[hider=Ördûn] [center] [h2][b][color=red]Ördûn[/color][/b][/h2] [img]https://i.imgur.com/R8Ja5wL.jpeg[/img] [color=red]Government Form[/color]: Empire [color=red]Demographics[/color]: 98% human Free population: 89% Slave population: 11% [color=red]Population[/color]: 3.6 million --- [/center] [color=red]Description of Claimed Territory[/color]: Much of Ördûn’s western territory is arid or outright deserts, with lush greenery around oasis and rivers, while the eastern lands are almost entirely steppe, with a thin band of prairie close to the northern mountain range. [color=red]History[/color]: Ördûn as it is now is a mere shadow of the splendor of its past self, battered and devastated by the Storm, and almost completely broken. Yet, in the ancient capital of Unar, the embers of the empire survived. The first Shor-Khârai, the High Dragon Lord, took power by force of arms and began a grand campaign to reunite the unrecognizable Ördûni heartlands through diplomacy and, most often, at the point of the sword. It took three generations to subjugate once again the tribes and cities of Ördûn under the banner of the new order, the order of the Dragon Lords. [color=red]Culture and Society[/color]: The great golden cities of Ördûn thrive on mineral wealth extracted from the earth by thousands of captive labourers, as well as the trade of spices, silks, gemstones and slaves, and countless other valuable commodities, while the pastoral nomadic tribes of the East frequently raid nearby regions for captives and riches. The Dragon Cult is one of the most powerful entities in the empire, second only in authority to the Dragon Lords themselves. The worship of Oran-Shor, the Sun Dragon, is present throughout the country and greatly influences politics and everyday life alike. According to Ördûni religious beliefs, the Storm was caused by Oran-Shor out of anger and disgust for humanity’s weakness, and was only stopped by his wife, the Moon Goddess, who pleaded for the life of humans and a second chance for them. The cult of the Moon Goddess is very popular among the lower classes of the empire as a benevolent guardian deity. [center] --- [/center] [color=red]Governance and Politics[/color]: The empire is ruled by the Shor-Khârai as an absolute monarch. The old feudal system which existed before the storm was done away with, and a centralized bureaucracy took its place. Instead of independent feudal lords, the nobility is now a pyramidal bureaucracy with the Dragon Lords at its very top ruling over governors and administrators. While noble titles may be granted by the Shor-Khârai, the title of Dragon Lord is restricted to a select few families in the empire. Ördûni aristocratic hierarchy is as follows: Shor-Khârai: The High Dragon Lord, ruler of Ördûn. Shor-Khâr: Dragon Lord, heads of noble families and individuals of great importance and power. Shor-Khârin: Lesser Dragon Lords, often city governors or commanders of specific military branches. Khârai: Great lords of significant importance, but who are not part of the Dragon families. Khâr: Lords of middling status, who perform all kinds of administrative work and management of smaller estates. Khârin: Petty nobles with little power and authority of their own. Many are junior military officers, small estates owners, or form their own bands of adventuring warriors. [color=red]Technology[/color]: Ördûn is on par with the other advanced peoples of the world, possessing advanced metallurgy and ships capable of sailing the ocean coasts. The architectural prowess of Ördûn’s palaces, temples and high walls are a testament to their stonecraft engineering. Dragonfire is perhaps Ördûn's most well-kept secret; this extremely flammable compound is produced in small quantities by Dragon Cult alchemists through a process known only to them. This viscous substance is almost impossible to put out once lit on fire and only the most deserving of Ördûn's warriors are granted the honor of wielding it for war. [color=red]Military Overview[/color]: It is military might that allowed the Dragon Lords to take power, and through it Ördûn rose from its own ashes. The Golden Host and the Bikhaan Horde are the two strong hands of Ördûni armies, as the former constitutes a hard core of well-equipped disciplined soldiers clad in glimmering bronze, while the latter provides skilled horsemen and hardy light infantry. [img]https://i.imgur.com/DcW1pBB.png[/img] [b]Dragon Legion:[/b] The Dragon Legion is a semi-professional force which garrisons cities, forts and outposts, and forms the core of Ürôni armies. Although their equipment is standardized, the cost falls to each legionary. As such, every Ördûni household is required to provide equipment for a number of legionaries according to their wealth. A rich merchant could be required to pay for dozens of soldiers, while several poor farmers may pool their limited wealth to equip a single legionary. Legionaries lead normal civilian lives and are required to train for a minimum number of days per year. This allows the Dragon Legion to maintain only a small number of troops to police Ördûn’s territory and enforce the rule of the Dragon Lords in times of peace, while being able to quickly enlarge several times over should the need arise. [hider=Dragon Legion troop types] Urd Shor-Mairan: Medium infantry. Scale armor, spears, swords and shields. Kâtal Shor-Mairan: Crossbowmen. Scale armor, crossbows and swords. Innas Shor-Mairan: Medium cavalry. Scale armor, spears, swords and shields. [/hider] [b]Temple Warriors:[/b] The Temple Warriors are the Dragon Cult’s own soldiers, charged with the defense of temples and called upon in times of war in Oran-Shor’s name. While few in numbers, their fanatical zeal inspires their allies and unsettles their foes, and the Cult’s power and influence grants them access to the highest grades of arms and armor. [hider=Temple Warriors troop types] Inurai Arunan-Mairan: Medium infantry. Scale armor, greatswords. Ûraian Arunan-Mairan: Medium infantry. Scale armour, swords, dragonfire bombs. [/hider] [b]Golden Guard:[/b] They are the elite bodyguards of the Dragon Lords, professional soldiers who dedicate their life to service and martial valor. In battle, they act as decisive reserves and trump cards, combining great skill with the best equipment that money can buy. [hider=Golden Guard troop types] Urdai Mairanai: Heavy infantry. Heavy scale armor, pikes, swords. Urd-othiai Mairanai: Heavy infantry. Heavy scale armor, halberds, swords. Ura-kâtal Mairanai: Archers. Scale armor, longbows, swords. Innas Mairanai: Heavy cavalry. Plate armor, lances, battleaxes. [/hider] [b]Bikhaan Horde:[/b] The vassal Bikhaan tribes of eastern Ördûn possess the best riders in the empire and provide valuable auxiliaries in the form of horse archers and vast regiments of light footmen. [hider=Bikhaan Horde troop types] Urd Bikhaanan Mairan: Light infantry. Spears, shields, javelins, various sidearms. Kâtal Bikhaanan Mairan: Archers. Short bows, various sidearms. Innas Bikhaanan Mairan: Light cavalry. Spears, shields, various sidearms. Innas Kâtal Bikhaanan Mairan: Light horse archers. Recurve bows, various sidearms. Innas Bikhaanan Khâran Mairan: Medium horse archers. Lamellar armor, recurve bows, swords. [/hider] [/hider]