The Drakìnn Empire has a great civilization and a history that goes back millenniums. The current king of Drakìnn is Vanaro III. He acceded to the throne at the age of 17, considered as young age to rule, for half-elves. Indeed, the inhabitants of Drakìnn are the heirs of first age elves and a small tribe of Enyëns. Vanaro is highly respected for his honor, his bravery and his knowledge which enabled him to restore the greatness of his empire. It embodies all the principles to which the dragon people are tied.
In order to understand these principles and moral values, let us go several millennia back with the help of the ancient texts of the Observatory. The original inhabitants of Dragons’ Mountain were the Eternals, those dragons born from volcanic eruptions of the Mountain. These eruptions took place during the timeless age.
The Eternals were respected as the children of Saenar, the primordial spirit that animated the beings of Cynnara. The primordial spirits were seen as embodiments of the facets of Cynnara through the Manh, this energy flowing freely through Cynnara, and connecting beings to one another, in a delicate but powerful equilibrium. Not all the Eternals were born from this one mountain, similar eruptions took place at Zortan, the huge mountain range in the far east of Taemarill, but also in the territories of Gohron. The Eternals numbered 23 and were endowed with eternal life, as well as great power, acquired through their privileged connection with the manh and the primordial spirits.
The dragons are the heirs of the Eternals, they lived on the mountains of their birth for millennia, and since renamed in Mountain of the Dragons. At the dawn of the first age, the Eternals became fond of the elves, especially the elves of Dom’Nilam, in whom they recognized the same courage, the same recklessness. Also, a great friendship was born between the elves of Dom’Nilam and the dragons.
First Age
After the deadly conflict between the elves of Dom’Nilam and the dragons versus the Primordial Spirit Raeknya ended, King Elinel give up his throne and with several companions joined the Eternals and their children on Dragons’s Mountain. The elves, sensitive to the surrounding Manh, began to change physically, but also in their mentality. For several centuries, they remained isolated, hidden from the eyes of the world, living exclusively on the Mountain. They became legends, tales and for many of the other peoples they were dead in the Mountain. So when several centuries later, the dragons and the elves of Ithilgaelin disagreed leading to war, the elves of the mountain, renamed the Dragon people, broke their silence and defended the mountain, alongside the dragons. Their physical appearance frightened many of their former comrades, who had come as support. Some parts of their body were covered with scales, especially on the hands and face. Their eyes shone with a vivid, hypnotizing glow, as if animated by a flame. But most surprisingly were the two twisted horns, starting at their temples and rising above their heads. Their mastery of the manh had become more powerful. Their appearance and new powers frightened the superstitious elves of Ithilgaelin. Then, It will be the beginning of a long disagreement between these two peoples, leading to several bloody wars over the following millennia. Only the Nymarians still showed them affection, at the origin of a still strong friendship between these two peoples in the third age.
At the dawn of the second millennium and after several centuries, alternating conflict and isolation, the Eternals began to turn away from Taemarill. They left its shores, and Elinel was privileged to set off on the back of the Eternal Guehorna, for the sanctuary of the primordial spirits. This event was important for the development of the Dragon nation’s identity. It was the recognition by the dragons of the soul nobility of the Elinel lineage and Dragon nation.
His heiress Isliria, opened his kingdom to other nations and began to set up a trade with their fellow southern elves. Then the elves-dragons, another name given to these elves, set out to discover Taemarill, and Gohrôn, a new continent recently discovered. They were accompanied by their dragon-bound. These dragons born on the Mountain and whose soul is bound to an elf of Dragon people. The two souls thus linked by the Primordial Spirit Enya become one soul. Bound Elves can share their feelings, their deep thoughts with their Bound Dragon. But, the dragon-bound were in no way subject to them. They are simply considered the most beautiful testimony of Saenar (primordial spirit) love to the Dragon people. The Dragon elves then began to accumulate knowledge and compile their discoveries made during their travels. In the library of the current Observatory of Drakìnn (in the third age), there is gathered knowledge several thousand years old, on many fields and many cultures.
Second Age
After the dwarves settled in Taemarill and the traumatic war of the mages, the large dragons left Taemarill. The city of the Dragon elves had been partially destroyed during the conflict. Also, they were surprised when they received a visit from a young enyën, from the adorned-puys. She humbly asked the noble Dragon people to allow her community to join them on the mountain. Thirteen-year-old Mara was heir to an old small clan of Alda (Enyën kingdom in the Eastern lands) who had come to live on the adorned-puys and shared the Nymarians’ knowledge of Cynnara. This small clan was beginning to run out of places on the adorned-puys, and their veneration of the Eternals prompted them to make this request. They were very respectful. This clan was called the Elüskra “those who see fate” or “the mirror eyes of fate”. The gift of foresight was frequent among the lineage of Mara. They lived on the surrounding valleys for several years. One day, Mara has seen a dragon reduced to ashes in one of her visions. A few years later, one of the Dragon Elves fell in love with Mara. Their union united the two nations. This new people renamed themselves Drakìnn. This new kingdom opened up more to the outside world and befriended the main eastern kingdom of Taemarill (future empire of Zanor) set up after the first wars between Enyëns on Taemarill, with commercial and intellectual exchanges. Those were years of peace and the kingdom of Drakìnn prospered. Isliria decided in the early years to leave with her dragon-bound. A new people needed a new royal couple at their image.
During this period the Eternals were called to the West by the primordial spirits. The Eternals found there an immense land lush and enchanted. Bathed in the manh of Cynnara and shaped by the primordial spirits. This land possessed a unique magic, a reflection of the Eternals. They were filled with joy and gratitude towards the primordial spirits and invited the other dragons to share this gift. Some enyëns and members of the Dragon people made the journey with them, they were renamed Alwen nelassar, the winged brothers and sisters. It was among them that the gift of metamorphosis emerged. Indeed, children born of a mixed union instinctively felt how to turn into a dragon. The exercise was tiring, and their size only equaled that of the young dragons. However, the other peoples envied this new sign of affection of the dragons towards this people already blessed to be able to live among them. Especially the dwarves who had lost all their powers. However the inhabitants of Drakìnn did not really live among the dragons but at the feet and on the slopes of the mountain at medium altitude.
But what most sadly haunted the kingdom of Drakìnn was the Burning of the Eternals. After centuries of petty conflicts and shattered peace, Ithilgaelin and their dwarven allies once again attacked the Dragon People. But this time the Eternal Vanaro got involved in the conflict. Back on Taemarill and annoyed by this umpteenth conflict around his mountain, he burned all the front ranks of Ithilgaelin army with one breath, destroying their defenses. Some young dragons, rebelled against the intervention of an Eternal in a conflict between mortals. Vanaro did not appreciate the audacity of this dragon, himself mortal faced to the Eternal. The frequent absences of the Eternals from Taemarill, had reduced the belief in their power and the respect due to them among the younger generations of dragons. Moreover, Murakan, another Eternal, misled by Raeknya (primordial spirit), discreetly stirred up the boldness of this young dragon. Two clans were formed, those with the Dragon people and those with Ithilgaelin. The elves of Ithilgaelin and the Dragon elves saw with horror a growing tension in the shadow of the mountains ; and on their behalf. Only King Ithilgaelin’s advisor, Serfas, a particularly cunning elf and a great enemy of dragons in general, enjoy the situation.
The tragedy occurred when Eternal Essa was found dead, drained of vital energy on the edge of Nihiwë, on the side of Ithilgaelin. Essa’s twin brother, Rahigan, in his anger, accused Murakan of being responsible, along with Raeknya, for this atrocity. Indeed, in the minds of the Eternals, only another Eternals could take the life of one of his brothers and sisters. The confrontation was inevitable and the Burning of the Eternals began. For three days and three nights, a daunting fight took place in the sky of Gaelanir, transforming it into a furnace. Rahigan and Vanaro, fought Murakan. Gaelanir’s region was largely destroyed, as was Ithilgaelin. On the fourth day, Eternal Feugmar, one of the most massive Eternals, came down from Zortan and ended the fighting, accompanied by the Eternal Dorjin. Feugmar confronted the dragons with a choice : stay on Taemarill alongside the mortal peoples or follow the Eternals to the Eternal Lands.
After the departure of a large majority of the dragons, the Emperor of Drakìnn, Aelomar IV, had to rebuild his bruised kingdom. The symbol of their strength, of their identity, of their unity had abandoned them. Drakìnn managed to maintain his title for several more centuries, before the last of the dragons on Dragons’ Mountain perished. Saenar’s flame was then extinguished. The Dragon people lost their ability to transform into dragon. But the most serious, on the scale of Cynnara, the manh bound to the flame of Saenar, disappeared, as well for the Dragon people as for all inhabitants of Taemarill and Gohrôn.
Third Age
For centuries Aelomar IV and his heirs have working hard to rebuild the kingdom, to forge alliances, to push back the young enyën peoples of the East from most of the lands of the West. Drakìnn is the only thousand-year-old kingdom with enyëns blood among the Taemarill kingdoms in the Third Age. When Vanaro III ascends to the throne, his people still have a painful memory of the loss of Saenar’s Flame. Thus, many of their customs are inherited from this prosperous and glorious period of their past. After the dawn of Vanaro III, into a few years, the empire reborn from its ashes. Drakìnn once again became a center of knowledge, under the leadership of its young king. Vanaro allied himself with Dom’Nilam’s dwarven engineering, which enabled him to provide strong logistics to his armies. He further developed the flying machines, simulacrum of dragons, starting with his predecessors’s developing technology, at the crossroads between dwarven engineering, the Manh, as well as elementary sciences such as mathematics and physics. He rushed into on a daunting cooperation, viewed as surreal by many of his fellow citizens, with the help of the dwarves of Dom’Nilam. In 30 years, its engineers enabled the invention of airships, capable of making long journeys of several days with heavy loads. Dom’Nilam and Drakìnn established a still modest network of air travel between their two kingdoms. Other nations, such as the Baronies of Himlivorn and the Kingdom of Ossë are interested in this technology. But Vanaro is wary of the barons of Himlivorn (too close to the former mad king of Lomea) and obstructs all their attempt to access airships at the Council of the Five Kingdoms.
The city of the five kingdoms, is a city built after the second war of the mages, in order to establish a neutral zone, at the meeting point of the five kingdoms to discuss disagreements. This autonomous city created the Council of the Five Kingdoms. This council may seem illusory, but it allows kingdoms not to remain isolated on themselves, risk seeing a kingdom forming an army without the knowledge of others, or manipulating too dangerous forces.
Culturally, Drakìnn is geared towards respect for their venerable past and the cult of dragons. But a cult, aware of what it is, a way to soothe their bruised soul. There is no state religion, nor official religious services. Worship of dragons is internal, and if it has to be expressed, it will be through historical iconography of ancient dragons and Eternals. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to hear some legends and prophecies among the population, about a return of the dragons, led by an Alwen nelassar (winged brother or sister).
Driven to excellence, the members of this people enjoy athletic competitions, public displays of strength or intellect. They are proud, somewhat arrogant, and secretive. Terribly secretive. They are jealous of their heritage, and foreigners who wish to stay on their land have to follow many rules for fear of losing their lives. It is forbidden for any foreigner to access the upper parts of the royal city and mountains without being accompanied. In general, the inhabitants of Drakìnn preferentially live among themselves, but are not hostile to other peoples. When Vanaro travels to another kingdom, he takes into account of the laws and customs of that kingdom, even if some seem very surprising to him.
But what the Dragon people cannot stand are the people who also claim to be dragons and attempt to appropriate their heritage. This, in particular, caused their disagreement with their ally Zanor, who renamed himself Saenor, and established a royal cult, the king as the incarnation of Saenar, heralding the return of Saenar’s flame. Also, Drakìnn sided with the Western Realms against Saenor, when that realm invaded the Eastern Lands, then scarred by the Second Mage War. It was seen as a betrayal and an act of baseness from Saenor. Drakìnn and their new allies have defended their positions as long as they could, but Saenor captured half the territory of the Eastern Lands, until, by tragic coincidence for Saenor, the southern part of the Eastern Empire have been devastated by something fell from the sky, depriving it of many resources and many lives. Saenor empire was pushed back and shattered. The survivors have since reconstituted themselves into small tribes, but remain subject to the rule of the winners for over a century.
So the only point of disagreement between the people of Drakìnn and their king, is the choice of his wife. He married a inhabitant of the broken kingdom of Saenor. Indeed, Vanaro get ride himself from the hatred animating his grandfather and his father for this kingdom. Zanor was responsible for the death of Vanaro’s uncle and many lives. But this conflict took place more than a century ago. And all attempts at independence attempted for Saenor, were stopped by the baronies of Himlivorn. But Vanaro took pity on the inhabitants of this kingdom, who unlike the semi-elves of Drakìnn did not enjoy a long life. The current inhabitants of Zanor were the descendants of these traitors, but not the traitors themselves. This betrayal was not theirs but they always remained under control. It was during one of his trips that he met his wife. If at the dawn of his 73 years Vanaro seemed barely in his prime, it owes it to the elven blood flowing in his veins. He, like many of his people, can expect to live to be 150-200 years old. It is this difference in awareness of the passage of time that brings Drakìnn closer to non-enyën nations than enyën nations. While these many years of life may seem more than enough for an enyën, the loss of the pureblooded elves from the population has reduced a life expectancy that once stood in half a millennia or more for those closest to the elven lineages. Likewise, their horns have diminished, or simply disappeared. A few scales remain on their temples. But the sparkle in their eyes is still alive.
The marriage of Vanaro, and his wife Tamma, was badly accepted by many. But the new queen quickly knew how, by her strong character and her cunning, find her place among the aristocracy of Drakìnn. She gave birth to three children, and over the years gained confidence and influence within the court. Her status of the queen was never publicly questioned. The people of Drakìnn have great respect for the royal person, and are grateful to this king for restoring the honor of Drakìnn. Their honor.