Concord of Draedis

## History

The Region of Draedis was discovered in 618 I.S. by explorers from the colonies in Callos. Named thusly for the first ship to make landfall in the new discovery, as was the practice for most Virolan explorers. Several territories cropped up in the region from merchant expeditions to noble claims mostly coming from Virola, though some Syrone expeditions did arrive to claim land.

### Formation

The Concord of Draedis is a country made of eight provinces, formed in 1343 I.S. At this point they were disparate territories of mercantile city states, small dynasties and Virolan colonies, but the Concord codified their membership to a greater alliance. These territories joined together to combine their might and resist Brecorian aggression as the neighboring state had been expanding in recent years and each territory alone was ill-equipped to stall their gain.

The two most major powers within Draedis, the merchant family Felworn, and the noble house Rauvich solidified this agreement through marriage of their son and daughter. Naming them the Lord and Lady Protectors of the Concord until there was no longer a need for their union as decided by a majority of the signatories. While they presumed this would be dissolved at the end of the Brecorian War, it was resolved instead by the formation of a new government. Agreed unanimously upon by the signatories, as the benefits of the Concord were to great for them to ignore, and many saw it as a chance to expand their own power and influence. This agreement also placed the Lord and Lady Protectors and their family as the supreme commanders of the Dradirian military in times of national conflict.

### Armada Wars

The Concord of Draedis joined the Armada Wars on the side of Callos in 1413 as a part of the Berich Accord, over growing concerns of Ordelian dominance in the Ivuldi Sea as well as close trade ties with the nearby country. Despite some apprehension at joining beside the Brecorian Empire Draedis soon found them a steadfast and valuable ally in the coming war.

Dradirian military units were involved in the Invasion of Ordelios, and the establishment of the Keel Corridor. Fleets also contributed on attempts to break the Rochau blockade of Callos, and were participants in several small skirmishes along the Ivuldi Archipelagoes. Their ships were primary targets during the Srenith raids and several fell to the Srenin Wolfpacks.

Land warfare on the Draedis-Sren border sparked in 1416 during the final weeks of the war, after the Srenish raids were discovered. The Concord took several key strategic positions, but never made any substaintial moves into Srenith territory before the war ended. Draedis signed the Treaty of Maluna, in 1417, and gained use of the port of Skaldri in Ordelios.

### Recent Era

Since the Armada Wars the Concord has experienced an era of renewed prosperity. Relations with Brecoria improved due to their alliance during the War, and ship bound trade with the United Ordelian Isles has benefited them massively, especially the tariff free port of Skaldri in Ordelios. The needs to repair the Dradirian fleets, and the opportunities for trade in Ordelios have contributed to this recent economic increase.

The most tense relation at this time is the border between Draedis and Sren, where vigilant checks of passengers and cargo are always maintained. Although trade has resumed with the Isles, due to Hegemony and Unified Ordelian Isles control of the market sugar cane prices have skyrocketed. In response both the Concord of Draedis and the Brecorian Empire have embargoed all Ivuldi sugar cane trade within their territory, to prevent what they call a predatory economic position.

## Government

The Concord of Draedis is a democratic federation, with the Head of State, the Lord Arbiter chosen by provincial leadership from amongst the representatives or Emissaries of the Convocation. Edicts are put forth by the Lord Arbiter and ratified or denied by the Emissaries who also include a time period of their effect and must be ratified once more at their expiration. Any policy not explicitly denoted by edicts from the Convocation is left up to the individual provinces.

## Religion

The Dradirian major religion, as with the majority of regions within Validon and Virola, is the Keepers of Fate. A majority of people are at least casual practitioners of the faith, though many are only on the edge of belief. You are unlikely to find any temple to another religion within its borders, though some can be found.

Some small groups in Draedis still follow ancient pagan worships, such as Druidic beliefs or one of several gods or pantheons from Virola, Syronel and Kotev. However as the fate-weaver served as a large component in the formation of the noble houses of Draedis, and the creation of the Concord itself the government frowns upon open practice of these pagan beliefs.

## Currency

The Concord utilizes two unique currencies firstly the thin silver pressed strips know as Strix, and the paper money known as Caldor. A Strix is equivalent to five Caldor, though a Strixchain is equal to twenty four Strix sometimes melted together in a single piece but mostly kept separate.

## Geography

Draedis began as a country dominated by forest, the large coastline has left it mostly temperate though northerly winds drive cold temperatures in certain seasons. A mountain chain buffers the southern peninsula, Marshland separates it from the Empire of Brecoria and rocky coastline connects their shores to those of Sren. The shoreline are not tropical, but do have their times of heat, often though they are battered by chill ocean currents giving them icy winters, especially those bordering the Sea of Berich.