Danlau
Danlau is one of the first nations forged during the First Migrations period in the second age, and the nation shares the name with its first lord and the father of its people: Danlau. Danlau had no interest in pursuing the Pillars of Heaven and so when he found a fair, wide land, now called Sukya Wailong (the Valley of the Sun), he opted to settle and found his kingdom there. He set his house and capital on the foothills of the wide Soi Wishan mountains, where the snowmelt ran down into a long lake. This eventually became the city of Sai Nodan.
The reputation of Danlau's kingdom is hopelessly marred by the cult worship of Wailong-gu Nasai
Structure
Initially, Danlau's kingdom was rather tribal. Danlau was the father of several generations, and so his people followed him. But as the nation grew both in population and in space, its government evolved as well. But even in the time of Danjushi, Danlau's grandson, obedience came more through the leveraging of abstract influences, rather than the power of the state. Either way, the state was intended to reflect the ideal family writ large. The king was like the father and husband, absolute in his power and terrible in his wrath. His officials were like the father's wives, subservient but with important duties, and held to a high standard. The common folk were like his children, obedient. But there was always a rebellious balance to this, in that the father (or the king) had to maintain order to keep his position of power. And just as a husband who let his wives run all over him or a father who let his children be insolent was seen as weak and would soon lose his respect and position, a king who let his people rebel was apt to be ousted.
Assets
The Danto have long had the benefit of their land and position to grow in strength. The valley Sukya Wailong is a verdant land and very arable. Added to this, the Soil Wishan mountains are full of good building stone as well as veins of iron, gold, copper and jewels. The wild uplands beyond were home to many wild beasts which the Danto could domesticate for their own purposes.
History
Danlau, firstborn of Guldan, led his people eastward from the Sundered lands. Danlau, notoriously paranoid and greedy, decided to build for himself a strong kingdom before continuing a long and difficult sojourn to the pillars. In that way, so he argued, he would be able to better defend the pillar. In the first year of the second age Danlau found a wide valley encircled about by a semicircular mountain range and watered by a wide river. He called them the mountains of the moon and the valley of the sun. Here he set up his court.
Now Danlau had carried in his memory the language his father had begun. And he, ever paranoid, chose to teach it to his family and the leaders of his kingdom. There grew around these teachings a sort of cult with rituals involved to make the places of teaching secret even from the Archenlord himself. Danlau assumed that, since his language came not from the sundering, but from his father's own creation, he was safe. He was not.
In 44 a prophet named Loubei arose to speak against Danlau, prophesying that the Archenlord was not left out by Danlau's new language, and that he would exact judgment on the giant if he did not cease his activities. Danlau hardened his heart, and sought further ways to keep his activities secret and further from the Archenlord's influence. And in his seeking he found. Danlau began to hear a voice in his head, speaking his father's language. The voice called itself Wailong-gu Nasai, prince of the golden sun. This was a lieutenant of the rebellious Ancients. His body was buried beneath the mountains but his spirit endured and found Danlau an easy puppet. As part of his lessons, Danlau pressured his officials and family members to bow the knee to Wailong-gu Nasai.
Through the enchanting spirit, Danlau began to embrace sorcery. In so doing he became a powerful mage, feared and almost revered. When he finally felt he had the power and authority to move against Loubei he had the prophet brought before him. He brought out a large golden statue made to the specifications of Wailong-gu Nasai to the city square and openly offered Loubei the opportunity to bow the knee to Wailong-gu Nasai or be executed. Loubei refused and offered Danlau one last warning before his execution. Then Danlau demanded all present to bend the knee to the prince of the golden sun. Many did. Those that refused were either killed on the spot or fled.
Danlau instigated a year long inquisition, sending the guardians of his new faith to every settlement within his kingdom with orders to slay all who did not bow to their new god. Hundreds fled in all directions, but many more were slain before they had the chance.
The Archenlord made true of his promise, though and Danlau was stricken with a withering disease that claimed his right hand and made him abhorrent to look at. Danlau begged Wailong-gu Nasai to heal him, but the statue didn't respond and the voice of the prince abandoned him. So Danlau was humbled and he cleaned his household of all worship of the prince of the golden sun and ruled fairly until his death in 93 SA. But the enchanting spirit of Wailong-gu Nasai would haunt his house for generations. In 186 Danlau's grandson, Danjushi, assassinated his father (Danlau's son), took the throne and reinstated worship of the enchanting prince.
Demography and Population
During the majority of Danlau's kingdom's history, the population consisted entirely of Gold Giants. Of course, as Danjushi expanded the kingdom, his domain took in other races.
Territories
Since the beginning, the center of Danlau's kingdom is the southeaster side of the Sukya Wailong valley up to the Soi Wishan, and later Danlau claimed lands east of the Soi Wishan where the rivers could carry goods to and from the Chokya Gung. During the growth period under Danjushi and his ilk, Danlau swelled out towards the Sundered Mountains, and south into Gandai's territories, etc.
Military
Warfare in this period was very primitive. Danlau's military consisted of the portion of its male population that were strong enough to fight. These would focus in on using thrown or launched spears and other projectiles and then occasionally closing for melee. In the case of Danlau, he himself would often lead his armies until his old age, at which point he would empower his sons to lead his forces.
Religion
As with all early nations, worship of the Archenlord was ubiquitous in Danlau. Even under heavy persecution by Danjushi and his offspring, many remained faithful to the old religion.
Foreign Relations
Danlau's kingdom is often seen as an unfriendly neighbor at best. Danlau tends to think of itself as the supreme nation and all others should bow and there were times in its history wherein it could force other nations to bow.
Agriculture & Industry
Danto have had, since the beginning, a thriving agriculture and industry. Wide fields and rich veins of ore and stone in the mountains.
Trade & Transport
The best known good transported in Danlau was gold. Soi Wishan had rich gold ore deposits which, especially during the latter kingdom, was mined, carted to the rivers, and then brought down the rivers into Chokya Gung, where it would return in the form of Truegold weapons.
Rise with the Golden Sun
Founding Date
-3720
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
Danlau's Kingdom, Danlau's Realm
Demonym
Danto
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Barter system
Legislative Body
The king makes the laws but in later years, is aided by a special council that will guide the king in codifying laws.
Judicial Body
The king and his local governors dispense justice in the kingdom.
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