The Western Isles

Home of the Dragonborn

The western isles are a series of about seven large islands along the northwestern coast of Kharza belonging to multiple nations of dragonborn. They are split by two alliances; the southernmost islands (sometimes called the Metallic Isles which is misleading in a number of ways) and the Northern Isles (sometimes called the Chromatic Isles- also misleading). These islands are not as clear-cut as one would expect based on their names- dragonborn of all colorations can be found on every island. The nations of the north are in allied worship of the evil dragon goddess Eresh, daughter of Nammu who is the father of all chromatic dragons. The southern nations are worshipers of the good dragon god Danha , father of all metallic dragons, along with his children which make up the draconic pantheon. These nations are in constant conflict, through all-out lengthy warfare has only occurred a handful of times through history.
Dragonborn tend to stick to these islands- not many leave and travel, not unless they come from a very low caste and tire of the struggle for validation and self-worth. Those that do leave don’t often go far- usually to Ilvare or along the monsoon coast or just past the mountains to Va’Sehir or Luxumu. They hardly ever venture to the other continent except in some cases to trade or they have an especially adventurous spirit. Their culture, on both island groups, is largely isolationist and self-aggrandizing. Some would say they are brainwashed or programmed by their leaders and peers, which stress loyalty and cultural/racial pride and superiority. Most don’t see why they should bother going elsewhere when they live in the most splendid place on the planet. Many only realize how they've been programmed once they leave and finally see how much the world has to offer them.

The Metallic Isles

The Metallic Isles of Hathas Rhogan and Vaythera are picturesque and serene, the cities grand and beautiful and the rural outskirts manicured and sufficiently dominated as to present next to no danger. The countryside is dotted by wealthy villas and mansions and gardens, the cities filled with theaters, museums, and restaurants. These islands are considered tourist destinations for all the history and ancient architecture located here, despite the fact that most of the dragonborn actually dislike outsiders. They are too polite to be obvious about it of course, and they don't mind the income this tourism brings. Hathas Rhogan was the first nation of the dragonborn, loosely formed after they helped overthrow Eresh and freed the world from her enslavement. They wanted to carve out their own homeland, so they chose a tract of dangerous wildland on the west coast that no one would dare attempt to dominate and clear. And they dominated it. They cut down most of the jungles in the highlands and built a great many cities up there so they could look down upon the beasts and low-lives who slithered and crawled within the muck of the surrounding jungles. They quickly evolved into a kingdom with an aristocracy. Hathas Rhogan meant the equivalent of "Dragon Crown" in middle draconic. When the Event occurred and flooded all the lands around them, they stayed high and dry, and were quite smug about it too. The few cities which were now separated from them by a water channel (the Sungai Channel) were eventually abandoned to the humans and tabaxi who had been steadily moving into the area anyhow.

The culture that grew in Hathas Rhogan is the kind you would expect from a people born of the blood of dragons. There were serious issues. Real dragons are solitary by nature for a reason. It was toxic, hierarchal, and miserable, a constant battle between all to amass wealth and respect, hold onto power, and order around others. In response, a group of them on the isle of Vaythera banded together and revolted. The seceded from Hathas Rhogan and formed their own democratic nation, one not bound by caste and hierarchy and wealth differences. They sought equality and dignity for all their brethren. They succeeded in part, but certain things are simply in a dragons nature to pursue, even with the best of intentions. Dragonborn are naturally drawn to and wanting of things of a luxurious nature including fine fabrics, dining, cigars, and jewelry, and these are the things their artisans are famous for.

Hathas Rhogan

Hathas Rhogan is a large island, rivaling Ilvare in size. Most of the landmass is fairly hilly and green with most of the center deforested and replaced with large estates, farms and vineyards. The capital is Demusra and it sits between two large lakes (Lake Astra and Lake Etheria), nearly resembling an island. The larger settlements include Ports Austellat and Orenzim, and Vitumar. The nearby isles of Ilazria and Danhanna is a part of this kingdom, home to the historic city of Ithriya, considered by some to be the first of the dragonborn cities. Other large towns of note is the farm hub of Mitis on the Kadesha plain and the mining town of Lucussha. Though small hamlets can be found all over, the southeastern coast is wild swampland not braved by many.

For all its culture and riches and wonder, as with any society whose populace is naturally prideful and ambitious, Hathas Rhogan has ended up with very delineated wealth classes- but in their case it is a rigid caste system with very little social mobility. Not all dragonkin are considered born equal. It is natural for dragons to have a hoard of wealth. It is natural for dragons to know powerful magic. It is natural for dragons to be knowledgeable and wise. It is natural for dragons to be served by others. Any dragons lacking in these values and assets are inferior, and yet they have made acquiring these very difficult to those who don't already have them. For the dragonborn families who did not amass wealth many generations ago, many of these are impossible. The most many of them have is natural magic- for most of history, dragonborn sorcerers have been born more often than not, and those who are without natural magic are greatly pitied. If a non-magic dragonborn is born within a wealthy enough family, they may be able to amend this deficiency through arcane education, but this is not an option for those in lower castes. Education is expensive. There is a sizable wealth difference between all castes, but only those at the very top have all that makes them true dragons, and they make sure through propaganda that all who serve below them understand this and accept their superiority. This propaganda has worked well for them, as many in the lower castes look at those at the top with worshipful eyes.

The castes are unofficially known by colors which historically and mythically indicate power. This comes from an ancient story where the dragons held a contest to see which colors of their kind were the most powerful. Its a myth that also lives on in the local common calendar as the day of the week are named colors in this order. No matter a dragonborn's scale color, their caste is their true color. "Their scales may be ___ but their blood runs ___" is a common saying. Metallics usually use the Brass through Gold names and chromatics prefer to use White through Red.

• At the top of the pyramid are the royals and the rulers, the old money and the aristocracy. They are called the Gold or Red Blooded. Those who would dare marry into a lower caste are almost always immediately disowned and lose any inheritance. Some may make exceptions for the next caste down if there are worries of inbreeding. The only dragonborn that could possibly shoot up to this level on their own would be a gem dragonborn- a beyond-rare phenomenon, legendary draconic ancestry.

• The next rung below are those with some wealth and superior talent- usually artistic, spiritual, intellectual, and magical gifts, called the Silver or Blue Blooded. It is possible (though rare) that someone from a lower caste may end up here through pure dedication to their craft or divine selection, but these individuals cannot climb up to the Gold or Red caste, the result of superior carefully selected breeding over generations. If they should choose to marry below this caste they will be lowered in caste instead of rising their partner up

• Below this are the ambitious and hard working upper-middle class; the craftsmen, shopkeepers and business and farm owners who keep the economy going. This caste also includes especially talented warriors and those who have higher military positions. No matter their wealth, they will likely never reach the next class up unless they have a superior talent for which they are famous-- but then again they are some of the only dragonborn who actually even have a shot of moving up. Most have at least some level of education paid for by their families. They only marry and procreate with others of this caste and to do otherwise would have immense social backlash and often result in being disowned. Businesses are kept in the family and this is very important. These are the Bronze or Green Blooded.

• Near the bottom of the ladder are the non-magical and/or lower-middle class; farm hands, servants, common soldiers, and laborers- the Copper or Black Blooded. They almost all lack education and as the Bronze and Green blooded don't take apprenticeships from the lower castes, increasing in station from here is near impossible. Only the most influential of the next caste up choosing to marry them could cause this to happen and that is just not going to happen. Most would instead choose to take a mistress or mister than befoul their reputation.

• At the bottom of the bottom are non-dragonborn, largely kobolds and lizardfolk, and disgraced families who even the common peasants look down upon- The Brass or White Blooded. They have the worst of jobs, if they have jobs at all. They can never increase their station in society.

Vaythera

Vaythera is the democratic cousin of Hathas Rhogan, though significantly smaller. It doesn't receive the same large amount of rainfall as Hathas Rhogan and has far less of its jungle left standing. They are governed by a democratic legislature, a senate called The Ministers of Ilazran (the draconic deity of law). Though Vaythera has attempted to shed the old habits of their forebears by eliminating the caste system, what has evolved in it's place is a new kind of hierarchy- a capitalist one. There is still a great wealth gap and those with wealth are still most likely to end up in the legislature where they largely care only for their fellow wealthy. Thankfully, at the very least, with enough hard work a family can raise itself out of poverty and not be halted in this way based on their family bloodline or reputation. There are also a few more socialist policies in action that care for the least fortunate of their population. They are a very proud people and nation and they would have no visitors see their streets lined with the homeless or the hungry. Some cities are better than others at enacting these policies however. A lot of the populace live and work within the capital of Sida, the largest port of Illudva Point, or the highly religious mountain city of Antrumesh. Mavareylat is the largest of the rural farming townships. The other larger towns are the ports of Grizzhem and Letu.

The Metallic Cities

Demusra: Blah Blah Capital

Port Orenzim: Blah Blah Tourism

Ithriya: Blah Blah Historic and Old as Balls

Sida: Blah Blah Modern & Magic

Illudva Point: Blah Blah Diversity & Trade

The Chromatic Isles

The Chromatic Isles are generally avoided as they operate more like massive cultist compounds than cities. The inhabitants could potentially be dangerous to outsiders if they sense any threat or ill intent. They are also notorious thieves, raiding many foreign ships and even other ports so they can add more treasure to their sacred hoards in honor of Eresh. There are three main islands, all fairly rocky and significantly less green than the Metallic Isles to the south. Their ancestors were once residents of Hathas Rhogan but eventually they were run out for their "sacrilegious" beliefs and slander against the god Danha and his kin so they were forced to settle in these blackened regions. Some make covert trips back to the homeland in hopes of converting and bringing new dragonborn back. There are a few surviving jungle regions not claimed by volcanic activity but the majority of the surface is rocky and arid or covered in steam vents and random lava pools and seeps. These islands are semi-volcanic, and though not particularly mountainous they are home to an abundance of cave systems. Many of their settlements lie partially within these caverns because it is cooler, and the air cleaner. The residents are all dragonborn who live with the belief that overthrowing the tyrannical goddess Eresh was a mistake- that their kind would be ruling the world right now if not for the mistakes of their ancestors. They also allow kobolds and lizardfolk to work within their service if they are also worshipers but they have no rights as citizens of these islands. They work tirelessly in the hopes of bringing Eresh back from wherever she was imprisoned so they can conquer the world once again. Some of their citizens are also worshipers of Nammu, the father of Eresh and a god of conquest.

Most live on Isle Maghana, in one of the cave settlements or in the sacred city of Eynganim, seat of their theocracy which rests on the edge of a boiling lake. Near the western jungle is the large lumber and orchard town of Ayla whose caves are used for mushroom farms and within the interior of the island is the half submerged town of Kandariya with its few grain farms and ranches. Only the rich of the islands can afford the beef, poultry, bread, and alcohol that comes from here- most peasants rely on jungle fruit and fish. The largest port here is Uumqas and it provides much of the islands protein through fishing. The isle of Nolzrud has a few settlements and is the least volcanic of the three. It's port town of Zuwarya is the only that can rival Eynganim in size and it is most amenable to trade from outsiders. There is also the fishing town of Nim and another jungle-side township of Eilat. The third isle of Yursunt is rocky and nearly barren with just a single fishing village (Ranatuk).

Government / Leaders:

• Theocratic Monarchy (Hathas Rhogan): King Balasar Rezanai, High Priest of Danha Nuthira Antralee
• Democratic Republic (Vaythera): Head Minister Selendril Mishani
• Theocracy (The Chromatic Isles): High Priestess of Eresh Kadanna Amorra and the Council of Five

Largest Populations:
Dragonborn (85%), Kobolds (8%), Lizardfolk (4%), Other (3%)
Largest Cities:
Sida, Ithriya, Damusra, Eynganim, Illudva Point, Port Orenzim
Trades & Export: Jewelry, Cigars, Magic Items, Textiles, Wine, Incense, Tea, Dye, Silver