Droaam
Structure
Only a decade removed from savage anargy, Droaam currently follows a form of despotic feudalism. The most powerful warlods and dictators are required to give their tribute and loyalty to the Daughters of Sora Kell. Each of these dictators oversees a particular region and collects tribute from the smaller and weaker communities located there. This tribue may be paid in gold or goods but often takes the form of services; soldiers or laborers are sent to the Great Crag, where they may be set to work or sent out to serve as mercenaries in other parts of Khorvaire. This system holds together through the underlying threat of force. The hags possess an army of giants and considerable magical might, while each local dictator has his or her own means of dominating a region.
While the hags are feared more than they are loved, the lesser warlords recognize that they are shaping Droaam into a greater and more effective force. As a result, most grudgingly accep the rule of the three sisters. However, beyond that the nation is extremely volatile. The hags will act to prevent full-scale warfare between communities, but assassination, coups, and other minor power struggles occur constantly. Different tribes and races have ancient grudges to settle with one another, and as long as the feuds don't disrupt the hags' plans for Droaam, the sisters do not interfere.
History
A mere two decades ago, Droaam was part of Breland. But while the maps reflected this claim, few Brelish lived in the western barrens beyond the Graywall Mountains. The place has always been dangerous, a haven for monsters of all sorts, and the land was never easy to work or hunt. A few brave settlers tried to tame the land over the years, but none of them ever met with much luck. As the Last War wore on, monster warbands became more aggressive, striking at Breland either at the behest of warring nations or for their own spoils of war. In 987 YK, King Boranel of Breland evacuated the few remaining Brelish and declared that the land west of Graywall was sealed and off limits. In that same year, a trio of hags declared the sovereignty of the new nation of Droaam.
Demography and Population
Estimated population 500,000
- Gnoll 20 %
- Orc 19 %
- Goblin 18 %
- Skinwalker 5 %
- Others 38 %
Religion
Droaam has no national religion. Priests of the Mockery and the Shadow can be found in many communities, and there are a few cults dedicated to the Dragon Below scattered throughout the land.
While religion plays a minor role in the daily life of the citizens of Droaam, hatred of the Church of the Silver Flame is universal throughout the region. A traveler bearing the symbol of te Silver Flame invariably receives a hostile reaction from any creature that he or she encounters.
Agriculture & Industry
Droaam has developed little in the way of organized industry. The greatest resource it possesses is the natural power of its inhabitants. Over the past five years, the Daughters of Sora Kell have been making contacts across Western Khorvaire, most notably in Zilargo, Aundair, and Breland. Now ogre laborers and minotaur bodyguards can be found in Brelish and Zil cities, courtesy of the rulers of Droaam. Thrane refuses to harbor any of these monstrous mercenaries, and many adherents of the Church of the Silver Flame find the practice to be somewhat disturbing.
In addition to these active resources, the land possesses considerable mineral wealth. Dragonshard fields (particularly Eberron shards) are scattered across Droaam, and the northern mountains hold veins of rare byeshk ore. In the past, this area has been too dangerous to survey, but House Tharashk has recently acquired the rights to mine within the kingdom of monsters.
Infrastructure
The Daughters of Sora Kell have brought great change to the western barrens that once belonged to Breland. Over the past tend years, a legion of ogre workers has constructed roads between the major communities. These new cities ahve tremendous racial diversity, and can be quite a sight for travelers. Harpies and gargoyles wheel in teh sky, while shifters and orcs rub shoulders in the streets and ogres drive wagons pulled by dire horses. All manner of creatures can be found in the cities, from gnolls to bugbears to worgs and even the occassional lamia. Some of these monsters have always lived in the region; others have emerged from Khyber or drifted to Droaam from other lands. Almost any creature could appear in such a place, although powerful and intelligent creatures - such as most fiends - would be unlikely to accept the rule of the hags.
Only a few of these multiracial cities exist, and only a handful of raods. The majority of Droaam is untamed wilderness. In these outlying areas, communities are usually divided along racial lines. For example, left to their own devices, medusas rarely mix with minotaurs. The notable exceptions to this rule are the warlords and tyrants. Gnolls, goblins, and orcs make up the majority of the population of Droaam, yet the nation has no villages where they rule their own kind. Invariably, the strong rule the weak; orcs lording over goblins, ogres ruling orcs, ogre mages dominating ogres, adn so on up the chain. Due to the low intelligence of these more powerful creatures, most of these communities exist in an extremely primitive state.
To outsiders, Droaam appears to be a lawless nation, and this is largely accurate. The hags are only concerned with major threats: hostilities between monstrous communities, raids on trade caravans, or brawls or other actions that will result in significant property damage or multiple deaths. Sora Maenya's troll guards deal with these crimes and with any actions that directly threaten the hags. Less severe crimes are ignored; as a result, street violence is commonplace. In the smaller communities, creation and enforcement of laws depends on the whims of the local dictator. In most cases, the strong do what they want while the weak have no rights whatsoever. A few of the more intelligent races, including the medusa followers of the Queen of Stone, thake a slightly more sophisticated approach to law and order.
Founding Date
986 YK
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Despotism
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Barter system
Parent Organization
Location
Neighboring Nations
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