Of Kingdoms and Cutie-Marks: Developer Notes Entry 6- The Republic of Dromedus

The Republic of Dromedus, the jewel of the western deserts, the technological power house of the world built among the ruins of an ancient magical kingdom of camels.

Dromedus had a cycle of dynastic kings that lasted for hundreds of years, pre-dating the reign of Discord. It weathered the chaos king surprisingly well, leading some to think that it would be an eternal kingdom, not unlike the developing kingdom of Equestria to the north-east. In the end however, the downfall of that system began with a camel who would come to be known as Akhem the Twice Cursed.

A member of the sorcerer caste, Akhem's ambition lead him to form a cult of like minded camels that aimed to overthrow the pharaoh. To this end they delved into dark arts and sorcery, making pacts with even more horrible creatures, Akhem befriending an ancient Saddle Arabian ghul by the name of Badr Coalcoat.

With the help of Badr, Akhem launched a campaign of terror, attacking both the camels of his homeland and unicorns across the world; in the case of the latter, always aiming for unicorns of massive magical power. By the time Equestria's armies moved to support Dromedus, Akhem had his own army of cultists and undead and a powerful necklace made of the horns of each unicorn mage Badr had killed.

Dromedus' and Equestria's armies clashed with Akhem's forces in the shadow of his pyramid city. The battle was brutal, but slowly and surely, Akhem was forced back into his pyramid and sealed away by the pharaoh. The battle and the reign of Akhem would have lasting consequences, however.

When the pharaoh died, twenty years later, his son rose to the throne and his son had developed a deep hatred for magic, due to the events surrounding Akhem. Once he rose to power, he banned the practice of magic within the nations borders and banished all magic users. Thusly ended the period of dynastic Dromedus and the era of the Republic began.

To make up the difference for the lack of magic they now faced, the camels turned to technology and became the undisputed masters of it. Most of the cannon and firearms in the world come from Dromedian gun works, most of the airships in the world are built in Dromedian ship yards.

The masters of trade and the masters of technology, Dromedus has become comfortable with their secular lot in the world. However, there are some that glance towards the desert sands where Akhem was sealed away, the question in the back of their minds.

Will he return?

Next time: The Raj of Inj