The Kingdom of Drugrar

A kingdom spawned from a group of several thousand refugees, fleeing the Great Scourge in Brenaurus. The Kingdom of Drugrar rules the western woods of the continent of Jezat. The only real feudal kingdom on the continent, they have retained much of the customs of Brenaurus despite being separated from them for a thousand years now. The Drugrari are a rather isolationist people, not really caring to interfere with the business of others as long as they themselves are not interrupted. They are very productive, valuing a strong work ethic, and among the finest craftsmen in Jezat. Despite their isolationism, they are not unfriendly to strangers, often valuing them as potential customers for their businesses. For the Drugrari are a rather lucrative people, adept at finding various ways to make money. They have extended to to encompass all of the Ceres Woods, and are quite content with what they have now. Dwarves are known as a greedy folk, but the Drugrari have surpassed that particular failing of their mountain kin. They are rather content with the relative abundance and safety that they enjoy within their rather isolated forest.

Structure

The Drugrari are a fundamentally feudal people but with a more relaxed interpretation of that style of organization. Towns, cities, villages and forts are all governed by a noble family, but that family is also beholden to follow the Drugrari Constitution. In that way, the kingdom is best described as a constitutional monarchy. The High King shares power with the Assembly of Clans, which any family of sufficient standing(not wealth) can apply to be represented in. These representatives represent not only their sponsor families but also their communities and the shared interest that they all hold. The High King is the leader of the military and has the ability to create legislation in the short term but that legislation must be approved by the Assembly of Clans in order to be upheld in the long term. In this way, the Assembly acts as a check on the power of the High King. They can also propose legislation to the King but without his signing off on it, it cannot be implemented.

Culture

The Drugrari are a rather traditionalist people, as is common throughout Jezat, but they are more accepting of new ideas than most other governments. They place extreme value on family and on loyalty to their country and to the spirit it represents. Children are expected to respect their parents and support their family, but there is also an obligation on the heads of the family as well. It is seen as profane for a family elder to abuse their power or neglect their family. This value of family also extends to community, making the Drugrari a rather close knit people. They are a mercantile bunch, exporting their goods across the continent, but this comes mainly from their pride in their work and their people. To the Drugrari, there is nothing more sacred than the act of making something. As such, they are very fine craftsmen and builders, be it with wood, steel or stone. As they love architecture and sculpting, it is also seen as profane to burn stuff down, making them a fairly peaceful bunch as they don't want to destroy what others have made.

History

In the year 803 B.S, the continent of Brenaurus was being torn apart by the Great Scourge. Long since had the fighting passed beyond the blessed fields of Zeadora to the point where mortals all across the continent lived in fear of the feuding gods. Many took up arms to fight, but they were less than pawns in the games of the gods. In this time, the Goddess Tiamat laid waste to the Dragonspine range, driving many dwarves from their homes. While some found shelter within the newly growing Tripeak, others rallied behind a seer who was given a vision. She saw a continent in the west, free of the war and strife that consumed Brenaurus. Some five thousand dwarves followed her in pilgrimage, all the way to the western coast of Brenaurus. When their way was blocked by the sea, they built ships and set sail, for even the Sea of Jezat was less deadly than the warfare of the gods. 
The journey was hard and long, but they had the aid of a powerful cleric on their side. As it was, they touched down on the shores of Jezat, a land they saw as promised. They set their sights on the Clouded Spine, envisioning a great dwarven empire among its peaks. They set about building their cities, but they were not entirely alone in their desire for the peaks. They were met with tribes of Aarakocra, tribes who did not relish sharing their home. In their initial clashes with the Aarakocra, the dwarves easily drove them off from their new mountain halls. But it would not be this easy for long. The Aarakocra organized and set about at the singular goal of driving the Dwarves from the peaks they saw as theirs. The war would go on for 200 years, but the Aarakocra would gain more and more of an upper hand as it progressed. Eventually, the Dwarves' last bastion would fall to assault, and they would flee out of the mountains. It is said that they were pursued relentlessly by the Aarakocra until they set foot in the Ceres Woods. From then on, those woods would be their home and protectors. They have grown their kingdom throughout the coming centuries, but they never looked beyond their borders. For they still had a fear in them of being driven again from the cities they called their homes.

Religion

The Drugrari worship Gurotar, the Legend Smith as is custom for most Dwarves. It is from him that they derive their values on art and craftmanship, on building great works to make the gods tremble in awe. He is their prime deity but they also worship Tasnira as well. This is because they view the forests in which they live as a sanctuary, which saved them from annihilation at the hands of the Aarakocra. As such, they worship her as the teacher and the protector, preserving the sanctity of her wilderness in return for her protection from outsiders.

Founding Date

582 B.S

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Demonym

Drugrari

Leader

High King Amrak

Controlled Territories

• Cereth Drugrar