Atlas

Imarel Travel Guide - by T.A. Saunders ©2010 v1.2

Draconic Empire Dragon's Enclave (Capital)

While their fellows slept in great burrows in what would eventually become Farwind, the dragons that chose to lick their wounds and prepare for war with the Shar'Vaire once more established themselves in the cold north of Shalzaar and soon after, the sub-continent of Tirania. While the Shar'Vaire had ancient strongholds in Shalzaar at this point in history, they were primarily mid-land and south. They had no desire to adapt to the cold climate further north and further, their new airships did not fly well in the windy, bitter reaches. The Dragon's Enclave was established here for this reason; should the Shar'Vaire discover them here and launch an attack, it would nullify the advantage gained by their airships, since the Dragons were able to learn and understand the frigid air currents and find means to fly in them.

Xannti Dragons themselves do not believe there is a need for cities; there is territory and their claim upon it. Buildings, structures and shelters for many of their kind are pointless, since Dragons are very slow to procreate so there is never a large cluster of them in a particular area, beyond their immediate clutch. Each Dragon has their lair somewhere on the territory and other dragons respect it. If they don't, they will fight and blood will decide the owner. All the cities in their territories are from conquered land they now control that house other races. These cities are allowed to stand by the dragons because they are little more than breeding grounds for their slaves and a place to keep them.

The Enclave represents a hope of the northern dragons that their misguided brothers of the distant west would someday join with them again. That hope still exists, despite the fact that Xannti Dragons and Farwindian Dragons bitterly debate the paths each has taken. Xannti Dragons believe that The Falling was more of a realization by Tashalasheeri and the First Clutch that Imarel was theirs and their place was not in the Bright Heavens, but here where they would reign supreme in defiance of the Old Gods. The Enclave is a vast structure; perhaps the largest building on Imarel, fit for ten thousand dragons to gather in their natural form with a statue of Tashalasheeri roaring at the heavens in the middle of this gigantic edifice. Constructed from marble and trimmed with gold, it was given a perpetual gleam with draconic magic; it is easy to spot even from the sky, so all dragons anywhere might find their home.

The Enclave serves no other purpose, but to act as a gathering place for dragons; in that regard it is what can be best described as a capital, since matters of state are discussed here amongst all dragons, who pay fealty to the strongest amongst them. The Emperor was, until recently an ancient grand Wyrm known as Thanaxiscar the Bloodied Fang, or simply Bloodfang to those few humanoids that have had the distinct displeasure of meeting him. He was overthrown by Tashalasheeri herself, who now reigns as Empress. The Enclave is a place of great reverence to the dragons; it is always guarded by honor-bound sentinels with Human, Van'su and Dracothar soldiers always on patrol.

With the ending of the Second Godswar, all dragons have been seen reunited. However, for the dramatic toll the war took on the population, 95% of the dragons now sleep, including Tashlasheeri. Her finally reunited mate, Hazaad rules in her stead. The dragons that remain awake are some of the most powerful of the three clans (Xinntu, Xannti and Xin, the Prismatics). These dragons safeguard the sleeping ones until it is time for them to rise again, and broods are replenished by those that remain awake.