The Continuing Adventures of Draco Moonbeam

The boundaries of the White Kingdom, which was actually an empire consisting of smaller semi-sovereign kingdoms, were such:

The Kingdom of Lusonia was the central state of the White Kingdom. Its capital city of Pridda, the White Kingdom’s largest city, also served as the capital of the entire empire.

It was roughly circular in shape, about 500 miles in diameter with Pridda squarely in the center.

To the east lay the Black Sea, a veritable ocean of stormy waters that no one had ever successfully traversed. No one knew what strange lands, if any, were beyond it. To the average person, it marked the edge of the world.

To the north and northeast was a line of mountains with the North Kingdom, Nurennia, beyond.

To the northwest and west were the Middle Ridges, a long line of mountains that were relatively low, with Aeridia beyond it.

To the south was the lowlands of the South Kingdom of Vasanna.

Beyond Vasanna, at the southwestern edge of the empire, lay the relatively small kingdom called the Confederacy of the Misty Hills. Not ruled by a king, but rather a governor, it was never the less considered equal to the other kingdoms of the empire.

Lusonia was mostly fertile grasslands. Farms and forests were frequent. There were numerous towns and a few cities where people gathered. Lusonia was rich in trade, and the inhabitants considered themselves cultured and knowledgeable about all things mundane.

The North Kingdom, Nurennia, was relatively small, being crescent shaped. It abutted the Black Sea and curved along the north side of Lusonia for about 200 miles.

Nurennia was ringed by mountains to the south and west. But the center of the province was low hill country with the capital city of Nurendell along the coast about in the middle.

Nurennia was known for its hardy folk. They were farmers, smiths, and miners who thrived in the colder northlands. The area was rich with dairy, gold, and timber.

To the west of Lusonia was the Middle Kingdom, Aeridia. A line of mountains separated the two lands, with several passes where roads forged through from one side to the other. Citadels marked the passes. Once used for defense, now they served as refuge for travelers.

Aeridia, itself, was very similar to Lusonia but smaller. Roughly 300 miles square, it was marked by fertile grasslands and forests. Rivers connected the various towns to each other and to the capital city of Aeridia in the center. To the north were the same mountains that ringed Nurennia. To the west lay the Middle Sea which separated the eastern kingdoms from the younger, wilder, more dangerous western nations. To the south was a large bay called the Tranquil Sea.

Aeridians were proud of their independent nature. They prospered from trade with all nations and considered themselves equals to their counterparts in Lusonia.

To the south of Lusonia was the funnel shaped South Kingdom, Vasanna. It ran about 500 miles from the borders of Lusonia to the southwest. Its capital city of Voridia lay close to the borders of Lusonia.

The long peninsula upon which Vasanna lay was divided into two sections by a very narrow isthmus in its center. The northeastern section, down to the isthmus, was Vasanna with its mostly low wetlands and grasslands. Its warmer climate made it a rainy country. A central road ran through Vasanna from Voridia southwest to the center of the isthmus where lay the strategic Cloudgate City.

Past Cloudgate to the west lay the Confederacy of the Misty Hills, a peninsula of steep cliffs and very hilly county. Generations ago, the various clans of lead and iron miners and animal herders of the hill country divided themselves into 5 small tribes. Naturally rivals based on family clans, the Confederacy came together to mutually found the city of Cloudgate as protection from the military power of the White Kingdom.

Cloudgate was the jewel of the south. It was the White Kingdom’s largest city besides Pridda. It lay squarely in the middle of the isthmus with the Tranquil Sea to the north and the Yellow Sea to the south, with only 10 miles of land in between. The very high cliffs on both sides made a naval attack very unlikely.

A wall ran from coast to coast with a large gate in the middle. The city was formed on the southwest side of the wall along the gate. It was the center of all trade in the south. Ships from many nations docked at its ports to unload goods from foreign kingdoms and to take in the riches of the White Kingdom and the mineral wealth of the Misty Hills.

The most marvelous feature of Cloudgate was the subterranean tunnel that ran beneath the city. It ran between the two seas. Its walls and ceilings were tall enough to allow high masted ships to pass through the 10 mile tunnel without problem, even at high tide. Manmade breakwaters at both openings created safe harbors and ports where the goods were trafficked and brought up to the city via cliffside roads.

A year after Semna took the White Throne for herself, she paid a visit to Cloudgate. The independent Confederacy had rebuffed her every attempt to establish communications. They were isolationist and saw no benefit to foreign entanglements. In fact no White Kingdom ambassador had ever been allowed to enter.

They refused to admit the Queen to their city. So she requested entry by herself, without any guards. A bold move for a foreign monarch, but it showed her sincere friendliness. They agreed.

She entered and met with the Governor of Cloudgate and they spoke at length in private. The details of the exchange were never made public, but he agreed to allow her to perform a concert for the masses.

With her golden flute, Semna performed brilliantly in a very emotionally charged event. All heard her, and all were moved to tears.

After the concert she returned to Pridda, but she gifted Cloudgate a fleet of 10 heavy warships. The people of the several tribes were impressed and trade and communications were established with the White Kingdom.

After a year of peace and prosperous trade, the tribes of the Confederacy welcomed membership into the White Kingdom and became the empire’s newest and smallest territory.

Another revolution without swords. That happened 19 years ago. And for the last 18 years, Draco Moonbeam also called Cloudgate City home.