Fiction:Slyv

The Refuge Union is a alliance of several cities that were formed by refuges fleeing from the expansion of the. The Union is democratic and meritocratic, with the people electing their leaders to represent them from those who have proven themselves worthy and capable of leading. Due to their situation of being constantly under threat of the Oragru Empire the military and civilian administration have blurred together to the point where it can be hard to distinguish the two. The Union is highly multicultural and well known for the high degree of freedom it grants its citizens, treating everyone as equally as it possibly can and still maintain some form of hierarchy. The whole thing is watched over be five mysterious angelic beings known as the Celestial Paragons.

Organization
The Refuge Union is composed of a number of city states that are aligned by a common goal with their authority centralized on the most populous city state of Estalantia. The central authority of Estalantia is a merger of civilian and military administrations created to secure a strong military capable of defending all of the city states against a larger foe. Estalantia is both democratic and meritocratic, being ruled over by a council of officials who have been elected by the people to represent them after having worked their way up to the top.

At the top of this council are the five angelic beings known as the Celestial Paragons, four of whom each have their own patronage in the city. Gabriela is the Paragon of Water and patron of government workers, Mikhaila is the Paragon of Fire and patron of soldiers, Israfil is the Paragon of Air and patron of doctors and healers, Ourieon is the Paragon of Earth and patron of writers and artists, finally their is Elijah the Paragon of the Heavens and leader of the other four. The Paragons themselves rarely interfere, mostly simply providing advice or breaking ties in a council vote.

The various other city states are ruled over by a governor that is allowed to run their city state more or less however they like as long as they pay taxes to Estalantia, maintain stability, provide troops, and respect the basic rights of the citizenry and do not discriminate based on race, gender, or religion.

Religion
Religious freedom is guaranteed right for all citizens of the Union and there's a fair diversity of belief systems to be found throughout. The Thunderborn are monotheists, worshiping an singular creator deity that the refer to simply as The Mystery of this World. Dratheion on the other hand are polytheists, worshiping a pantheon of draconic deities they claim to be descended from. Fishermin are pantheists, seeing the whole world as a single flow of animate energy expressing itself in multiple ways. Pygmy Goblins on the other hand practice no religion what so ever.

Territory
The Refuge Union is found to the norther coats of the Western Forests. Much of their territory is fairly unexplored and wild, with only the roads and farm land being the sighs of civilization outside the main city states.

Military
The Refuge Union maintains a sizable and professional military force drawn from recruits provided by all city states. They have advanced steel armor and weapons (much of which has some slight magical augmentation) which gives them good edge in combat, but lack any form of gunpowder. Due to living in region of such heavy formation they are not much for large formations, but are rather talented at guerrilla warfare. One of the Union's biggest strength is its large number of wyvern mounted flying cavalry, giving them significant air power, and a large number of competent magic users.
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Species
Thunderborn= Thunderborn are race of small giant, being about three meters in height, and probably the most populous race in the Union. They are (in comparison to most none giants) a very tall race with viciously clawed hands and feet that they can use to shred through enemies even without weapons. This combined with their impressive strength and speed makes them high formidable combatants. They get their name from their natural ability to control the elemental forces of lightning and the deafening roar they can unleash from their jaws. Thunderborn can also breath underwater and do not suffer from changes in atmospheric and water pressure.

Thunderborn are very clannish creatures that live in close knit family groups. Traditionally they were nomadic hunter gatherers, but the rise of the Oragru Empire has forced them to give up this lifestyle in favor of dwelling in cities or in the country. However, they still value the hunt and it is considered a right of passage to kill some dangerous creature among their kind. Thunderborn are a highly religious race as well with their shamans being seen as the leaders of their community, however their religion is not heavily organized with said shamans and story tellers being the only real figures of religious authority. Thunderborn always wear masks and never show their true face to anyone other then to their direct blood relatives such as parents, spouses, and children. Though Thunderborn appear to have horns, these are simply part of the masks they wear.

Dratheion= Dratheion are a fairly tall race of Lesser Kelodhros measuring up to two and a half meters in height and with strangely hooven feet. They have scales made of volcanic glass that negate magic used against them. Drathione are capable of flight and by far the strongest race in the entire Union, even exceeding the much larger Thunderborn. While largely unable to use magic they can breath fire and seem to have a natural inclination towards hiding in shadows. All Dratheion have powerful regenerative abilities, with only instantly fatal wounds being able to permanently kill them.

Dratheion are by far the most militant and war-like of all the races in the Union. They are taught to fight and kill as soon as they are able to walk and are raised communally in units of children that do everything together until they reach maturity. In order to be considered a full adult in their society one must join the military and most stay there for their entire lives. Alternatively though one can become a blacksmith as in their eyes it is a equally worthy career making weapons to provide to any war effort. The Dratheion bear a strong connection to the Jabberwock Dragons and consider becoming the rider of one to be the greatest honor. Most of the time though they bond with one of the non-sentient Darkfire Wyverns and thus often serve as cavalry in battle.

Fishermin= The Fishermin are a race of carnivoran, mammalian theriocephali who are believed to be members of the weasel family, which they bear a strong resemblance to. Largely carnivorous (though they do eat a few nuts and berries here and there) Fishermin are adept climbers and spend much time in trees as well as on the ground. They were native to the lands of the Union before the Union even existed and help the other races get settled and build up their new homes.

Fishermen as a culture are rather aesthetic, preferring to live simply and eschewing material wealth and possession. They rarely form relationships beyond strong friendships, but are known for being very helpful to any they find to be in need. In general Fishermin perfer to stay outside of the cities and lead lives away from civilization in the wilderness.

Pygmy Goblins=

Jabberwock=

Quotes

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Trivia

 * The Union's Theme - The Emerging Empire