Drackar

The Kingdom of Drackar is a nation located mainly in central Eldham on the continent of Phoros. It is a Diarchy lead by King Roland Drummon and King UncleSn.

Etymology
There are mainly two theories about the origin of the name Drackar.

The first hypothesis claims that it derives from the longships called Drakkar, widely spread in the navy of Drackar, and used during the exodus of the Drackarian people from Yunria to the their new territories in horos.

The second theory, which is given more credit, argues instead that the name Drackar is a union of the initials of two important cities for the Drackarian culture, Draco and Karak.

Drackarian people
The birth of the Drackarian people took place in the territories of Yunria, where the first contact occured between the Avari group of Heizen and Karak, led by Drummon and the Draaken group of Yuan, led by UncleSn.

The three cities, aided by their proximity, soon began to collaborate and to develop a sense of brotherhood, which was put to the test during Yunria's war against Aureus. The main battle of the conflict took place in Karak, where the two groups valiantly fought side by side for Yunria, scoring a decisive victory for their nation.

After the war, the Avari citizens of Heizen and Karak welcomed the Draaken warriors as brothers, for they had fought and repelled the invaders of their land. Concord between the two cultures kept growing by the day thus the leaders of the two groups, Drummon and UncleSn, aware of the widespread mistrust towards the Yunrian government among their own people, began to cultivate an ambition of creating a nation to call their own, where the two cultures could unite under one banner, Drackar.

Treaty of Hefnaheim
Thanks to the articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty of Hefnaheim, signed on the 9th of March 2022, between Skjoldrbrodir and Drackar, the Drackarian people were able to secure for themselves land rights in exchange for their support in the second battle of Hefnaheim. Article 2 In exchange for our future alliance and for the help offered by the Drackarian army, Skjoldbrodir will grant to the Drackarian people some lands at a symbolic price.

Article 3 The Drackarian people will establish the Kingdom of Drackar on the granted land. The newfound kingdom should be guaranteed independence and recognised of its absolute sovereignty over the granted lands by Skjoldrbrodir. After the victory of the alliance between Skjoldrbrodir and Drackar against Mosir-Sumari, the Drackarian people finally got the chance to create their own nation, as stated by the terms of the treaty. On the 12th of March the Diarchy of Drackar was finally born and the cities of Neapovil and Draco were founded respectively by Drummon and UncleSn, with Neapovil becoming the capital of the Kingdom.

Geography
The territories of the Kingdom of Drackar are located mainly on the continent of Phoros. Even if they are not too large, these lands are rich in different climates and environments. Drackar in its domains in Phoros is bordered to the north by Aristios, to the north-east by Gardenia, to the south by Rodinnbrok and to the west by the sea.

The Kingdom however has some small possessions on the continent of Valreach. These territories, which are part of the Province of Karak, are completely surrounded by Yunria with the exception of the western part, which overlooks the sea. These are mainly desert territories with a torrid and hot climate, with the exception of the plain that hosts the city of Heizen.

Government
The nation is ruled by two kings, both descendants of the two main Drackarian noble houses and equal in authority, so that one cannot act without the approval of the other. The competecies of the kings pertain the religious, military and juridical aspects of the kingdom.

High state decision are discussed by the Supreme Council of Drackar, as well as civil and criminal cases. The Supreme Council may decide to extend the discussion of certain matters to other minor councils.

Government laws and efforts configure the Drackarian society to maximize military proficiency, focusing most of the social institutions on martial training and arms production.

Culture
The people of Drackar were born mainly from two cultural groups, the Avari, from which the citizens of Heizen and Karak came, and the Draaken, from which the inhabitants of Yuan came. Despite the strong differences in racial aspect, between the two groups there has always been a strong relation of friendship and kindred, so much so, that they manage put aside their divergences and unite as a whole.

Common values that characterize the inhabitants of Drackar, are above all martial virtues, courage, honor, and absolute loyalty to their kings and nation. Citizens are very keen on respecting traditions, but Drackar is also a nation that embraces innovation, always looking for ways to improve his military might.

Allegedly, Drackarian people are prohibited from possessing gold coins, and according to legend Drackar's currency consists of iron bars to discourage hoarding.

Youth and education
Drackar is above all a military nation, and the training of its denizens begins since the very beginning of their lives. On the first day of their lifes, the newborns will be placed inside a basket and left in the nearest forest where they will spend the night. Only those who pass the trial will be consireded worthy of becoming citizens of Drackar and no sorrow will be spent for those who didn’t.

Male Drackarian children begin their martial training at the age of eight. This system is designed to encourage discipline and martial prowess among the younglings and to kindle a sense of comradery amidst them. As a matter of fact boys during their training share barracks with their future company colleagues, and they are fed austere ration, consisting mainly of wheat, barley, oats and scraps of meat. They are trained to survive on their own and even theft is encouraged. In addition to martial training, they study mathematics,writing,music and poetry.

Less information is available about the education of Drackarian girls, but it seems that they are given a fairly extensive education, very similar to the one given to the males, but with less emphasis on military training. Their studies includes music, dancing, singing and poetry.

Military life
At age 19, the Drackarian citizen is assigned in one of the army's brigades, composed of about fifteen members each. every citizen is required to be a member of a brigade. There each group learns how to bond and rely on one another. Only natives Drackarian are considered full citizens and are obliged to undergo military training, as well as contributing to the maintanance of the army.

Drackarian men remaines in the active reserve until age 60. Men are encouraged to marry at age 20 but can not live with their families until they left their active military service at age 30.

Agriculture
Drackar's agriculture consists mainly of carrots, wine, cheese, grain, sugar canes and potatoes. These items are grown locally in each Drackarian city.

Drackarian inhabitants are required to donate a certain amount of their yields to the army or the government. These donations are a requirement for every citizen. All the donated food is then redistributed to feed the Drackarian population. The owners of the agricultural lands are fed using a portion of what they harvested.

Architecture
The Kingdom of Drackar is a mix of different building and cultural styles, mainly focused on a medieval design. Given the strong military propensity of the nation, most of the cities of Drackar are heavily fortified and almost all located in territories with natural defensive characteristics.

The cities of Drackar related to the Avari people, Karak, Neapovil and Heizen are very similar in style of architecture, as they were designed in pairs by the same architects, TemplareArrapato and Kaevaeil.

Religion
Freedom of religion is currently in force in Drackar.

At the birth of the nation, the most widespread religion was the Umbraism, practiced by almost all the Avari group of Drackar and in the cities of Heizen, Karak and Neapovil. However, there are several minorities like the Dygrathos and the Draconism, especially among the Draaken people.

Military
The Drackarian army is widely considered to be among the best in all Eldham, thanks to the way of life in Drackar, warriors are skilled, powerful and disciplined.

Second battle of Hefnaheim
The second battle of Hefnaheim is central to the birth of the Kingdom of Drackar, as its outcome allowed the Drackarian people to obtain territories on the continent of Phoros from the Jarldom of Skjoldrbrodir, as stated by the terms of the Treaty of Hefnaheim.

On March 12, unbekwonst to the mosir-sumarian forces, over 30 Drackarian warriors, led by their valorous leaders and by the Marshal Kaevaeil, joined the defenses of Hefnaheim along with Skjoldrbrodir and its allies. The Covenant of Embers, led by Mosir-Sumari, unaware of the Drackarian reinforcements until the very last moment, decided to procede with Hefnaheim's siege as planned, encouraged by the apparently dwindling number of its defenders. The advantage of the defenders, however, was clear from the very beginning, and the contribution of Drackar's skilled warriors was essential in crushing and completely annihilating the Sumari offensive.

After the failed siege attempt by the Covenant of Embers army, Drackar's war-leaders, who had already planned a counteroffensive, made sure that Hefnaheim would hold, quickly coordinated a counterattack on the enemy town of Itakshiir, the capital of Mosir-Sumari. The Drackarian elite troops, some of whom were already stationed near the city before the beginning of the battle, launched a surprise attack on Itakshiir, which, left unmanned by most of its soldiers, quickly fell under the Drackarian offensive.

The city was hastily sacked, and most of its valuables stolen. Drackar's soldiers quickly achieved a crushing victory, securing territories in Phoros and reversing the tide of the long fought conflict between the Covenant of Embers and Skjoldrbrodir, which balance, until then, seemed to be firmly verging on Mosir-Sumari's favor.

Diplomacy

 * Treaty of Hefnaheim - Defensive alliance between the Diarchy of Drackar and the Jarldom of Skjoldrbrodir, signed the 9th of March 2022.
 * Treaty of Neapovil - Collaboration agreement between the Diarchy of Drackar and the Dwarven Kingdom of Khazad-Dum, signed the 15th of March 2022.
 * Yunria-Drackar alliance and land agreement - Military alliance and land agreement (Karak and Heizen given to Drackar) between the Diarchy of Drackar and the Constitutional Monarchy of Yunria signed the 22nd of March 2022.