The Dragon Tax

The advance of civilisation throughout the mainland realms of the Arcadian Empire drove many dragons to the outer fringes of the known world. A few settled on the islands of Engweald and Iyarlaan, and they fought each other for territory while enslaving the hapless indigenous folk (humans, orcs, dwarves, goblins, elves, you name it). Eventually, the Arcadian Empire set its mind to conquering these remote islands, and the dragons that were not slain by Arcadian swords and magic were driven back to their cavernous lairs. Every few years, a dragon would emerge from its lair to challenge its neighbors and stake a claim.

The monarchs of Albion have always lived with dragons, which are rightly feared and respected. However, Queen Margaret was the first monarch to realise that slaying dragons is hard and costly, and thus she sought a peaceful coexistence. Many at court thought the Queen mad for pursuing such a treaty. It took years for representatives of the Queen to treat with the dragons, but all were promised generous tributes in exchange for their allegiance. These tributes are paid annually, and the subjects of Albion carry the burden of paying taxes not only to fill the Queen’s exchequer but also to “plump up” the dragons’ hoards. The Council of Magi keeps a watchful eye on the dragons of Albion, through magic and spies. Since dragons are prone to hibernate for years on end, it’s not a particularly taxing endeavor. However, once in a red moon a new dragon will rear its ugly head and catch the archmages by surprise.