Vua Ran (pronounced VOO-ah RAHN) is a province of Sangiran and the only region other than the Sangiran heartland to remain within the Empire upon the death of the Eternal Suzerain in Y9606*. The centuries since have not been easy, however, especially as the ruling dragon-judges of Vua Ran vie against the Divine Inheritors for what remains of the Empire.
Geography, flora, and fauna
In the old days of the Sangiran Empire the borders of the province of Vua Ran were the edges of the Suzerain's Scales, the immense and rugged mountains of central Kea Racha. In the chaos of the Suzerain's death, however, the dragons seized the opportunity to expand their control, and now claim influence over the southern lowlands as far south as the Eastern and Western Veins.
Compared to the rest of Kea Racha, Vua Ran sees markedly more seasonality in its weather, owing to the high elevations of its mountains and valleys. Snow is common for much of the year, especially on the highest peaks.
History
Early Vua Ran
The draconic rulers of Vua Ran had solidified their status in the Suzerain's Scales even before the Eternal Suzerain was born; the oldest of their palaces and judgement-halls date to the early fourth millennium. They were largely fractious in this time, however, split between many squabbling states that each sought control of various parts of their mountainous domain, united only loosely by a set of agreements known as the Words of Tooth and Claw.
Accession to the Empire
For centuries the dragons of Vua Ran watched the Eternal Suzerain's ascent to power in the south, warily yet without action, for even as their army brought the jungles of the lowlands under their control there was little if any threat to the well-fortified mountain palaces. By the early sixth millennium, however, all Kea Rachan lands south of the the Scales were within the Suzerain's realm, and it was clear where their attentions would next turn. Rather than allow themselves to be conquered one by one, the dragon-judges of Vua Ran sent a delegation as one south to Tairikka in Y5130*. The offer they presented to the Suzerain, to join their realm on conditions of autonomy for their own lands and the extension of their authority throughout Sangiran, was accepted, and the dragons of Vua Ran quickly gained influential roles in the expansionist Empire.
For the next over four thousand years the dragon-judges and their successors were the central legal authority in the Empire, second only to the decree of the Suzerain themself. Their Words of Tooth and Claw became the legal code of the Empire as a whole, if in an adapted form and subordinate in some places to allowances for local autonomy but otherwise used to try cases everywhere from the Sangiran heartland to the farthest colonies around the Gulf of Timakal. The dragon-judges gained a reputation in this time for their verdicts which, if harsh at times, were never inconsistent or uneven.
Modern Vua Ran
With the most recent death of the Eternal Suzerain in Y9606* came the rapid disintegration of the Empire. Unlike the colonies around the Timakal, or the peoples of most lands of Kea Racha itself, the dragons of Vua Ran chose not to reestablish their independence. They had gained much in power and wealth under the Empire and saw no improvement to be gained by breaking away, and thus pledged their continued support of the central government in New Era. Their motives, however, were not altruistic, for in the centuries since they have become locked in power struggles with the Divine Inheritors, the successors of the Suzerain's priesthood, for the right to rule what remains of the Empire. Both the Inheritors and the dragon-judges seek to regain the territory that slipped away with the Suzerain's death, yet for now they remain too preoccupied with each other, feuding from rival capitals, one in the mountains and one in the lowlands.
Demographics
While the ruling class of Vua Ran is entirely draconic, most of its population are instead humans, kobolds, elves, and ratfolk.
Government
Vua Ran is ruled by the dragon-courts, who both write and enforce the laws. The judges of the courts, all of whom are themselves dragons, cultivate an image of complete impartiality as they claim to analyze each case brought before them on its merits. Precedence is of utmost concern to them so as to ensure that no individual is treated better or worse than any other given the same circumstances. Still, the inequality of Ran society is ever-present, as standards of evidence and burden of proof can change dramatically based on one's role and status.
Each judge holds their position for life, which is not uncommonly centuries. Though in the days of the Empire they were appointed directly by the Suzerain, now they are elevated by each other, with new judges given the role by councils of their peers. The high dragon-court is the ultimate arbiter of authority and law in Vua Ran, whose ancient judges possess between them millennia of experience on legal matters.