Dracnáe
From Almeopedia
| Dracnáe | |
| Native: | Dracnáe |
| Verdurian: | Dracnáe |
| Characteristics | |
| Capital: | Dracnáe |
| Government: | Duchy |
| Language: | Verdurian (Eř dialect) |
| Relative prosperity: | 62 |
| Population: | 170,000 |
| % Pagan: | 93 |
| % Eleďe: | 7 |
| % None: | 0 |
| Currency | |
| Gold | — |
| caďin 4 | |
| Silver | ešenë 1.03 |
| ešenalt 1/4 | |
| Emur | alat 1/16 |
| • Dracnáe |
Dracnáe [drak ˈna jɛ] is a city on the Meuna, and the independent duchy based there. It controls a 60 km stretch of the river, downstream from Deštai and upstream from Pakšohan.
The town didn’t exist in classical time; it emerged with the general revival of trade in the 2800s. There’s a cataract at Dracnáe as the river emerges from the canyons of Deštai; goods thus have to be transshipped going in either direction. (Upstream, boats can continue as far as Taicer). The area was then controlled by the Curiyans, though the valley was settled by Caďinorians. The Curiyans howver favored Dracnáe and Duvocati downstream; towns generated wealth which was easily skimmed. The most important local lord was named a duke by the Curiyans.
The region rebelled against the Curiyans in 3202; the story is told under Pakšohan. Vurandom, duke of Duvon, had the idea that the liberated territory would make a good kingdom; Dracnáe objected, and by stages the quarrel degenerated into war (3210). The independence of Dracnáe under duke Genéfar was recognized in 3212. Genéfar immediaely decreed that no merchants from Pakšohan would be allowed into the country. His successors maintained the ban even after it was realized that merchants were simply bypassing the county and impoverishing the town; finally it was rescinded in 3295.
The current duke is Erbelaca 3e, whose policy, like those of his forebears, is entirely reactionary: his rule is absolute, newfangled inventions like industry and Eleďát are discouraged, and slavery is still legal. The economy would be a shambles, if it weren’t for the cataract, which traps gold washed down the Meuna. The dukes employ a small colony of elcari to recover the gold better than humans could, and make sure that a sufficient quantity is spent on soldiers that their neighbors don’t get any funny ideas.
Dracnáe is the seat of a perař or patriarch of Caďinorian paganism, which is responsible as well for its neighbors. It's the newest perařát, replacing the classical one at Duvon which was abandoned during the Dark Years.
Etymology: Ver. ‘dragon-place’
Neighbors: Deštai (to W), Curiya (to N), Pakšohan (to E), Eluye-Makši tribes (to S).
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Countries and important regions in or near Eretald: |
