Slavery in Dragsa

A System of Leases and Boundaries

In the land of Dragsa, the institution of slavery is unlike that of many other realms. Here, slaves are considered property of the kingdom rather than individuals. This distinction creates a unique framework where people may lease slaves for a specified amount of time, rather than owning them outright. Should a slave manage to buy their freedom, the leaseholder is refunded for the unused time, ensuring the kingdom retains control over the economic value of its human and beastkin workforce.

The Leasing System

This lease-based system introduces a peculiar dynamic to the practice. Leases can be traded, similar to contracts, allowing slaves to move between households or enterprises. However, the sale of slaves to foreign nations is strictly prohibited under Dragsan law. Despite these restrictions, rumours abound of noble houses and black market agents circumventing the law. From falsifying records to smuggling slaves aboard Misty Waters’ airships, clandestine activities undermine the kingdom’s efforts to maintain control.

A Veil of Corruption

With their influence and resources, the noble houses often find ways to manipulate the system. Among the many methods employed are:

• Faking the deaths of slaves to remove them from official records.
• Pretending escapes, allowing for clandestine sales.
• Failing to register births within noble households, enabling the resale of unaccounted slaves as they age.
• Reselling leases to black market agents under false pretences, ensuring the identity of the slave is untraceable when the lease expires.

While the kingdom treats such actions as damage to its property and investigates suspicious circumstances meticulously, corruption often shields these nobles. Those with allies within the Church of Order are particularly adept at evading scrutiny, as personal interests sometimes undermine the Church’s moral authority.

A System Under Pressure

For all its structure, Dragsa’s system of slavery is not without strain. The ongoing Beastkin Revolution has heightened tensions, with slaves increasingly seeking freedom through both legitimate and illicit means. External pressures, internal corruption, and the unyielding desire for liberation among the enslaved constantly test the government’s control over this system.

Adventuring Opportunities

Adventurers in Dragsa may find themselves drawn into the complexities of this system. Missions to investigate illegal smuggling rings, protect slaves attempting to buy their freedom, or expose corrupt nobles are ever-present. Conversely, some may be hired to safeguard noble interests, creating moral dilemmas that reflect the murky ethics of Dragsan society.

A Bard’s Reflection

Oh, Dragsa! Yours is a kingdom where the chains of servitude are masked by the veneer of legality, where the hopes of freedom clash with the shadows of corruption. May those seeking justice find strength in their convictions, and may your people, free and bound, rise above the tide of oppression. For in the struggle for liberty lies the heart of a tale worth telling.