D'Hara

From BattleMaster Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search


United D'Hara Kingdom of the Dragon, the Lion and the Sun


blank caption


Our Dragons, Our Hearts!

Overview
Island Dwilight
Capital Port Raviel
Largest City Golden Farrow
Government Monarchy


Duchies 4
Regions 15
Population 282,516
Gold 15036
Food 3834
Nobles 27
Council
Dragon King Pawl Paxwax
Lord General Ulfang Mormont
Royal Confessor Katrina Dragul
Lord Treasurer Pawl Paxwax
Regions
RegionLord
CeltiberiaJames Liverpool
CheslandAntoon Finch
ChesneyKatrina Dragul
DemyanskRoland Brennaborg
FarrowfieldPerdita Esotericus
Golden FarrowZayfrax Plaraveen
GretchewKite Drakhen
LarurLinden Arindal
MaeotisDawn Ketchum
PaislandHarman Prestongreen
PaislyUlfang Mormont
Port NebelSalvador Zond
Port RavielPawl Paxwax
RavielJack Hart Pryde
VashgewCotys D'Anglos


Located on the Tomb Islands (locally referred to as the Dragon Isles) in the Middle Sea of Dwilight, D'Hara is home to fishermen, sailors, and merchants. The peasantry is fickle, hardy, and rife with superstition. The elder lords of D'Haran historically come from the eastern continents, primarily Atamara. Many of the young nobles, knights, and lords are the first native Dragon Islanders to be elevated to noble status. The nobility is deeply religious, with several lords also holy priests. Some nobles are dedicated traders, a frequent sight in the ports of Dwilight. The realm has traditionally focused on diplomacy and trade, yet recent hostilities have given birth to a burgeoning warrior caste.

Abroad, D'Harans are generally mistrusted, if not loathed. Sitting in the middle of the continent, the realm has become ensnared in many regional wars. The keen D'Haran sense of self-preservation is often interpreted by her neighbors as double-dealing and backstabbing. The isolation of the islands lends to speculation and rumor amongst the peasantry.

History

D’Hara is an island realm that seceded from and subsequently conquered the Lurian island realm of Shadovar. D'Hara itself has experienced rebellion and foreign aggression from many directions and continues to stand tall. Many of its nobles have international ties which benefit the realm's often precarious position.

The realm recently underwent a terrible blight in the Long Winter, when a great famine culled the peasant classes and sowed insurrection throughout the islands. Despite famine and two hostile imperial neighbors, Aurvandil and Luria Nova, D'Haran sovereignty was returned to the entirety of its claim.

The Book of D'Hara details much of the recorded history of D'Hara. The Book is a collaborative effort by many of the nobles who have served the kingdom since its founding. The Tandareen Council is tasked with the Book's maintenance. The Book is occasionally written with open subjectivity, and should be read in such light.

Government

D'Hara is a constitutional monarchy with strong republican traditions. The realm is known as the Kingdom of D'Hara or the Merchant Republic of D'Hara, though the latter is generally preferred at present. King Machiavel Chenier rules as head of state, having empowered the Prime Minister to rule over day-to-day domestic and foreign affairs. The Prime Minister is elected by every noble D'Haran. The current Prime Minister is Rynn JeVondair.

The House of Lords is an ancient and powerful institution in D'Hara, composed of all the regions' lords. The House of Lords elects the General, Confessor, and Fiduciary, as well as new lords. Historically, any Prime Minister who has attempted to bypass the House of Lords met with stiff opposition and lordly discontent.

The Midlands Council was recently established by decree of Prime Minister Rynn JeVondair. Its task is to represent the realm's knighted nobility. The knights elect a Chairman, who represents them in the House of Lords. The Chairman also presides over the Tandareen Council, tasked with the maintenance of the Book of D'Hara. The current Chairman of the Midlands Council is Rebec Cato.

The Official Laws of D'Hara give structure to obligations and responsibilities of D'Haran nobles, as well as other nobility who find themselves within D'Haran territory.

D'Haran War Bonds are a new innovation, in which nobles whose families invest in a D'Haran region during times of war, may be repaid during times of peace.

Culture

The Dragon Isles (known earlier as the Tomb Isles) have served as commercial crossing lanes for people all over Dwilight for generations. It is a central location and thus has experienced many different ethnic groups passing through, settling, and integrating into D'Haran society.

The concepts of honor and loyalty are an important part of D'Haran culture, and thus the noble Oaths of D'Hara are a seriously regarded matter. Oaths are generally recorded after having been made publicly. Recorded oaths which are no longer applicable to their adherents are kept for posterity. This has been attributed to merchants building systems of reliable trade networks. Oath-taking is very significant in warrior circles too - due to D'Hara's occasional political instability, many knights seek to protect themselves by forging strong personal connections with friendly nobles.

With the formation of D'Hara, the two islands comprising the majority of D'Haran territory are united under the cultural blanket provided by the monarchy. D'Haran culture and ways are rooted in old Shadovar but constant trade has kept a constant flow of influences from the northern theocracies, the Lurian kingdoms to the east, the seafarers and pirates of Madina & Fissoa, and beyond, with great influence from Atamara. D'Haran islanders are an incredibly adaptable people who blend the line between religion and mysticism, trade and piracy. Each village has its own local set of legends. Some still cling to old tribal lines and customs descending from the ancient Dwili. Dragon Islanders are a hardy people, as everyone still alive on the islands today survived the madness of the Long Winter.

D'Hara extended its control beyond the Dragon Isles to eventually include the Sallowcape in the east and Paisly in the west. Many Sallowsians maintain a rugged sense of independence, yet longtime immigration from the Dragon Isles has integrated the local people into a uniquely D'Haran populace. Duke Kendal Forbes oversaw the growing wealth of the Sallowcape; today Sallowtown is the richest city in D'Hara, occupying a unique position between the northern theocracies and the Lurian kingdoms.

In Paisly and the surrounding lands, the residual influence of Madina is still felt, and there are many connections to neighboring Terran. Although these regions are distinct from the rest of D'Hara in that they are part of a mainland continent, the traditions of D'Hara have traveled with its ocean-bound people, mixing with Madinan culture and other local mannerisms. As a result, Paisly and Paisland are an interesting confluence of cultural traditions and beliefs, as it often sits on a battlefront and sees many opportunistic merchants and soldiers of fortune.

The First Census was taken in the Autumn of 7 YD. The Second Census was taken in the Winter of 21 YD. These two documents can be examined to see the evolution of D'Haran high society.

Religion

In recent years, religion has grown to become an important aspect of D'Haran culture. Astromancy and Elementalism blend with old pagan ways, legends of the Dragons, Bloodmoon mysteries, and seafaring superstitions.

By decree of the Dragon King Cenarious Stormrage, D'Hara has remained a bastion of religious freedom. The first major faith of D'Hara was Verdis Elementum, though it's influence among the peasantry has waned since the decimating famine of the Long Winter. Since the famine, the majority of the D'Haran population now follows Sanguis Astroism.

The D'Haran nobility is considered to be very diverse in religious views. According to the Second Census, approximately half of the nobility follow Astromancy, with the other half following Verdis Elementum. A small minority follows old pagan ways or Aetheris Pyrism.