Dragon Kingdom of Sicair

The **Dragon Kingdom of Sicair**, also simply known as Sicair or the Dragon Kingdom, is the southernmost realm in Antagarich and occupies the majority of the peninsula that it gives a name to. The realm controls vast swathes of the Myryth desert but also many oasis towns, savannahs and arid grasslands, as well as lush coastal forests and plains. It is one of the three most powerful realms in Antagarich, alongside the Kingdom of the Westerlands and Lanthyrian Empire.

## History

### Mythology

The early Sicairi civilisation is believed to have formed in the early centuries of the Second Era, founding their first city in an arid valley known today as the Valley of Golden Wings. Their early civilisation underwent periods of starvation caused by the arid conditions and scorching Sicairi heat, with comfort being found in the worship of a colossal golden dragon that lived in the valley - Sicairzement. The early Sicairis provided the dragon with offerings and sacrifices even though they themselves had little to support their civilisation, leading Sicairzement to create the Dragon River by tearing earth and rock apart with his titanic claws, redirecting streams to flow through the valley which transformed it into a lush paradise.

As thanks, the early Sicairis adopted the first part of the dragon's name as their own, and erected a temple in his honour (the Dragon Temple of Sicair). Sicairzement would watch over the civilisation for an additional millennia, observing their growth and progress, and often polymorphing into a man to provide guidance to its rulers who - out of respect for their God - took the appendix -zement, a tradition that is still in use today with all Sicairi kings and queens ending their names with -zement.

During his lifetime, Sicairzement passed down many commandments to his worshippers and ordered the creation of many lasting institutions such as the Order of Warriors which later evolved into the warrior-missionaries of the Dragon Order. The commandments issued by the dragon were few but remain as common law to this day:

1. The life of a dragon is sacred and must be allowed to run its natural course, those who bring harm to dragons must be put to the sword.
2. The sites upon which dragons have perished are sacred, tombs of a different time. Bring death to those who desecrate them.
3. Offerings of metals, gemstones, livestock, man or otherwise, must be made to dragons within the temples you are to erect.
4. Seek out dragons in the world, protect them and their dwellings or bring them to live within the temples dedicated to them.

During Sicairzement's watch over the civilisation a number of other dragons would come to the valley to live in the Dragon Temple erected by the Sicairis, leading to the expansion and construction of new temples. Among these dragons would be a black dragon known as Syskiatheus, later known as the Great Betrayer. Syskiatheus, envious of the devotion the Sicairi showed Sicairzement, would slay the golden dragon during the late Second Era in an attempt to usurp his throne as the chief God. The remaining dragons and the Sicairi people, greatly saddened and enraged, would put Syskiatheus to death - breaking the first commandment - and later descaled and cooked his body with herbs and spices. He was later devoured. The Great Betrayer would forever be enshrined in Sicairi tapestry as a malevolent force that sought out to usurp the greatest of Gods, his skeletal remains would be chiselled away and used to make ornate artwork.

Shortly before his death Sicairzement would father a son with a woman called Aisha (sometimes known as Aisa or Isis) while polymorphing. His son, Sasra, would be half man half God, the first divine King of Sicair and the founder of the Sicairzement dynasty. Sasra would ascend to the throne upon reaching adulthood in Year 3781 of the Second Era, becoming Sasrazement, the God-King of Sicair, and would later feast on Syskiatheus' body after the black dragon slayed his father in an attempted coup. The God-King would father a daughter, Alasia, who become the first Queen of Sicair in Year 93 of the Third Era. To date, all Sicairi monarchs possessed Sicairzement's blood and were able to live far beyond the natural lifespan of man.

## Government and Society

### Divine Monarchy

The rulers of Sicair have all been divine, being the descendants of the dragon Sicairzement who was the first God and is still the prevailing chief God of the wider draconic pantheon. The kingdom is thus governed by a living demigod. All laws are decided upon by a conclave of the God-King, leading figures of the Dragon Order (clergy) and members of the aristocracy, as well as the Hand of the Dragon: appointed advisor-bureaucrat responsible for handling everyday administration in the absence of the God-King and, should the need arise, acting in the King's stead. The Dragon Order holds immense power in Sicair, and the warrior-missionaries fulfil many internal law and order duties and a select few are the dynasty's personal bodyguard.

### Characteristics of the Sicairzement Dynasty

Tracing their lineage to the golden dragon Sicairzement, the royal dynasty bearing his name is considered to be living and breathing Gods with divine right to rule over the realm. They share the dragon's longevity and polymorphing abilities, with every true descendant of Sicairzement able to surpass the natural lifespan of a man by decades if not centuries and being able to polymorph into a golden dragon. Traditionally, when the monarch steps down to allow their son or daughter to take over, they would polymorph and fly to the highest level of the Dragon Temple where Sicairzement's remains are entombed. There they would live until they die, being taken care of during the remaining years of their life.

Sasrazement was known to have golden eyes and scales covering his neck and upper body, as well as golden hair and the immense physical prowess. His daughter, Alasia, was said to be able to breathe fire and too had golden eyes and scales. Most if not all Sicairi monarchs have had noticeable golden draconic features such as golden eyes, scales or hair, some had stronger unseen traits such as telepathy or superior physical prowess. The most iconic trait of all Sicairi monarchs has been increased longevity and polymorphing.

Starting in the late Third Era, the royal dynasty began to increasingly engage in inbreeding to preserve their draconic bloodline. This practice declined before the Cataclysm but remerged again after 200AC. The current God-King, Jasrazement, is the product of incest between a God-King Jalalzement III and Queen-Mother Zeyna - a son and mother.

### Great Houses of Sicair

Alongside the royal dynasty of Sicairzement the realm is administered by the Great Houses and their many vassals, much like any feudal realm. All Great Houses are descendants of an ancient dragon, much like the royal dynasty, but do not have the same divine status or polymorphing ability as the royalty does because of centuries of diluting their blood with non-draconic blood. The Great Houses of Sicair include:

* House Jalal of Mahmakh, red dragon
* House Karzarim of Zakat. blue dragon
* House Afzal of Sekhmet, brown dragon
* House Elbaz of Basaren, brown dragon
* House Shaer of Sereen, white dragon
* House Matin of Sayyid, green dragon
* House Shevata of Asamir, black dragon

### Hierarchy

There is a strict hierarchal system in Sicair that denotes the difference between a master, a servant and a slave.

1. The Sicairzement royal dynasty, the divine rulers of the realm.
2. Great Houses of Sicair
3. Clergy of the Dragon Order and Sicairi aristocracy, some of which has minor traces of draconic blood themselves.
4. The class of warrior-missionaries, lower-born nobles and pages.
5. The class of alchemists, runewrights and skilled practitioners of magic, as well as craftsmen and artisans. Non-noble landowners, Timariots, are members of this class as well.
6. The class of general merchants and sellers.
7. The class of farmers, herders and servants (paid, often foreign servants)
8. The class of slaves and untouchables: heathens and heretics.

Each class of the hierarchy comes with its own rights and responsibilities. For example, warrior-missionaries enjoy small estates - usually a farmstead but vineyards, meadows, fruit-forests or desert oases have also been known to be awarded - tax exemptions, a retinue of slaves to tend to their estate and families, and in return must provide their lives - usually in perpetuity - to the service of the dragons and Dragon Order. Refusal to lay down one's life, or cowardice in general, results in execution by immolation and the demotion of one's family to the second-lowest, if not the lowest, class of the hierarchy. A timariot owns a plot of land similar to a warrior-missionary but does not enjoy the same privileges. Whereas a warrior-missionary is allocated land for their service, receives tax exemptions on the earnings generated by their land and a retinue of slaves, a timariot must purchase their timar, cover the pay of the farmers that work it or the expenses of employing slaves. Timariots also do not receive tax exemptions. The majority of timars are farmsteads but some are comprised of fruit forests and mineral-rich mountains.

Servants are a tax-exempt class but do not enjoy many of the rights that farmers or herders would, as a servant is not allowed to own land or livestock. Many are also expected to undergo castration to become eunuchs. Slaves, although enjoying no freedoms, have some minimal rights: their master cannot physically harm them or mistreat them in a manner that renders them incapable of performing basic tasks; must clothe, feed and house them; must provide them access to an altar at which they are to pray to the Gods. Additionally, there are a series of taxes, fees and tariffs placed on the sale of slaves by the central authority.

Social mobility is possible but regulated. A slave will never advance further up the ladder unless somebody buys their freedom for them, and a member of the royal dynasty is guaranteed to never be demoted to a lower ranking class. Warrior-missionaries have the potential to be elevated to the rank of dragon priests or to be demoted to one of the three classes below their current one if they somehow are permitted to leave their religious service and embrace civilian life. Although should this occur they will likely be heavily ostracised by society. Although rare, warrior-missionaries found to be in violation of religious law or clerical principles have previously been enslaved. Members of the 4th, 5th and 6th classes all have the possibility of elevation to the warrior-missionary class by entering religious service, this does not apply to servants who are part of the 6th class in near-perpetuity.

## Culture

### Clothes and weapons

Silk clothes are most common, and usually comprise of long, thin and loose cloaks and kaftans that are decorated with gold and jewellery. Headdress in the shape of a short cylindrical peak less hat, called a Fez, is commonly worn by bazaar salesmen. Turbans are likewise common, and warrior missionaries usually wear pointed golden helmets and carry curved swords, sometimes two, which they call shamshir - scimitar in common. Scimitars are not the only bladed weapon around, as sabres are quite common too and spears, although not a bladed weapon, are commonly carried by militia, guardsmen and soldiers. Besides intriguing melee weaponry Sicairis also utilises a vast array of war engines, the most infamous of which is the fire dragon: a ballista-like war machine that shoots green flame, some outsiders believe that the fire dragon is the reason for the vast desertification of Sicair.

### Alcohol and Social Life

Sicair is known for its high consumption of tea and coffee, which is grown locally in the Valley of Golden Wings and the lush river banks of the Dragon river and around the city of Sekhmet. Tea and coffee are widely available in aroma houses which are, essentially, the Sicairi equivalent of taverns. Alcohol is served in these establishments however it isn't as common as in other parts of Antagarich, and hard alcohol - such as Vatanian and Rowanian spirits or dwarven mandrake - are largely unsold, instead, beverages such as wine and a local variant of mead are available for consumption, as are many kinds of light alcohol which include cow's or goat's milk. Many Sicairi alcoholic drinks are often flavoured with honey.

Aroma houses, much like taverns, are also a spot where music is played. Sicairi bards and poets, known locally as Ashiks, regularly provide some form of entertainment inside the confines of local drinking and meeting establishments. Street performers are also quite common, with sword-swallowers, fire breathers and jugglers being a local staple. Monkey shows, where capuchins perform tricks for the audience, are also incredibly common.

#### Prostitution

There are many brothels and whorehouses in Sicair's great cities, ranging from the most flea-infested of shacks to the most luxurious establishments. Both men and women fulfil the role of prostitutes in Sicair and many different races can be found working in these establishments, not just humans.

#### Gambling

Dice games and dragon chess are incredibly common forms of entertainment and passing time in every level of Sicairi society, the former is often played for silver pieces. Aside from dice and chess, dominoes, the royal game of Ur and Pai Sho are also incredibly popular amongst the people of the Dragon Kingdom. Cards, to a lesser extent than the aforementioned, also appear, but they are primarily played by foreign merchants arriving in Sicair's ports.

A Sicairi variant of the common card deck exists which replaces some of the cards with local equivalents, such as the king card becoming the dragon card.

## Economy

In the the desert, most Sicairi people are herders, living of the milk and meat their animals produce. While the lush coasts, where the capital and great cities are located, are a favourable climate to the more sedentary lifestyle, allowing a portion of the population to produce goods other than basic food. Desert agriculture has been made possibly with the use of magically constructed water wells that bring out water from underground reservoirs, the construction and management of these wells usually requires either an adept, or outright master, water magic user, which has led to water magic becoming a very well-respected art and allowed its users to become a privileged class.