Drald Territory

Geography and climate

A wet forest with a split season in the Human territory. It features a moderate climate and three seasons of fairly heavy precipitation. Only the summer has less precipitation, but even that is still about a rainstorm a week. The northern edge of the territory stops just before the mountains of Rak'ang RIdge. It stretched from the Gondara Mountains in the west to Saui Mare Lake to the East. Greenbank, the most southern city is on the edge of Goomi Lake.

History

The Drald Territory was at one time part of the Eastern Kingdoms of Man, with Otore, Rak'ang Ridge, Duchy of Coterii, Gulparia and the Barony of Liefen. At that time, they swore loyalty to the King in Dragonhall, who was under the Emperor. In 4500, the Emperor was killed, but the King initially continued his reign of the Eastern Kingdoms of Man. Within a few months of the death of the emperor, the kingdom of Gulparia broke from the Eastern Kingdoms of Man. In 4507, the Dutchy of Coterii did the same thing. Both of these early breaks resulted in threats and financial hits but did not result in a full-blown war. In 4521, the "Gold Dispute" happened, when Otore started withholding access to their gold mines from the King in Dragonhall. This escalated to a brief war and resulted in another break from the Eastern Kingdoms of Man. The impoverished King, signed the "South Pass Agreement" in 4522. In this agreement Rak'Ang Ridge agreed to pay taxes to the King in the Drald Territory for 50 years, for their immediate independence. In 4553, the Barony of Liefen, in an unsupported dispute with the Gulparia, broke from the Kingdom.

In 4551, the Duchy of Tinvon claimed that the majority of the smoke feldspar mine near the city of Dowcaster was actually in its territory. The King Rose-Drald refuted this and then stipulated that even if it was then the land should be surrendered to the Drald Territory, as his people were making it profitable. Insulted, they took the mine and the city of Dowcaster. The war that ensued lasted 18 months, but without the support of the Dowcaster civilians, the city was returned to Drald Territory in 4552.

In the last 290 years the Drald Territory has been one of the centers of education in the human kingdoms. There are schools in Bathgate, Dragonhall, and Ershall. They train clerics of Tehana and Kawshafa, and train Wizards, and general scholars. Men and women from neighboring kingdoms routinely send their brightest and best to learn here.

Government

The throne in Dragonhall is older than the Drald Territory, as it exists today. In 4221, more than 100 years after the decree to collapse the racial territories, the Eastern Kingdoms of Man was established. The king of these kingdoms resided in the Great Throne in Dragonhall. This was a way to both follow the emperor's decree, but also maintain some hierarchy as the people understood it. The Kingdoms, as they were, were not recognized by the emperor, so the only official nobility in those days was the Drald family, who held the Throne.

The Drald Territoy remains a monarchy today, the title of King or Queen passed to the oldest eligible child when the monarch passes away. In the event, there is no eligible child, or the throne is contested, the King's Council establishes which member of the Drald family will become the monarch.

This Council has made the decision on succession on only two occasions. The first was in 4444 at the death of Basha Cassandra Drald, the reclusive one-eyed queen. At her passing, she had fourteen-year-old twins, but the first-born was also sickly, bedridden for the last two years. Some felt that the gods chose the birth order, others felt the health was a clear sign that the younger should be chosen. They consulted with clerics of Charese, praying that the choice would be fortunate, and they were informed that it had been decided at birth. So, Milos Alfred Drald, the reborn, became king and reigned for more than 80 years, most of it in good health. The second was the selection of the current monarchy after the previous queen passed away with no children. The council set to work and found a second cousin, who while not as close in blood as some would have liked, but with a mother of the Drald family and a Father from the Rose family, plus an incredibly thoughtful demeanor, all agreed with the counsel that Pike Rose-Drald would be the next king. He was coronated in 4699.

The council is a five-member council they are: High priest of Tehana in Drald Territory, Mayor of Greenbank, Commander of the Royal Guard, Head of the University, and Lord of Shadows.

Military

The military of the Drald Territory reports up to Commander of the Royal Guard Ingard of Bathgate. He serves as both the head of the king's personal guard, but also the commander of commanders. There are five city commanders and five mobile, or war, commanders.

The military not only keeps peace in the cities but serves as security for the university and defends the boarder from external attack. The makeup of each battalion is unique to the charge of the commander. The kinds of units you find within the various battalions are: swordsman, horseman, wyvern riders, Hammers of Tehana, Knights of Kawshafa, and Al-Shaali scouts. These are paid and noble jobs, which elevate the status of the poor and offer training in a variety of skills.

Economy and trade

The economy of the Drald Territory is first driven on tourism. The original draw to the area was the naturally heated springs, first written about in 3541, and their reputed healing properties in Bathgate. Over time the springs were fed into a massive public bath complex, and a tourist industry built up around it. The second draw is for education as a result of Dragonhall University, which has schools in Dragonhall, Ershall, and Bathgate. The complex in addition to more traditional university studies, the University trains clerics, paladins, and agents of Tehana.

The Drald Territory also has rich agriculture and a variety of exports as a result of that. There is an abundance of chicken and geese farms, from which they send not only the meat, but also writing quills. Mandrakes are grown and harvested in Greenbank. Ershall has silk farmers, who use the white mulberry trees to keep active silkworms. Some of the best floral incense is produced in Bathgate, probably originally to accent the hot springs. A popular forests, which are harvested for their lumber and are home to Drald fireflies, are throughout the territory. Lastly, the Dowcaster Feldspar mine is still active, with its light stone, covered in thin seams of smokey quartz.

For both the locals and tourists, the Drald Territory imports a variety of goods from the nearby kingdoms. From Rak'ang Ridge they import cucumbers, lentils, and rubies. From Setsu, Pomegranates. Candles and red wine are brought in from Gulparia. The Dutchy of Coterii sends paper, parchment, linen, and hemp fabric. Wild boar from the Sea'ek Tribes. Gold and Pearls from Otore. From Duchy of Tinvon, they import Ale, Rum, Sugar, and Roses.

Society and Culture

Most humanoids in the Drald Territory are humans, but as a result of the university and tourism nearly every race has some presence in the territory. In Greenbank there is a significant community of halflings, many of which are fisherman, and it is also a training ground for Blackbolt changlings. In the area around Dowcaster there is a large tribe of centaurs. Dragonhall has the appearance of a Deva approximately every 100 years, with a ritual and celebration of fortune. The university has large numbers of elves, half-elves, and gnomes.

The largest group of non-humans in the Drald Territory are Al-Shaali Shifters. While they do not like living in places of permanent homes, they are part of the culture of the kingdom. Some shifters do forgo their culture and move into the cities, while some humans and centaurs have peacefully joined certain tribes.

The permanent homes and buildings in the Drald Territory often incorporate the abundant poplar lumber and smoke feldspar carved into blocks.

The air of the cities of the Drald Territory is full of the smell of flowers and incense. The cuisine features such dishes as roasted chicken and goose over a floral salad and white mulberry jam.

Religion

The primary religion in the Drald Territory is to Tehana. At its creation, the university had its roots in the training of Tehana's faithful. His temples can be found in every city, it is not uncommon to see shrines in houses or at businesses. There is a rich culture among worshippers and services put on by the church in every city.

The church of Tehana makes an effort to make picturesque graveyards, with acolytes maintaining flowers and ponds, and giving tours. They have houses for the sick and wounded tended by clerics. They operate homes for orphans and widows so that they can be woven into the community. In the Drald Territory, they also have many unique holidays, which seem to multiply all the time. On example is Great Family Day, where everyone goes to a festival at the house of orphans, bringing food and gifts to eat and exchange.

This does not mean other religions are shunned, just much less popular. There are significant temples to Ktisis and Hoofshaw in Greenbank, Charese in Bathgate, Kawshafa in Dowcaster.

Education and Magic

The Drald Territory is a place of higher education, where study and writing are considered the backbone of society. Even innkeepers and blacksmiths in the territory probably have some formal education as an adult. There is enough value placed on education that those who do not have any will sometimes shield that fact.

The university drives education and feelings about education in the area. Taxes on the people make it possible that those born in Drald Territory can go two years to the university for free, in the study of their choice. There are opportunities for the impoverished to get education for post-education work arrangements. Apprenticeships often have a component of class education.

In addition to the university, Ershall has tinkering school, Greenbank has an small alchemist school, and Dowcaster has a school of magic.