within this great woodland dwell several elven realms, human villages and walled cities and also the resting place of several dragons of various colors. The Wyrm Wood is a place of marvels and wonders, dominated by dragon kind of less intelligence and scope then the true kings and queens of the wyrms. Some of these, such as wyverns, have been taken by daring hunters and delivered into the hands of authorities for the purpose of training and domestication.
The Highlands: The Dragonier Highlands are lands of shimmering lakes and sprawling woodlands and plains that retains a very strong agrarian society and tradition compared to more civilized areas of Dragonier. Here ones strength and worth is measured by the strength of their sword arm. The dwarves of Feld Mor border these lands and the humans and sylvan elves often dwell in nomadic communities or wandering enclaves while maintaining very simple animistic cultures.
Caer Dragoras (Metropolis, 25,656): This beautiful castle town is the capital city of Dragonier and floats upon a large landmass that bears its namesake. A magnificent city of magical study, learning and processions of dragon knights, Caer Dragoras’ appearance often hides the political turmoil that is ongoing within it as various duke lords present their cases before House Dragoras and the line of kings.
Recent Events
Alexandros' sudden disappearance, and with it the vanishing of the great and honored Myrrish king, plunged the world into chaos. Taara's rise seeded the fall, and with no other course left open to it, Dragonier shook itself as an aged dragon shaking its wings, and moved outward to play peacemaker and at times, enforcer.
As the chaos roared, Dragonier, never a large nation, found its recourses sorely taxed. The snapping point came when a Dranei warlord, intent on expanding Dran into the world, stood on a mountainside facing a lone dragon knight. Debate ensued. The knight argued against the expansion, citing the need for peace as the warlord laughed in his face. The world is for the strong, as the bards recall his words and without further debate, the knight's dragon reared backwards and incinerated the warlord on the spot.
In Dran, he became a martyr, and while Dragonier saw the stopping of the warlord a necessity, they also saw it as evidence of how they had been stretched. Too, rumors of an elder dragon's death circulate over the kingdom, and they wait anxiously for Alexandria's return, and hopefully, Myrddion's king.