Geography

Verdantine is the easternmost province of the Empire, nestled within the natural barrier of the Yellow Mountain Range. These mountains form an almost impassable ring around the province, isolating it from external threats and making Verdantine a world of its own. The rain-shadow effect caused by the Yellow Mountains creates a climate that is humid, warm, and perpetually wet. Dense jungles, fertile farmland, and occasional swamps dominate the landscape. The province's verdant scenery is both its namesake and its defining feature, with a fairy-tale-like vibrancy that enchants travellers and belies the darkness beneath.

The province, while not the largest in the Empire, is still quite large and diverse. The closer to the mountains one gets, the more humid the landscape becomes, while the central lands of the province can be more temperate, and home to vast rich farmlands. This difference between temperate farmland and dense jungle goes hand-in-hand with the two main cultures:

• To the north are the Fleusse, that tend to be more modern and more influence by Imperial culture and ideals. These Verdant peoples are very martial in nature, and where most of the province's knights come from. The largest city in this area is Masíon Rouge, also called "The Gate of the Dragons".

• To the south are the Scarlets, the more infamous and conservative of the province, where many of its festivities and draconic influences can be felt. This part of Verdantine has a distinct pagan feel to it outside urban areas. The largest city in this area outside of the capital is Plúmescarlet, also called "The Lovely".

The capital city, Val Royeaux, stands as a gleaming beacon of Verdantine's grandeur. One of the largest cities in the Empire, it houses the seat of power for the ruling Azurion family. Its colorful, opulent architecture reflects the wealth and artistic flair of Verdantine, with grand spires, vivid mosaics, and intricate frescoes adorning its many palaces and temples.

Economy and Trade

Verdantine is a hub of wealth and luxury, producing goods sought after across the Empire. Its fertile lands yield world-renowned wines, celebrated for their quality and variety. Many noble houses produce their own signature vintages, treating their wines as both symbols of prestige and artistic expressions.

Other exports include luxury fabrics, spices, marble, and exotic timber. Verdantine’s position near the Yellow Mountains also facilitates clandestine trade with the Underdark and the mysterious Eastlands beyond the Empire's borders. These dangerous routes enrich those who dare to traverse them.

Religion

While in the past Verdantine had its own religion centred around the dragon Moaress, the largest modern religion of the province is Amalianism. However, unlike Amalianism in most of the Empire, the religion has taken a distinctively local feel as it mixed with local beliefs after the conversion of the ancient Verdant king Junot I; and as such, Verdantine's official state church is the Golden Church, mixing many of its former pagan beliefs and its chivalric values with traditional Amalianist values.

This brand of Amalianism tends to be more liberal towards magic, and more tied to the history of Verdantine and the belief that the dragonborn descend from Moaress as his chosen children.

Besides Amalianism, many pagan religions exist alongside the Golden Church, especially in the jungles and other isolated areas. Most notably, the elven population in the province worship Seldarine, and many shrines in nature and in Knives (majority elf neighbourhoods) can be found.

Society

o outsiders, the province of Verdantine may appear as a realm plucked from the pages of a fairy tale—a place where the streets are alive with music, the courts with vibrant debates, and the jungles with whispers of ancient mysteries. Yet, beneath this glittering veneer lies a society deeply divided, where opulence and despair exist in a precarious balance.

The Noble Dragonborn

At the apex of Verdantine’s social hierarchy are the dragonborn nobility, a class that exudes wealth, power, and culture. For over a millennium, they have ruled Verdantine with an iron grip wrapped in velvet. The ruling Azurion family, headed by High Duchess Veylira Azurion, serves as the beating heart of the aristocracy, but the power of the province is fragmented among numerous noble houses.

Each house governs its own fiefdom, operating almost as miniature kingdoms. While fealty to the Azurion family is publicly proclaimed, alliances, betrayals, and covert rivalries shape the political landscape. Ballrooms and courtrooms are as much battlefields as the swamps and jungles, where gossip and rumor serve as weapons sharper than any blade.

Dragonborn nobles pride themselves on their appearance, adorning themselves with colorful silks, gemstones, and the feathers of exotic birds native to the province. Clothing is tailored to dazzle, often incorporating artistic flourishes that display the house's wealth and individuality. Every house holds its own lavish events—masked balls, wine tastings, and theatrical performances—designed not merely for entertainment but as stages for political maneuvering.

Despite their decadence, many dragonborn nobles are highly educated and view themselves as patrons of the arts and protectors of Verdantine’s unique culture. Poetry, sculpture, and music thrive in their courts, and their wealth funds extravagant public displays, such as festivals and parades, which are as much for the amusement of the nobility as for pacifying the common folk.

The Oppressed Elvish Serfs

In stark contrast to the dragonborn, the wood-elves of Verdantine form the province's serf class. Bound to the land and forbidden to leave their lords’ estates without permission, they live lives of unrelenting toil. Generations of wood-elves have worked the fertile fields and dense forests of Verdantine, growing the crops, crafting the goods, and harvesting the resources that sustain the province's prosperity.

Their lives are defined by hardship. Small villages and hamlets, often clustered around noble estates, house the elvish serfs in simple wooden huts that offer little respite from the oppressive humidity of the jungles. Hunger and disease are common, and the constant labor leaves little time for personal ambition or growth. Even so, traces of the elves' rich cultural heritage persist in their oral traditions, songs, and the occasional clandestine festival held far from the watchful eyes of their dragonborn overlords.

This systemic oppression fosters a deep-seated resentment. While open rebellion is rare due to the brutal repercussions, whispers of resistance echo throughout the province. The Amin Seldarine, the most infamous resistance group, channels the anger of the elvish serfs into acts of sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and, in some cases, terrorism. The existence of such groups has only hardened the dragonborn’s grip on the province, perpetuating a cycle of violence and repression.

The Middle Class and Free Folk

Though the middle class in Verdantine is small compared to other provinces of the Empire, it exists as a fragile bridge between the extremes of wealth and poverty. Composed of artisans, merchants, and scholars, this group thrives in urban centers like Val Royeaux and smaller trade hubs. They are responsible for creating Verdantine's renowned luxury goods, including its celebrated wines, fine fabrics, and intricate jewelry.

Unlike the serfs, the middle class is free to travel and engage in commerce, though they are heavily taxed by the nobility. Merchants, in particular, benefit from Verdantine's trade with the Underdark and the Eastlands, importing rare spices and exotic goods to sell within the Empire. While they enjoy relative comfort compared to the serfs, they are often caught in the machinations of the noble houses, coerced into serving as informants, financiers, or pawns in larger schemes.

Among the middle class are a growing number of free elves, descendants of wood-elves who earned or purchased their freedom. Though legally distinct from serfs, they face significant social discrimination and struggle to find acceptance. Many free elves become artisans or traders, using their unique skills to carve out a precarious existence in a society that views them with suspicion.

The Knights of Verdantine

A singular institution within Verdantine’s society, the Knights of Verdantine are both warriors and cultural icons. These dragonborn knights are known for their flamboyant armor, adorned with gilded patterns, inlays of gemstones, and crests shaped like mythical creatures. Their oaths to uphold Honor, Valor, Beauty, Compassion, and Generosity resonate deeply with Verdantine's cultural values.

Knighthood is a privilege granted only to the nobility or those with significant influence. Each knight serves not only as a soldier but also as a representative of Verdantine’s ideals. They participate in duels, tournaments, and public ceremonies, acting as symbols of the province's strength and refinement. However, not all knights live up to their lofty ideals. Many are as corrupt and self-serving as the nobility they serve, and some use their status to exploit the common folk.

Crime and Corruption

The shadow of Verdantine’s opulence is its rampant corruption. Organized crime thrives in both the elvish ghettos and the dragonborn courts. Crime syndicates operating in the jungles and urban slums exploit the poverty of the serfs and the greed of the nobility. Smuggling, extortion, and illicit trade are commonplace, and crime lords often act as power brokers in their own right.

Among the dragonborn elite, corruption takes a different form. Blackmail, bribery, and clandestine deals are the currency of power, with nobles willing to do whatever it takes to gain an advantage over their rivals. The intertwining of politics and crime ensures that no one in Verdantine’s society is entirely untouched by the darker aspects of life.

The Dichotomy of Beauty and Struggle

Verdantine’s society is a tapestry of contrasts. Its cities gleam with color, music, and laughter, while its villages echo with the cries of the oppressed. The nobility revels in splendor, crafting a world of art and culture that inspires awe, even as it feeds on the labor of the impoverished.

For those who live within its borders, Verdantine is both a paradise and a prison, a place where dreams can be realized but only at great cost. To understand the province is to grasp its contradictions: a society built on the ideals of beauty and honor yet riddled with the flaws of greed and cruelty. It is a realm where every smile hides a scheme, every jewel a hidden blade, and every song a cry for freedom.