Eien

Kejas - (Kejasian) A tough, rocky land with breathtaking high country and a stubborn, steadfast people. Styled after Mongolia. Emblems are blue-gold-white eagle-phoenix-dragon. Capital city is a bustling trade and religious center. Multiple noble houses and a decadent, fat court. Dominant religion is the only accepted religion and they hold full power instead of the monarch. Fire/Summer is main element. They worship a Sun Deity (Goddess) who has a birdlike-dragon form. She is a true-Goddess, not a mistaken identity Eienic Dragon. The Fire Clan of Eien makes a home in this country's mountains, though they remain hidden and are greatly feared.   A horse culture, they breed prized stock that is jealously guarded on the great plains of the country’s interior. The army is more of a large cavalry. Archery is the national sport along with falconry. Part of the reason the dragons are feared is because they sometimes eat the livestock. That, and the Dragons hold a longstanding grudge against these people interloping on their land with their dark Daro En summons.   Religion was corrupted several thousand years prior and used to homogenize the population and attain total control. ‘Others’ are permitted only when they are traders during the summer trade season, and the Priesthood mages use dark summoned creatures from the Fathoms to maintain order at night. Recent history (last ten years) had a female rise to the highest rank in the Priesthood. She ordered the execution of many old-guard due to the weight of their sins and outlawed a lot of old ways. The fallout from her benevolent tyranny has been slow but fierce. Brotherhood of Red Flame seeks to harness the power of the Fire Clan to bring her down. They intend to subjugate Dragons and bring them to heel in the style of their Goddess, whom they proclaim to be the One God and ruler of fire. They are using creatures from the 6th Plane to do this along with forbidden blood magic.   The court favors the Brotherhood/old ways, since the new head priestess appears to be gunning for them next. One son of the king objects, and has allied himself with the priestess. She is also assisted by one of the Fire Clan dragons, a rebel named Zatarrlan.   Unknown to major protags is that the enemies within Kejas have gained access to the ancient Sovathi empire energy Terminal and are translating ancient Sovathi military secrets. It is no mistake that major temples have cropped up near ancient Imperial mines - and enemies of the state seem to end up in those mines with increasing regularity.