Editing Setting:Hail and Kill (section)

===The Hordes of Drakenos===
{{Topquote|Devourment upon the sands of conceived legal pain<br />Open the gates of the lion's den<br />Lacerated bodies scattered under the rain hunger lions devouring fury unchained<br />Warlords clash in a maelstrom of swords and shields<br />Vultures behold, slaughter unfolds, bloody stories to be told|''Violentia Gladiatore'', Krisiun}}

A militaristic nation of warriors, governed by a High Council, where the steel is sharp, the ale is dark and bitter, and national sport is war. It seems almost every decade, the Drakenoi are sailing off to fight a different enemy, be it a particularly troublesome raider band in the Wastelands, the undead and demonic hordes of Nostrem or a realm far away from Ferrumgard. Gladiator colosseums are found all over Drakenos and the two islands that flank it (of which Drakenos has domain). In these arenas, proud warriors volunteer to fight exotic beasts, hardened slaves or one another for the glory of the Old Gods. It is said that the every member of the High Council itself must be an accomplished gladiator, as disputes among them are often settled through blood duels. 

Although the High Council is the overall authority in Drakenos, the territories of Drakenos are governed by dozens of autonomous Warlords each in charge of maintaining their own Horde. Although training practices and laws vary by Horde, all of Drakenos abides by the belief that freedom is not a right, but a privilege to be earned. Every Drakenoi is born a slave and most Warlords import slaves from all over the world to be made honorary Drakenoi- if they survive to earn their place in the ranks of their Horde. Most are designated as serfs to work agriculture or mine for resources. Those considered to have potential are either recruited into the Horde's army as auxiliaries or sent to the arenas to prove their worth. For children born to freemen, it is possible for the parents to buy their child's freedom at birth. However, it is common practice for Drakenoi children to be given to friends or allies of their parents' upon adolescence to live as a slave until maturity, where they are granted their freedom. Although this practice may seem brutal, social mobility in Drakenos is much more fluid than the strict Noble/Commoner classes of neighboring kingdoms. Every Warlord, every Councilman, and their respective heirs all began life as slaves. A slave that earns their freedom may purchase the freedom of other slaves- namely family members and loved ones. Slaves can also earn their freedom by slaying a freeman in a duel. In fact, it is possible for a slave to become a Warlord just by slaying a Warlord in single combat. Freemen are known by a scar on their chest depicting the Old Metallican rune for freedom. This rune is branded onto all freemen in a ritual during which they swear a sacred oath to die before they are ever shackled again.

The High Council acts as a source of moderation and direction for the Hordes, ensuring that no single Warlord claims superiority over the others, and calling the other Hordes to intervene when rivalries between Warlords escalate into more than just "sporting wars."

[[image:Krisiun.jpg|right|thumb|To most, a bloodbath, to the Drakenoi "Tuesday"]]

====Dragonsmaw====
The city of blood and steel. This is the seat of the Drakenoi High Council and the site of the grandest colosseum in all of Ferrumgard. Here, only the mightiest of warriors do battle for prestige and honor. The rest of city is alive with the klang of hammer against hot steel as the region's finest smiths forge high-quality weapons and armor out of the latest attempt at topping Arkdamite steel to make the greatest army in the realm even greater. Only those with exceptional martial prowess are sworn to the High Council as their personal army. The Council's small, but elite army marches under the banner of a red dragon's head on a black backdrop.

====Trojag's Exalted Horde====
The largest and most prestigious of the hordes, the Exalted Horde marches under a golden banner with a black hammer sigil. Warlord Trojag's keep rivals the strongholds of many kings, a gargantuan complex of near impenetrable defenses protecting immeasurable wealth from the horde's numerous iron and gold mines, as well as generations' worth of loot and spoils from dozens of wars the world over. Trojag's warriors have a reputation as being only second to the High Council's forces in terms of equipment and training.

====Varg's Bestial Horde====
Feared for their swiftness, the Bestial Horde is often used as the vanguard of a Drakenoi attack. Under a green banner with a light grey wolf's skull, this horde is comprised of cavalry almost entirely. However, Varg's Horde does not ride mere horses. From all over Ferrumgard and beyond, countless varieties of beast are imported to Drakenos to be trained and bred as mounts. Those facing the Bestial Horde must not only fight its savage warriors, but also the monsters on which they ride. Some ride creatures with horns and tusks that can rend and tear through enemy lines. Others are quick and nimble with claws and fangs. Some beasts have hides so thick, no normal arrow or spear can fell them. There have even been reports of mounts that breathe fire or spray acid from their mouths. The horde's mobility allows them to cover ground rapidly, cause disarray in sudden skirmishes and ambushes, and strike deep behind enemy lines.

====Harlock's Drowned Horde====
Under a dark blue banner of a white trident, the Drowned Horde is renowned as bearing the largest navy of Drakenos. Although the immense cannons that adorn Warlord Harlock's fleet yield terrifying firepower, the warriors of the Drowned Horde are just as well to board enemy ships and slaughter their foes up close. Once on land, the massive artillery of the Horde is deployed, making them just as deadly in a siege as they are at sea.

====Skarn's Forsaken Horde====
Even the other Drakenoi are wary of the black banner of the white goat's head upon an inverted pentagram. As their banner suggests, it is no secret that those of the Forsaken Horde pay tribute to the goat-headed Raven Prince. Skarn's Horde is known for its' uncommon proportion of sorcerers and bards, weaving black magic to summon demons, smite the enemies of Drakenos, and invigorate their warriors with unholy strength. Warlord Skarn himself is well established as both one of the most skilled warriors and most powerful sorcerers in all of Drakenos. However, his faith makes him untrustworthy in the eyes of the other Warlords and Councilmen and thus, his horde is often given little support in campaigns. Skarn's growing resentment and dissatisfaction has spawned many rumors. Some whisper he plans on defecting as an ally to the exiled Skaggar, while others yet claim he schemes to take a place in the High Council and leave his lover, the Mad Sorceress Xorabelle as heir to the Forsaken Horde.