Dear Higher Ones,
I'm sure you are familiar with the allure of power, as am I and the great kings that came before me. We understood that our privileged positions are a gift from the heavens, not to be abused, but to be honoured and upheld. Through our sacrifices, our people are more numerous than ever before, protected by the strongest military in our history.
Despite this, there is one factor that blights our paradise; one factor that makes our people look over their shoulders and shiver in fear of the dark—monsters. They have never been more dangerous than in our lifetimes. At least two in every three deaths are monster related; an unacceptably high number. It is my duty to exterminate these blemishes upon our glorious nation and once again allow our people to live in a world free from the dark.
Higher Ones, it is my pleasure to have inherited the prosperity of this glorious nation. Allow me to share as much of my kingdom as I can, for I am certain you would agree it is a beautiful gift for any mortal soul.
History of the Draga Civilisation
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ??? – 0 AF | Ancient Kingdoms flourish. The earliest Dragic myths originate during this period. |
| 0 – 200 AF | Survivors of the Five Dragic Tribes settle in the north. Dragonism, centred on the worship of the Fourteen Divine Dragon Lords, emerges. The tribes are hired by neighbouring lands to combat monsters, marking the beginning of our mission to rid the world of them. |
| ~200 – 800 AF | The surrounding lands become increasingly dependent on the tribes, making them the de facto leaders until their authority is formalised in 800 AF with the rise of the Draga Empire. |
| ~800 – 1000 AF | The Draga Empire enters a period of aggressive expansion, justified as a crusade to eliminate monsters. |
| ~1000 AF | A civil war over succession causes the ruling tribe to split from the remaining four. The victorious dynasty establishes the Draga Kingdom. Large-scale expansion largely comes to an end as the kings refocus on eliminating monsters within their borders. |
| ~1400 AF | King Agard III introduces the King's Religion. The capital is moved south to its modern location, away from the northern tribal heartlands. This sparks the First Great Northern Rebellion, which seeked to restore Dragonism as the state religion. |
| 1590 AF | The Second Great Northern Rebellion erupts following widespread civil unrest. During this period, the kingdom conquers Voldern, establishing its modern borders. |
| 1596 AF | I inherit the throne from my father. |
The Colonisation Process
Although our strategy for eliminating monsters has evolved over the centuries, the modern approach is based on a simple observation: the larger a settlement becomes, the more organised its defences become, and the safer its inhabitants are. Consequently, the kingdom seeks to establish as many settlements as possible, allowing them to grow into towns and cities where the majority of the population can live in relative safety.
The greatest limitation is food production. Cities rely upon sparsely populated rural communities to feed them, so a balance must always be maintained between expanding existing population centres and founding new ones.
The process of establishing a new settlement is as follows:
- Suitable ruins are identified to serve as the foundation of a new settlement. More recent ruins are preferred, though some sites date back to 0 AF.
- An initial military force is deployed to reclaim the area from monsters and begin reconstruction.
- While soldiers focus on the settlement's internal defence, monster hunters are dispatched into the surrounding region to undertake external operations, including:
- Reclaiming important locations or artifacts.
- Killing a predetermined quota of monsters.
- Eliminating particularly dangerous monsters threatening the region.
- Once the surrounding lands have been sufficiently pacified, the first wave of colonists arrives. These settlers typically occupy non-labour-intensive roles near the settlement's centre. The mayor must be chosen from this founding group, as the settlement's culture is established during this phase.
- Because monster activity often increases with the arrival of civilians, a strong military presence is maintained.
- As monster attacks gradually decline, a second wave of colonists settles the area. They assume manual labour from the soldiers, allowing the military to slowly withdraw while constructing roads, trade routes and farmland.
- Once a local village guard is officially formed, the military fully withdraws, leaving the settlement to govern itself.
- The military returns periodically to inspect the settlement's health and assist with monster defence. Between these visits, settlements rely upon independent monster hunters and mercenaries when additional protection is required.
- The frequency of military inspections depends upon:
- The settlement's population.
- The quantity of resources exported to the capital.
- The inherent danger of the surrounding region.
- The settlement's strategic importance, including its economic and defensive value.
Colonists and military personnel are recruited either from the nearest city or directly from the capital.
Once established, settlements typically grow from hamlets into villages, then towns, and finally cities. Most never progress beyond the village or town stage, leaving each city supported by a network of smaller settlements that provide food and raw materials.