Valdaea - Kingdom of Dragons - WIP

NAME: Valdaea

KINGDOM AT A GLANCE: Valdaea is a religious kingdom located in the far east. They are fairly isolated from most of the other kingdoms due to the eastern mountain range.  Intelligent dragons known as Valdaean Dragons rule there as living gods. 

SIZE AND LOCATION: Large - The kingdom of dragons is located to the far east. It is mostly built upon the eastern side of the mountain range, though there is a city and some scattered villages upon the plains at the feet of the mountains. Most of its cities and villages have expansion restricted by mountainous terrain, but the kingdom is large due to the amount of land and cities that it covers.    

WEALTH: Medium - Treasure is coveted by the Valdaean Dragons. There was a very sizable treasury before it was taxed upon heavily by a long war with the Mapheri Empire. An isolationist policy had been adopted due to that war, but it has since been removed with the fall of the Empire. The people and the treasury has begun to flourish once more as trade had opened back up ten years ago. 

STABILITY: High - Dragons have always kept a tight rein on Valdea. Through religion the populace is tightly bound to their laws. 

DANGER TO TRAVELERS: Low - There is strict regulation of the streets. Violence and crime is unusually low compared to other kingdoms. Few cut purses have the nerve to be dragged before a dragon to explain their actions. However, some criminal element remains in the shadows. It is unwise to roam unknown streets at night. 

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: The kingdom is ruled by the Dragon King, Macenite, and the council of Valdaean Dragons known as the Council of Seven. Most issues are handled by the various seats of the council. The king can be challenged by the unanimous vote of the council, but that is a rare event.  

FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION: Citizens of Valdea are generally free in theory, but no citizens are free to not pull their own weight. Beggars are not seen openly because the city guard would take them into custody. They would then be assigned work and paid and fed according to the work assigned. Criminals that are found are quickly forced into hard labor, executed, or exiled. There is no overflowing prison system. Religion allows the dragons to keep the populace on a tight reign. Through this control they are able to keep the peace and keep the people productive and fed. 

COMMON SPECIES: Valdaean Dragons are high born dragons, and are extremely rare. There is likely less than ten still in existence. There are also lesser dragons and wyverns, but they are rarely intelligent enough for communication. They are typically used for dragon riders and other tasks.

The main population is a diverse melting pot of many races. Common races include humans, elves, dragon-folk, dwarves, halflings, and a wide variety of beast-folk. All life is welcomed, but there are few vampires, werewolves and other races considered to be "cursed". They are not barred, but they are not allowed to feed upon other citizens without peaceful contract. Therefore, there is not a thriving community of them due to the overbearing strict watch of the guard.

MILITARY FOCUS: Valdaea is a large kingdom, but it is not heavily populated due to its location. It cannot field massive armies. However, it does have a strong force of trained regulars. Military service pleases the dragons, and is encouraged from parents to children as tradition. Most children imagine growing up to be one of the venerated dragon knights, or rangers. 

During times of emergency, a large portion of the total population can be called to arms due to this tradition of military service. Old lances that had sat on the wall for years could be dusted off at a moment’s notice. 

The cavalry is weak since most of the kingdom is in the mountains. Horses can only be kept in the valley below. However, there is sizeable corps of dragon riders to make up for this. Battlemages are rare, but they are supplemented by the power of the dragons themselves during emergency.

TECHNOLOGY: Medieval

PLAYER CONTROLLED: Yes