The Nation of Drotid

Drotid (also known as Shaah Sulehagh) is a nation ruled by lizardmen (who call themselves the Shaahesk), but populated by several ‘servitor races’ which consist of anything that has passed their borders without permits, races that the lizardmen conquered, and various slaves bought from other nations/privateers.

Approximately 40% of Drotid’s population is kobolds. Simply put, they breed like vermin and have litters of up to four pups. Nearly 30% of the remaining is troglodyte, and 20% are lizard folk with the final 10% consisting of members of the various races that have been enslaved.

The lizardmen keep control of their nation through discipline, fear, and a willingness to take reprisals to a genocidal level. Example: there used to be snake men in the same area. They were too difficult to control, and after a third uprising, the lizardmen wiped out the entire race. Since then, they feel no remorse in wiping out villages, tribes, or even towns that do not appreciate their ‘enlightened’ rule.

The lizardmen themselves are separated into castes. The Aristocratic caste consists of wealthy merchants, boyars, high-ranking military officials, and high-ranking priests. The Craftsman caste consists of the various blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers, millers, and artisans. These individuals make up the majority of the lizardman population, as well as almost all of the trog population. Temple guards, mercenaries, soldiers, marines, and pit-fighters all make up the warrior caste. This is the only caste that a slave may elevate himself into. Even though there are many dwarven and elven artisans, they are always watched, and thus belong to the fourth and final caste, the Slave/Servant caste. This caste consists of general laborers as well as slave handlers and slaves. Slave traders belong to the Aristocrat caste.

T’Nanshi borders Drotid to the south, to the north and west lies Deglos, and to the northeast is an unclaimed area known only as the Dead Lands.

Approximately 60% of Drotid is marshes; so finding enough dry land to build a city is near impossible. As a result, instead of large cities, Drotid is filled with small towns and villages, most of which are controlled by a local headman. The word for this ‘Headman’ is so unpronounceable that we are going to simply refer to them as Boyars. These Boyars make policy in as far as they decide local policy concerning trade, agriculture, and religion, but they are required to garrison troops that answer only to the Overlord (Voivode).

The Voivode is the head of the military as well as overlord of the boyars. He dictates policy regarding interegional trade, religion and military matters as well as providing a safe haven for visiting local dignitaries. The position of Voivode is elected by the Boyars, who are placed into position by the Voivode. As a result, most Voivodes retain their position for life. Life is, of course, a very questionable term. One Voivode was assassinated one week into his term because of too many policy changes.