Malachite

Malachite, officially the Wyverndom of Malachite, is an absolute monarchy, led by a Wyvern, inhabited by the Dragon-Born, located on the western central continent of Iristoya, in the north of Xrayven, nestled on the two banks of the estuary of a river that crosses the whole continent. The Wyverndom of Malachite isn't the single one of its kind, having a brother Wyverndom, that of Wyverndom of Crusyra, but it's widely considered as the true home of the Dragon-Born. It's comprised of the Wyverndom itself, and the Wyrmdom of Donslau, a region that united with the Wyverndom approximately 600 dragon-born years ago, in 600 BV.
== Etymology ==
Wyverndom is a specific form of leadership, commonly found only in the dragon born space, akin to a king. It refers to the ancestors of the dragon born, being wyverns, a type of dragon, which had wings instead of frontal claws, but due to intermingling with humanoids, the dragon-born came to be. Malachite is a rare stone, commonly found in the area of Shachuna, and is associated with the ruling family of Wrynite, which traditionally came to prominence through the exploitation of the stone in the area. 
== History ==
=== Pre-History ===
The area currently inhabited by the dragon born, was a nesting area of Wyverns. It is unknown when, but a group of nomads came to the area and settled somewhere south of Shachuna. They quickly become the prey of the Wyverns, the men who resisted being devoured whole. The women were kept as pets, and soon, the first of the dragon-born came to be. 
Over time, as more intermingling happened, and as Wyverns began to die out, their offspring, the dragon born, had more and more humane features, shedding the old wyvern wings all together in the favor of the more nimble human hands. 
Shachuna was birth out of a barren wyvern den, overran by the dragon-born, who, after a period of time, established a community. Shachuna will not be the single of its kind, but it would be the first. 
Early Shachunan history culture revolves around the malachite deposits found in their high-hill, which helped jumpstart the economy of Shachuna. However, instead of becoming a prosperous settlement, its ambitions lie elsewhere. A strong lineage of warriors and strong armed leadership led to a martial inclined culture, and as such a militaristic and rich society.
Documents from that era, like "Rocks and Mines" (the oldest dragon-born text to date), written in 2700 BV, or "Diploma to the Chivalrous Wyvernites", written in 2500 BV, detail some more aspects, like the founder Suppius Wrynite the Ist, or the eventual founder of Donslau, Luclis Arezzite the Ist. 
=== Rise of the Wyverndom ===
While on the eastern side of the estuary, the dragon-borns were just organizing, Diopsidy Wrynite the Ist would make the first steps in establishing the grand ambitions of the Wrynite family forwards, forsaking his lineage until then. Mere Malachite miners, who made extreme profits from the mines, the ones who established Shachuna and its leaders until then, now royalty at the behest of an opportunistic son. 
Despite just organizing, records show that the eastern dragon-borns had a higher level of culture attained, and as such were able to form a city state quicker than usual, forming the Wyrmdom of Donslau in the same year. The two dragon-born states, as young as they were, started to tend to themselves, Malachite expanding its military might and establishing its empire, while Donslau aimed to become an enlightened society.
=== Age of Hermeticism ===
Perhaps the most expansive and culturally active era of the dragon-borns. An era of expansive power and unrivaled cultural development, its the defining era of the Wyverndoms and Wyrmdoms. Starting from the establishment of the two city-states, this era would see them become true nation-states, powerful enough to defend themselves and even expand.
The Wyverndom of Malachite would become the largest and most populated of the dragon-born lands, through conquest and displacement of populations. During this era, Shachuna would also become a fort, with most of the mines having been emptied and now acting as a fortification for the dragon-born kind. Clannite would become the second largest city in all of the dragon-born space, and would become the bread-basket of the Wyverndom of Malachite. 
 
=== Age of Trauma ===
And within a flash, all that development, all that power came crushing down. Elven invaders, seeking the remaining deposits of malachite under Shachuna, came in droves as part of a migration. Initially not hostile to them, the Wrynites remained vigilant and untrusting of the foreigners, while the Donslanite sought to openly approach the elves. It didn't take long for the elves to show their true intentions. 
Making pretentious claims to the deposits, calling the dragon-born "barbaric brutes" , as detailed in "the Day we saw the End" (a stylized journal of a matron at the Shachunoid court), the elves hoped to establish dominance over the dragon-borns. However, the warrior wyvern Aventure Wrynite the IInd refused to allow this to happen, and cut relationships with the elves. The elves treated this as an act of war, and the a brutal war ensued.
The headstrong elves resorted to acts of genocide, destroying the northern parts of the Wyverndom of Malachite, while Donslau, much further south, remained shielded. The dragon-borns of Malachite, much more accustomed to war and proficient in it, fought tooth and nail against the elves. 
Despite the war-like nature of the Wyverndom, the elves made headway, with enormous casualties due to guerilla warfare fought by the inhabitants and the mastery of the dragon-born, and eventually reached Clannite, the last stop before Shachuna.
==== Clash of Clannite ====
The battle which became known as "The Clash of Clannite" would begin as a mere elven incursion in the area of the town of Clannite, situated north of Shachuna, as a recognition mission. The locals would kill the elves on sight and quickly call for reinforcements. The first to arrive were the Donslanite Volunteers, sporting a new kind of weapon, the Sifres akin to a advanced catapult. The second arrival was that of the elven menace. The populace would put up a stiff resistance against the elves, until the Malachite army arrived, while the Donslanites shelled the invaders from far away. As chaos would ensue, another genocide would take place, but this time in a much more grander scale. 
With the arrival of the main dragon-born army, nothing changed. The Elves continued their endless slaughter, transforming the once bourgeoning Clannite into a shadow, not even 1 house still standing. The elven army would pay the ultimate price however, being completely wiped, down to the last man. Clannite was erased, but so was the elven capability to conduct war, and as such the revenge begun.
At the request of the Donslau envoys, the racial laws were established first to legalize the coming storm. But it did little to save the already dire situation of the Wyverndom and of the entire dragon-born space. 
==== Splendid Isolation ====
As the chaos of the now named "Clash of Clannite" ravaged the populace, which wuld not subside until late 653 BV, the reality set in for the Arezzite and Wrynite families. What was once a near-empire, was now falling apart. Malachite would, as such, enter in "Splendid Isolation" in 650 BV, amidst a stagnation unseen until then, as reported in the "Emergency Royal Report" of 633 BV. At the end of the century, another crisis would appear, in the form of the death of the heirless Martiv Lonso Arezzite, who was personally present in Clannite from beginning hours of the "Clash of Clannite" until the end. This would see Suppius Wrynite the IInd, ascend to the title of Wyrm of Donslau and effectively merge the Wyrmdom with the Wyverndom of Malachite. 
What followed were 600 years of radio silence and status-quo from the Wyverndom. The remnants of Clannite fled into foreign land, their story unknown. The "Splendid Isolation" continued, as seen in "The Sachunan Hill Declaration" , in 550 BV, the dragon-born now afraid of what lie outside of their charted territories. Local stability also fell through the floor, as discussed in "Bandid Stories", authored in 400 BV, as the people were fed up with the continued status-quo. 
These problems would prompt the formation of the Green Corps, under Decree Number 670, in 220 BV, seeking to uphold peace and stability in the nation. Another quirk about them is that corps were not under military leadership, despite having many members of the military and acting like a military police of sorts. 
Another problem would rear its head when migratory tribes appeared. Reports begun being made on the topic from 50 BV onwards, starting with "Border Report Number 250, sector Donslau". This issue has its roots in a new global migration named by the locals as the "Comet Migration". Regardless, the dragon-borns refused to change their policy of "Splendid Isolation" and faced challenges with these migrators and displace natives.
=== Wrynite Imposition ===
Without notice, Lyako Wrynite, the 9th Wyvern of Malachite, would be assassinated in his own castle in Shachuna. This would leave the young and inexperienced Viridian Wrynite the Ist at the helm of a fallen country. However, a pretender appeared, citing his experience and influence, hoping to usurp the young wyvern. His name was Markol Trudinite.
At the same time, the recently deceased heirless Ferlan Arezzite, Wyrm of Donslau, would be replaced by Magrelius É. Pfáuglite, a wealthy local baron. The Donslanites didn't appreciate the the change, and as such demanded for him to step down. Pressured from within, he allowed a complete outsider, with fringe ties to Arezzite lineage, Giorgio P.J. Arezzite, to take the position.
He would be the one to expose the seemingly innocuous series of coincidences as a full blown conspiracy against the well being of the nation, aptly named "The Trudinite Affair". This quickly escalated, and at the request of the wyvern, the Green Corps would arrest Trudinite and his clique, including Magrelius É. Pfáuglite. Seeing the arrests, Giorgio P.J. Arezzite would step down from his position, in the interest of peace.
The young Viridian, would, however, reinstate him, and force the execution of the conspirators, and through a speech impose himself as the authoritarian leader of the Nation. 
=== Age of Modernity ===
Viridian Wrynite quickly cemented his position, and at the request of his new subordinate, Giorgio P.J. Arezzite, he finally ended the "Splendid Isolation" and began to modernize the nation, amidst of a flurry of migrations, an untannable borders. This opening to the world would finally have them reconnect with the remnants of Clannite, now organized in the "Wyverndom of Crusyra". These dragon-borns would, at their own request, become the vassals of the Wyverndom of Malachite.
==== Sacryth Raids ====
Problems would arise with the southern neighbors of Crusyra, which claimed that their holy-land was trespassed over by the dragon-borns. They would initiate raids against Sacryth, which would always result in a counter-raid against them from the Malachite Armed Forces. This kind of back and forth would continue, resulting in the southerners throwing war threats around. The ire of the international scene would finally see them rethink their actions and come forth to ask for an informal truce, which to this day has been respected. 
==== Untannable Frontier ====
Donslau's borders, ever since the later stages of the Age of Trauma, had become severely strained. A new age of migration was on the world of Abexilas and as such, many peoples become to move from one place to another. The east felt it the most, as the kavars would be the first to come in contact with the dragon-born. They would carve a new nation south of the Wyverndom, and its borders would conflict with those of Donslau. However, while violence didn't happen on a major scale, it would only be after the Wrynite Imposition that the border problems would finally subside, as Giorgio Wrynite quickly negotiated with the displaced natives in the area for a land settlement. This, while avoiding conflict and the quick deterioration of relations with their southern neighbor of Ashkavar, would not go so smoothly domestically, being seen by others as a bad move. 
==== Anti-Elvan sentiment ====
The Age of Trauma is still somewhat fresh in the minds of many. The elven crimes are not yet forgotten. But, it would be a while after the start of the Age of Modernity that a horrible realization set in. The Elven menace was still here, even after 700 years. Their discovery would first happen in the south of Donslau, when a predominantly elven settlement under the name of Azotlau would make its appearance. Skirmishes would begin along the border and soon, the whole state of Azeraan and its full extent was revealed to the Malachites. From south to north, along the coast, these heathens were everywhere. Another predominantly elven settlement was found, and this time it angered the whole Wyverndom itself. On the carcass of Old Clannite, the Azeraani had built another elven settlement, as if to spite the dragon born and spit on their history.
Originally, pushback against the authoritarian Wyvern existed, and manifested itself very vocally. After the discovery of the elves south of Donslau, and the ensuing raids, a deal was reached between the human leadership of the Azeraan state and the dragon born, the Azeraani retreating the settlements north of Donslau. While this brought an end to the raiding, the situation would not last. When the discovery of the desecration of Old Clannite was made apparent, all good will, even from those that wished for peace, was gone. 
== Government ==
The Wyverndom follows the tenants of Wrynite Enlightened Absolutism, with most of the power being concentrated into the hands of a authoritarian Wyvern, with massive military powers. However, the wyvern has 2 advisory bodies, the Royal Court, his nobles, and the Senate, made up by senators.
=== Legislative procedure ===
The Wyvern will begin the procedure to pass a bill/directive/decree/etc. While the Wyvern can bypass such bills without consulting the advisory bodies, it is to be done in emergency cases only, or he risks the ire of the other two advisory bodies. He can also propose bills that are brought forward to him by either senator or royal courtier.
Then the bill is passed to the Royal Court which deliberates on the issue, casting its vote for or against it, and then, finally, the bill comes forward to the Senate. The Senate deliberates on it as well, and then it passes or it fails. Any outcome, can be vetoed by any of the 3 bodies, be the Wyvern, the Royal Court, or the Senate. 
=== Wyvern ===
The monarch of the Wyverndom of Malachite. Akin to a king, he has absolute power over the realm and its peoples. He rules through delegates and the two advisory bodies. 
=== Advisors ===
The royal court, made up of the wyvern's must trusted aides and nobles, it advises the wyvern on issues of state, and has done so for many years.
The senate is made up by senators, they have the same power as the royal court. It is a newly created institution, meant to better connect the ruling class of the realm with its ordinary citizens. Senators are civilians, or nobles, who own a party/organization with a certain amount of members.
=== Racial Laws ===
While much of other legislative acts, decrees and the such, have faded with time and/or been slowly phased out, the Racial Laws instated after the "Clash of Clannite" remained in usage, and changed over time, to accommodate with the changing times. 
Originally, the laws only stated the express interdiction of the elven race, and any derivate/mixed breed that was of elven origin, within the national territories with the addition of a "kill on sight" policy. This helped eradicate and drive out the elven population within the Wyverndom, and also extended to other dragon born communities (like the Wyrmdom of Donslau and Wyverndom of Crusyra).
After the complete elven ban, many in wyverns inner circle pushed for more and more radical changes, and eventually brought in divisions along physical attributes and origin of birth. The consideration was, that some physical attributes are more pure and noble than others, and/or the lack of some features showed signs of genetic mutations that strayed away from their distant wyvern past. That's why dragon horned individuals are seen as the ideal, while mixed and completely different races, while able to be part of Malachite society, are heavily discriminated against.
The Blue Horns are a rare genetic mutation that can occur only in the dragon horned, and it can be achieved via a special and very specific diet. This diet is only known to the royal family, and can only be used by the heirs to the Wyvern throne. If there is to be any straying from this tradition, the consequences are to be lethal.
== Organizations ==
=== Crossed Wyvern Organization ===
As the racial laws are still being upheld, many dragon-borns are still unsatisfied with the current state of affairs. They mandate for an even harsher policies, and a full on purist ideology. The Crossed Wyvern Organization is made up of those individuals, which wish for the instalment of a white horned society. Quite insignificant as of right now, they are led by the son of Magrelius É. Pfáuglite, Luca E. Pfáuglite.
=== Wyvern-National Rejuvenist Front ===
Birthed from the political machinations of Giorgio P.J. Arezzite, the WNRF is a center-left organization, pushing for continuous reform, for welfare and administrative reshuffling, the equalization of rights between the many races in the country (while maintaining the elven racial laws). An interesting side of their politics is their pro-military and fervent nationalistic beliefs, which are unique on their bloc. They believe that the nation has to be "rejuvenated back to its glory", and that every citizen has to contribute and enjoy the fruits of such glory. The party members are mostly made up of intellectuals and ideologues, considered the vanguard of "modernization" of the dragon-born society, but its often debated if its Arezzite or the party who wants this "modernity".
Category:Iristoya
Category:Abexilas