Warden is a powerful empire located in The Trunk of Hanaq, a vast region in the bottom half of the World Tree. Unlike the more cosmopolitan Esperanto, Warden is a highly militaristic and traditionalist society dominated by dragons. The empire is isolationist and believes in rule by strength.
Nations in warden are referred to as Protectorates, and are ruled by a Protector.
Warden's governmental system is based on the principle that the world should be ruled exclusively by the most noble dragons, specifically those from the strongest families. Protector status is determined through a formalized system of combat challenges.
The ethos of a good Warden Ruler, in theory, is someone disciplined and willing to make difficult decisions for the benefit of their hoard. There are virtually no limits to how a Protector rules their land. In Warden's philosophy, what appears as abuse to outsiders is often deemed necessary discipline by Protectors, and since they maintain power through strength, their judgments are considered inherently correct.****
The empire is led by an entity known as The Sovereign, an ancient dragon who can rule for centuries. The current Sovereign, who rose to power during the Incursion after overthrowing the previous ruler, is known only as Shakya. In accordance with Warden's customs, it is forbidden to refer to the Sovereign by any name other than their title in all official communications and literature.
Most of Warden's protectorates are nations with no contact with the outside world. Citizens of these territories often believe they are controlled solely by their dragon ruler, unaware of the larger structure or the outside world.