Humans of the Western Dragon Empire
Physically smaller, average height of 1.65m, and weaker than their kin in Ishar. Common features are dark short hair, and few facial hairs, the skin is usually light, pale, and yellowish, although various darker skin tones are found in the Empire. The eyes are narrow and wide usually very dark brown some close to black in color. They usually live longer lives compared to humans in Ishar averaging 80 years for the commoners, nobles being closely related to the Ancient Dragon Emperor live much longer depending on how pure their lineage is, anything from a thousand and ten thousand years is possible.
Army
The Western Dragon Empire relies on both a large organized standing military army and navy and full conscription of healthy citizens aged 20 to 56, the large population means the Empire is believed to field the largest army in Mundus. The majority of the army is minimally equipped with armor made of lacquered rawhide and simple weapons such as spears, short bows axes, and maces, some soldiers also use large oblong shaped lacquered wooden shields covered in boiled leather, the armament heavily dependent on the region. Some elite regional units are well-equipped and very specialized for their role, these units prove that the Western Dragon Empire is capable of producing highly sophisticated weapons and armor though, due to its limited industrialization, in small quantities. Such weapons may include repeating crossbows and a variety of guns, from smoothbore muskets, hand cannons, and fire lances, to rifled long-range crane guns operated by a two-man team. Cavalry is primarily used for harassing and skirmishing so it is usually lightly armored and armed with ranged weapons. The artillery is one of the stronger components of any army in the Western Dragon Empire, field artillery is majority made of rocket-propelled projectiles, The hwacha (fire cart) is a multiple rocket launcher that fires one or two hundred rocket-powered metal arrows, the Jiahuo zhanche (wheelbarrow fire engine) is a small multiple rocket launcher supported by a wheelbarrow cart, it can fire 30 rockets either one at a time or in quick successions, the Huixing che (rocket cart) is a big multiple rocket launcher that fires 2 kilos of exploding warheads in a high ballistic arc, configuration comes with engines capable of 10 to 30 rockets volleys, there is also an array of smaller single shot rocket launcher sometimes handheld collectively called Hujian (fire arrow) these single shot weapons may fire varied munitions such as rocket-propelled grenades, incendiary shots or fin-stabilized solid metal spikes used to penetrate armor. Conventional gunpowder artillery is also present although in smaller calibers and numbers compared to the Empire of the White Flame, it is used primarily to snipe priority targets such as enemy officers and artillery emplacements. The navy consists of wooden rectangular boats sometimes entirely covered powered by sails and long oars, as armaments they use handheld crossbows or guns and smaller variants of their field artillery. Their military presence in the air is lacking, having no domesticated flying mounts means that they use slow hot air ballons whose roles are scouting and light bombing, suffice to say such a contraption would not last long against a knight on a mighty griffon. The command of the army is entrusted to the nobility.Government
The government is heavily bureaucratic the Immortal Dragon Empress governs from the capital with absolute authority but her empire is vast so a solid bureaucratic infrastructure is necessary, the empire is divided into kingdoms each ruled by one of the younger siblings of The Immortal Dragon Empress except for the Kindom of Tǔ ruled by the Empress herself. The Kingdom of Huǒ is ruled by The Strong Dragon King, the Kingdom of Mù is ruled by The Beautifull Dragon Queen, and the Kingdom of Shuǐis governed by The Merciful Dragon Queen. the government of the other smaller regions of the Empire is entrusted to the dragon-blooded nobles, who although mostly human have draconic ancestor in common with the Empress. A noble rank is directly proportional to the purity of their blood.Economy
The Western Dragon Empire used to be isolated and self-sufficient but after it lost the colony wars against the Empire of the White Flame has began to foster good trade relationships with it, especially with the free cities, where now maintains embassies. Their exports include silk, medicinal herbs, and electrum. The Western Dragon Empire imports primarily technology from the free cities.Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Chikako, Yukari, Ioko, Ano, Ginko, Chifumi, Ari, Taru, Masa, Mariko, Jun, Nari, Suzu, Kina, Chiharu, Shika.
Masculine names
Nakazo, Razan, Toyoaki, Teruo, Masanori, Rosanjin, Mieko, Takanori, Takejiro, Sanjuro, Suzu, Akihito, Kosami.
Family names
In the Twin Dragon Empires family names come before personal names.
Examples: Daigo, Nagamine, Moteki, Miyaguchi, Tsuboike, Seo, Fukuyama, Nakao, Takashima, Yoshihara.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
The Twin Dragon Empires were once a single empire ruled by the great Ancient Dragon Emperor, after his death his two oldest twins, the Immortal Dragon Empress and the Wise Dragon Emperor split the empire in two, each twin claims the whole ancient empire as their own and so the Twin Dragon Empires are perpetually at war. The Western Dragon Empire might be the biggest of the two but is also threatened from all sides by hostile forces, in the north-west minotaur and from the south-west goliath tribes regularly invade over the mountains, the western border was fortified by long stretches of walls, and numerous forts but is too large to be completely defended, and inevitably the savages of the west find their way trough. The south is consistently under threat from monsters and demons coming from the wilds, and over the western sea, the Western Dragon Empire takes every opportunity it can to raid the coast of its ancient enemy. In the center of the empire bandits are a common problem and screaming bureaucrats and pretenders to the throne regularly foment peasants' rebellions. In the Empire, peace is a fleeting luxury.
The culture has developed accordingly, the Empress rules with an iron fist, and the commoners are oppressed by the nobility, the majority of the region is predominantly agrarian and the border regions are heavily militarized, only the capital and some major cities have recently begun to industrialized.
Funerary and Memorial customs
It is customary for relatives to hold vigils over the dying, in order to accompany them until the very last moment before entering the afterlife. This process is a way for loved ones to show filial piety and loyalty to the deceased. Family members thus take shifts to watch over a relative on their deathbed.
It is common to place a white banner over the door of the household to signify that a death has occurred. Families will usually gather to carry out funeral rituals, in order both to show respect for the dead and to strengthen the bonds of the kin group. Those with closer relationships to the dead wear white garments, while more distant relatives wear garments in different colors of white, black, blue, and green. The colors red, yellow, and brown are traditionally not worn during the mourning period, which may last up to three years. Before a funeral, an obituary notice is commonly sent to relatives and friends announcing the date and time of the funeral procession. The date is usually selected as an auspicious one according to the Empire's fortune calendar.
Before the funeral, the body is washed and bathed in scented water, it is then dressed in the best clothes the family can afford, during the ceremony a dragon-blooded noble or someone invested by one performs a eulogy, and then relatives and friends of the deceased may also take turns speaking, after this the body is buried according to the means of the family, the poorer are buried in unattended grounds outside the city or village, those with more money can buy a spot in a gated and guarded cemetery inside major towns and cities and the rich can commission elaborate mausoleums.
After the burial those invited to the funeral enjoy a lavish dinner together.
Related Organizations
