Dragomir

Up in the northern steppes of the Spike, wyverns glide above great stone towers, mages and scholars walk the streets, and great dragons watch from the high mountain peaks.

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Dragomir is a primarily elven kingdom, home to some of the greatest mage colleges and scholarly research centers of Faronne. Under the guidance of the dragons, the people of Dragomir have innovated and developed new technologies and arcane theories.

It is also renowned for its military, particularly its Wyvern-Warriors, mounted riders paired with tamed wyverns.

Origin
Dragomir came into being as a result of dragon-worship. Explorers into the Steppes of Dragomir found that the dragons were powerful wielders of magic and keen inventors. Soon, groups of people began establishing cities and temples to the dragon clan that resided in the mountains of Dragomir.

These folk came to call themselves the Dragon-Souls. Under the dragons' guidance, the people developed cities, new technologies, and new arcane magics. The city of Hiraenn was established, and the people developed from there.

Political Structure
For many years, Dragomir was a theocracy. The people deferred to the dragons' every wish and command. After dragon-worship began to wane, a political structure was developed, allowing for closed elections of local officials. This has slowly spread up the electoral system, allowing for elections of higher level officials as time has passed.

Culture
Dragomir culture skews heavily towards research, magical scholarship, and artisan-work. The harsh climate of Dragomir is not well-suited to mass agricultural production. Specialized crops, such as mountain-carrots, sweet moss, and shale kale, are grown and enjoyed, but cannot support a full diet.

As a result, Dragomir relies heavily on the exports of the Withering Wood to the South. 85% of its food is imported from this region, and Dragomir closely guards its influence and the farms that provide it food and raw materials.

However, it does produce extremely knowledgeable mages in all arts, even the most unusual schools. Astronomy, chronomancy, and manipulomancy are especially cultivated in this region. However, more folk-centered magic is frowned upon. Wild magic in particular is seen as dangerously unrefined, as is druidic magic.

Non-mage or scholarly inhabitants of Dragomir tend to be artisans, such as brewers, bakers, and other craftsmen. It is said that pottery from Dragomir is fired with draconic flame, making it more durable and imbuing it with an inexplicable sense of personality. Warriors and explorers of Dragomir tend to focus on holding back goblins and kobolds that creep into the mountain range, though many go into the powerful Dragomir military in hopes of becoming a respected and honored wyvern rider.

Demographics
Dragomir is primarily home to elves. Elves who have lived in Dragomir since before the Age of the Ancient Scale have taken to calling themselves flame elves. How different this makes them from other high elves is still up for debate.

Dragomir is fairly diverse, with a high population of humans and gnomes, and a relatively large firbolg diaspora. The first dragonborn of Faronne emerged from Dragomir, though their exact origin is lost to time.

Dragon-souls, as citizens of Dragomir tend to call themselves, range across classes, wealth, and education levels. Most residents are literate, thanks to the dragon's edict that all children attend classes three days a week from ages 4 to 9. Those with particular aptitude for or interest in learning are encouraged to remain in classes until the age of 13, and feed into the programs for higher education in math and science, mundane arts, and magical study.

Education Systems
Knowing that its greatest strength lies in gaining a scholarly advantage, Dragomir encourages its people to participate in both the mandatory Common Education and the optional upper-level scholarly tracks. Dragomir offers three tracks for adolescents, and a non-track scholarly pursuit program for graduates of the track program. The instruction itself is offered free of charge, but students must support themselves during their studies. This can be difficult as most tracks tend to be strenuous and time consuming. In order to support students and boost rapidly declining military enlistment, Dragomir officials initiated The Loyalty Program to support students in their educational pursuits.

Track Program
The track program is offered to students who have graduated the Common Education program at age thirteen and wish to continue learning and studying.

Math & Science Track


 * Structural Design
 * Higher Numeric Reasoning
 * Heavenly Studies
 * Cartography
 * Invention
 * Chemical Investigation
 * Artifices and Mage Support

Mundane Arts


 * History
 * Religious Context
 * Linguistics
 * Literacy
 * Common Education

Magical Study


 * Conjuration
 * Animancy
 * Evocation
 * Abjuration
 * Transmutation
 * Divination
 * Enchantment
 * Illusion
 * Chronomancy
 * Manipulomancy

Individual Advanced Study
This program is open for particularly gifted or ambitious graduates of the track program. Students may apply for a mentorship with one of the faculty of the Colleges of Dragomir. Chosen students receive free room and board, grant funding for research, and chances for quest experience with vetted, College-supplied adventures. Some strings are attached.

The Loyalty Program
Due to the costs of living and the difficulty of finding flexible employment while studying, Dragomir offers its students a position in The Loyalty Program. Students can agree to spend 5–8 years in the Dragomir military after completing their course of study, in exchange for room and board during their academic career.

Diplomacy
Dragomir has a strong relationship with the Withering Wood and several provinces of the Greenering, particularly Rhyus, Lavendat, Retiat, and Dorsenn.

It is currently involved in an escalating conflict with the Army of Smoke and Steel, an extremist group funded and backed by Southsandrin over the Withering Wood.