Morton Drakiss

The colony of Drakiss that live beneath the town of Morton . The colony dates back to the early years of the Moran Duchy, having previously been associated with the dragon Jorrock (see The Legend of Carron's Daughter ). They are shy and secretive and have made themselves essential in the management of the water and sewage systems of the town but are unknown to all but the initiate of the Gongsters .

Structure

The colony is ruled by a chieftain - currently this is an indivudual called Weruru who is, at fifty three, old for a drakiss. Beneath him are a series of gangs, each lead by a "gangster" who specialise in various functions such as tunnelling, various hand crafts and management of the machinery and devices used to handle the sewage and water systems. There are 20 or so of these gangs in total (where gangs share similar purposes the membership of the gangs is flexible and members often switch gangs as the needs vary).
Socially they are unusual for drakiss in forming relationship groups of 3 or 4, sometimes even of only two. The small size of the colony and its isolation from fresh blood mean that they have become very attentive to matters of geneology as the only way to minimise the problems of inbreeding. This is overseen by a caste of drakiss who have been judged too closely related to be able to breed and for who's status is a conflicted combination of high (from the power they weild) and low (for all know they form no part of the colony's future).

History

The tales of the colony say that they came to Tarusia some 2 millennia ago with the dragon Jorrock, who had left Sauropa To learn more of the world. They remained with him, over their many generations until his death at Morton and then transferred their loyalty to the Duke (for it was his sister who had defeated Jorrock).
The Duke agreed to this but knowing that many of his subjects would not appreciate the presence of seven remotely dragon-like subjects he encouraged them to withdraw below the town.
The Treaty of Durranmouth created a need for managing water and sewerage and in the years following this the colony became known to the Gongsters with whom the colony has worked in various mutually beneficial ways over the intervening years (albeit with periods of tension

Leader Change

An ambitious drakiss will make their way to power through the work gangs, becomming a gangster and looking to establish a power base and a reputation for competence. Both are needed for rarely is a leader able to be acknowledged as such without both in large measure. Once they have gained the chieftainship they are seldom deposed by outright coups. Some, it is true, die of unusual indstrial accidents but mostly it is old age that creates the vacancies, for this catches up with most chieftains after perhaps 5 years.

Type

Geopolitical, Colony

Government System

Despotism

Location

Morton

Controlled Territories

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