The Grand Despotate of Dramarch

Residing at the southernmost reaches of western Trevast, the Empire of Dramarch is a collection of City States nestled in a cluster of islands known as The Reapers. A naval nation, it is an economic powerhouse in the world, its might built on a currency outlawed in many of the Northern Kingdoms - Slaves. The following represents the Cities of Dramarch, its Government and Central Military Forces. It shall cover the culture and economy of the region, as well as guidance on how to make a meaningful vassal.


Territory

Found off the southern coastline of the Izhen States, the Empire consists of a collection of islands, numbering in excess of seventeen outcrops of varying size. Many if these islands are empty of settlement, whilst some hold the rural estates of the Dramarch Elite. The larger islands however are dominated by the City-States themselves, the Slaving States of the Dramarch.

Kharch - the City of the Undying - famed for its sword-slaves, Dramoz - the City of a Thousand Silences - famed for its ‘Shadows’ (slaves trained in the arts of the assassin). The Twin Cities of Mutal and Bruj, residing at the north and southern tip of the crescent isles, boast great markets and fighing pits, for the sale of slaves from the northern nations in Mutal, and the Boterim in Bruj. And lastly, the City of Ancharik - the de facto capital of the nation, which rests on the cluster of islands ‘inside’ the crescent - famed for its dockyards, and for the terrifying ‘Golden Horde’ which resides there.

The channel between the Northernmost Island, and the jutting land controlled by the Izhen, is one of the most dangerous stretch of water in the world, with the greatest fortress in the empire (Link) found jutting off its coastline. Mines and spikes stick out from the water, a veritable moat against potential attack.

The belt of islands facing the bay of Izhen, tends to be awash with patrols, mines and paranoid admirals. Probably sharks.

History

Founded during the collapse of the Valdezian Line of Emperors, the then-Kingdoms of the Dramarch Isles was initially a loose collection of Isles, lorded over by exiled nobles of the Houses of the old northern Trevastine empire. Incorrectly, the original settlers of the Islands had assumed them to be (according to texts dating back to the period) “...the pinnacle of a great expanse of lands.”. This false assumption meant that the groups that arrived came all to over prepared for the expanse of land which they discovered, and instead found themselves settling a collection of small islands, rather than a new world much as they had hoped.

At this time, each Island was taken by a seperate power - and as time passed relations between them waxed and waned, peace and harmony one year, raiding and attacks the next. Tension mounted as the generations passed, and some three-hundred years after the formal settling of the Islands King Hadwyn Carraigh declared the ‘Great Unification War’ - which lasted for just under a week. Inviting his allies to celebrate the marriage of his eldest daughter, he merely trapped them inside a room - and set it on fire, a simple yet effective method of removing ones enemies.

All that was left of the war was six days of rounding people up, for Hadwyn had paid vast sums of money to the Guard and Military Units of the rest of the Island Kingdoms - who simply stood idle as his forces swept into place. Installing himself as the ‘First King of Dramarch’, Hadwyn shocked everyone by almost instantly allying himself with the distant ‘Boterim Empire’ and began one of the most tyrannical rules in the nation's history.

Commerce and Trade would boom as the times went on, with the ‘Empire’ focusing more and more on the development of a prosperous nation, great temples and Ziggurats constructed across the realm, requiring greater and greater manpower to fuel their Emperors desires. It was to slate such thirst the the Reaping was called, and all young men of the ream banded together, heading out in great ships and raiding the coasts north of them.

Such a tradition continues to this day, and as the centuries went on, the Dramarch Empire became dependant on Slavery, Raiding and Trade as its lifeblood, the whip and the coinpurse being the two main methods by which they kept their primacy of power and control in the region. Kings came and went, Emperors rose and fell and the power of the slaver houses, of Great Families grew and grew.

Centuries went by, and the population and wealth of the Cities expanded, with a workforce that require little to no upkeep, it was only a matter of time before one of the Slaves got ahead of themselves, with ideas above their station. Starting in the main assembly square, a collection of Tlem Slaves began to march toward the Grand Ziggurat of Amonsalef, home to the family of the same name - who unfortunately for the marchers, happened to be the Imperial Ruling Family at the time.

Sounding the alarm bell across the City, the Imperial Family watched as the Nobility holed up inside their Ziggurats, sealing the doors, and thus isolating the population and slaves from the food reserves. With this done, the doors of the Grand Ziggurat of Amonsalef swung open, the marchers coming to a halt as they heard the great drums of the Golden Horde marching forth. It is said that nearly 15,000.00 people died against the implacable march of the Horde, and a further 50,000.00 died in the resulting purge, in which the families and descendants of all the marchers were found, and put to death.

Since then, there has never been another rebellion, all the way to the present modern era.

Government & Vassals

The Government of the Empire of Dramarch is a simple affair split into tiers. The top tier focuses around the Imperial Throne and is as one would expect, occupied by the Emperor and his court of advisors. Below lies the second tier, the Imperial Draks consisting of appointing officials who serve as Overseers within the City States, to ensure the smooth operation of the markets. Finally come the Great Houses made up of the freemen of the City, the Nobility who hold the leash in which the cities population is held, who form a Council, which meets weekly under the gaze of the Emperor or his appointed Draks.

The Imperial Throne is a considerable power in the realm, and its military forces are covered in greater detail below. It is important to note that the position of Emperor is not hereditary and must be voted from the Great Houses following the excumbency of the current leader. It is thus not uncommon for Emperors to be mere puppets of a powerful House. The Emperor commands the Golden Horde.

The Imperial Draks are the Marshalls and Overseers of the Imperial Estate. They are counted as Independent Forces when it comes to writing them up. They are effectively regional governors, working with the local Great Houses to keep the City Running. They are allowed a personal guard, but normally are just assigned a detachment of the Golden Horde by the Emperor.

The Great Houses are the nobility of the realm, and are counted as Minor Vassals when it comes to a write up. They are based in one of the cities and are forbidden from raising an army of freedmen - meaning a great many make use of slave warriors. It is estimated that there are around twelve such houses in each city, prone to bickering and internal intrigue at each Cities Council.

Outside of the Nobility, native born Dramarchians are not allowed to be enslaved. A great many of them work for the Great Houses, or the Imperial Army. Other than this, it is estimated that the rest of the population are slaves or visitors.

Culture & Population

Initially a devoutly Trevastine nation, the culture of the islands have changed massively as the years and centuries have gone by. Freedom of religion is forbidden in the region, with the State Approved Faith being the worship of the Boterim Gods.

The overall population is hard to estimate, however it is a well known fact that nearly 80% of the population of the region are slaves. Dramarch has a terrifyingly harsh system of rank, and it is forbidden for slaves to speak unless permission is granted, to look at a superior, unless told to. That being said, to harm another person's slave, is punishable by death.

To harm the Imperial Property is punishable by the burning of ones family, and then your own hanging.

It is not a fun place to be.

Much of the Nobility in the Great House live in vast Ziggurats or Towers, the taller and grander the structure, the richer and more ancient the House. This is also a security measure, as the Houses have noticed that it is much easier to defend a vast tower than it is a pleasure barge or palace.

Slavery is quite clearly legal in the region, with it seen as a common and indeed encouraged practice to possess many slaves if one is an occupant of the City. Slaves are expected to do as commanded, with many families bred into slavery for generations, whilst in return their masters are expected to keep them healthy, active and well kept - for one must always take a care to ones property.

Military

The army is split into two parts, the central army which is covered here, and the levy army which broadly speaking, is the personal troops that can be mustered by the Great Houses. The Central Army is divided into the Navy and then the Golden Horde.

The Golden Horde is an all male force consisting of professional trained troops, under the command of the Emperor and his Draks. There are a rough 10,000.00 of these men, formed up into legions of 1,000.00 men each, and further split into two distinct types of unit. Firstly come the heavy infantry, armed with scimitars, pikes and great pavise shields. All are trained and make use of the Composite Bow, and shelter behind great pavise shields. They make use of great spiked whips, able to pierce through armour plates when wielded correctly.

They are supported by the Kataphrachi who adorn themselves in light armour, making use of composite bows and scimitars, as well as the infamous ‘Slave Snare’. They are a light cavalry unit, and form the interior guard for the Emperor himself.

The legions are backed by the Insharbi a 50,000.00 strong group of slaves, trained from the age of 6 to serve. Armed with spears, sword and shield, they adorn light armour, and are mute, communication coming in hand signals and horn blasts. This chilling silence is terrifying on the Field, and they are experts at lock step formations and covert tactics.

This group is supported by the Navy, which is covered in greater detail below, and mostly used for coastal protection and raiding. As part of the Navy, there are 10,000.00 marines which form a light infantry force, often deployed for the capture of slaves. They tend to be armed with scimitars.

The Golden Horde and the Marines are the preserve of Freemen, and thus have the best pay and equipment. The Insharbi are an all slave force.

Economy

Easily counted as one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the Dramarch economy is based almost entirely on the trade, breeding, capture and training of slaves for all manner of use. Wealth disparity is vast, with the majority of it focused around the Great Houses - one of the side effects of having a massive unpaid population.

In order to allow the transit of tourists and visitor easier, non Dramarchains are required to purchase a Dramachain Lily which they must wear at all times. They wilt within three days, however they also stop you being enslaved. So, win win? Citizens are expected to wear an amulet, showing they are not ‘open to enslavement’.



The Cities of Dramarch


Whilst much of the land around the isles is empty grassland, occasionally dotted with the private country estates of the elite, it is the great Cities of Dramarch that serve as its beating heart. Each one has its own unique flavor, its own purpose and source of pride - and each is home to its own vicious brand of cruelty. All of the Cities share several key features - such as great docks, Noble Ziggurats and steep walls.

Kharch
Known as the City of the Undying by travellers, due to it being home to one of the largest Boterim Templs in the region, the Golden Pyarmid, which dominates the centermost post of the City

Dramoz
Famed for its Grand Bazaar, the City of Dramoz is home to the highest number of Shadow Slaves, namely Slaves trained by a selection of noble houses act as spies and killers. The training of such stock is a well kept secret, and as such the Nobles of Dramoz are some of the best ‘behind the scenes’ influencrs in the Region.

Mutal & Bruj
Residing in the northern and then southernmost tips of the Crescent Isles, Mutal and Brug boast massive fighting pits, developing huge hulking brutes next to lithe spear maidens to be used as gladiators and guards.

Ancharik
The ‘Imperial Seat’ at present, Ancharik is the home of the nations largest Dockyard, and also the mustering ground and training area for the Golden Horde. It is dominated by the Ziggurat of [NAME], which is the current seat of the Incumbent Emperor.

Making a Vassal

The best way to get involved with the Empire, is to make a Vassal House. There are two types of Vassal that would require a write up, and that is to make a Great House or an Imperial Drak in the City. Make sure to read this write up, and then get in touch if you have any questions, however here are some tips.

Great Houses - Much of their power comes from the slaves they either capture, sell or train. So make sure your house has either a good raiding force or a strong and unique ‘slave warrior’ group it can sell or lease out as mercenaries (think: Unsullied from GoT). Infighting is common between the Houses, as may jostle and scheme for the seat of Emperor so make sure to be ‘ded cunning’. All Great Houses live in vast Ziggurats in the City - so make sure to have one!