Overview and History
The dragons were the first to arise in the world. Divinely created by their deities as the apex of mortals, they were given the world as their territory and spread out over it. As they worship their gods, so they created other reptilian races to worship them.
Government and Society
The dragons instituted a strict caste system for their followers, with the true dragons supreme and in command.
Order of Fire
Those who are born to lead are inducted into the Order of Inferno. They are the nobles, administrators, religious leaders, and heads of the empire.
Order of Lightning
The merchants and guilds of the empire are led by the Order of Lightning, as well as training of sorcerers and magic arts.
Order of Cold
Soldiers make up the Order of Cold and the grand army is almost exclusively made up of this order.
Order of Poison
Also known as the Venom Tongues, the members of the order are the diplomats and ambassadors, as well as the orators and propagandists. Rumors abound that spies and assassins are trained within the order as well.
Order of Acid
The workers, builders, and laborers of the Order of Acrid form the backbone in which the empire was built. The thankless job of maintaining the empire as well as all the engineering fall to the members of the order.
Order of Breathless
Those who are not accepted into an order are known as Breathless, and have no citizenship or rights in the empire.
Adventurers often come from the Breathless, though the empire also employs agents drawn from the castes. However their first loyalties are often to the empire first and their comrades second.
Magic and Technology
Dragons are born with natural weapons, armor, flight, and many with sorcerous abilities. This is reflected in their technological development. The empire's technology is mixed with arcane power, with many weapons grown and enhanced with magic to look and feel like the draconic gifts. Because of their natural elemental affinity, the empire has above average metallurgy.
Innate abilities and talents are given high priority and training—sorcerers and monks are common. Weapons favor large slashing and piercing weapons such as curved swords and axes.
Cultural Traits
The firstborn of all mortal races, dragons are naturally proud and confident. This is reflected in the empire they built, but also their hubris. Citizens of the empire are proud, feeling superior as the subjects of draconic might. Other cultures view the empire as dangerous and arrogant, with condescending agents proclaiming dragon propaganda.