Drakka Chua is leader of the "Serpent Kingdom". Like all medusas, they are sexless and use gender-neutral pronouns. They were elected by the Lamai people, formerly a high priest of Serpentism, the most popular faith in the region. Chua carries their faith into office and it plays a large part in Lamai politics. Dragons, for example, are considered sacred by law. Chua prohibits the hunting of dragons or their use as beasts of burden. They have signed the Nymph Pact, a global treaty that limits industrial growth for the sake of the environment.
The region's dragons have always acted as a natural defense for the nation. They infest the jungles and plains of Wokina, but most of Lamai's peoples live underground where these beasts cannot harm them. The dragons are widely worshipped because in the past when other nations have tried to conquer the nation, it was the dragons which foiled their conquests. As global politics become more hostile, Chua believes it's important to protect their protectors by keeping the environment healthy and their faith strong.
OVERVIEW
Lamai Nation's greatest cities are all located underground. This is not only to protect them from dragons, but also because its sizeable gorgon population needs a dark, damp environment to stay healthy. Trolls and cecaelia are other subterranean-dwelling species that fair well here, but even a number of local humans have adapted as well. Lamai's topside cities have dragon defense in mind, appearing as massive maze-like stone temples with few places exposed to the sky.
Because this nation honors the Nymph Pact, it faces little aggression from nymphs. And thanks to its natural blessings, it faces little aggression from other nations as well. The Lamai people are strangers to war. The largest conflicts they face are small battles with independent native tribes in the area. Even the Aquatic Alliance is on good terms with this nation. Still, the land of Wokina has bountiful resources that the other world powers mean to get their hands on. Zareen Empire in particular is running out of iron and threatens to drill into Lamai's untapped supply, which would surely destroy their underground territories.
Drakka Chua may just see a war in their lifetime. However, many say the nation's fate lies not with Chua, but their oldest authority: the dragons of Wokina.
CHUA'S POLICIES
- "Those who call dragons our 'oppressors' are narrow-minded, for it is the dragon's might which allows us to live in such peace. They offer their protection, and in return we offer them the sun. The world above is their domain. Their aggression simply reminds us of our place."
- "The Nymph Pact is more beneficial to Lamai Nation than iron foundries and dirty industry will ever be. Should we log the jungles and pollute our waters, all we have are weapons and war. It is not necessary to our culture. Our great protectors will shield us from our enemies as they always have, and we will continue to live the simple, peaceful life of our ancestors."
- "It is arrogant to think all beings are created equal. To prove this, you need only to go topside and see how well you fare. The topside peoples--the humans and elves--they were ignorant and weak. They came to the gorgons for protection and we welcomed them into our great nation with open arms. The topsiders are forever indebted to the gorgons for the way we have fed and housed them, shared our culture and way of life. But we, the gorgons, should not think we rule this land, for we ourselves are forever indebted to the dragons the way topsiders are indebted to us."
- "To let a body rot away is disrespectful. By repurposing every part of a corpse, we continue to serve our brethren even after death. Do not wrinkle your noses at the notion, for it is this resourcefulness which keeps our environment clean and therefore our nation at peace."
