[center][h2]Imperial Dominion of Vaurgemyr[/h2][/center][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BqEzMNl.jpg[/img][/center][center][i](Ultranationalist elements occasionally refer to themselves as the Empire of Vaurgemyr)[/i][/center] [b]Head of State:[/b] Emperor Vermathysliz und Lymwurm (age 14, under Regency) [b]Type of Government[/b]: Absolute Monarchy [i](Elements of Slaver-Aristocracy Oligarchy)[/i] [b]Summary:[/b] A european-esque land and slaver society dominated by a ruling minority of draconic elites, who were once landowning slavers and ruled purely through brute force (by virtue of being dragons) and now are industrialist-slavers who rule through various financial and economic forces and monopolies of resources - as well as force - and are using this to rapidly industrialise their empire and turn it into the world’s leading producer of cheap goods… using even cheaper slave labour. The majority of the country are either various minorities of human, harpy, goblins and other slaves, various groups of elves that are widespread on the continent (particularly high elves) and make up the Dominion’s fledging middle-class/lower-aristocracy, and the whole thing is watched by the tiny 1% draconic ruling elite, who struggle to take back sovereignty from their Elven compatriots. [h3]Government[/h3]The change in technology in the world ended Dragon’s individual supremacy of warfare and their ability to singularly conquer or terrorise nations. While the ruling dragon minority remained highly powerful, no longer could a single dragon inspire the terror to maintain millions of slaves. Vaurgehm’s empire, Built two centuries ago, collapsed to the onslaught of massed advanced elven technology. With the fall of the empire, the rule of the old draconic and depotistic feudal-bandit style robber barons ended through the barrel of a gun. The remaining territory under control of Vaurgehm’s descendants, the Lymwurm Dynasty, eventually went through a period of adaptation in turn - The remaining Draconic Elites desperate to maintain hold of the lands, wealth and slaves they still held under their control. Most importantly, the Dragons of Vaurgemyr maintained control of their mountain citadel-palaces and many of their deep mines and mineral wealth. As airpower had not yet been invented, the Yllendyr conquerors could not fully evict the Dragon elite from the lands, so permitted them to remain as unconquered vassals. Draconic aristocrats morphed and changed in their societal roles, transforming from landlords to mining barons, industrialists and, eventually even aristocratic-bankers - though they continued their role as slave-lords very well, using their wealth and economic monopoly to once again ensnare the lesser races (and keep the Petty Bourgeois down). The Bank of Wurms for example while not the world’s first bank, is considered one of the world’s first ‘modern corporations’, and the Banking elite would go on to propagate the concept of a ‘separate legal entity’, particularly in comparison to the archaic guild structure of Yllendyr. The Dragons surprising innovation would become a great success, and through their great wealth and influence, gradually began the process of retaking control of their nation and performing rapid industrialisation, even under the thumb of the Yllendtyr. The economic might of Vaurgemyr now grows rapidly with the massing of factories, foundries and smoking chimneys, the combination of corporations backed by a vast apparatus of cheap slave labour has led the Dominion to possibly hoisting the elves by their own technological petard. Today, Vaurgehm’s descendants continue to rule, though they have branched out into numerous Cadet Dynasties ruling various banks, industrial manufacturing corporations and feudal lands, and even have financial interests in the larger Yllendyr Imperium. The actual ‘Emperor’ of Vaurgemyr is but a mere whelp (child), a puppet whose strings are fought over between his mother the Dowager-Empress who took over in a Palace Coup against her own husband; the Yllendyr Regent appointed by the Emperor in Yllendyr, The Draconic Slaver-Aristocracy and Military Aristocracy (who backed said Dowager-Empress' coup), Ellemite Bourgeois and Low-Aristocracy, Dragoon Elite-Slave Interests and even Dragon Ultranationalists who seek independence. [h3]Economy[/h3]Vaurgemyr’s economy is dominated by a tiny minority of extremely powerful Draconic Slaver-Aristocrats, who have transformed from petty landowning sitting-bandits to full-blown Industrialist Slavers. This elite while typically decadent and complacent, exploiting feudal slaves by virtue of their physical strength as dragons and not much else, was forced into change by their catastrophic defeat to the Yllendyr, and so have embraced alien concepts like corporations and industrial-scale manufacturing, replacing Yllendyr’s old guild-artisan system and their own tributary banditry. The ascendancy of proto-corporations has also led to the formation of the concept of the public company, and there are even talks of establishing a marketplace for ownership rights, what they are considering calling ‘shares’. Manufacturing is growing rapidly in the nation due to the opening up of finance and investment, and the economy may eventually overpower the archaic theories of the Yllendyr, even if slaves make complicated manufacturing impossible - Vaurgemyr can drown competitors in cheap labour. On the other hand, the rapid rise of manufacturing has also seen the rise of Ellemite (High Elven) low-aristocracy and even some free bourgeoisie Ellemites, the native elven majority seeing the rise of something never before conceived in these lands; a middle class. This middle class while further expanding the economy is considered a possible threat to the social order of the Dominion. The Elite Slave-Dragoon armies have also grown in influence due to the modernisation of warfare and Yllendyr’s Limiting Treaties forcing Vaurgemyr to rely on these slave paramilitary forces. [b]Industry:[/b] Industry is growing due to the great surplus of investment and finance, however complicated manufacturing remains underfunded due to the massive supply of cheap labour in the form of slaves. As such, manufacturing is typically more simpler mass-produced (labour intensive) items such as canned goods, steel, clothing and other small consumer goods that is simply for uneducated slaves to repeatedly put together. The production of low-quality massed and repetitive goods is extremely cheap due to said slave labour, and as such there are few competitors capable of meeting Vaurgemyr’s low costs of production. [b]Literacy:[/b] The Literacy Rate is moderate to low (40-50%), as while the upper class is highly literate and there is a growing educated middle-class, slavery remain legal and extremely widespread, even a core component of the culture, and as such ‘lesser races’ are both enslaved and uneducated - though there are many specialist and even ‘elite’ slaves with very specific skills such as Slave Calligraphers. Interestingly, the Draconic upper-class despite stereotypes and belief in the impracticality of it are highly well read and can even (with difficulty) write (though typically they have said specialised calligrapher slaves write for them). [b]Exports:[/b] [hider=exports list] [i]-Financial/Banking Services -Coal -Sulphur -Steel -Gems -Iron Ore -Copper -Lead -Nickel -Concrete -Food (Agricultural - Grains and Vegetables) -Food (Canned Goods) -Clothing (Common) -Fabric -Furniture (Cheap) -Cheap Consumer Goods -Armour (Military-grade and Ceremonial) -Bullets -Shells -Trained / Specialist Slaves -Slave Soldiers[/i] [/hider] [b]Imports:[/b] [hider=imports list] [i]-Gold -Gems (Those not found in the mines) -Dyes -Silk -Oil -Tea -Food (Livestock & Game Meat) -Food (Exotic Meat) -Food (Exotic Fruit) -Slave Stock / Specialist Slave Stock / Breeding Stock -Luxury Goods (Jewelry, Clothing, Furniture, Art, Books, etc) -Magical Items -Potions -Heavy Machinery -High-End Consumer Goods -Communications Equipment [/i] [/hider] [h3]Dramatis Personae[/h3][b]Head of State:[/b] Emperor Vermathysliz und Lymwurm [i](A fourteen-year-old goldscaled Dragon whelp, nominally the supreme absolute ruler of Vaurgemyr. In reality, he is under regency and his mother, the Dowager-Empress Ciziebetta rules following her Palace Coup that overthrew Emperor Vermathysliz' father and previous ruler. Suspected to not actually be the previous emperor's son. Surrounded by slave servants and maids of the lesser races, as his mother is relatively distant) [/i] [u]The Imperial Court and Government:[/u] [b]-Regent-Representative[/b], Nolrimi Yirva [i](Nominal official Regent and Dark Elf Governor-General selected by the Yllendyr Emperor. A strict and disciplined military woman who was not prepared for the convoluted den of vipers that is the aristocratic sensibilities, palace politics and decadence of the Vaurgemyrean Imperial Court - and so is mostly seen as a rubber-stamp regent for the waning Yllendyr Imperium).[/i] -[b]Empress-Dowager[/b], Ciziebetta ‘Cizi’ und Lymwurm [i](Former Harem Concubine of the previous Emperor and mother of the current Emperor. Took power in a violent Palace Coup with the backing of numerous disillusioned aristocrats unsatisfied with the previous Emperor's erratic and incompetent rule. De Facto leader of the country, though her rule is delegated between numerous 'favourites').[/i] -[b]General-In-Chief of the College of War[/b], Ghrimaulung und Orthysliz [i](Chief-Of-Staff for the Imperial Army and head of the executive command/strategy apparatus of the military, multi-headed and goldscaled dragon aristocrat and Lord of Ungland-Orthygia (North-Eastern Vaurgemyr). Rose to power as one of the conspirators and the primary figure who led the physical Palace Coup that brought Ciziebetta to power while he was an Airknight Guard-Colonel of the 4th Airknight Regiment. Is one of the Dowager-Empresses 'favourites' and the current Emperor is suspected to be actually his. Brash, aggressive and arrogant).[/i] -[b]Captain Airknight and Imperial Valet[/b], Caphorym und Pamotkyz [i](Redscaled Dragon and minor aristocrat, young Airknight from the Imperial 4th Airknight Regiment achieved far greater power than normal when he took place in the Palace Coup and personally escorted the Dowager-Empress to the Palace. Was later rewarded with promotions and a position as the Dowager-Empress' personal Valet, a powerful position however usually held by non-Dragon elite slaves. A prodigy despite youth, being able to speak numerous languages and well learned in numerous sciences and arts beyond war. Considered a dangerous upstart despite being one of the Dowager-Empress' 'favourites). [/i] -Imperial Harem -Ambassador ??? to the Yllendyr Imperium -Ambassador ??? to the Kingdom of Avalia [b]Other Characters:[/b] -Squad 6 Medic [h3]Demographics[/h3][b]Population:[/b] 75 million [b]Racial Demographics:[/b] As a slaver empire, Vaurgemyr is quite ethnically diverse and in fact is a nation of minorities, with no single majority existing. Its ruling elite is also a tiny minority in comparison to the rest of the nation. Slaves make up the majority (over 58-60%) of the Dominion’s population, however the concept of ‘slave’ is broad, as certain specialist slaves have many different rights, roles and certain privileges that other slaves lack (E.g, the chattel slaves in the mines have far fewer rights than the Elite Slave-soldier Dragoons or Household Servants of the Dragon Aristocracy). Humanity is nearly universally a slave race, as are goblins, who actually enjoy their enslavement (due to their peculiar - and to Dragons very desirable - psychology). Harpies too are a slave race and descend from captured raiders and PoWs from wars with the Old Forest in the past. The Ellempyr are mostly middle-class and minor aristocracy, though a large minority of their race are also slaves - though generally ‘Elite Slaves’, being favoured Household Servants of the Draconic (or their own Elven) elite. Yllendyr are mostly settlers, merchants and aristocrats from the wider Yllendyr Imperium, and besides certain criminal elements are not a slave race. It is illegal to enslave a dragon in Vaurgemyr. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PNvfMg3.jpg[/img][/center] [hider=List of Species] [list][*][b]Wyrms (Ruling Minority Caste - Dragons)[/b] [i]-Literal Dragons, The giant flying fire-breathing lizards. -Wyrm means 'Dragon' in the Dragon's own language. -Once upon a time, terrifying one-dragon-armies, though the advent of guns changed that. -Live to around 300 years, with 5-10 being considered a hatchling/child, 10-20 being considered a adolscent, 20-50 being considered a young adult, 50-100 a fully grown adult, 100-200 being middle-aged/late-adult and 200-300 being considered elderly) -Dragons tend to grow rapidly in size from 0 to 20, then continue growing a steady but still significant rate until 50. Grow continues even after 50 for some dragons, who slowly stop growing once they hit 150-200. -Dragons are carnivores, eating meat... and a huge quantity of it, possibly more so than any other sapient species in the world. They also used to eat other intelligent species in great quantities in the past, though nowadays the practice is heavily restricted and requires certain conditions to legally do in the Dominion. -Significantly Higher than average psychological natural tendency towards domineering and selfish behaviour, psychologists still debate why. -Natural polygamous mating practices -Natural patriarchial family unit model and behaviour, society is however marginally more gender-equal but still patriarchal -natural tendency towards attraction of jewellery, gems and gold. Possible evolutionary importance towards using gold to protect vulnerable underbelly. Alternatively, possible religious significance, or a natural progression of domineering/selfish behaviour. -Prior to Vaurgemyr Dominion, typically were individualistic warlord-adventurers, conquering and holding states and losing them after a few decades. -Soft underbelly vulnerable to weapons, and typically was the main method to dragon-slaying in the past. Military dragons today wear armour, particularly protecting said area from projectiles, explosives and piercing weapons. [/i] [/list] [list][*]Ellempyr (Large Minority, Aristocratic Minority Caste - high elves) [/list] [list][*]Yllendyr (Dark elves, Aristocratic Minority Caste) [/list] [list][*]Valkyrians (Tiny Minority, Half/Half-caste) [/list] [list][*]Humanity (Large Minority, Slave caste) [/list] [list][*]Goblinoids (Minority, Slave caste) [/list] [list][*]Harpies (Minority, Slave caste) [/list] [/hider] [h3]Culture[/h3][b]Slave Society:[/b] The Dominion of Vaurgemyr is built on the back of mass slavery. Every human, harpy and Goblinoid within its borders is a slave of some kind. Elves and Valkyrians are also slaves, however, there are also many free members of these races. Before the Dragons arrived, the old High Elven Kingdom of Ellem used slavery, and when Dragons usurped control of the region from them, they decided, likely due to their inherent nature, to adopt and then perfect this… grand institution. Today, a huge portion of the Dominion’s society is comprised of slaves. There are so many slaves that they are divided into subcategories and slave social hierarchies, with Chattel slaves and Breeding stock at the very bottom, working-craftsmen slaves and conscripts following them, and even what could be considered ‘middle-class’ or 'elite slaves' including specialists such as Indentured, Household slaves, concubines and highly influential slaves such as Dragoons, Slave Calligraphers and other personal servants of Dragon aristocrats... Slavery is considered a core element of Draconian and Vaurgemyrean culture, and the Draconic elite will defend the Grand Institution to great extremes, seeing as Dragons essentially live off slavery in some form or another. Elements of Slave culture can be seen everywhere, from slave collars and chains being nearly universal (even elite slaves wear golden collars, chokers or decorative necklace-like collars), Slave Breeding Pens being common, Slave markets taking in most town and city centres and society having developed a highly rigid, caste-like reverence for hierarchy and authority… even between slaves, in fact, particularly among slaves. [b]Decadence, Part I [i](Inherent Biology)[/i]:[/b] Dragons are, by their nature, callous and often tyrannical creatures. They are inherently seeking to dominate, control and exploit others - and in fact, do not feel fulfilled or content unless this is being demonstrably obvious. A Dragon in absence of this control-domination will become mentally unstable, depressed or even eventually suicidal if given long enough time - though they will typically strike out aggressively and either win or die long before this. A Dragon's intelligence may alter this though, as a rather dim Dragon may be satisfied with being a Prison Warden for example, mistaking it's position as the ownership of prisoners - meanwhile, a highly intelligent Dragon may feel satisfied in a liberal democracy if it tricks itself into seeing its employees as wage slaves. The legendary image of a greedy dragon hoarding gold, stealing princesses and lording themselves over feudal peasants with threats of fire, demands of taxation and coercion of tribute exists for a reason. This is not to say that Dragons are incapable of empathy or are universally psychopathic, but rather are psychologically oriented towards domination and exploitation. A Dragon may be kind and charitable to its slaves/owned things because it makes them look good. In the words of some radical psychologists, they are an entire race of narcissists, to varying degrees of severity. Draconic states that have existed in the past are typically unstable since they were once a singular dragon (sometimes with a small family unit or harem) establishing themselves as a one-person absolute dictatorship, these states usually sucked dry those enslaved until the dragon was eventually vanquished by knights or other heroic figures. It was only when Vaugemyr The Magnificent conquered the entirety of Ellem and established his empire did things change. Despite societal conditioning and changing norms and conditions, dragons still remain fundamentally the same beings biologically, and the modern society they have created (and partly hijacked) reflects that. [b]Decadence, Part II [i](Societal Conditions):[/i][/b] [b]Nobility Above All:[/b] Aristocracy is a dominant concept in Vauregmyr. Blood and hereditary are everything, and familial and blood ties define your class and status. Noble customs are widespread throughout the culture, and dragons have adopted many aristocratic customs of the elves or made their own. The nobility are considered a higher being inherently by their nature and there is stiff resistance to class mobility - a slave can become an elite slave, but they will never be a noble. And a poor aristocrat will always be superior to a rich bourgeoise. Family history is highly regarded and descendants will often have their lives shaped by their ancestors - a son of a traitor will be barred from positions of authority for example. Aristocrats are also provided many privileges and protections not afforded to other castes. [b]Rule of the Disparate Peoples:[/b] The Dragon Aristocracy of Vaurgemyr are well-experienced users of divide and conquer, and use it well to control such an ethnically diverse slave empire. The Dragons pit different minorities and slaves against each other. One way this is done is through using real-life current day issues, such as Harpy culture/religion advocating for widespread consumption of humans, another slave race, to alienate or deliberately spreading and reminding slaves of historical grievances, such as the fact that it was the elves responsible for the enslavement and destruction of human culture, not the dragons (also and similarly, the enslavement of Valkyrians by humans). The nation furthermore uses the complex hierarchy of slaves to cause slaves to view each other as superior or inferior to each other. Dragons have also cleverly devised further divide-and-conquer measures by fabricating ethnic subcategories out of thin-air, dividing, for example, human slaves into "Thoroughbreds", "Mutts" and other supposed bloodline-attributes, as well as even creating sub-ethnicities on things such as hair colour. Fairness of skin is also exploited, similarly to Yllendyr racial positions. Different states within the Dominion also have different racial hierarchies with slaves, for example, the south-west is renown for having humans take a higher position on the slave hierarchy than elves. [b]The Carrot and The Stick:[/b] The Slavery of Vaurgemyr besides exploiting ethnic tensions between different minority groups also use various other methods to maintain control over the vast slave populations. Tactics include fear (both warranted and unwarranted) of outside forces, in particular, the undead of Anhreich and their plague as well as the Old Forest, both of which are considered existential threats and deadly menaces to the common people and slaves of Vaurgemyr - particularly humans who are particularly threatened by both. Elite slaves are also given unique rewards, such as Harpy Dragoons being rewarded with human death-row criminals to eat, or human slaves being provided extra women as concubines (humans are typically monogamous otherwise, despite living in a polygamous society). There are also examples of attempts at provoking loyalty from victims of their enemies own excesses, such as in the past supporting Valkyrians against human slavers. More uncommonly, there are also softer or enlightened slave-holders, the concept of a 'liberal aristocrat' exists but is less common. Another common element of control of the quasi-religious concept of the "Protector-Uniter". Dragons have spread the concept that they, as a race, are necessary as a means to maintain order and peace among the many diverse peoples of the world - who without them would succumb to barbarism and chaos, such as the lands of the Old Forest and Anhreich demonstrate. The Dragons were created by the gods (or are gods themselves) that through them an orderly life of peace is possible. [b]Polygamy and the Harem:[/b] Dragons and the Ellempyr are both races that have cultures that are aligned with dominantly polygamous practices and mating practices. For the Draconic race, this has always been so and is a natural part of their biology and evolution, while for the Ellempyr it is due to cultural and societal influences, first started by the worship of the Goddess Ast (A historical predecessor of the current revivalist cult of Astayti) and then theorised to be reinforced following centuries of Draconic rule and culture. The frequency and presence of Polygamy have acted as a double-edged sword, as while dynastic extinctions are far less common, internal dynastic blood-feuds, fratricidal, patricidal and matricidal conflicts are more common during periods of succession. In terms of Draconic familial relations, the Yllendyr Imperium's War of the Twin Emperors is not particularly surprising or morally unusual. Ellempyr, being mostly equal in genders, even practice polyandry - though this practice is far less common among Dragons (A certain Dowager-Empress aside...) and is considered an aberration. Humans and other slave races are typically monogamous - though some Elite Slave humans are occasionally rewarded with multiple wives. [b]The Slave-Soldiery of the Dragoon Guards:[/b] Standing above most other slaves, Dragoons are slave-soldiers either taken as babes from their mothers or recruited in-house from the children of aristocrats household slaves, regardless, they are trained from a very young age and for some, indoctrinated through methods of drugs, brainwashing, conditioning and gradual use of mind magic. Depending on the master, Their lives are typically ones of discipline and austerity - though in-house Dragoons being members of the 'slave elite' are typically given far more than what is usually expected for a slave (or even a commoner). Religion is also common, Draconic cults of personality are widespread among the Dragoon Guards, drilled into them to worship Dragons like living gods, an extension of the already existing 'Protector-Uniter' ideology that the state advocates. That said, Dragoons are given unique honours and rewards for their services - and senior Dragoons can often be found as leaders in their own right in the military hierarchy. [b]Reactionary-Modernism, Innovation by Necessity[/b]: Romanticism and Reactionary thought are in vogue in the Vaurgemyr, in stark contrast to the rest of the continent which is rapidly embracing rationalism and the enlightenment. Vaurgemyrean thinkers, artists and philosophers occupy an interesting position of both being unpopular among foreign academics for being philosophical heretics, while also having cult/niche followings as they fill the void of alternatives snuffed out elsewhere. Despite this reactionary intelligensia, the actual leaders of the nation and its growing industrialists remain, staunch users of technology and progress - rather using technology and industrialisation as a weapon against its original enlightened advocates, and as means to return society to a far older and 'purer' form. Religion, occultism and abstract and often irrational belief systems are also growing, particularly in the cult movements, further dividing Vaurgemyr from a continent rapidly embracing laicism and irreligion. [b]Instinctual Fear:[/b] The humans of Vaurgemyr, besides cultural and historical reasons for hating their fellow Harpy slaves are also irrationally afraid of them, due to inbuilt instinctual fear and threat responses, evolved over thousands of years due to harpies being a primary predator of humans, who have been eating them for thousands of years as part of their religious practices. This instinctual fear is further exploited by the Dragon overlords to further divide the slaves, though does become problematic when they are trying to get Harpy and Human slaves to work together against their enemies. Vaurgemyrean humans have also evolved other interesting quirks, such as an instinctual fear-response of looking upwards, to search the sky for dangerous predators (be they Harpy, Dragon or even Valkyrian, who while not predators have been enemies of humanity in the past). [h3]Religion:[/h3]Religion in Vaurgemyr is highly syncretic and consists of various cults, often competing with each other and syncretically steal mythos between themselves and other religions - typically creating bizarre fused belief systems - many adopting bits and pieces of foreign religions into them while being bastardised enough to be considered a separate religion. This syncretic nature is likely due to the number of different cultures and ethnic groups inhabiting the country as uneducated but needy slaves, combined with the general irreligion of the Dragon ruling minority, who while a tiny part of the population have the vast monopoly of power and so have blocked a centralised church from forming - though Dragons do tend to build or encourage certain cults, particularly if those cults are built around themselves. [hider=List of Notable Syncretic Cults of Vaurgemyr] [list][*] [b]-Cult of Crom:[/b] A heretical branch of the Crom Faith of the Ahnreinn people, this human faith spread from Anhreich many centuries ago through the few independent human kingdoms that existed in the Pre-Vaurgemyr region as well as Ellem's human slaves. After the Dragon's took over Vaurgemyr, rather than crush the religion, they co-opted it. Through careful coercion and manipulation of human clerical leaders, historical records/revisionism, censorship and modified traditions the Dragon overlords of Vaurgemyr turned the Crom faith into a dragon-worshipping cult. Crom, the giver of fire and giant-god born of a volcano was remade into Crom, the Progenitor Dragon born from a volcano, that gifted mankind the secrets of fire. Dragons are viewed as demi-god like beings as descendants of Crom, and the religion's work and industrial related religious practices are used to support the productivity of slave labourers. More interestingly, however, and as a subversion of the original designer's intentions, many Dragons in regions of Vaurgemyr where Cromism is widespread have actually been converted by their own human slaves to the faith - being entities that are particularly susceptible to a religion that worships them as gods. [b]Notable Practices and Tenets:[/b] [i]-Fire is holy, though not necessarily the sun. -Progenitor-Dragon Crom was born from a volcano located in Anhreich, is the forefather of all Dragons and the patron deity of civilisation, gifted fire and metalworking to humanity. -Ironworking/blacksmithing/etc is a holy activity. Priests of Crom work steel as part of their religious duties. Manufacturing and mining labourers go through religious rites and activities while performing their slave duties. -Eternal fires are a major aspect of Cromist Churches.[/i] [/list] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [list][*][b]-Cult of the Sky King.[/b] Heretical and syncretic fusion of Valkyrian Sky King worship and Cromism. The Cult of the Sky King claims that the Volcano-born Progenitor God Crom and the Sky King of the Valkyrians are one and the same, though they believe he was not born in a Volcano but merely flew down into one and 'defeated it', stealing fire from the Volcano. The faith emphasizes the superiority of all airborne creatures as the children of the Sky King. Dragons, Valkyrians, Harpies, winged Centaurs. Even animals such as birds and Griffons. If this religion was organically formed or not is unknown. [/list] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [list][*][b]-Cult of Elune.[/b] Derivative and pantheonic/syncretic worship of the Elven Goddess Eluna, goddess of the moon. Worshipped primarily by free elves in the north who owed their liberation to the Yllendyr Imperium's army. They worship the Luna Goddess Elune predominately over other elven deities, though minor and syncretic gods are also worshipped to a lesser extent as subordinate deities, including Astayt and the Sky God-Progenitor (see Cult of Astayt). [/list] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [list][*][b]-Cult of Astayt[/b]. Syncretic fusion of Dragon-worship and Elven Pantheonism. Worshipped primarily by the elves not freed by Yllendyr's advance into Vaurgemyr, as well as some humans and Dragons. Fuses together various petty Elven gods and goddesses with Dragon worship, Sky God worship and even Cromism. Worships a plethora of deities with the syncretically constructed Elven Goddess Astayt, a derivative of Ast (the goddess of wealth, prosperity, peace, fertility and safety) at the head. According to their mythos, the Progenitor Dragon is the Sky King, however rather than being the ruler of all things is Astayt's consort and champion. Crom is but a mere god of blacksmithing that pitied the humans. Gold is venerated as a symbol of Astayt, and there are often fire/heat/solar symbols associated with the goddess, in contrast to her jealous (though not evil) 'sister' the goddess Elune, who symbolises darkness and the moon. [/list] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [list][*][b]-Cult of the Wind.[/b] Syncretic Worship of the Harpy Wind Spirits, combined with ancestor worship and the worship of the Sky God-Progenitor, a Dragon God. The religion is a continuation of numerous practices and religious beliefs of the captured Harpy raiders of the Old Forest, and many still continue their religious practices of ritualised hunting and eating of sapient races - particularly humans, though rather than an annual practice it is on condition of achieving certain observations (e.g, triumph in battle). [/list] [center]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] [list][*][b]-Cult of the Protector-Uniter[/b]. The caesaropapist civic faith of Vaurgemyr, it is a quasi-religious ideology that believes that Dragons are divine beings that exist to ensure the peace and prosperity of the lesser races, for without them all would be in chaos. Vaurgemyr the Magnificent is worshipped as a god and his descendants as living deities/demi-gods. This faith is not particularly strong in the sense of actual religious belief, however, many take the notion of the Protector-Uniter seriously, being that without dragons, Vaurgemyr's many ethnic groups would slaughter each other. [/list] [/hider] [h3]Geography[/h3][b]Location/Territories:[/b] Old World, South-Eastern Continent. The Purplish-Burgundy on the far-east coast. [b]Climate:[/b] Primarily temperate, though with cold winters and somewhat colder than the northern temperate regions. Many mountains and hills, with the northern areas of Vaurgemyr being warmer and more fertile with grasslands and fields. The border with Old Forest is militarised and includes large sections of burned down areas and actively cut-down parts from aggressive logging operations. [h3]Military[/h3]The military of the Dominion of Vaurgemyr is, due to Yllendyre’s control and the limiting treaties they have forced on the whole continent, much ‘smaller’ than it really is. On paper, Vaurgemyr supports an army of around 50,000 troops, divided into two Corps of 20,000 each, plus a Naval Force of 5,000 marines and an ‘Air Corp’ of 5,000 air-knights. The 2-corp army, the Imperial Army, mostly consists of middle-class Ellemites and Draconic aristocratic knights playing soldier. In truth, the real military force of Vaurgemyr are the various unofficial armies of the Dominion. These forces include the Dragoons, or slave-soldier elites bred and indoctrinated towards serving specific Draconic bloodlines. The Lymwyrm Dynasty’s own person Dragoon Guard numbers now around 80,000 troops. Officially it is dubbed as a security and intelligence agency, tasked with protecting VIPS and performing counterespionage - in reality, it is a private paramilitary and true army of the Dominion. These elite slave-troops include Aerial Harpy Corps, typically tasked with escort missions from Dragons as well as even including cavalry and hidden artillery units. The Dragoon Guards of other aristocratic families are also quite large, though are private armies rather than under the command of the Golden Hoard (Throne) of Vaurgemyr. Besides Vuargemyr’s standing force, other military units include the 300,000 Yellendyr troops that watch over the country - while not under the control of The Dominion, they do serve to defend the nation from external threats (besides keeping The Dragons in line). There are also the multitudes of millions that can be raised as conscripts in time of war - particularly since a huge number of the populace are various kinds of slaves, and as such can be called to war quite easily. Vaurgemyr’s navy is relatively small due to the Imperium’s limiting treaties. The ships they do possess are mostly standardised Yllendyr knock-offs, with the largest vessel being Heavy Cruisers... Beyond the official navy, Vaurgemyr does also possess a merchant fleet that could be retrofitted into military vessels, particularly Q-Ships. Vaurgemyr is one of the few nations in the world to possess an already existing, and substantial air force - consisting of a combination of Draconic flyers (typically aristocratic air-knights) supported by Harpy Dragoon escorts or lesser dragon guards. Dragons do not typically allow passengers/riders on them (less they be humiliated and disgraced), and instead performing the attacking themselves, though they will include medics and other support staff in their Dragoon escorts, and they will often carry supplies on themselves. Dragons have soft underbellies that have made them highly vulnerable in the past to arrows and random heroes with swords, and their old trick of using encrusted gold and gems fails to stop bullets - luckily, Dragons nowadays armour themselves, particularly said underbelly, with heavy modern armour and other forms of protection, including complicated flying maneuvers and living shields in the form of Harpies acting as a kind of live reactive armour, intercepting shells and other projectiles in mid-air. Dragon Air-Knights with magic will often also use magic to protect themselves besides just attacking. [b]Magic Prevalence/Usage:[/b] Common but unpredictable and highly varied in terms of power among Dragons, who are already armed with powerful biological flame-breathing and flight, which is further supported by magic. Dragons have come up with quite a number of creative ways of making their breath even more deadly than it was normally. Plasma alignment (For Dragons). The Ellemites are, like their Yllendyr cousins, possessing near universal magic of the Liquid element. As a multiracial slave empire, Vaurgemyr has access to the magical abilities of many different races, however, slaves magic is highly regulated and is illegal unless given certain permits. Only draconic nobility is permitted unrestricted use of magic, though certain corporate and state entities possess widespread magical licenses as well. [h3]History/Background Info[/h3]WIP: -Elven ruled kingdoms, slavers -Dragons occasionally took over petty-states as one-dragon conqueror-dictators, inevitably fall to some hero with a bow or sword. -Chaos caused by Yllendyr’s rise/infighting allowed Vaurgemyr the Magnificient to conquer Elven Kingdoms and form empire. Begun quest of continental conquest, however was defeated by resurgent Yllendyr with guns that made Dragons highly vulnerable. -Dragons fled to mountain citadel-palaces far beyond the reach of land-based mortals. Unable to attack them, Yllendyr accepted their vassalage. -Dragons slowly regain their land and dominion over the country and slaves via using their vast mineral wealth. They convert themselves from martial-aristocrats to financial/slaver exploiter aristocrats.