Drecori Kingdom

## People and Society

### People and Citizen Standards

The people of Drecoria have a long history with a struggle of identity. Before their unity at the hands of Henri I, Drecorians were seen by the outside world as merely people from Drecoria. However, in Drecoria this identity was far from universal. The years before unity had not been kind to Drecoria as it had not only been divided but also ruled by the Elves who oppressed all advancements and Drecori culture which damaged the identity of the people. This question was never of importance for over a thousand years until the rise of Henri and what he would call "Drecorians". The original goal of unification was not to gather a people or unite a culture but was instead merely to prevent bloodshed and tragedy which it was relatively successful in. So, when it came time to unification, Henri had to unify a people who never considered themselves to be related. In the north the people had a stronger connection with the elves and were far more traditional while in the south, the people feared change after so long of normalcy. Firstly, Henri united the people on the united history which did work to an extent but there is only so much that could be done in that regard. Next, he united them all based on language as everyone in Drecoria spoke the same language and had remarkably similar accents. Finally, there was the cultural issues which defined what a "drecorian" was. Henri united the people by abolishing physical barriers between individuals such as class structures and the abolition of slavery and introduction of equal rights across the nation. This led to an equal playing field for all and made everyone work together to rebuild a new Drecoria which simply played the game for Henri after that point, a Drecorian became someone who was willing to help and be charitable to others within the borders of Drecoria, someone who has the spirit of Drecori rather than the blood of a Drecori.

### Language and Autonomy

In Drecoria there used to be thousands of languages and cultures which had made the land rich. However, since the arrival of the Elves and Hereth, these cultures were destroyed and assimilated which eventually formed the Drecori language which is a mixture of the old tongue and Elvish with some celestial mixed in. The language is one of the most beautiful according to many but to Drecorians to their dismay it was made through the blood and slaughter of thousands of innocent Drecorians and the destruction of cultures. However, the language prevails unto this day and is the common language with its dark history not being forgotten. In terms of autonomy, the people of Drecoria have more freedom than in most other nations. Freedom of speech changes over time but has been a right to all Drecorians for centuries. Democracy occurs on local levels, but all larger decisions and positions are decided by blood with drastic changes needing to be made by the people themselves through protest or rebellion as Henri I detailed that only Drecorians can rule Drecoria.

## Government(s)

### Administrations and Governance

The Government of Drecoria has shifted over time but in the modern day, Drecoria works as a monarchy in which heirs are decided not by sex, age, or wealth but by one's own skills and the opinions of the grey court and the monarch at the time. Drecoria holds no racial, gender, sexuality, or class bias when it comes to successors as Henri himself founded this idea of equal abilities when he married and freed a slave woman who became a powerful asset to him, if there is a damaged balance of power in Drecoria then all will collapse which has been true thus far. The monarch has absolute say however if the Grey court which is a group of advisors and ministers elected by the common folk and the monarch disagree with the notion then decisions can be made to refuse any decision unless the monarch enacts the "dragon's will" which cannot be stopped. There is a vice position to the monarch which is the High Lord who works as a representative and right hand to the monarch on all issues. Governance is in the hands of the monarch, but a good monarch is not to abuse this power as even the monarch is privy to the will of the Draconic Oath which details "The Dragon cannot take any action that harms Drecoria and the interest of its people. Conflict and War must be avoided at all costs and sense must be the first course of action. But when sense and peace fail, and harm is the only reasonable or quantifiable action then the Dragon must act to protect its people and its interests".

### Crime and Justice

In Drecoria there are eight basic rights in the Draconic Code which details the inalienable rights to Drecorians and the guests of Drecoria which if broken without reasonable cause or genesis then are highly illegal and punishment is decided both publicly, judicially, and administratively on a governmental level. These rights are as follows:

* The Right to Live
* The Right to Die
* The Right to Freedom
* The Right to Safety
* The Right to Truth
* The Right to Equality
* The Right to Wellness
* The Right to Peace

If any of these rights are impeached or damaged, then strict punishments can come as a result with the crime itself having a certain range depending on the severity. A petty thief will have their stories heard and investigated with just punishment being heard from the victims and taken into consideration by a public council, judicial service and the Government who sign off on any punishment or act of justice or judicial responses or declarations.

### Foreign Affairs

In terms of foreign affairs, Drecoria has had a difficult past with its neighbours. Drecoria, in terms of a national identity is the youngest nation in Eura. It formed after the Humanik Empire and is the only nation in Eura to do so in its current form. Drecoria was originally seen as a historical footnote for Eura while issues in Wachia and the forge lands proved more important to the continent. However, Drecoria would not be pushed around or live a history ignored as many made the mistake of underestimating the young nation. The Humanik Empire had fallen on tough times due to plague and famine and to raise national moral, they attacked Drecoria who they believed to be an easy target. However, their believed metaphorical dragons were very real and decimated the fleet. This war would end with Drecoria humiliating Humanika and even taking land. This started a bitter relationship between the two which persists today. Eventually due to civil war, Drecoria lost its Humanik territories and when they asked for them to be returned, they were refused. As a result, the Drecoria would invade the mainland and conquer all of Eura. This solidified their relationship with Humanika as a hostile one as rivals as Humanika simply saw Drecoria as more oppressors for their history. Wachia had a similar reaction but in the modern day, there have been closer moves between the two due to their common rivalry with Humanika and the Dwarves. The Dwarves and Drecoria used to have a strong relationship which they had cultivated until the Dwarves betrayed Drecoria in their empire's dying hour and like vultures, they took what they could. This bred a distrust between Dwarves and Drecorians with many Drecori monarchs vowing to never make an alliance with a Dwarven nation.

### Military/Defence

The Drecori military is divided into five key corps. These corps are the Army, Navy, Dracos, National Protection Initiative and The Order of Black Dragons. The Army functions much like other armies across Eura with a standard command structure with the King or Queen at the head or anyone selected to lead an effort by the monarch. The second is the navy who functions slightly differently as their core command structure is primarily headed by the Azureflames who are obliged from birth to serve in the naval forces. Then there is the Dracos Corps which is the smallest of the corps as they are a leadership formation in and of themselves as they are made up of Dragon Knights who are leased or assigned to the other corps for their services as commanders and warriors with them answering only to those who reserve them and their monarch. Then there is the NPI who are made up of a reserve and are permanently on watch as a purely defensive force made up of mostly old veterans, young trainees, and reserve units. Finally, there is the Order of The Black Dragons who are not a strictly military organisation but are bundled into the category as they work as a defensive and hostile force against Drecoria's enemies from the shadows as a spy, infiltration, and assassin force whose formations, members and history is a mystery. The military has different structures depending on the corps, but all have the common overall commander of the monarch who has absolute power unless this power is taken from them by a military tribunal.

## Economy

### Trade and Resources

Drecoria is not a stranger to trade is its maritime fleet is seen as one of the best in the world and thus its trade is highly valuable and so is its protection services. Drecoria has no core export and instead has average numbers of most resources with metal cleansed by Dragon fire being a key export as dragon fire can prepare double the metals for use in a day than any machine which gives Drecoria a key monopoly on the resource. However, most foods are imported as Drecoria has little land to use as farmland and instead this land is used for farm animals such as cows and sheep who can survive in the climates where bountiful plants will struggle. Drecoria is also well known for its trade policies and its ability to shut down an entire nation's trade in days with the use of their fleet who are often hired by powers across the world for their naval prowess. Drecoria is extremely protective of their trade and anything they perceive as a threat to that trade can be crushed in a day with a fleet of five ships and a single Dragon Knight which makes them one of the greatest naval powers in the world.

### Taxation

Drecoria is known for high taxes in their realm, however they are a looser power when it comes to debt and payments. Any tax that is not paid is reported and noted until paid, this debt builds until it reaches over 1,000 gold pieces which results in the individual losing the privilege to the taxed service until the payments are made. However, this tax is percentile and with a sufficient reason, debt can be avoided as the destitute act was introduced, this brought in laws to prohibit the taxation of those who are seen as struggling or incapable of paying tax. However, if discovered that avoiding this tax through the policies of the destitution act then harsh penalties are made with the possibility of banishment. Tax is an especially important part of Drecori culture as charity is little to nonexistent as care for others is the work of the government and as a result tax that is not used for public support is always repaid by the government. This helped breed a culture of trusting governmental bodies and helping one another with the trust that all tax would help one another in meaningful ways as all decisions of money must be approved by the locals and the higher government itself.

### Technology and Medicine

Drecoria used to be a nation ravaged by inefficiency, poverty and was considered the "oldest nation in Eura" after it had failed to advance technologically and was deemed a time capsule to an era over 100 years in the past. This all changed after unification when with many pacts with foreign powers, Drecoria secured technology and research to advance and they worked harder than any nation to reach the modern era, advancing like no nation had ever done before. The nation in a single year gained 100 factories from none in the previous year which was only rivalled by the Dwarves. Drecoria is one of the most accepting nations in terms of technology and advancement, their secularism has helped them prevent much civil conflict in terms of religion and has had little opposition to tradition except for some small minorities. This advancement has led to Drecoria becoming a very secure and powerful nation who's industrial might rises by the day. This is also shown in their medicinal capabilities as Drecoria lacks bountiful plant foods, however they are rich in plants that are vital to certain medicines and potions across the world which is a core industry and researched heavily.

### Transportation and Communication

In terms of transportation, Drecoria is a land of highly efficient roads and canals. Canals are the backbone of Drecoria transport as they function as secondary roads for hauling large stocks and cargo where other forms may struggle. The naval history of Drecoria has found itself useful for the people as leaning how to traverse these canals, their routes and how certain boats function are a core and required learning field for Drecorians. This industry is massive and works as the primary movement form for most Drecorians, however this is taxed whereas land movements are free and can be seen as safer since ships can sink and some even collapse from ambitiously foolish drivers carrying too many people. In terms of communication, Drecoria has a single delivery service which is the DRDMS (Drecori Royal Dragon Mail Service) which utilizes dragons primarily to deliver packages and letters across Drecoria and the world with dragon trainers and carers being a prized position in Drecoria.

### Agriculture

As previously stated, Drecoria is not a particularly agricultural nation. Their main prowess is in their maritime and industrial trades with agriculture of plants being a rarity. However, they have a massive animal farming industry with sheep, cows and chickens being common across the island with Drecori wool being called the softest and finest in the world. It is an immense pride to be a farmer in Drecoria but it is also a dangerous one as dragons are an often nuisance and can destroy entire farms if not left to eat as they please. However, many dragons have been used for agriculture with dragon fire often being used to cleanse or clear fields and destroy spoiled goods. Herding dragons are common as their flames often scare sheep and they always enjoy their jobs so some wild dragons even mimic working dragons.

## Culture and Customs

### Art and Entertainment

In Drecoria, art and entertainment are not a commonality, but it is not frowned upon by any means. Compared to the likes of Wachia and their love for theatre, Drecoria cares far more for literary art and entertainment. Poetry and fictional novels are famous in Drecoria with the people loving written texts to such a degree that the printing press was invented here for that singular purpose. Since Drecoria has a history of censorship and tough times, writing and expressing that sorrow or intrigue was natural and the people loved it. Today, every town holds a library. Where other nations have statues and memorials to war heroes or political leaders, Drecoria has statues of poets and songwriters. Writing is a sacred and beloved pleasure for Drecoria, whether it is reading or writing, the people of Drecoria love nothing more than to indulge in literary works with ink being the 3rd most traded good in Drecoria alongside paper.

### Architecture

Architecture in Drecoria has changed and shifted over many years from sparsely populated villages to great cities of stone. Drecoria originally progressed in population through the Elvish rule. Drecorians were forced to use wood and leathers for their structures which were common in the ancient era amongst peoples who lacked resources. This architectural structure however would prove useless to Drecoria as their very flammable homes did not survive well with dragons as neighbours. So, after the Elves abandoned the island, Drecorians began to construct homes out of stronger materials such as bone for the poor and stone for the wealthy. However, when Henri arose to power, he changed this structure as the nation went from 25% of homes being made of stone to 80% being made of stone in a decade. This innovation, combined with the widening of roads helped prevent and hold back what would have been devastating fires. This architecture expanded to incorporate both practicality and design. In the south thinner stone homes are used with the illusion of wooden material, this ensures that when summer arrives, they can avoid the heat and when winter arrives, heat remains within when windows and doors are closed. However, in the north, dense and thick stone is used to keep heat in as most of the northern land is made up of snow and tundra.

### Ethics/Views

Drecoria is considered a very free minded and equality driven nation. Since its early years Drecoria has been plagued with tyranny and slavery so when the peasant Henri arose to power, the changed this dynamic forever as he freed slaves, made the military open to all and abolished the power of theocratic organisations over the people. This change took time to adjust to, but the people did change and eventually they developed a national identity of fighting for the right to be safe and free. This made Drecorians a very welcoming people to the point of even appearing radical across the world. Drecorians are seen by some as unnatural and strange for their acceptance and openness as in other nations, this idea of secularisation and freedom for **all** is very foreign while for many others, it is an inspiration to follow. For many Drecorians, they do not care for what one does, merely what that action does to others which is followed by most of the population.

### Fashion and Dress

In Drecoria, fashion is quite a varied field. For most, their identity and persona come from their fashion and how you present yourself is especially important to Drecorians. If someone is looking for a sailor or a fisher, then they will expect physical details of a person to be clear of their role in Drecoria. However, this also ensures that people are very rarely scrutinized for their appearance as most people dress as they are emotionally and their positions. To judge a person for their dress is to present yourself as a negative factor in society which halts efficiency and general enjoyment. Drecorians believe strongly in their national colours with reds being the most common apparel colour, followed by the colours of their town or region. You can often tell where someone is from in Drecoria before you even hear them speak. Nobles follow a similar doctrine, but their apparel is simply more lavish or flashy to show off their importance and status. To the wealthy in Drecoria the people must not only know their wealth and power but see it in the flesh which is done through colourful suits and dresses.

### Holidays/Celebrations/Customs

Drecoria has only a single holiday when it comes to their culture. Drecoria simply celebrate Drecoria Day on the 1st of November which represents the day Henri I became King of Drecoria and unified the realm under one banner. This holiday provides a free day for all citizens to celebrate, spend time with their families and enjoy the wealth of their labour in their nation. During this time there will be massive markets where goods from across Drecoria are bought and sold. There are great theatres built from scratch where massive dragon puppets and brilliant actors perform the Dragon Tale which is the story of Drecoria from the Elves to the modern day. There are fireworks that are used, lit by dragon fire to pack an extra punch. There are lights across the nation with crimson banners and wooden dragons in the centre of every village, town, and city. At midnight, the wooden dragons are set ablaze and for as long as the night lasts and the fire continue, the people continue to celebrate by drinking, eating, and dancing through the night with music and song carried by the wind. This is the day that the entire nation comes alive with light and joy over their shared history, culture, and comradery.

### Religion/Faith

In terms of religion and faith, Drecoria has never had a particular stance on any faith or devotion. In the past before the age of the elves, the Drecori worshipped thousands of Gods but when the Elves arrived, they banished these Gods and prohibited their worship with Hereth being the only worshipped God in Drecoria. When Hereth was slain and the Elves abandoned the island, some of the Gods were worshipped once again but not to the extent as they once were. Drecorian nobles no longer had faith, instead they sought physical power and devoted themselves to their kingdoms instead. When Henri arose, he turned his nation to secularism, no God or theocracy would rule Drecoria. Freedom of faith and religion would be permitted but there will never be a holy leader anywhere near the royal court or in a position of any power. This prevents further divisions and keeps the power in the hands of the King and the King only. However, there are small cults and groups in Drecoria but their numbers are small, and their power is limited with none ever being large enough to reach a national scale.

### Magik/Views on Magik

Drecoria is a very accepting nation and in terms of Magik and in Drecoria, magik is seen as a standard for many. Since their blood ties to the elves, Drecorians have one of the highest naturally magik gifted populations in the world at around 83% of the population holding some magik abilities. These abilities are well used in industry and practical lives with magik being a taught lesson in schools as to prevent magik from becoming harmful for the uninitiated. Magik is common in Drecoria and is not treated any different from any tool, magik is a tool it is what you do with it that determines any action. However, there are limits on magik uses but these are the same for any tool or weapon as to not use it in any foolish or harmful ways unless reasonable.