Court of the Dragons

Court of the Dragons

The **Court of the Dragons** (**Drûkortah** in Dhosak) is a polytheistic faith, ideology, spiritual, and theological philosophy that originates from the nation of the Tanûleng. It is considered the official state faith of the country, and is the only legally recognized state faith.

The Great Hanûlant the official governing body of the faith, in which maintains the territories in which it is on, and is the ones who are incharge of scriptures, recordkeeping and guarding the temples from invaders. They also guard tombs, and other important sacred things. At times, they will offer to police streets to help enforce religious law should it be agreed in some sort of contract (with the exception of the Tanûleng, in which they are not contracted, and are permanently allowed to enforce under the Imperial Constabulary with their own department known as the Harmonizers.). The official language used for temple documents is Dhosak.

The Great Hanûlant is headed by the Grand Priest, who also heads religious affairs in the country, and is the voice of the Tanûlreth's more religious matters, which passes on to other members of the faith, inside and outside of even her own dominion.

## Belief and Philosophy

The Court of the Dragons believes that everything is dictated by a court of twelve dragons who govern the mortal realm, and it is the solemn duty for those underneath the divine Tanûlreth to dictate their word. The dragons are viewed as divine, wise beings whose knowledge is expansive, and is said to have knowledge of everything that is happening, has happened and will happen in the universe. Due to the awesome power of the Dragons, they choose to not show their forms in the mortal plane publicly, and instead, seclude themselves in different parts of the world in different forms.

### The Twelve Dragons

Each Dragon represents a different aspect of the world, and takes the form of different races of which a lineage is directed toward: The Golden Dragon, the Green Dragon and the Fox Dragon. The Five Elemental Dragons of Light, Water, Terra, Metal and Wood. And finally, the Governance Dragons of Stability, Prosperity, Law and Philosophy. The Golden Dragon represents Elvenkind, the Green Dragon represents Humanity, while the Fox Dragon represents the Yaoupo. It is believed that these three people are all one under blood, and thus, should look at eachother as equals, while the outside are viewed as the unenlightened. An exiled dragon known as the Corruption Dragon also exists, but is not revered as apart of the Court.

The Tanûlreth is the one of the two known being that has been able to directly communicate with the Dragons, as she is viewed as the one who represents their will upon the Tanûleng, and is regarded as the thirteenth member of the court, and is worshipped as a goddess in her own right making her fundamentally one of the most important members of the faith. The other being is the Great Priest.

Each of the Dragons take on a different form, some not looking like a traditional image of a dragon, since the word "Dragon" actually means a beast of divine nature, and is also said to be able to shapeshift into elvenoid forms to speak to mortals.

* Worship of the Corruption Dragon is forbidden under the Court.

### Kanqi and the elements

The Court of the Dragons also heavily inclines on the practice of Kanqi, as it is declared to be a part of every mortal’s obligation to learn this art to better protect their souls, their mind, and cleanse evil from oneself. The meditation process is more than simple breathing, but attempting to connect the meridian flow in order to build energy. This can come through sitting, utilizing weapons, working on a particular craft, or particular exercises. Conjuring enough of it, will utilize a certain element, depending on how it is done. The concentration can also be channeled through emotions, though it can also lead to a rather devastating result, as it can become quite untamed and thus unbalance one's individual self. Those who had mastered the arts of Kanqi are said to be the most powerful beings in the universe, though very few ever had.

The elements of the world consist of Light, Water, Terra, Metal and Wood. Fire and Air are viewed as a part of the natural world, rather than an element in its own right, with both being in a constant state of unbalance, in which is to be meditated to properly tame ones self. Beings are born with each element, and must overcome it to achieve balance within oneself. It is believed the Elemental Dragons were born on five different days, which explains the days of the week, and the mortals being born as different elemental zodiacs. Corruption is considered an unknown element that is usually deluded to dark forces, and fundamentally an evil element, therefore, it is banned to meditate with this element. Those born with a Corrupted element are usually outcasted.

### The Stages of Enlightenment

It is believed that if one is to become apart of the ranks of the immortals, and to see the dragons themselves, one must complete the stages of enlightenment, which can range from being extremely simple to life threatening. Each stage of enlightenment is built up by a different trial, which tests the user's ability to control how their soul can handle the elements in a particular way. This process is something one learns when they are extremely young, with guidance given to them by a Priest, where they help them through completing said trials. Advanced training can be done through different trainers throughout the world, some being further than others.

*The Initiate* is where everyone starts their journey. They are usually tasked with helping around temples, study the Dhosak Language, and their knowledge in the basics of the elements of the mortal world, as well as the dragons that govern the mortal planes. When they are ready, they move on to become an adept, in which they begin their spiritual journey.

*The Adept* is the next stage of the path, in which the person is sent on a task to retrieve a special object that is known as a "Trial Token", but it is hidden in a particular location according to the person's element day. For example, a person who is born on the Terra element, will have to journey to a high area such as a hill, or if a person is born on the Water Element, will have to dive into a lake or a pond to find it. The Trial Token is a simple slide puzzle, where if unlocked, the token will shoot magical energy into the head of a person, and gain knowledge on how to use more powerful elemental spells, as well as sagely wisdom from a master. The token is then return to the master, and is destroyed.

Following passing the first trials, the user is ready to begin their road to Enlightenment. There are multiple paths that must be followed, as if it were a straight line, until a fork in the road leads them down a certain path before reaching the stage of immortality. Each of these paths co-responds to the elements of the world, and it requires one to step out of their own element in order to pass the trial. These trials ultimately depend on which element day they are born on, and will follow a particular path, but in the opposite direction. Each of these paths co-responds to a different dicipline. With the exception of light which requires one to not have anything including clothing, the trials requires one to have only a particular set of robes, which they must craft themselves, and for them to be worn at all times. These robes specifically made from a special silk that only grows in a grove near Tanûrasa and the Huawasea Monestary, gathers Kanqi from each trial that they partake in. For the Trial of Light, the body instead gathers it, which it imbues into the robes.

When one passes these trials, one unlocks the path of the *Coalescence* where the elements join within from the robes, and into the overall body. This process will proceed to kill the person. In death however, the elements that killed the person, cycles around the body, which takes them to a place known as the *Akasayara* or the Celestial Plane. The joining of the spirit and the husk will proceed to come together, reviving the person from their death state. This process may take several weeks, or may not happen at all, with the shell decaying as the spirit approaches. This stage is said to be the most dangerous path of the Stages of Enlightenment, but is achievable. In addition to the joining, the element of Corrpution sneaks into the individual, which can cause problems in the future should one decide to ignore it.

Once the trial has been passed, one may begin the stages of the *Transcendent* where they begin their true journey into becoming an immortal. At this point, their lifespan has been extended by over 300 or so years, and is immune to disease, but still susceptible to other causes.

The Path of *Duality* is the hardest of the trials before achieving the finale. Within this trial, one must split their soul, and travel throughout the other planes, enduring the trials of the Dragons once more, with the finale being the four dragons of Stability, Law, Governance and Prosperity, in which, the two sides will rejoin through Fire and Wind, to achieve *Enlightenment*.

There is one final path, but not much is known about this, due to the path being redacted, and anyone trying to think, or even write it down, disappears from the written records. This is a rather hidden secret that no one knows about. It's rumored this is the path that may involve the Corruption element, which is missing from the paths due to the element being deemed as "evil".

## Traditions

There are multiple traditions within the Court of the Dragons faith that is conducted through, as the Court encourages the spreading of it's philosophy.

### Holidays

Each Spring and Fall, there are celebrations to harvests in which the Dragons are praised for a successful harvest or pray for a better harvest each year. Depending on how the crop season is, the rituals are either relaxed or more in desperation. These holidays are mostly dedicated to the Light, Terra and Water Dragons to ensure the harmony between the two is kept, so that the world may produce rich fertile crops for the coming season.

A holiday known as "Dragon Day" is celebrated every Winter, in which it praises the Dragons for their wisdom, protection and courage, praising it's harbinger, the Tanûrleth, and in general, a large break for the peasants from their long years work before restarting the cycle over again.

Minor holidays are often celebrated by the minority groups, namely the Yaoupo, such as the Rose Festival, which traditionally sees many roses, and a goat with a ribbon on it's horns going down the streets freely with children chasing it.

### Prayer and structure

The Court of the Dragons' places of worship depends on what size the settlement is. Some of the larger cities will often have two temples and multiple shrines within it, but more commonly, a singular temple is the one that sometimes dominates the city skyline, or visible. Villages tend to have shrines, while a larger monastery is somewhere in the countryside. Monasteries are usually secluded, but along the road. Regardless of what the size is, each one of them has the same things that is within: A meditation area, a shrine to whichever dragon is worshipped, and an area where incense is bundled for it to be lit. Places of worship are usually swept three times a day to ensure that it does not stay dusty.

Building more than twelve places of worship in one settlement is considered against the will of the court, and is therefore heretical. The only exception to this rule is a thirteenth one located within the Tanûleng capital of Tanûrasa, in which it is dedicated to the Tanûlreth.

Each settlement is required to have an element, and when chosen, the element must not be next to something that it overcomes or is countered by, or is of the same element. This is to pertain balance, and to keep the flow of the Kianqi through the settlements, and to the way of thought of peoples heart and minds. Should a settlement disobey this rule, they are considered to conjuring evil forces, and thus, giving the right to the Great Hanûlant to raze the settlement.

### Marriage

Marriage is conducted in a ceremony that starts at the temple, where a matchmaker and a coordinator helps plan out the wedding, in which what the bride and groom wears. Usually, it is the choice of the opposite person of what they want eachother to wear that appeals to their eyes. This is so that they both may mutually love eachother even deeper than they did before. The day of the wedding starts with many petals being thrown at the temple with the approaching of either the bride or groom, depending on who is taking up the family name. Either will proceed to go through vows, kiss, and carry eachother to the area where they want to spend their time with eachother, and celebrate their reception there. The wedding usually continues for several days, in which they do not work, and instead, spend time together.

A divorce can be made if approved by the blessings of the Great Hanûlant, as it is considered a divine binding of the two.

Polygamy is allowed in the faith, as one may marry multiple partners. However, if one is to do this, they must ensure that they choose a primary partner, and remain committed to them, while catering to their other partners. Consorts or Concubines may be divorced without having to consult the Great Hanûlant, as they are not officially signed on a certificate that is kept by them indicating they are a primary partner, rather, a separate document that details multiple partners, however, is reccomended for recordkeeping.

### Death

When a person dies, it is said that the husk remains in the mortal world, while the soul journeys to a newborn. The Court of the Dragons believe in reincarnation until the person has achieved the stage of meditation where they may ascend into the Plane of the Transcendent, in which they continue their journey there, never to return to the mortal world for many years.

Funerals are usually carried out depending on how rich the person is. Poorer peoples usually bury the husk in the ground in a marked or unmarked grave. Richer people usually have it carried out by either two workers, or for the nobles, horseback carriage, in which everyone wears the color of white-red, indicating death. This is followed by a burial in either a fancy grave or a mausoleum if one can afford it, and their remains given a space. Individual mausoleums are reserved usually for the more elites, or a pyramid-like structure known as a tumulus.

### Gender

All of the Dragons are regarded as genderless, and non-binary, believing the concept of gender among the court is a concept only used by mortals of the mortal world. This belief leads many to believe among patrons of the faith, that immortals may have the free will to swap to whichever gender they wish with powerful uses of Kanqi, a thing that is not readily available to regular mortals.

According to the faith, there are five genders that each serve a role in society that is within the Court of the Dragons' faith: Puro, Pura, Puroa, Purao and Ganai. Puro and Pura are male and female respectively, while Puroa means a male who appears feminine though biologically male, while a Purao is a female who appears masculine though biologically female. Ganai is if an individual does not apply to any of the four mortal genders.

An intersex individual who is either a male or female who posses organs of both a puro and a pura are known as Tadroae. They are considered sacred due to their duality symbolism that is featured prominently in mortal religious figurehood, including the Matron.

## Realms

The varying realms of the Court of the Dragons is thought to have reflect the night sky's stars and positioning. A realm is sometimes also called a "plane", which reflects to existence, though, it is believed that every realm is connected to eachother, and requires eachother in order to continue any semblances of life and living.

### Hamsanra

The primary plane and world in which we all live in. It is also known as Ef’tar. It is home to the Tanûlreth. The Three Dragons of Gold, Green and the Fox Dragon reside here, and are the creators of the highly intelligent Mountain Elves, Dai-Xiu and Yaoupo races.

### Lokranra

The realm of light. It is home to a rather peaceful world, in which green is everywhere, and beauty is all over. A race known as the Lokranrans is said to live here, and are said to be the most beautiful race in the entire universe. However, the side affect is that the plane is so beautiful, that one can go mad if exposed for more than an hour due to sensory overload. However, a Transcendent is said that they can endure the maddening effects, and proceed through this unimpeded. It is home to the Light Dragon.

### Penara

The realm of Water. It is home to many islands, with the water being very deep. It is home to the Water Dragon.

### Terara

The realm of Terra. It is home to a sea of grass, and rolling hills. It is home to the Terra Dragon.

### Dhetara

The realm of Metal. It is home to vicious storms, strange metal trees, liquid oceans that never harden, and unusual metal soil that shouldn't exist. The skies are always purple. It is home to the Metal Dragon.

### Kithnara

The realm of Wood. It is a large jungle full of many creatures, some being extremely long, and is said to have insects that are twice as big, and is home to many pyramids, temples and ruins. It is home to the Wood Dragon.

### Rathara

Also known as the realm of Corruption, it is a world home to the exact opposite of what Lokrana is. It is described as a corrupted and warped version of the world, in which the beings are abhorrently evil, and are said to be cunning, and scheming. Corrupt creatures of varying types may be found here, and a rather repugnant species known as the Ratharans, who crave war, violence and destruction of others. The beings are described to be not quite dead but not quite alive. This realm is often not discussed by many due to Corruption's misunderstood properties, and is deemed an "evil world". It is possible that some of the beings of this world are present in Hamsanra as forms of undead. It's said that a banished member of the court known as the Corruption Dragon resides here.

## Calendar

The Drûkortah Calendar is composed of five days of the week, in which represents a different element. In total, there are seven months, with five extra days distributed every hundred years to mark a milestone.

Different Eras exist within the calendar that indicates a different period within whichever nation adopts the calendar for their respective nation. The year number does not reset when an Era ends, and instead, shifts to the following era. For example, the Tanûleng's history currently, there are five eras that count these periods. The only era that is not documented is the Forgotten 99 Years, which is the era in which over 99 years of history has completely disappeared from all public records and writings, as well as attempts to re-tell the period except through theories. The Prehistoric Era is an exception to this rule, as it counts backwards. (going from negative to positive).

Regardless of what time period it is, all eras are calculated before the Era of the Matron or the Era of the Tanûlreth. This period is always marked as Year 0, and is celebrated as such. Every thousand years, there are five extra days are considered extra time off, with festivities being celebrated, and stress being unwounded.

### Months in the Tanûleng Variant of the Calendar

Days of the Week
 Peneka
 Tereka
 Dheteka
 Kithneka

\* - Canonically, there are in total 153 days in the calendar. However, due to the in-game designation of days being 2 weeks for a year, it has been reduced to a two day month. One can use any number of these days in their respective months to date things.