The World Of Khoras - Civilization - Nations

"First give the people what they want, then later, you can give them what you want..." 
Lord Ozzel

Description

The Drakkellian Alliance is a political and economic unification between a number of wealthy guilds, cities and towns in the central south coastal region of Ithria. This alliances of cities is led by the largest member city, the city of Drakkel, and is politically controlled by a number of powerful guilds. Each guild is a business organization with its own leaders, employees, rulers, ships and caravans. The guild houses have influence throughout the nation and many  are located outside the city of Drakkel (although all guilds have at least a token presence in Drakkell). Those located outside Drakkel each run their own small city, little more than a village, which is home to its employees, warehouses, support businesses and more. Most guild houses specialize in a particular commodity and may have subdivisions within it each specializing in a particular facet of the business. One guild specializes in security, protecting the caravans of other guild houses and lending out warriors. Fantastic rivalries often flare up between guild houses. Alliances are forged, betrayed and made again in an endlessly corrupt game of politics and business. The Drakkellian Alliance is built entirely upon its strong economy. It is first and foremost a center of trade, a city of merchants. Everything in this nation has a price. Trade, barter and scams are a way of life. Above all else, profit.

Geography

The Drakkellian Alliance is largely flat grasslands stretching south to the Sea of Chaos. It is dotted by small forests and groups of hills. The Drakkellian Alliance has a warm, pleasant climate which tends to be a bit windy. The lands along the Merchant's Highway are fertile and home to many farms and river villages.

The Drakkellian Alliance is built upon the land where the once mighty Traxx Legion stood. The landscape is dotted with many ruins of Traxxian fortresses and many Drakkellian cities are built upon the foundations of former Traxxian cities. The Traxxian style of architecture, notable for its geometric linearity and blocky nature, can be found in many places throughout the country.

Notable Fauna and Flora

Many animals find their way to the Drakkellian Alliance… either as exotic pets of the wealthy or captured animals brought to market from distant lands. Native animals to the region include a variety of sheep and long horn steer, the ekril, all three species of Koryn’s Steeds and shimmer cats which prowl the coastal forests. As with animals, many plants from distant lands wind up in the Drakkellian markets. Local plants include bloodroot and emerald moss.

History

Although the Traxx Legion was the last great nation still standing at the end of the Great War, the centuries of war had taken a toll on the Legion. The once mighty warrior nation had won the Great War at a terrible cost. So much of its resources had gone to the war that it did not have the strength to rebuild. Poverty and hunger were widespread. Bandits prowled the land hindering caravans and trade. Corruption crept into the legion at all levels and the chain of command throughout the military began to break down.

Three wealthy nobles took advantage of the fragmented economy. Duke Malluger was a ruler of a small Traxx duchy to the east. Lord Leonis Madare was a wealthy landowner in the north and Master Ipron Kaynur was a powerful merchant and master of a guild. These three men united their wealth and resources. In the winter of 364 CY, these three men together purchased the tiny village of Drakkel and the snowy fields around it. History records that they purchased the village with a single Traxxian copper coin and the tales that explain that price are many. That single coin was later reclaimed and has been handed down through the generations as the most prized relic of Drakkellian lore.

The Traxx Legion suffered severe internal conflicts including struggles between the nobility and the military, struggles between different factions of the military and problems between the Traxx Legion and surrounding lands. Battles between the Traxx Legion and the orcs of the Sentinel Mountains continued. The town of Drakkel and its three noble leaders took advantage of this political and economic chaos, often selling weapons to both sides or playing one faction against another. In so doing, Drakkel filled its coffers even as the coffers of the Traxx Legion were emptied.

The three nobles took advantage of the fragmented economy of the Traxx Legion and united several guilds into a loose network of economic partnership. This helped optimize the flow of food, goods and money between the various towns. Caravans were guarded and badly needed food and crafted goods began to flow. Mercenaries were hired and organized and used to scare off bandit attacks. Trade quickly recovered.

In the fifth and sixth centuries, the Drakkellian Alliance grew in strength and became a viable economic entity working within and in cooperation with the Traxx Legion. The city of Drakkel itself swelled in size during this time as many refugees from the war torn Traxx Legion came to find work and stability.

In the summer of 771, a revolt among high ranking Traxxian officers against the nobility leads to a full scale military coup. The ruling nobility are executed and control of the nation falls to petty warlords who fight among themselves. The Traxx Legion quickly begins to dissolve into dozens of  groups that wage war against each other.

The Drakkellian Alliance remained a strong economic force and held together even as the Traxxian government broke up around it. The Alliance's wealth and influence grew greatly as it became the only group in the region with any real power.

In 797 CY, the Drakkellian Alliance, now a full and growing nation, began rebuilding the ruin of a Traxxian fortress so as to establish a strong military base on its eastern borders and defend itself against bandit raids from the bands roving the Sentinel Mountains which were becoming more common. Drakkel sent a small force of troops and craftsmen to rebuild and man this outpost.

In the fall of 1070 CY, the Drakkellian Alliance ordered the fortress to stand down. With the unification of several major orcish groups, several guild masters in Drakkel feared that having a military outpost so close to the orcish border would provoke full scale war rather than protect the peace and encourage economic relations. These guildmasters used their influence to sway the council and Drakkel soon ordered the soldiers  to abandon the fortress and return home.

A coup quickly followed in the fortress. The administrators, merchants and leaders fled back to Drakkel, but the military leaders stayed. Ignoring the order to return home, the warriors declared themselves independent. The Drakkellian Alliance promptly severed all political ties with the fortress.

Today, the Drakkellian Alliance is one of the largest, wealthiest and most powerful nations in all of Ithria.

Government

The Council of Guilds rules the Drakkellian Alliance. Each Guild House has one representative sitting on the council. This council is led by the High Lord of the Council of Guilds, an office and title which is appointed by a popular vote of all council members. The High Lord is always chosen from one of the council representatives. There is, undoubtedly, all manner of political backstabbing and deal brokering that goes on behind closed doors just prior to such a vote. Upon being voted in, the High Lord severs all connections with his guild. This is a symbolic gesture of justice and fairness. Despite this tradition, the guild house from which the High Lord hails undoubtedly enjoys some fringe benefits. The position of High Lord is held for life. 

Currently reigning is Lord Tymok Ozzel, an immensely fat, but good natured man. He is easily recognizable by his drooping mustache, balding head and deep belly laugh, which is heard often. He wears a gold ear ring in his left ear, which is quite the fashion throughout the south. He is overly fond of ale, fine food and wearing brightly colored clothing. Lord Ozzel is a shrewd businessman and a charismatic leader able to influence people with sweet words and play them against each other like pawns.

All "departments" that they need (guilds, militia, craftsmen, city guards etc.) are hired on a mercenary basis. The entire governmental structure is like a business. All members have offices and titles. The primary concern of the government is that a continual stream of profit flows into the city’s coffers and that the city always have readily available resources. The government is very corrupt. Pardons may be purchased and the law may be manipulated for a price.

Legal System

Laws are moderate. Laws can be bent with money. Bribery is very common. Usually, this works to aid those who want to avoid punishment. Rarely is the system manipulated to put innocents in prison. Overall, the city is organized and peaceful. The city realizes that if its legal system were too harsh or unfair, it would be detrimental to business.

Military

A large "police" force is maintained. This force is well trained, well equipped and well paid. It is often used in other projects by the government. This force also serves as the military in times of war and routinely patrols trade routes. Additional troops are sometimes hired on an as-needed basis.

Important Sites and Unique Elements

Eye of the Storm
A major shipwreck off the coast east of Drakkel. Well known and a popular spot for treasure hunters.

Guldremor
A large island prison off the coast of Drakkel. A veritable fortress.

Lady on the Water
The Lady on the Water is a magnificent, multi-deck river boat that travels up and down the Merchant's Highway river. It travels throughout the Drakkellian Alliance, transporting cargo and passengers between the cities of Drakkel and Ithell and stopping at dozens of towns and villages along the way.

Economy

The economy is very strong. Everything is legal and anything is for sale. Prices are quite stable and consistent. In all regards, the Drakkellian Alliance is the standard for all elements of currency and trade. The market is buyer beware and all sales are final.

Drakkel is the largest port on the south coast and a tremendous amount of goods and people pass through its main harbor each day. This continual flow of goods on the south seas has attracted a large amount of piracy, both from the Coalition and from independent corsairs. The problem is more than the current military ships can handle. To curb the rise of piracy, Drakkel and other governments have taken to hiring mercenary ships as government sponsored privateers. These pirate hunters usually bear an official privateer flag awarded them for their duty and have proved somewhat effective. However, some of these privateers are as bad as the pirates they hunt and have been known to search and seize legitimate cargo vessels at sea. The region has become a dangerous "bad seas" area where government warships, pirates, privateers and mercenaries prey on anything that floats. Clearly, the Sea of Storms is a dangerous waterway.

As might be imagined, the city and nation of Drakkel tax everything and everyone. All cargos, travel, sales, events, groups, business mergers, petitions, etc are taxed. There are no less than fourteen different tax bureaus in the Drakkellian Alliance that each levy their own taxes upon the populace, specializing in different regions or areas of interest. The city of Drakkel has seven tax bureaus alone.  Some things may invoke multiple taxes from different bureaus. Rarely do these tax bureaus cooperate. On the contrary, they often find themselves at odds. If the people of the Drakkellian Alliance have anything to complain about, it is an excess of taxation.

Culture

The Drakkellian Alliance is a widely known for its festivals, games, gambling and entertainment. This reputation is especially true for the capital city of Drakkel that is seen as a city of sin and debauchery by many. Through out the nation there is an active and almost cutthroat business environment. All manner of monetary transactions are legal and encouraged. Prostitution, gambling, drugs, slavery and protection rackets are all legal, common, organized and of high quality. The citizenry is a melting pot. All races can be found there. It is assumed that everyone is there to buy or sell and so everyone is welcome.

The Festival of the Coin
Once each year, a grand festival is held in the city of Drakkel wherein a wealthy noble and a pauper exchange places. It involves a large ceremony followed by a week long festival and a treasure hunt wherein the entire city searches for a legendary coin. Whoever finds the coin wins the wealth of a noble. This is the social highlight of the year, drawing people from all over the Drakellian Alliance.

Kalgamorra
Possibly the largest and most organized sporting event in all the lands, this game is unique to the Drakkellian Alliance. It is a complex, competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with intense physical play. The game is fought (often quite literally) between three teams, each with their own goal. The winner is the first team to reach a specified number of points. Always In Motion is a unique game in that its rules are intricately interwoven with the culture of the city in such a way that it could not be played anywhere else.

Raljath
Raljath is a popular gambling game played with cards and dice.

Towns

Villages (Population less than 1,000)

Alcona, Creothin, Cytheron, Fynd, Gatun, Hatchel, Lender, Rabadi, Renar, Railta, Rogue, Sabar, Tembrull, Three Stone Falls, Viat

This page last updated Monday, October 08, 2007. Copyright 1990-2008 David M. Roomes.

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